Previous Moon Lecturers:

 April 23, 2009 Dr. Gene Lowry

Dr. Gene Lowry served as a professor of preaching at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO for over 30 years. Now that he is no longer teaching, his travel as preacher, teacher and pianist have broadened. Dr. Lowry is a Lyman Beecher Lecturer at Yale in 2009. Learn more about Dr. Lowry at www.eugenelowry.com.

February 10, 2008 John Dominic Crossan

John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at De Paul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of numerous bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus (1993), The Birth of Christianity (1999), In Search of Paul (2005), The Last Week (2006), The First Christmas (2007) and God and Empire (2007). He was co-director of the Jesus Seminar from 1985-1996 and chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature from 1992-1998.
The list of his print, radio, and television interviews and reviews takes up over thirteen full pages. Crossan's interviews include The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio's "Fresh Air", Larry King Live and the ABC special "The Search for Jesus" with Peter Jennings which aired on Monday, June 26, 2000.

2006 Virginia Mollencott

Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott has been actively involved for more than 35 years in feminism, inter-religious dialogue, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender liberation. Using rigorous academic-based hermeneutics, she challenges the use of the Bible to condemn and discourage the "abudant life" Jesus offered his followers. Dr. Mollenkott holds a Ph.D. from New York University and an honorary D.Min. from Samaritan College. She is the author and co-founder of thirteen books including Women, Men and the Bible, Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? and The Divine Feminine and Omnigender. Lecture Flyer: 2006 Lecture Front, 2006 Lecture Back 

2005 Derek Evans

Former Deputy Director of Amnesty International; has led more than 60 international delegations in all world regions, including many situations of civil and political conflict. Author of numerous articles and publications, including his most recent book Before the War. He is high demand all over the world for his mediation skills. 

2005 Marjie Lundstrom

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist; visiting faculty member in journalism ethics, writing and coaching at the prestigious Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida ~ an internationally known journalism think tank. She has been guest lecturer at the National Writers Workshop, the American Press Institute, the National journalism and the women's Symposium, the Society for Professional journalists, the University of California, Berkeley and numerous other college campuses nationwide.. In 2001 she was selected to be in the first "class" of Poynter Institute ethics fellows, a year-long program with 16 noted journalists focusing on journalism ethics and values. 

2004 Dr. Karen Oliveto

Dean of Students at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church, a leader in Reconciling Ministries National Network. She is actively engaged in opening the doors of the United Methodist Church to all persons, including GLTB persons and their families.
1994 & 2000 Bishop John Shelby Spong, D.D.
Bishop Spong scholar, author and bishop, is the most published member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States. A widely recognized speaker and preacher, he has also served on the Standing Committee on Human Affairs and Health, the House of Bishop's Theology Committee and theological consultant to the Episcopal Radio and Television Foundation.

2004 The Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar

General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in New York City, former five-term Congressman from Pennsylvania, former President of Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California.

2003 The Rev. Dr. George F. Regas

Rector Emeritus of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA, one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the U.S. In 1998 he founded the Regas Institute, an organization dedicated to the examination of Progressive Christianity, which seeks to be a counter-balance to the Religious Right in the public arena. Dr. Regas is also convenor of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace and a co-founder of the Progressive Religious Partnership.

2002 Dr. Michael Nagler

Author of Is There No Other Way? The Search for a Nonviolent Future, winner of the American Book Award. Widely published scholar in the fields of Peace Studies and ancient Indian scripture. Professor Emeritus of Classical Languages at the University of California, Berkeley.

2001 Jim Wallis

Founder and Editor of Sojourners Magazine, covering faith, politics and culture for over 30 years; author of national best-seller God's Politics and numerous other books, articles and columns which have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post & MSNBC. He regularly offers commentary and analysis for radio and television (including the Jon Stewart show), and teaches a course at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government on "Faith, Politics and Society." Jim lives in inner-city Washington D.C. with his wife Joy and their two young sons. 

2000 Chalmers Johnson

2000 Jimmy Creech

1999 Mike Farrell

Actor, producer, director and activist. Known for his roles on M*A*S*H* and Providence and as co-producer of Patch Adams. Since 1995 Mike Farrell has been the President of Death Penalty Focus on California, a non-profit organization dedicated to the abolition of capitol punishment through grassroots organizing, research and dissemination of information about the death penalty and its alternatives.

1998 Dr. Leonard Sweet

Dean of the Theological School and vice president of Drew University in Madison, N.J. Widely known as a preacher's preacher, author of numerous books, and frequent conference speaker.

1997 Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly

At age 64,in 1984, Leontine Kelly was elected bishop by the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and assigned to the California-Nevada Annual Conference. She was the first African-American woman bishop in any major denomination in America. She has been named as one of the outstanding women in America, was the first National Chair of the Interfaith AIDS network and also chaired the ecumenical task force on Health Care in America. 

1995 The Rev. J. Philip Wogaman

Former Senior Pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C., Board Member of Interfaith Alliance, former professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. and author of numerous books and articles related to theology, ethics and politics. 

1995 The Rev. Harvey Chinn

Ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, author of numerous publications and former legislative director for the California Council on Alcohol
Problems.

1995 The Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.

Ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and a lifelong activist and teacher of nonviolence. He has lived out his faith as a conscientious objector, a civil rights activist and a leader in numerous other justice movements. He hosts "Lawson Live," a weekly television show on the Faith and Values Network. 

1994 & 2000 Bishop John Shelby Spong, D.D..

Bishop Spong scholar, author and bishop, is the most published member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States. A widely recognized speaker and preacher, he has also served on the Standing Committee on Human Affairs and Health, the House of Bishop's Theology Committee and theological consultant to the Espiscopal Radio and Television Foundation.