Philip Gulley, a Quaker pastor and bestselling author, presented the annual Morningside College Wright Lecture on Nov. 14 at Grace United Methodist Church.

Gulley has published 17 books, including the “Harmony” series of novels that chronicle life in the Quaker community of Harmony, Ind., and the bestselling “Porch Talk” series of inspirational and humorous essays. His most recent book is “The Evolution of Faith: How God is Creating a Better Christianity.”

Gulley was raised in Danville, Ind., where he lives today with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam. Many of his characters and recollections are taken from his boyhood in this small Midwestern town.

While in seminary, Gulley became the pastor of Irvington Friends Meeting in Indianapolis and began writing essays for the church’s newsletter. Paul Harvey Jr. received those newsletters and shared them with a publisher. A few months later, the publisher invited Gulley to publish his essays, which became his first book, “Front Porch Tales.” He has been writing ever since.

Gulley is currently the pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting near Indianapolis. Additionally, he hosted the television program “Porch Talk with Phil Gulley” on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI and its flagship show “Across Indiana,” for which he received two Emmy Awards. He also writes the popular “Home Again” column for Indianapolis Monthly and is a regular contributor to The Saturday Evening Post.