CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Preachers can no longer assume their listeners know basic Bible stories or understand some of the words familiar to the Bible's English translators of the 17th century. That's the premise of "Biblical Preaching in Babel: Preaching in a Post-Christian World," a series of lectures to be delivered on the eight seminary campuses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The Rev. Barbara Lundblad, associate professor of preaching, Union Theological Seminary, New York, will begin the series Feb. 7 at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. She will also speak Feb. 27 at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, March 1 at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif., and April 11 at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.
The Rev. Peter J. Gomes, professor of Christian morals, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., continues the series Feb. 19 at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, April 8 at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., April 16 at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and April 22-23 at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.
Lundblad, an ELCA pastor, was ordained in 1980. She served as pastor of Our Saviour Atonement Lutheran Church (Manhattan), New York, and as campus pastor for Lehman College (Bronx) and New York University. Since 1984 she has been a frequent speaker on The Protestant Hour, an ecumenical national radio program. Lundblad authored "Transforming the Stone: Preaching through Resistance to Change."
Gomes, a pastor of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., taught history at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), Tuskegee, Ala., for two years. He has served as minister in The Memorial Church at Harvard since 1970 and on Harvard's faculty of divinity and faculty of arts and sciences since 1974. In 1979, Time magazine named him one of the seven most influential preachers in the United States. Gomes is author of "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart."
The Hein-Fry lecturers are to address the difficulties of relating biblical themes to an audience that shares no common stories or experiences. The Internet and the availability of hundreds of cable television channels have made it possible for people to get their information from a vast array of sources.
"This year's Hein-Fry lectures should be of interest to everyone charged with the responsibility of preaching and teaching biblical texts in our situation of simultaneous globalization and increasing pluralism," said the Rev. Jonathan P. Strandjord, director for theological education, ELCA Division for Ministry.
"A special feature of this year's program is that our lecturers will not just talk about preaching; each will also preach a sermon that attempts to speak biblically in Babel," Strandjord said.
The Hein-Fry Lecture Series predates the ELCA which was formed in 1988. The endowed theological lecture series fosters original scholarship and enriches theological dialogue throughout the church. It combines the Dr. Carl Christian Hein Memorial Seminary Lectures of the former American Lutheran Church and the Franklin Clark Fry Theological Lectures of the former Lutheran Church in America. -- -- --
The Web page at http://www.elca.org/DM/hf/heinfry.html has information about the lecture series.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
