Purcell Bible Conference and Sprinkle Lectures Scheduled for February 25-26

WILSON, N.C. — The 33rd annual E.G. Purcell, Jr., Bible Conference and the Thedford G. and Woodrow W. Sprinkle Lectures are scheduled for February 25 and 26 at Barton College. Dr. Richard A. Horsley and Dr. Richard H. Lowery will deliver lectures for the Purcell and Sprinkle programs, respectively.

Dr. Horsley is the Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and the Study of Religion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Visiting Professor at Harvard University. The title of his lecture is “The Centralization of Political-Economic Power and the Generation of Poverty: The Challenge of Jesus’ Mission.” Dr. Horsley is a prolific writer, and his book “Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus” (1985), which examined empire, economics, and resistance in first century Roman Judea, reshaped New Testament studies. The E.G. Purcell, Jr., Bible Conference is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday evening, Feb. 25, in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center.

Dr. Lowery serves as Adjunct Professor of Hebrew Bible for Lexington Theological Seminary, Phillips Theological Seminary, and Methodist Theological School in Ohio. The Sprinkle Lectures, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., in Hardy Alumni Hall, will address the theme “Preaching Creation.” Dr. Lowery is the author of “Sabbath and Jubilee” (2000). His wife, the Reverend Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, is General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

These lectures are open to the public free of charge, and the community is invited to attend. Those planning to attend the lectures on Tuesday may place advance reservations for “Lunch and Conversation with Dr. Lowery” from Noon until 2 p.m. The cost of the meal is $7 per person. To make reservations for the meal or for additional information, please contact Dr. Rodney A. Werline, Marie and Leman Barnhill Endowed Chair in Religious Studies, at (252) 399-6454 or rawerline@barton.edu.

Brief History of Purcell Conference and Sprinkle Lectures —

The Purcell Bible Conference was established in 1984 with an endowment given by family, colleagues, friends, students and parishioners to honor the life and ministry of Eugene G. Purcell Jr. A graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School, Purcell joined the faculty of Barton College in 1957 and served 27 years in the Department of Religion and Philosophy. During his career, he has served Methodist churches in Burlington, Fair Bluff, and Ahoskie, as well Riverside Christian Church and Lanie’s Chapel Christian Church. The purpose of these lectures has been to provide the public with the finest in recent biblical scholarship each year.  From its inception, these lectures have been planned with the laity of the church in mind.

The Thedford G. and Woodrow W. Sprinkle Lectures were established in 1981 by Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle, a graduate of Barton College, Yale Divinity School and Duke University.  The lectures were named in honor of his father, Thedford G. Sprinkle and his uncle, Woodrow W. Sprinkle.  Dr. Sprinkle, who graduated from Barton College in 1974, has served as associate minister to Thomas Chapel Church of Christ, New Haven, Conn., and as minister to First Christian Church of Greensboro, Wendell Christian Church and Pleasant Union Christian Church in Newton Grove.  He served on the faculty of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Barton from 1983-1990.  Sprinkle presently serves as associate professor of practical theology and director of field education and supervised ministry at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.