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Last week FutureChurch welcomed Dr. Lisa Bowens to share about her recent book, African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation. During this fantastic presentation, I was reminded of something that I’m not sure I’ve ever really let sink in: the concept of reception history. As Dr. Bowens explained, reception history is the way in which one’s historical context influences their interpretation of Scripture. For example, in order to truly understand some of Dr. Martin Luther King’s most famous Scriptural references, it is essential to put them in conversation with the Civil Rights Movement in which he was such a major player. His fire to change the racial inequality around him fueled his interpretation of Scripture.
As a preacher, this makes a lot of sense. When I am taken by something going on in our world, I can’t help but read Scripture in light of current events. It is almost a duty, I think, to, as Karl Barth famously wrote, “preach with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.”
What’s scary about this, however, is that sometimes Scripture can be misinterpreted to defend current events that are morally reprehensible. For example, Dr. Bowens went on to explain that, given the dominant narrative of pro-slavery advocates in United States history, there are multiple Scripture passages that were used to defend slavery (she gives examples of some of these passages in her presentation). In the face of these misappropriations of Gospel truth, abolitionist preachers had to use their moral consciences to re-interpret these passages to stand on the side of the oppressed instead of the oppressor.
We can look to brave and brilliant preachers highlighted by Dr. Bowens– strong women (!!!) like Zilpha Elaw and Jarena Lee– to remember that, even if a Scriptural interpretation is in-line with the dominant narrative, that does not mean it is right. If a passage is interpreted to perpetuate injustice, inequality, hate, intolerance, or division, it, quite simply, is not of God.
So, I would respectfully like to make an addendum, Dr. Barth, to your famous quote: one should preach with “the Bible in one hand, a newspaper in the other,” and their moral conscience in the driver seat. Love has got to lead the way.
Thank you for the reminders, Zilpha, Jarena, and Dr. Bowens.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Colleen Gibson, SSJ offers a reflection on living our true calling:
"Ultimately, the freedom we aspire to, and which Paul speaks of, comes when we embrace God’s call to be who we truly are, loving God as only we can and letting all other loves flow forth from that...Living our truest vocation draws us into relationship with God, in and through the relationships we give ourselves to."
Sister Colleen Gibson is a Sister of Saint Joseph who currently serves as coordinator of pastoral care at St. John-St. Paul Catholic Collaborative in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Sister Colleen is co-host of the podcast Beyond the Habit and a regular contributor to Give Us This Day, National Catholic Reporter, and Global Sisters Report. She holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
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The Just Word
Today, Craig A. Ford, Jr. invites us to explore demons and demonization in the Bible, through the book of Mark and the Messianic Secret; engage with tools for justice in Catholic Social Teaching; and embody justice and liberation with a contemplation on Jesus and demonization.
"Jesus calls us out from the various confining spaces we find ourselves in, not because we are problematic demons in the Church and society, but because we are being problematically demonized in those very places. What might be seen from one angle as an exorcism is actually, in truth, an act of liberation. Or, to use the words with which I began, it is actually an embrace."
Craig A. Ford, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College where he also serves as Co-Director of the Peace and Justice Interdisciplinary Minor. Dr. Ford is also on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, which is hosted as Xavier University, the United States’ only Catholic Historically Black College or University (HBCU). He writes on topics at the intersection of the Catholic moral tradition and critical studies of race, gender, and sexuality.
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Last week FutureChurch welcomed Princeton Theological Seminary Associate Professor of New Testament, Lisa Marie Bowens, PhD, who discussed her ground-breaking book, African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation. During her presentation, Dr. Bowens highlights early Black women preachers and petitions from her book that reclaim the liberating messages of scripture to oppose slavery.
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| Upcoming FutureChurch Events |
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February 20 at 7pm ET
Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas with Craig Ford, Ph.D.
Dr. Ford's presentation, "Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas" explores how our roles as co-creators with God allows for new ways to understand the truth revealed by sexuality and gender identity beyond the boundaries of heteronormativity. Such redeployment of this theological status as co-creator, Ford argues, may provide a pathway beyond the impasse currently experienced at the level of official church teaching with respect to these topics.
Craig A. Ford, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Saint Norbert College, where he teaches courses in Christian Ethics, Ecclesiology, and on Race, Gender and Sexuality while also serving as Co-Director for the Peace and Justice Interdisciplinary Minor. He is also on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies—hosted at Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only Catholic HBCU— where he teaches courses on Black Theology as well as on Topics in Moral Theology from a Black Perspective. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Boston College, Dr. Ford writes on topics at the intersection of queer theory, blac studies, and the Catholic moral tradition. His most recent book project, All of Us: The Future of Catholic Theology From the Perspectives of Queer Theologians of Color is a co-edited volume with Bryan Massingale and Miguel Diaz, drawing scholars and activists from North and South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Europe who seek to chart new directions for Catholic theology when the oppressive realities of racism, heteronormativity, and sexism within church and world are engaged equally and fiercely. This volume is currently under contract with Fortress Press.
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February 29 at 7pm ET
Lenten Fasting and Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique with Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D.
Join us as Jessica Coblentz presents on her article “Catholic Fasting Literature in a Context of Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique” in which she argues that the social conditions of misogynistic body hatred and the culture of fasting during Lent perpetuates disordered eating.
Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where her research and teaching focuses on Catholic systematic theology, feminist theologies, and mental health in theological perspective. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University and Harvard Divinity School, and received her PhD from Boston College. She was previously a resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, Minnesota, and has taught at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
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March 28 at 7pm ET
Consent in the Context of the Annunciation with Megan McCabe, Ph.D.
Join us as Megan McCabe, Ph.D. discusses building a culture of consent in the context of the Feast of the Annunciation. Dr. McCabe will speak on her work on sexual justice and social sin in the United States with a special emphasis on consent in the context of the Assumption.
Megan K. McCabe, Ph.D. is assistant professor of religious studies at Gonzaga Univeristy. She works in the areas of Catholic moral theology, theological ethics, and feminist theologies. Her research and teaching respond to questions of human responsibility for suffering and the correlative duties to work for social transformation. She engages questions at the intersection of moral theology, social ethics, liberation and political theologies, feminist theologies and ethics, and issues of gender and sexuality. Her current research develops an understanding of “cultures of sin,” specifically in the context of an examination of the problem of the cultural foundation of sexual violence.
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| Join Us for Our 2024 Lenten Retreat! |
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| February 24; 1:00 pm-4:00 pm EST |
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| From Unfathomable Grief to Unsurpassed Joy – Women of Lent and Easter |
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Join FutureChurch on Saturday, February 24th from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm EST as we welcome author, storyteller, and Episcopal priest, Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman, who will guide us on a beautiful journey with Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, Jesus’ mother. Accompany them as they each offer gifts: sheltering Jesus, standing with him at the Cross, and witnessing the greatest miracle of all — the Resurrection.
This afternoon of reflection at the beginning of Lent will offer presentations from Rev. Hardin Freeman, time for optional small group conversation, and prompts for personal reflection. All are welcome!
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| Program Director, Mercy Center Burlingame |
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This role is responsible for the creation, development, and oversight of all program functions, and ensuring quality programming in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy charism and Mercy Ministry Corporation values. The Program Director will further the mission of Mercy Center Burlingame through program design, implementation, and evaluation while collaborating with current staff to promote retreats and programs.
Learn More/Apply Here.
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| Executive Director, Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem |
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CBF, affiliated with Notre Dame de Sion (NDS, Rome), promotes understanding of scripture and interfaith peace. It's focus is: the Bible, the People, and the Land. Responsibilities of the job include: Lead CBF, uphold its values, strategize, manage operations, ensure fundraising, and support staff/volunteers.
Learn more here.
To apply, email Sister Margaret Zdunich at director@biblical-program.com.
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| What Happened at the Synod? The Call to Dialogue on Co-responsibility and Women’s Participation in Our Church |
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Wednesday, February 7 | 3:00-4:30PM EST
Join this special conversation in the Spirit hosted by the AUSCP Women in the Church Working Group, featuring Cynthia Bailey Manns, DMin, Bishop John Stowe, and YOU!
Register Here.
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| DignityUSA "One Family Fund" Supports International LGBTQ+ People in Danger and Crisis |
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In response to the increased violence and passage of stricter laws criminalizing homosexuality and gender nonconformity, especially in Africa, DignityUSA established the One Family Fund. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a further escalation of violence following the Vatican’s announcement that same-sex couples can be blessed. The goal of this fund is to help mitigate the impact on some of our colleagues in Global Network of Rainbow (GNRC) Catholics member groups. To help those who have been forced to flee their countries due to violence or personal threats, who have lost their homes or livelihoods, the One Family Fund will provide small grants to individuals to help them transition to safety and stability. We encourage you to contribute as you are moved. The fund is being overseen by three individuals with long involvement in GNRC who can evaluate requests for assistance. To date, the Fund has granted money to help with rent, to purchase food and medicine, and to replace computers damaged in raids on the offices of people working to promote equality and justice for LGBTIQ+ people.
Contribute
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| Becoming a Synodal Church: A Conversation with Massimo Faggioli and Maureen Sullivan, OP at The Center at Mariandale |
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Saturday, March 23 | 2:00-3:30PM, In-Person or via Zoom
The Roman Catholic Church is engaged in a three-year process of listening and dialogue, “The Synod on the Synodality,” which will conclude in October 2024.
This historic time for Catholicism raises important questions about the future direction of the church. Synodality implies a commitment to dialogue and an openness to voices that have been marginalized. Where is the Church now in the Synod process? What is the impact so far? Where does the Church seem to be moving in preparing for October 2024? What may be the implications for the future of the church if a model of synodality takes root in the leadership and day to day life of the church?
Please join The Center at Mariandale for a discussion with a leading church historian, Massimo Faggioli, and an expert on Vatican II, Maureen Sullivan, OP. This 90-minute session will provide opportunity to learn from key scholars, dialogue with people of the faith, and to ask questions important to you.
Fee: $20 Donation
Register Here.
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| We seek changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. |
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FutureChurch is a national 501(c)(3) organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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