The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is pleased to announce that Prof. Norbert Litoing, S.J, of Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya, will be presenting the 2025 Surjit Singh Lecture on November 4, 2025, with a response to be provided by Prof. Amir Hussain, Prof. of Islamic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Prof. Litoing's talk is titled, "Teranga and the Stranger: An African Theology of Hospitality."

Dr. Litoing is the founding director of the Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa (CISA) at Hekima University College in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Birmingham (UK), a Master’s degree in Theology from the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry, and a PhD in the Study of Religion, with a focus in Comparative Theology, from Harvard University. He teaches courses on Islam, interreligious theology, as well as religion and peacebuilding.

Started in 1991, the annual Surjit Singh Lecture in Comparative Religious Thought and Culture builds upon the GTU’s tradition of ecumenical theological education and dedication to interreligious dialogue and understanding. Each year, the endowed lectureship brings to the GTU a distinguished scholar to address religion and culture from a cross-cultural perspective.

About Surjit Singh

The late Dr. Surjit Singh was professor emeritus of Christian Philosophy at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He was dean of the seminary from 1972 to 1978, and was professor at the GTU from 1962 to 1988. Before arriving in the Bay Area in 1951, Dr. Singh served as a national secretary of the Student Christian Movement of New Zealand, India, Burma and Sri Lanka. He has also served as professor of systematic theology and philosophy of religion at United Theological College, Saharanpur, India. His publications included Prophetic Realism; Preface to Personality; Christology and Personality; Communism, Christianity, Democracy; and A Philosophy of Integral Relation.

Note: For information regarding the symposium that will be held on Wednesday morning, November 5, click here.

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2025 Surjit Singh Lecture and Symposium

Surjit Singh Lecture in Comparative Religion and Theology - Zoom

Surjit Singh Lecture in Comparative Religion and Theology - Zoom

Surjit Singh Lecture in Comparative Religion and Theology - In-person

Surjit Singh Lecture in Comparative Religion and Theology - In-person