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2025 Weter Lecture

The annual Winifred E. Weter Faculty Award Lecture for Meritorious Scholarship provides a public platform in which the claims of the liberal arts in the Christian university are espoused. Delivered each year by a SPU faculty member selected by the Faculty Status Committee, the Weter Lecture honors Winifred E. Weter, SPU professor emerita of classics. Her teaching career spanning 40 years (1935–75) exemplifies a life of Christian character and integrity. Her love for the study of classical languages and literature inspired a similar enthusiasm in thousands of her students, and this lecture continues that tradition of inspiration. The benefactor of the Weter Lecture Series, the late Professor Emeritus of Biology Ross Shaw, established this lectureship more than 40 years ago to celebrate and uphold the value and heritage of the liberal arts.

Professor Cara Wall-Scheffler

"The Role of the Body in a Digital Age: A Scientist’s Reflection on Our Walking God"

Cara Wall-Scheffler, PhD
Professor and Co-Chair of Biology

Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7 p.m.

Queen Anne Room of Upper Gwinn Commons


Lecture synopsis

Bipedalism (walking on two legs) is the hallmark of Homo sapiens’ lineage, and the consequence of being bipedal for other aspects of “being human” is the focus of many aspects of biological anthropology—a discipline with some unique contributions to understanding how humans fit within Creation. In this lecture we will explore how studying bipedalism helps us understand our own humanity, in addition to providing some nuanced framing for Biblical narratives that specifically report on walking. Perhaps most importantly, we will investigate stories of God walking and what that means for Christian theology.

ɬÀï·¬ the speaker

Cara Wall-Scheffler is an alumna of SPU and has been on faculty since 2007. She is currently Professor and Co-Chair of the department of Biology. Her work has been supported by BioLogos, the Templeton Foundation, Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford, the Murdock Charitable Trust, and a Fulbright.

Other event notes

  • We are currently determining if we can provide a livestream. If not, we hope to provide a recording that can be made available after the event.
  • Dr. Porterfield will provide opening remarks and then bestow a medallion on Cara at the end of the talk.
  • Light refreshments will be served.