On April 28, 2019, Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church and Randolph-Macon College will host the fifth-annual Ira Andrews Lecture Series. The series honors Ira L. Andrews III ’59, a beloved Randolph-Macon professor and dean of students who died in 2012.

The Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson will present “Members or Martyrs? How Should a Church Measure Success?” at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church (201 Henry Street, on the RMC campus). The lecture is free and open to the public. Map and Directions 

The Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson
The Reverend Dr. David McAllister-Wilson is president of Wesley Theological Seminary. He has served the institution for nearly 40 years as part of a team that made Wesley one of the nation’s largest and leading theological schools.

Throughout his ministry, McAllister-Wilson has focused on revitalizing mainline Protestantism by preparing men and women for church leadership. He helped establish the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley and co-authored the book Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge. He is the author of A New Church and a New Seminary.

A lifelong United Methodist, McAllister-Wilson is originally from Thousand Oaks, California. He earned his B.A. in history from California State University, Northridge, and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary.

Ira L. Andrews III ’59
Ira L. Andrews was a cherished member of the RMC community for more than 50 years.

After graduating from RMC and earning a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, he returned to his alma mater as a professor of religious studies and was later appointed to serve as Dean of Students, a role that he held for 35 years. Andrews was instrumental in leading students through difficult times such as the Vietnam War era and worked admirably through historic milestones, including the college’s change from an all-male campus to a co-educational one.

In 2010, Andrews’ contributions to the college were celebrated at a dedication ceremony to commemorate a seating area established in his name, which is positioned along the Janet Harvey Trivette ’78 Alumni Walkway. In 2011, the college celebrated the dedication of Andrews Hall, a residence for freshmen.

Previous Ira Andrews lectures featured: Luke Timothy Johnson, the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; Dr. R. Kendall Soulen, Professor of Systematic Theology at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; Dr. Roberta Bondi, Professor Emerita of Church History at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; and the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church.