Lectureships and Conferences
Lectureship and Conference Dates
Asbury Lectures on Christian Holiness
The Asbury Lectures on Christian Holiness aim to expound and promote Christian Holiness, one of the distinctive doctrines espoused by Asbury Theological Seminary. The lectures are administered by the Community Committee of the faculty, and offered in the first month of each academic year to underscore the centrality of the holiness message. Speakers have been drawn from among the faculty as well as from the larger holiness community.
Kingdom Conference
Kingdom Conference, a week-long even in October, provides a wide variety of campus experiences to expose the Asbury community to issues of justice, mercy and mission. The conference seeks to challenge and equip the Church to respond to the needs of the whole person and the whole world. Every year 20+ organizations come to the Kentucky campus to share the vision and message of the work they are doing on behalf of the kingdom of God. Speakers have included Ted Ward, Eugene Nida, Ron Sider, Tom Skinner, John Perkins, Tony Campolo, Ravi Zacharias, William Pannell, Jackie Pulinger, Ajith Fernando, Tom Sine, Sam Kamalesson, Richard Mouw, and Gary Haugen.
The theme for Kingdom Conference 2007 (October 22-26) is "Short Term Missions, Long-Term Results." The main speakers will be Dr. Miriam Adeney, Associate Professor of Global and Urban Ministries at Seattle Pacific University, and Dr. Robert Priest, Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Ryan Academic Lectureship
The Ryan Academic Lectureship brings to campus outstanding scholars in various fields of biblical and theological studies. Normally placed in November, these lectures are hosted alternately by the Area of Biblical Studies and the Area of Theological Studies. Past lecturers include C.K. Barrett, Stanley Hauerwas, James Luther Mays, Richard Foster, Thomas V. Morris, Jürgen Moltmann, J.I. Packer, William Willimon, Peter Stuhlmacher, Gordon Wenham, Thomas Oden, Martin Hengel and Richard B. Hays. Paul J. Griffiths delivered the lectures in 2001. The lectures have been underwritten since 1964 by Dr. and Mrs. Lowell Ryan, and continue in their memory.
Beeson Lectures in Biblical Preaching
The Beeson Lectures in Biblical Preaching were established through the Beeson bequest for the purpose of delineating, advocating and modeling excellence in biblical preaching. The lectures, which normally occur in February, were inaugurated in 1992 by Donald English.
Theta Phi Lectures
The Theta Phi Lectures are sponsored by the local chapter of Theta Phi, an international honor society in the field of religion. Normally occurring in March, the lectures alternate their focus between theological and biblical studies, year by year. Past lecturers include John Howard Yoder, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Elizabeth Achtemeier, James D.G. Dunn, Karlfried Froehlich, Geoffrey Wainwright and I. Howard Marshall and William J. Abraham.
Cessna Lectureship in Pastoral Counseling
The Cessna Lectureship in Pastoral Counseling was established in 1979 to address issues in pastoral counseling and family relations. The lectureship occurs every other April, alternating with the Freitas Lectureship. Underwritten by Mrs. Opal Cessna in memory of her husband, William C. Cessna, and his parents, the Cessna Lectureship has presented to Asbury’s campus such significant scholars as S. Bruce Narramore, Howard Clinebell, Edward E. Thornton, David Seamands and Edward Wimberly.
George & Elizabeth Freitas Lectureship
The George & Elizabeth Freitas Lectureship was established by Mrs. Elizabeth Freitas as a memorial to her husband, George Freitas, and as an expression of her interest in the training of a ministry on the highest level in spiritual attainment and practical achievement. The lectureship alternates year by year with the Cessna Lectureship in the month of April. The Freitas Lectureship brings to our campus scholars of note in the areas of Christian Ministries, Preaching and Worship, Sacred Music, Spiritual Formation, and Interdisciplinary Studies. Past lecturers have included James F. White, Raymond Bakke, James Earl Massey, Donald English, James W. Fowler, David Seamands and Bruce Leafbrad. The M. Crawford and Ada. B. Whitworth Endowed Concert Series provides the Seminary community with concerts performed by outstanding Christian artists.