National Speakers
Otis Young Lecture Series Presents: Amy-Jill Levine Lectures
The Otis Young Lecture Series on Ethics and Religion sponsored by First-Plymouth Church and Doane College presents: Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. A self-described “Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt,” Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist, and homophobic theologies. She has held office in the Society of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Biblical Association, and the Association for Jewish Studies. She’s the author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus; the edited collection, The Historical Jesus in Context; and the fourteen-volume series, Feminist Companions to the New Testament and Early Christian Writings.
Sponsors: First-Plymouth Church, Doane College, Cotner College, Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, Project Interfaith, Nebraska United Methodist Conference. For information call 402.476.7550.
Jesus, the Jewish Story Teller
Amy-Jill Levine Lectures, Thursday, April 22, at 7:00 PM, Nave
“Understanding the parables as Jesus’ first followers did,” have lost their punch: they have become simple platitudes about being nice to someone who is hurt (the "Good Samaritan") or repeated claims about how sinners are forgiven (the "Prodigal Son"). First-century Jews, including Jesus, knew that parables were not simple stories: they were designed to challenge, provoke, and engage the mind as well as the heart. Registration encouraged: addie@firstplymouth.org or call 402.476.7550.
I’m not Anti-Jewish...Am I?
Avoiding Anti-Jewish Preaching and Teaching for Ministers, Christian Educators and others:
Thursday , April 22, 3:00PM-5:00PM. Limited enrollment. Cost $20. To register please pay in advance: Make check out to & send to: First-Plymouth Church ATTN: Addie, 2000 D Street, Lincoln, NE 68502. Indicate on memo line: A-J Levine.
Amy-Jill Levine is passionate about educating teachers, Sunday School leaders, ministers and others about how to avoid anti-Jewish preaching and teaching. Explore how the good news about Jesus got distorted into bad news about Judaism. Other questions she will answer are: Where do Christian understandings of Jesus’ Jewish context typically go astray? What are the ways sermons unintentionally paint anti-Jewish pictures? And, how can new understandings of Jesus and Judaism lead to a recovery of the good news?
Keynote Speech
The Politics, Economics, and Ethics of the 'Good Samaritan' -Doane College-Crete Campus Friday, April 23, 11:30AM-12:30PM. FREE. Contact Rev. Karla Cooper at Doane College.
Amy-Jill will also be the key note speaker for the Lincoln Mayor's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Friday, April 23, 7:30AM, Downtown Holiday Inn. $20. Contact Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska for tickets, 402-476-3391.
