Guest speaker series
St. Paul’s Guest Speaker Series
Each fall, the St. Paul congregation hosts the community-wide Guest Speaker Series. The church brings persons of national stature to the Quad Cities – sparking new ideas about what it means to live faithfully. This event reflects St. Paul’s mission to serve as a learning center for our people and the entire region.
An impressive line-up
Over the years, Quad-Citians have met renowned leaders through St. Paul’s Guest Speaker Series. All have authored books that can be found in the church’s Book Corner.
2020: On hiatus, due to COVID-19
2019: Shon Hopwood
2018: Austin Channing Brown
2017: Tom Gjelten, NPR reporter
2016: Tony Jones, author and theologian
2015: Leslie Hunter, chaplain and instructor
2014: Timothy Johnson, leading medical communicator
2013: Richard Lischer, theology professor, writing on grief
2012: Greg Boyle, urban priest and advocate for youth
2011: Joan Chittister, Catholic visionary, social advocate
2010: Bill McKibben, environmentalist on the impact of global warming
2009: Mark Allen Powell, New Testament professor
2008: Brad Hirschfield, Orthodox rabbi devoted to inclusiveness
2007: Tom Long, one of America’s leading preachers
2006: L. Gregory Jones, theology professor, writing on forgiveness
2005: M. Craig Barnes, pastor, author on God’s forgiveness
2004: Ann Weems, poet
2003: Gerald Sittser, professor, author on tragic loss
2002: Tony Campolo, sociologist/author, proponent for progressive thought
2001: Dorothy Bass, developer of resources for living the faith
2000: Lewis Smedes, late theologian/ethicist on forgiveness
