» Departmental Lecture Series

The Department of Religious Studies oversees four endowments that enrich the Religious Studies curriculum at Chapman University and provide students with opportunities to interact with distinguished national and international scholars of religion. 

Griset Visiting Chair in Bible and Christian Tradition and Griset Lectureship 

Both the Griset Chair in Bible and Christian Tradition (the first endowed chair at Chapman University) and the separate Griset Lectureship focusing on Christianity and ethics were established in 1984 in the name of Belle Griset, whose son Francis Griset served as a Chapman Trustee for many years.  Both endowments include teaching responsibilities as well as the delivering of a public lecture. 

Francis Memorial Lectureship 

This lectureship was established in honor of Professor Fred Francis, an expert on the writings of the Apostle Paul who taught New Testament and Christian Ethics in the Religious Studies Department at Chapman from 1964-1984.  The lectureship was established in 1984 to bring eminent biblical scholars from around the world to speak to the Chapman community. 

Huntington Lectureship 

This endowed lectureship was established in honor of Prof. Ron Huntington, who taught at Chapman University from 1960-1994.  Prof. Huntington served as co-director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute with Dr. Kurt Bergel in the 1980s, was Dean of the World Campus Afloat Program in the 1960s, and is remembered especially for his popular course on modern world religions.  The Huntington Lectureship was established in 1994 to bring prominent scholars in world religions to lecture at Chapman. 


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