JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 18, 2026 — Robert Stewart, professor emeritus of philosophy and theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, will be the plenary speaker at Union University’s 2026 Ryan Center Bible Conference March 20-21.
The conference will focus on “Contending Earnestly: Becoming Faithful Stewards of the Word of God” and will be held in Union’s Carl Grant Events Center.
“Many of us are unsure or at least a little unsteady in our ability to defend the Christian faith, especially when it comes to evangelism,” said Mike Garrett, director of the Ryan Center. “Our hope for this conference is to give people the knowledge and tools to make that defense, so that we can contend earnestly for the faith.”
Stewart taught at NOBTS for more than two decades, serving as the Greer-Heard Chair of Faith and Culture. He is the author, editor and contributor to more than 10 books, including “What Did the Cross Accomplish?: A Conversation about the Atonement,” “Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus?” and “God and Cosmology: William Lane Craig and Sean Carroll in Dialogue.”
In addition to more than 30 years of debate and conversation in apologetics for the Christian faith, Stewart has served as the pastor of churches in Texas and Louisiana.
The conference is sponsored by Union’s Ryan Center for Biblical Studies and is designed to help people understand and apply the Bible. In addition to Stewart, seven others will lead breakout sessions – Union professors Brad Green, Mark Dubis and Ray Van Neste, as well as Steve Ortiz of the Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University, Michael McEwen of B&H Academic, Eric Smith of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Lee Tankersley of Cornerstone Community Church.
The conference cost is $30 per person (which includes the sessions and three meals) before March 13 and $50 from March 14-19. Registration closes March 19. More information is available at www.uu.edu/centers/biblical/bible-conference/2026/.
The Ryan Center exists to promote thoughtful and disciplined reading, study, interpretation and application of the Bible in the church throughout the world. The center houses a model library for the study of the Scriptures, which is open to the public. Every year the center hosts a spring Bible study conference.