JSOR In the News!

Thanks to the Johnson City Press and the Elizabethton Star for posting the news about the Jesus Seminar coming to Elizabethton. We think this is a pretty big deal and hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Register here!

ELIZABETHTON — First Presbyterian Church, 119 W. F St., will host the Jesus Seminar on the Road with the program “Jesus, Teller of Parables,” Oct. 29-30 with speakers Arthur J. Dewey and Bernard Brandon Scott of the Westar Institute.

The first lecture, “What Is A Parable,” will be held Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. This lecture will describe parables and show how they can destabilize their listeners’ world even today.

Two workshops will take place on Oct. 30, beginning with “The History and Craft of Parables,” from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The workshop will begin with an overview of the art of storytelling and the several methods involved in the interpretation of stories, ancient and modern. Participants will examine the ancient craft of parable-making side-by-side with modern examples of transparent poetry and creative songwriting. This workshop will explore not only what a parable might mean, but also how it means to be taken.

The second workshop, “Parables and the Kingdom,” will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. The parables of the Banquet and Unjust Steward, the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Leaven and the Mustard Seed will serve as the primary texts for this presentation .

Scott, who earned a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University) is the Darbeth Distinguished Professor of New Testament at the Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, Okla. He is the author of several books, including “The Trouble with Resurrection” and “Re-Imagine the World,” and editor of the Jesus Seminar Guides series.

Arthur J. Dewey, who earned a doctorate in theology from Harvard University, is a professor of theology at Xavier University, Cincinnati, cofounder of the Healing Deadly Memories Program and coauthor of “The Authentic Letters of Paul” (with Roy Hoover & Lane McGaughy).

Early registration for the program will end Friday. With preregistration the cost of the event is $60 for all sessions, including the Oct. 29 lecture and both workshops.

Registration after Friday will be $75 for all sessions. Adding a family member will be an additional $50.

Single sessions are priced as follows: Oct. 29 evening lecture: $20; Oct. 30 morning workshop: $30; Oct. 30 afternoon workshop: $30.

For information call 543-7737 or visit the JSOR page at www.FPCelizabethton.org. Registration can be done by calling the Westar Institute at 877-523-3545.