For the past three years, the CVR has hosted several scholars and theologians such as, Dr. Walter Earl Fluker, Dr. Marla F. Frederick, Dr Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. S. Todd Yeary and Dr. Reginald F. Davis. This year, the CVR is proud to host Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Howard University School of Divinity; Dr. Lee Butler, Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary; Dr. Stephanie Mitchem, Professor of Religion and Women’s Studies at the University of South Carolina and Dr. Mark Lomax, Professor of Homiletics and Interim Dean of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary at ITC.
The theme for this year is Calling, Vocation and Social Ethical Responsibility for the 21st Century. The dates for this series are Tuesday through Thursday, September 25th, 26th, 27th 2007 and will be held in the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel on the campus of Claflin University. The evening lectures will begin at 7:00 p.m. and are provided by Dr. Cain Hope Felder on Tuesday; Dr. Mark Lomax on Wednesday and Dr Lee H. Butler on Thursday. Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Stephanie Mitchem will present a luncheon lecture in Minister’s Hall for faculty, administration and clergy (seating is limited). The evening lectures are open for students, faculty, administration and the community.
Dr. Cain Hope Felder is Professor of New Testament Language & Literature, Editor of The Journal of Religious Thought and Director of the PHD Program at the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. Some of his publications include Troubling Biblical Waters: Race, Class, and Family (Orbis Books, 1989)-18th printing; Editor, Stony the road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation (Fortress Press 1991)-14th printing; The Seasons of Lent: Proclamation Commentary (Fortress Press 1991); The Original African Heritage Study Bible (Winston Derek, 1993); "Commentary on the Epistle of James" in The International Bible Commentary (Liturgical Press, 1998); Consulting Editor and Contributor, African American Jubilee Bible (New York: American Bible Society) 1999.
Dr. Felder’s educational background is extensive: Ph.D., M. Phil., Columbia University in Biblical Languages and Literature; Diploma of Theology, Oxford University, England; M. Div., Union Theological Seminary, New York; BA in Philosophy and Classics, Howard University, Washington, DC; and Diploma, Boston Latin School.
Dr. Stephanie Y. Mitchem has a commitment to libratory educational practice. She teaches contemporary theology and women’s studies, emphasizing the experiences and perspectives of black women. Mitchem holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University-Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Masters from St. John Provincial Seminary and focuses her research on exploring the rich religious contexts and meanings of African American women and men, while critiquing social injustices structured into American society.
Dr. Mitchem is author of African American Women Tapping Power and Spiritual Wellness, (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2004), Introducing Womanist Theology (Orbis Books, 2002), and numerous essays. She is currently working on her next book, which will focus on African American folk healing.
Dr. Mark "Keita" Lomax is the founding pastor of First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, Georgia. He also serves as assistant professor of homiletics at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio; a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His project/dissertation was entitled .The Effects of an Afrocentric Christian Hermeneutic in a Developing Congregation. He has served as the pastor of Westhills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia and Davidson Presbyterian Church in Davidson, North Carolina. He has published several articles on preaching in the Black tradition and Christian liturgy and worship in various Presbyterian journals. He also published a chapter on the theology of Marcus M. Garvey, which appeared in the book Makers of Christian Theology in American and was published by Abingdon Press in 1997.
Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr. is Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. Dr. Butler has published several books and articles including: A Loving Home: Caring for African American Marriage and Families (Pilgrim Press, 2000); Liberating our Dignity, Saving Our Souls (Chalice Press, 2006); .The Spirit is Willing and the Flesh is Too: An American Pastoral Theology of Embodiment. Loving the Body, Dwight Hopkins and Anthony Pinn, eds., (Palgrave, 2004); .I Want Pastor to Visit Me: The Pastoral Role Within African American Pastoral Care. American Baptist Quarterly, Volume 23, Number 2, June 2004; .Testimony as Hope and Care: African American Pastoral Care as Black Theology at Work. Living Stones in the Household of God: The Legacy and Future of Black Theology, Linda E. Thomas, ed., (Augsburg Fortress, 2004); Dreaming the Soul: African American Skepticism Encounters the Human Genome Project: Adam, Eve and the Genome: The Human Genome Project and Theology (Augsburg Fortress, 2003) just to name a few. Dr. Butler is working on Listen, My Child: African American Men and Their Children (Forthcoming January 2008, Abingdon Press) and Face to Face: Contemporary Conversations in Pastoral Theology (Forthcoming, Exploration Press).
Dr. Butler earned his Ph.D. and Master of Philosophy from Drew University in Psychology and Religion; Master of Theology in Pastoral Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary; Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; and a BA in Religion from Bucknell University.