'Last' Lecture for the Graduating Class.

The Religion Department at Ashland University will celebrate its graduating seniors, induct new members into Theta Alpha Kappa (the religion honors society) and close out the year with a final lecture by long-time Ashland Theological Seminary Professor Dr. Paul W. Chilcote on Wednesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in AU’s Miller Chapel at the corner of King Road and College Avenue.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Deep, Abiding Connection to God.” This is the third annual 'last lecture', which is an invitation for a speaker to address the graduating class of Religion majors as if it were their last time to do so. 

“We are excited that Dr. Paul Chilcote will be giving the lecture this year,” said Peter Slade, the chair of the religion department. “Dr. Chilcote has a lifetime of wisdom gained teaching theology and spirituality in Zimbabwe in Africa as well as at seminaries in this country.”

Chilcote is professor of Historical Theology & Wesleyan Studies at Ashland Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than 20 books, including A Faith That Sings, The Works of John Wesley, vol. 13; John & Charles Wesley; Making Disciples in a World Parish; Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit; Early Methodist Spirituality; The Study of Evangelism, and Recapturing the Wesleys’ Vision. 

Chilcote and his wife, Janet, have been active members of the Ashland community for many years. This summer, the Chilcotes will leave Ashland as Paul takes a position at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla. “This really is the last opportunity for many of us to hear Dr. Chilcote lecture and we hope many people from the community will come out,” Slade said.

Chilcote has been involved in theological education on three continents, having taught at Wesley College (England), St. Paul’s United Theological College (Kenya), the Methodist Theological School (Ohio), Duke Divinity School (North Carolina), and having helped launch two new institutions – Africa University (Zimbabwe) and Asbury Theological Seminary (Florida).