Austin College Allen-Head Lectures features Christian ethicist-feminist
By Austin College
Feb 15, 2020
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Sherman, Texas -- Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd "Toddie" Peters, professor of religious studies at Elon University, will present Austin College’s 2020 Allen-Head Lectures on Tuesday, February 18. Her first lecture on globalization and economic inequality, “After Capitalism: Imagining a Solidarity Economy,” begins at 11:00 a.m. at Sherman Hall in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium on campus. The second lecture, “Trust Women: From Justifying Abortion to Reproductive Justice,” begins at 7:00 p.m. in Wright Campus Center's Mabee Hall. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

Peters is the author of “Trust Women: a Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice,” a comprehensive theological account of reproductive choice. As a social ethicist, she focuses on questions that relate to economics, the environmental crisis, globalization, poverty, and women’s access to reproductive health care. She addresses issues of conflict and social injustice in the world, acknowledging that religion plays a significant role in shaping people’s worldviews and moral ideas.

After earning a bachelor’s degree at Rhodes College, Peters then completed a Master of Divinity and a doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York.

The Allen-Head Lecture Series was established by an endowment gift in 1985 in memory and celebration of E.T. Allen Sr. and Mary Bell Anderson Allen; Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Allen Jr.; and Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Head Jr. of Whitesboro, Texas. The lectures feature nationally prominent speakers in the areas of religion, philosophy, psychology, history, and literature.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with 46 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Austin College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.