wfn.org | Newsline: Authority on 1st Century Palestine archaeology to speak at Progressive Brethren Gathering

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

AUTHORITY ON 1st CENTURY PALESTINE ARCHAEOLOGY TO SPEAK AT PROGRESSIVE BRET HREN GATHERING

(Nov. 5, 2009) Elgin, IL -- "Ready at the Thresholds: Progressive Brethren  Gather," on Nov. 13-15 hosted by Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren  will feature speaker Jonathan Reed.

Reed is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of Religion  at the University of La Verne, in southern California, and an authority on  first-century Palestine archaeology. He and his family are members of La Ve rne Church of the Brethren.

Reed has been involved in several major digs in the Middle East. His books  include "The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeol ogy Reveals About the First Christians," "Archaeology and the Galilean Jesu s," and two books co-authored with John Dominic Crossan, "In Search of Paul : How Jesus' Apostle Opposed Rome's Empire with God's Kingdom" and "Excavat ing Jesus: Beneath the Stones, Behind the Texts." He has been featured on t he History Channel, "Good Morning America," and the National Geographic ser ies "Science of the Bible."

Reed will give presentations on "Paul and Imperialism" and "Paul, Dominatio n, and Sexuality" on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 14.

In cooperation with Bethany Seminary's Electronic Communications, most sess ions will be webcast live with recordings available later (go to www.bethan yseminary.edu/webcast/summit2009).

This is the second Progressive Brethren Gathering, billed for "persons who  see themselves as progressive and currently, or formerly, participating in  the Church of the Brethren." It is sponsored by Womaen's Caucus, Voices for  an Open Spirit, and the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisex ual and Transgender Interests (BMC).

The weekend also will include opening worship on the theme, "Gathering at t he Thresholds"; a variety of workshops; a banquet at Elizabethtown College  on Saturday evening; Bible study led by Christina Bucher, dean of faculty a nd professor of Religion at Elizabethtown College; and a concluding service  with the Elizabethtown Church, with BMC executive director Carol Wise brin ging the message.

Registration is $100 ($50 for students and $30 for children). Registration  includes meals but not housing. Go to www.etowncob.org.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org