Upper House is pleased to host our first-ever Writer’s Retreat for university faculty and staff, 12 of whom will gather to learn and simply write July 27-31.

Scholarly, thoughtful writing requires time that is often in short supply amid the many demands of academic life. Competing responsibilities—teaching, research, mentoring, committee work, and presenting at conferences—often relegate writing to last place on priority lists. However, the act of writing enables scholars to develop and personalize their evolving ideas, such that their work resonates with deeper understanding. And writing with their audience in mind helps scholars be more effective in extending their ideas beyond the academy’s walls.

Upper House is bringing to our retreat Andy Le Peau, author of Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality (InterVarsity Press, 2019). Andy served as senior editor at InterVarsity Press for forty years, and his wealth of experience will benefit all our faculty guests, just as his book is likely to benefit all those interested in growing in self-expression.

Near the end of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi he wrote, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Those familiar with this exhortation understand that it is a charge to personal piety. But it is vastly more than that. It is call to right thinking, to the proper ordering of ideas, to training one’s mind to behold a virtuous life.

This, then, is the holy work that our small community of scholars will engage in the closing days of July. Writing, and the thoughtful research and attention it requires, is the type of work that can leave a mark on both those who birth ideas and those who read them. We look forward to seeing—and reading—what emerges from our first writer’s retreat, as our small group purposefully leans into the art of expression for holy reasons and academic excellence.

About Andy T. Le Peau

Andrew T. Le Peau is a writer and an editor living in the Chicago area. He was the long-time associate publisher for editorial at InterVarsity Press where he worked for over forty years. Before that he was a campus staff member for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, serving in the St. Louis area.

He is the coauthor of several Bible study guides including James and Ephesians in the LifeGuide Bible Study series, and author of Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. and Mark Through Old Testament Eyes.