2012 Schaff Lectures Address Christian Social Ethics

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will host the annual Schaff Lectures Wed., March 28, 2012 at the Seminary. Keynote speaker is Dr. Gary Dorrien, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, N.Y. These lectures are free and open to the public.

This year’s Schaff Lectures will address the topic “Renewing Christian Social Ethics: Economic Democracy Then and Now.” Lectures include “Inventing Social Christianity: The World as the Subject of Redemption” at 11:30 a.m.; “Realism in Question: The Niebuhrian Critique and Legacy” at 2:30 p.m.; and “Economic Crisis, Economic Democracy, and OccupyWallStreet” at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the lectures, the Seminary will also host a dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the Kadel Dining Hall. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Contact the Seminary’s Continuing Education Office at 412-924-1345 or ConEd@testsite.pts.edu for more information about the Schaff Lectures. Online dinner reservation.

Dorrien will also speak at the First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown Tues., March 27 at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact the church at 330-744-4307.

The Schaff Lectures are named in honor of the late David S. Schaff. For 23 years, Schaff taught church history at Western Theological Seminary on the north side of Pittsburgh, one of the antecedents of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Before becoming a professor in 1903, he held two pastorates. Schaff wrote extensively in the area of church history and co-edited the well-known and often consulted Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia. He completed the unfinished work of his father, Philip, who had begun the History of the Christian Church before his death. The younger Schaff also wrote two books on the life of John Hus.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate professional institution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Founded in 1794, the Seminary is located in Pittsburgh, Pa. and approximately 310 students are enrolled yearly in the degree programs. The Seminary prepares leaders who proclaim with great joy God’s message of good news in both word and deed. PTS is rooted in the Reformed history of faithfulness to Scripture and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.