Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. Photo by Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications

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... Read more about The Problem with Extra Credit

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. Photo by Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications

---... Read more about The Lenses of Love

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. Photo by Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications

... Read more about Loving Before Leading, Part II

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. Photo by Jeffrey Blackwell/Memorial Church Communications

... Read more about Loving Before Leading, Part I

As the leader of a local faith community, I have become quite proficient at holding prayer vigils in response to mass shootings.  We gather and distribute candles.  We pray.  We read the names of victims.  We ask the Lord to "have mercy."... Read more about Prof. Jonathan L. Walton calls NRA a "domestic terrorist organization" in wake of Las Vegas shooting

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. 

... Read more about Rewriting History, Part III of III

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. 

... Read more about Rewriting History, Part II of III

Prof. Jonathan L. Walton's statement on the Trump administration's recent announcement ending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood) Program. 

"The book of Exodus begins with a new Pharaoh who knew not of Joseph. It seems today that our President is unaware or willfully ignorant of the positive contributions of nearly a million “Dreamers” among us.... Read more about Prof. Jonathan L. Walton challenges Trump administration's recent announcement ending the DACA Program

My Mid-Life Crisis

“Life is short.  We don't have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”—Henri-Frédéric Amiel, 19th century swiss poet... Read more about Morning Prayers: Prof. Jonathan L. Walton Defines the Real Meaning of Success

Sermon by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University, for the Memorial Church's Sunday Worship Service. 

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“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Exodus 1:8

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The book of Exodus is one of the most famous literary works of human history. It’s the second book of the Pentateuch, the term for the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It picks up where the legend of Genesis ends. The book’s primary protagonist has become the archetype of moral courage, and a political paragon of anti-oppression. His name is Moses.... Read more about Rewriting History, Part I of III

By Professor Jonathan L. Walton

“How carefully most men creep into nameless graves, while now and again one or two forget themselves into immortality.”  —The Rev. Phillips Brooks

On Feb. 3, 1943, tragedy struck the SS Dorchester, an American troop transport ship traveling in a naval convoy in the North Atlantic. With the ship less than two hundred miles from its intended destination in Greenland, a German U-boat fired a torpedo into its side. Conditions could not have been worse for evacuation and rescue. The ship was originally built as a luxury liner with a maximum capacity of 400, then converted to military use early in 1942. Even though it had been equipped by the military with additional lifeboats and life jackets, the lifeboats proved too crowded and the life jackets too few for the approximately 900 officers, servicemen, and civilians aboard. For those who were able to evacuate the sinking ship, hypothermia awaited in the frigid ocean. Ultimately, only about a quarter of those aboard the vessel survived.... Read more about From the Professor's Desk: Fall Term 2017

By Jonathan L. Walton

“The past is not dead. It’s not even the past.” –William Faulkner

Last week the President of the United States employed tough talk in response to the escalating tension with North Korea. “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump declared from his New Jersey golf resort. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” Diplomats from many sides found his threat troubling. Yet rather than toning down his rhetoric, the President took to twitter to declare that the United States is “locked and loaded.” One might call this his John Wayne approach to international relations.... Read more about Tough Talk from Weak Men

Vermont Artist Janet McKenzie is challenging the traditional iconography of sacred art in her paintings depicting images of Jesus, Mary and other Christian figures. By using the forms of women and people of color she is expanding the diversity of culture, race and gender into the iconography of religious art historically dominated by images of males and light skin.

In 2016, McKenzie was commissioned by Harvard Memorial Church to create a painting for the renovated student and common space on the ground level of the historic church. The painting, “The Divine Journey – The Companions of Love and Hope” is the result of more than six months of work in her small studio in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.... Read more about The Divine Journey: A Painter's Mission

By Professor Jonathan L. Walton

“I am writing you little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of God’s name. I am writing to you fathers, because you have known God since the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you.” (I John 2:12-14)

The New Testament book of I John is a profound pastoral letter. The author, known simply as the elder, reminds an early community of Jesus followers of their beliefs—God is light and love. He reminds them of their objectives—to have fellowship with God is to walk in God’s light and love.... Read more about A family in fellowship

Address by Jonathan L. Walton, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church, to the Harvard College Class of 2017 at Senior Chapel on Commencement morning. 

According to social scientists, you, the...