The Robert McAfee Brown Lectureship
Dr. Larry Rasmussen to speak on
EcoTheology and Environmental Ethics
November 4-6, 2011
Dr. Larry Rasmussen, one of the world’s foremost Christian environmental ethicists, is the Robert McAfee Brown lecturer for 2011. He has mentored a generation of Christians in ecotheology and “green religion” and spearheaded the “greening” of the Union Theological Seminary. His courses and scholarship are rooted in the practice of environmental justice.
Dr. Rasmussen is Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, and is currently directing a ten-year project on Earth-Honoring Faith at Ghost Ranch. He has published more than a dozen books, including the award-winning Earth Community, Earth Ethics, which will be available for purchase throughout the Lectureship.
A good introduction to his ideas is a recent article in Sojourners Magazine entitled "An Earth Honoring Faith."
Please join us for any or all of the weekend’s events. Childcare will be provided, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This year’s schedule is:
Friday, Nov 4th (suggested donation: $10)
7:30-8:45pm Keynote: Gimme Some New Time Religion (Sanctuary)
8:45-9:30pm Reception (Fellowship Hall)
Saturday, Nov 5th (Fellowship Hall, suggested donation: $20, includes lunch)
8:30-9:00am Coffee, snacks, sign-in
9:00-noon Presentation and discussion: Soil and Soul
Film: Journey of the Universe
noon-12:45 Salad luncheon
12:45-2:00pm Presentation: Water: Sacrament or Commodity
Sunday, Nov 6th ( Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary, no fee)
9:15-10:15am Adult Study: Earth-Honoring Faith: The Ghost Ranch Project
10:30-11:30 Prompting: New Wineskins Luke 5: 35-39
NOTE: Our Sunday morning Adult Study sessions before and after the lectureship will also discuss EcoTheology and Environmental Ethics. They are free and open to all. Click here for more details.
Oct 30: Intro to Dr Rasmussen’s Ideas
Nov 13: Where Do We Go From Here?
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The Robert McAfee Brown Lectureship Series was inspired by theologian and activist Robert McAfee Brown, a member of First Presbyterian Church for many years. He envisioned the lectureship series as an opportunity for sharing lively theological discourse about challenging topics. Funding originated with a generous grant from congregation member Ruth English and is now provided by the First Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund.
The yearly lecture takes place in November at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto. Watch this space for more information.
Speakers in the series have included:
2010 Diana Butler Bass
2009 Alice Parker
2008 Marcus Borg
2007 Rita Nakashima Brock
2006 Rabbi Michael Lerner
2005 Walter & June Keener Wink
2004 Naomi Tutu
2003 Tom Hunter
2002 Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
2001 Janet Wilson
2000 Elaine Ens & Ched Myers
1999 Katherine Paterson
1998 Dorothee Soelle
