Old Testament Comes Alive at OUUMC

Oxford-University United Methodist Church is excited to announce their first ever Clergy and Lay Academy seminars on August 22 and 23!
OUUMC Associate Pastor Chris McAlilly, who is also UMC Board of Discipleship chair for the Mississippi Conference, worked with Rev. John Moore, the District Superintendent of the New Albany district, to bring Dr. Brent Strawn, an Old Testament Professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and an ordained elder in the North Georiga conference, to lead the academy. Specifically, to discuss the the importance of the Old Testament in today’s world.

“Serendipitously, we planned the event at OUUMC before I knew I would be appointed here,” McAlilly said. “OUUMC is a perfect church to host this event because we seek to be a church that doesn’t think you have to check your intelligence or your questions to enter the conversation about faith in the 21st century.”
According to McAlilly, Dr. Strawn is a dynamic teacher and is bringing an excellent treatment of the challenges of reading, praying and teaching the Bible in today’s church.
This event is open to the public. The Friday session is geared toward clergy training and the Saturday session is geared toward anyone who questions why and how the Hebrew Bible can be a source of vibrant spirituality.
The schedule, locations, and topics for the Clergy and Lay Academy at OUUMC are:
The Old Testament is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment
Clergy Academy
Friday, August 22
Dr. Brent Strawn
Oxford University United Methodist Church
9.30am – 3.30am
Reading and Praying the Old Testament: From Easy Parts to Hard Parts and Back Again
Lay Academy
Saturday, August 23
Dr. Brent Strawn
Oxford University United Methodist Church
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Cost of the event is $30, but is free to OUUMC participants.
For more information, please contact McAlilly at cmcalilly@ouumc.org. Also visit OUUMC’s website at www.ouumc.org for more information about the church’s programs, community support and other programs.
As the UMC Board of Discipleship chair, McAlilly has worked with the Conference Office, the Center for Ministry, and District Superintendents to raise the quality of our continuing education for clergy and laity.
See the information and links below about the event.
Click Here for more information about Dr. Strawn.
IN THE NEWS: Dr. Strawn on Pope Francis’ Call for Peace (CNN)
IN THE NEWS: Dr. Strawn Addressing How the Bible Deals with Grief (CNN)