The MidWinter Lectures at Austin Seminary
Established in 1945, MidWinters is an annual lecture series, worship festival, and homecoming celebration. Each year, we gather to engage with luminaries in the fields of theology, the Bible, and other aspects of the Christian experience and to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow learners, old and new.
Save the date for the 2025 MidWinter Lectures! We are thrilled for what is sure to be another wholesome and winsome MidWinters featuring John Pavlovitz, Dr. Wendy Farley, and Dr. Reggie L. Williams as our lecturers, respectively.
While our lectures and worship will be live-streamed, the in-person experience—with lectures, Q&As, conversations, worship, and fun and relaxing social times—has been crafted to offer a lively and engaging connection with the lecturers and other participants. Make your plans now to join us in January!
Meet the Lecturers
Thomas White Currie Lecturer
John Pavlovitz
Writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina
Lecture Title
Turbulence is Coming: Preserving the Compassionate Activist Heart of JesusThe Thomas White Currie Lectures were first held in 1952. For many years the Tom Currie Bible Class of Highland Park Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas, sponsored this annual lectureship. In 2008 a generous gift from the Currie family established the Thomas White Currie Lectureship Endowed Fund which will underwrite them in perpetuity.
Robert F. Jones Lecturer
Wendy Farley
Director, Program in Christian Spirituality, Rice Family Professor of Spirituality at San Francisco Theological Seminary, part of the Graduate School of Theology at Redlands University
Lecture Titles
Quilting: Remembering Lost Voices of Contemplative Theology
Transitive Delight: a Contemporary Model for Contemplative Theology
The Robert F. Jones Lectures were established in 1949 by the Women of the Church of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth, Texas. They continue to fund the lecture in memory of their pastor of thirty-five years.
E.C. Westervelt Lecturer
Reggie L. Williams
Associate Professor of Black Theology and African American Studies at St. Louis University
Lecture Titles
The Problem of the Human as a Problem for Life Together Wholly Holy: A Black Artistic Suggestion for Christian EthicsThe E. C. Westervelt Lectures were established in 1949 by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Flato of Corpus Christi, Texas, in honor of the parents of Mrs. Flato.
MidWinters Guest Preacher
Eunbee Ham
Pastor, Madison Square Presbyterian Church - San Antonio, Texas
Sermon Title
Holding Hope with Duct Tape and a Worn-Down Faith
Program & Schedule Information
Schedule
Monday, January 27
4:00 p.m. Check-in and Registration - Vickery Atrium (McCord)
5:00 p.m. Welcome Reception & Meet the Lecturers - Vickery Atrium
6:20 p.m. Chapel Bells call to Worship
6:30 p.m. Worship: Rev. Dr. Eunbee Ham - Shelton Chapel
Tuesday, January 28
8:15 a.m. Coffee Fellowship - Wright Center Wardlaw Commons
8:45 a.m. Gathering Music - Wright Hall
9:00 a.m. First Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
9:40 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
10:00 a.m. Coffee Fellowship - Wright Center
10:30 a.m. First Westervelt Lecture: Dr. Reggie L. Williams - Wright Hall
11:10 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
11:30 a.m. Fellowship Luncheon (ticket required) - Stotts Hall
- Book Signing with Lecturers and Faculty Members
1:00 p.m. First Jones Lecture: Dr. Wendy Farley - Wright Hall
1:40 p.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
2:15 p.m. TinyTalks - Wright Center
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Lifelong Learning - Wright Hall
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787 Collective - Digital Education Center
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Admissions Office - Wardlaw Commons
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Contemplative Space - Shelton Chapel
3:30 p.m. Second Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
4:10 p.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
5:00 p.m. Alumni Fellowship - Vickery Atrium
5:30 p.m. Doors open - Alumni Dinner - (ticket required) - Stotts Hall
6:00 p.m. Alumni Celebration Dinner (ticket required) - Stotts Hall
Wednesday, January 29
8:15 a.m. Coffee Fellowship provided by Monkey Nest Coffee - Wright Center Wardlaw Commons
8:45 a.m. Gathering Music - Wright Hall
9:00 a.m. Second Westervelt Lecture: Dr. Reggie L. Williams - Wright Hall
9:40 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
10:00 a.m. Second Jones Lecture: Dr. Wendy Farley - Wright Hall
10:30 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
10:50 a.m. Coffee Fellowship - Wright Center
11:10 a.m. Third Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
12:00 p.m. Conclusion & Benediction: José R. Irizarry - Wright Hall
Livestream Schedule
Monday, January 27
6:30 p.m. Worship: Rev. Dr. Eunbee Ham - Shelton Chapel
Tuesday, January 28
9:00 a.m. First Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
9:40 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
10:30 a.m. First Westervelt Lecture: Dr. Reggie L. Williams - Wright Hall
11:10 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
1:00 p.m. First Jones Lecture: Dr. Wendy Farley - Wright Hall
1:40 p.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
3:30 p.m. Second Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
4:10 p.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
Wednesday, January 29
9:00 a.m. Second Westervelt Lecture: Dr. Reggie L. Williams - Wright Hall
9:40 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
10:00 a.m. Second Jones Lecture: Dr. Wendy Farley - Wright Hall
10:30 a.m. Q&A - Wright Hall
11:10 a.m. Third Currie Lecture: John Pavlovitz - Wright Hall
12:00 p.m. Conclusion & Benediction: José R. Irizarry - Wright Hall
2025 MidWinters Offering
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events. This year's MidWinter Lectures offering will be sent to PDA to use as needed to assist victims of recent disasters, including North Carolina floods and California fires.
Lodging Suggestions
There is no lodging available on the Austin Seminary campus during MidWinters.
Keep checking as new options may be added.
Location
Austin Seminary is in Central Austin, just north of the University of Texas campus at 100 East 27th Street, 78705. Lectures will take place on campus in the Wright Learning and Information Center and worship will be in Shelton Chapel.
Parking
All parking spaces on the Austin Seminary campus not noted as "Reserved" will be available for visitors to park for free.
Past MidWinters Photo Gallery
2025 ASA Award Recipients
Jim Collier
MDiv'69, DMin'84
Felicia Hopkins
MDiv'96
Cindy Mood
MDiv'15
Frank Ehman
MDiv'79