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Lafayette’s Earl Pope Lectures in World Christianity series will be inaugurated Thursday, Feb. 21 by one of the world’s foremost experts on the growth and spread of Christianity in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Lamin Sanneh, the D. Willis James Professor of Missions and World Christianity and professor of history at Yale University Divinity School, will speak at 7:30 p.m. in room 104 of Kirby Hall of Civil Rights.
Earl A. Pope, courtesy of Digitized Historical Photograph Collection, Lafayette Archives
The lecture series is being sponsored by Lafayette’s Religious Studies Department in honor of the late Earl A. Pope, who served as Helen P. Manson Professor of the English Bible, and was a trail-blazing scholar on the religious situation in Eastern Europe during the era of Communist domination.
Joining the faculty in 1960, Pope taught at Lafayette for 30 years. He served as secretary, vice-chair, and chair of the Lafayette Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, headed the department from 1977-85, and served as dean of studies from 1970-72. He was the recipient of the Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Faculty award for superior teaching in 1970 and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback award for distinguished teaching and contributions to the campus community in 1980.
For a full biography read the faculty’s memorial resolution in Pope’s honor
As the lecture series’ first speaker, Sanneh will discuss how Christianity, now the world’s largest religion, is gaining popularity as more people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are embracing the faith.
To donate to the lecture fund in Pope’s memory, please send a check to the Development Office, 307 Markle Hall, Easton PA 18042, or go online.