Lecture SeriesLecture Series

2008 Ecumenical Lecture - April 17

Willard M. Swartley, a member of the Bible and religion faculty at Eeastern Mennonite University (1965-68 and 1971-78), served most recently as dean and professor of New Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart. He has been cited for his leadership roles as a pastor, teacher, writer and Bible scholar, "combining courageous academic inquiry with Christian devotion, patient observation with imaginative application and sober discipline with joyful freedom."

The spring semester of 1975, Swartley and his wife Mary led 37 EMU students on EMU's first Middle East cross-cultural study seminar, where they witnesses the raw emotions of the Israeli-Arab-Palestinian conflict.

After completing doctoral studies on the New Testament gospel of Mark, Swartley shared his learnings the summer of 1977 at a churchwide Mennonite assembly in Estes Park, Colo. He presented an intensive seven-part series of Bible studies based on Mark's gospel in tandem with original dramas by Canadian playwright Urie Bender to enthusiastic audiences.

Two years later, Swartley's book, "Mark, the Way for All Nations," was published by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa. His next book, published in 1983, grew out of a Conrad Grebel lecture series. Now in its 17th printing, "Slavery, Sabbath, War and Women" (Herald Press) explores opposing interpretations of scripture and demonstrates the use of the Bible to address thorny issues of church and society.

He flew headlong into another controversial topic with the release in 2003 of his book, "Homosexuality: Biblical Interpretation and Moral Discernment" (Herald Press), which has received high praise from reviewers for combining "a high view of Scripture with a penetrating analysis of contemporary culture."

Another book, "Covenant of Peace" (Eerdmans) was in the fall of 2005. This volume traces the concept of peace-making in Scripture.

Swartley is married to Mary Lapp Swartley, a 1957 EMU alumna. She is a former business teacher and author of the book, "She Has Done a Good Thing: Mennonite Women Tell Their Stories" (Herald Press).

They have two children, Louisa Oyer of Kansas and Kenton Swartley of Iowa.

2007 Ecumenical Lecture - April 26

Title:

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth in the Gospel of Luke

Speaker:

Fr. Sean P. Kealy, C.S.Sp, Professor of Biblical Studies at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh)

http://www.theology.duq.edu/faculty/facKealy.html

2006 Ecumenical Lecture - April 27

Title:

Take Heed What You Hear - Preaching St. Mark"s Gospel

Speaker:

Dr. Bonnie Bowman Thurston, New Testament Scholar and Author at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

2005 Ecumenical Lecture - April 14

Title:

Finding the Old Testament in the New Testament

Speaker:

Dr. Dale C. Allison, Jr., Grable Professor of the New Testament Exegesis and Early Christianity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

2004 Ecumenical Lecture - April 20

Title:

Jesus, Love of Enemies in an Age of Violence

Speaker:

Rev. John R. Donahue, S.J. Has taught at Georgetown University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, The University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame