Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan welcomes Dr. Eric Barreto, the Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, to speak on race and ethnicity in the Bible. Sponsored by the Westwood Christian Foundation’s Myron Taylor Lectureship, the lecture will be held on Monday, May 23, from 6-7 p.m. in Milligan’s McGlothlin-Street Theatre located in the Gregory Center and is free and open to the public.
His lecture, “A People for God’s Name: Race, Ethnicity and the Bible Today,” will address issues of diversity in many churches, turn to the Gospel of Luke and Acts for answers, and ask the question: “What might a church that invites diversity look like?”
The lectureship is named after Dr. Myron Taylor, a long-time friend and adjunct professor at Emmanuel, who was an advocate for biblical and theological understanding in all facets of human understanding and societal consequences.
The event is part of Emmanuel’s May term class, “Race in Biblical, Cultural and Theological Perspective,” which will examine racism within a theological, sociological and cultural context. The course will address past and present manifestations of racial inequity and share expertise with concern for current political and social tensions around race.
Led by Dr. Jason Bembry, professor of Old Testament, the class features contributing faculty Dr. S. Kip Elolia, professor of theology and world Christianity; Dr. Jeffery Smith, director of Milligan’s Office of Multicultural Engagement; Dr. Miriam Perkins, associate professor of theology; and Dr. Elwood Watson, professor of history at East Tennessee State University.
“Dr. Barreto is an exceptional speaker and scholar on race and ethnicity,” said Perkins. “His background and expertise will provide area leaders and church communities an opportunity to think about race in a transformative way.”
Barreto, an ordained Baptist minister, has written books such as “Ethnic Negotiations: The Function of Race and Ethnicity in Acts 16”; co-written “New Proclamation Year C 2013: Easter through Christ the King”; and edited “Reading Theologically.”He also is a regular contributor to ONScripture.org, the Huffington Post, WorkingPreacher.org and EntertheBible. org.
Find more Milligan arts events at www.milligan.edu/arts.
