SERVICE AND COMMUNITY:  

BOARD ENGAGEMENT:  At Morningside College (my alma mater in Sioux City, Iowa), I have served as a member of the Board of Directors since Fall 2000.  Since 2002 I have served on the Executive Committee of the Board as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.  From 2001 to 2004 I served on the Board of Directors of Learning Bridge, a Norfolk, VA-based affiliate of Summer Bridge.  That program was designed to give special educational opportunities to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.  I also have been active in CIVIC, an organization which consists of “established community leaders” in Hampton Roads, who address specific issues across the community.  I also enjoyed serving--in 2001-2002--on the first board of the Commonwealth Community Children’s Chorus.  Through these experiences I have developed an appreciation for the importance of active, engaged, healthy boards.

CHURCH/ECCLESIASTICAL ENGAGEMENT:  After working in the church thirty hours a week during my last two years of seminary (at Community Presbyterian Church, and at Logos Korean Presbyterian Church, both in Mt. Prospect, Illinois), I was ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (1987).  Since then, I have worked with refugees in Germany, have worked in a homeless shelter in Connecticut, and have also been active in filling pulpits, teaching adult education, leading seminars for both clergy and laypeople, and maintaining active relations with the church.  During August 1990, I also served as a consultant on campus ministry and evangelism at Illinois Benedictine College (Lisle, Illinois).  I have served on the Committee on Ministry (COM) of the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia and from 1995-2005 I was the Parish Associate Minister at Second Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, VA.  During Summer 2000, I was interim head of staff at 2nd Presbyterian while the senior pastor was on sabbatical.  I serve actively on church and presbytery committees (currently on the Campus Evangelism Committee), and--as mentioned below--have numerous speaking engagements each year.

Since 1995 I have served as pastor at Squires Memorial Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, and in June 2006 I was chosen to represent the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia at the week-long Presbyterian (PCUSA) General Assembly meeting in Birmingham, Alabama.

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

--Member of North American Patristics Society (NAPS), Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), and the American Academy of Religion (AAR).

--Member of the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia (PEVA).

--Member of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).

--Member of the American Governing Board of Colleges and Universities (AGB; this is by virtue of my being on the Board of Trustees at Morningside College).

--Member of the CIVIC class, 2004

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:  I regularly speak in  a variety of contexts.  Each year I generally have 75-80 speaking engagements, ranging from preaching, to lecturing, to leading workshops, seminars, or retreats.  In 2006 I taught courses on Roman society, and on world cultures, to talented and gifted elementary school students.  I taught an elderhostel course.  I spoke on homeland security—as I do regularly—at the Joint Forces Staff College/National Defense University.  As noted below, I was the featured speaker on a Harvard University Alumni Association Mediterranean cruise on “The World of St. Paul.”  I was featured at the inauguration of Morningside College’s 12th president (my address was entitled “Beyond Ferris Bueller:  The End of Critical Thinking”).  I spoke on Islam at an all-school convocation at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, and presented on religion and the EEOC at a local law firm’s conference.

The following are titles of some of the presentations (and series) I have made recently:  "My God is Better than Yours:  The Challenges of Studying 'Other' Religions," "Faith of Our Neighbors:  Religion in Hampton Roads," "The Historical Jesus and the Modern Church," "Whose Jesus?:  The Figure of Jesus Outside Christianity," "Christians, Jews, and Shifts in Popular Religion During Weimar," "The Epistles of Paul in Their Greco-Roman Environment," "Claustrophobic Monks Without Xerox Machines," “Beyond the Veil:  Islam in America,” “Beyond Barbie, Fezzes, and Rice Krispies Treats:  Islam in American Culture,” "Kissing, Confessing, Collecting, Communion, and Cannibalism:  The Service of Worship Through the Lens of the New Testament," and "Archaeology, the Bible, and the Parish."

Below are some representative speaking engagements.  A complete list is available on request.

Presentations and Speaking Engagements (non-ecclesiastical, community audiences):

-- Gilead, at Westminster Canterbury's Book Magic Series, Virginia Beach, November 1, 2006.

--"Homeland Security and Religious Terrorism," to "Homeland Security" course,  Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, August 21, 2006.

-- "The Challenges of Islam and the Quran," to Norfolk American Legion, Norfolk, August 11, 2006

--"Beginning of Life Issues, Stem Cell Research, and Protestants," EVMS Ethics Panel (with Dr. Jones), Norfolk, January 25, 2006.

--“Daily Life in the Ancient Roman World,” a 6-part series/course for select 2nd-4th graders at Old Donation Center, Virginia Beach (October 25-November 29, 2005)

--“U.S. Challenges with Iraq and Islam,” presentation at Westminster Canterbury (October 20, 2005)

--“My God is Better Than Your God:  Nurturing Faith at Old Dominion University,” featured speaker at President Runte’s Annual Interfaith Breakfast (October 19, 2005)

--“Archaeological Method and Discoveries,” a lecture to the 2nd grade classes at Old Donation Center, Virginia Beach (October 6, 2005)

--“The Shifting Sands of Religion in the Workplace,” featured address at the Virginia Bar Association Annual Conference (September 10, 2005)

--“Portraying the Divine:  The Challenge of Artistic Representation,” featured speech at the faculty pre-session for the fine arts teachers in the Virginia Beach Public Schools, at the Contemporary Art Center, VA Beach (September 1, 2005)

-- “ ‘In God We Trust’:  Public Religion and the Establishment Clause in American History,”  a 15-hour course for Virginia Beach Secondary School Social Studies teachers (August 8-12, 2005).

--“Extreme Religious Practices in American History and Law,” a 15-hour course for Virginia Beach Secondary School Social Studies teachers (August 1-5, 2005).

--“American Religion and the Presidents:  A Look at Mt. Rushmore,” presentation at the Virginia Beach Public Schools History Educators Conference (June 23, 2005)

--“100 Artists See God:  The Challenge of Artistic Representation,” keynote speech at the opening of an exhibition at the Contemporary Art Center, VA Beach (June 9, 2005)

--“Anticipating Religious Terrorism,” in Prof. Fautua’s Homeland Security course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk (May 25, 2005).

--“Through a Mirror Dimly,” baccalaureate sermon at Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa), May 6, 2005

--“The Search for Meaning:  Modern Existentialism in Literature,” to upper-level English courses at Cape Henry School (April 8, 2005)

-- “Religion in Hampton Roads,” to the CIVIC Leadership Institute, Class of 2005 (Nov. 18, 2004).

--“The Bible:  A History of Its Translation,” at Westminster Canterbury (September 30, 2004).

--“Suicide Bombing, Religious Terrorism, and Homeland Security,” in Prof. Fautua’s Homeland Security course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk (June 9 and September 15, 2004).

--“The Bible in American Law,” address at the Pioneer Kiwanis Club, Norfolk, May 18, 2004.

--“Religious Terrorism and Homeland Security,” in Prof. Fautua’s Homeland Security course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk (March 10, 2004).

-- ”The Bible in American Society, Politics, and Culture,”  a 5-week series for Virginia Beach Secondary School Social Studies teachers (March 9-April 6, 2004, and August 2-6, 2004)

March 9  “What is the Bible?  Why Should American Social Studies Teachers Care?”

March 16  “Production, Packaging, and Pedagogy:  Economics, Education, and the Bible”

March 23  “Texts, Translations, and Trouble”

March 30  “Alternative Approaches to the Bible:  Jefferson, Stanton,& Alternative Media”

April 6  “American Social Policies and the Uses/Abuses of the Bible:  Evolution, Slavery, and Prohibition”

--“On Virginia Wesleyan’s Center for the Study of Religious Freedom,” after-lunch address at the Norfolk Rotary Club (at the Scope in Norfolk), Dec. 2, 2003.

--“Respecting Religious Diversity,” after-breakfast address at President Runte’s Prayer Breakfast at Old Dominion University, Oct. 24, 2003.

--“Being Open to Other Perspectives,” after-dinner speech at Norfolk MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Annual Banquet, June 20, 2003.

--“America’s Religious Terrorism,” in Prof. Fautua’s Homeland Security course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, June 11, 2003.

--”Extreme Religion:  The Body, Sex, and Violence in Religion” for the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ODU)

August 4, 2003   “Oneida, the Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, and 19th-Century America”

August 11, 2003  “Tantra, Kama, and Sexuality in Religion”

August 18, 2003  “Violence, Terrorism, and Self-flagellation in Religion”

--“Religious Conflict in America,” a five-part course for Virginia Beach Secondary Education Social Studies teachers (Spring 2003):

--March 26:  “Why Study Religious Conflict in America?”

--April 2:  “Religion in Colonial America:  Missions, the Colonies, and the American Revolution”

--April 9 “Religion in the Nineteenth-Century: Church vs. State, Church in State, Church above State”

--April 23 “The Innovative Spirit of American Religion . . . and the Challenges Which That Creates”

--April 30  “Religious Conflict in Twentieth-Century America and Beyond”

--“Islam in America,” in Prof. Fautua’s Homeland Security course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, March 12, 2003.

--”Islam as a Child of Abraham,” a lecture to the “Western Religions” course of St. Leo’s College, at Virginia Wesleyan College, November 15, 2002

--”Dialogue:  Christians and Jews” (I spoke on the history of anti-semitism), at the Jewish Community Center, Norfolk, October 20, 2002

--“9/11:  Approaching the Qur’an,” Sept. 11, 2002; guest lecturer for the course on “Homeland Security, Transformation, and the War Against Terrorism,” Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

--”Profiling & Stereotyping in America:  Religion, Race, and Ethnicity” (presented and was part of a panel discussion), sponsored by the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission, July 30, 2002, at the Virgina Beach Central Library

--“Religious Terrorism in America,” June 12, 2002; guest lecturer for the course on “Homeland Security, Transformation, and the War Against Terrorism,” Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

--”I Didn’t Know It Meant That:  The History and Origin of Words,” Institute for Learning in Retirement (ODU)

              May 14, 2002  “How Languages Function/How Language Develops”

              May 21, 2002  “Etymolgy and Evolution”

--”Religion in the Workplace,”  an address on EEOC regulations at Vandeventer Black LLLP’s “Labor & Employment Law Review & Update,” (Marriott Norfolk Waterside, Norfolk) March 20, 2002

--“Competing Worldviews?:  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” March 6, 2002; guest lecturer for the course on “Homeland Security, Transformation, and the War Against Terrorism,” Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

--”Claustrophobic Scribes without Xerox Machines:  The Transmission of Texts Until the Printing Press,” Institute for Learning in Retirement (ODU)

January 9, 2002  “The Challenges of Writing with Hand and Ink”

January 16, 2002  “The Development of Codices and the Art of Textual Transmission”

--”Rotarians’ Response to WWII:  The View from the German Village of Goslar,” Nov. 14, 2001, Virginia Beach Rotarians, Virginia Beach

--”Islam in America,” guest speaker for 8th-12th grade all-school assembly, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Nov. 7, 2001

--”Why I Choose to Be Presbyterian,” (Oct. 3, 2001), at Old Dominion University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement

--”Feminist Methodologies in Religious Studies” (a two-week series, May 16 and 23, 2001), at Old Dominion University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement

--One of two panelists for WHRO’s special on “This Century Past:  Religion in Hampton Roads”; this television show first aired on May 3, 2001 and has run periodically since then

--”Contemplation in Confinement:  Eastern Spiritual Disciplines in American Prisons,” presentation for the Virginia Humanities Conference, Mar. 30, 2001, held at Virginia Wesleyan College, Norfolk, VA

--”The Provocative and the Profane in Scripture” (a two-week series, Jan. 17 and 24, 2001), at Old Dominion University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement

--Panelist on NEXUS panel dealing with issues of “Prayer and Silence in the Public Schools” (Nov. 27, 2000)

--“World Religions in Hampton Roads”; a three-part series (July 19, 26, and Aug. 2, 2000), ODU’s Institute for Learning in Retirement

--Participated (and led discussions) each month with the Spring/Summer 2000 NEXUS series on Jewish/Christian dialogue (sponsored through Betsy Wright).  I was the featured speaker “for Christianity” on Jesus (Mar. 27), Paul (Apr. 24), the Christian Testament (May 22), and theology (Aug. 28)

--Offered the Invocation and the Benediction at Norfolk State University’s commencment (May 21, 2000)

--Was the featured speaker at the inauguration of Morningside College’s 12th president (my address was entitled “Beyond Ferris Bueller:  The End of Critical Thinking”; I also led a symposium at Morningside entitled “The Liberal Arts and Mystery of Paul’s Letter to Philemon” (Apr. 6-7, 2000)

--”Beneath Paul’s Letter to the Philippians,” a two-part series at Kempsville Discovery (March 8 and 22, 2000) at Community United Methodist Church, VA Beach.

--Interviewed on WHRO’s “Hearsay” show, on religious diversity in Hampton Roads (Feb. 29, 2000)

--“’My God is Better Than Yours’:  The Challenges of Studying ‘Other’ Religious Tradition,” at the City of Portsmouth Second Tuesday Lecture Forum (Feb. 8, 2000).

--Filmed for Cox Cable’s “Focus on Faith” on “Jesus at the Turn of the Millennium” (Dec. 9, 1999).

--”From Jesus to Christ” at WHRO (from 2:30-8:00 p.m., I did the “color commentary” on this educational video; for each 20 minutes of video, there was 4-5 minutes of fund-raising and 5-6 minutes of “color”, with me as the “talent”).

--From Nov. 1-15, 1999, I was the featured speaker on a Harvard University Alumni Association Study Cruise on “The World of St. Paul.”  The trip involved stops in Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece.

--“The Lost Books of the Bible:  Ancient Alternative Scripture for Jews and Christians” (three-week series from Oct. 13-27, 1999) for ODU’s Institute for Learning in Retirement

--”Why Translations Differ,” after-dinner address to the Norfolk Historical Society (Sept. 23, 1999).

--"Stoics, Gladiators and Ancient Travels:  The Greco-Roman Environment of Early Chrisitanity" (A three-part series on Jan. 4, 11, and 25, 1999; Old Dominion University's Institute for Learning in Retirement)

--"Faith and Scholarship:  Friends or Foes?" (Sept. 22, 1998; ODU Christian Fellowship)

--"Teaching About Ancient Civilizations:  A Survey of Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, and Roman Thought" (Feb. 20, 1997; to Norfolk teachers, Kindergarten through 3rd grade)

--"Integrity Through Scholarship:  Beyond the Pragmatism of Ferris Bueller" (Nov. 5, 1996; the keynote speech at a banquet honoring the outstanding high school students of Norfolk [two from each high school were selected]; sponsored by the Optimist Club of Norfolk)

--"The Formation of the New Testament" (Oct. 24, 1996; the Norfolk Historical Society, at Miles Memorial United Methodist Church).

--Panel Discussion on Religious Unity and Diversity (Oct. 16, 1996; represented "Christian Protestantism" as one of seven panelists for a roundtable discussion on , sponsored by Campus Ministry at Old Dominion University)

--"The Origin of the New Testament" (March 31, 1995; Eastern Virginia Medical School Christian Fellowship)

--"Claustrophobic Monks Without Xerox Machines" (Feb. 14, 1995; the Second Tuesday Forum Series, sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy, at the Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center)

--"Archaeology and the Bible" (Nov. 10, 1995; Brighton Gardens Retirement Home)

--"Jordan and Archaeology" (Oct. 5, 1995; Westminster Canterbury Retirement Home)

Presentations and Speaking Engagements (Virginia Wesleyan audiences):

--"Scripture Unread:  The Bible as a Prop in Contemporary American Church/State Challenges," sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, November 9, 2006

--"Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient Religious World," for Sharon Payne's course on human sexuality, August 31, 2006

--“Claustrophobic Monks without Xerox Machines:  Challenges of Translation” for Parents’ Weekend, Virginia Wesleyan College, Oct. 9, 2004.

--“The Religious Culture Wars and Election 2004:  What’s at Stake?”, spoke and led a discussion with Ted Vial for this CSRF Program, Sept. 23, 2004.

-- “Zen Buddhism and Enlightenment Guaranteed,” a lecture for S. Wansink’s course on German women film directors, Oct. 8, 2004.

--”Human Weapon:  Suicide Bombings and Psychology, Sociology, and Theology,” (Rita Frank, Tom Lopez, and myself), at a CSRF Program remembering 9/11, Sept. 8, 2004.

--“The Bible and Western Sexuality,” a lecture for S. Payne’s course on human sexuality, Sept. 2, 2004.

--“Not for Ourselves,” sermon at Virginia Wesleyan’s Baccalaureate Service, Epworth United Methodist Church, Norfolk, May 14, 2004.

--”Reflections on The Da Vinci Code” (Joyce Howell, Clay Drees, and myself), for Theta Alpha Kappa event, March 25, 2004.

--“The Liberal Arts Later On,” a lecture at the Alpha Sigma Lambda initiation, May 13, 2004.

--“Beyond Barbie, Fezzes, and Rice Krispie Treats:  Islam in American Culture,” for Parents’ Weekend, Virginia Wesleyan College, Oct. 18, 2003.

--“Gematria, Ancient Codes, and 666,” lecture at the Honors and Scholars Banquet, Virginia Wesleyan College, April 16, 2003.

--”Creatively Destroying Jordan:  Archaeological Method and the Liberal Arts,” Classics and Archaeology Lecture Series, Virginia Wesleyan College, March 31, 2003.

--”Islam in America:  A Cultural Literacy,” a lecture for the Women of Wesleyan, Virginia Wesleyan College, Sept. 24, 2002.

--”Approaching the Qur’an:  The Post 9/11 Revelations,” a lecture which was part of the symposium “9/11:  America One Year Later,” Virginia Wesleyan College, Sept. 11, 2002.

--”Sex and Gender in the Ancient Western World,” guest lecturer for Ms. Sharon Payne’s course on Human Sexuality (September 3, 2002).

--”What is a Liberal Arts Education?:  The Construction of KSDs, Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions,” guest lecturer for Dr. Hultgren’s INST 421 PORTfolio Presidential Senior Seminar (April 16, 2002).

--“Jeremiah as Ancient Performance Artist,” guest lecturer for Dr. Kutler’s RELST 217 Old Testament World course (April 2, 2002).

--“Christian Women Martyrs, Rape, and Augustine,” guest lecturer for Dr. Drake’s INST 430 Womens Studies Seminar (February 20, 2002).

--”DATA:  Desires, Attitudes, Temperaments, Abilities,” guest lecturer for Dr. Hultgren’s INST 421 PORTfolio Presidential Senior Seminar (February 19, 2002).

--”The Role of Greek Mythology in Ancient Religion,” guest lecturer for the two classics courses at VWC; Nov. 20,  2001

--”Ancient Philosophy and the Apostle Paul:  Stoicism, Socrates, and Suicide in Philippians” (Sept. 20, 2001), in the VWC Humanities Series, The Idea of Greece, Classic and Contemporary

--Spoke at the “Reflections on the World Trade Center Tragedy,” Sept. 14, 2001

--Led the session on “Discussion of Service Learning Models,” Fall 2001 Faculty Workshop, August 23, 2001

--”The Bible’s Role in Ethics:  Challenges and Constructive Reflections” AND “Case Study:  The Bible and Homosexuality”, guest lecture in Dr. Vial’s RelSt 316 Christian Ethics course (Aug. 6 and 8, 2001)

--”Bible 101:  Making Sense of the Bible,” a lecture for The Center for Sacred Music’s “Sacred Arts 2001” Conference, July 25, 2001, Virginia Wesleyan College

--”Faith of Our Neighbors:  World Religions in Hampton Roads,” a lecture for the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom’s Symposium on “Religious/Freedom, Southern Style,” February 20, 2001.

--”The Gospel of Mark and Modern Evangelicalism”, presentation in Dr. Vial’s RelSt 113 “Introduction to Religious Studies” (Oct. 20, 2000)

--”Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient Western World”, guest lecture in Sharon Payne’s upper-level course on human sexuality (Sept. 5, 2000)

--”Christians, Jews, and Shifts in Popular Religion during the Weimar Republic”, guest lecture--with Dr. Vial--in INST 235 Weimar Republic course, Apr. 18, 2000

--”Jews and Christians in the First and Second Centuries” (a two-part presentation on Mar. 28 and 30, 2000), in Dr. Tobi’s “Introduction to Judaism” course

--”Puzzles in New Testament Scholarship”; presented to the first year Portfolio class (Nov. 18, 1999).

--”Claustrophic Monks without Xerox Machines”; presentation to the Women of Wesleyan (Sept. 30, 1999).

--"Early Christians in the Roman Empire:  When Religious Freedom Seems Unreasonable" (February 2, 1999; part of the CSRF Symposium on Religious Freedom).

--Took part in the "Multi-lingual Poetry Reading" (Mar. 26, 1998; Greek and Hebrew).

--"The Christian Controversies in America" (March 3, 1998; part of the CSRF Symposium on Religious Freedom)

--"Key Figures in Theology:  Elizabeth Cady Stanton" (February 11, 1998; part of the Theta Alpha Kappa Series on "Key Figures in Theology")

--"Deconstructing Jesus:  The Controversial Methods of Reimarus, Strauss, and Bauer" (November 12, 1997; part of the Theta Alpha Kappa "19th Century Theology" series)

--How is Virginia Wesleyan Distinctive? (Oct. 4, 1997; at Parents'/Family Weekend plenary session)

--"From Falco to Vielhauer:  Considering Studying Abroad" (April 18, 1997; speech for the German Honor Society Initiation)

--"Life Matters:  Autobiographical Reflections" (April 17, 1997; speech in the series by the same name)

--"Why Bother with Religious Freedom?" (Nov. 13, 1996; speech to the Honors and Scholars Student Organization)

--"Reconciling Academics and Faith" (April 17, 1996; VWC Christian Fellowship)

--"If a Letter Has Been Around for 2000 Years, Can You Say Anything Original About It?" (March 20, 1996; speech addressed to the VWC Honors and Scholars students)

--"The Importance of Women's and Gender Studies for VWC?" (March 5, 1996; presentation sponsored by the Women's Resource Office)

--"One More Look at the General Studies" (May 9, 1995; speech at the Graduating Seniors' Dinner)

--"A Young Professor's Look at Pedagogy" (Apr. 12, 1995; speech at the VWC Student Education Association's Senior Banquet)

--"Christians, Jews, and Shifts in Popular Religion during the Weimar Republic" (Spring 1995; guest lecture in IS 171 "Weimar Republic")

--"Scholarship" (Sept. 1, 1994; VWC's 1994 Freshman Convocation)

--"Potluck Suppers and Eating in Early Christianity" (May 19, 1994; speech for the spring meeting of the Women of Wesleyan).

--"For Now We See in a Mirror, Dimly" (May 13, 1994; sermon for VWC's Vespers Service)

Continuing Education for Ministers:

--“Why 40 Years in the Wilderness Was Good,” keynote address for Ecumenical Gathering of Leaders in Camp and Conference Ministry, Makemie Woods, VA, Nov. 29, 2005

--“Why Bother with the Apostle Paul?,” at the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia’s (PEVA) “Equipping the Saints” workshop, March 6, 2004.

--”The Uniqueness of Christ:  Understanding Jesus Through the World Religions,” at the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia (PEVA) “Equipping the Saints” workshop, February 15, 2003

--Featured speaker at a retreat on “Paul’s Christian Identity:  The Spiritual Life of a First-Century Pastor” for the clergy members of PEVA (the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia) (Feb. 5-6, 2001), Holiday Inn, Virginia Beach

--”The Challenges of Studying ‘Other’ Religions,” a lecture to the chaplains of the Norfolk Naval Command, June 8, 2000

--”The Synagogue of Satan:  Jewish-Christian Relations in First-Century Asia Minor,” at Tidewater Jewish Scholars, June 7, 2000

--“What is the Church?,” featured speaker at the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia’s Spring 2000 meeting (May 2, 2000)

--”Claustrophobic Monks and a Babel of Bibles,” this lecture was given both to the Norfolk District and to the Portsmouth District of United Methodist Men, on March 29 and April 24, 1999.

--"Jesus of Nazareth:  Liar or Messiah?" (Mar. 12-14, 1996; a continuing education course for ministers, taught at VWC through the Office of Church Relations)

--"Archaeology, the Bible, and the Parish Today" (Nov. 14, 1995; after-dinner speech to the Portsmouth Area Ministerial Association)

--"Early Christian Worship" (Nov. 10, 1995; workshop for the Fellowship of United Methodists in Worship and the Arts)

--Cancelled workshop:  "Kissing, Confessing, Collecting, Communion, and Cannibalism:  The Service of Worship Through the Lens of the New Testament" (July 20-21, 1995; prepared for this continuing education course, in Conjunction with the Church Music Summer Conference)

--"Paul and the Greco-Roman World":  "Paul and Ancient Travel"; "Paul and Hellenistic Philosophy"; and "Paul and Greco-Roman Religions" (Sept. 15, Oct. 13, and Nov. 10, 1994; a continuing education course for fifty ministers of the Peninsula District, Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church)

--"Presbyterians, the Bible, and Homosexuality" (Sept. 9 and 16, 1995; Royster Presbyterian Church, Norfolk and Hidenwood Presbyterian, Newport News; a three hour colloquium each day.  This was sponsored by the PEVA, the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, and was attended by ministers and laypeople from throughout the Presbytery)

--"The Apostle Paul" (Apr. 10, 1995; Heritage United Methodist Church; two-hour workshop at a Sunday School teacher training event, sponsored by the Norfolk District UMC)

Presentations (ecclesiastical audiences):

--(a five week series) “The Sermon on the Mount:  A Handbook for Christians Then and Now," First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, September 13-October 11, 2006.

--"Before There Was a Bible:  The Development of the New Testament," at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Chesapeake, July 20, 2006

--"The Bible and Homosexuality," at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Suffolk, on July 18, 2006.

-- "Mary Magdalene in The Da Vinci Code and Outside of the Bible," Squires Memorial Presbyterian Church, May 17-18, 2006 (the presentation was for the broader public, not for the church, only at the church)

-- "The Gospel of Judas and Other Gospels Outside of the Bible," Squires Memorial Presbyterian Church, May 17-18, 2006 (the presentation was for the broader public, not for the church, only at the church)

-- "Stepping out on Faith," keynote speaker for the ODU Baptist Student Union End of the Year Dinner, April 21, 2006

--“Cryptography, 666, and Reading the Book of Revelation,” at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, July 25, 2006

--“The Challenges of Portraying Jesus,” at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church,  July 24, 2006

--“The Apostle Paul:  Basic Cultural Literacy,” to the adult classes at Baylake United Methodist Church , June 26, 2005

--“Can You Hear Me Now?:  Using the Bible to Cut Through the Noise,” keynote addresses at the senior high retreat at Makemie Woods Presbyterian Retreat Center, Williamsburg, VA, April 22-24, 2005

--“The Bible and American Presidents,” United Methodist Men’s Group at Community United Methodist Church, VA Beach,  March 28, 2005

-- “Can You Hear Me Now?:  Using the Bible to Cut Through the Noise,” keynote addresses at the middle school retreat at Makemie Woods Presbyterian Retreat Center, Williamsburg, VA, March 11-13, 2005

-- “One Body,” a sermon at the Homecoming Worship for Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa), Oct. 31, 2004; this coincided with my 20-year college reunion.

--“What Paul Really Said About Women,” a retreat for over 100 women at Providence Presbyterian Church, Oct. 16, 2004.

--“Jordan:  Culture, Religion, and Politics,” a lecture at Second Presbyterian Church, April 28, 2004.

-- “From Lilith and Eve to Mary and Martha:  Examining Women in the Bible,” a retreat for Thalia Trinity Presbyterian Women’s Group, March 13, 2004.

--“Paul and Christian Theology Today,” a 6-week series at First Presbyterian Church, Hampton, for Presbyterians on the Peninsula, Feb. 25-Mar. 31, 2004.

Feb. 25  “If I Speak in Tongues . . . “ (1 Corinthians 13)

March 3  “Why Bother with Paul?  Christian Faith in the 1st and the 21st Centuries”

March 10  “Emptied Himself, Taking the Form of a Servant (Phil. 2:7):  The Incarnation”

March 17  “A Stumbling Block to Jews and Folly to Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:23):  Crucifixion”

March 24  “Then Your Faith is in Vain (1 Cor. 15:14):  The Resurrection”

March 31  “Short of the Glory of God (Rom. 3:23):  Sin and the Christian Life”

--”Tough Questions in a Safe Place,” at Second Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Nov. 30-Dec. 28. 2003.

--”Into the Body,” the baccalaureate address for the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia’s Graduating Seniors, sponsored by ODU Presbyterian Campus Ministry, June 1, 2003.

--“Why Mathematics Matters?:  Numerical Puzzles in the Book of Revelation,” at Centenary United Methodist Church, Portsmouth, May 25, 2003.

--”Jesus in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam,” evening lecture at First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach, March 19, 2003.

-“No Longer Strangers:  Jews and Muslims in America,” a series of lectures for a Thalia Trinity Presbyterian Women’s Retreat, Mar. 1, 2003

--”Beyond John Wesley to the New Testament:  A Scriptural Approach to Christian Marriage”; guest speaker at the Methodist Valentine’s Day Banquet for St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, February 22, 2003

-- ”World Religions:  A Broader Examination,” at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Dec. 15, 2002

--”The Uniqueness of Christ,” a lecture on world religions, at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Nov. 10, 2002

--”Islam from the Middle East to the Midwest,” (presentation for senior high youth), at Easter Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, October 13, 2002

--”What Christians Need to Know About Other World Religions,” a three-week series, from May 12-26, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Norfolk

              May 12, 2002 “Faith of Our Neighbors:  Religion in Hampton Roads”

              May 19, 2002  “Beyond the Veil:  A Closer Look at Islam”

              May 26, 2002  “Hinduism and Buddhism:  Abroad and in America”

--”The New Testament Context:  From Alexander to Acts,” January 10, 2002; workshop for teachers at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, January 3, 2002

--”Returning to the Bible:  A New Look for Those with Gay Children,” Oct. 25, 2001, St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Virginia Beach

--”Neither Moth Nor Rust,”  Featured speaker for Consecration Sunday at Lynnhaven United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach, October 21, 2001

--”As If God Really Existed,” Featured speaker for Higher Education Sunday at Church (Rich Meiser is a graduate of VWC, one of my former students), October 14, 2001

--”How to Write a Commentary:  Paul’s Letter to Philemon,” Oct. 6, 2001, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sioux City, Iowa

--”Seeking Christ:  Discipleship through Matthew to Jesus,” leader and guest speaker for a three-day study retreat for First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk (Sept. 28-30, 2001)

--”The Historical Buddha vs. the Historical Jesus,” Aug. 24, 2001, Unitarian Church of Norfolk

--Six-week series entitled “The Literary Christ:  Beyond the ‘Historical Jesus’ to a Deeper Easter Faith,” at First Presbyterian Church, Hampton (2001)

              Feb. 28 “Who Do Men Say That I Am?”

              March 7“The Historical Jesus, the New Testament,and the Gospel of Thomas”

              March 14                “A Passion Narrative with an Extended Introduction: 

                                                        The Gospel of Mark and Shame”

              March 21                “New and Old Out of Treasture:  

                                                        Apology, Genealogy, and the Gospel of Matthew”

              March 28                “Like a Prayer:  History, Parables, and the Gospel of Luke”

              April 4                            “In the Beginning:  The Gospel of John and the Man from Heaven”

--”Faith of Our Neighbors:  World Religions in Hampton Roads” (Jan. 8, 2001), at Lynnhaven Colony Church of Christ (Virginia Beach).

--”Understanding Christ through the Old Testament” (a two-week series; Dec. 3 and 10, 2000); Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Chesapeake

--”Faith of Our Neighbors:  World Religions in Hampton Roads,” (Oct. 15, 2000), at Old Donation Episcopal Church (Virginia Beach).

--”Presbyterian Identity,” (Dec. 1, 1999), at a study seminar at Bayside Presbyterian Church.

--”Sleeping on Rocks” (sermon delivered for the three services, during Higher Education Sunday, at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church; Oct. 10, 1999).

--"The Bible and Spiritual Development," (May 1, 1999; a weekend retreat for Community United Methodist Church, VA Beach)

--"Why Paul Matters for the 21st Century" ( April 1999; United Methodist Men of Portsmouth)

--"The Bible:  An Owner's Manual" (A four-part series on Nov. 1, 8, 15, and 22, 1998; Second Presbyterian Church, Norfolk)

--"Pews, the Promised Land, and the Politics of Sacred Space" (June 4, 1998; spoke to the Community United Methodist Women's Group, VA Beach)

--"Going to Hell and Back:  Christian Apocryphal Apocalypses" (May 31, 1998; one in a three-part series with the Seekers' Class at Baylake United Methodist Church)

--"Biblical Spiritual Formation:  Men and the Challenges of Spirituality" (a Saturday retreat, May 9, 1998, Community United Methodist Men, VA Beach)

--"'A Hotbed of Manifold Perversity':  The Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles" (Apr. 26, 1998; one in a three-part series with the Seekers' Class at Baylake United Methodist Church)

--"When Mary and Jesus Were Little:  The Apocryphal Infancy Gospels" (Mar. 29, 1998; one in a three-part series with the Seekers' Class at Baylake United Methodist Church)

--"Responses to the Reformation:  Worship and Scripture Interpretation" (February 15, 1998, King's Grant Presbyterian Church, VA Beach)

--"Responses to the Reformation:  The Power of Translation" (February 22, 1998, King's Grant Presbyterian Church, VA Beach)

--"The Book of Acts in its Greco-Roman Context:  Ancient Literature, Travel, and Prisons" (January 11, 1998, Baylake United Methodist Church, VA Beach)

--"Acts and Novels:  Those Books of Acts That Were Not Included in the New Testament" (January 25, 1998, Baylake United Methodist Church, VA Beach).

--"Early Christian House Churches:  Small Group Models in the Book of Acts" (a weekend retreat, Nov. 1, 1997, 1st Presbyterian Church, Norfolk)

--"The Challenges of Writing a Commentary:  Philemon, Onesimus, and Greek Puns" (October 12, 1997, Baylake United Methodist Church, VA Beach).

--"Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" (September 12, 1997, the keynote speech at Baylake United Methodist Church's Appreciation Dinner, "A Most Special Affair", Baylake UMC, VA Beach)

--"Jesus Then and Now:  Looking at the Historical Jesus" ("Weekend Teach-In", May 2-3, 1997, Bayside Presbyterian Church, VA Beach)

--"Jesus in the Light of the Canonical Gospels" and "Looking at Jesus Afresh?:  Sources Outside the New Testament" (March 2 and 9, 1997, Larchmont United Methodist Church; two lectures in a series entitled "Sources for Understanding Jesus")

--"What is the Church?" (a four week Wednesday evening lecture series, from Feb. 19-March 12, 1997, 1st Presbyterian Church, Hampton.  This series coincided with a building project and mission reevaluation at the church.)

--"Jesus:  Man, Myth, Mystery" (June 9, 1996, Haygood United Methodist Church, VA Beach)

--"The Historical Jesus and the Church Today" (a six week series, Jan. 10-Feb. 14, 1996, 1st Presbyterian Church, Norfolk)

--"The Gospel Writers, Q, and Other Ancient Sources" (Oct. 8, 1995; First Presbyterian Church, Hampton)

--"The Social World of the First Christians":  "How Ancient Travel and Lodging Shaped Early Christianity"; "How Writing and Books in the Roman World Affected the Development of the New Testament"; and "How the Roman Amphitheater and Arena Affected the First Christians" (Oct. 23, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6, 1994 ; a three week series at Hilton Presbyterian Church [Newport News])

--"Ancient Hospitality and the Apostle Paul" (Sept. 12, 1994; Men's Club of Ghent United Methodist Church)

--"Trivia about the Apostle Paul" (May 15, 1994, Baylake United Methodist Church)

--"The Use of the Bible in Ethical Decision-Making" (May 8, 1994, Hilton Presbyterian Church)

--"If Jesus Was Such a Great Guy, Why Did the Romans Execute Him as a Criminal?" (Mar. 6, 1994, Galilee Episcopal Church)

--"The Bible, Homosexuality, and the Church Today" (Jan. 5 through Feb. 2, 1994; five-week lecture/study series at Bayside Presbyterian Church; attendance averaged around 80 persons on each Wednesday evening)

--"Christian Encounters with Hellenistic Philosophy" (Jan. 23, 1994) and "Christian Encounters with Greco-Roman Mystery Religions" (Jan. 30, 1994) (part of a series entitled "Christian Encounters" at First Presbyterian Church, Hampton; the other presentations came from William & Mary and ODU professors)