Weatherly Heights Baptist Church

Howard Williams Speaker Series

Over the Years

The Howard Williams Speaker Series is a long-standing tradition at Weatherly. In striving to be a boldly inclusive, faithfully thinking and progressively Baptist witness in our community, we have hosted lecture series that have included Frank Tupper, Fisher Humphreys, Molly Marshall, Thomas Oord in past years, to name only a few. These events seek to challenge and encourage us and our community.

Speaker Series 2026

This year our series will feature Dr. David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University and Chair in Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (Free University, Amsterdam).  David P. Gushee is one of the most important Christian ethicists of the past thirty years. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than thirty books, including Kingdom Ethics, After Evangelicalism, Still Christian, The Moral Teachings of Jesus, and the landmark Changing Our Mind. Dr. Gushee has served as president of the American Academy of Religion, as well as the Society of Christian Ethics. He has addressed the most urgent moral challenges of our time: democracy and political integrity, LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, and the moral formation of Christian communities in the way of Jesus.

Speaker Series Agenda

Saturday, April 25

8:30am

Doors Open (Pastries and Coffee/Juice served in the Gathering Space)

9:00am

Opening Session
After Evangelism: A Journey to a New Faith. An Interview with Dr Gushee

10:15am

Break/Snacks

10:30am

Session Two
Marks of the Kingdom of God: What does God’s kingdom here on earth look like?

11:30am

Break for Lunch

11:45am

Lunch and community ministry discussions

1:30pm

Afternoon Session
Understanding Christian Nationalism/Reactionary Christianity and lessons learned along the way

2:30pm

Break and Snacks

2:45pm

Last Session
Open discussion with Dr Gushee. Your Questions Answered!  What do you want answered? What is your question?

3:30pm

Dismissal
Book Signing by Dr Gushee (limited books available for purchase)

Sunday, April 26

9:00am

Adult Sunday School Discussion with Dr Gushee
The Church’s Mission through a Kingdom of God lens (In Lighthouse with donuts/coffee).

10:10am

Morning Worship
Dr Gushee preaches