Emerson UU Church welcomes Tomlinson as 2026 Kilgore Lecturer

Free community talk opens a weekend of events 

How can history and faith join to create a future that works for everyone?

Journalist and author Chris Tomlinson will explore that question during the 2026 Kilgore Lecture hosted by Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church. The free event, which is open to the public, will be Friday, Oct, 2, 6:45 p.m., at the church, 1900 Bering Dr. in Houston.

Tomlinson is an award-winning columnist for the Houston Chronicle and other Hearst newspapers across Texas. He is the author of New York Times bestseller, Tomlinson Hill, his exploration of the intertwined history of two families of different races who share the same surname. Tomlinson Hill is a stunning and candid view of America’s complex racial history. His most recent book, Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, examines how the stories Texans tell about their own history shape the state today. 

His lecture, A Grand Theory of Texas (GTT), in a twist on the “Gone To Texas” graffiti from the 18th century.   He will draw on history and faith to speak to current events and to ask how Texans can shape a future that works for everyone.

The lecture will be preceded by a performance by Mary Hammer, a Houston singer-songwriter with a passion for acoustic folk, country and indie music. 

The evening will be the kickoff for the Houston Solidarity Summit, which is organized and sponsored jointly by UU the Vote and the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry.  The Houston Summit is part of a national series of similar observances.  An all-day event on Saturday Oct. 3, at First Unitarian Universalist Church will include skill-building workshops, food, fellowship, music and speakers.

The Kilgore Lecture, a longstanding Emerson UU Church tradition, is open to the community. Previous Kilgore speakers have included author Robert Fulghum, neuroscientist David Eagleman and broadcaster-journalist Amy Goodman. 

“We are pleased to have a dynamic speaker of Mr. Tomlinson’s caliber share his vision of how Texans can make a better future for our state and our nation,” said Emerson minister Reverend Ed Proulx.  “His topic reflects Emerson’s own quest to create a beloved community of faith, reason and affection that welcomes people to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world.”