An endowment by the Westerdahl family established this series in 1964 in memory of the late Rev. Carl G. Westerdahl, noted Covenant preacher and evangelist. The first series of lectures was presented in the winter quarter of 1966.
2024 Carl G. Westerdahl Lecture
Transaction or Transformation: Racial Interests and the Gospel
September 9, 7:00鈥�9:00 p.m.
Nyvall Hall and livestreamed
Nyvall Hall and livestreamed
Glenn Bracey, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Villanova University
Join us for the 2024 Carl G. Westerdahl Lecture with Dr. Glenn Bracey, assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Villanova University. Bracey will speak about how racial politics influence the way we frame and present the gospel as either transactional or transformational. He defines a 鈥渢ransactional gospel鈥� as emphasizing Jesus鈥� substitutionary payment for sins but sees social issues as distinct from the gospel while a 鈥渢ransformational gospel鈥� transforms not only individual sins but also social relationships. Building on his recent publication, The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith, co-authored with Michael Emerson, Bracey argues that people鈥檚 level of attachment to whiteness influences their choice of gospel frames.
Previous Lectures
2017: Dr. Justin Tse, visiting assistant professor in the Asian American studies program at Northwestern University.鈥淎sian American ecumene? On 鈥業nculturation鈥� into too many cultural worlds鈥�
- Part 1: 鈥淎sian American ecumene? On 鈥業nculturation鈥� into too many cultural worlds鈥澛�
- Part 2: 鈥淣egative evangelism? Asian America and hesychastic spirituality鈥澛�
2013: John Teter, senior pastor and evangelism team leader. Teter鈥檚 lectures are available to watch online through CovChurch.tv: