Welcome to the 2021 Sprunt Lectures registration page
including registration for:

Dean McBride Memorial Service
2021 Trailblazer Award Ceremony
Planned Giving 101 Webinar
and Black Alumni Association Annual Meeting

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"No Longer Shall They Teach One Another: The End of Theological Education"

Our Sprunt Lecturer is Dr. Ted Smith, Professor of Preaching and Ethics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Dr. Smith also teaches in the Graduate Division of Religion at the Candler School and directs the Theological Education between the Times study.

Theological schools of every size and tradition are facing significant challenges today. At the root of these challenges is an epoch-marking shift in the ways individuals relate to institutions. The current model of theological school arose the last time we saw a shift of this magnitude in the United States. When churches were disestablished in the early national period, the modern American seminary took shape at the center of a rich culture of voluntary societies that fit with new social realities. Now voluntary societies of every kind are struggling. But—contrary to prominent scolds on the right and the left—the erosion of one way of coming together does not mean the end of all forms of community. New social movements and new ways of joining together are already emerging. The challenge for seminaries today is to discern faithful, life-giving relationships to these new patterns of sociality. Smith’s historical and social analysis unfolds always within a theological frame: theological education will continue, not because we get the model right, but because God longs to be known.

Preaching in our two services of worship are Rev. Meg Peery McLaughlin (M.Div., M.A.C.E.'05) and Rev. Jarrett H. McLaughlin (M.Div. '05, M.A.C.E. '06), who serve as co-pastors for University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Doug Brown, Adjunct Instructor of Music at UPSem-Richmond will assist as worship and music leader.