Matthew Simpson Lecture in Religion

About the Matthew Simpson Lecture

Professors Roger Betsworth and Bruce Haddox, members of the department of religion and philosophy, founded the Matthew Simpson Lecture in 1980. With the assistance of the dean for academic affairs, Mel Henderson, who granted the lecture program a $500 operating budget, the two founders were able to invite their first speaker, Dr. Stanley Hauerwas. Dr. Hauerwas’ talk was titled “A Tale of Two Stories,” an exploration of “being a Christian and a Texan.”

The original goal of the lectureship was to expose Simpson students to the leading thinkers in religion, biblical studies, and social ethics. Past speakers have included provocative thinkers such as the Reverend Will Campbell, a Southern Baptist preacher and a longtime civil rights leader; John Dominic Crossan, the leading scholar in the Jesus Seminar and expert on the New Testament; the internationally acclaimed theologian Martin Marty; and Amy-Jill Levine, leading Jewish New Testament Scholar.

Matthew Simpson Lecture Endowment Fund

In 2013, gifts from two college employees established the Matthew Simpson Lecture Endowment Fund to help ensure the ongoing quality of the annual lecture and related events. In 2016, the Fund had grown to approximately $10,900. In February 2017, a gift of approximately $50,000 boosted the fund significantly. This fall, the Lecture Endowment Fund balance is approximately $69,000. In addition, a very generous pledge of $100,000 to Simpson’s Endowment from Dr. Bruce and Bette Haddox has earnings earmarked for the Lecture Endowment Fund.

This gift, along with continuing contributions from other friends of the college, ensures the lecture and programming into the future. At the conclusion of this year's lecture, we invite attendees to stay for a simple reception to honor Bruce and Bette Haddox and thank them for their generosity.

Previous Matthew Simpson Lecturers