August 18, 2009

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some 285 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) came from across the United States to the Book of Faith "Jubilee" weekend and joined in conversation about an initiative in the ELCA to read and discuss the Bible. Displays of resources supported worship, workshops and small group discussions Aug. 14-16 at Luther Seminary, one of eight ELCA seminaries.

The Rev. Eugene H. Peterson opened the three days of discussion in a dialogue presentation with Dr. Diane L. Jacobson, director for the Book of Faith initiative and professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary. Peterson, a retired poet, pastor and theologian of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), wrote "The Message," a contemporary translation of the Bible.

The books of the Bible weren't written with chapter and verse numbers, Peterson said. Instead of trying to read a chapter a day, he recommended reading the Bible slowly, like a book, for the stories and messages it conveys.

Dr. David W. Anderson, director of congregational renewal and leadership, The Youth and Family Institute, Bloomington, Minn., said the Book of Faith initiative faces three challenges. It must move people from cultural Christianity to biblical Christianity, remain a movement and not become another church program, and develop new habits to move expectations of spiritual development out of churches and into homes, he said.

Deanna Thompson, associate professor of religion, Hamline University, St. Paul, said that regardless of opinions about Dan Brown's novel, "The Da Vinci Code," its popularity provided a unique opportunity for the church to encourage people to read the Bible. She said current "God products" such as "Good Book" by David Plotz and William P. Young's "The Shack" can provide similar opportunities today with some similar and unique cautions.

The Rev. Rolf A. Jacobson, assistant professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary, said throughout the Bible people are sent with God's blessing. They are also sent with God's permission to try new things, he said. Jacobson said the role of pastors and Bible "experts" is to give Bible readers permission and tools to ask their own questions and to find themselves in the stories about God's relationships.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, thanked the participants for their involvement in the Book of Faith initiative. "God has something to say to us," he said, and engaging the Word of God will renew the church. He encouraged participants to keep putting the Bible in the context of everyday people.

Participants gathered in 13 "affinity groups" at three times during the event. Groups organized on such topics as rural ministry, small group ministry and preaching.

The Jubilee offered 23 workshops in five categories: Bible and culture, Bible and the arts, Book of Faith in your congregation, opening the Bible at home and teaching the Bible in congregations.

Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary launched a new Web site – http://www.enterthebible.org/ – Aug. 14 to coincide with the start of the Jubilee weekend. Seminary staff and faculty developed the site to be a free online resource of information and commentary about the 66 books of the Bible and their 16 time periods. A login option allows readers to store notes on the site and keep track of their progress along online study paths.

Information about the ELCA Book of Faith initiative is at http://www.bookoffaith.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service