Distinguished Speaker Forum
About
For many years, there has been talk of having a great lecture series that could parallel and complement our wonderful E. Carl Freeman Concert Series.
In 2023, the Endowment Board approved a grant request to begin hosting speakers and, through these opportunities, determine if this is a viable ministry which should continue.
A small planning group was formed to dream, ask good questions, and begin hosting excellent presenters. To honor the importance of a “Thoughtful Faith,” a key value of our community, our team hopes our series can provide thought-provoking and challenging content through the presentations of enlightening and stimulating individuals with varied perspectives, which may not be shared by all.
With joy we recently announced that our first slate of speakers and shortly thereafter hosted our first presenter. Through this Forum, we wish to welcome our local community and, of course, encourage all of our folks at River Road to participate.
Distinguished Speaker Forum presents
2025-2026 Season
Purchase your tickets on Eventbrite.
Additional lectures may be announced throughout the season.
They will be listed here and tickets will be available on Eventbrite. Typically, lectures will not be livestreamed nor will recordings be published at a later time.
Tickets
Reserve your tickets on Eventbrite
Jen Hatmaker
New York Times Bestselling Author, Speaker, Podcaster
Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets $30/person available to purchase on Eventbrite
A great evening opportunity awaits with Jen, who is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Speaker, Podcaster, and so much more.
Jen Hatmaker is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen books including For the Love and her latest project, Feed These People: Slam Dunk Recipes for Your Crew. She is the delighted curator of the Jen Hatmaker Book Club and host of the award-winning For the Love podcast, and she leads a tightly knit online community where she reaches millions of people each week. Jen is a co-founder of Legacy Collective, a giving organization that grants millions of dollars towards sustainable projects around the world. She is a mom to five kids and lives happily just outside Austin, Texas. To learn more, visit www.jenhatmaker.com
Follow Jen:
- Facebook: @jenhatmaker
- Instagram: @jenhatmaker
- TikTok: @realjenhatmaker
- For The Love Podcast
Dr. Joshua Cole
The Gifts of Inclusivity
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
What are inclusivity and exclusivity? What gets in the way of being inclusive? What are the benefits and gifts of being inclusive? Let’s be challenged together with helpful approaches and behaviors that open us up, strengthen relationships, and lend themselves to partnering with one another to meet needs and build bridges.
Dr. Cole will share based on his personal experiences and education, to guide us as we consider our commitment to and action towards inclusion.
This session will last an hour, followed by a light reception and brief opportunity for guests to talk with Dr. Cole.
Dr. Joshua Cole is an award-winning educator and founder of A New Angle, an organization that helps educators reach their full potential. With over 25 years of experience across PreK–12, higher education, and nonprofits, he is known for fostering inclusive dialogue, teamwork, and transformational change. An author of two books, including Clearing Your Road, Joshua brings a global perspective shaped by diverse teaching experiences in the U.S. and Australia.
Tickets are free.
Presented by the Distinguished Speaker Forum at River Road Church and River Road Church Preschool
Dr. Joshua Cole
Lessons in Leadership
Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
In this seminar presentation, Dr. Cole will offer insights from his experiences as a leader: lessons learned, resource tools, successes and challenges, developing intentionality, and more.
Dr. Cole recently published A Parable in Educational Leadership, of which you will receive a copy as part of your registration. He will make use of his personal story, along with guiding dialogue among leaders, and offering time for reflection. After a morning seminar, lunch will be provided at 12 noon, during which time attendees may engage in further conversation with our Dr. Cole, as well as gleaning from other leaders.
A box lunch menu will be provided closer to the time for our event. If you sign-up, we will use the email address you provide to follow up with this.
Dr. Joshua Cole is an award-winning educator and founder of A New Angle, an organization that helps educators reach their full potential. With over 25 years of experience across PreK–12, higher education, and nonprofits, he is known for fostering inclusive dialogue, teamwork, and transformational change. An author of two books, including Clearing Your Road, Joshua brings a global perspective shaped by diverse teaching experiences in the U.S. and Australia.
Tickets are $50 per person and include lunch and a copy of Dr. Cole’s book. A limited number of scholarships are available—please email info@rrcb.org.
Presented by the Distinguished Speaker Forum at River Road Church and River Road Church Preschool.
Dr. Norman Wirzba
The Way of Love
Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
At a time when Christianity is being presented as many things, Dr. Wirzba will help us explore Christianity as a pathway that is defined by love. This is not trivial or sentimental love but active and self-giving love, with Christ as our primary example and guide.
What does it look like when Christ’s followers are centered in and living lives of love? What might happen if we reconnect with the heart of Christianity? How can we be encouraged as we strive for this? Will our words and actions provide a beautiful, inviting interpretation of the Good News of Jesus?
This is an important and relevant conversation we need.
Norman Wirzba is the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Theology at Duke University and the author of numerous books, including Way of Love and Love’s Braided Dance. His work explores how theology and philosophy can respond to today’s pressing issues like climate change, AI, and social inequality. Outside academia, he enjoys baking, playing guitar, woodworking, and spending time with his family.
Tickets are $10 per person. Limited scholarships available—please email info@rrcb.org.
Carolyn Winfree-Gillette and Bruce Gillette
A Celebration of God’s Creation
April 18 and 19, 2026, times TBD
Ticket information coming soon
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette: Expressions of Care in Song
Carolyn is a Presbyterian pastor and acclaimed writer of over 500 new hymns set to traditional tunes, widely used across denominations and featured on PBS and the BBC. She co-pastors a church in Owego, New York, with her husband and is the author of several hymn collections, drawing on her Virginia roots and deep commitment to social justice.
Bruce Gillette: Caring for our Living Earth
Bruce is a Presbyterian pastor and environmental advocate who has led national efforts with Presbyterians for Earth Care, helped write a PC(USA) constitutional amendment on creation care, and co-pastors with his wife in Owego, NY. His leadership has included promoting solar energy, founding Delaware Interfaith Power & Light, and contributing to global ecumenical work on climate and unity.
Dr. Francis Collins
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Francis Collins is a renowned physician, geneticist, leader of the Human Genome Project, and former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A former atheist, Collins became a Christian in his 20s, and he founded the BioLogos Foundation to explore the harmony between science and faith. He authored The Language of God, which discusses how belief in God and science can comfortably coexist, and led NIH research on diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19. Collins has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Templeton Prize. His most recent book is The Road to Wisdom. Dr. Collins will explore the valuable connections of science and faith.
Ticket information coming soon
