Tuesday, September 29, 2015, 7:00 p.m.

Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, Butler University

The tragic events of Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 sparked a national conversation about race. In the following months the #blacklivesmatter movement gained momentum as a rallying cry for justice as more tragic events unfolded in Staten Island, McKinney, TX, Baltimore, and Charleston. Join us for the inaugural event in this year’s Religion and World Civilization Seminar brought to you by the Center for Faith and Vocation and the Desmond Tutu Center as we hear reflections on religion and racial justice from two noted religious scholars and activists.

Speakers:

Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey is the Associate Dean and Clinical Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Theology. A recognized human rights activist, Dr. Lightsey has done work related to LGBTQ human rights, racism, poverty and sexism. She has supported recent protests in Ferguson, Boston and Baltimore. Pamela’s publications include “Reconciliation,” in Radical Evangelical, and Our Lives Matter: A Queer Womanist Theology forthcoming Fall 2015.

 

Rev. Starsky D. Wilson is president & CEO of Deaconess Foundation, a faith-based grant making organization devoted to advancing child well-being in the St. Louis region, and pastor of Saint John’s Church (The Beloved Community). His visionary leadership has birthed such innovative initiatives as Young Blacks Give Back, The Beloved Community Conference, Sojourner’s Truth Celebration of Preaching Women and Deaconess’ Community Capacity Building Program. Rev. Wilson is co-chair of the Ferguson Commission,   charged to advance policies to strengthen the region following the death of Michael Brown, Jr. and community uprising.