Friday, November 9, 2012
Division Is Not the Answer
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Calling out dehumanization
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Wesley, Wesleyans, and Scripture
The contents are as follows:
1. John Wesley—"A Man of One Book" (Randy L. Maddox, Duke Divinity School)
2. Scripture as a Means of Grace (Kenneth J. Collins, Asbury Theological Seminary)
3. Reading Scripture, the Literal Sense, and the Analogy of Faith (Robert W. Wall, Seattle Pacific University)
4. Wesley as Interpreter of Scripture and the Emergence of "History" in Biblical Interpretation (Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary)
SECTION TWO: THE NATURE AND AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE AMONG WESLEYANS
5. Scripture among African American Methodists (Reginald Broadnax, Hood Theological Seminary)
6. Scripture among Hispanic Methodists (Justo L. González)
7. Scripture among Korean Methodists (Meesaeng Lee Choi, Asbury Theological Seminary; and Hunn Choi)
8. Scripture and Divine Revelation (William J. Abraham, Southern Methodist University)
9. A Wesleyan Understanding of the Authority of Scripture (Douglas M. Koskela ,Seattle Pacific University)
10. The Holiness of Scripture (Jason E. Vickers, United Theological Seminary)
11. Scripture as Canon (David F. Watson, United Theological Seminary)
SECTION THREE: WESLEYANS WORKING WITH SCRIPTURE
12. Scripture and Social Ethics (D. Brent Laytham, North Park Theological Seminary)
13. Can We Speak of a Wesleyan Theological Hermeneutic Today? (Steven J. Koskie)
14. Reading Scripture for Christian Formation (Elaine A. Heath, Southern Methodist University)
15. The Place of Scripture in Worship (Karen B. Westerfield Tucker,Boston University School of Theology)
16. The Place of Scripture in Preaching (Michael Pasquarello III, Asbury Theological Seminary)
17. Scripture and Evangelism (Laceye Warner, Duke Divinity School)
Index
I am most grateful to Joel and to all of the contributors, and I hope this volume makes a helpful contribution to our Wesleyan communities of faith.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Jesus Conference
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Body in Luke-Acts
If you'd like a good book on the topic, I recommend Mikeal C. Parsons' Body and Character in Luke and Acts: The Subversion of Physiognomy in Early Christianity.
Physiognomy is the practice--which was quite common among the ancients--of linking physical appearance and character. In other words, you could draw conclusions about a person's character by observing his or her appearance. Sound strange? It has a long history, and still carries (normally unacknowledged) currency today.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Conference: Jesus, Criteria, and the Demise of Authenticity
Dale C. Allison Jr.
Mark Goodacre
Chris Keith
Anthony LeDonne
Loren T. Stuckenbruck
Jens Schroeter
Dagmar Winter
Rafael Rodriguez
The conference is based on a book by the same title, edited by Chris Keith and Anthony LeDonne.
You can learn more about the conference and register by clicking here:
The conference will be held at South Park United Methodist Church, near the University of Dayton.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
UMC health care coverage for mental illness
Rationale? It is very likely financial. Never mind that we spent almost 9 million dollars at a GC where we seem to have accomplished almost nothing (besides cutting health care benefits to people with mental illness).
This must have gone through on the consent calendar, but it's still pretty stunning.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
New UM Certification in Ministry with People with Disabilities
Scholarly Events for the Church at United
Shortly thereafter, on Oct 4 and 5, United is partnering with the University of Dayton's Center for Scriptural Exegesis, Philosophy, and Doctrine to host a conference called "Jesus, Criteria, and the Demise of Authenticity." It is related to a book of the same title. Most of the contributors in the book will also be presenters at the conference.
On October 15 United will partner again with the University of Dayton along with Wright State University to host the Ryterband Symposium, a yearly event to discuss relationships between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Our speaker this year is Richard Elliott Friedman, who is the Ann and Jay Davis Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia.
Finally, on October 17, United will hold our annual J. Arthur Heck Lecture Series. Our speaker this year is Amos Yong, the J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology and Director of the Doctor of Philosophy Program at Regent University. Yong is, in my opinion, one of the finest and most important theologians of our time. His topic is, "Christians and Disability: Renewing the Church and Healing the World."
Monday, May 7, 2012
Theology, Eucharist, and Ministry Conference
Friday, May 4, 2012
Annual Conference Sessions Dedicated to to Disability Awareness
Each Conference shall designate that at least one Annual Conference session during the 2013-2016 quadrennium will have a theme centered on Disability Awareness to set an example for each District and Local Church. Resources and guidance are available from the Committee on Disability Ministries (currently the United Methodist Task Force on Disability Ministries – see separate petition for name change) and UMCOR Health/Health and Welfare Ministries.
New UM Certification Course: Ministry with People with Disabilities
This course is being folded into a brand new United Methodist certification in Ministry with People with Disabilities. I am very pleased that my seminary is working to provide education regarding this much-neglected area in the life of the church.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Plan UMC passes
Update: It did go to the Judicial Council, which struck it down. So, no restructuring at this time....
New restructuring plan being debated
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Full communion with historically black Methodist denominations
Secured Appointments
Monday, April 30, 2012
University Senate Elections
General Conference 2012
I met with Bishop Peggy Johnson today. She is perhaps our most significant and visible denominational advocate for people with disabilities. United has a new UM certification course in Ministry with People with Disabilities, so some collaboration down the line seems likely.
Wendy Deichmann, President of United, has been nominated for a spot on the University Senate. She would be a great addition to this important body of the UMC. Keep her in your prayers and pray for a positive outcome!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Nice N. T. Wright Video
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
New Book on Wesley and Scripture
Joel Green and I have edited a new volume on Wesleyan readings of scripture. The idea for the volume came out of a Wesleyan Theological Society conference a few years ago, the theme of which was "The Future of Scripture."
The book is structured as follows:
Section One: Wesley on Scripture
1. Randy L. Maddox, "John Wesley—'A Man of One Book'"
2. Kenneth J. Collins "Scripture as a Means of Grace"
3. Robert W. Wall, "Reading Scripture, the Literal Sense, and the Analogy of Faith"
4. Joel B. Green, "Wesley as Interpreter of Scripture and the Emergence of 'History' in Biblical Interpretation"
Section Two: The Nature and Authority of Scripture among Wesleyans
5. Reginald Broadnax, "Scripture among African American Methodists"
6. Justo L. González, "Scripture among Hispanic Methodists"
7. Meesaeng Lee Choi and Hunn Choi, "Scripture among Korean Methodists"
8. William J. Abraham, "Scripture and Divine Revelation"
9. Douglas M. Koskela, "A Wesleyan Understanding of the Authority of Scripture"
10. Jason E. Vickers, "The Holiness of Scripture"
11. David F. Watson, "Scripture as Canon"
Section Three: Wesleyans Working with Scripture
12. D. Brent Laytham, "Scripture and Social Ethics"
13. Steven J. Koskie, "Can We Speak of a Wesleyan Theological Hermeneutic Today?"
14. Elaine A. Heath, "Reading Scripture for Christian Formation"
15. Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, "The Place of Scripture in Worship"
16. Michael Pasquarello III, "The Place of Scripture in Preaching"
17. Laceye Warner, "Scripture and Evangelism"
The contributors to this volume did excellent work, and I think the discussions therein will make very helpful contributions to the fields of Wesleyan studies and biblical interpretation. The volume probably won't be published until this fall, but if you are interested you can pre-order it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Human Trafficking/Domestic Violence Podcast
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
World Down Syndrome Day
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Faith Healers Banned From Advertising
Monday, February 6, 2012
Great Article By Bishop Timothy Whitaker
Friday, January 13, 2012
New Book on Bible and Disability
The book comprises twelve chapters which are as follows:
1. Joel S. Baden, "The Nature of Barrenness in the Hebrew Bible"
2. Susan Ackerman, "The Blind, the Lame, and the Barren Shall not Come into the House"
3. T. M. Lemos, "'Like the eunuch who does not beget': Gender, Mutilation, and Negotiated Status in the Ancient Near East"
4. David Tabb Stewart, "Sexual Disabilities in the Hebrew Bible"
5. Saul M. Olyan, "The Ascription of Physical Disability as a Stigmatizing Strategy in Biblical Iconic Polemics"
6. Rebecca Raphael, "Whoring after Cripples: On the Intersection of Gender and Disability Imagery in Jeremiah"
7. Sarah J. Melcher, "A Tale of Two Eunuchs: Isaiah 56:1-8 and Acts 8:26-40"
8. Warren Carter, "'The blind, lame and paralyzed' (John 5:3): John's Gospel, Disability Studies, and Postcolonial Perspective"
9. Mikeal C. Parsons, "His Feet and Ankles Were Made Strong: Signs of Character in the Man Lame from Birth"
10. Adela Yarbro Collins, "Paul's Disability: The Thorn in His Flesh"
11. Meghan Henning, "In Sickness and in Health: Ancient 'Rituals of Truth' in the Greco-Roman World and 1 Peter"
12. Nicole Kelley, "'The punishment of the devil was apparent in the torment of the human body': Epilepsy in Ancient Christianity"
As you can see, this is heavy stuff, but the topic is a serious one and deserves serious attention. There are a number of outstanding scholars in this volume.
More to come after I've finished reading it....