More than 150 speakers from 21 states, nine foreign countries and five continents are coming to ACU for the 90th Bible Lectureship. The 2007 edition also innovates with a new track of 20 lectures designed by students, for students.

Not all students can take advantage of Lectureship, though, unless professors let them out of class.

The diversity of subjects offered at Lectureship from Sunday through Wednesday makes it easy for most professors to find a lecture that can fit into their class schedule. Indeed, many lectures deal with college classes such as history, political science, psychology , sociology and family studies.

Dr. Mark Love, director of Lectureship, encouraged through an e-mail all U100 professors and 35 other faculty members to require students to attend one or two lectures instead of going to class.

ACU professors can choose to require the class to go to a specific session or submit a list of lectures from which students could choose. Most Bible teachers simply ask students to go to the lectures of their choices.

Dr. Darrell Jordan, assistant professor of social work, did not cancel any of his classes but strongly encourages students to attend two lectures: “Extreme Poverty, Social Justice and Social Entrepreneurship” and “God’s Love Bank.” If a student desires to attend a specific session, Jordan will give him or her permission to skip class. The student still needs to submit a critique of the lecture.

Dr. Neal Coates, assistant professors of political science, scanned the Lectureship program while writing the syllabus of his classes in August. He picked the lecture “Micah’s Call to Justice” for the students of his American Foreign Policy class.

His political science students must attend the lecture instead of going to class. Coates’ students can also earn extra credit if they go to the “Extreme Poverty” lecture and write a paper.

Both Jordan and Coates believe that attending these lectures will help students understand better the issues treated in class. They also appreciate the additional value of a Christian perspective.

Lectureship offers the tremendous opportunity to interact with recognized Christian speakers. Students who desire to attend a lecture should receive the permission to skip class.

You really want to hear this speaker from Ghana, Australia or Thailand but must stay in a classroom located next to the lecture room. So close, yet so far, like watching your flight takeoff from the window of the concourse.