Annual Thanksgiving Celebration Speakers

A full list of speakers (since the beginning) can be found on this page.

YEARNAMEORGANIZATIONPRESENTATION TITLE
2020Najeeba SayeedChicago Theological SeminaryAngelic Troublemakers: Interfaith Collaboration in Human Rights
2019Rev. Maurice CharlesRockefeller ChapelGrateful Service
2018Elizabeth DavenportRockefeller ChapelListen to them Grow
2017Eboo Patel Interfaith Youth CoreSacred Ground: Prejudice, Pluralism and the Promise of America 
2016Dr. Robert HendersonBaha’i Community 
2015Rabbi Frederick ReevesKAM Isaiah IsraelAuthentic Voices in Respectful Multicultural Settings
2014Dr. JoAnne Marie TerrellChicago Theological SeminaryThe Gift of Each Other
2013Taigen Dan LeightonAncient Dragon Zen GateThe Synergy of Thanksgiving
2012Rev. Freddy WashingtonSt. Ambrose Catholic Church 
2011Rev. Shanta PremawardanaUrban Pastoral Education 
2010Rev. Celeste A. FrazierPower of Oneness Spiritual CtrMore than Meets the Eye
2009Rabbi Batsheva AppelKAM Isaiah IsraelServing God with Gladness
2008Rev. Deborah DerylakSpiritual Care, U of C HospitalsSeeds of Hope and Change
2007Ken DunnResource Center 
2006Rev. Calvin MorrisCommunity Renewal Society 
2005Rev. Leroy SandersKenwood UCC 
2004Eboo PatelInterfaith Youth CoreSaving Others, Saving Ourselves
2003Rev. Daphne BurtRockefeller ChapelLove One Another
2002Rev. Nina GreyFirst Unitarian UniversalistOur World is One World
2001Rabbi Elliot GertelRodfei Zedek 
2000Swami VaradanandaVivekananda Vedanta Society 
1999Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr.Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken 
1998Rev. Susan ThistlethwaitePresident, CTS 
1997Rabbi Arnold Jacob WolfKAM Isaiah Israel 
1995Father Jack FerrySt. Thomas the Apostle 
1994Dean Bernard O. BrownRockefeller ChapelAlways having before our eyes our… Community
1993Rabbi Daniel I. LeiferHillel Jewish CenterGiving Thanks: Keeping Company with Jacob on the road to Israel 
1992Rev. David RamageCn. Parl. of the World’s ReligionsLooking for a Rainbow!
1991Father John BoyleArchdiocese of ChicagoLiving Thanks
1990Thomas ChulakUnitarian Universalist Assn.Thanks Giving
1989Rev. Susan B.W. JohnsonHyde Park Union ChurchYet Shall We Tread Upon High Places
1986Susan Lockwood WrightCornell Baptist ChurchRemembering Where We Came From
1985Dean W. Clark GilpinU of C Divinity SchoolQuiet Revolutions
1984Vernon KurtzN. Suburban Synagogue Beth El 
1983Dean Bernard O. BrownRockefeller ChapelConnections
1982C. Harvey LordVilla Park Christian ChurchOur American Experience of Grace
1981Joseph StitlerU of C Divinity SchoolReflections on Being Thankful 
1977Rev. Charles Shelby RooksPresident, CTS 
1976Rev. Gordon A. HumphreyShiloh Missionary Baptist Ch. 
1975Rev. Emery A. PercellUnited Methodist Church 
1974Jack MendelsohnFirst Unitarian Church 
1973Rabbi Philip N. KranzTemple Sinai 
1971Rev. James V. LylesUnited Methodist Church 
1969Rev. Thomas J. FitzgeraldSt. Thomas the Apostle 
1968Rev. Edgar H.S. ChandlerChurch Federation of Gtr. ChicagoThe Lord’s Song in a Strange Land
1967Rabbi Hayim Goren PerelmuterKAM Isaiah Israel 
1966Rev. Jack A. KentFirst Unitarian Church 
1965Rev. Joseph  A. BucklesHyde Park Methodist Church 
1964Rabbi Ralph SimonRodfei ZedekWhat is an Authentic Thanksgiving?
1963Rev. Samuel L. GandyKenwood Ellis United Ch. Of Chr.Covenant and Renewal
1962Rabbi Samuel E. KarffSinai TempleThe Grounds for Gratitude
1961Rev. Keith L. PearsonAugustana Lutheran ChurchThanksgiving: Symptom or Symbol
1960Rabbi Bernard MartinSinai TempleThe Grateful Heart
1959Dean E. Spencer ParsonsDean of Rockefeller ChapelThe Grace of Gratitude
1958Rev. David Bryan Lest We Forget
1957Rabbi Hayim Goren PerelmuterKAM Isaiah Israel Thanksgiving Formula: Gratitude Plus Attitude
1956Rev. W. Douglas LarsonAugustana Lutheran ChurchIn Community We Thank
1955Rev. William D. McLean Jr.St. Michael’s Episcopal ChurchThe Grace of Gratitude
1954Rabbi Jacob WeinsteinKehilath Anshe MaarivThanksgiving: For What and To Whom?
1953Rev. E. Jerry Walker For This, We Are Thankful
1952Rev. Paul L. Higgins  
1951Rabbi Ralph SimonRodfei Zedek 
1949Rev. Wallace W. Robbins The Liberty to be Thankful
1948Rabbi Louis L. Mann When Other Virtues Cease
1947Rev. Jitsuo Morikawa A Dangerous Trust
1946Rabbi Jacob WeinsteinKehilath Anshe Maariv 
1945Rev. F. R. SteigerFirst Baptist Church 
1944Rev. Leslie T. PenningtonFirst Unitarian Church 
1943Lieutenant Julius MarkUSNR Great Lakes Naval Tr. 
1942Rev. Irvin E. LungerUniv. Ch. Disciples of Christ 
1941Rabbi Morton M. Berman Values that Cannot Fall
1940Rev. J. Richard DreesHyde Park Methodist ChurchA Thanksgiving Pastorale
1939Rev. Thomas W. PenderSt. James Methodist EpiscopalThank God and Take Courage
1938Rev. George M. GibsonUnited Church of Hyde ParkThe Ancient Faith and the Modern Mood
1937Rabbi Joshua Loth Liebman A Threefold Faith for a Confused World
1936Rev. F.C. Benson Bells Trust in God
1935Rev. Thomas W. PenderSt. James Methodist EpiscopalThe Guidance of God
1934Rabbi Gerson B. Levi The Thanksgiving of the Spirit
1932Rev. Norris L. Tibbits In God We Trust
1931Rev. Douglas HortonUnited ChurchThe Dimensions of Thanksgiving
1930Rev. Albert W. PalmerPresident, CTSHow Far Right Were the Puritans?
1928Rev. Alfred Lee WilsonKenwood Church