Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture 2011

The 6th Annual Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture
Sunday, September 18 – Monday, September 19, 2011

Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon

The Katie Geneva Cannon Lectureship is an annual program of the Women’s Center at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary presented by a woman scholar who belongs to a racial ethnic minority in the United States and who raises a critical voice against the dominant oppressive structures and ideologies of the era. In naming the lectures after Dr. Cannon we intend to honor one of the Black Women pioneers, the first to enter ordained office in the Presbyterian denomination (PCUSA, 1974) and a “mother” of womanist theology, who through her writing and speaking has done much to address the dynamics of racism, sexism, and classism in the church and the world.

The Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture is held annually on the third Sunday in September. The Monday following the lecture begins with worship, led by an alumna of Louisville Seminary, and includes a workshop or seminar led by the lecturer dealing with the substance of her recent scholarly work. The program provides an opportunity for dialogue between the lecturer, students, and other members of the community.

Rev. Dr. Traci C. West

Rev. Dr. Traci C. West, Professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School, will deliver the 2011 Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture, titled:

“What Does Anti-racist Christian Sexual Ethics Look Like?”
In Christian ministry, lay and ordained leaders are faced with a host of challenging issues and pastoral needs related to sexuality and women’s lives. These concerns are shaped by the competing moral values of culturally diverse members of our communities as well as conflicting, publically articulated values voiced in the media that reflect our shared, globally interdependent world. In this complicated moral climate, how do we develop a Christian sexual ethic that is both woman-affirming and rejecting of popular racist stereotypes?

Rev. Dr. West’s Monday workshop, “U.S. Christianity and Violence Against Women”, will be an opportunity to probe the specific cultural contributions of U.S. Christianity to perpetuating and addressing the problem of intimate violence against women and girls. Participants will explore questions such as crisis intervention v. political involvement by churches and whether women pastors make a difference. Rev. Dr. West will share some of her questions from her research with activists in Africa and Afro-Brazilian settings.

REGISTER ONLINE for this workshop

Rev. Dr. Traci C. West is Professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School in New Jersey. She is a clergy member of the United Methodist church, the author of Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence, and Resistance Ethics (1999), Disruptive Christian Ethics: When Racism and Women’s Lives Matter (2006), and editor of Our Family Values: Same-sex Marriage and Religion (2007). Her current research project includes interviews with activists working to address sexual violence against women in Ghana, South Africa, and Brazil.

Rev. Clemette Haskins

Rev. Clemette Haskins (M.Div. ’09) will lead worship on Monday following the lecture. The Women’s Center is especially pleased to welcome Rev. Haskins to the pulpit for this Monday worship service, after having enjoyed her participation in the planning and execution of this event in past years during her time as a student at LPTS.

Schedule of Events

Sunday, September 18
6:30 p.m. Reception — Gardencourt
7:30 p.m. Lecture
“What Does Anti-racist Christian Sexual Ethics Look Like?”
Dessert and coffee follow in the Great Hall of Gardencourt
Rev. Dr. West will be available to sign books
 
Monday, September 19
9:00 a.m. Worship — Caldwell Chapel
10:30 a.m. Seminar — Laws Lodge
“U.S. Christianity and Violence Against Women”
12:30 Lunch and Reception — The Women’s Center, 100 White Hall
followed by closing worship

The Lecture and Worship are free and open to the public;
Registration is required for the Workshop and other Monday events — the $25 regular registration fee covers the workshop, materials, and lunch; the fee is waived for students.

REGISTER ONLINE

For more information, contact the Women’s Center at (502) 894-2285 or womenscenter@lpts.edu

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