Bible Study Syllabus (Topical Series)
This was the syllabus for the Topical Series portion of the Bible study. We did a series of studies on topics that varied from week to week. The leader and organizer of the study rotated each week.
Schedule
February 11
Leader
Dave
Topic
Gender Issues: Galatians 3:28
Readings
- No Male and Female Galations 3:28 - Alternative Vision and Pauline Modification - Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza
- Distinction and Function in the Church: Reading Galatians 3:28 in Context - Doug Heidebrecht
- Some Reflections on Galations 3:28, Sexual Roles, and Biblical Hermeneutics - John Jefferson Davis
February 18
Leader
Kristina
Topic
Humility: Micah 6:6-8, Luke 4:1-13
Readings
- Walk Humbly with Your God! Notes on a Spirituality for Missionaries with Migrants - Gioacchino Campese
- The Virtue of Humility in Judaism: A Critique of Rationalist Hermeneutics - Daniel M. Nelson
February 25
No Meeting
U of M Spring Break
March 3
Leader
Jim
Topic
Talking About Sex
Readings
- 1 Corinthians 6
- Romans 14
- Why Won't Paul Just Say No? Purity and Sex in 1 Corinthians 6 by Mark Gravrock
- Romans 14:1-15:7--Unity in the Essentials, Opinions in the Non-Essentials, Charity in Everything by Susan Miller
- Can We Talk? Theological Ethics and Sexuality by James F. Keenan, SJ.
March 10
Leader
Deborah
Topic
Keeping the Sabbath
Readings
- Keeping Sabbath, Chapter 6 from "Keeping our Faith" by Dorothy C. Bass
- The Sabbath Opens Creation for Its True Future, Chapter 4 from "Receiving the Day" by Dorothy C. Bass
March 17
Leader
Olivia
Topic
Gender and Sexuality
Readings
- Sexuality and Culture, Chapter 6 from "Sexuality and Holy Longing" by Lisa McMinn
- [optional] Sleeping Alone, Chapter 3 from "Sexuality and Holy Longing" by Lisa McMinn
March 24
Leader
Lauren
Topic
Beauty
Readings
The first "reading" will be a program on NPR's Speaking of Faith. Krista Tippett interviews John O'Donohue, an Irish poet on "The Inner Landscape of Beauty." You can listen to the program by downloading it or streaming it here http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/john_odonahue/index.shtml. If you don't have time to listen to it, you could read the transcript. SOFs websites are pretty awesome, with lots of extra information and pictures.
The second reading is "How Beauty Will Save the World: William Blake's Prophetic Vision" by Susanne Sklar, Spiritus 7 (2007): 30-39. I'll send it out by email. I found some things difficult to understand in the article, but other things very thought-provoking. I hope it will be worth our time. You might want to google some of the poetry talked about in the article. Blake's poetry is mostly in the public sector.
The Bible Reading is Psalm 27.
March 31
Leader
Matt
Topic
Worship
Readings
- The Publick Worship of God from The Westminster Confession
- Excerpt from "For the Life of the World" by Alexander Schmemann
April 7
Leader
Deborah
Topic
Women in Ministry
Readings
- Deborah's autobiographical statement
- Male and Female: A Test Case for Metaphorical Method, Lecture by Richard B. Hays
April 14
Leader
Adam
Topic
Transgender and Transexuality
Readings
- The Transgender Moment by John W. Kennedy
- Transgendered Body Theology, Chapter 8 from "Trans-gendered" by Justin Tanis