What are the practices that cultivate a virtuous life, and how do they help the church to live faithfully in today's world?

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, named "America’s Best Theologian" by TIME magazine in 2001 and Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law at Duke University, will answer this question and others during a 4-week, virtual event devoted to exploring the character of virtue. Joining Dr. Hauerwas will be Dr. Ellen Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, who will moderate a live Q&A with event participants. 

Each week you will listen as Dr. Hauerwas discusses one of the virtues highlighted in his recent book, The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godson. You will uncover the significance of specific virtues—kindness, hope, humility, and generosity—for understanding what it means to be a Christian. You will develop a way of thinking about ethics that is creative and relevant for helping to be faithful to the church and its role in our world. 

Participants are encouraged to read The Character of Virtue in advance, but pre-reading is not required. Purchase the book.

• Lectures

  This 4-week lecture series is adapted from Dr. Hauerwas’ book The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godson. Each lecture of this virtual event will include live instruction as well as a moderated Q&A time with participants. Participants are encouraged to read The Character of Virtue in advance; pre-reading is not required.

  Access to Recordings

  Each lecture will be recorded and made available the following day. A link to the video will be sent to the email address you provide when registering.

  Dates

  • April 20, 2022
    Week 1: The Character of Kindness
    The first session draws on Bonhoeffer's letter to his godson on the occasion of his baptism and why kindness is the first virtue considered.
  • April 27, 2022
    Week 2: The Character of Hope
    Week two explores hope as a virtue that is at once a “natural” habit that the Holy Spirit transforms.
  • May 4, 2022
    Week 3: The Character of Humility
    Week three focuses on why attempts to try to be humble are often forms of pride.
  • May 11, 2022
    Week 4: The Character of Generosity
    In the final lecture, the topic is generosity and how the different virtues each reveal the God who is unrelentingly generous.
• Cost

  Registering provides individual access on the day of each lecture, the opportunity to participate in the moderated Q&A, and post-event access to a recording of each lecture.

  Individual Registration (full course): $15.00
  Changes to $25.00 after Friday, Apr. 15

  Register