Glastonbury Abbey’s Listening to Other Voices
Interfaith Lecture Series
A forum for thoughtful encounter.
Glastonbury Abbey’s Listening to Other Voices lecture series invites careful engagement with perspectives that differ from our own. Grounded in the Benedictine commitment to hospitality and attentive listening, the series creates space for informed dialogue across religious, cultural, and intellectual traditions.
Each year the committee selects a guiding theme and curates speakers whose work advances serious conversation. The aim is not debate, but disciplined listening — an opportunity to consider complex questions with clarity and respect.
2026–2027 Theme
Prophetic Voices for Our Times
Who are the prophets of today who would speak the truth when truth itself is such a neglected and even amligned aspect of contemporary life? We have selected six individuals from various religious traditions who certainly qualify as prophets of our day.
These prophets of our time are challenging us to be awake and alert to the world we live in, to speak and live the truth.
See below or click here for more info.
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
October 15, 2026
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Do Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God: Even When it's Hard?
Recognized as one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek, Rabbii Dov Pesner is a prominent leader in Jewish social justice and interfaith organizing. His work focuses on encouraging Jewish communities to reach across lines of race, class, and faith while campaigning for social justice.
Dr. David Komodo Kittay
November 19, 2026
Dr. David Komodo Kittay
Faith in Faith - In Heaven and on Earth
Our speaker, Dr. David Komodo Kittay, teaches philosophy, religion, and technology at Columbia University, where his courses are called “life changing.” At this lecture, he will explore the importance of faith in Buddhism and life, as well as the limits of faith. Whether exploring how artificial intelligence impacts human consciousness, the mechanics of reincarnation, or the path to modern enlightenment, he challenges us to look beyond our cultural blinders and question our most fundamental assumptions.
Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz
January 21, 2027
Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz
Deepening Our Moral Witness: Welcoming and Defending Those Who Migrate
As the leader of a prominent border diocese spanning 10 counties in West Texas, Bishop Seitz has emerged as one of the most prominent faith-based advocates for human dignity and immigration reform in the United States. He frequently speaks out against mass deportations, calls for comprehensive policy changes, and urges a compassionate, gospel-rooted approach to welcoming migrants and refugees.
Omid Safi
February 18, 2027
Omid Safi
The Islamic Tradition of Radical Love: One God, One Humanity, One Love
A passionate educator nominated ten times for "Professor of the Year" awards, Dr. Safi's work bridges the gap between premodern poetry and modern social change. He is deeply committed to the intersection of spirituality and social justice, drawing on liberationist traditions to emphasize a framework of love combined with justice. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition and Memories of Muhammad.
Reverend Moya Harris
March 18, 2027
Reverend Moya Harris
If God Got Us, We Gone Be Alright. The Prophetic Voice of Hip Hop Music
A scholar, advocate, and retired nurse with 27 years of medical experience, Rev. Harris seamlessly bridges the worlds of ministry, public health, and social action. Her work heavily focuses on racial justice, voter protection, and the intersection of civic engagement and faith. Rev. Harris is also a Ph.D. graduate from Christian Theological Seminary, where her groundbreaking research examined African American preaching and sacred rhetoric through the lens of womanist theology and hip-hop culture.
Bill McKibben
April 15, 2027
Bill McKibben
Listening to Creation as it Groans: Physical and Metaphysical Crises and Answers
Bill McKibben is an acclaimed American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has spent over three decades shaping the global conversation on climate change. He is the author of more than twenty books, including his groundbreaking 1989 work The End of Nature, which is widely regarded as the first book on global warming written for a general audience. A dedicated grassroots organizer, McKibben co-founded 350.org, the first planet-wide climate campaign, as well as Third Act, an organization mobilizing people over 60 for climate and racial justice.
Participation
All lectures are offered without charge however donations are gratefully received!
All presentations will take place at the Morcone Center on the Glastonbury Abbey campus at 7:15 PM.
We continue to offer our program online as well as the dynamic in person experience of meeting and engaging with the presenter. We encourage registration for all lectures.
Support the Series
Listening to Other Voices is sustained by the generosity of its community. Please consider becoming a Friend of the Series:
FRIENDS: Donations of $100-$250 to support the cost of maintaining the program.
PATRONS: Donations of $251-$499 to help defray the travel expenses of our speakers.
SPONSORS: Donations of $500 or more to offset the honorarium for a given speaker.
Gifts help support the production of programs offered both in person and online.
Contact
For questions regarding the series:
Listening to Other Voices
Glastonbury Abbey
16 Hull Street
Hingham, MA 02043
Phone: 781-749-2155, ext. 300