Reading the Bible in a Progressive Community
On September 29 we will discuss the plight of DACA recipients in light of what Ancient Israel’s legal tradition had to say about treatment of foreigners within Israel’s borders. Should those same principles apply now? What would be different if they did?
Two texts will frame our discussion, both from the book of Leviticus: 19:33-34 and 24:22.
I have updated the presentation from this morning’s class (September 22, 2019). You can view it by going to the class schedule page and clicking on the word “Presentation” to the right of today’s date, or by clicking here.
On September 11, 2019, the Washington Post published a video about the new policy to return asylum seekers to Mexico while they wait for a judgment on their asylum claims. Many see this as a clear violation of US law, and court challenges are ongoing.
We will discuss this issue in class on October 6 in the session entitled “Welcoming the Stranger”.
I have posted the presentation from this morning’s class to the website. You can view it here. You will be able to get the presentation from each week’s class by going to the class schedule after class. Look in the right hand column for the word “Presentation”.
If you would like to read the testimony of Stacey Farley, one of the people who helped stop ICE from capturing her neighbors in the video we saw this morning, you can find her account here. She narrated her experience to Celia Darrough who wrote it up as an article at Bustle.com: “I Joined A Human Chain To Stop ICE From Taking My Neighbors & I’d Do It Again.”
On September 8, 2019 people interested in adult classes at Binkley will meet together in the sanctuary to hear about the class choices. Our class will not meet that day, but information about it will be provided for all who attend the event in the sanctuary.
The following video was shot at Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2014. Rev. Barber was the keynote speaker at Binkley’s Seymour Symposium that year, and the video presents roughly seven minutes from his much more in-depth discussion. Story of America has called this short clip Rev. Dr. Barber’s most compelling seven minutes to date.
Here you can witness a few minutes of well informed expository preaching based on a close reading a biblical text.
The church newsletter this week lists our class as meeting one more time this Sunday. We ended the class last Sunday, so this was a surprise to me. Still, there may be some who see the note in the newsletter and assume we are meeting, so I will be there at 9:30 for informal conversation with any who choose to come.
This Sunday we will view the final segment of the documentary, “Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot.” Here are a few questions to consider while you view the documentary:
Tomorrow morning (October 29, 2017) we will look at the elements of energizing and amazement as parts of what it means to call Jesus a prophet. We will read several short passages from the Gospels and one rather long one from the ending of Luke.
I hope you can make it. I think we will have a lively discussion.
You can find the presentation I will use here.
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