W. H. Griffith Memorial Lectureship 2026

In 1921, Dr. William Henry Griffith Thomas, outstanding Anglican scholar and Professor of Old Testament Exegesis at Wycliffe College in Toronto, Canada, met with Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer to consider and pray about creating a new seminary. In 1924, those prayers were answered and the Evangelical Theological College—later to be called Dallas Theological Seminary—was born. In the seminary’s first course catalog, W. H. Griffith Thomas was listed among the faculty in The School of English Bible, and it was hoped he would join the faculty in Dallas. He died on June 2, 1924, just four months before the seminary opened. Upon his death, the W. H. Griffith Thomas Memorial Lectureship was established and named in his honor. He is remembered for his reliance on Scripture, his scholarship coupled with simple explanations of biblical and theological truths, and a life of faithful service.

Dallas Theological Seminary is honored to welcome Dr. William “Rick” Yount as the 2026 W. H. Griffith Thomas Lecturer. In this two-day series titled “Discipleship: From Neurons to Nations,” Dr. Yount will explore how advances in brain science and global research are shaping a renewed understanding of Christian discipleship.

Tuesday, February 3: The Brain Science Revolution and Congregational Discipleship
Dr. Yount will examine recent developments in neuroscience and consider how these discoveries deepen our understanding of how people learn, grow, and are spiritually formed within the local church.
There will be a brown bag lunch and Q&A to follow in Lamb Auditorium (12:00-1:00pm).

Wednesday, February 4: Discipleship Around the World
Drawing from field research in Malawi and experiences in Russia, Ukraine, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, Dr. Yount will explore how discipleship is flourishing across cultures.
Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of how God is forming disciples—from the inner workings of the human mind to the farthest corners of the world.