GBHEM Announces 2022 Willson Lecture Speakers 

Nashville, TN, Sept. 23, 2022 – The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry announced its 2022 Willson Lecture speakers, Professor Dr. Peter Mageto and Professor Dr. Jamisse Uilson Taimo. This event will take place on Oct. 4, 2022, at the Scarritt Bennett Center. Over two lectures, our guest speakers will explore the following topic: “From our unique Methodist and Wesleyan tradition, how does the church and the academy respond to the acute polarization in church and society both theologically and ethically?”

Professor Dr. Peter Mageto is a seasoned scholar and elder in the United Methodist Church, with more than two decades of experience. His expertise includes providing financial management, implementing corporate social responsibility practices, and building strategic partnerships. He is the founder of Amani Reading Centre, a community library located in the highly marginalized region of Nyamira County in Kenya.

Dr. Mageto is the 5th Vice Chancellor of Africa University and holds a doctorate in theological ethics along with a master’s in theological studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. 

Professor Dr. Jamisse Uilson Taimo, is a distinguished educator and published author, whose expertise focuses on education administration in educational units, with a special focus on advancing higher education, improving the quality of education, and providing access to scientific knowledge.

Currently, Dr. Taimo is the non-executive director of the Joaquim Chissano Foundation, board chair of the Institute for Peace, Leadership, and Governance (IPLG), executive director of GBHEM’s Regional LEAD Hub Mozambique, board member of Africa University, board member of IAMSCU, and a member of the Mozambique Council of State.  

The Willson Lecture series is provided by an endowment from James and Mavis Willson of Floydada, Texas. The lectureship is designed to contribute to the spiritual and intellectual enrichment of people from the boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church. The lectures also present the scholarly contributions of leaders in higher education and educational philanthropy to the Nashville community. The lectures were established in 1955 by Mr. and Mrs. James M. Willson, Sr. In the course of Willson’s long life of service to his local church and annual conference, he established Willson Lectureships at more than twenty institutions, nearly all related to The United Methodist Church.

The Willson Lecture is a free event, open to the public. Registration and details can be found at: https://cvent.me/GQbWg7.

About GBHEM

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is the ministry of learning and leadership of The United Methodist Church, preparing elders, deacons, laity and licensed local pastors for their roles in the Church and supporting more than 1,100 Methodist-related educational institutions worldwide. In addition to serving Christians around the world with intellectual engagement and spiritual and leadership formation, GBHEM helps lay and clergy leaders discover, claim and flourish in God’s ministry and mission for the Church, the academy, and the world. For more information, visit www.gbhem.org.