The Eunice and James L. West library hosts a Mitchell-Reed Community of Learners lecture featuring Dr. Kendra Weddle at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 in the Library Orientation room. Dr. Weddle will present “Building Bridges: Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Friends.”

Letha Dawson Scanzoni changed the shape of American evangelicalism with two groundbreaking books she coauthored: All We're Meant to Be and Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?. All We're Meant to Be established what has now been called the birth of biblical feminism. Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? was one of the first books that affirmed LGBTQ relationships as compatible with the Bible. Despite such vital contributions to the landscape of religion in America, Scanzoni is frequently overlooked by historians and religious leaders. Given the current #MeToo and LGBTQ challenges to religious institutions, it is worth listening to Scanzoni for the insight she began writing about almost fifty years ago.

Dr. Kendra Weddle is an associate professor of religion and chair of the Department of Religion, Humanities & Interdisciplinary Studies.