Report
of the Seventy-second International Meeting of the Catholic Biblical
Association of
The
seventy-second international meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association of
America was held August 1-4, 2009, at
Session on Sunday, August 2
Five
task forces and seven continuing seminars met simultaneously each day from 9:00
to 10:45 A.M. The task forces
included: "The Social Sciences and
New Testament Interpretation: 25 Year Overview: What Did We Learn?"
(convener: Bruce J. Malina; core group members in atten
The
continuing seminars and their respective leaders studied: “The Bible and Ecology" (Dianne Bergant,
C.S.A.); “Psalm 119: Poetry, Structure, and Theology" (Joseph F. Wimmer, O.S.A.);
"Biblical Issues in Jewish-Christian Relations: Paul on Resurrection"
(John J. Clabeaux and Philip A. Cunningham); "The Synoptic Gospels: Text
and Context" (Hugh M. Humphrey and Séamus O’Connell); "Divinity in
Ancient Israel" (John L. McLaughlin); "Identifying the Major
Questions in Pauline Studies" (Robert F. O’Toole, S.J., and Thomas D.
Stegman, S.J.).
The morning concluded with papers presented in
simultaneous sessions by Corinne L. Carvalho, “Seeing, Supping, and Singing:
Most
Reverend Elden Franics Curtiss, retired Archbishop of
Four
sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers
delivered: Jozef Janćovǐc,“Ambiguous Echo of the Golden Calf Narrative in Torah”; Ahida E. Pilarski “A Study of the References
to bat-‘ammî in Jer 8:18-23: A
Gendered Lamentation”; Robert L.
Mowery, “A Ring-Shaped Pattern in the Sermon on the Mount”; Warren Carter,
“Festivals and John's Rhetoric of Distance”; Deirdre A. Dempsey,
“Continuing Excavations at Tell Qarqur, 2009 Season”; Blažej Štrba, “The Prophet like Moses;” Robert D. Miller II, “Revisiting Oral
Tradition and the Deuteronomistic History”; Alice L. Laffey, “Recovering the
Metaphor: Hosea 1–3"; Charles H. Talbert, “Is Matthew Interested in
Character Formation?”; Mary L. Coloe, P.B.V.M., “Pentecost in the Fourth
Gospel”; Susan M. Elliott, “Jesus’
Teachings about God’s Family Empire vs. Caesar’s Family Empire”; Mark S. Smith, “Warrior Culture in Early
Israel and the ‘Voice’ of David in 1 Samuel 2”; Joan E. Cook, S.C., “Malachi
and Memory”; Earl J. Richard, “Structure, Function, and Meaning of Mark
8:22-26”; Barbara E. Reid, O.P., “Birthed from the Side of Jesus”; John T.
Willis, “Crucial Dream and Vision Experiences”; Jerome T. Walsh, “The
Rab Shaqeh between Rhetoric and Redaction”; David Penchansky, “Wisdom,
Madness, and Folly: The Vexation of Qoheleth”; Joseph E. Jensen, “Unforgivable Sin: A Contextual and Intertextual
Study”; Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., “Reading egrapsa
in 2 Cor 2:9 as an Epistolary Aorist: Argument and Implications”; Peter S.
Williamson, “Scripture Across the Curriculum.”
The general session in the evening listened to a
panel discussion on “‘The Word of God in the Life and
Sessions on Monday, August 3
Bert Thelen, S.J., was the presider and
homilist at the 7:00 A.M. eucharistic liturgy.
The
task forces and continuing seminars resumed their work in the morning. Two simultaneous sessions then heard
presentations by Stephen D. Ryan, O.P.,
“The Texts of the Old Testament and the Place of the Septuagint in the Church”;
and Gregory Tatum, O.P., “‘To the Jew First’ (Rom 1:16): Paul's
Defense of Jewish Privilege.”
Barbara
Green, O.P., was the presider and homilist at the midday prayer. Members of the
association who died during the previous year were again commemorated at the
liturgy.
Two
sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers
delivered: Peter Dubovsky, S.J.,“Causes
of the Downfall of the Northern Kingdom”; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.,
“Soteriology in the Wisdom of Solomon”; Susan A. Calef, “‘It Shall Not Be So Among
You’ (Mark 10:43): Implications for a Markan Spirituality”; John Granger Cook, “Suffering in 1 Peter:
Local Anxiety, Empire, and the imitatio
Christi”; Ziony Zevit, “Jewish Liturgy in Late Antiquity and the
Jewish Jesus Movement until ca. 200 C.E.”; David A. Bosworth, “Does
Lamentations Help? Paradoxes of Emotional Expression”; Geoffrey D. Miller, “All
Because of a Woman? Tobit's Exclusion from the Jewish Canon”; Henry Ansgar
Kelly, “Lucifer: The Good, the Bad, and the Really Bad (Jesus, Nabuchodonosor, and Satan)”; Eric F. Mason, “The Heavenly
Sanctuary in Hebrews and Second Temple Judaism”; Karl A. Kuhn, “The
Cardiography of Biblical Narrative.”
CBA
President Kathleen M. O’Connor called the annual business meeting to order at
4:00 P.M.
Daniel
J. Harrington, Chair of the Board of Trustees, reported on the mission of the
committee, the topics raised at its meeting, and the current financial
condition of the CBA.
In the absence of Lawrence E. Boadt, C.S.P.,
Treasurer, Joseph Jensen, O.S.B., then presented the treasurer's report, a
summary of which had been previously distributed to the members present.
Joseph
Jensen, O.S.B., Executive Secretary, reported that the matter of NAB royalties is still unresolved. Although the parties are continuing to
negotiate in the hope of reaching a solution in the near future, our grants
must necessarily be restricted to those to which we are already committed,
i.e., CBA Scholarships and Memorial Stipends (which can be renewed up to five
years). The one grant the board did
approve is a tithe of membership dues, which is $5,097, for famine relief.
Because of the financial uncertainties, membership dues and subscription rates
will need to be raised. The Executive
Board voted a raise of $10 for subscriptions to the CBQ (from $30 to $40) and OTA
(from $26 to $36) and recommended an increase in CBA dues from $35 to $45. The
Executive Board requested that the Computer Committee be revived, with special
interest in improving the CBA Web site. Felix Just, S.J., Chair, has already
reconstituted it (names of the committee members can be found on the CBA Web
site under “Officers and Committees”).
Jensen
gave a brief update on the status of the revised NAB. The CBA OT Revision
Committee sent the revision to the CCD in May 2003 and it was approved by the
bishops at the November 2008 meeting of the USCCB. The USCCB decided, however, that the new, revised
NAB would not be published until
there was a new Psalter to replace the one of 1991 because Rome did not allow
it to be used in the liturgy in view of its inclusive language. The new Psalter may be ready for approval at
the November USCCB meeting. In other
action, the Executive Board appointed Kathleen M. O’Connor to the Board of
Trustees and nominated Bishop Richard J. Sklba for the Committee on
Nominations. Reporting on the poll of members on future venues taken last
December, Jensen announced that there were 254 responses; of these, 188 (74%)
preferred to continue to meet on campuses and 66 (26%) wanted the board to look
into the advisability of holding meetings at hotels. The board agreed that those hosting future
meetings should be strongly urged to help facilitate ways for members to stay
at local hotels if they should prefer.
In
2010, through the good offices of William J. Fulco, S.J., our meeting will be
at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles (July 31-August 2). Rates are currently given as $281.50 for
singles and $194.50 for shared doubles for room and board for the three days of
the meeting, and there are other provisions for suites and apartments. In 2011, through the good offices of Ellen
White, our meeting will be at Assumption College in Worcester, MA (August 6-9). Prices are $285 for singles and $255 for
shared doubles for room and board for the three days of the meeting, plus $30
for those who want roundtrip shuttle service to Logan Airport.
Linda
Day gave the report of the editor of the CBQ. The production of the journal has continued
well this year, including 27 articles and 428 book reviews. In light of financial costs, the journal will
return to its typical size next year and article acceptances will need to be
reduced. The editorial board has
approved a shift to a electronic submission process and will be forming a
committee to investigate the possibility of offering an electronic version of
the journal. The report concluded with
an expression of gratitude for those associate editors completing their terms
of service: A. K. M. Adam, Adela Yarbro Collins, Carole Fontaine, and William
L. Holladay.
In
the absence of Christopher T. Begg, Joseph E. Jensen gave the report of the
editor of OTA. Both the February and June 2009 issues have
appeared. They contain a combined total
of 1,361 journal abstracts and 245 book abstracts. The October issue, with just over 600
abstracts, has gone to the typesetter. Because of the cost of mailing journals
to overseas abstractors, he called for more abstractors from the United States,
especially those proficient in Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
Mark
S. Smith, Chair, reported for the CBQMS Editorial Board that this academic year
saw the publication of CBQMS 45, The
Story within a Story in Biblical Hebrew Narrative by David A. Bosworth, now
teaching at The Catholic University of America.
This volume shows how, as stories within stories, Genesis 38, 1 Samuel
25, and 1 Kings 13 illuminate and provide pointed commentary on their larger
contexts, both in literary and religious terms. At present, the CBQMS is
expecting to put into production this fall a volume of essays on Paul's
letters. This volume, which is edited by
Peter Spitaler, celebrates the Jubilee Year of Saint Paul by Villanova
University. Several of the lectures
given during the Jubilee Year will appear as essays in this volume, to be
joined by additional studies by a stellar group of Pauline scholars. The CBQMS
has received proposals for four additional volumes, which are presently under
consideration. Smith expressed his great gratitude to the editorial board
members, to the Scriptorium, and to Fr. Joseph Jensen, O.S.B. All continue to be instrumental in the work
of the series.
The
list of candidates for membership in the association was not read, since it had
been available to the members throughout the meeting. In the name of the Committee on Credentials,
Frank J. Matera recommended the following candidates:
For Active Membership:
Peter
C. Ajer; Leslie A. Baynes; John S. Bergsma; Laurie A. Brink, O.P.; Máire Byrne;
Christopher M. Ciccarino; Edward M. Cook; John W. Daniels; Daniel K. Darko; Paul
S. Evans; Bradley C. Gregory; Andrew D. Gross; Ljubica Javanovic; Paul D.
Korchin; Stephen J. Lennox; Michael D. Matlock; Marc D. Paré; Stephen E.
Placente, S.D.B.; Rafael Rodríguez; Kathleen P. Rushton, R.S.M.; Patrick J.
Russell; Christopher J. Seeman; Steven C. Smith; Jacek Stefanski; Gail P. C.
Streete; David A. Teeter; Robert H. von Thaden, Jr.; Lauress L. Wilkins
For Associate Membership:
Paul
J. Angelis; John Kennedy Arockia Jockim Raj; J. Coleman (J. C.) Baker; Jose E.
Balcells; Kelly A. Bothamley; Yong Li Chen; William F. Cleary; Christopher B.
Conlan; Rebecca M. Finch; Mark B. Giszczak; Linda S. Harrington; Mary Ann
Hinsdale, I.H.M.; Veronica R. Lambey, S.S.F.; Christine E. Landau; Anthony J.
Marshall, S.S.S.; Timothy M. Milinovich; Matthew S. Monnig, S.J.; Elizabeth B.
Papazoglakis; Juan Rendon; Victor J. Schinstock, O.S.B.; Timothy C. Snow; Ryan
E. Stokes; Juan M. Tebes; Joseph C. Udeze
The
candidates were accepted by unanimous voice vote.
Aelred
Cody, O.S.B., reported for the Committee on Nominations. The following slate of candidates was
proposed: President: Sandra M. Schneiders, I.H.M.; Vice President: Mark S. Smith.; Executive
Secretary: Joseph Jensen, O.S.B.; Treasurer:
Lawrence E. Boadt, C.S.P.; Consultors,
2009–2011: Barbara E. Reid, O.P., and John J. Clabeaux; Committee on Nominations, 2010–2013: Richard J. Sklba; Associate Editors of the CBQ: for a first term: Raymond F. Collins, Linda
M. Maloney, Julia M. O’Brien, Katharine Doob Sakenfeld; for a second term: Gary
A. Anderson, Kristin De Troyer, Pheme Perkins. The membership elected the slate
by unanimous voice vote.
For
the Committee on Resolutions, Harold W. Attridge, Jr., proposed the following
resolutions: Be it resolved, that the
Catholic Biblical Association offer its heartiest congratulations to the
Biblicum on the occasion of its anniversary and best wishes for many more
centuries of scholarly leadership; and, Be it resolved, that the Catholic
Biblical Association express its deep appreciation and warmest thanks to all
who have made the 72nd International Meeting such a success. The membership approved the resolutions with a resounding
ovation.
In
new business, President O’Connor returned to the matter of membership dues,
reminding those present that the Executive Board had recommended an increase
from $35 to $45. In the discussion that
followed, a motion was made and seconded that the increase be to $50 instead of
$45. O’Connor called for a vote and the
motion passed.
This special resolution was added and unanimously
approved: Be it resolved, that the Catholic Biblical Association express to
Larry Boadt its concern and support, with the assurance that all the members of
the association will keep him in our prayers.
The
meeting was adjourned at 5:00 P.M.
The
general session in the evening heard Margaret M. Mitchell deliver the paper
“The Corinthian Correspondence and the Birth of Christian Hermeneutics.”
Session on Tuesday, August 4
Christopher Frechette, S.J., was the presider
and homilist at the 7:00 A.M. eucharistic
liturgy.
The
task forces and continuing seminars resumed their work in the morning. Two simultaneous sessions followed:
Anne-Marie Kitz, "Eating Curses"; and Peter Spitaler, "The
Spirit in Paul: Aspects of Spirituality."
The
following CBA members and invited guests were in attendance at the meeting:
Albl, Martin C.
Angelis, Paul J.
Arens, Eduardo F., S.M.
Arockia Jockim
Raj, John K.
Attridge, Harold W., Jr.
Ayers, Steve
Barber, Michael
Barker, John R., O.F.M.
Bautch, Richard J.
Baynes, Leslie A.
Beach, Eleanor
Beavis, Mary Ann
Bellinger, William H.
Bergant, Dianne, C.S.A.
Berquist, Jon L.
Birge, Mary Kate, S.S.J.
Bonneau, Normand R., O.M.I.
Bosworth, David
Brady, Patrick J.
Brien, Mary T., P.B.V.M.
Brink, Laurie A., O.P.
Brown, Sherri L.
Bunta, Silviu N.
Campbell, Joan C., C.S.M.
Carmody, Timothy R.
Carter, Warren
Carvalho, Corrine
Castles, Patrick J.
Chesnutt, Randall D.
Christoffersen, Hans
Clabeaux, John
Cleaver-Bartholomew, David G.
Clifford, Richard J., S.J.
Coblentz Bautch, Kelley
Cody, Aelred, O.S.B.
Coloe, Mary L., P.B.V.M.
Conroy, John T., Jr.
Cook, Joan E., S.C.
Corley, Thomas J.
Cory, Catherine A.
Craghan, John F.
Creech, David A.
Cronauer, Patrick T., O.S.B.
Daigle-Williamson, Marsha
Daise, Michael A.
Darko, Daniel K.
Davis, Andrew C.
Day, Linda
Dempsey, Carol J., O.P.
Dempsey, Deirdre A.
Derivan, Albert T.
Dietlein, Damian L., O.S.B.
Dillon, Richard J.
Dubovsky, Peter, S.J.
Duggan, Michael W.
Dwyer, Peter
Elliott, Neil
Elliott, Susan (Elli) M.
Endres, John C., S.J.
Ernest, James
Flynn, Shawn W.
France, Doug
Franke, Chris
Frechette, Christopher, S.J.
Frein, Brigid Curtin
Frizzell, Lawrence E.
Fry, Anne-Marie
Galvin, Garrett M., O.F.M.
Gareau, Edward T.
Gilchrist, John J.
Gillman, Florence
Girard, Marc
Giszczak, Mark B.
Glotzbach, Michael
Goodwin, Mark J.
Green, Barbara, O.P.
Greenspoon, Leonard
Haak, Robert D.
Hagan, Harry, O.S.B.
Hahn, Scott
Halton, Violet
Hamm, Dennis, S.J.
Hannah, Jennifer
Hanneken, Todd R.
Hardiman, Patrick F.
Harmon, Bradley
Harrington, Daniel J., S.J.
Harrington, Linda S.
Hartin, Patrick J.
Hayes, Katherine M.
Healy, Mary E.
Hogan, Karina M.
Hoppe, Leslie, O.F.M.
House, Mark
Humphrey, Hugh M.
Irvin, Dorothy
Janćovǐc,
Jozef
Jensen, Joseph E.
Jensen, Joseph, O.S.B.
Just, Felix, S.J.
Kaltner, John
Keegan, Terence J.
Keller, Marie Noel, R.S.M.
Kelly, Henry Ansgar
Kennedy, Patrick T., O.S.F.S.
Kinney, James R.
Kitz, Anne Marie
Kolarcik, Michael F., S.J.
Kolasny, Judette M.
Kosanke, Charles G.
Kruger, Brent A., C.S.C.
Kuhn, Karl A.
Kurz, William S., S.J.
Laffey, Alice L.
Lair, Gerard P., O.S.B.
Latkovich, Sallie J., C.S.J.
Launderville, Dale, O.S.B.
Lewis, Scott M., S.J.
Lillie, Betty Jane, S.C.
Lodge, John C.
Lux, Mary
Lux, Richard C.
Madden, Patrick J.
Maher, John Kieran (Sean)
Malin, Gary J.
Malina, Bruce J.
Maloney, Elliott C., O.S.B.
Maloney, Linda M.
Maluf, Leonard
Martin, Francis
Martinez, Roberto, O.F.M.Cap.
Mason, Eric F.
Matera, Frank J.
Mazich, Edward M., O.S.B.
McCarthy, David P.
McCormick, Larry D.
McCruden, Kevin B.
McDougall, Russell K., C.S.C.
McGinn, Sheila E.
Meier, John P.
Miles, Pamela H.
Miller, Geoff D.
Miller, Robert D., II
Miller, William
Miner, Darren R.
Mitch, Curtis J.
Mitchell, Margaret M.
Montague, George T., S.M.
Morman, Kenneth G.
Morrison, Craig E., O.Carm.
Mowery, Robert L.
Muller, Earl, S.J.
Murphy, Lauren
Nagel, Elizabeth M.
Nasuti, Harry P.
Nazarczuk, Maria
Nelson, Richard D.
Ngan, Lai Ling E.
O'Connell, Séamus
O'Connor, Kathleen M.
Okoye, James C., C.S.Sp.
O'Toole, Robert F., S.J.
Papazoglakis, Elizabeth P.
Papazoglakis, Thomas
Pascuzzi, Maria, C.S.J.
Patella, Michael, O.S.B.
Peifer, Claude J., O.S.B.
Penchansky, David
Perrotta, Kevin F.
Perrotta, Louise
Phillips, Thomas E.
Pilarski, Ahida E.
Pilch, John J.
Pitre, Brant J.
Plunkett-Dowling, Regina
Polan, Gregory J., O.S.B.
Polich, James C.
Portalatin, Antonio
Powell, Mark Allan
Racine, Jean-François
Ralph, Margaret N.
Reid, Barbara, O.P.
Reid, Stephen Breck
Richard, Earl J.
Riopelle, Patrick J.
Roddy, Nicolae G.
Romero, C. Gilbert
Rong, Lina, M.S.O.L.
Ross, H. Arlene
Ruiz, Jean-Pierre
Ryan, D. Stephen, O.P.
Sabin, Marie F.
Salvador, Roberta L., M.M.
Schinstock, Victor J., O.S.B.
Schneiders, Sandra M., I.H.M.
Seeman, Christopher
J.
Shaules, William J.
Skemp, Vincent
Sklba, Richard J.
Sloyan, Gerard S.
Smiles, Vincent M.
Smith, David Whitten
Smith, Mark S.
Sova, Milan
Sperry, Mary Elizabeth
Spitaler, Peter
Stegman, Thomas D., S.J.
Stenstrup, Kenneth G.
Stokes, Ryan E.
Stommes, Mary
Štrba, Blažej
F.
Talbert,
Betty
Talbert, Charles H.
Tassone, Salvatore A., S.J.
Tatum, Gregory, O.P.
Taylor, Walter F., Jr.
Thomas, Samuel I.
Thurston, Bonnie B.
Tyler, Ronald L.
Viviano, Pauline A.
Vu Phan Long, F.X.
Walsh, Jerome T.
Wcela, Emil A.
Weber, Laura A.
West, James E.
Wilkins, Lauress L.
Williamson, Paul S.
Williamson, Peter S.
Willis, Evelyn
Willis, John T.
Wimmer, Joseph F., O.S.A.
Witherup, Ronald D., S.S.
Zanchettin, Leo
Zevit, Ziony