Session History

2002

Breakfast meeting

  • James V. Brownson, Western Theological Seminary, “An Adequate Missional Hermeneutic” (keynote)

2003

Breakfast meeting 

  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “Toward a Missiological Hermeneutic: The Bible and Mission in Current and Future Discussion” (keynote)

2004

Breakfast meeting 

  • Grant LeMarquand, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, “From Creation to New Creation: The Mission of God in the Biblical Story” (keynote)

2005

Paper session

  • Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership International, “Making Missional Sense of the Old Testament: Does it Work?” (invited) 
  • Respondent: James V. Brownson, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Colin Yuckman, United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington (PA), “An Ulterior Gospel: The Mission of Critical Hermeneutics and the Critical Hermeneutics of Mission” (selected paper)
  • Respondent: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California
  • James Miller, Asbury Theological Seminary, “Missional Hermeneutics: An Experiment in Implementation and Reflection” (selected paper) 
  • Respondent: Grant LeMarquand, Trinity School of Ministry 

2006

Paper session

  • Presider: George Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary Michael Goheen, Trinity Western University, “Notes Toward a Framework for a Missional Hermeneutic” (invited)
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “‘Located Questions’ for a Missional Hermeneutic” (invited)

2007

Theme – Missional Hermeneutics in the Classroom: Philippians

  • Darrell Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary and J. Ross Wagner, Princeton Theological Seminary, Joint presentation on teaching missional reading of Philippians 

2008

Theme – Mapping the Missional Hermeneutics Conversation

  • George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary, “Proposals for a Missional Hermeneutic: Mapping a Conversation” (invited) (paper given twice, first at the AAR meetings, and then, in a slightly revised version, at the SBL meetings)
  • Respondent (at AAR): Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California
  • Respondent (at SBL): James V. Brownson, Western Theological Seminary 

2009

Theme: “Missional Readings of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians” 

  • Presider: George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “Reflections on the Practice of Missional Hermeneutics: ‘Streaming’ Philippians 1:20-30” 
  • James C. Miller, Asbury Theological Seminary, “Missionally Mapping Phillipians”
  • Michael J. Gorman, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University, “The Apologetic and Missional Impulse of Philippians 2:6-11 in the Context of the Letter” 
  • Respondent: Stephen E. Fowl, Loyola College in Maryland 

2010

Theme: “Exile, Identity, and Mission: Interpreting Biblical Texts” 

  • Presider: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California 
  • Bo Lim, Seattle Pacific University, “From Servant to Servants: Continuing the Legacy of the Exile in the Post Exilic Era” 
  • Andy Rowell, Duke Divinity School, “John Howard Yoder’s Missional Exiles and Jeremiah 29: A Case Study for Missional Hermeneutics” 
  • Aaron Kuecker, Trinity Christian College, “As He Who Called You is Holy: Missional Holiness and the People of God in 1 Peter” 
  • Respondent: George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary
  • Respondent: Suzanne Watts Henderson, Queen’s University of Charlotte 

2011

Session 1 – Theme: “Reading the Parables of Jesus Missionally” 

  • Presider: George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Jason S. Sexton, University of St. Andrews, “Reading the Parables Theologically to Read them Missionally: A Missional Reading of the Early Galilean Parables in Luke’s Gospel” 
  • Lois Barrett, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, “Reading Matthew 13 Missionally: Training for the Reign of God”
  • Colin H. Yuckman, United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington, “A Shadow of a Magnitude: Reading Luke’s ‘Parables of the Lost’ Missionally”
  • Respondent: Klyne Snodgrass, North Park University 

Session 2 – Theme: “Panel Discussion of Michael J. Gorman’s Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation (Cascade Books, 2011)” 

  • Presider: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California 
  • Panelists: Darrell Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary; John R. Franke, First Presbyterian Church, Allentown, PA; James V. Brownson, Western Theological Seminary; and Sylvia Keesmaat, Trinity College in the University of Toronto 
  • Respondent: Michael J. Gorman, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University 

2012

Session 1 – Theme: “Review Panel Discussion of C. Kavin Rowe’s World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age” (Oxford University Press, 2009) 

  • Presider: George R. Hunberger, Western Theological Seminary
  • Panelists: C. Kavin Rowe, Duke University; Dennis Edwards, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University; Christina Busman, Bethel University; James C. Miller, Asbury Theological Seminary; Colin Yuckman, United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington (PA) 
  • Respondent: C. Kavin Rowe, Duke University 

Session 2 – Theme: “Reading Genesis 1–11 Missionally”

  • Presider: Lois Barrett, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary 
  • Luke Ben Tallon, Pepperdine University, “Is There Any There There?: Genesis 1–3 as a Prophetic Call for Truly Local Churches” 
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “‘Occupying’ Genesis 1–3: Missionally Located Reflections on Biblical Economic Values and Justice” 
  • James K. Mead, Northwestern College (Iowa), “Cast the Ark Upon the Waters: A Missional Reading of the Flood Story”
  • Respondent: Christopher C. H. Wright, Langham Partnership International 

2013

Session 1 – Theme: “The Corinthian Correspondence and Missional Praxis” 

  • Presider: Eunice McGarrahan, First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “‘Fools for the Sake of Christ’: Missional Hermeneutics and Praxis in the Corinthian Correspondence”
  • Andy Rowell, Duke Divinity School, “The Missional Ecclesiology of First Corinthians 14”
  • Dustin Ellington, Justo Mwale Theological University College, Lusaka, Zambia, “Corinthian Transformation for Mission: Re-Interpreting 2 Corinthians 4”
  • Matthew Forrest Lowe, Lectio House, Ontario, “‘Although We Live in the World . . .’: The Mission of God and the Mission of Empire in 2 Corinthians 10”
  • Respondent: Richard B. Hays, Duke Divinity School 

Session 2 – Theme: “Assessing and Advancing Missional Hermeneutics” 

  • Presider: Christina Busman, Bethel University
  • George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary, “Convictions Formed and Futures Waiting: A Traveler’s Response to the Journey thus Far” 
  • John R. Franke, Yellowstone Theological Institute, “Treasures Old and New: Considerations on the Future of Missional Hermeneutics” 

2014

Session 1 – Theme: “Thinking Missionally about God, Scripture, and Missional Vocation” 

  • Presider: Jeff Greenman, Regent College 
  • Derek Taylor, Duke University, “Is Israel a Missionary Failure?: Isaiah’s Servant of Yahweh and a New Telling of the Missio Dei” 
  • James C. Miller, Asbury Theological Seminary, “Suffering as a Component of the Mission of God” 
  • Kelly Liebengood, LeTourneau University, “Participating in the Life of the Triune God: Reconsidering the Trinitarian Foundation of 1 Peter’s Missional Identity”
  • Respondent: Darrell L. Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary 
  • Respondent: George Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary 

Session 2 – Theme: “Reflecting on Paul and Missional Hermeneutics: A Conversation with N. T. Wright”

  • Presiding: John Franke, Yellowstone Theological Institute 
  • Panelists: N. T. Wright, University of St. Andrews; Sylvia Keesmaat, Toronto School of Theology; Michael J. Gorman, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University; James V. Brownson, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Respondent: N. T. Wright, University of St. Andrews 

Session 3 – Theme: “Thinking Missionally about God, Scripture, and Missional Vocation” 

  • Presider: Lois Barrett, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary 
  • Andy Johnson, Nazarene Theological Seminary, “Ecclesiology, Election, and Holiness: A Missional Reading of the Thessalonian Correspondence” 
  • Colin H. Yuckman, Duke Divinity School, “‘That the Works of God Should Be Made Manifest’: Vision and Vocation in John 9”
  • Respondent: Eunice McGarrahan, First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs
  • Respondent: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California 

2015

Session 1 – Theme: “Biblical Formation of the Congregation for Missional Witness” 

  • Presider: James C. Miller, Asbury Theological Seminary 
  • Mark Glanville, Trinity College – University of Bristol, “Radical Gratitude and the Mission of God: Nourishing Celebration and Inclusivism in Local Congregations in Light of the Festival Calendar, Deut 16:1-17” 
  • Boaz Johnson, North Park University, “Missional Theology and Congregation Formation in the Torah” 
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “To Serve God and Not Mammon: Reading Matthew 6 as Missionally Located Formation for Economic Discipleship” 
  • Respondent: Mark Labberton, Fuller Theological Seminary 

Session 2 – Theme: “Review panel discussion of Michael J. Gorman’s Becoming the Gospel: Paul, Participation, and Mission (Eerdmans, 2015)”

  • Presider: Sylvia Keesmaat, Trinity College, University of Toronto 
  • Panelists: Michael J. Gorman, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University; J. Ross Wagner, Duke Divinity School; Eunice McGarrahan, First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs; George R. Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary; John R. Franke, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven
  • Respondent: Michael J. Gorman, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University 

Session 3 – Theme: “Biblical Formation of the Congregation for Missional Witness” 

  • Presider: Darrell L. Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary
  • Laura R. Levens, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, “Many Voices, Many Contexts, One Faith: Engaging the Breadth of Scripture to Form Discerning, Missional Congregations” 
  • Luke Ben Tallon and Aaron Kuecker, LeTourneau University, “A Liturgy of Ascent and a Life of Ascent: Conforming Congregations to Christian Scripture” 
  • Derek W. Taylor, Duke University, “Forming Faithful Readers: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Missional Hermeneutic” 
  • Respondent: Benjamin T. Conner, Western Theological Seminary 

2016

Session 1 – Theme: “Migration, Marginalization, and the Mission of God: Missional Hermeneutics in the Context of Human Displacement and Relocation” 

  • Presider: George Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Mark Glanville, Trinity College, Bristol, “Family for the Displaced: A Missional Reading of Deuteronomy 10:17-19” 
  • Helen Taylor Boursier, University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, KS, “Faithful Doxology: Deuteronomy 16:18-20 and the Church’s Missional Participation with Immigrants Seeking Asylum” 
  • Respondent: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California

Session 2 – A Discussion of the Argument and Impact—After Nearly Twenty Years—of Speaking the Truth in Love: New Testament Resources for a Missional Hermeneutic (Trinity Press Int’l, 1998), by James V. Brownson 

  • Presiding: John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis 
  • Panelists: James Brownson, Western Theological Seminary; Megan DeFranza, Boston University; Daniel Lee, Fuller Theological Seminary; Drew Hart, Messiah College; David Congdon, InterVarsity Press
  • Respondent: James Brownson, Western Theological Seminary

Session 3 – Theme: “Migration, Marginalization, and the Mission of God: Missional Hermeneutics in the Context of Human Displacement and Relocation” 

  • Presider: Eunice McGarrahan, First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs
  • Bo H. Lim, Seattle Pacific University, “Towards a Theological Interpretation of Exile and Migration” 
  • Gregory Perry, Covenant Theological Seminary, “Luke’s Survey of Holy Places Outside ‘the Land’ in Stephen’s Speech: Hermeneutical Guidelines for Describing the Mobile Dwelling Place and the People of God” 
  • Respondent: Colin Yuckman, Duke University 

2017

Session 1 – Roundtable Consultation: “Whither Missional Hermeneutics?” 

  • Presider: John R. Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis 
  • Panelists: George Hunsberger, Western Theological Seminary; James Brownson, Western Theological Seminary; Lois Barrett, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary; Bo H. Lim, Seattle Pacific University; Andy Johnson, Nazarene Theological Seminary
  • Discussion; Business Meeting 

Session 2 – Roundtable Consultation: “Whither Missional Hermeneutics?” 

  • Presider: Jim Brownson, Western Theological Seminary 
  • Panelists: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California; John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis; Dennis R. Edwards, Sanctuary Covenant Church; Christina Busman Jost, Bethel University; Colin H. Yuckman, Duke University
  • Discussion; Business Meeting

Session 3 – Theme: “Navigating Citizenship” 

  • Presider: Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California 
  • Mark Glanville, Missional Training Center, Phoenix, “‘Citizenship’ and Inclusion in Deuteronomy and in Contemporary Western Discourse” 
  • Amanda Pittman, Abilene Christian University, “Shipwreck and Salvation: The Scope, Shape, and Social Implications of Paul’s Confidence in God’s Purposes in Acts 27:1-44” 
  • Dennis Edwards, Sanctuary Covenant Church, “Citizens Worthy of the Gospel”
  • Julien C. H. Smith, Valparaiso University, “Philippians and the Challenge of Citizenship in the Heavenly Politeuma.”

2018

Session 1 – Theme: Panel Review Discussion of Henning Wrogemann’s Intercultural Hermeneutics (IVP Academic, 2016) 

  • Presider: Colin Yuckman, Duke Divinity School 
  • Panelists: Drew Hart, Messiah College;  Lisa Bowens, Princeton Theology Seminary; Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California; Young Lee Hertig, Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity

Session 2 – Theme: “American Politics and Missional Hermeneutics in Interpreting the New Testament” 

  • Presider: Andy Johnson, Nazarene Theological Seminary 
  • Mark Simon, Ridley College, Melbourne, “Power Games or Powerful Transformation? A Missional Reading of Ephesians for Political Engagement”
  • Dean Flemming, MidAmerica Nazarene University, “Babylon Left Behind: Reading Revelation 17 and 18 Missionally in Light of Ancient and Contemporary Political Contexts” 
  • Michael Rhodes, Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies, “Arranging the Chairs in the Beloved Community: The Politics, Problems, and Prospects of Multi-Racial Congregations in 1 Corinthians and Today”
  • Sylvia Keesmaat, Toronto School of Theology, and Brian Walsh, University of Toronto, “Romans Disarmed: Homemaking in the ‘Home’ of the Brave” 

Session 3 – Theme: “The Status and Direction of the Forum on Missional Hermeneutics” 

  • Workshop Meeting Presider: Michael Barram 

2019

Session 1 – Theme: “Missional Hermeneutics in Contemporary Context: Missionally Located Interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures / Old Testament” 

  • Lisa Bowens, Princeton Theological Seminary, presiding 
  • Boaz Johnson, North Park University, “A Dalit (Outcaste) Indian Interpretation of the Megillot: Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and Esther.”
  • Chuck Pitts, Houston Graduate School of Theology, “Jeremiah and the Life of Shalom”
  • Len Firth, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia, “I Will Gather the Nations: Reading the Prophet Zechariah from a Refugee Perspective”
  • Michael Rhodes, Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies, “Becoming Just: The Deuteronomic Tithe Feast as Morally Transformative Practice”
  • Discussion: Reflecting on the Nature and Practice of Missional Hermeneutics

Session 2 – Theme: Book Review Panel Discussion of Michael Barram’s Missional Economics: Biblical Justice and Christian Formation (Eerdmans, 2018)

  • Darrell Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary, presiding 
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, introduction 
  • Christina Busman Jost, Bethel University, panelist 
  • Drew Hart, Messiah College, panelist 
  • Colin Yuckman, Duke Divinity School, panelist 
  • John R. Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, panelist 
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, response 
  • Panel and Audience Discussion 

Session 3 – Theme: James Cone, Blackness, and Missional Hermeneutics

  • Dennis Edwards, Northern Seminary, presiding 
  • Mark Glanville, Grandview Calvary Church, Vancouver / Missional Training Center, Phoenix, “Reading Scripture Missionally in Light of James Cone’s Theology of the Cross” 
  • Boaz Johnson, North Park University, “The Black Liberation Theology and Black Identity of James Cone and the Dalit Liberation Theology and Dalit Identity of James Massey” 
  • Joseph W. Caldwell, Union University, “Reading Scripture While Reading Cone Reading Baldwin: A Theological Hermeneutical Lens on Biblical Suffering” 
  • Group Conversation moderated by Drew Hart, Messiah College 

2020

Session 1 – Theme: “Hermeneutical Approaches Informed by the Positionalities of Women in Dialogue with Missional Hermeneutics”

  • Stina Busman Jost, Bethel University, Presiding
  • Stina Busman Jost, Bethel University, “Pauses and Possibilities: Missional Theology in Dialogue with Theologies Grounded in the Positionalities of Women”
  • Kirsteen Kim, Fuller Theological Seminary, “Missio Dei Not Missio Patri: An Examination of the Patriarchal Origins of Missional Theology and Suggestions for Trinitarian Missional Hermeneutics”
  • Greg McKinzie, Lipscomb University, “Revisioning the ‘Mission’ of Missional Hermeneutics as Solidarity: Womanist, Mujerista, and Feminist Contributions to a Postcolonialist Missiology”
  • Sarah Bixler, Eastern Mennonite University, “A Great Co-mission: Heeding Women’s Problematization of ‘Teaching Them’”
  • Amanda Jo Pittman, Abilene Christian University, “Navigating the Ambiguities: A Missional Reading of the Women in Luke’s Gospel”

Session 2 – Theme: “Reparations/Reparational Ethics, the Bible, and the Missio Dei” (Joint Session With: Ethics and Biblical Interpretation)

  • Kristopher Norris, Wesley Theological Seminary, Presiding
  • John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Presiding
  • Michael J. Rhodes, Union University, “The Jubilee Case for Reparations: Interpreting Scripture’s Jubilary Theology in the Aftermath of the Black Manifesto”
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, “Biblical Formation for Reparation: Missional and Moral Logics for a More Just Future”
  • Brent Laytham, St Mary’s Seminary & University, “Cheap Reconciliation Exchanged for Costly Reparation: Opening Second Corinthians’ Missio Dei to Antiracism”
  • Matthew Schlimm, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, “No Future without Repentance: Pentateuchal Precedents for Reparative Justice”

Session 3 – Theme: “Interrogating the Terminology and Grammar of “Missional” Hermeneutics

  • John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Presiding
  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, Panelist
  • Dennis Edwards, North Park Theological Seminary, Panelist
  • Stina Busman Jost, Bethel University, Panelist
  • Bo Lim, Seattle Pacific University, Panelist
  • Lisa Bowens, Princeton Theological Seminary, Panelist
  • John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Panelist

2021

Session 1 – Book Review Panel Discussion: “Missional Theology: An Introduction (Baker Academic, 2020), by John R. Franke”

  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, Presiding
  • John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Panelist
  • Lalsangkima Pachuau, Asbury Theological Seminary, Panelist
  • Kirsteen Kim, Fuller Theological Seminary, Panelist
  • David Moe, Asbury Theological Seminary, Panelist
  • Greg McKinzie, Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena), Panelist

Session 2 – Theme: “Missional Hermeneutics and Whiteness”

  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, Presiding
  • Odell Horne, Evangelical Theological Seminary (Pennsylvania), Panelist
  • Mark Glanville, Regent College, Panelist
  • Daniel White Hodge, North Park University, Panelist
  • Drew Hart, Messiah College, Panelist
  • Dennis Edwards, North Park Theological Seminary, Panelist

Session 3 – Theme: “Missional Hermeneutics Moving Forward: A Visioning and Planning Session”

  • Michael Barram, Saint Mary’s College of California, Presiding
  • John Franke, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Presiding
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