Posted by William Nunnelley on 2007-10-22

Church historian Gwenfair Walters Adams of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass., will deliver the 19th annual Reformation Heritage Lectures at Samford University's Beeson Divinity School Tuesday-through-Thursday, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Dr. Adams, associate professor of church history and faculty mentor for women's spirituality and leadership development, will speak each day at 11 a.m. in Hodges Chapel at Samford. She will also speak at a luncheon Wednesday, Oct. 31. The lectures are free and open to the public, although there is a charge for the luncheon.

Her topics are "Tell Me a Story (Psalm 105 and Luke 24:13-27)," Tuesday; "How Stories Shaped Augustine's Life," Wednesday; "How Augustine's Life Story Built Luther's World," Wednesday luncheon; and "How Luther's Life Story Turned the World Upside Down," Thursday.

Adams' specialties in teaching are focused on Medieval and Reformation studies, with additional interests in the history of worship, spirituality, media, communications and the arts in the church. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Gwyn Walters, who taught homiletics for 36 years at Gordon-Conwell.

Adams is author of the recently-released book, Visions in Late Medieval England: Lay Spirituality and Sacred Glimpses of the Hidden Worlds of Faith. 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.