Speakers

James A. Gray Lecturer

Philip Jenkins is the Edwin Erle Sparks professor of humanities at Pennsylvania State University. The University of Cambridge awarded him a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. prior to the start to his professorship in Pennsylvania. He is the author of more than 20 books and 120 book chapters and articles. His books include The Lost Christianity, The New Faces of Christianity and The Next Christendom.

Franklin S. Hickman Lecturers

Os Guinness, co-founder of The Trinity Forum, is an author and speaker noted internationally for his commitment to bridging the chasm between academic and popular knowledge. The Trinity Forum is a leadership academy that works to cultivate networks of leaders whose integrity and vision will help renew culture and promote human freedom and flourishing. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and received his D. Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, University of Oxford. He is the author of more than 20 books, including The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It.

Kenda Creasy Dean currently serves as associate professor of youth, church and culture, and director of the Tennent School of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the founding director of the Princeton Theological Seminary Institute for Youth Ministry and author of numerous publications on young people and the church. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Miami University (Ohio), her M.Div. degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and her Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before her professorship, she served in a local church and campus ministry in Maryland and Virginia.

Guest Speaker

Tafadzwa Mudambanuki is the director of Central Conference Communications for United Methodist Communications. His work includes the establishment of 15 communication centers in Africa for the United Methodist Church. He was born and raised in rural Zimbabwe where radio broadcasts helped him discern God’s vision for his life’s work in Christian Communications. He earned a B.A. from the University of Sierra Leone, a M.A. from United Theological Seminary and two M.A. degrees from Ball State University.

Convocation Preacher

Tyrone Gordon is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church currently serving as pastor to St. Luke “Community” UMC in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that appointment in 2002, he led St. Mark UMC in Wichita, Kan.–considered one of the most racially diverse congregations in the Kansas West Conference–through its growth from 350 members to 2,500 members in just a few years. He earned a B.A. at Bishop College, Dallas, Texas, and an M.Div. from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.