2021 Perkins Lecture Series

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Living into the Legacy: Women in Reconciliation

Lecture Series events (virtual offerings)

The 2021 Perkins Lecture Series was a virtual offering of events Tuesday, April 27–Thursday, April 29. With the theme “Living Into the Legacy,” and reflected on reconciliation, a legacy of Dr. Perkins’ lived-out passion and life’s work, and providing a look at where reconciliation is leading us. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil began the week with the annual Perkins Lecture.

In the past few years, we have seen a rise to women leadership in significant ways in this country and elsewhere — so this year’s Perkins Lecture Series took moments to reflect on the impact of women in reconciliation work. 

Living into a legacy of her own, Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil’s work in reconciliation has transformed leadership, working with communities to become reconciling spaces. Her recent book, Becoming Brave, highlights the reconciling work within the biblical story of Esther. We hosted a Black women leadership panel from SPU to dialogue around experiences as women of color in institutional leadership. Dr. John Perkins and his daughters, Elizabeth Perkins, and Priscilla Perkins, co-presidents of the John and Vera Mae Foundation also joined us for important discussions both in the community and on campus with student leaders.

Recordings from this year's Lecture Series can be found on the SPU John Perkins Center YouTube Channel.*

Schedule of events

15th Annual Perkins Lecture

Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil

Tuesday, April 27

"The Daughter of a Lion Is Also a Lion"

Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil with the annual Perkins Lecture, focusing on the work of women in reconciliation through the biblical story of Esther as a launch for us also “Becoming Brave.”


SPU Black Women Leading 

Wednesday, April 28

Panel conversation with Black women in SPU leadership, including Drs. Carlene Brown (Music Department), Raedene Copeland (Faculty Life Office), Antwinett Lee (School of Health Sciences), Sandra Mayo (Office of Inclusive Excellence), and Nyaradzo Mvududu (School of Education).

*Viewing of this virtual event will remain limited to the week of the Lecture Series. Recordings of this panel conversation will not be made public after the Lecture Series week.


Christian Community Development Association Pacific Northwest Community Conversation with Dr. John Perkins
Wednesday, April 28
 

The CCDA Pacific Northwest Regional Network leaders Steve Bury (Urban Impact), Rudy Carrasco (Murdock Charitable Trust), and Derek Lane (Maranatha & Lighthouse Church), host a conversation with Dr. John Perkins, looking at the work of community development today.


Student Leadership Conversation with the Perkins Family
Thursday, April 29

Dr. John Perkins, Elizabeth Perkins, and Priscilla Perkins from the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation challenge students in the work of community development and reconciliation.

Speaker info

Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a dynamic speaker, teacher, author, and reconciliation leader. Her mission is to inspire and empower emerging Christian leaders to be practitioners of reconciliation in their various spheres of influence. As an associate professor of reconciliation studies in the SPU School of Theology, Dr. Salter McNeil directs the Reconciliation Studies program, an academic partner with the Perkins Center, preparing students to engage the culture around them as Christian reconcilers.

Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2021