Spiritual Life

Willson Lectures

The late J.M. Willson and Mrs. Willson of Floydada, Texas, alumni of Southwestern University, established the Willson Lectureship in 1948. The lectures are directed at the student body and seek to significantly relate religious questions to social life and experience.

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Chronological Listing of Lecturers

2024-2025
Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli ’92
Senior Pastor, Foundry
“God ‘n Country, An Old Virus, and Doing the Right Thing”
October 28, 2024

2017-2018
Noor Tagouri
“Breaking Barriers Through Storytelling”
November 7, 2017
Press Release

2012-2013
Rev. Dr. Allan Boesak
Liberation Theologian and hero of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle
“Quietly Bringing Justice”
October 4, 2012

2011-2012
Rev. John Jenkins
President, University of Notre Dame
“Conviction and Dialogue in Contentious Times”
February 9, 2011

2010 - 2011
Robert Chlala
Campus Engagement Associate
Interfaith Youth Core
“Better Together: Interfaith Cooperation and Social Action for the 21 st  Century”
September 30, 2010

2007-2008
Dr. Cain Hope Felder
Chair, Howard University School of Divinity
“Rediscovering the Book: Biblical Justice in a Secular Society”
January 30, 2008

    

2006-2007
Arun Gandhi, keynote speaker
“Lessons from Grandfather in Peace and Social Justice “
October 11, 2006

Multi-Faith Panel on October 12, 2006 included: Mohamed-Umer Esmail, Mare Ellis, Nelin Hudani, Clayton Childers

2005-2006
Dr. Stanley Hauerwas ’62
Duke Divinity School
“The End of Religious Pluralism”
“Why No One Wants to Die in America”
September 29, 2005

2004-2005
Dr. Harold J. Recinos
SMU Perkins School of Theology
“He Walks With Us”
“God in a Dim Mirror: The Politics of Race in a Changing Society”
January 20, 2005

2003-2004
Dr. John Cook
Yale University
“Locating Sacred Space: Illustrated Lectures on Art and Architecture in the Christian Tradition”
April 15, 2004

2002-2003
Dr. Zan Holmes
St. Luke United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas
“Where Do We Go From Here: Community or Chaos”
January 23, 2003