Foundations of Academic Literacy: Adopting a Publishing Lifestyle

September 18, 2025

The Eastern European Institute of Theology (EEIT) continues its seminar series on academic literacy for authors of theological texts. Since early 2022, in partnership with Langham Publishing and with the support of both national and international experts, EEIT has organized nine seminars focused on developing academic writing skills within a theological context.

The tenth seminar in this series will take place online via Zoom on September 18 at 4:00 pm (Kyiv time). Our guest speaker will be Dr. Donald Fairbairn – a renowned theologian, expert in patristics, and accomplished author with an extensive academic background. Together with Dr. Fairbairn, we will explore how to cultivate publishable writing as a sustainable and intentional part of academic life.

His lecture will focus on three interconnected habits that form a publishing lifestyle:

  • First, you become a writer by readingIn a world where people read intermittently and superficially, Christian scholars need to read deeply and at length.
  • Second, you become a writer by writing. Writing is a craft that has to be practiced, and writers should write all the time, informally and formally.
  • Third, you become a writer by publishing. Young scholars should not be picky about where they publish or on what fields. They should write widely and should readily accept invitations to write.
Donald Fairbairn

Donald Fairbairn is the Robert E. Cooley Distinguished Professor of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Union School of Theology (Wales). He holds degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), Denver Seminary (M.Div.), and the University of Cambridge (Ph.D.), has served as a missionary in France, Soviet Georgia, and Ukraine, and has taught throughout Europe and North America, as well as in Africa. He is the author or co-author of twelve books being translated into nearly twenty languages, including Grace and Christology in the Early Church, and Christology and the Logic of Grace in Fifth-Century Gaul (both published by Oxford University Press, in 2003 and 2024), The Global Church – The First Eight Centuries (Zondervan Academic, 2021), The Story of Creeds and Confessions (Baker Academic, 2019), Life in the Trinity (IVP Academic, 2009).

To participate in the seminar, please fill out the registration form here. Immediately after registration, all participants will receive a link to join the event online via Zoom.

Ukrainian translation will be provided.

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