Preaching Jesus Without Anti-Semitic Bias in 2023: practical webinar in preparation for Lent
On Friday, February 10 from 12:15-1:00 p.m., the Center of Christian Muslim Engagement (CCME) will be hosting a workshop on the topic, Preaching Jesus Without Anti-Semitic Bias in 2023: practical webinar in preparation for Lent. Rabbi Anna Levin Rosen, Director of University of Chicago Hillel and Dr. Barbara Rossing, NT professor at LSTC will lead the workshop. The forum is moderated by Pastor Jennie English-Dumont. Lunch will be provided for those who are attending the event in person.
Webinar Description
Walking with Jesus through the season of Lent 2023 invites preachers and audiences to proclaim the message of death and resurrection through the passion narratives in the gospels of John and Matthew. Yet, in a time of blatant anti-Semitism in the US, how might preachers handle the anti-Jewish undertones in the passion narratives? Can preachers avoid implicitly stereotyping contemporary Judaism, for instance, when reading about the Pharisees in John 9 or the wonderful passion narratives in Matthew 26 and 27 that are informed by polemics against the Jewish authorities at the time?
Through a look at selected texts from this season of Lent, a contemporary Jewish and a Christian perspective on preaching without anti-Semitic bias provide answers to one of the preacher’s constantly tantalizing challenge.
The pericopes the pastors will preach on can be found here.
Event Panelists
Dr. Barbara Rossing
The Rev. Dr. Barbara R. Rossing is professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she has taught since 1994. She loves to teach and preach about the Bible, including the Bible’s role in public life.
Rossing received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School, and a Doctor of Theology degree from Harvard University.
Rossing has lectured and preached widely, including synod assemblies and global mission events for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as well as ecumenical theological conferences. She has served on the executive committee and council of the Lutheran World Federation (2003-2010) and chaired the Lutheran World Federation’s theology and studies committee. She currently serves on the advisory committee for The Lutheran Magazine.As a public theologian her media appearances have included “CBS Sixty Minutes” as well as The History Channel, National Geographic, Living the Questions, and numerous print and radio interviews.
Rabbi Anna Levin Rosen
Rabbi Anna received a BA from the University of Virginia in Religious Studies, Anthropology and Jewish Studies, and an MA and Doctorate in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion in OH. Anna was ordained as a rabbi in 2009. She served as Director of Jewish Student Life at Jewish United Fund and has now served as executive director of Jewish life at the Newberger Hillel Center at the University of Chicago for 13 years. She has written for the Christian Century and is very involved in family and community life here in Chicago.
Pastor Jennie English-Dumont
Rev. Jennie English-Dumont serves as the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Chicago. She has been ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 2001, after earning an M.Div. from Luther Seminary. In 2014 she received a Th.M. in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible from LSTC. Pastor Jennie delights in preaching, teaching, and working with the congregation’s peace center to advance equity and peace in the wider community through restorative justice practices.