ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 18, 2009  

'Jubilee' Weekend Advances ELCA Book of Faith Initiative
09-190-FI

     ST. PAUL, Minn. (ELCA) -- Some 285 members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) came from across the United States to
the Book of Faith "Jubilee" weekend and joined in conversation about an
initiative in the ELCA to read and discuss the Bible. Displays of
resources supported worship, workshops and small group discussions Aug.
14-16 at Luther Seminary, one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     The Rev. Eugene H. Peterson opened the three days of discussion in a
dialogue presentation with Dr. Diane L. Jacobson, director for the Book
of Faith initiative and professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary.
Peterson, a retired poet, pastor and theologian of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), wrote "The Message," a contemporary translation of the
Bible.
     The books of the Bible weren't written with chapter and verse
numbers, Peterson said. Instead of trying to read a chapter a day, he
recommended reading the Bible slowly, like a book, for the stories and
messages it conveys.
     Dr. David W. Anderson, director of congregational renewal and
leadership, The Youth and Family Institute, Bloomington, Minn., said the
Book of Faith initiative faces three challenges. It must move people from
cultural Christianity to biblical Christianity, remain a movement and not
become another church program, and develop new habits to move
expectations of spiritual development out of churches and into homes, he
said.
     Deanna Thompson, associate professor of religion, Hamline
University, St. Paul, said that regardless of opinions about Dan Brown's
novel, "The Da Vinci Code," its popularity provided a unique opportunity
for the church to encourage people to read the Bible. She said
current "God products" such as "Good Book" by David Plotz and William P.
Young's "The Shack" can provide similar opportunities today with some
similar and unique cautions.
     The Rev. Rolf A. Jacobson, assistant professor of Old Testament,
Luther Seminary, said throughout the Bible people are sent with God's
blessing. They are also sent with God's permission to try new things, he
said. Jacobson said the role of pastors and Bible "experts" is to give
Bible readers permission and tools to ask their own questions and to find
themselves in the stories about God's relationships.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, thanked the
participants for their involvement in the Book of Faith initiative. "God
has something to say to us," he said, and engaging the Word of God will
renew the church. He encouraged participants to keep putting the Bible in
the context of everyday people.
     Participants gathered in 13 "affinity groups" at three times during
the event. Groups organized on such topics as rural ministry, small group
ministry and preaching.
     The Jubilee offered 23 workshops in five categories: Bible and
culture, Bible and the arts, Book of Faith in your congregation, opening
the Bible at home and teaching the Bible in congregations.

Enter the Bible
     Luther Seminary launched a new Web site --
http://www.enterthebible.org/ -- Aug. 14 to coincide with the start of
the Jubilee weekend. Seminary staff and faculty developed the site to be
a free online resource of information and commentary about the 66 books
of the Bible and their 16 time periods. A login option allows readers to
store notes on the site and keep track of their progress along online
study paths.
-- -- --
     Information about the ELCA Book of Faith initiative is at
http://www.bookoffaith.org/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] 
http://www.elca.org/news 
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog