MENEILLY VISITING SCHOLAR LECTURE SERIES

Impolite Dinner Conversation: The Politics of Christ and the Church
March 6-7, 2020 at Village Church on Mission

With Visiting Scholars Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer and Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

As the U.S. political debate becomes even more partisan and more difficult to discuss at the dinner table, the Village Church Meneilly Visiting Scholar Lecture Series invites us to a political discussion based on Christ and the Church, not based on a political party or agenda. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary professors The Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, professor of New Testament Studies, and The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel, assistant professor of homiletics, will lead us in a study on March 6 & 7 entitled “Impolite Dinner Conversation: The Politics of Christ and the Church.” 
 
In this lecture series, our speakers invite us to consider what the gospels actually say about the politics of Jesus and how the church has tried, and often failed, to live into Jesus' political vision for this God-beloved world.  

“Reading the Politics of Christ” with Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer
6-9 p.m. Friday, March 6 

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​Dr. Aymer reminds us that this Jesus whom we seek to follow was a deeply political figure, with pointed teachings concerning the world of his day and its governance, and equally pointed teaching about the inbreaking of God’s governance.  Indeed, the theological terms “Savior” and “Lord” we use today held political connotations for the Christians of the first century.  Dr. Aymer’s lecture invites us to consider what Jesus’ politics looked like according to the writers of the four gospels.  What did he challenge?  What did he uphold?  When did he take sides and with whom?

“Reading the Politics of Christians” and an Interactive Conversation About the Present with Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel
9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 7

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​Over the past two millennia, Christians have engaged in politics as people of faith, and yet Christians have come to very different conclusions on a number of political debates. It is not a question of if Christians' faith and politics are entwined, but how, and in what order? Do Christians’ political views come first, followed by a justification found in scripture? Or do Christians’ faith perspectives lead them to particular political views? And how can we discern whether our interpretation of the Christian faith as it pertains to our politics mirrors the Christ we seek to follow? Examining Christian thinkers who explicitly drew on scripture and principles of faith to both support and attack the institution of slavery and segregation, this lecture tries to find in the past a hermeneutic that can help us interpret our present political moment.
Following a break, the Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka, senior associate and director of adult educational ministries at Village Church, will engage Drs. Aymer and Helsel and the audience in an interactive conversation.  What does our look at Jesus and the church through a political lens cause us to consider as a church and Christians in this fractious political season?

REGISTER NOW

​The 2020 Meneilly Visiting Scholar program is free of charge due to generous donations from previous participants and a grant from the Village Church Endowment Trust.  Click the button below or at the top of the page  to register and request free child care during the event.  If you would like to support future Meneilly Visiting Scholar programs, you will have the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation when you register.

ABOUT OUR VISITING SCHOLARS

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel is assistant professor of Homiletics at Austin Seminary. Dr. Helsel earned a B.A. in Religion from  Whitworth University (2001), both an M.Div. and Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary (2004, 2010), and a Ph.D. from Emory University (2014). Her Ph.D. dissertation and recent book are on the topic of White Christians talking about race.
Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer​ is professor of New Testament Studies at Austin Seminary. Dr.  Aymer earned a B.A. in U.S. History from Harvard University (1989), and both an M.Div. and Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity from Union Theological Seminary (1996, 2004). In addition to teaching core courses on the New Testament, Dr. Aymer has expertise on African-Americans and the Bible, as well as feminist and womanist biblical interpretation.

ABOUT MENEILLY VISITING SCHOLAR

The Meneilly Visiting Scholar program brings well known Bible scholars and theologians to Village Church and the community in the desire to:
  • challenge us with fresh and innovative, yet well supported perspectives on theological topics;
  • increase our understanding of the wisdom of the past; and 
  • engage us to honor and faithfully serve the God we worship and upon whom we rely.
CONTACT:
Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka
Director of Adult Education
Email
913-671-2323