Woolman Lectures

John Woolman Christian Lecture Series

The Lecture Series is named for John Woolman (1720-1772), a Quaker from New Jersey who provided much of the theological, intellectual, and ethical foundation for the earliest anti-slavery activities in America. 

Drawing from traditional Christian, Quaker, evangelical, quietist, and rationalist sources, Woolman published works that encouraged others to rethink the Friends’ role in addressing a range of topics including slavery, working conditions, spiritual discipline, pacifism, the use of wealth, the use of time, and relationships with Native Americans. 

His antislavery writings and speaking campaigns throughout the colonies helped prompt the Friends to become the first body of Americans to actively denounce slavery and require all its members to free any person that they held in slavery. Providing some of the earliest inspiration for the major ethical shift in thinking about slavery, Woolman’s writings and actions influenced leaders in the early antislavery and abolitionist movements in America and Great Britain. Woolman Hall, a residence hall on Malone’s campus, is named in his honor. 

Upcoming Events

Our 2025 Speaker

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Woolman Lectures in Christian Scholarship will be delivered by Philip Cary, Ph.D., of Eastern University. 

Biography

Phillip Cary, Ph.D., (Yale University 1994) is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern University and Scholar-in-Residence at the Templeton Honors College. He has been philosophy editor of Christian Scholars Review, and is currently editor-in-chief of Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology.  

Cary’s specialty is the history of Christian thought, with particular focus on Augustine and Luther. He is perhaps best known for his book Good News for Anxious Christians, along with his lecture series published by The Great Courses, including courses on Augustine, Luther, the History of Christian Theology, and Philosophy and Religion in the West. In addition to numerous articles and reviews, he has published three books on Augustine with Oxford University Press (Augustine’s Invention of the Inner Self, 2000; Inner Grace, 2008; and Outward Signs, 2008).

Another area of interest is theological exegesis, where he has contributed a commentary on the book of Jonah (Brazos Press, 2008).  His most recently published books are The Meaning of Protestant Theology: Luther, Augustine, and the Gospel that Gives Us Christ (Baker Academic, 2019), and The Nicene Creed: An Introduction (Lexham Press, 2023).

Past Speakers

• 2024 – Kelly M. Kapic, Covenant College
• 2023 – Robert Tracy McKenzie, Wheaton College
• 2022 – Micah J. Watson, Calvin University
• 2021 – David Walsh, Catholic University of America
• 2019 – Thomas Hibbs, Baylor University
• 2018 – Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Calvin College
• 2017 – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
• 2016 – Patrick Deneen, University of Notre Dame
• 2015 – William Abraham, Southern Methodist University
• 2014 – William Cavanaugh, DePaul University
• 2013 – Eleonore Stump, Saint Louis University
• 2012 – Philip Jenkins, Baylor University
• 2011 – Ralph Wood, Baylor University
• 2010 – Elizabeth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
• 2009 – Paul Griffiths, Duke Divinity School
• 2008 – Frank Beckwith, Baylor University