Pre-Conference Workshops in Denver

Aug 11

Plan to come early to Denver so that you can join us from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, for one of two theological conversations. Professors from two of our PCUSA seminaries, Cynthia L. Rigby and Kimberly Bracken Long, are planning in-depth conversations; it will be difficult to choose:1. Inclusive Wedding ServicesAs ecclesial and legal landscapes change, churches need liturgical resources that can be used for the weddings of all couples. In this pre-conference workshop, we will examine current denominational wedding services and explore newly-emerging models for inclusive wedding liturgies. In doing so, we will consider how scripture has shaped the church’s understanding of marriage to date and how a broader range of biblical texts might inform contemporary views.Kimberly Bracken Long is Associate Professor of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is co-editor, with David Maxwell, of Inclusive Marriage Services: A Wedding Sourcebook, to be published by WJK in the fall of 2015. She is also the author of The Worshiping Body: The Art of Leading Worship(Westminster/John Knox Press, 2009), and The Eucharistic Theology of the American Holy Fairs (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2011), as well as editor of the six-volume Feasting on the Word Worship Companion (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2012-2015).2. Radical Reconciler: Reading the Bible as the Word of GodWe say the Bible is “the Word of God.” We also say we are “People of the Book.” But what do we mean when we say these things, particularly when we do not believe the Bible is inerrant and do not think it should be read literally? The Bible itself claims that the Word of God “divides soul and spirit; joints and marrow.” How, then, can we possibly understand it to reconcile us when we disagree about issues such as ordination and marriage? In this workshop, we will explore ways of reading the Bible that ask the Word of God to re-make us at our very core, drawing us into new and dynamic relationships with God and one another.Cynthia L. Rigby is the W.C. Brown Professor of Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She is a sought-after speaker who enjoys lecturing and teaching for academic, church, and denominational events both domestically and internationally. She is also the editor of Insights, the faculty journal of Austin Seminary, and is actively engaged with congregations, teaching adult education classes and leading church conferences. Dr. Rigby’s special area of interest is setting Reformed theologies in conversation with theologies of liberation. She is the author or co-author of numerous books and articles.