Robert Franklin, Jr. to Give Annual Christy Lecture, Jan. 31

Westminster College will host Dr. Robert Franklin, Jr., renowned author and professor, to give the 29th annual Dr. Wayne H. Christy Lecture at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 in the Wallace Memorial Chapel. The service is free and open to the public.

Franklin is a professor of moral leadership at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. and director of the religion department of the Chautauqua Institution in N. Y. He is president emeritus of Morehouse College from 2007 through 2012 where he served as the tenth president of the nation’s largest private, four-year liberal arts college for men.

He provides commentary for the National Public Radio (NPR) program, “All Things Considered,” and weekly commentary for Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasting Television.

Franklin earned a doctorate in ethics and society, and religion and the social sciences in 1985 from the University of Chicago. He earned a master of divinity degree in Christian social ethics and pastoral care in 1978 at the Harvard Divinity School and holds ordination in two Christian denominations: the American Baptist Churches USA and the Church of God in Christ. Franklin earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 1975 with a degree in political science and religion.

He also undertook international study at the University of Durham, UK, as a 1973 English Speaking Union Scholar and is the recipient of honorary degrees from Bethune Cookman University, Bates College, and Swarthmore College.

Franklin is the author of three books: “Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities (2007);” “Another Day’s Journey: Black Churches Confronting the American Crisis (1997);” and “Liberating Visions: Human Fulfillment and Social Justice in African American Thought (1990).” He has co-authored (Don S. Browning, et. al.) a volume titled, “From Culture Wars to Common Ground: Religion and the American Family Debate (2001).” He also penned the foreword to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, Letter from Birmingham Jail, reprinted by Trinity Forum in 2012.

The Wayne H. Christy Memorial Lecture series honors the late Dr. Christy, who was a long-time faculty member and chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Westminster College. As Dr. Christy dedicated his life to relating the heritage of faith to the emerging issues of a changing culture, the lecture series seeks out men and women who distinguish themselves by relating Christian faith to issues of contemporary life.

Contact Westminster's office of faith and spirituality at (724) 946-7117 or email chapel@westminster.edu for additional information.

More Stories