February 8, 2008

Public Lectures: Judge Helen Shores Lee, Bishop William Willimon to Speak This Month

Helen Shores Lee To Give Fowler Lecture

Judge Helen Shores Lee will present the 2008 Marie NeSmith Fowler Lecture in Christian, Women and Leadership Studies at Samford University Thursday, Feb. 14.

Lee, circuit judge, Tenth Judicial Court of Alabama, will speak at 10 a.m. in Reid Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

"Judge Lee embodies the ideals of the Marie NeSmith Fowler Lecture and the Christian Women's Leadership Center at Samford," said CWLC director Dr. Carol Ann Vaughn.

"She is an excellent role model and has a wealth of experience and insight to share," Vaughn said of the woman who left her native Birmingham to earn a bachelor's degree from Fisk University and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.

After marrying and living in California, Lee later returned to Birmingham and graduated from Samford's Cumberland School of Law.

She has been a magistrate for the City of Birmingham, a member of the law firm of Shores and Lee, and a member of the Alabama State Ethics Commission, which she served as  chair during 1999-2000. In 2003, she became the first African-American woman judge in the civil division of the circuit court of Jefferson County.

A leader in a variety of civic and service organizations, Lee is chair of the Advisory Council of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Minority Health and Research Center.

"She is very generous with her time and support of young people," said Vaughn. "There is no one better suited than Judge Lee to speak to the issue of Christian Women's Leadership, not just academically, but from personal experience."

The Fowler lecture series honors Samford pharmacy alumna Marie NeSmith Fowler of Hartselle. It supports the CWLC's mission to provide learning opportunities for women to realize the fullest measure of their gifts in all areas of human endeavor.

Learn More:
CWLC and Helen Shores Lee

Willimon To Give Conger Lectures Feb. 19-21

Theologian, writer and preacher William H. Willimon will present the William E. Conger, Jr., Lectures on Biblical Preaching at Samford  University Feb. 19-21.

The annual series is presented by Samford's Beeson Divinity School.

Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, will preach on Feb. 19 and lecture on Feb. 20 and 21 at 11 a.m. each day in A. Gerow Hodges Chapel.

His theme will be "Preaching Salvation: Proclaiming Jesus Saves."

Considered one of America's best-known preachers, Willimon was named to his present post in 2004. For 20 years, he was Dean of the Chapel and professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, N.C.

Willimon is the author of almost 60 books, including the popular Worship as Pastoral Care. A 2005 study by the Pulpit and Pew Research Center found that Bishop Willimon is the second most widely read author by mainline Protestant pastors.

The worship service and lectures are free and open to the public. A by-reservation discussion luncheon will follow the Wednesday lecture. Luncheon tickets are $7.50. For reservations, call (205) 726-2731.

Learn More:
Bishop William Willimon