Patrick Cheng Gives Pitt Lecture for 2021

September 30, 2021

This year Berkeley Divinity School’s Pitt Lecture was given by Asian-American theologian and Episcopal priest the Rev’d Dr Patrick Cheng. The Pitt Lecture was part of the annual Convocation Evensong, 4:00 at Christ Church, New Haven.

Dr Cheng, a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School as well as of Union Theological Seminary, serves as Theologian in Residence at St Thomas’ Church, Fifth Ave, New York City. He also serves as Senior Vice President, Client Benefits and Education Compliance at the Church Pension Group, and lectures at Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary.

Dr Cheng, who studied under the late James Cone at Union, is author of three books of which the most recent is Rainbow Theology: Bridging Race, Sexuality, and Spirit (Seabury, 2013).

Dr Cheng’s lecture was entitled “Race and Sexuality in the ‘Regions Beyond” ’ Towards a Postcolonial Queer Missiology.” This year the Pitt Lecture, along with Convocation Evensong, was held at Christ Church, New Haven. While Yale is not currently receiving visitors from beyond the University community, Berkeley revived an old tradition of setting its ceremonial events at a local Church.

In addition the Convocation Evensong included the award of honorary degrees to the Rt Rev’d Jennifer Baskerville- Burrows of Indianapolis and, in absentia, to the Most Rev’d Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town.