Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

The annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lectures and Discussion emphasizes the continuing struggle for civil rights. 

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture
Lecture by Rev. Dr. Luke Powery
The lecture, Diversity in Adversity: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Promise of the ‘World House, explored Dr. King’s idea of the ‘World House,’ the notion of building community and peace across all divides, and its relevance for living in today’s diverse world. The morning lecture may be viewed at this archive.

Critical Dialogue
This was a facilitated discussion on how to build authentic community across racial, ethnic, national, socio-economic and religious divides.

MLK Community Celebration in Mankato
Reception, address by Rev. Dr. Powery, and presentation of the 2019 Pathfinder Award
MLK Community Celebration

These events are sponsored by the Gustavus Diversity Center, Gustavus Office of the Chaplains, Gustavus Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies Program, Gustavus Office of the President, Gustavus Office of Marketing and Communication, Mankato MLK Committee, and Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Rev. Dr. Luke Powery
Rev. Dr. Powery is the Dean of Duke University Chapel and Associate Professor of Homiletics at Duke Divinity School. A national leader in the theological study of the art of preaching (homiletics). 

His teaching and research interests are located at the intersection of preaching, worship, pneumatology, and culture, particularly expressions of the African diaspora. He has written three books: Spirit Speech: Lament and Celebration in Preaching; Dem Dry Bones: Preaching, Death, and Hope; and his latest book Rise Up, Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals. He has also co-authored an introductory textbook on preaching, Ways of the Word: Learning to Preach for Your Time and Place, and is currently working on the second in the series of meditations on the Spirituals, this time for the season of Lent. He is also a general editor of a forthcoming nine volume lectionary commentary series for preaching and worship titled, Connections.

Powery was ordained by the Progressive National Baptist Convention and has served in an ecumenical capacity in churches throughout Switzerland, Canada and the United States. In 2014, he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College for his ethical and spiritual leadership in the academy, church, and broader society.

Prior to his appointment at Duke, he served as the Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary. He received his B.A. in music with a concentration in vocal performance from Stanford University, his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his Th.D. from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto.