Controversial bishop plans two talks in Santa Fe

| The New Mexican

4/26/2008 - 4/26/08

Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities:

On May 16 and 17, Bishop John Shelby Spong, one of America's most prominent and controversial voices in redefining Christianity for the 21st century, will be in Santa Fe.

Spong, the retired Episcopal bishop of Newark, N.J., and author of more than 20 books, will give two talks at Temple Beth Shalom sponsored by the Santa Fe Jewish and Christian Dialogue and the David L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation of Jackson, Miss.

The Rev. Holly Beaumont, chairwoman of the Santa Fe Jewish and Christian Dialogue, stressed the broad appeal of Spong's message.

"John Shelby Spong pushes us to fearlessly reform our faith traditions, and revitalize our witness," Beaumont said. "At a time when religion is increasingly seen as the cause of global unrest rather than the solution, we need to be pushed."

For many years, Spong has challenged traditional, literalist interpretations of Scripture and has been an outspoken defender of the role of women and gays in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church USA.

As an Episcopal bishop, he voted for the election of an openly gay priest, the Rev. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

That decision has led to a widening dispute among American Episcopalians and the action by some breakaway churches and dioceses to unite with the more conservative African branch of world Anglicanism.

Spong's views have resulted in his being barred from speaking in many of the churches of his own denomination.

Spong's latest book, Jesus for the Non-religious, makes the argument that the Jesus of history has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by centuries of traditional Christian teaching and doctrine which transformed Jesus into something he had no intention of being.

Spong said that most Christians are not aware that the Christian movement was part of the synagogue until 88 CE.

By the time the split came, two gospels — Mark and Matthew, and perhaps the third, Luke — had been written. According to Spong, this means that the gospels were products of the synagogue.

Does that clue open these gospels to new understandings?

"I think it does and the results are powerful," Spong said.

Spong served the Episcopal Church as a priest and bishop for 45 years and has been a visiting lecturer at Harvard, and at universities and churches throughout North America and abroad.

His parish ministry began in his native North Carolina before moving to Virginia and finally to Newark, where he was ordained as bishop of that diocese.

At Temple Beth Shalom:

On May 16, Spong will speak at Temple Beth Shalom following the
7:30 p.m. Shabbat service. His topic will be "How the Synagogue Shaped the Jesus Story".

At 3 p.m. on May 17, Spong will discuss "What Did Paul Mean When He Said, 'Jesus died in accordance with the Scriptures'?"

Both talks will be held at TBS, 205 E. Barcelona Road. The lectures are free and open to the public.

A free-will offering will be accepted.

Seating is limited. Those who plan to attend are asked to reserve a seat. Call TBS at 982-1236.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.faithandreason.org.

On the radio

On May 12, Spong will be interviewed live on Diego Mulligan's Journey Home program on KSFR — 90.7 FM which airs from 5 to 6 p.m. weekdays.

About the Dialogue

Since 1995, the Santa Fe Jewish and Christian Dialogue has brought together Christians, Jews and other people of faith to learn from each other through the highest quality presentations by nationally and internationally recognized speakers.

The mission of the Santa Fe Jewish and Christian Dialogue is to heal the wounds that divide, to deepen common bonds by praying together, and to increase appreciation and respect for shared heritage and unique differences.

About the foundation

The D.L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation was established in 1986 by the Rev. D.L. Dykes, Jr., a United Methodist minister and teacher, and R.Z. Biedenharn a businessman, philanthropist, and student of theology.

Biedenharn and Dykes believed that religious faith without solid, critical thinking is a dangerous and destructive thing. They imagined a public forum in which faith and reason could be brought together in constructive dialogue.

The foundation offers an expansion of Christian thought and understanding as well as the promotion of cooperation between Christians and non-Christians and the nurturing of all spiritual paths that seek compassion and peace among the peoples of the earth.

Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities is compiled by the individual faith community and edited by the religion editor. All faith communities are welcome to submit an article — send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com or send fax to 986-9147. For more information, call 986-3049.