{"id":40531,"date":"2018-11-26T09:54:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-26T14:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=40531"},"modified":"2018-11-26T10:10:36","modified_gmt":"2018-11-26T15:10:36","slug":"new-testament-scholar-n-t-wright-draws-standing-room-only-crowds-in-harrisonburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2018\/new-testament-scholar-n-t-wright-draws-standing-room-only-crowds-in-harrisonburg\/","title":{"rendered":"New Testament scholar N.T. Wright draws standing-room-only crowds in Harrisonburg"},"content":{"rendered":"

N.T. Wright \u2013 eminent New Testament scholar and Augsburger Lecture Series<\/a> guest at Eastern Mennonite University \u2013 had just made the point that \u201cimage-bearing, God-reflecting\u201d humans were put on this earth by the good and wise Creator to help \u201cthe divine project reach its goal\u201d when he paused to take in his surroundings on the Lehman Auditorium stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat,\u201d he said, pointing at the banners proclaiming the purpose and mission of EMU, \u201cis our vocation. I <\/span>came in here and I read that banner and I thought, \u2018Yes, yes, yes.\u2019 This is the outward-facing project. This is not extra to being saved. This is what you\u2019re saved for \u2013 to be part of God\u2019s creative purposes in the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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N.T. Wright speaks in Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wright drew standing-room-only crowds at several events during his two-day visit to Harrisonburg. In a service at Eastern Mennonite Seminary\u2019s Martin Chapel, even the organ bench was occupied, and a breakfast lecture drew area church leaders from various denominations representing a wide spectrum of conservative and progressive perspectives. <\/span><\/p>\n

The coalition that invited Wright was ecumenical: the Missional Church Partnership<\/a> included Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Park View Mennonite Church, Virginia Mennonite Conference and Virginia Mennonite Missions, and the Church of the Incarnation, Anglican Church of North America. Eastern Mennonite University was represented in the partnership through campus ministries, the Bible, religion and theology department and the Augsburger Lectureship.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We were delighted with the community response stemming from an ecumenical planning partnership,\u201d <\/span>said Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder<\/a>. <\/span>\u201cThis approach supported and connected the lecture series in meaningful ways and certainly broadened our reach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wright, a research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and former Bishop of Durham, developed the broad theme of \u201cDiscerning the Dawn\u201d over five lectures. At James Madison University\u2019s Memorial Hall the first evening, all 1,045 seats were filled, and many turned away at the door. The Augsburger Lecture the next evening at EMU was the most highly attended in many years that he could recall, said Burkholder.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cdawn\u201d of Wright\u2019s thematic focus refers in part to the Kingdom here on earth and to humans\u2019 role as God\u2019s \u201cimage-bearers\u201d and \u201cgod-reflectors,\u201d he said in an early lecture.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the spirit comes, the spirit will enable us \u2013 you \u2013 to speak and live the truth, that Jesus is Lord, and that there is a new way to be human, that there is a true justice and that arrogant power has already been judged,\u201d he said. \u201cThis vision is at the heart of the genuine Christian spiritual experience. The new day has already dawned and a new way of being human has been launched upon the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wright\u2019s lecture series drew audience members from as far away as California and Colorado.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Works, who both corresponds with Wright regularly and has long and deep connections to EMU, flew from Denver to attend all of the lectures. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Works is member of Coming to the Table<\/a>, and has participated in Strategies for Trauma and Resilience<\/a>\u00a0(STAR) trainings and restorative justice as a survivor of violent crime.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Works, the opportunity to see and hear Wright speak at EMU \u2013 where he knew Wright\u2019s message would surely resonate \u2013 was irresistible. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI said, \u2018I need to be there.\u2019 EMU has played such an important role in my own life, and here is this other person who has as well,\u201d Works said. \u201cHis message of faith in action that he talked about today interfaces with EMU almost uniquely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Podcasts<\/b><\/h3>\n