The McClendon Scholar-in-Residence Program brings scholars to Washington to speak on their most recent research and to share their learning and their vision with The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and the broader Washington community.
The McClendon Scholar-in-Residence Program stands at the place where faith, intellect and justice meet. It was established through the insight and generosity of the late Rev. Dr. Jack E. McClendon, Associate Minister of the New York Avenue Church from 1957 to 1991. Dr. McClendon’s enduring passion for social justice and confidence that a congregation must be a place where faith, intellect, and commitment to justice issue forth in service remain abiding legacies of his ministry. The Scholar-in-Residence Program is one fruit of Dr. McClendon’s conviction that justice, service, and action can only be sustained for the long haul when a community of faith grapples with profound issues and is equipped to engage in a deepening of faith. To this end, he wished to bring to the church and the larger Washington community noted scholars whose unique gifts, knowledge, and lives would inspire both ongoing reflection and action.
The program continues to work through a major piece of Rev. McClendon’s vision, that is, ensuring that the lessons of each scholar are thoroughly incorporated into the life and work of the NYAPC and Washington communities—through widespread and thorough preparation for the scholar’s arrival, an ongoing presence of the scholar in the life of the New York Avenue community and intentional consideration of initiatives to implement the lessons of each scholar’s tenure at the church.
Thus far, the Scholar-in-Residence Program has been honored to host the following McClendon Scholars in Residence:
- Walter Brueggemann, Professor of Old Testament Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary, “The Congregational Practice of Prophetic Imagination,” December 1-3, 2006
- Frances Taylor Gench, Professor of New Testament, Union Presbyterian Seminary, “Discerning the Shape of Discipleship: Gospel Perspectives,” February–April, 2007
- Larry Rasmussen, Professor Social Ethics Emeritus, Union Seminary (New York), “And the Fullness Thereof: Christian Discipleship at an Ecological Crossroads,” October 26–28, 2007
- Charles Swezey, Professor of Christian Ethics Emeritus, Union Presbyterian Seminary, “Recovering Politics for Mainline Christians: Retrieving the Legacy of Reinhold Niebuhr,” September 2008–May 2009
- Ronald C. White, Jr., Huntington Library Fellow and Biographer, “Abraham Lincoln 2009: Wisdom for Today,” September 18–20, 2009
- Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Professor of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, “Toward a Just Peace in a Wired World,” September 16–18, 2011
The Next Scholar in Residence: Brian Blount
We are pleased to announce that the next McClendon Scholar in Residence will be Brian Blount, President of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, who will be at NYAPC on the weekend of March 9–11, 2012. Please click here for a brochure of the complete program for the weekend.
Rev. Dr. Blount's topic is “An Encounter with the Apocalypse: Studying the Book of Revelation.” He will lecture on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday morning and will preach at NYAPC's 8:45 and 11 A.M. services on Sunday. Rev. Dr. Blount has focused his recent biblical research on the Book of Revelation, and that book will provide the subject for the following lectures and subsequent conversations:
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Lecture: “Dawn of the Dead: Preaching the Apocalypse.” Friday evening, March 9, from 7 to 9 P.M. at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue, NW. The church is two blocks from both the McPherson Square and Metro Center stations. Street and garage parking are available.
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Lecture: “No Free Pass: An Apocalyptic Call for Prophetic Witness in the Book of Revelation.” Saturday morning, March 10, 9:30 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, 1219 New Jersey Avenue, NW. Mt. Lebanon Baptist is 2/5th of a mile from the Mt. Vernon Place station on the Yellow/Green Lines. Street parking is available.
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Sunday morning, March 11, worship at 8:45 and 11 A.M., Rev. Dr. Blount preaching on “The Bystander Effect” and conducting an adult church school class at 10 A.M., “Introducing the Book of Revelation”—all at NYAPC.
All are welcome to attend one or more of these events.
For additional background on the thought and work of Dr. Blount, please see: