(RNS) — That’s “childist” biblical scholar — not “childish.” But childist biblical scholar Julie Faith Parker does think adult readers have a lot to learn from the children in the Bible as well as the children around them. Parker, associate professor of biblical studies at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, is one of the pioneering scholars in the field of childist biblical interpretation — a term she helped introduce in biblical studies in the last decade. She defines it as “interpretation that places a child, children, youth or concerns related to young people at the center” — more analogous to “feminist” or “womanist” than to “racist” or “sexist.” “It’s a new field, and it’s really gaining steam quickly,” she said. Parker talked to Religion News Service about what childist biblical interpretation is, where it came from and why it can change not only the way people read the Bible, but also how they engage issues impacting … [Read more...]

(PNS) In May, a denominational communications survey was launched to determine what the Church most wants and needs from Communications. Nearly 11,000 people responded to questions including “What is most useful about communications from the national offices?” and “What is most frustrating?” and “What denominational information would you like that you are not currently getting?” Some of their responses might surprise you. The communications leaders of each of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as Presbyterian Women, created the survey to find out how the national Communications offices can best serve congregations and mid councils. Over 52,000 individuals received a personal invitation to participate in the survey. In addition to that, the invitation was made public via social media, e-newsletters, and through the Presbyterian News Service. “That is a 20% response rate, which is above average in the industry,” said Dr. Susan Barnett, coordinator for … [Read more...]

Jill Duffield crafts study aids based on the lectionary Scriptures for the coming Sunday.  Join our mailing list to have this content delivered directly to your inbox every Monday afternoon. Looking into the lectionary explores some of the appointed texts with an eye toward preaching and teaching. There's the occasional prayer or litany. Sometimes there will be a story or a link to one. Parsing a Greek verb or lifting up a word study is a part of the journey, too. Books that resonate, newspaper articles that raise questions, current events that cause us to grieve and rejoice: all is fodder for honing our hearing and sharpening our vision as we look with curiosity and gratitude into God’s inspired and living Word. Join our mailing list . … [Read more...]

Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Lent 5C Why do we choose estrangement? I recognize that separation often gets imposed upon us. Geographical moves. Death. Relationships too toxic and abusive to maintain. Another makes the choice to leave and we’ve no say in the matter. And yet, sometimes we are the ones who ask for our inheritance and hit the road. Sometimes, we are the ones who refuse to come into the house and join the party. The parent grieves our going, pleads with us to be a part of the celebration, return or remain in the household, but there seems to be something we just can’t stomach. The grace? The generosity? The inclusion of those we deem unworthy? The fact that those we thought needed to be punished were welcomed and loved instead? We conjure up sibling rivalry when the father knows no favorites. We calculate how much is left when the inheritance gets split even when there is more than enough for all with baskets leftover. We hang out … [Read more...]