And Discernment Conversations Open to Persons of African Descent
“Do You Want to be Well? ‘Cause Wholeness Ain’t No Trifling Thing”
The Trout Lectures honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Nelson W. Trout (1920-1996). He was a Trinity Lutheran Seminary alumnus, a member of the Trinity faculty, and the first African American elected to serve as a Lutheran bishop. His vibrant preaching and commitment to social ministry inspired hundreds of seminary students and touched thousands of lives. As always, this year's Lectures are held in his honor.
In addition to this year's Lectures, we are honored to host Discernment Conversations, which are open to persons of African descent and cosponsored by the Seminaries of the ELCA with financial support from the Richard Hay Barkalow Charitable Fund of the InFaith Community Foundation.
The Lectures
The Discernment Conversations
The Lectures
April 29-30
This event is open to all.
Register Here
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The Discernment Conversations
April 30 1pm and/or 8pm ET
This event is open to persons of African descent.
Register Here
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Schedule of Events
Thursday, April 29th
3:00-5:00 PM ET: Welcome, Opening, and Plenary Address from Dr. Beverly Wallace
7:00-9:00 PM ET: The Future of Theological Education featuring "Ted" Style Talks from Ms. Denise Rector (Ph.D. Student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago), the Rev. Kevin Vandiver (PhD. student at Princeton Theological Seminary), and Pastor Brian Foulks (Ph.D. student at Chicago Theological Seminary)
Friday, April 30th
10:30-11:30 AM ET: Worship
1:00-2:15 PM ET: Discernment Conversation Event (Open to Persons of African Descent). Facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Kevin Dudley and featuring an esteemed panel of ELCA Leaders of African Descent
2:30-3:30 PM ET: Conversation about Womanist Theology
3:30-4:30 PM ET: Bible Study on Discernment and Vocation and Conversation with ELCA Seminary Students, facilitated by student leaders from Luther Seminary and Wartburg Seminary (Registration is required, as this session will take place in a private Zoom room. Please register here.)
8:00-9:15 PM ET: Discernment Conversation Event (Open to Persons of African Descent). Facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Kevin Dudley and featuring an esteemed panel of ELCA Leaders of African Descent
Discernment Conversations Details
This year’s Trout celebration will also include Discernment Conversations open to persons of African Descent, facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Kevin Dudley, professor of Church and Society at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. These Discernment Conversations are open to leaders, lay persons, students, professionals, and any other person of African Descent. Discernment is a lifelong process, often with starts, stops, delays, adjustments, and changes. Discernment interacts with work, education, family, and every other part of our lives. Dr. Dudley will facilitate conversation about discernment and personal experiences of the discernment journey.
Plenary Speaker
This year, Trinity is honored to welcome the Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace, a clergywoman and Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a womanist scholar, she is passionate about the wholeness of all people. In addition to service in the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, Dr. Wallace has extensive experience as a university and hospital chaplain. As a therapist, she has supported women and children experiencing homelessness, social justice leaders, and efforts to heal racial trauma. Her publications and research focus on trauma, grief, and loss in the African American community.
Guest Speakers
Denise Rector is a PhD student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, focusing on womanist theology, race, and history. She earned her Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Kevin Vandiver (he/him/his) is a PhD Candidate for Practical Theology with a concentration in Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary. Kevin currently serves as a deployed Assistant to Bishop Paul Egensteiner in the Metropolitan New York Synod.
Brian Foulks currently resides in Fayetteville, NC. He is a PhD. student in Black Religious Thought and Culture at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is married to Vanessa Foulks, who is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. They are the parents of five children and one granddaughter.
Support the Trout Endowment
The Nelson W. Trout Lectures are, in part, endowment supported. To support the Trout Lectures, please give online.
Please note: When asked for designation, select "Other" and then write in "Trout Endowment"
Contact
Please email Tori McGraw-Rowe with questions or call 614-236-6612.