Levine opens E&A’s second season at St. Timothy

Hendersonville church offers ecumenical faith series for the public

Amy-Jill Levine The Education and Arts Series (E&A) at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville presents its first two offerings Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Vanderbilt University scholar, historian and author Amy-Jill Levine will provide a fresh perspective on scriptural understanding through two topics: “Mistakes Christians make about Judaism, and so, Jesus” (Nov. 1) and “How Jews and Christians read Scripture differently” (Nov. 8).

Amy-Jill Levine is E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Department of Religious Studies, and Graduate Department of Religion. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University and honorary doctorates from the University of Richmond and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. Levine has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies. She has held office in the Society of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Biblical Association and the Association for Jewish Studies.

Levine’s most recent publications include The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus; the edited collection, The Historical Jesus in Context; and the 14-volume series, Feminist Companions to the New Testament and Early Christian Writings. The Misunderstood Jew has been used in numerous interfaith dialogues and is based on Levine’s study of the complex and deep connections and divisions between Christianity and Judaism. She has recorded segments on the Old and New Testaments for the Teaching Company's "great lectures" series. Levine’s commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist and homophobic theologies is carried out with historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity and frequent humor.

St. Timothy, as part of its mission of service and outreach, created the ecumenical E&A Series last year to offer additional ways to explore and enrich one’s personal faith. This year the series has also received a grant from the North Central Tennessee Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

All E&A programs are free and open to everyone. The sanctuary is wheelchair accessible, and a nursery for babies and toddlers is available. A reception with light refreshments will follow each presentation. Please call ahead at 615-824-6244, if possible, to indicate nursery needs or to request other assistance. The church is located at 650 E. Main St. across from the Holiday Inn Express.

Note: The Misunderstood Jew book cover is used by permission from HarperCollins Publishers.