MidWinter Lectures
The 2021 MidWinter Lectures, January 25-27, will be completely VIRTUAL. We are hard at work designing an experience that will contain all the theological insight and community connection that MidWinters has provided for 76 years! Mark your calendars and REGISTER NOW.
SCHEDULE (All times Central Time Zone)
Monday, January 25, 1:00-4:45 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. worship
Tuesday, January 26, 1:00-4:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. worship
Wednesday, January 27, 10:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
2020 Commencement Celebration: Wednesday, January 27, 2:30 p.m.
Thomas White Currie Lecturer
Scott Black Johnston
"Good News for the Great Awokening:
Gospel Truths for the Frightened, the Angry, and the Hyper-Aware"
The Reverend Scott Black Johnston has been pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City since 2008. He was the Jean Brown Associate Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics at Austin Seminary (1998-2003) and served as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta (2003-2008). A prolific writer and preacher, his sermons and articles are broadly available; his most recent books include contributions in Bread for All (Church Publishing, 2020) and as editor for Questions Preachers Ask (WJK, 2016). He holds degrees from St. Olaf College, Yale University Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary and serves on the Board of Advisors at Yale Divinity School.
Robert F. Jones Lecturer
Carol Howard Merritt
"From Plague to Pandemic: What Julian of Norwich Teaches us about Suffering, Labor, and Wellness"
The Reverend Carol Howard Merritt (MDiv’98) is pastor of Bedford Presbyterian Church in Bedford, New York. She speaks on contemporary Christian issues from a national platform (UNCO, God Complex Podcast, Christian Century) and is the author of five books including Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God after Experiencing a Hurtful Church (HarperOne, 2017) and 30-Day Journey with Julian of Norwich (Broadleaf Books, forthcoming). She has taught at Dubuque Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary and served churches in Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Louisiana. She is a 2020 Distinguished Alumna of Austin Seminary.
E.C. Westervelt Lecturer
Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi
"When Old Answers Do Not Answer New Questions: Uncharted Territory in the World of Enchantment, Christian Theology, and Ministry"
Reverend Dr. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi is Frederick E. Roach Professor of World Christianity at Baylor University. He is a scholar in world Christianity and mission studies and previously taught at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, and Columbia Theological Seminary. He holds degrees from The University of Puerto Rico, Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has contributed to more than a dozen books, in English and Spanish, including his most recent (English translation) Religion, Religions and Theologies of Religions: Historical Contributions from Latina/o and Latin-American Perspectives (Abingdon, forthcoming). He is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Puerto Rico.
MidWinters Preacher
Kaci Clark-Porter
The Reverend Kaci Clark-Porter (MDiv’10), along with her spouse, The Reverend Holly Clark-Porter, serves as co-pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in El Paso, Texas. Prior to their move to El Paso last year, Kaci served as the associate pastor of First & Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. She has contributed worship materials and essays to Call to Worship, the journal published by the Office of Theology & Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She was a Jean Brown Fellow and Student Body President at Austin Seminary.
Special Guests
Lyndon Olson
The Honorable Lyndon Olson is former United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden (1997-2001). He has had an extensive and influential career in business and diplomacy. He served in the Texas House of Representatives (1973-78), from 1979 to 1987, he was Chairman of the Texas State Board of Insurance, and in 1982 served as President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He worked for Citigroup between 1990-1998. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Austin Seminary.
Moderator
Robert Lowery
Pastor, Fondren Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi
Reverend Dr. Robert Lowery (MDiv’01), has served Fondren Presbyterian Church since 2017. He serves as part of the leadership of Mississippi’s statewide chapter of Everytown for Gun Sense in America/Moms Demand Action and is a co-organizer of the new Mississippi Gender and Sexual Diversity Interfaith Collective. He is on the Worship Exam Team of the PC(USA) Presbyteries Cooperative Committee on Examinations which writes the standard ordination exams for all PC(USA) candidates for ministry.
Come for MidWinters, Stay for Commencement!
A Service of Blessing Honoring the Commencement of the Class of 2020 will take place following Midwinters on Wednesday, January 27, at 2:30 p.m. (CST). In order for family and friends to participate, they will need to register through the Hopin app (link to come) and sign up for a virtual ticket for Midwinters. You do not have to attend Midwinters in order to participate in Commencement, but you are welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of the lectures and worship services if you sign in to the event. Commencement will be a recorded service, and there will be live breakout groups following it to allow family and friends to congratulate the graduates.