Prepare to ‘reach deep’ at Ministers Week 2016

DALLAS (SMU) – Renowned author and theologian Dr. Walter Brueggemann headlines an esteemed group of lecturers and workshop leaders planned for Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology, scheduled for Feb. 1-2, 2016.

Walter Brueggemann

This year’s theme is “Reach Deep,” and the planned activities will instill in the clergy and church leaders participating how to aspire higher, reach deeper and connect wider with their congregants. Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology is an annual continuing education program and major unifying event not only for United Methodism in the South Central Jurisdiction but also ecumenical in nature across Dallas.

Brueggemann – the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, a past president of the Society of Biblical Literature and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ – will speak at three lectures during Ministers Week.

The Jackson Lecture, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, is titled “The Peculiar Gift of the Old Testament” and will take place in Wesley Hall at Highland Park United Methodist Church. This lecture also will be available for livestreaming, and a book signing will immediately follow.

Additionally, Brueggemann will present two lectures in Perkins Chapel on Tuesday, Feb. 2: the Peyton Lecture at 9:30 a.m. (“Preaching from Elsewhere in the Public Square” and the Johannaber Lecture at 1:30 p.m. (“Almost Talked Out of the Image of God.”)

Two noted clergywomen also will provide keynote addresses at this year’s Ministers Week.

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie will conduct the opening and closing worship services in Perkins Chapel. Bishop Huie has been appointed to the Texas Annual Conference since September 2004 and has witnessed the conference’s expansion to nearly 700 congregations totaling more than 284,000 members.

Rev. Dr. Loida Martell-Otero, a professor of Constructive Theology at Palmer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, will present the Barton Lecture at 3 p.m. Feb. 1. Dr. Martell also is a licensed doctor in veterinary medicine and an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches/USA.

Perkins School of Theology also will present its annual Distinguished Alumnus/a Award at a banquet in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall at 5 p.m. Feb. 1.

Onsite registration begins at 1 p.m. Feb. 1, and the conference adjourns at 6 p.m. Feb. 2.

For more information on registration, pricing, workshop descriptions, and lodging, visit www.smu.edu/perkins/mw.

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Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music (June 2016) as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.