Finding a Hermeneutic Voice in a Pluralistic World

There was a time when almost all ministers grew up in the denominations in which they served and were trained by those denominations. Everyone worked from a common hermeneutic–a common understanding of Scripture, because they all studied Scripture together. But that isn’t always the case anymore.  So,  in an age of denominational fluidity and pluralism, where ministers may not have grown up in or even been trained in the tradition where they are serving, how do we develop and maintain a common hermeneutic in the church? Do we even need to?

On Thursday, 1 December, beginning at 3:30 pm, we will discuss possible answers to those questions in a forum called Finding a Hermeneutic Voice in a Pluralistic World. A panel of four scholars will look present on the questions from their own traditions, then we will all share in the discussion over dinner, ending about 6:00.

Melvin E. Wilson, MDiv, Presiding Elder of the Brooklyn-Westchester District of the New York Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will represent that tradition.

Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D., Dirk Romeyn Professor of Metro-Urban Ministry at NBTS, will represent the American Baptist tradition.

Leonard Lovett, Ph.D., of Washington, DC, will represent the Church of God in Christ, for whom he serves as senior theologian, ethicist, and ecumenist.

Allan Janssen, Ph.D., Affiliate Associate Professor of Theological Studies at NBTS, will represent the Reformed Church in America, for whom he is a General Synod Professor.

The suggested donation for dinner is $20.00 (free for NBTS students, faculty, and staff). Please RSVP to jbrumm@nbts.edu  by Monday, 28 November.

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Allan Janssen, Ph.D., Affiliate Associate Professor of Theological Studies at NBTS
Reverend Dr. Leonard Lovett is a native of  Florida as well as a distinguished graduate of Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary with the Doctor of Philosophy Degree   from Emory University in Ethics and Society. He has spent over three decades in the Academy and Faith Community. Currently senior theologian, ethicist and ecumenist for the Church of God in Christ, residing in the Washington metro area.
Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D., Dirk Romeyn Professor of Metro-Urban Ministry at NBTS
Rev. Melvin E. Wilson is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  He has a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology, has done post-graduate work at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University in Oxford, England, and is presently a student in the Doctor of Ministry degree program at New York Theological Seminary.  He currently serves as Presiding Elder of the Brooklyn – Westchester District of the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.