Capps Lectures in Christian Theology

The Capps Lecture Series provides a public forum for prominent Christian leaders and thinkers whose work explores the relation between faith and social responsibility. Endowed by Dr. and Mrs. W. Jerry Capps through Theological Horizons and co-sponsored by the Project on Lived Theology, the Capps Lectures are held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

The 2007 Capps Lecture

Professor John de Gruchy gave two lectures:

"Christian Identity amidst Global Contradictions"

Nov. 6, 2007, in the Dome Room of the Rotunda

Listen to this lecture

"Christian Humanism against Fundamentalism & Secularism"

Nov. 7, 2007, at  St. Paul's Church, Charlottesville

COMING SOON to this page: audiofiles & photographs of the lectures

John de Gruchy is the Emeritus Robert Selby Taylor Professor of Christian Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa; head of the Research Institute on Christianity in South Africa and author of numerous books, including: Reconciliation: Restoring Justice; Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Witness to Jesus Christ and his most recent book, Confessions of a Christian Humanist. 

For more information, call 434-924-6743 or email info@theologicalhorizons.org

Co-Sponsored by Theological Horizons, The Project on Lived Theology and the Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

The 2005 Capps Lecture

Jürgen Moltmann delivered the influential Capps Lecture in Christian Theology on April 27, 2005. Professor Moltmann spoke on the topic, "In God We Trust, In God Us Trusts."  One of the world’s most influential Theologians, Moltmann is known for writing on the theme of hope. He writes, “Beneath the cross of Christ hope is born again out of the depths. The person who has once sensed this is never afraid of any depths again. His hope has become firm and unconquerable.”

 Dr. and Mrs, W. Jerry Capps have endowed the lecture series through

 Theological Horizons to provide a public forum for outstanding

  Christian leaders and thinkers whose work explores the relation between faith and social responsibility.

To read the lecture in its entirety here: "In God We Trust, In God Us Trusts: Freedom and Security in a Free World."

The 2003 Capps Lecture

Wolfgang Huber, bishop of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg, spoke on “Truth, Guilt and Reconciliation: Christian Faith in a Violent World.” Bishop Huber engaged urgent issues of the day from a passionate and eloquent Christian point of view.

Bishop Huber also spoke to University professors and graduate students: “Do We Need A New Morality? Christian Faith and Bioethics.”

For a printed copy of  both lectures, contact us at info@theologicalhorizons.org

The 2001 Capps Lecture

Miroslav Volf , the Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale University delivered the first Capps Lecture. Professor Volf spoke to  a standing room only audience on “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice.”

The author of the influential book, Exclusion and Embrace, which grew out of his experiences teaching seminary in Croatia, Miroslav Volf has an ambitious agenda: to write theology that is rooted in the church but speaks to the world. Volf’s Capps Lecture powerfully combined academic excellence with faithfulness to Christ. For cassette copies of Volf’s lecture, “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice,” send an email to    

info@theologicalhorizons.org.