2023-2024 Lecture: Rev. David Norse Thomas and R. Eric Thomas

“Composting and Seedlings: Spirituality When Everything Has Changed”

Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at 4:30pm, Muskie Archives

Rev. David Norse Thomas serves as the Associate Pastor for Christian Formation at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church outside Philadelphia. He holds a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies from Lewis & Clark College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton University, and a Master in Couples and Family Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University. His husband, R. Eric Thomas, is a national bestselling author, playwright, and screenwriter. His books pay special attention to locating hope in darkness and forming community as a means of combating otherness. On screen he wrote for the Peabody-winning series Dickinson (AppleTV+) and Better Things (FX) and is currently developing multiple projects. David and Eric reside in South Philadelphia.

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The Rayborn Lindley Zerby Lectureship on Contemporary Religious Thought was established with a gift to the College by the Campus Association in April of 1965.  The series was initiated the following year by the late Dr. Samuel Miller, Dean of Harvard Divinity School.

The lectureship “honors a man who devoted many years to the growth of Bates College as a teacher and as Dean of the Faculty.  It is entirely fitting that Bates students should initiate such a tribute to a highly respected teacher and friend.”

A native of Avilla, Kansas, Dr. Rayborn L. Zerby received his Bachelor’s degree from Eureka College in 1916.  He received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1927 and his Ph.D. Degree in 1930.  As an instructor, he was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1932, Associate Professor in 1935, and Professor of Religion in 1942.  He served as Chairman of the Department of Religion and Philosophy from 1930 to 1945.  Director of the Chapel from 1945 until his retirement in 1962, he was appointed Dean of the Faculty in 1958.

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Past Lecturers:

• 2022-2023: Cole Arthur Riley
• 2020-2021: A Panel Featuring Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr.
• 2019-2020: Michael Twitty
• 2018-2019: Dr. Emily Welty
• 2017-2018: Rev. angel Kyodo williams
• 2016-2017: Sohaib N. Sultan
• 2015-2016: Kate Braestrup
• 2014-2015: Jay Michaelson and John Thatamanil
• 2013-2014: Michelle A. Gonzalez
• 2012-2013: Patrick S. Cheng
• 2011-2012: Celia Deane-Drummond
• 2010: Paul F. Knitter
• 2009: Kimberley Patton
• 2008: Sam Keen
• 2007: Barbara Brown Taylor
• 2006: Karen King
• 2005: Stephen Prothero
• 2004: Marvin Ellison
• 2003: Judith Plaskow
• 2002: Marcus J. Borg
• 2001: Larry Rasmussen
• 2000: Rosemary Radford Ruether
• 1999: Riffat Hassan
• 1998: Katie Cannon
• 1997: Diana Eck
• 1996: Albert Borgmann
• 1995: Vincent Harding
• 1994: —–
• 1993: —–
• 1992: Gideon Makhanya
• 1991:(Christopher Lasch/cancelled)
• 1990: —–
• 1989: Preston N. Williams
• 1988: Stanley Hauerwas
• 1987: —–
• 1986: James Edward Loder
• 1985: Eleanor S. Meyers
• 1984: Peter J. Gomes
• 1983: Bruce Rusett
• 1982: John Reeder
• 1981: Elie Wiesel
• 1980: William G. McLoughlin
• 1979: Gene Outka
• 1978: Daniel Berrigan, S.J.
• 1977: Mark N. Taylor
• 1976: Sydney Ahlstrom
• 1975: Bernard Lewis
• 1974: Robert N. Bellah
• 1973: Sallie McFague
• 1972: Willis E. Elliot
• 1971: Meredith B. Handspicker
• 1970: Richard L. Rubenstein
• 1969: Tom F. Driver
• 1968: Herbert Richardson
• 1967: William H. Hamilton
• 1966: Samuel H. Miller