Wallace Chappell Lecture: February 28, 2011
Perkins School of Theology hosts the 2011 Wallace Chappell Lecture on February 28, 2011, starting with registration at 8:30 a.m. Featured speakers include Rev. Jeff Kirby, Minister of Discipleship and Men’s Ministry at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, and Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath, McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism and director of the Center for Missional Wisdom at Perkins School of Theology.
The event theme is “Good News, Gender, and Discipleship Formation.” Rev. Kirby will speak on “Evangelizing Men in a Culture of Noncommitment,” while Professor Heath will address “Evangelism in a Culture of Violence Against Women.” According to Heath, popular books such as Why Men Hate Church miss the point by urging churches to “muscle up” or “stop feminizing worship” and other advice that disrespects women and men. “In this day together,” Heath adds, “Jeff Kirby and I seek to bring pastoral experience and wisdom to the real issues of gospel-bearing, and discipleship, and gender.”
A panel discussion in the afternoon features Professor Hugo Magallanes, associate professor of Christianity and Cultures at Perkins, Rev. Mai Li, and Rev. Ceciliah Igweta. William B. Lawrence, dean of Perkins School of Theology and Professor of American Church History, believes the lecture is timely and important. “It will offer a lively, informed, and engaging presentation,” Lawrence says, “that can help pastors and other Christian leaders think critically and constructively about issues related to evangelism and gender.”
The 2011 Wallace Chappell Lecture will be held in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall at Perkins School of Theology, beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m. after the panel discussion. A $25 per person registration fee, payable by check or cash, includes lunch. Free parking will be available on Bishop Boulevard.
The Wallace Chappell Lecture is supported by an endowment gift from The Wallace Chappell Ministries, Inc., through The Foundation for Evangelism , in honor of Wallace and Mary Frances Chappell. Wallace Chappell was a pastor and evangelist serving churches in the Holston, Western North Carolina, and North Texas Conferences of The United Methodist Church.