The community is invited to a Dr. Howard Thurman birthday celebration in Daytona Beach, set for Nov. 17-18. The event is hosted by the Howard Thurman Historic Home, Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church and members of the Stetson University and Bethune-Cookman University communities. Stetson’s former chaplain, the Rev. Todd Campbell, and student leader Joi Turner will take part in a panel discussion.

This year’s theme, “Our Community, Beloved Community,” highlights the life, legacy and contributions of the late Dr. Howard Thurman, renowned author, philosopher, theologian, Christian mystic, educator, civil rights leader, and former resident of Daytona Beach. At a time when empathy and compassion for all people are urgently needed, the event will explore what a true beloved community looks like in practice.

The celebration begins Monday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. with a panel discussion at Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church (317 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Daytona Beach). The discussion will be moderated by Claudette McFadden, PhD, senior faculty member in the department of Communication Studies at Bethune-Cookman University, and will feature the Rev. Todd Campbell, Eartha Simms Watson, the Rev. David Williamson, Qasim Abdul-Tawwab and student leaders from Bethune-Cookman and Stetson.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, participants can join a centering prayer/meditation and tour the Howard Thurman Historic Home (614 Whitehall St., Daytona Beach), followed by a birthday celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church with keynote speaker the Rev. Luther E. Smith Jr., PhD, and special music by the Bethune-Cookman University Concert Chorale.

Smith’s current research focuses on the writings and correspondence of Howard Thurman, advocacy on behalf of children and a spirituality of hope. Smith is an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He retired from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2014. In 2009, Smith received the Phillips School of Theology “Bishops Thomas Hoyt and Paul Stewart Institutional Ministry Award for Outstanding Service to the Ministry of Academics.” In 2010, he was the recipient of Emory University’s Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award, which is given “in recognition of the important role of classroom teaching in collegiate and graduate education.”

For complete information on all events and to register, please visit https://www.eventcreate.com/e/beloved-community-howard-t.