Speakers Series 2021–2022

We are delighted to welcome a number of renowned authors and speakers to our church in the coming months and year! Each brings a wealth of wisdom and knowledge to bear on their areas of expertise, and we are eager to learn from them and grow together.

Collectively, this series represents where we feel like God is calling us as a community of faith: to work toward racial justice, to acknowledge the importance of both science and faith, and to be advocate for all of God's people.

Each of these lectures are free and open to the public. Speakers with two dates listed will deliver a lecture and Q&A on a Saturday, and then preach for us in our Sunday worship the following morning.

COVID PROTOCOL: Please see our up-to-date Covid protocol by clicking here. We will continue to update this as the pandemic continues to evolve.

We will share more specific details about each speaker as the dates approach. Click here to download the flyer.

2021 Dates

Cyrus Cormier - "Facing Our Fears About Racism"
Friday, October 1, 2021, 3:00–4:30pm
  • Cyrus Cormier is a father, husband, writer, speaker, mentor, and both a student and teacher in the principles of leadership.  Cyrus has worked as an executive in corporate America for the past 41 years and now retired where his focus is authoring the areas of legacy, social justice, religion, and poetry.  He is the author of the forthcoming book, Wandering Through the Fire.
  • Listen here for a teaser podcast ahead of Cyrus's lecture. Cyrus talks with our pastor about Cyrus's background, combating racism, and other topics.
  • Click HERE for a Zoom Link to join us virtually.
  • NOTE: At Cyrus's encouragement, we have lined up a local brass band to play a few songs prior to his lecture. They will start playing before 3pm and end shortly after. Would encourage you to show up about 15 minutes early or so if you'd like to enjoy listening to them!
Dr. Paul Wallace - Physicist, pastor, author of "Love and Quasars: An Astrophysicist Reconciles Faith and Science"
November 6–7th, 2021

Lecture: Saturday, 4:30–6:00pm - "An Ash Heap With a View: Science, Religion, and the Strangest Book in the Bible"
Star Party: Saturday evening, 7:00pm, in our church parking lot
Science Sunday: Sunday morning, 11:00am - Preaching on 1 Kings 19:1–18 (the prophet Elijah at Horeb; God speaks in the silence)
  • Dr. Wallace is a teacher, pastor, scientist, writer, and speaker. He teaches physics and astronomy at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and serves as Pastor for Adult Education at First Baptist Church of Decatur.
  • Find out more at https://www.pwallace.net.
  • Would love for you to watch this Youtube video by Dr. Wallace, "There's Something Holy Out There," too! It is excellent!
  • Our pastor Art recorded a wonderful conversation with Dr. Wallace about his background and interest in science and religion. Would love for you to listen to their podcast at this link.
  • Click HERE to watch the video of Dr. Wallace's lecture that we recorded!

2022 Dates

Dr. Lisa Wolfe - Professor of Religious Studies, author, speaker - "Uppity Women of the Bible"
February 5–6, 2022 (NOTE: This event will be postponed and rescheduled due to the omicron surge in Covid infections. Stay tuned for when we are able to reschedule with Dr. Wolfe!)

Lecture: Saturday, Time TBA
Sermon: Sunday morning, 11:00am
  • Dr. Wolfe has been teaching at Oklahoma City University since 2007. She is the author of a commentary on Ruth, Esther, Song of Songs, and Judith (2011), and more recently a commentary on Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) in the Wisdom Commentary Series (2020). She is also the author of a DVD series called "Uppity Women of the Bible."
  • Find out more at https://www.okcu.edu/directory/lisa-wolfe.
Dr. John Dominic Crossan - “The Challenge of Easter: The Execution and Resurrection of Jesus”
March 5–6, 2022 (Note: At this time, Dr. Crossan is planning to attend via Zoom out of an abundance of caution due to the pandemic. Participants will likely be able to attend either in-person or via Zoom as well. Stay tuned!)

Lecture: Saturday, Time TBA
Sermon: Sunday morning, 11:00am
  • John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus, How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, God and Empire, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, The Greatest Prayer, The Last Week, and The Power of Parable. He lives in Minneola, Florida.
  • Find out more at https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/john-dominic-crossan.
Rev. Jacqui Lewis - Pastor of Middle Collegiate Church, author "Fierce Love"
September 10–11, 2022

Lecture: Saturday, Time TBA
Sermon: Sunday morning, 11:00am
  • Jacqui is Senior Minister of Middle Collegiate Church, a multi-everything congregation in the East Village, NYC. She is the author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World (2021).
  • Find out more at www.jacquijlewis.com.
Brian Mclaren - Author, speaker, activist
November 5–6, 2022

Lecture: Saturday, Time TBA
Sermon: Sunday morning, 11:00am
  • Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. His newest book is Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and his next release, Do I Stay Christian? will be available Spring 2022.
  • Find out more https://brianmclaren.net.