San Francisco Theological Seminary continues a treasured tradition by scheduling the T.V. Moore Lectures during Alumni Reunion Weekend April 19-20.
The theme of the 2012 T.V. Moore Lectures is “Varieties of Christian Experience in a Diverse World.” Current and former SFTS professors, Rev. Dr. James Noel and Rev. Dr. Philip Wickeri, will offer insight into theological education, current research and ecumenical opportunities.
Here’s a look at the topics for their presentations:
Thursday April 19
10:15-11:45 a.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 1
“Unreconciled Diversity: Conflict and Contestation in World Christianity”
Rev. Dr. Philip Wickeri, PhD, DD
Reconciled diversity has been described as the pattern of the new ecumenism. But Christianity is not only a conversation among differences of faith and belief; it also involves conflict and contestation over Christian faith and practice. There are diversities that cannot be reconciled. In this lecture, we will explore sources and patterns of inter-Christian conflict and contested area of Christian belief.
Thursday, April 19
2:30-4 p.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 2
“The Colonial Structures of Religious Difference”
Rev. Dr. James Noel, PhD
Describing is not the same thing as accounting for “difference.” The category “difference” raises the issue of who establishes the “norm” from which it is experienced and either valued or devalued. This also pertains to religious difference. In this lecture, Noel will describe how colonialism determined the material and epistemological structures of religious difference in modernity and produced the “civilized-primitive” polarity of Christian missions.
Friday April 20
10:15-11:45 a.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 3
“The Diversity of Christian Practice in World Christianity”
Rev. Dr. Philip Wickeri, PhD, DD
There are different approaches to the practice of Christian faith and worship, different ways of “Christian doing.” In this lecture, Wickeri will introduce six modalities or forms of Christian religious practice, drawing on his study of Chinese religious life, but extending this to the study of world Christianity. The focus throughout is on identifying different forms of Christian practice, for individuals and communities.
Friday, April 20
2-3:30 p.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 4
“The Phenomenology of Spirit in the Global Political Economy”
Rev. Dr. James Noel, PhD
Religious difference can be discussed in terms of distinctive modes through which communities experience, imagine and describe the unseen as the realm of Spirit. Max Weber described its in secular society as “disenchantment.” For Georg Hegel and Adam Smith, Spirit unfolded in history and the economy, respectively. In this lecture, Noel will discuss Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit in relation to Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations to demonstrate the experiential problem the West has with pneumatology in contrast with its colonized Others.
Lecturer Biography
Rev. Dr. James Noel, PhD
James Noel, Professor of American Religion and the H. Eugene Farlough, Jr./ California Chair of African American Christianity at San Francisco Theological Seminary, is also an accomplished painter, renowned preacher and pastor. He is the founder and convener of the GTU's Black Church/Africana Religious Study Program and teaches: History, Religions & Cultures of the African Diaspora; African American Biblical Interpretation; and African American Social, Political & Religious Thought in addition to the required course in Modern World Christianity at SFTS.
Noel has served as pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City, Calif., as well as interim calls at Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Calif., and presently at New Liberation Presbyterian Church in San Francisco.
His published works include Black Religion & the Imagination of Matter in the Atlantic World; The Passion of the Lord: African American Reflections [co-edited]; and Onesimus Our Brother [co-edited]. He has also definitive articles in the Encyclopedia of Religion and the Encyclopedia of American Religion, respectively, on "African American Religion" and African American Religious Thought." Noel's play, The Black Experience in Poetry and Song, has been performed nationally and internationally.
His current research investigates modernity through an interrogation of the Western art cannon from the vantage point of the African Diaspora. In so doing Noel seeks to establish reciprocity between the gaze of the former colonizer and colonized.
Lecturer Biography
Rev. Dr. Philip Lauri Wickeri, PhD, DD
Philip Wickeri is Advisor to the Archbishop on Theological and Historical Studies, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican-Episcopal). He teaches at the Ming Hua Theological College and is Honorary Chaplain at St. John’s Cathedral (Hong Kong). He is also Adjunct Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif.
From 1998-2009, he was the Flora Lamson Hewlett Professor of Evangelism and Mission at San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union, where he taught in the areas of mission, interdisciplinary studies and world Christianity. From 1985-98, Wickeri served as the Overseas Coordinator for the Amity Foundation, based in Nanjing, China. He has taught and lectured widely in China, as well as at a number of universities and theological seminaries in Asia. Wickeri was ordained deacon and priest by Bishop K. H. Ting at St. Paul’s Church in Nanjing in 1991.
Wickeri is writing a book on the history of Anglicans in China, and editing a book series on Anglicanism in China for the Hong Kong University Press. He is also at work on a biographical study of Mr. Zhao Puchu (1907-2000), a Buddhist leader and prominent calligrapher in China, and is part of the “History of the Christian Movement During the Cold War,” an ecumenical study project. His research interests focus on the history of Christianity in China; religion, culture and politics in modern and contemporary China; and religion and theology in relationship to globalization and religious pluralism.
He received his PhD in Religion and Society (magna cum laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1985. Wickeri has written and edited a number of books and essays on mission, Christianity in China and contextual theology. His most recent book is Reconstructing Christianity in China: K. H. Ting and the Chinese Church (Orbis Books, 2007), which was named one of the 15 outstanding books of 2007 in Mission Studies by the International Bulletin of Missionary Research. Wickeri was a Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology (2005-06) and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, by the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 2005. He is co-editor of Chinese Religious Life: Culture, Society and Politics (Oxford University Press, 2011). He is on the editorial advisory board of several journals, including Contact/Zone Explorations in Intercultural Theology.
Lectures Schedule
Thursday, April 19
9:45-10:15 a.m. Registration – Alexander Hall
10:15–11:45 a.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 1 – Alexander Hall
12-12:30 p.m. Worship - Stewart Chapel
12:45–2:15 p.m. Luncheon – Alexander Hall
2:30–4 p.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 2 – Alexander Hall
4:00-5:30 p.m. Break
5:30-6 p.m. Faith and the Common Good Reception – Alexander Hall
6–7 p.m. Faith and the Common Good Dinner – Alexander Hall
7:15 p.m. Faith and the Common Good Lecture – Alexander Hall
Friday, April 20
9:45-10:15 a.m. Registration – Alexander Hall
10:15 a.m.–11:45 p.m. T.V. Moore Lecture 3 – Alexander Hall
12-12:30 p.m. Worship - Stewart Chapel
12:45–1:45 p.m. Luncheon – Alexander Hall
2–3:30 p.m. TV Moore Lectures 4 – Alexander Hall
On-Campus Meals
SFTS will be serving lunch and dinner Thursday and lunch on Friday. Please indicate which meals you would like to attend in the registration form. Also remember to indicate if you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, low-salt, gluten, etc.) on the registration form.
On-Campus Accommodations
We have limited on-campus lodging available, so please make your reservations early by indicating your request on the attached registration form or by calling 415.451.2830. Guest lodging will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. Baird Hall, $50 per room, per night (single/double occupancy). Dormitory housing, shared baths and ADA accessible.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be received in writing before Wednesday, April 11, in order to receive a full refund. No refunds will be given for cancellations processed after April 11.
Off-Campus Accommodations
There are several wonderful hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts in close proximity to the San Anselmo campus. For additional listings, please contact the Marin County Visitors Bureau toll free at 1 (866) 925-2060 or www.visitmarin.org for more options.
Best Western Corte Madera, just off Highway 101. (415) 924-1502
Courtyard by Marriott Larkspur Landing, just off Highway 101. (415) 925-1800
Embassy Suites San Rafael, just off Highway 101. (415) 499-9222
Four Points by Sheraton San Rafael, just off Highway 101. (415) 479-8800
San Anselmo Inn in the heart of downtown San Anselmo. (415) 455-5366
Campus Addresses
Alexander Hall is located at 40 Kensington Road, San Anselmo.
Stewart Chapel is on located in Geneva Hall, which is located on top of the hill in the large white building on campus.
Montgomery Chapel is located at 5 Richmond Road, San Anselmo.
Baird Hall is located at 30 Waverly Road or across the street from Alexander Hall (40 Kensington).
Transportation
SFTS is about an hour away from both San Francisco International and Oakland Airports. If you prefer to take an airporter bus or a shuttle we recommend a few providers. From SFO, you can take either the Marin Airporter (visit www.marinairporter.com or call 415-461-4222) to the Central San Rafael Transit Center and from there you can take a 10 minute cab-ride to SFTS. Another option is the Marin Door-to-Door Shuttle (visit www.marindoortodoor.com or call (415-457-2717), which will drop you off directly at the Seminary and can pick you up directly at the Seminary. Marin Door-to-Door also goes to/from OAK for your convenience.
