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First Light: Jesus and the Kingdom of God
Author :: Tim Gossett
Date :: Mon 04/13/2009 @ 01:11
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A curriculum review by Tim Gossett
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Congregations that use resources from Living the Questions (LTQ for short) frequently do so because there are few video-driven resources for progressive congregations, and LTQ offers strong (though not always perfect) small group resources. Many other congregations would like to use them but can't justify the fairly significant licensing fees. So, the question that arises when considering First Light: Jesus and the Kingdom of God, the newest study from LTQ, is: Will I get my money's worth? And the answer? Well, keep reading...
First Light features well-known biblical scholars Marcus Borg and Jon Dominic Crossan, two experts who are generally the "go-to guys" when it comes to biblical interpretation in progressive congregations these days. The unique element in this series is that it was shot on location in Israel, and it features extended lectures by the two of them. Thematically, the material will be mostly review for their ardent fans, mostly new for past participants of LTQ 1 or 2, and possibly overwhelming for those new to the journey through contemporary biblical scholarship.
LTQs pricing is very different from most other companies, in that a church purchases a license to use a particular resource for 1 year, then must re-license the material to (legally) reprint the handouts in future years. In the case of First Light, that 1-year fee is $295. (The fee for years 2 and beyond is $50, and there also is a lower cost for additional copies.) LTQ does occasionally offer sales of their resources. This 12-session study includes a DVD (with video sessions averaging about 25 minutes each), plus access to online, reproducible materials (a leader's guide, a 57-page participant guide, and assorted publicity materials. It's important to keep in mind that you cannot order and preview LTQ resources unless you're willing to pay a 20% restocking fee.
OK, enough of the basics. Here's what I thought about it...
- The content of the sessions is fabulous - an excellent summary of the work of Borg and Crossan. Sure, you could read just about everything they have to say in their last few books, but it's always great hearing it directly from the two of them. Throughout the study, they both pay great attention to the historical realities surrounding Jesus and the disciples, and all of that is enhanced to a degree by shots of historic biblical sites and artifacts, works of art, and (occasionally) on-screen text. (Will someone please, though, inform Marcus that he needs to work on his sense of humor and hypnotic vocal quality? Please?)
- Likewise, the participant's text is truly terrific and first-rate. Written by Crossan, it is packed with historical and biblical facts and commentary. The text is readable without being too obtuse, but there's no doubt that it is written with a well-educated audience in mind. I can imagine participants going back to this text again and again.
- Can you imagine a more interesting trip than going to Israel with Borg and Crossan? Sadly, the video makes too little use of the terrific opportunity for on-location filming. Shots of ancient ruins are sometimes included here and there, but there is seldom any direct explanation of what the viewer is seeing beyond a basic textual description. The end result is too many "talking head" shots (in the case of episode 1, that's very literally true!) and a presentation that feels overly formal. (If you are familiar with the very conservative but better edited "That the World May Know" series, you'll understand that a tremendous opportunity was only partially realized in First Light.)
- The video makes frequent use of both canned background music as well as the light jazz used in some other LTQ resources. The music is helpful in bringing a bit of life to the rather extended, formal presentations, but I found it to frequently be distracting and overbearing.
- The questions in the leader's guide are well-written and will generally get discussions going, but they are almost exclusively informational and factual in nature. This is good in the sense that there is so much information to absorb that questions like this help with comprehension. However, the guide lacks any other teaching resources: prayers, multi-sensory learning activities, DVD extras, PowerPoint slides, Bible verses to discuss in breakout groups, and so on. Thus, First Light has a very strong bias toward informational—rather than formational—small group experiences. For me, this is the resource's greatest weakness, because it targets and will appeal mostly to highly literate, verbal, logical learners.
Like many of our readers, I've been very anxious to take a look at this resource, and I'd absolutely love to lead it with a group some day. But is it right for your particular setting, especially considering the price? That's not something I can answer, but I certainly would encourage you to take a close look at all of the samples, think about who in your church could lead the study in a fun and engaging way, and to carefully consider how many people in the congregation will participate.
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What Makes Me White
Author :: Tim Gossett
Date :: Wed 01/21/2009 @ 03:30
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This is a brief review of the short film, "What Makes Me White," by A.M. Sands. It is an excellent - though expensive - tool for opening up dialogue about racial issues, identification, and influence.
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The topic of race is complex and multi-layered, and many congregations (perhaps especially those who have little ethnic diversity) avoid talking about this important topic. Viewing the short film, "What Makes Me White," would be an excellent way to open up dialogue in congregations that have difficulty discussing race.
The film, by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker A.M. Sands, is about 15 minutes long and is essentially a series of short stories and open-ended reflections on how we learn our perceptions and beliefs about race. The individuals in the film each bring an interesting perspective and history and speak honestly about their own experience with race. Many congregants will be able to relate to the stories, such as a memory of car windows being rolled up and locks being set when driving through an African-Amerian neighborhood.
The film doesn't really offer a great deal in the way of answers; rather, it really is an opportunity for viewers to reflect themselves on the question raised by the title of the film. It is most appropriate for use with adults, though a mature group of older youth would benefit from seeing it as well.
Because it's so short and has a very narrow focus, the film leaves out more issues than it raises, and as a result the film may fall to "connect" fully with the experience of some viewers. Also, the cost of the film ($150) puts it out of reach for nearly all congregations, but it is carried by some libraries and resource centers (and if it's not, request it!) But those deficiencies should not deter you from previewing the film, if you can possibly do so.
Note also that the film does not include discussion questions, so it will be the responsibility of the class leader to develop them. In the class where I used it, we had no trouble instantly getting a dialogue going about what we had related to in the film. I would certainly recommend it highly, and it would be very appropriate for a conversation during Black History Month or any time a congregation wishes to confront and consider issues of race.
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Uppity Women of the Bible
Author :: Tim Gossett
Date :: Wed 01/07/2009 @ 07:49
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This short-term study explores major biblical women, and features Dr. Lisa Wolfe. It is highly recommended for progressive congregations.
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Most congregations seem to have better success getting women's study groups going than they do men's groups. The reasons for this are numerous and will be covered in a future email, but there is little doubt that religious marketers have taken advantage of this fact by offering some trendy and female-friendly curricula. Yet one difficulty faces any publisher: the simple fact that there are fewer stories about women in scripture than there are about men. Publishers have put forth a variety of lessons on women in the Bible, such as the incredibly popular (but theologically-impoverished) Bad Girls of the Bible series. Few DVD-based studies on women in scripture have been created with a progressive audience in mind, but a new series seeks to address that problem: the Uppity Women of the Bible series.
Created by Dr. Lisa Wolfe, an ordained United Church of Christ pastor and Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Oklahoma City University, this series currently has two volumes in print: Song of Songs, and Ruth. Additional volumes are in the works, featuring Judith and Ruth. Each study contains six (or more) 15-minute segments and is designed for use over that number of one-hour sessions. The study materials are reproducible and available from Biblenerd Productions, Lisa's company.
Full disclosure: Lisa and I went to seminary together, worked together on the chaplain's staff of a children's hospital, and have been friends for several years, so my review isn't entirely unbiased. But it's because of my connection to Lisa that I can say unreservedly that she is a fabulous teacher, scholar, pastor, and person. I love these resources, because...
- The scholarship is top-notch, very progressive, and presented in-depth to participants in an enhanced lecture-style format. The study assumes the learners are capable of wrestling with difficult textual and theological problems.
- The series places a strong emphasis upon reading a text within its cultural framework. Lisa is a master at bringing to life the cultural realities which surround the characters.
- There is a good deal of humor in the studies. Lisa's lively style engages and entertains.
- Each video includes helpful text, photos, and graphics that visually explain and enhance the spoken material.
- We've all given presentations where we've knowingly or unknowingly made an error, but we don't always bring to light our mistakes. This is perhaps the only video series I have ever come across with errata notes. In a few minor places, Lisa mispronounces or says the wrong word, and she's not afraid to own up to her goof and correct them.
Be aware of these deficiencies...
- Due to the level of scholarship in the videos, congregations which are less familiar with progressive biblical interpretation (e.g. reading the Bible as story and not as history) will perhaps have some difficulty with the material. As a result, some congregations will likely find that the study is best led by a pastor or experienced teacher.
- In terms of production values, this will not be the most polished video in your library. For example, the presentations seem to have been done at some sort of women's retreat, and the camera unfortunately occasionally catches latecomers walking through the door. These distractions are minor and do give a sense of "everydayness" to the video, but they are just that—distractions.
- The cost of each DVD ($45) is perhaps a bit high for the number of sessions, though keep in mind the study materials and leader's guide are free. (Lisa has occasionally offered discounts on her DVDs to past purchasers.)
- The material will likely work best with a somewhat older group of men or women, in part because the women in the audience are seniors.
If these videos are an indication of things to come, Biblenerd Productions is a company to watch. Check out the website today, and if you make a purchase, please enter "Different Voice" in the "Message" field so Lisa will know where you learned about her resources.
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