A roundtable discussion group for Christian educators, preachers, commissioned ruling elders, and evangelists who want to increase their ability to share modern biblical scholarship with church members, both to enhance scriptural literacy and to help believers address critics, and their own questions.
The transmission and reception of the Good News in the Burned Over District presents some foreseeable patterns, problems, and barriers for biblical interpretation. The Confession of ’67 states, “The Scriptures … reflect views of life, history, and the cosmos which were then current. The church, therefore, has an obligation to approach the Scriptures with literary and historical understanding.” Many preachers report being wary of sharing this knowledge with congregants who may be disturbed when their long-held assumptions are challenged. What challenges to modern New Testament interpretation arise for you? How have you been transformed by your intentional engagement of it?
We hope to create a collegial discussion for those who both proclaim and listen for the good news in our local context. You are invited to light a fire for discovery of how we may together meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities we face in this endeavor. Come to the table and share your experiences regarding questions and concerns from preachers and congregants.
This class is a standalone class. You needn’t have taken the Part 1 class.
Facilitators:
- Rev. HoDong Hwang, Pastor Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra and on the Vitality Committee of the Presbytery of Geneva
- Frank Strock, Lay Member of the Brick Presbyterian Church, NYC and the Tools and Training Team of the Presbyterian Genesee Valley
- Elder Stephen Little, Ulysses Presbyterian Church, Trumansburg and member of the Satellite Course Creators
- Rev. David S. Barnard, retired, Parson-on-the-Loose, and member of the Vitality Committee of the Presbytery of Geneva
- Rev. Dan Russell, Hector, Presbyterian Church and member of the Vitality Committee of the Presbytery of Geneva
