Dr. Roger Gench to deliver Dawe Lecture at Union Presbyterian Seminary on March 16

Lecture will explore connection between Buddhist notion of mindfulness and the spirituality of the cross

by Union Presbyterian Seminary | Special to Presbyterian News Service

Dr. Roger Gench

LOUISVILLE — Dr. Roger Gench, theologian in residence at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, will deliver the 2020 Dawe Lecture, “Cruciform Mindfulness,” at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Watts Chapel at Union Presbyterian Seminary, 3401 Brook Road in Richmond. A reception will follow the free presentation. There’s no registration needed to attend the lecture.

According to a news release from the seminary, Gench will explore the distinction between the Buddhist notion of mindfulness and Christian theology, particularly the spirituality of the cross. During his talk, Gench will articulate a foundation for the Christian life in which activism and spirituality are integrally related and part of the same footprint, rather than disconnected from one another.

Last year, Gench retired after 17 years of service as the senior pastor at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. He’s also been the pastor at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.

He’s a graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary, where he completed a doctorate in Theological Ethics.

The Dawe Lecture series is funded through The Donald and Nancy Dawe Fund for Emotional and Ethical Growth. The Fund was established thanks to a gift from Dr. Coleman Longan honoring Donald and Nancy Dawe.

Dr. Dawe was professor emeritus at Union Presbyterian Seminary until his death in 2012. The lecture series is held annually at Union Presbyterian Seminary and pays tribute to the Dawes and promotes ethical and religious understanding. Because of Professor Dawe’s long-standing interest and commitments in the area of multi-religious and multi-cultural understanding and interfaith dialogue, this lecture series seeks to contribute to deepened awareness and insight in these areas of intellectual and especially practical religious concern.