The 2026 De Margerie Lectures On Christian Reconciliation And Unity

Christian Martyrdom and the Unity of the Church

Lecture 1: The Ecumenism of Blood: Solidarity in Trying Times
We examine the basic claim that a history of martyrdom serves as a resource for ecumenism. By exploring the stories and legacies of some particular martyrs, we can see how unity and solidarity might be expressed, but also the challenges and tensions.

2026 De Margerie Lecturer: Dr. Jeremy Bergen
Dr. Jeremy Bergen is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. He has written on church apologies, martyrdom, ecclesiology, ecumenism, the Holy Spirit, and Mennonite theology, and is currently completing a book on Christian martyrdom and the unity of the church for Baylor University Press. He is the author of Ecclesial Repentance: The Churches Confront their Sinful Pasts, and several articles on church apologies for residential schools in Canada. He is a member of the Faith & Life Commission of Mennonite World Conference and is co-editor of the Mennonite Quarterly Review.