Neustadt Lectures
The Neustadt Lectures were established in 1983 by Walter and Dolores Neustadt of Ardmore, Oklahoma for the purpose of strengthening understanding of the great contributions of the Judaic religious tradition to Western civilization and thought. Scholars are invited to the campus to speak on informative themes in the areas of Hebrew Scriptures, Judaic thought, and Jewish ethics and art.
* 1 p.m. -- “Learning from Difficult Texts: A Trauma-informed Approach to Divine Punishment in the Hebrew Bible” -- Bishop Angie Smith Chapel
* 2:30 p.m. -- “Remember What?: Traditions of Slavery and Foreignness in Egypt” -- Bishop Angie Smith Chapel
* 7 p.m. -- “Who Needs Bible Commentary (and Why Create a New One)?” -- Temple B’Nai Israel, 4901 N. Penn. Ave.
All events are free to the public
Elsie Stern is professor of Bible at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She earned her B.A. at Yale University and her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago Divinity School. She is the author of From Rebuke to Consolation: Exegesis and Theology in the Liturgical Anthology of the Ninth of Av Season and is a co-editor of the Dictionary of the Bible in Ancient Media. She has also contributed to the Jewish Study Bible, Torah: A Women’s Commentary and the forthcoming Westminster Study Bible as well as other essay collections for scholars, clergy and lay readers. She is currently the general editor for the New CCAR Torah Commentary, which will serve as the main Torah commentary for the Reform movement of Judaism. In her teaching and research, Dr. Stern explores how Jews and Jewish communities have engaged with scripture over the centuries.
Willson Lectures
The Willson Lectures are provided by an endowment from James M. and Mavis Willson of Floydada, Texas. The lectures are directed to the interest of students in the area of religion and society.
The Willsons were outstanding members of the United Methodist Church. Their Christian vision was truly ecumenical in its outreach. Since 1953, their gift to ֭Ƶ has brought to campus speakers of international stature from the areas of religion, science, Christian theology and ethics, church history, biblical studies, and liturgical studies.
1 and 7 p.m. October 10
Performances in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel
The 2024 Willson Lectures feature Jim Wallis, the founder of Sojourners and a New York Times bestselling author, public theologian, renowned preacher and commentator on ethics and public life. A writer, teacher, preacher and justice advocate who believes the gospel of Jesus must be transformed from its cultural and political captivities, and always be "good news" to the poor and oppressed.
Mr. Wallis will speak about his book, The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy.
Contact Dr. Leslie Long, [email protected], for more information.