Pacific School of Religion

Closing Worship – Rev. Donna E. Allen ― A Womanist Query: Spirituality as Access Scripture: Matthew 9:20-22

In an Earl Lectures plenary session, leaders from churches and partner faith communities respond to the conference's theme, spiritual but not religious. Panelists include Tobin Belzer, Research Associate at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California; Rebecca Kim, Associate Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Ethnic Studies program at Pepperdine University; Ian Lawton, co-founder of SBNR.org (Spiritual But Not Religious) and Executive Minister of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan; Jim Mitulski, pastor of New Spirit Community Church, which meets on campus at the PSR chapel; and Mark Shibley, professor of sociology and environmental studies at Southern Oregon University. The discussion is moderated by PSR president Bill McKinney, and the invocation is led by Donnel Miller-Mutia, PSR assistant dean of students and community life.

In an Earl Lectures plenary session, a diverse and interreligious panel discusses women’s spirituality. Experts include Deena Aranoff, Assistant Professor of Medieval Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California; Fania Davis, a civil rights trial lawyer in Oakland, California; Sr. Marianne Farina, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley; Uzma Fatima Husaini, doctoral student in Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union; and Arisika Razak, program chair of the Women's Spirituality program at California Institute of Integral Studies. Invocation is led by Sharon MacArthur, chair of PSR's board of trustees.

To begin the annual Earl Lectures and Leadership Conference, PSR president William McKinney delivers a welcome and introduction speech. Dorsey Blake, Presiding Minister of The Church for The Fellowship of All Peoples, offers a reflection and invocation.

Boyung Lee, associate professor of educational ministries at PSR, addresses what emerging generations are looking for in mainline churches at the Earl Lectures, on Jan. 28, 2009.