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It took 28 years before that argument became moot: in 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated sodomy laws across the United States, including Virginia’s — a year after Massachusetts had struck down its sodomy laws.

This wasn’t the first time Biblical texts were invoked to justify modern laws, and it won’t be the last, says Jennifer Knust, an assistant professor at the School of Theology.

Knust’s 2005 book Abandoned to Lust: Sexual Slander and Ancient Christianity (Columbia University Press) examines the use of sexualized vocabulary by Christian authors from Paul to Irenaeus of Lyons. She is working on a new book on sex and the Bible, slated to come out next year.

“My main argument is that Biblical texts do not speak with one voice,” says Knust, an ordained American Baptist (USA) pastor. “There is no shortcut to sexual ethics through the Bible.”

As part of a lecture series sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) ministry at Marsh Chapel, Knust is speaking tonight at the School of Education on the topic What the Bible Does (Not) Say about Homosexuality.

(read more of the story from BU Today)

Perusing the names of 1910 delegates Robert has just recently “discovered” another Asian woman at the conference, so far bringing the number to 20 delegates from the global south. The name Grace Stephens had jumped out at her. Originally from Madras Stephen was converted by Bishop Taylor, became a zenana worker, and then ended up running a Methodist women’s enterprise.

Stories like these must be fascinating for Robert, who has been teaching theology at Boston University since 1984. Her interest in Christianity as a “sending” religion is not only reflected in her teaching and research. Robert regularly travels to southern Africa where she engages in mission outreach and research. A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, she likes to experience worship in many different kinds of churches and contexts.

Christian diversity on the one hand, and unity on the other is quintessential to Edinburgh 2010. This is one of the reasons why Robert looks with hope towards next year’s events: “As we celebrate the centennial of the World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh, 1910, we seek to deepen and strengthen its prophetic vision of worldwide, multi-cultural Christian unity–a unity marked by shared passion to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The memory of Edinburgh 1910 reminds us that we are ambassadors of hope, confident in the power of God’s love despite our limitations in a world of pain and injustice.”

More news from Edinburgh 2010

Arvo Pärt and Contemporary Spirituality Conference
Boston University, March 26 and 27, 2010

Conference website: http://www.bu.edu/apcsc/

To celebrate the 75th birthday of Arvo Pärt (born 11 September, 1935), Boston University is hosting a conference entitled ‘Arvo Pärt and Contemporary Spirituality’. Jointly promoted by the School of Theology and the School of Music, with cooperation from CAS/GRS and the Boston University Humanities Foundation, the conference will examine Pärt’s music using and developing cross-disciplinary methodologies drawing on media studies, theological studies and different analytical approaches to music. By working on issues of interpretation it endeavors to bridge the traditional gap between scholars and performers, and it directly addresses the largest group of people who come across Pärt’s music: the audience.

Abstracts of around 300 words are invited on any topic related to Pärt’s music. Papers will be 25 minutes long followed by a 10 minutes Q&A. Please send your abstract by 1 October 2009 to the conference administrator (details below). Please include your name, contact information and institutional affiliation (if any). Abstracts will be reviewed anonymously. Conference sessions will be grouped around themes which might include: Pärt’s life and works, analyzing and defining ‘tintinnabula’, Pärt and contemporary culture, Pärt and contemporary spirituality, Pärt and film music.

Timetable:

Program Committee

Andrew Shenton, Chair (Boston University)
Sander van Maas (University of Amsterdam)
Robert Sholl (Thames Valley University, London)
Karen Westerfield Tucker (Boston University School of Theology)
Jeremy Yudkin (Boston University College of Fine Arts / College of Arts and Sciences)

Conference administrator (to whom all questions should be addressed and all abstracts sent): Holly Reed [reedhg@bu.edu]

Dana L. Robert, “The Ministry of Ezekiel Guti: African Gifts of the Spirit and the Rise of a Zibabaweian Transational Religious Movement.” In Books & Culture: A Christian Review, Vol. 15, Number 2 (March/April 2009): 34ff.

Shelly Rambo, professor at Boston University School of Theology, addresses participants at the 2009 JustPeace conference in Nashville, Tenn. UMNS photos by Kathy L. Gilbert.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

“Even though we are opposed to war, maybe we can bring some comfort, compassion and healing to those who are fighting for us,” says seminarian Tiffany Smith.

“Holy Saturday,” the day between life and death, is the place where many returning military personnel and their families live, a theology professor told participants at a conference to help churches welcome home the warrior.

Shelly Rambo, assistant professor of theology at United Methodist-related Boston University School of Theology, was one of the keynote speakers for the April 1-2 gathering of JustPeace . She is author of “Trauma and Redemption: Witnessing Spirit Between Death and Life,” forthcoming by Westminster John Knox Press.

She explained that Holy Saturday is the day after the crucifixion and the day before resurrection. Someone living in that day is stuck between dealing with trauma and getting on with life.

“War changes people and not for the good,” Rambo said. “There is no going back to who they were before war, and yet when they return home they are expected to be the same.”

The world wants to offer them “beer and turkey dinners” and tell them to get over it, Rambo said. “Christian communities must engage in the moral complexities of war.”

Dealing with trauma

Rambo led sessions on Trauma Healing 101 and Trauma Healing and Theology. The Rev. Laura Bender, a United Methodist Navy chaplain, led sessions on the role of churches with returning veterans and moderated a panel of chaplains reflecting on what they heard during the two-day conference.

JustPeace, a center for mediation and conflict transformation affiliated with the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, and the Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the United Methodist Endorsing Agency sponsored the event. Participants included clergy, pastoral counselors and concerned laity.

The Rev. Ronald McCants, a retired chaplain, says many returning soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The “ongoingness” of the Iraq war with multiple deployments, high suicide rates, family disruptions and health care crises, are taking a toll on the nation’s soul, according to Rambo.

“The role of religious leaders is timely and necessary,” she said. Religious leaders need to learn about trauma and how to integrate theological resources when faced with someone who has been traumatized.

Rambo said trauma occurs when a person’s ability to respond to a threat is overwhelmed. “Trauma is when your biology gets assaulted in such a way that you might not be able to reset yourself.”

People who have been traumatized reorganize their lives around the trauma, she explained. Many times a person who has experienced the horrors of war lives with images that a sight, sound or smell can trigger, propelling the person back into the situation.

Bringing healing

“I see so much pain and hurt. Even though we are opposed to war, maybe we can bring some comfort, compassion and healing to those who are fighting for us,” said Tiffany Smith, a seminary student at United Methodist-related Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. She plans to be a Navy chaplain in a few years.

“It is going to be a few years before I can go on active duty, and I wanted to know what I can bring into the church (on this subject) since I will have my appointment in several weeks when I graduate in May,” she said.

“We are a congregation that believes in peace and works toward that but we also want to embrace the warrior, the soldier," says the Rev. Brian Marcoulier who serves a congregation near an Army base.

The Rev. Brian Marcoulier serves as associate pastor at Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tenn., which is located near Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne.

“I appreciated the diversity of thought and struggle with this issue,” he said. “We are a congregation that believes in peace and works toward that, but we also want to embrace the warrior, the soldier, and the tension of those two things is certainly a personal struggle that I feel. To see I am amongst colleagues in that same struggle but willing to have the conversation, to me speaks volumes.”

The Rev. J. Paul Womack, retired Army chaplain, said he would like to see churches reflecting on Holy Saturday, “that middle ground.”

“I haven’t felt the presence of God since Vietnam, and I am ordained. That is a long time to be in Saturday. I think that is probably true for a lot of our folks who have seen things that have them stuck some place.”

The Rev. Dennis Goodwin, also a retired Army chaplain, said one of the strengths of The United Methodist Church is an ability to engage hard subjects. “We can deal with Holy Saturday, we can engage in hard decisions others will not discuss.”

The Rev. Ronald McCants, a participant in the conference who is also a retired chaplain and pastor of Mount Sinai United Methodist Church, Mantua, Ala., said many returning soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“They have seen people killed,” he explained. “Soldiers are stigmatized and labeled, and we must find ways to educate our congregations about what is going on because they are heroes.”

*Gilbert is a news writer for United Methodist News Service in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.