Albright-Deering Lectures 2025
Albright-Deering Lectures 2025
"What Do We Do Now? Rebuilding After the Storms Have Passed" with Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr.
Feb. 18, 2025, 4:00-7:30 p.m.
In-person at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Online
or
Feb. 19, 2025, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
In-Person Only at Edinboro United Methodist Church
The pandemic and debates about disaffiliation have taken a toll on many congregations. Adding to these challenges is an era of declining overall religious participation in the country. While weariness is understandable, inertia and despair are not inevitable. Many congregations now feel freed to explore new directions for their churches as familiar patterns no longer work as they once did. Churches are finding hope and energy as they build on their founding values and purpose and discern the next faithful steps God has for their congregations.
In collaboration with and co-sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church
About Lovett H. Weems
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., is distinguished professor of church leadership and senior consultant of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Weems was the founding director of the Lewis Center in 2003, coming to the position after 18 years as president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. He became senior consultant in 2017. A native of Mississippi, he was a local church pastor in that state for many years. His time in local church ministry in Mississippi were marked by emphasis on both evangelism and social concerns. His work there led the distinguished Mississippi writer Willie Morris to describe him as “one of the persons who added much to the growing civility of Mississippi.”
Schedule
The lecture content will be the same both days. Choose the date and location most convenient for you.
Tues., Feb. 18, 2025
Location: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
4:00-5:30 p.m. Albright-Deering Lecture
5:30-7:30 p.m. Dinner and Conversation with Dr. Weems
Wed., Feb. 19, 2025
Location: Edinboro United Methodist Church, 113 High St,, Edinboro, PA 16412
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Albright-Deering Lecture
12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch and Conversation with Dr. Weems
Registration
The Albright-Deering Lectures are free and open to the public.
Feb. 18, 2025 at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Click here for In-Person Registration
Click here for Online Registration
Feb. 19, 2025 at Edinboro United Methodist Church
Questions
Please contact or call 412-924-1345.
About the Albright-Deering Lectures
The Albright-Deering Lectures in Methodist Studies were established in 1999 through individual contributions and a generous gift from Joseph and Gail Deering of Dayton, Ohio, to celebrate Joseph’s career accomplishments and to honor their former pastor, the Rev. Dr. H. Pat Albright. The lectureship is intended to bring outstanding scholars in the Wesleyan tradition to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary community.
Joseph W. Deering was a graduate of Harvard University (B.A.) and Stanford University (M.B.A.). He came to Pittsburgh in 1980 as the president of Eljer Plumbingware. The following year his family became active in Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church and began a lifelong friendship with the Albrights.
The Rev. Dr. H. Pat Albright was an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, serving three churches in his 38 years of active ministry: Wesley United Methodist in New Castle, Pa., from 1956 to 1964; First United Methodist in Erie, Pa., from 1964 to 1978; and Mt. Lebanon United Methodist from 1978 until his retirement in active ministry in 1994.
During his life, Pat also served Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as adjunct faculty in homiletics, and served on the PTS Board of Directors from 1989 to 1998 and then as an emeritus member of the Board until his death in 2014. By all accounts he was a true Methodist, passionate about education and scholarship—not for the sake of acquiring knowledge only, but for the strengthening of ministry in local churches.