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Mercedes Laura García Bachmann

Professor of Old Testament

Headshot of Mercedes Garcia Bachmann

An icon of an envelope.

Ordained pastor of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Argentina-Uruguay), Dec. 28, 1986. Director, Instituto para la Pastoral Contextual (Institute for Pastoral Contextual Studies), Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida since December 2015.

Studies

  • PhD in Bible (Old Testament), Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1999. Dissertation: ‘Little Women’- Social  Location of Female Labor in the Deuteronomistic History.
  • ThM, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1995.

Other Studies

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Distance Education program PCOE e-Portfolio finished Jan 12, 2018.
  • Seminary on Skarabäen, Siegel und Amulette aus Palästina, course 910687, module 21, Summer semester  2010, University of Münster, taught by Dr. R. Wenning, http://www.uni muenster.de/Altoriental/KVV_SS_2010.html#MA-910687.  
  • Studies at the Swedish Theological Institute, Jerusalem, under Dr Göran Larsson, Feb.-May 1984. 
  • Studies corresponding to M.Div in the Usa, Instituto Superior Evangélico de Estudios Teológicos (ISEDET), 1994.

Foreign Languages

  • English: TOEFL approved for doctoral studies. 
  • German: Certificate “Deutsch als Fremdsprache,” Goethe Institute, 1991, and intensive course, An der  Universität, a.v., München, March 2010. 
  • Reading ability of Portuguese and French.  
  • Modern Hebrew: two quarters, Jerusalem, 1984. 
  • Ancient languages (translation): 
    • Biblical Hebrew. 
    • Biblical Aramaic. 
    • Ugaritic.
    • Koine Greek.

Current Positions and Responsibilities

  • Director, Instituto para la Pastoral Contextual, Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida (IELU), Argentina-Uruguay, since  2015.
  • Distinguished Faculty, LSTC (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago), since 2020.

Teaching Experience

  1. INSTITUTO PARA LA PASTORAL CONTEXTUAL, Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida (IELU), Argentina-Uruguay:
    • Los Sentidos de la Biblia, with Lic. Carolina Artana, 2022-2023.
    • “De madres y de hijas. Una de-construcción necesaria en la sociedad patriarcal,” with Dr. Marcela Bosch and  coordination by Pastor Mariela Pereyra, 2nd semester 2019.
    • Introducción al Pensamiento Bíblico (online and on-site modes), 2018-2020.
    • Actualización en Biblia y Género for cathechists and Christian Ed teachers (hybrid mode), June-Dec. 2017,  Misiones (Argentina).
  2. LUTHERAN SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AT CHICAGO as Adjunct Instructor/faculty
    • Israel’s Prophets (online), Spring semesters 2019, 2020.
    • Pentateuch (online) with prof. Klaus-Peter Adam, Spring semester 2017.
    • Judges and Women, Graduate seminar (OT): Spring semester, 2017 (on site).
    • Feast and Famine: Biblical Imagery of Abundance and Scarcity, Spring semester, 2017 (on site).
    • Biblia y temas de actualidad: violencia familiar, acoso sexual, June 26-30, 2006.
    • Other Tasks at LSTC
      • LST’s Latinx Advisory Committee, Fall term 2022.
  3. UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY as Adjunct Instructor/faculty
    • Introduction to the Old Testament (online), four semesters between 2017-2018.
  4. I.S.E.D.E.T. / INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO ISEDET as Guest (1999), Adjunct (1999-2000); Associate (2000-2003) and  Tenured Professor (2004-2016). ISEDET closed down in 2016 and thus all faculty were laid down.  Courses taught regularly in the undergraduate program:
    • Hebrew, levels 1-3.
    • Biblical contents.
    • Introduction to the Bible.
    • OT Exegesis (Wisdom, Pentateuch).
    • OT themes (biblical theology, Sociopolitical reading of the Bible, etc.)
    • Courses taught regularly in the graduate program (Master of Sacred Scriptures and PhD):
      • Hebrew levels 1-2.
      • Sociopolitical reading of the Bible.
      • Gender reading of the Bible.
      • Methodology.
    • Other Tasks at Instituto Universitario ISEDET
      • Co-coordinator, Foro de Teología y Género, 1999-2006, 2008-2009, 2011.
      • Teacher at the intercultural program with Indigenous peoples, Acción Apostólica Común, Chaco-Formosa  (Argentina), 1999-2015.
      • Dean of students, 2004-2008.
      • Dean of Graduate Studies, 2008-2015.
  5. INSTITUTE FOR ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES as Guest Professor (1999-2004), Adjunct Professor (2004-2006).
    • Introduction to the OT for non-theologians, 2000.
    • Biblical Hebrew, levels 1-3, 1999-2003.
  6. TEACHING AS GUEST PROFESSOR (short courses) AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS
    • “Bible and Transformation I”, Gender, Women and Leadership Course UTCWI & ELCA, Jamaica, April 29, 2021.2 Mercedes L. García Bachmann. Curriculum vitae
    • “Migration and Trafficking,” intensive course as guest instructor with Dr. Mary (Joy) Philip. Martin Luther  University, Ontario, Canada, Spring 2021.
    • “Aproximación a la Sabiduría bíblica y sus desafíos,” Escuela Latinoamericana Claretiana, 2nd semester 2021.
    • North-Western Wisconsin Synod of the ELCA Lay School, May 10-11, 2019.
    • “Libro de los Jueces y violencia social,” continuing education program, Methodist Seminary, Mexico City, Jan.  9-13, 2012.
    • “Pentateuco y Género,” Master program, Comunidad Teológica, Méjico City, Jan. 16-20, 2012.  ▪ “Die Königsbücher: Prophetie, Gender und Gesellschaft/ Books of Kings: Prophecy, Gender & Society” (with  Marie-Theres Wacker), Katholische-Theologische Fakultät, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster,  Gernany. Summersemester, April-June, 2010.
    • “Salomo und Weisheit (1 Kön 1-12) / Solomon and Wisdom (1 Kgs 1-12),” Augustana Hochschule,  Neuendettelsau, Germany, July 9-10, 2010.
    • “Libros Poéticos y Sapienciales,” Seminario Evangélico de Teología, Matanzas, Cuba, Feb. 2-6, 2009.  ▪ “Biblia y temas de actualidad: violencia familiar, acoso sexual,” Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, June  26-30, 2006.
    • Hebrew I, 2nd semester 2000 and Hebreo II, 1st semester 2001, Universidad Nacional de Luján (Argentina),  Extensión Universitaria.

Research Projects and Other Commitments

  • PhD dissertation Committee member, Sue Helen Monteiro de Matos, “As sagradas de Asherah: narrativa e  memória do sacerdócio feminino no templo de Jerusalém,” Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da  Religião, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, Brazil, Sept 19, 2022 (and dissertation proposal by Sue Helen  Monteiro de Matos, “As sagradas de Asherah: narrativa e memória do sacerdócio feminino no templo de  Jerusalém,” Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Religião, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, Brazil, Dec 7, 2020).
  • PhD dissertation Committee member, Emanuel Pfoh, “Prácticas sociopolíticas en el Levante durante la época  de El Amarna (Siglo XIV a.c.),” Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Bs. As. Dec. 20, 2011.  ▪ PhD dissertation Committee member, Juan Manuel Tebes, “Tribus, Estados, cobre e incienso: El Negev y Edom  durante la Edad del Hierro,” Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Bs. As. Feb. 19, 2010.  ▪ Coordinator, Biblical section of research program “El Itinerario de las Mujeres en la Teología Latino-Americana.  Balance Crítico y Nuevas Perspectivas,” Virginia R. Azcuy, director, 2003-2009.

National and Internacional Organizations

Related to the Lutheran Church/es

  • Member of the Board of Trustees (Kuratorium) of the Lutheran Foundation for Interconfessional Research,  Strasbourg, France, 1990-1997, 2013-2026, https://ecumenical-institute.org/en/
  • Jury of the Harding-Meyer-Prize on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Foundation for  Interconfessional Research, since 2019.
  • Member of the steering committee for the course Certificado en Justicia Climática y Fe (Pacific Lutheran  Theological Seminary), since July 2022.
  • Study group on “The Authority of the Bible in the Life of the Churches,” LWF (Dept. of Studies), 2004-2006. ▪ Delegate to the IXth Assembly, WCC, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Feb. 2006.
  • Council member, LWF, 1990-1997.
  • Commission on Studies, LWF, 1985-1990.

Biblical Research

  • Lutheran Hermeneutics and Bible program, LWF, advisor (and co-drafter of final document), 2013-2016.  ▪ Chicago Society of Biblical Research, 1998-2001.
  • Society of Biblical Literature, since 1994.
  • Asociación Bíblica Argentina (ABA), since 2015.

Intercultural and interreligious dialogues

  • Encuentro interreligioso “Cuando las mujeres se ponen de acuerdo,” Casa Emaús, Medellín, agosto 16, 2022.
  • Jewish-Christian dialogue, WCC, 2012-2018.
  • Proyecto 2001, grupo ecuménico de teólogas para el diálogo, estudio y publicaciones,” 2000-2003.
  • Grupo de diálogo interreligioso de mujeres judías, católico-romanas y luteranas, Florida, Bs. As., 2000-2001.
  • Board of Programa de Diálogo Intercultural, Rectorado, UBA, 1999-2003.

Scholarships and Awards

  • Honoris Causa Doctorate award, Facultades EST, San Leopoldo, Brazil, Aug. 26, 2021.
  • Scholarship for a semester as visiting scholar by the ELCA-Global Mission office and LSTC, Spring semester,  2017.
  • “2010 Distinguished Alumna Award,” conferred by LSTC, Feb. 9, 2010, http://issuu.com/lstcwebmaster/docs/epistle-winter10-web?mode=embed, page 7.
  • Scholarship for sabbatical from Mission EineWelt, 2010.
  • Scholarship for sabbatical from the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), 2010.
  • Scholarship for German language studies from the Vereinigte Evangelische Lutherische Kirche in Deutschland  (VELKD), Munich, March 2010.
  • Scholarship for Graduate studies from the LWF and ELCA, 1994-1999.
  • Scholarship for study at the Swedish Theological Institute, Jerusalem, Febr.-May 1984.

Publications

As author

  • Judges, Wisdom Commentary, Collegeville, Liturgical Press, 2017, http://www.wisdomcommentary.org/.
  • Women at Work in the Deuteronomistic History, Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, 2013, http://sbl site.org/publications/Books_IVBS.aspx.
  • With Virginia R. Azcuy and Nancy E. Bedford, Teología feminista a tres voces, Editorial Universidad Alberto  Hurtado, Santiago de Chile, 2016.
  • With Bernd Oberdorfer et al., “In the Beginning was the Word.” The Bible in the Life of the Lutheran  Communion. A Study Document on Lutheran Hermeneutics, Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation,  2016. ISBN: 978-2-940459-44-5, https://lutheranworld.org/resources/publication-beginning-was-word-bible life-lutheran-communion-study-document-lutheran. (Spanish translation: “En el principio era el Verbo” (Jn  1:1): La Biblia en la Vida de la Comunión Luterana. Un Documento de Estudio sobre Hermenéutica  Luterana). Ginebra: Federación Luterana Mundial, 2016. ISBN: 978-2-940459-46-9).

Co-editions

  • Mercedes L. García Bachmann y Hernán Dalbes, eds. Iglesias en pandemia, templos en crisis. Hacia nuevas  eclesiologías en el distanciamiento social, Miami, JUANUNO1 Ediciones, 2021. ISBN: 9781637530122. ▪ Marcia Blasi, Mercedes García Bachmann, Ángela Trejo Haager e Elaine Neuenfeldt, eds., Mulheres fazem  Teologia: Rede de mulheres e justiça de gênero da América Latina e Caribe – FLM / Las mujeres hacen  teología. Red de Mujeres y Justicia de Género de América Latina y Caribe – FLM. Rio de Janeiro, Metanoia,  2018. ISBN: 9788594750464.
  • Virginia R. Azcuy, Nancy E. Bedford, Mercedes L. García Bachmann, Teología feminista a tres voces, Santiago  de Chile, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, 2016. ISBN: 9789563570793.
  • Virginia R. Azcuy, Mercedes García Bachmann & Celina A. Lértora Mendoza, eds., Estudios de Autoras de  América Latina, el Caribe y Estados Unidos. Colección Mujeres haciendo Teologías vol. 3. Bs. As., San Pablo,  2009. 528 pages. ISBN: 9870900597.
  • Nancy Bedford, Mercedes García Bachmann & Marisa Strizzi, eds. Puntos de encuentro. Prod. del Foro sobre  Teología y Género, Buenos Aires, ISEDET, 2005, ISBN 987-43-9867-1.
  • Mercedes García Bachmann, Jerónimo Granados & René Krüger, eds. Búsquedas y señales. Estudios en Biblia,  Teología, Historia y Ecumenismo, en homenaje a Ricardo Pietrantonio, Buenos Aires, LUMEN-ISEDET, 2003,  ISBN 987-00-0408-3.

Bible translations

  • Introduction & notes for the books of Isaiah & 1-2 Kings. In: Armando Levoratti, ed. La Biblia. Libro del Pueblo  de Dios, Estella, Verbo Divino, 2015.
  • Introduction & notes for Isha. La Mujer según la Biblia, Seoul, United Bible Societies, 2008.
  • Videos and other electronic presentations:
    • “Feminist reading of Scriptures,” Module 4 of the Online Theology Course in Lutheran theology, LWF,  https://vimeo.com/254848582.
    • “Qué es lo particular luterano que nuestros/as legisladores/as deberían saber (a favor de la despenalización  del aborto),” in: http://ielu.org/wordpress/2018/04/23/que-es-lo-particular-luterano-que-nuestros-as legisladores-as-deberian-saber-a-favor-de-la-despenalizacion-del-aborto/.

Academics

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