In September, Don Franklin presented the 33rd Luther Lecture at Luther College at the University of Regina (Saskatchewan). Each year the lecture brings a distinguished scholar or leader of note to campus to present a public address and to hold a seminar for faculty and students. Franklin's lecture was titled: Music and Theology: Bach's St. Matthew Passion. The Luther Lecture Series was inaugurated in 1977 by Jaroslav Pelikan and has since enjoyed participation by distinguished scholars in a variety of disciplines including theology, the social and natural sciences, history, and medicine.
In May 2008 Franklin presented the keynote address, titled J.S. Bach and the Oratorio Tradition, at the biennial meeting of the American Bach Society.