Bethany College Announces Rev. Dr. Ted A. Smith as Speaker for Scott Lecture Series

BETHANY, W.Va. (Oct. 21, 2024) – Bethany College welcomes Rev. Dr. Ted A. Smith, associate dean of the faculty and professor of divinity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, as the featured speaker for the upcoming Oreon E. Scott Lecture Series. The event, which will be held at First Christian Church in Washington, Pa., from April 28 to 29, 2025, offers an opportunity to engage with one of the foremost voices in the intersection of practical and political theology.

Rev. Dr. Ted A. Smith is an esteemed scholar whose work explores the connections between preaching, ethics, and public life. At Candler, he teaches extensively on these areas and serves as director of the project, “Theological Education between the Times,” which brings together diverse groups to reflect on the evolving purposes of theological education.

Smith’s latest publication, “The End of Theological Education” (2023), critically examines the shifts in theological institutions in the United States. His previous works, including “Weird John Brown” (2015) and “The New Measures” (2007), explore the unraveling of core American Protestant institutions, values, and rhetoric. In addition to authoring multiple books, Smith has edited volumes on subjects such as sexuality and ordination, economic inequality, and contemporary preaching. His expertise and thought leadership extend to his service on editorial boards for several influential journals, including Political Theology, Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, and Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology.

The Scott Lecture Series at Bethany is a time-honored tradition that has been an integral part of the College’s legacy since 1956. Designed to foster intellectual discourse and reflection on important religious and ethical topics, Rev. Dr. Smith’s work promises to inspire and provoke meaningful dialogue among attendees.

The lecture registration fee is $65 for participants and $30 for seminarians, with a $30 Zoom option available. For more information, please visit the registration page or contact Lori Weaver, vice president of institutional advancement, marketing & communications, at lweaver@bethanywv.edu.