2025 Woods Lecture Series to Discuss "The Church's Witness in the World" with Two Prominent Church Leaders

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary's Woods Lecture Series will bring two prominent church leaders from the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) to campus in August to discuss "The Church's Witness in the World."

Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai, episcopal leader of the Iowa Conference UMC and co-bishop of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference UMC, will preach on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Rev. Tony Larson, MDiv, co-moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the PCUSA, will preach on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

Both will begin at 11:00 a.m. with worship and sermon in Blades Chapel, Blades Hall. A luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m. followed by a question-and-answer period in Blades Chapel. The events are free and open to the public. To register for the luncheon by Friday, August 1, 2025, please email UDTS@dbq.edu.

Addresses by Bigham-Tsai and Larson will be livestreamed via www.facebook.com/DubuqueSeminary.

"In this series, we are honored to be hosting two prominent church leaders from the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA): Bishop Bigham-Tsai and Co-Moderator Rev. Larson. We are keen to benefit from their view of the church in the world for the 21st century," said Rev. Beth McCaw, DMin, dean of the seminary and vice president of the University of Dubuque.

Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai
Bighman-Tsai, who was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdiction in November 2022, became the resident bishop of the Iowa Episcopal Area on January 1, 2023. Shortly thereafter, beginning September 1, 2024, she began to co-preside over the Illinois Great Rivers Conference in the 2025-2028 quadrennium.

Before her election to Iowa, Bighman-Tsai served as the chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table, which is the visioning body of the UMC and the steward of resources to carry out that vision worldwide. She previously served on the Connectional Table's board as a member of the executive committee and was chair of its leadership discernment and community life committee. She also has been a general and jurisdictional conference delegate or alternate since 2012 and, in 2022, was the co-chair of her delegation.

Bighman-Tsai served local congregations in East Lansing, Michigan, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she brought a pastor's heart and strategic visioning to her appointments. While serving in Michigan, she was the conference district superintendent from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, she was the chair of the Board Church and Society as well as served on the Conference Leadership Team, Board of Ordained Ministry, and Conference Trustees. Bighman-Tsai also has been active in justice issues, serving as a member of the Black Methodists for Church Renewal and on the board of Justice for Our Neighbors.

The second oldest of five children, Bighman-Tsai grew up in the Baptist church in Austin, Texas. She credits her mother with helping her learn to preach by teaching her a love for words.

After earning a degree in sociology from Harvard University, Bighman-Tsai served in lay ministry with urban youth in the A.M.E. church in Boston, Massachusetts, and pursued a career in public relations and writing before responding to God's call to professional ministry. She was ordained to the UMC in 2009.

Bighman-Tsai and her husband, Kee, have been married since 1994. They have two children, Keeton and Kamden, and a German Shepherd. They are committed to a ministry of inclusion that begins at home.

Rev. Tony Larson
As a co-moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the PCUSA, Larson is in the midst of a two-year term as an ambassador of "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, telling the story of the church's life and upholding the people of God through prayer," according to the PCUSA website.

The son a Presbyterian minister, Larson was born in Minneapolis and raised in North Carolina. He was confirmed at Rocky River Presbyterian Church near Harrisburg, North Carolina. While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Larson served in the student congress as a representative, finance chair, and speaker. He also was on the leadership team of Presbyterian Campus Ministry at UNC. He graduated with a bachelor of arts double majoring in public policy analysis and religious studies.

While serving as director of youth ministries at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, Larson began to discern a call to ministry. He went back to school and received his master of divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.

Larson has served in a number of capacities, including co-leader of the Synod Youth Council for the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, which planned the Synod Youth Leadership Development Event, an annual gathering to equip youth to be leaders in the church as well as skill development for youth ministry professionals. He has also served as a planning team member for Montreat Youth Conference.

Larson's first pastorate was with the Springs Community Presbyterian Church in East Hampton, New York. He is currently serving as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside, South Carolina, and is enrolled in a doctor of ministry studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Larson and his wife, Heather, have been married for 16 years. He is a father through the adoption her son, Stephen Larson, and recently became grandfather to Nora James Larson. He describes himself as a "semi-professional nerd" and backs that up as a Level 10 Pokemon Go Trainer, captain of the RogueRev Trivia Team, and is officially sorted into House Ravenclaw. Larson loves to cook, listen to jazz, and spoil his cat and dog.

Woods Lecture
Established in 1987, the John P. Woods Distinguished Lectureship in Religion and Culture seeks to bring to campus a person who is able to speak concerning the links between culture and religion.