Kent Mathews Endowed Lectureship in Christian Social Ethics

The Kent Mathews Lectureship is an important part of the Vernon Grounds Institute of Public Ethics.

Kent Mathews graduated from Denver Seminary in 1985 with a degree in counseling. During his years at Denver Seminary, he was most heavily impacted by the life and ministry of Dr. Vernon Grounds. Kent's strong sense of both justice and compasswion for the marginalized characterized his life and work until his death in 1994. To honor Kent's life and continue his legacy in the area of Christian social ethics, Mr. Randall and Dr. Alice Mathews have formed this endowed lectureship so that similar passion may be inspired in the lifes of future Denver Seminary students.

This annual lectureship seeks to cultivate a biblical, social ethic by adressing aspects of the obligations, virtues, values and vision essetial to a thoroughly Christ-like social ethic. Specifically, the lectureship explores the aspects of these four themes by addressing the biblical, theological and philosophical nature of our obligations; the personal character dimensions of social ethics; the values reflected in social justice; and the concrete responses to which we are called.

Listen to past lectures online 

2008-2009 Academic Year

In October 2008, the theme for the Kent Mathews Endowed Lectureship in Christian Social Ethics was "The Christian Concern for Our Common Life." On Monday, October 6, Dr. Ron Sider presented, "Toward an Evangelical Methodology for Political Engagement." And on Tuesday, October 7, Dr. Darrell Bock presented, "Engaging Culture Theologically: Understanding and Engaging the Trinitarian Anti-Christian Apologetic." Click the links below to listen to the lectures.

  • Dr. Ron Sider: "Toward an Evangelical Methodology for Political Engagement"
    Stream | Download

  • Dr. Darrell Bock: "Engaging Culture Theologically: Understanding and Engaging the Trinitarian Anti-Christian Apologetic"
    Stream | Download

2007-2008 Academic Year

This year marked the inaugural season of The Kent Mathews Endowed Lectureship in Christian Social Ethics, centering on “Expanding the Ethical Agenda: An Evangelical Imperative.”

Contours of an Evangelical Christian Social Ethics
presented by Dr. Alice Mathews on October 29, 2007

Dr. Mathews laid the foundation for the series by painting a picture of the forward-moving direction of Evangelical Christian Social Ethics, offering ideas on what it will look like for Christians to broaden their idea of ethics from personal and private action to public expression in the social arena.

The Reawakening of the Evangelical Consciousness
presented by Drs. Vernon Grounds and Danny Carroll R. on October 29, 2007

In this informal interview, Dr. Carroll interviewed Dr. Grounds, one of the founders of Evangelicals for Social Action, an organization concerned to see Christian faith lived out in the public sphere.  Dr. Grounds answered questions and reflected on Evangelical and his own personal social awareness over the past fifty years.

Warrants for a Broader Ethical Agenda
presented by Dr. Dieumeme Noelliste on October 30, 2007

Dr. Noelliste offered motivating justification for expanding Christian involvement in social action by giving theological and scriptural bases for the Christian pursuit of social justice. He also lent historical support to the argument by surveying times when God’s people had obediently addressed social ills.