Join us for "Keep Christianity Weird: Christian Distinctiveness and the Episcopal Church" with the Rev. Dr. Will Willimon. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m., September 14, at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue in Dallas. 

 Willimon is one of the best-known preachers in America, a prolific writer with 70 books to his name who is regarded as one of the most influential voices in mainline Protestantism.  For 20 years dean of Duke Chapel and more recently a United Methodist bishop in North Alabama, Willimon now teaches the practice of Christian ministry at Duke and is a sought-after speaker and preacher.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him speak on a topic that resonates with his best-seller Resident Aliens, co-authored with Stanley Hauerwas: “Keep Christianity Weird: Christian Distinctiveness and the Episcopal Church.”  Willimon thinks followers of Jesus ought to be seen as weird, odd, even a little crazy, and that if we become thought of as respectable mainstream citizens and nothing else, we’ve become salt that’s lost its savor.  Here in Texas, the Episcopal Church is often seen as weird compared to the church and the culture around us—we’re high-church liturgical Christians in a low-church evangelical or no-church culture.  And he thinks that’s a very good thing!  Willimon intends to encourage us to see with fresh eyes that what makes us weird as Anglicans can serve to remind us that Christians are meant to be weird, salt and light, resident aliens, followers of a very odd and distinctive Lord, Jesus Christ. 

This event, in the nave at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, will open with a talk by Willimon, followed by conversation with a small group of panelists from our diocese, and then plenty of time for conversation with the audience.  It’s free and open to the public, and parking is free in the cathedral and diocesan parking lots.  Spread the word at your church and bring your friends!