2011 Palmer Lecture

This weekend at SPU is the Racial Reconciliation and the Church conference. Whether or not you are able to attend, check out this lecture from the 2011 Palmer series on race, theology and the church. The Alfred S. Palmer Lecture annual event at SPU seeks to bring the best minds and hearts in Wesleyan Theology and Biblical studies to campus to discuss the Christian faith from a Wesleyan perspective. The lectureship is held in the honor of Alfred Palmer, a minister and ministry leader in Western Washington for more than 50 years. 

In a Global World, Who Is My Neighbor?

Join us as professor of sociology, Kevin Neuhouser, outlines the pros and cons of globalization and three challenges for the American church in his 2004 Weter Lecture. [Audio] [Video]

Day of Common Learning 2010

Changing China: Associate Professor Doug Downing explores the story of how China has recently changed and the role of microcredit in providing opportunities for the poor. Associate Professor of Economics. Part 1 [Video] Part 2 [Video]

The Global Food System and India: Food Security vs. Food Sovereignty: Professor Kevin Neuhouser discusses the possibilities of ending world hunger through maximizing food production and strategies that focus on local, organic, and native foods. [Video]

Today’s Persecuted Church: Associate Professor Don Peter discusses the cultural, political, and religious motivations of global Christian persecution. [Video]

Who Is My Neighbor?: Associate Professor Michelle Beauclair and Instructor Andrea Taylor-Brochet discuss the stance of Christian Roma community members, how Christian groups have responded to the Roma expulsion, and what we can learn from this about our interactions with people who are culturally different from us. [Video]

Signs and Wonders: Communications Specialist Julia Siemens and SPU students Emily Morehouse and Rachel Smith tell stories of miraculous things they witnessed in Bangalore. [Audio]

The Global Impact of Infectious Disease: What Can You Do?: Biology Professors Cindy Bishop and Derek Wood discuss the global impact of parasites and infectious diseases with a focus on the “Microbial Impact Project” assembled each year by students in the SPU BIO 3351 Microbiology course. [Video]

A Child Redeemed: ZOE Children’s Home, Chiang Mai, Thailand: SPU staff member Joyce Bhang portrays God’s redemptive work in Thailand through the life of a child rescued from the threat of human trafficking. [Video]

The World Comes to Seattle: Assistant Professors of Education Jorge Preciado and Tracy Williams discuss ideas on improving social and academic performance in multicultural education. [Video]

Art, Christianity, Global: Charis Boundary Crossings: Art Professor Roger Feldman examines the artistic cultural exchange, hosted by the Nagel Institute and CCCU, that converged in Yogyakarta and Bali on Java, Indonesia in June of 2008. [Video] [Audio]

Energy Poverty: Associate Professors of Physics Lane Seeley and John Lindberg discuss the ways in which availability of energy resources influences a community’s ability to meet basic human needs and provide opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth. [Video] [Audio]

Our Top Ten List of Amazing Good News from India: Professor of Geography Kathleen Braden and Al Erisman, Executive in Residence discuss ten economic and social phenomena from India that create encouragement and hope regarding India’s future. [Video] [Audio]

SPRINT India: Transformative Mission Through Empowering Education: Owen Sallee, Michael Richards, and members of the Summer 2009 and 2010 India SPRINT teams share stories from their work with Operation Mobilization and the Dalit Freedom Network, empowering members of India’s lowest caste through schools and education. John Perkins Center. [Video] [Audio]

Kingdom Without Borders: Global Christianity in the 21st Century: Professor of Global Ministries Miriam Adeney explores Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist countries, as well as Latin American and African, and provides a glimpse of the backstory of her new book Kingdom Without Borders. [Audio]

Embassy Doorways for Orphan Nation: Assistant Professor of Education Richard Scheuerman and 2004 Alum Richard Moore share information on challenges and opportunities to place over a thousand orphans in Christian homes in their native country across Eastern Europe. [Audio]

Theology and Disability: An Interdisciplinary Approach

The SPU Theology Student Union sponsored a forum titled “Theology and Disability: An Interdisciplinary Approach” where keynote speaker Dr. Amos Yong, the J. Rodman Williams professor of theology at Regent University, “provides an interdisciplinary perspective for the forging of a more relevant and truthful theology of disability, not only for people with disabilities, but also for the church’s mission and discursive.” February 18, 2010. [Audio] [Video]

2009 Darwin Symposium

A series of discussions examining Charles Darwin’s influence in a variety of fields and exploring the application today of contemporary theories of evolution.

Darwin in Social and Historical Context Emeritus Associate Professor of Psychology Del McHenry talks about Darwin’s life history, personality, and work; Associate Professor of History Rod Stiling discusses On the Origin of Species in the history of science; and Associate Professor of Philosophy Patrick McDonald presents “On the Friendship of Darwin, Design, and Creation.” November 10, 2009. (1:19:09) [Video]

Taking Up Darwin in His Own Time: Church and Culture Associate Professor of English Christine Chaney talks about “Lady Novelists, Evolution, and the ‘Natural History’ of Real Life,” and Associate Professor of Christian Ministry Jeff Keuss discusses “Thomas a’ Kempis and Darwin: Death, Life, and Evolution in Victorian Theology.” November 12, 2009. (1:04:49) [Video]

Darwin and 21st Century Biological Sciences Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Long discusses “Evolution, Ecology, and Endangered Species”; Associate Professor of Biochemistry Ben McFarland discusses “What Good Is Evolution? How Darwin’s Theory Helps Us, From Termites to Proteins”; and Professor of Biology Tim Nelson presents “Endosymbiosis, a Combination of Darwinian and Non-Darwinian Evolution?” November 17, 2009. (1:07:21) [Video]

Darwin and 21st Century Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate Professor of Biology Cara Wall-Scheffler talks about “Closing Gaps in the Fossil Record? The Recent Lessons of Ardipithecus and The Emergence of Human Bipedality”; Assistant Professor of Psychology Bane Craft discusses “Evolutionary Psychology: The Role of Comparative Psychology in Understanding Human Behavior”; and Dean of the School of Psychology, Family, and Community Míchéal Roe addresses “Emergence,” human behavior, and worldviews. November 19, 2009. (1:20:25) [Video]

Palmer Lecture: Is Christ Divided? Locating the Possibility of the True Church

Wycliffe College Professor of Historical Theology Ephraim Radner describes the oneness of the Church in respect to historical reality and Christian truth-claims, challenging Christian witness and self-identity. March 10, 2009. [Audio] [Video]

The Gospel, the Church, and Its Mission

John Perkins, President of the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development, presents the Gospel story as the source of God’s mission for the church. Reconciliation requires love and service in action and involves the entire church, not just isolated individuals. April 7, 2009. (35:35) [Audio]

Ash Wednesday Service

Professor of Moral and Historical Theology Rick Steele presents the historical and theological background of Ash Wednesday and Lent and ways in which that liturgical season engages people today. February 25, 2009. (16:06) [Audio]

Studying the Beatitudes

Blessed are the Hungry Professor of Theology Randy Maddox explores the meaning of communion in relationship with Jesus’ blessing of the hungry, encouraging listeners to find in Jesus ‘food’ for the journey. October 7, 2000. (19:45) [Audio]

Blessed are the Meek Medical missionary Christine Stine interprets the beatitudes as a call to service, to love and comfort others, especially in their hardship. October 10, 2000. (20:18) [Audio]

Blessed are the Merciful Michael Muto explores the Gospel’s understanding of mercy, arguing that compassionate mercy, not accusation, leads to and comes before genuine change. October 24, 2000. (21:01) [Audio]

Blessed are the Pure in Heart Associate Pastor of First Free Methodist Church Bonnie Brann Examines the tradition of All-Saints’ Day. October 31, 2000. (20:21) [Audio]

Blessed are the Peacemakers Global humanitarian advocate Robert Seiple argues that peacemaking is an essential part of the Christian identity, including the call to reconciliation and concern for injustice. November 7, 2000. (23:37) [Audio]

Blessed are the Persecuted Former pastor and Vice President of Church Relations with World Vision Inl. Steve Haas urges the western church to embody the biblical values of the persecuted Church, letting go of the need for comfort and replacing it with God’s love. November 14, 2000. (16:39) [Audio]

Advent | Dilemma of Captivity | Potok

Recent Features:
Advent Chapel Pastor Sara France encourages Christians to avoid the trap of consumerism and instead spend time pursuing a soul connection with Jesus. November 27, 2007. (21:34) [Audio]

The Dilemma of Captivity Pastor Richard Dahlstrom talks about forming covenant relationships with others so that Christians might be a blessing and that God’s character will be made visible through the Christian community. October 3, 2007. (27:13) [Audio]

SPU Classics:
Cultural Confrontation: Wrestling with Rebellious Stories Author Chaim Potok shares about his writing career and discusses how stories help us encounter truth outside of our cultural traditions. October 29, 1997. (49:30) [Audio]