Bible Translation and Its Impact
April 2-3, 2019
Rehm Library
College of the Holy Cross
Readings from the Roots is a new, historically-sensitive translation of the Revised Common Lectionary with the goal of reducing the potential for anti-Judaism by enriching Christianity through its roots in Judaism. The project, under development, is available for viewing and comments at readingsfromtheroots.bard.edu. The Readings from the Roots translation team will host a two-day conference at the College of the Holy Cross to highlight the project and engage scholars and practitioners, especially Christian clergy:
- to deepen their understanding of the authors' relationship to Judaism in the diverse writings of the New Testament;
- to articulate the challenges and opportunities for accurately reflecting that relationship in a translation of Scripture; and
- to consider how a translation of the texts can be used in worship to eradicate the anti-Judaism that continues to be associated with Christian readings of the Bible.
Readings from the Roots is led by:
- Alan Avery-Peck, College of the Holy Cross
- Bruce Chilton, Bard College
- Delio Delrio, New Orleans Theological Seminary
- Peter Pettit, Muhlenberg College
- Susan Auchincloss, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, Woodstock, NY
All conference sessions are free and open to the public.
This conference is made possible with support from the Kraft-Hiatt Fund for Jewish-Christian Understanding and the Rehm Family Fund.
Conference Program
TUESDAY, APRIL 2
2 PM: Welcome
2:15 PM: Panel Presentation by the Translation Team
Alan Avery-Peck, Bruce Chilton, Delio Delrio, Peter Pettit
3:15 PM: Conversation and Engagement with Clergy about their Experiences with Scripture and Worship
4:30 PM: Keynote: Seeing Judaism Anew/Jewish Christian Dialogue
Mary C. Boys, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean, and the Skinner & McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology, Union Theological Seminary
Respondent: Peter Pettit, Associate Professor of Religion Studies, Muhlenberg College
6 PM: Dinner break
7:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Reflect on specific passages in Readings from the Roots
Moderator: Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas Fisher, Episcopal Bishop of Western Massachusetts
Panelists:
Patricia K. Tull, A.B. Rhodes Professor Emerita of Old Testament, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary
William Reiser, S.J., Professor and Chair, Department of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
Angela Kim Harkins, Associate Professor of New Testament, Boston College
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
9 AM: The View from the Pulpit and Pews: Scripture and Worship
Taylor Burton-Edwards, Chair, Consultation on Common Texts
Respondent: Christopher Leighton, Founding Director, Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies
10:45 AM: Coffee break
11 AM: Bible Translation and Biblical Meaning
Everett Fox, The Allen M. Glick Professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies, Clark University
Respondent: Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, Assistant Professor, Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
12:30 PM: Lunch break
1:45 PM: John and the Jews
Adele Reinhartz, Professor, Department of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Ottawa
Respondent: Alan Avery-Peck, Kraft-Hiatt Professor in Judaic Studies, College of the Holy Cross
3 PM: Conclusions: Where do we go from here?