Endowed in memory of FPC members Wilbur and June Haseman, the Haseman Lectures bring thought-provoking speakers to Columbia to stimulate interest in the Bible, Christian theology, and spirituality.
Previous lecturers have included Victor Aloyo, Damayanthi Niles, Amy Plantinga Paul, Rodger Nishioka, Richard Mouw, Anna Case-Winters, and John Bell.
Haseman Lectures
2025 Dates: October 11 &12
Creation Narratives with
Rev. Dr. William P. Brown
See below for a
Summer Reading list!
William P. Brown is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Bill has also taught at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond and at Emory University. His teaching and writing explore the intersecting issues of justice, creation care, and hope from biblical and theological perspectives.
Bill is the author of several books and numerous essays, including Deep Calls to Deep: The Psalms in Dialogue amid Disruption (Abingdon), A Handbook to Old Testament Exegesis (WJK), Sacred Sense (Eerdmans), Wisdom’s Wonder (Eerdmans), The Seven Pillars of Creation (Oxford University), Seeing the Psalms (WJK), as well as editor of Engaging Biblical Authority (WJK). Bill was recently a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton (www.ctinquiry.org), where he worked collaboratively with scientists, philosophers, and ethicists exploring the “societal implications of astrobiology.” He is currently working on a major commentary on the Psalms.
Bill is an avid Sunday School teacher and was a founding member of Earth Covenant Ministry, an organization of Presbyterian churches in the Atlanta area dedicated to creation care that is now part of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL). Gail and Bill are active at North Decatur Presbyterian Church and have two grown daughters, Ella and Hannah.
“Read ecologically, the psalm [Ps 104] claims God's biophilia as a model for humanity's role and presence in the world. Delighting in creation has nothing to do with exploiting the world for the common greed. Rather, it has all to do with receiving the world's abundance for the common good, a sufficiency to be shared, not hoarded.”
― William P. Brown, The Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder
Lecture Series Events Schedule
9:00 am-10:30 am Session 1: Ramsey Center, FPC
10:30 am Snack Break
10:45 am-12:15 pm Session 2: Ramsey Center, FPC
Session 1: Genesis
Session 2: Job
More details will be posted here as the date approaches!
Saturday, October 11th
Sunday, October 13th
9am-10:15 Session 3: Ramsey Center, FPC
10:30am Worship Service, Sanctuary,
with Dr. Brown Preaching
Session 3: Proverbs 8
Special Events
12:30 pm Saturday
Free College Lunch
in the Chez
Have you ever thought about going to seminary? Have any Hebrew questions or any struggles with the Old Testament? Come and ask all your questions and get some free food!
10:30 am Worship
Summer
Reading
Explore the reading lists below for ideas to put in your Audible Collection, Reserve on Libby, purchase through your favorite bookstore, or request at your local library! If you can't find it, just ask Pastor Kati to lend you her copy from the display at church!