Academic Programs > Lifelong Learning > Lecture Series

The Festival of Theology Lecture Series (Spring)

The Festival of Theology is a combination of the Greenhoe Lectures and the Caldwell Lectures along with the annual Alum Reunion of all classes. The Festival is usually held in the spring. View the gallery of images from the previous Festival and Reunion! Or register online for events held during the Festival.

The Greenhoe Lectures

Dr. Theodore M. Greenhoe was a member of the Louisville Seminary class of 1934. In 1966, a lectureship in his honor was established by his congregation, Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland, Michigan.

Greenhoe Lecturers have included Prof. Rebecca S. Chopp of the Candler School of Theology, Prof. Nora Tubbs Tisdale of Princeton Theological Seminary, Prof. Karen Lebacqz of the Pacific School of Religion, Chaplain Frederick Streets of Yale University, poet/hymn-writer Dr. Brian Wren, Dr. Melva Costen of the Interdenominational Theological Seminary (ITC), Dr. Ulrich Mauser, professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, Dr. Eugene Peterson of Regent College in British Columbia, Albert C. Winn, President and Professor Emeritus of Louisville Seminary, Dr. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen of Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa., Ms. Katherine W. Paterson, an award-winning author, Jim Wallis, author, activist, and international commentator on ethics and public life.

The Caldwell Lectures

The Caldwell Lectures honor former Louisville Seminary President Frank H. Caldwell who served from 1936 through 1964.

Caldwell Lectures have included Prof. Don Browning of the University of Chicago Divinity School, Louisville Seminary alumnus Prof. Edward Farley of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Prof. Dorothy Bass of Valparaiso University, Prof. Emeritus John Dominic Crossan of DePaul University, Dr. Elsa Tamez of the Biblical Seminary of Latin America, Barbara Wheeler, president of Auburn Theological Seminary, Dr. Jacquelyn Grant of ITC, W. Eugene March of Louisville Seminary, Dr. Patrick D. Miller of Princeton Theological Seminary, The Rev. Dr. Craig R. Dykstra of Lilly Endowment, Inc., Dr. Rick L. Nutt of Muskingum College, and Luke Timothy Johnson, Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

The Edwards-Presler Lectures on Justice and Mission (Fall)

The Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship honors Dr. George Edwards and his wife, Jean. Dr. Edwards served Louisville Seminary for 27 years as Professor of New Testament. He died on June 2, 2010, at the age of 90. Together, Dr. and Mrs. Edwards shared a ministry that was active in Christian efforts for peace and social justice. In establishing the Edwards Lectureship, in 1986, the Louisville Seminary Board of Trustees expanded the purpose of the endowment to also support a visiting lecturer invited to the campus to teach a special course or to support programs in continuing or lay education. Over the years, this lectureship endowment has provided funds for a course dealing with racism and peacemaking.

Edwards Lecturers have included:

• J. Milburn Thompson, Ph.D., of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.
• Dr. Terry C. Muck of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.
• The Rev. Curtis Jones of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Md.
• Peace educator and jazz musician Mr. Harry Pickens of Louisville, Ky.
• Prof. Fr. Cyprian Davis, O.S.B of St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.
• Dr. Spencer Perkins and Dr. Chris Rice of Jackson, Miss.
• Prof. David Goatley of Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn.
• Dr. J. Alfred Smith of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif.
• Dr. William H. Wiggins Jr. of Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
• Prof. Joan M. Martin of The Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.
• Dr. Nancy J. Ramsay of Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas
• Dr. James B. McGinnis of the Institute for Peace and Justice in St. Louis, Mo.

In 2006, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary inaugurated the endowed Henry H. and Marion A. Presler Lectureship, which was established to honor the lifetime missionary service of the Presler couple and to inspire the Seminary community and its wider lifelong learning community about issues of global mission and the role of American denominations in their historical and present witness in mission.

Henry H. Presler and his spouse, Marion Constance Anders Presler, were missionaries, serving for a time as faculty members at Leonard Theological College in Jabalpur, Madya Pradesh, India. Henry Presler spent two years at Louisville Seminary before becoming a Methodist and transferring to Boston University School of Theology. This was during the time of the Great Depression when the Methodists were sending missionaries and the Presbyterians had suspended overseas activities due to financial constraints.

Presler treasured his earlier formation in theology and the practice of ministry at Louisville Seminary, and out of love and appreciation for his experience there, the Preslers left a bequest that Louisville Seminary endow a lectureship on mission, focusing on “American sending bodies.”

Presler Lecturers have included:

• Dana L. Robert, leading historian of Christian mission at Boston University School of Theology.
• Carlos Cardoi-Orlandi, Associate Professor of World Christianity, Columbia Theological Seminary.
• Alice Winter, Missionary and Professor at the Reformed University of Colombia, South America.
• Frances S. Adeney, William A. Benfield Jr. Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
• Canon Titus Presler, Th.D., D.D., Episcopal Missiologist, Writer, and Consultant