The Lee Institute Speaker Series is free & open to the public. We are a handicap accessible facility.
All events are held at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church. For more information on a particular event, or to be placed on the Lee Insitute mailing list, please leave a message for the Executive Director of the Lee Institute at 314-993-4771, ext. 3111 or you may use our convenient online form.
Monday, Nov. 7th at 7:30 p.m.
Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church
9450 Clayton Road, 63124 (314) 993-4771 x 3111
For four decades, Abernethy reported from Washington, Los Angeles, London and Moscow for NBC News. In 1997, he left NBC to develop a news magazine for the Public Broadcasting System. It is called Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, a half hour program that focuses on all major religions, all denominations and all expressions of spirituality as well as moral issues facing this country. In St. Louis, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly can be seen on Channel 9 on Sunday mornings. His almost 15 years in this endeavor indicates that he has been equally successful in his new venture.
Mr. Abernethy has also co-authored a book with William Bole, The Life of Meaning, published in 2007. It is a collection of edited excerpts of many of the observations about spiritual lives made by those interviewed on the PBS program. His speech on November 7, 7:30 p.m. will include excerpts from interviews with about a dozen men and women who speak from various faith perspectives about belief, suffering, prayer, and living a devout and useful life, which some see as a partnership with God in practicing the repair of the world. The program is free and open to the public.
Mr. Abernethy is an alumnus of Princeton University where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. In 1984 he studied theology and social ethics at the Yale Divinity School. He is a member of the United Church of Christ.
For a printable flyer, click on the link below:
Maryville Univeristy will present ”Bag It” -
A documentary film viewing & discussion about our cultural love affair
with plastics.
For a printable flyer, click on the link below:
The Lee Institute continues to bring 16-year-old social entreprenuer, Talia Leman’s message “The Power of ANYone” to St. Louis area youth. “The BIG Return St. Louis” offers St. Louis area youth (up to age 21) an opportunity to make a difference in the community and the world! St. Louis area business leaders are contributed funds for area youth to initiate RandomKid service learning projects. With support from the Mayor’s office, Cities of Service, CHARACTERplus, a division of Cooperating School Districts; and Ashoka Youth Venture; the Lee Institute will help publicize “The BIG Return in St. Louis” by making youth and youth leaders aware of this opportunity and bringing local project success stories to the media. A workshop for youth, teachers, and youth leaders is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Build A Bear headquarters in St. Louis. Complete information on “The BIG Return St. Louis” can be found at www.thebigreturn.org.
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. Rosalynn 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)
Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University (2010)
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)
Peter Hessler, author and correspondent (2009)
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)
Talia Leman, teen philanthropist, CEO & founder of www.RandomKid.org, UNICEF’s 2005-06 National Youth Ambassador, and recipient of “Founder’s Youth Award” for World of Children (2010)
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)
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President, Fred Bronstein, and Music Director, David Robertson (2009)
Rabbi Susan Talve, leader of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis (2003)
Living Green: Building A Sustainable Future – A panel discussion with Chris Cedergreen, Maren Engelmohr, Tomislav Zigo, and Catalina Freixas (2011)
Lynne Twist, global activist, fundraiser, consultant and author (2009)
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)
For more information about our facilities, please contact Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church by phone (314-993-4771) or use our convenient online form.