25.05.2022
Perspectives on preaching and teaching the Old Testament offered at seminar
The Church of Ireland Centre at DCU in partnership with colleagues in the School of Theology, Philosophy & Music hosted a seminar on Preaching and Teaching the Old Testament recently.
Addressing the topic were Dr Katie Heffelfinger of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute; Dr Brad Anderson and Dr Peter Admirand of the School of Theology, Philosophy & Music in DCU; and Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of South Africa and Ireland who is currently responsible for the interfaith work of the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem.
Dr Heffelfinger told participants that the Church needed its Old Testament and needed a robust lifegiving relationship that put the Old Testament in a truly important place which allowed it to speak for itself into their lives and ministries.
Dr Anderson offered some practical solutions looking at the role of context of the Old Testament, engaging with the critical issues in teaching and preaching and examining the question of Judaism, Christianity and Jewish Scriptures.
Rabbi David Rosen outlined the ways in which Jewish people engaged with Scripture. He also spoke about Jewish–Christian relationships in the context of two traditions coming out of a common Scripture which they each understood through a different prism.
Dr Peter Amirand tied in his roles in Jewish–Christian Dialogue as a Catholic theologian by highlighting the 10 points of Seelisberg presenting an update and challenge for Jewish–Christian dialogue today.
Drawing the seminar together, Archbishop Michael Jackson said that the four presentations were interconnected but distinct which enabled participants to hear different perspectives and be energised by the central topic. He thanked those who had organised the conference and those who had contributed. The seminar concluded with a time of group discussion and a panel discussion.
Each presentation was recorded and is available on request from the Revd Prof Anne Lodge at anne.lodge@dcu.ie.
