In 1995, Ladue Chapel established the Lee Institute in response to a gift from E. Desmond Lee. The Institute, supported by an endowment from the Lee Foundation and by Ladue Chapel, seeks to provide stimulus and education for spiritual and religious growth for persons both in the congregation and in the community through:

• Public events featuring notable speakers whose lives and work have made important contributions to society and faith.  
• Practical seminars which provide in-depth education to equip individuals for more effective service or leadership and to encourage them to pursue deeper levels of spiritual growth.  

 The Lee Institute Speaker Series is free & open to the public.  We are a handicap accessible facility. 

Our Next Program The Soul of Money Lynne Twist April 20, 2009 7:30 p.m.

The Soul of Money Institute, founded in 2003 by Lynne Twist, is a center for exploring and sharing the best practices, theories and attitudes that enable people to relate to money and the money culture with greater freedom, power, and effectiveness. Lynne Twist is a global activist, fundraiser, consultant and author who has devoted her life to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilled human presence on earth. Her work has taken her around the world, where she has developed a keen understanding of the relationship of people to money: the psychology of scarcity and sufficiency. She shares compelling stories and insights from those experiences in her book, The Soul of Money. These ideas are the foundation for her inspiring keynotes and workshops.

For more information about our facilities, please contact Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church by phone (314-993-4771) or use our convenient online form.   

Past Presenters

The public lecture series has brought many wonderful speakers to Ladue Chapel.  In the past, we have been honored to host the following:  

Mrs. Rosalyn Carter, former First Lady & wife of President Jimmy Carter (2001)

Senator John C. Danforth, former United States Senator for Missouri (1998)

Morris Dees, civil rights lawyer, Southern Poverty Law Center (2000)

 E.J. Dionne, Jr., columnist at The Washington Post & Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institute (2001)

The Faith Club: Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner.  (2008)

Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible (2007)

David Gergen,  professor of public service at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of its Center for Public Leadership, and former White House advisor to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton (2005)

Rev. Peter J. Gomes, lecturer, Harvard University preacher & author (2002)

A. E. Hotchner, screenwriter and playwright (1995)

Hamilton Jordan, former White House Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter, cancer survivor and, along with his wife Dorothy, co-founder of Camp Sunshine, a year round program for children with cancer (2003)

Senator Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator and wife of Howard Baker (1997)

Jonathan Kozol, author of Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation (1999)

Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist and author (2008)

Dr. Thomas G. Long, professor, Princeton University (1997)

Bill Moyers, former press secretary to President Johnson (1999)

Kathleen Norris, award-winning poet, writer and author (2007)

Dr. Elaine Pagels,  Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University and author of Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas (2004) 

General Colin L. Powell (1998)

Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden (2006)

Huston Smith, noted author and theologian (2005)

Dr. Jane E. Smith, Ph.D.,  consultant, educator and past President & CEO for the National Council of Negro Women (2002)

John Stossel, ABC News' Reporter and author (2004) 

Rabbi Susan Talve, leader of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis (2003)

Ms. Minnijean Brown Trickey one of nine African American teens known as the Little Rock Nine, on the 50th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock High School (2007)

Dr. Cornel West, author and professor, Harvard University (1996)

Rev. Dr. William Willimon, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University (2000) 

Practical Seminar Presenters

Rev. Dr. Ivy Beckwith, Children's Ministry workshop leader (2007)

Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggeman, professor Columbia Seminary (1996)

Rev. Dr. John Claypool, author, Theologian in Residence at Trinity Episcopal in New Orleans and professor of homiletics at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta (2003)

Episcopal-Presbyterian Charitable and Medical Trust (2004)

Dr. Laura Mendenhall,  president of Columbia Theological Seminary, Presbyterian Church USA (2003)

Dr. Robert Raines, author of A Time to Live (2000)

Rev. Dr. Raymond Roberts, noted author and staff member at Union Theological Seminary, as well as pastor at Grace Church Jenkintown, PA (2003)

Sr. Joyce Rupp, writer, retreat guide, conference speaker and spiritual director (2002)

 All events are held at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church.   Speaker series are free and open to the public.  There may be a charge for Practical Seminars.  Please contact the church office for more information on a particular event by phone (314-993-4771) or you may use our convenient online form.