Owen Wimberly Center for Continuing Education in Religion
Established in 2002,The Owen Wimberly Center for Continuing Education in Religion offers a variety of workshops and lectures for both clergy and laity on topics related to issues of ministry, theology, and religion. Annual lectures hosted by the Owen Wimberly Center include the Willson Lectures, Neustadt Lectures, and the Martha Jean Lemon Special Lectures. Continuing education units for clergy are available for all Owen Wimberly Center events. Rev. Rodney Newman serves as the Director of this center founded by Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF LECTURESHIPS:
Neustadt Lectures (2011 will mark the 28th year)
Mr.Walter Neustadt of Ardmore, Oklahoma, established the lecture series in 1983 for the purpose of strengthening understanding of the great contributions of the Judaic religious tradition to Western civilization and thought. Scholars are invited to the campus to speak on informative themes in the area of Hebrew Scripture,Judaic thought, and Jewish ethics and art. Such eminent scholars as Rabbi David Aaron, Rabbi Malka Drucker, David Nelson, and Stephen Norwood have spoken in recent years. Dr. Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor in the Department of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City will present the 2011 Neustadt Lectures on February 17.
Willson Lectures (2011 will mark the 58th year)
This lectureship is provided by an endowment from Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Willson of Floydada, Texas. The lectures are directed to the interests of students in the area of religion and society. The Willsons were outstanding members of the United Methodist Church. Their Christian vision was truly ecumenical in its outreach. Since 1953 their gift to Oklahoma City University has brought to campus speakers of international stature from the areas of religion, science,Christian theology and ethics, church history, biblical studies, and liturgical studies. Such eminent scholars as Wesley Wildman, Thomas Thangaraj, J. Philip Newell, and Gary Dorrien have spoken in recent years.
Martha Jean Lemon Lectures (2011 is the inaugural year)
These lectures are a gift from Lynette Lemon Wert and Larry H. Lemon in 2010 on behalf of the Lemon family of Oklahoma City and in honor of Martha Jean Lemon. Ms. Lemon was graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1968 with a degree in history and worked as an independent comparative religion scholar. The annual lecture series will feature speakers, workshops, or seminars on topics which promote religious leadership and service. The Rev. Dr. Robert Gorrell, Senior Pastor of Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City delivered the inaugural lectures in this series on March 31, 2011.
Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. and Dr. Amy Oden to present the 2012 Lemon Lectures
The Bible and the Church
February 16, 2012
Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. and Dr. Amy Oden will present the second annual Martha Jean Lemon Special Lectures. Presentations will be at the university chapel service at 1:00 p.m. followed by presentations at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
