SPRINGFIELD, Missouri — The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University will host the inaugural William J. Seymour Lecture Series on Friday, Oct. 31, at the seminary’s William J. Seymour Chapel, 1435 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. The series will also be livestreamed on the event website.
This year’s theme, “The Sound of Pentecost: Worship, Hymnology, and the Tradition of Congregational Singing in Black Pentecostalism,” will explore the role of music in shaping Black Pentecostal spirituality and practice.
Sessions will run from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Featured speakers include:
- Rev. Derrick Rosenior, Ph.D., professor of intercultural communication and Black church studies at AGTS and director of the William J. Seymour Center for Black Church Studies.
- Rev. Eric Lewis Williams, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and Black church studies and director of the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School.
- Rev. Charrise Barron, Ph.D., assistant professor of music at Harvard University.
- Rev. Donté Ford, Ph.D., assistant professor of music and associate chaplain for worship arts at Wheaton College.
Lectures will address topics such as the role of hymns in sustaining faith communities, the cultural significance of gospel traditions, the ways congregational singing shapes theology and identity, and the influence of Black Pentecostal worship on broader church movements.
The William J. Seymour Lecture Series is an offering of the William J. Seymour Center for Black Church Studies and is designed to bring nationally recognized scholars to AGTS to foster learning and dialogue on the contributions of Black Pentecostalism to the global Church.
For more information on the William J. Seymour Center for Black Church Studies at AGTS, visit agts.edu/seymourcenter.
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About the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) is a Pentecostal community of scholarship dedicated to forming servants who lead, equip the Church, and reach the world for Christ. As the national seminary of the Assemblies of God, AGTS stands at the forefront of theological education by blending academic rigor with Spirit-empowered practice. The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and offers master’s and doctoral degrees in a variety of flexible formats.