PTS Out and About
Looking for someone to preach or teach at your church, conference, or small group study? Consider contacting our experts for their thoughts on today's church issues. Have a particular topic that you don't see covered here? Contact the Senior Director of Advancement and Stragetic Communications Melissa Logan at or 412-924-1373 to be connected with a resource.
Expand the sections below to see upcoming events, a listing of our experts, and their contact information.
Schedule of Upcoming Engagements
Aug. 30
Asa Lee, Neighborhood Collaborative Representative
Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania John 17 Awards, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Asa Lee Moderating Discussion
Sept. 6
Carolyn Cranston
First Presbyterian Church of Castle Shannon, Pa.
Preaching
Sept. 6
Asa Lee
Beulah Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Preaching
Sept. 13
Erik Hoeke
First United Methodist Church, Franklin, Pa.
Preaching
Sept. 16
Asa Lee
Mon Valley Boys Academy Fundraiser
Offering Invocation
Sept. 19
Asa Lee
First Presbyterian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio
Preaching
Sept. 20
Asa Lee
Christ Presbyterian Church, Canton, Ohio
Preaching
Sept. 22
Asa Lee
September Gathering – Preconference for Individual School Grants, Indianapolis, Ind.
Offering Devotion
Sept. 23
Leanna Fuller
Riverside Presbytery (Online)
Presenting on Embodied Reconciliation: Congregational Healing as Pastoral Care
Sept. 27
Asa Lee
Theological Education Sunday, Bidwell Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Preaching
Oct. 2-3
Tucker Ferda, Asa Lee, Alumnae/i and Church Relations
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Boise, Idaho
Tucker Ferda Presenting
Oct. 3
Asa Lee
St. Paul Baptist Church, Boise, Idaho
Speaking
Oct. 4
Asa Lee, Alumnae/i and Church Relations
First Presbyterian Church Boise, Idaho
Asa Lee Preaching
Oct. 17
Asa Lee
Presbytery of the James, Richmond, Va.
Presenting
Oct. 18
Asa Lee
Hebron Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va.
Preaching
Dec. 12
Leanna Fuller
Laboratory Presbyterian Church, Washington, Pa.
Teaching "Working through Conflict in Church" for the Inter-Presbytery Leadership Formation Program
Invite Speakers to Address These Topics
BIBLICAL STUDIES
Old Testament
- Ancient Near Eastern Literature (Russaw)
- Book of Psalms (Creach)
- Extrabiblical Texts and What They Tell Us about Biblical Israel (Tappy)
- History and Literature of Second Temple Judaism (Ferda)
- Old Testament Prophets and Justice (Creach)
- Pentateuch (Russaw)
- Wisdom Literature (Creach)
New Testament
- Apocalyptic Literature (Frayer-Griggs)
- Epistle to the Romans (Rodríguez)
- Epistles to the Thessalonians (Rodríguez)
- Life and Thought of Paul (Rodríguez, Ferda)
- Life of Jesus and the Gospels (Ferda, Frayer-Griggs)
- Miracles of Jesus (Frayer-Griggs)
- Parables of Jesus (Hancock)
- Paul within Judaism (Rodríguez)
- New Testament Exegesis and History of Interpretation (Ferda)
- Second Temple Judaism and Christian Origins (Rodríguez, Ferda)
Biblical Interpretation and Study
- Bible Study in the Church and Theological Formation (Ferda)
- Biblical and Theological Library Research Methods (Russell)
- Biblical Interpretation for Christian Life and Practice (Hancock)
- Feminist and Womanist Biblical Interpretation (Russaw)
- History of Biblical Interpretation (Ferda, Woo)
Biblical Themes
- Bible and/in Popular Culture (Russaw)
- Bible and Ecology (Frayer-Griggs)
- Bible and Mission (Hagley)
- Call to Preach (Giver-Johnson)
- Disability and Healing in the Bible (Frayer-Griggs)
- Violence in the Bible (Creach)
- Women in the Bible (Russaw, Giver-Johnson)
History of the Bible
- Ancient Near Eastern Literature (Russaw)
- Biblical and Ancient Near East Archaeology (Tappy)
- Extrabiblical Texts and What They Tell Us about Biblical Israel (Tappy)
- History and Literature of Second Temple Judaism (Ferda)
- History of Biblical Interpretation (Ferda, Woo)
- History of the Ancient Near East and the Religions of Israel (Tappy)
- Northwest Semitic Languages (Creach, Tappy)
- The Tel Zayit Abecedary and the Origins of the Alphabet (Tappy)
CHRISTIAN HISTORY
Christian Origins
- Christianity from Late Antiquity to Present (Woo)
- History of the Ancient Near East and the Religions of Israel (Tappy)
- Second Temple Judaism and Christian Origins (Ferda, Rodríguez)
Christian Traditions and Movements
- African American Religious Experiences (Mingo)
- Anglican/Episcopal Tradition and Theology (Fischer)
- Asian-American History and Theological Perspectives (Woo)
- Christianity from Late Antiquity to Present (Woo)
- Christianity in Post-Christendom (Burgess, Hagley)
- Civil and Human Rights Struggles (Mingo)
- History of African American Methodism (Hoeke, Mingo)
- History of Women Preachers in 19th Century America (Giver-Johnson)
- John Calvin and the Reformed Tradition (Woo)
- Methodist/Wesleyan History and Theology (Anschutz, Hoeke)
- The Barmen Declaration and the Confessing Church (Burgess)
- Theology of Martin Luther (Woo)
THEOLOGY
Christian Theological Methods
- African American Contextual Theology (Lee, Mingo)
- Anglican/Episcopal Tradition and Theology (Fischer)
- Asian American History and Theological Perspectives (Woo)
- Black Theology and Womanism (Mingo)
- Ethics and Public Theology (Mingo, Woodard-Lehman)
- Feminist Theology (Giver-Johnston)
- Liberation Theology (Mingo)
- Methodist/Wesleyan History and Theology (Anschutz, Hoeke)
- Reformed Confessions (Burgess)
Topical Theology
- Eschatology (K. Smith)
- Ethics and Public Theology (Mingo, Woodard-Lehman)
- Practical Theodicy: What Do Christians Do When Bad Things Happen? (Hancock)
- Practical Theology (Gibson)
- Race and Religion (Baker, Fischer, Mingo, D. Smith)
- Sacraments (Burgess)
- Spiritual Freedom (Burgess)
Notable Theologians
- Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Burgess)
- John Calvin and the Reformed Tradition (Woo)
- Theology of Karl Barth (Burgess)
- Theology of Martin Luther (Woo)
CHURCH AND SOCIETY
Christian Ethics
- Christian Perspectives on War and Peace (Burgess)
- End-of-Life Ethics (Hoeke)
- Ethics and Public Theology (Mingo, Woodard-Lehman)
- Faith and Public Life (Baker, Mingo, D. Smith)
- Moral Leadership (Mingo)
- Religious Social Ethics (Mingo)
Christian Mission
- Church Innovation for Our New Missional Era (Anschutz, Hagley)
- Congregational Mission and Leadership (Anschutz, Hagley, Khyllep, Owens)
- Cultural Humility and Cross-Cultural Communication (Khyllep)
- Evangelism (Hagley)
- Missions History (Hagley)
- Nurturing a Missional Mindset Through Global Worship Music (K. Smith)
- Short-term Mission (Khyllep)
- The Bible and Mission (Hagley)
- World Mission and Justice (Khyllep)
Justice, Activism, and Advocacy
- Anti-racism (Woodard-Lehman)
- The Bible and Abolitionism (Ferda)
- Capitalism and Christian Witness (Hagley)
- Christian Perspectives on War and Peace (Burgess)
- Christianity and Nationalism (Burgess)
- Christianity, Race, and Class (Fischer, D. Smith)
- Civil and Human Rights Struggles (Mingo)
- Community Mental Health (Gibson)
- Criminal Justice (Woodard-Lehman)
- Cultural Humility and Cross-Cultural Communication (Khyllep)
- Disability Inclusion in the Church (Frayer-Griggs)
- Faith and Public Life (D. Smith, Mingo)
- Information Literacy (Russell)
- John Calvin and Civil Disobedience (Hancock)
- Moral Leadership (Mingo)
- Popular Media and Constructions of Race and Gender (Mingo)
- Religion, Race, and Resistance: African American Religious Experiences (Mingo)
- Religion and Politics (Woodard-Lehman)
- Religion and Social Movements (Mingo, D. Smith)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
- Women and Social Protest Movements (Mingo)
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY
Pastoral Care
- Being Christian in a Post-Christian Era (Burgess, Hagley)
- Community Mental Health (Gibson)
- Conflict in Congregations (Fuller)
- Grief, Loss, and Recovery (Fuller, Gibson, Nolin)
- Family Systems Theory and Congregational Life (Fuller)
- Pastoral Care in Preaching and Worship (Giver-Johnson)
- Pastoral Ministry (Anschutz, Baker, Giver-Johnson)
- Practical Theodicy: What Do Christians Do When Bad Things Happen? (Hancock)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
Preaching
- Art and Practice of Preaching (Homiletics) (Baker, Hancock, Lee, Giver-Johnson)
- Call to Preach (Giver-Johnson)
- History of Women Preachers in 19th Century America (Giver-Johnson)
- Pastoral Care in Preaching and Worship (Giver-Johnson)
- Preaching in a Global Context (Khyllep)
- Roundtable Pulpit Bible Study (Giver-Johnson)
Worship and Liturgy
- Baptism and Eucharist (Burgess)
- Children in Worship (Giver-Johnson)
- Congregational Song, Corporate/Liturgical Prayer (K. Smith)
- Christian Worship and the Sacraments (Fischer)
- Christian Worship, Sacraments, and the Arts (Hancock)
- History of Christian Worship (Burgess)
- Pastoral Care in Preaching and Worship (Giver-Johnson)
- Taizé-style Worship (K. Smith)
- Teaching through Sacred Music (K. Smith)
- Writing and Reimagining Liturgy (Giver-Johnston)
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
Christian Formation and Spirituality
- Baptism and Eucharist (Burgess)
- Bible Study in the Church and Theological Formation (Ferda)
- Coaching and Spiritual Direction (Teter)
- Community and Systems Analysis for Christian Praxis (Gibson)
- Congregational Discernment (Anschutz, Owens)
- Contemplative Spirituality (Owens)
- Spiritual Formation (Lee, Owens, Teter, Nolin)
- Spirituality for Christian Leadership (Owens)
- Theological Education (Lee, Giver-Johnson)
- Vocational Discernment and Call (Teter)
Leader Care and Clergy Burnout
- Coaching and Spiritual Direction (Teter)
- Congregational Discernment (Anschutz, Owens)
- Conflict in Congregations (Fuller)
- Contemplative Spirituality (Owens)
- Leadership (Anschutz, Baker)
- Spirituality for Christian Leadership (Owens)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
- Vocational Discernment and Call (Teter)
Practical Tools for Ministry
- Art and Practice of Preaching (Homiletics) (Baker, Hancock, Lee, Giver-Johnson)
- Church Communications and Outreach (Anschutz)
- Coaching and Spiritual Direction (Teter)
- Community and Systems Analysis for Christian Praxis (Gibson)
- Community Mental Health (Gibson)
- Conflict in Congregations (Fuller)
- Congregational Mission and Leadership (Anschutz, Hagley, Khyllep)
- Cultural Humility and Cross-Cultural Communication (Khyllep)
- Leadership (Baker)
- Moral Leadership (Mingo)
- Pastoral Ministry (Anschutz, Baker, Giver-Johnson)
- Practical Theodicy: What Do Christians Do When Bad Things Happen? (Hancock)
- Race, Racism, and Intercultural Competency Development (Teter)
- Roundtable Pulpit Bible Study (Giver-Johnson)
- Spirituality for Christian Leadership (Owens)
- Social Justice (Mingo, Woodard-Lehman)
- Stewardship (Cranston, Fischer)
- Teaching Through Sacred Music (K. Smith)
- Theological Research and Librarianship (Russell)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
Addressing Contemporary Issues
- Anti-racism (Woodard-Lehman)
- Being Christian in a Post-Christian Era (Burgess, Hagley)
- Capitalism and Christian Witness (Hagley)
- Christian Perspectives on War and Peace (Burgess)
- Christianity, Race, and Class (Fischer, D. Smith)
- Christianity and Nationalism (Burgess)
- Christianity and U.S. Foreign Policy (D. Smith)
- Church and Politics in Russia and Ukraine (Burgess)
- Criminal Justice (Woodard-Lehman)
- Popular Media and Constructions of Race and Gender (Mingo)
- Religion and Politics (Woodard-Lehman)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
- Women in Ministry (Giver-Johnson)
Revitalization and Adaptive Ministry
- Adaptive and Missional Leadership (Anschutz, Hagley, Owens)
- Developing New Faith Communities (Anschutz, Hagley, Teter)
- Community and Systems Analysis for Christian Praxis (Gibson)
- Congregational Discernment (Anschutz, Hagley, Owens, Teter)
- Congregational Revitalization (Anschutz, Hagley)
- Conflict in Congregations (Fuller)
- Small Church Ministry (Anschutz)
- Spirituality for Christian Leadership (Owens)
- Vocational Discernment/Call (Teter)
Contextual Ministry
- Being Christian in a Post-Christian Era (Burgess, Hagley)
- Capitalism and American Christianity (Hagley)
- Christianity, Race, and Class (Fischer, D. Smith)
- Developing New Faith Communities (Anschutz, Hagley, Teter)
- Religion, Race, and Resistance: African American Religious Experiences (Mingo)
- Sociology of Urban Religion (D. Smith)
- Trauma: Individual Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Group Trauma (Gibson)
Contact
Speaker Contact Information
Jessica Anschutz
Director of the Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry
412-924-1412
William A. Baker IV
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Continuing Education
412-924-1385
John P. Burgess
James Henry Snowden Professor of Systematic Theology
412-924-1430
Carolyn Cranston
Director of Alumnae/i and Church Relations
412-924-1375
Jerome F. D. Creach
Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament
412-924-1428
Tucker Ferda
Errett M. Grable Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Early Christianity
412-924-1391
Charles L. Fischer III
Chief Advancement Officer
412-924-1362
Dan Frayer-Griggs
Assistant Professor of Biblical Exegesis and Director of the Center for Writing and Learning Support
412-924-1454
Leanna K. Fuller
Joan Marshall Professor of Pastoral Care
412-924-1459
Danjuma Gibson
Professor of Practical Theology and Psychology
412-924-1416
Donna Giver-Johnston
Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
412-924-1421
Scott J. Hagley
W. Don McClure Professor of World Mission and Evangelism
412-924-1399
Angela Dienhart Hancock
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Howard C. Scharfe Associate Professor of Homiletics
412-924-1453
Erik Hoeke
Director of Continuing Education
412-924-1346
Bala Khyllep
Director of the World Mission Initiative
412-924-1364
Asa J. Lee
President and Professor of Theological Formation for Ministry
412-924-1366
AnneMarie Mingo
Associate Professor of Ethics, Culture, and Moral Leadership and Director of the Metro-Urban Institute
412-924-1401
Eric Nolin
Admissions Counselor
412-924-1365
L. Roger Owens
Hugh Thomson Kerr Professor of Pastoral Theology
412-924-1458
Rafael Rodríguez
Professor of New Testament
412-924-1456
Kimberly Russaw
Associate Professor of Old Testament
412-924-1407
Mark C. Russell
Interim Co-director of the Barbour Library and Research and Instruction Librarian
412-924-1393
R. Drew Smith
Henry L. Hillman Professor of Urban Ministry
412-924-1457
Kendra Buckwalter Smith
Director of the Worship Program
412-924-1419
Ron E. Tappy
G. Albert Shoemaker Professor Emeritus of Bible and Archaeology and Director of The Zeitah Excavations
412-924-1427
Ayana Teter
Dean for Community Life and Formation
412-924-1398
Edwin Chr. van Driel
Directors' Bicentennial Professor of Theology
412-924-1425
Kenneth Woo
P. C. Rossin Professor of Church History and Historical Theology
412-924-1350
Derek Woodard-Lehman
Director of the Miller Summer Youth Institute
412-924-1368