Distinguished religious leaders from across the country and abroad will converge on the Yale Divinity School and the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale for the institutions' annual convocation, Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 7-9.
"An important aspect of Yale Divinity School's mission is to serve both the Church and the University through engaged scholarship," says Divinity School Dean Richard Wood, who assumed his post on July 1. "This year's Convocation Week at the Yale Divinity School brings to Yale University public presentations by outstanding scholars and speakers from Africa, Asia, Britain, other U.S. universities, and our own Law and Divinity Schools. I hope the New Haven and University communities will avail themselves of these remarkable opportunities."
The key speakers at the convocation will be:
David G. Buttrick, a minister of the United Church of Christ. He will deliver this year's Beecher Lectures on the topic, "The New and the Now: Speaking of God's New Order." Established in 1871, the Beecher Lectures are considered on of the most distinguished American lectureships in theology. The titles of the individuals talks are "Preaching God's Promises -- with Political Savvy," "Christ Crucified and Risen: 'Basileia' Redivivus" and "New and Now: The Problem of Now." An authority in the field of preaching, Mr. Buttrick is professor of homiletics and liturgics at the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University. He has written or edited 12 books, including his award-winning work, "Homiletic."
The Very Reverend Nicholas Thomas Wright, dean of Lichfield Cathedral in England and an renowned New Testament scholar. He will deliver the 1996 Shaffer Lectures on "The Resurrection of the Messiah." These talks will include: "The Resurrection of Jesus: A Historical Problem," "The Resurrection of Jesus and the Origin of Christianity" and "The Resurrection of Jesus and the Gospel Traditions." Dean Wright is author of 11 books; his most recent work is "Following Jesus: Biblical Reflection on Christian Discipleship."
Historian Mercy Amb Oduyoye, one of the leading African voices in Christian ecumenicity and a leader among women theologians worldwide. She will deliver the Ensign Lecture on "Religious Issues in the Creative Writings of West African Women." Ms. Oduyoye is an educator and noted lecturer, who has spoken at and presided over ecumenical events around the world. She is a historian of the Methodist missions to West Africa and their effect on Christianity in the region, a commentator on women's issues in Ghana and Nigeria, and author or editor of 14 books. She was deputy general secretary of the World Council of Churches in Geneva 1987- 94.
Ethicist James T. Laney, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea, who has spoken and written extensively on issues of higher education and the place of ethics in the professions. As this year's Sorensen Lecturer, Mr. Laney will discuss "Interests and Ethics." President of Emory University for 16 years, Mr. Laney was appointed as ambassador to the Republic of Korea by President Clinton in 1993. He holds three degrees from Yale: a B.A. 1950, B.D. 1954 and Ph.D. 1966.
Yale faculty members Brevard S. Childs, Sterling Professor of Divinity, and Robert A. Burt, the Alexander M. Bickel Professor of Law at Yale. Professor Childs, an authority on Old Testament studies, will present the Cheney Lecture, "Interpreting the Bible in the Midst of Cultural Change." Professor Burt will deliver the Bartlett Lecture, "Reconciling with Injustice." He is an expert in the fields of legal and medical ethics and has written widely on the rights of children, mental patients and prisoners.
In conjunction with the convocation, a Continuing Education Seminar, "Give to Live," will be presented by Douglas M. Lawson, a leader in fundraising for nonprofit organizations. Also during the event, the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale will present honorary degrees, and the Yale Divinity School will present its Alumnal Board Awards for Distinction. Worship services and alumni events are also planned. An exhibition, "American Missionary Eyewitnesses to the Nanjing Massacre, 1937-1938," will be on view in the Day Missions Library. The exhibition includes letters, photographs and excerpts from witnesses' diaries.
All lectures are free and open to the public. Preregistration is required for the dinners. For a schedule of events, additional information, or dinner reservations, call the Divinity School at 432- 5303.