View source for 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 ====
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/esf.pdf No Male and Female ''Galations 3:28 - Alternative Vision and Pauline Modification'' - Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza]
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/Heidebrecht_Distinction_and_Function.pdf Distinction and Function in the Church: Reading Galatians 3:28 in Context - Doug Heidebrecht]
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/jjdavis_gal_3_28.pdf 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 ====
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/Campese_Walk_Humbly.pdf Walk Humbly with Your God! Notes on a Spirituality for Missionaries with Migrants - Gioacchino Campese]
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/Nelson_Virtue_of_Humility.pdf 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 ====
* [http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_standards/index.html?mainframe=/documents/wcf_standards/p369-direct_pub_worship.html 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 ====
* [http://biblestudy.definingterms.com/Readings/Debs_autobio_statement.pdf 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 ====
* [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/february/25.54.html The Transgender Moment by John W. Kennedy]
* Transgendered Body Theology, Chapter 8 from "Trans-gendered" by Justin Tanis