Interfaith and Ecumenical Presentations

Interfaith and EcumenicalPresentations

Pope Benedict notes that Saint Paul can illumine a path of encouragement toward efforts aimed at seeking full unity among Christians and deeper understanding with our Jewish brothers and sisters. In order to broaden the celebration of the Year of Saint Paul at the Cathedral of Saint Paul several Interfaith/Ecumenical events are being offered. Each will take place in the Cathedral and are open to the public. A free will offering will be taken. Plan on attending each evening event to gain a fuller perspective on Saint Paul and his writings.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 7 p.m.

An Examination of the Joint Declaration on Justification by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church

A joint presentation between representatives of the Lutheran and Catholic traditions to speak on the declaration on justification and its pastoral ramifications for the faithful in both congregations. This discussion features:

Dr. Robert Jenson
Professor of Religion, Princeton University
Dr. Jenson has done extensive work in the area of Roman Catholic-Lutheran dialogue as a Lutheran scholar. Throughout his career, he has interacted extensively with the work of Catholic theologians like Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) and Hans Urs von Balthasar, and with Eastern Orthodox theologians like Maximus the Confessor, John Zizioulas and Vladimir Lossky. Before moving to Princeton University, Dr. Jenson taught at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

Dr. Christopher Malloy
Associate Professor of Theology,University of Dallas
Dr. Malloy is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America (2001–current) and author of Engrafted into Christ: A Critique of the Joint Declaration (New York: Peter Lang, 2005) and has written many articles on the Joint Declaration including “Sola salus, Or Fides caritate formata: The Premised Promise of Luther’s Dilemma” The Thomist 72 (2008) and “Marian Coredemption and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,” (New Bedford, MA: Academy of the Immaculate, 2008).

Moderator:
Dr. Christian D. Washburn
Assistant Professor of Theology, University of Saint Thomas

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 7 p.m.

“Paul the Convert” with Dr. Alan F. Segal

Although Paul’s writings have been intensively studied by Christian theologians, they have been dismissed by Jewish scholars as the meditations of an antagonistic apostate who broke completely with his Jewish past. In this revisionist account of Paul’s work, Alan Segal argues that Paul’s life can be better understood by taking his Jewishness seriously, and that Jewish history can be illuminated greatly by examining Paul’s writings. By reading Paul from the viewpoint of the religion he left behind, Segal sheds new light on the man who played a critical role in both Judaism and Christianity.

Alan F. Segal is professor of Religion and Ingeborg Rennert Professor of Jewish Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University in Manhattan.When appointed he was the youngest full professor in the humanities in the university. He was chair of the Department between 1981-1984 and occasionally thereafter.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7 p.m.

“An Examination of Ephesians 5: 20-33” with Father Marc Boulos

Misunderstood, slandered, and widely rejected in his time, St. Paul's writings would eventually inspire countless martyrs to confront Roman tyranny with the story of Christ's defeat. In fact, less than three centuries after Paul's death, the "small leaven" of the Gospel would rise in victory, defeating the Romans without a single act of violence. Today, we live in a secular world that owes much of its social progress to the Pauline school. Yet, the inherent difficulty of the biblical message, along with gaps in our understanding of its historical context, has caused some contemporary readers to accuse Paul of chauvinism, homophobia, even racism. This tension is keenly felt in Ephesians 5:20-6, the epistle designated for weddings in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Join us as Fr. Marc Boulos examines the intended meaning of these verses in their historical context, while shedding light on other difficult passages in the Pauline corpus.

The Rev. Fr. Marc Boulos is pastor of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission, in Eagan, Minnesota. He is also founder and chair of the Minnesota Bible Lecture Series, a non-profit organization created to promote Orthodox biblical scholarship in colleges, seminaries and churches in the Twin Cities area. He is currently a board member of the Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies and Associate Editor of the Orthodox Audio Bible Commentary (published through OCABS Press). Fr. Marc holds a Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.