SPRING 2014

EMBRACING LIFE

Women of the Bible:

Seeking Justice BIBLE STUDY ISSUE

About the About the

Introduction writer Study writers Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins serves as Lisa is a member of the So- general minister and president of the Christian ciety of Biblical Literature and Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United the Association of Disciples for States and Canada. She has an extensive Theological Discussion. She is background of service both in the United States often invited to speak to local and abroad. She is a member of the Central congregations and retreats on Committee of the World Council of Churches books in the Hebrew Bible, and serves on the WCC’s Permanent Commit- women in the Bible, sexuality tee for Consensus and Collaboration. She serves and the Bible, and Christian on the National Council of Church’s governing use and misuse of the Hebrew board and is a board member of Sojourners, Bible. She ismarried to the a Washington, D.C.- Rev. Michael Davison, and the based group that seeks two of them enjoy traveling to build a movement (especially to tropical climates) that puts faith to work and gourmet dining. for justice. She served for two Rev. Dr. Lisa W. Davison years as a missionary in is the Johnnie Eargle Cadieux the Congo early in her Professor of Hebrew Bible at career and she is former Phillips Theological Seminary pastor of Disciples in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A native Christian Church in of Radford, Virginia, she has Bartlesville, Oklahoma, a bachelor’s degree in religion where she served for and Spanish from Lynchburg eight years. In the aca- College; an master of divinity demic world, she held from Brite Divinity School positions as director of (TCU), and an master of arts student services at Phillips Theological Semi- from Vanderbilt University. nary in Oklahoma and associate vice-president She received her Ph.D. in for university relations at Phillips University. Hebrew Bible from Vander- Sharon has been engaged in a number of bilt. She is ordained in the ecumenical discussions and conversations on Christian Church (Disciples of Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne stewardship, and has made presentations on Christ) and has served congre- Session is the pastor of The worship, Bible study, and women in the minis- gations in Texas and Kentucky. AVENUE, the wonderful War- try. She also has served as an adjunct professor Lisa’s first book, Preaching the ren Avenue Christian Church at Phillips Theological Seminary, teaching Women of the Bible, was pub- in Dallas, Texas. about pastoral vocation, history, theology and lished in June 2006.Her other Raised in public housing in practices of worship as well as spiritual dimen- publications include the com- New York City, she developed sions. mentary on the book of Job for a value for education, a passion She holds a doctor of ministry degree from The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, for social justice, and a love Phillips Theological Seminary, a master of essays on the major prophets of God’s word. She holds an divinity from the Yale Divinity School, and a for The College Study Bible, an undergraduate degree in social bachelor’s degree in French and economics essay in Tabletalk, entries for the work, a master of divinity with from Butler University. Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell concentration in Black church Movement, a sermon in Those studies from Brite Divinity Preaching Women: A Multicultural School (TCU), and a doctor of Collection, and commentaries ministry from Colgate Roches- for the New Proclamation Series, ter Crozer Divinity School in Year C. Rochester, New York. Prior to joining the faculty From 2006 to 2012, she of Phillips Theological Sem- served as the associate minis- inary, she was professor of ter for the North Texas Area First Testament at Lexington of the Christian Church Theological Seminary and in the Southwest, the first professor of religious studies at African-American to hold that Lynchburg College. position. She is the first female

SPRING 2014 59 senior pastor of Warren Ave- from the McCormick Theo- Ordained in 2005 at Sandhya earned her master nue Christian Church. logical Seminary. She has also National City Christian of divinity and a master of A bi-ministerial pastor, studied biblical geography Church in Washington, D.C., public policy from the Univer- Irie also serves as the spiritual and archaeology in Israel and Sandhya’s passion is liberation sity of Chicago. She serves as support coordinator for New Palestine. ethics as an academic field director of interfaith programs Friends New Life (NFNL), a Nohemí has worked in the and as a lived experience in at East Bay Housing Organiza- faith-based organization in preparation of more than 40 urban communities. She has tions, a membership organi- Dallas whose mission is to books dealing with theological published Room at the Table: The zation that works to preserve, restore and empower trafficked and educational themes; served Struggle for Dignity and Unity in protect, and expand affordable teen girls and sexually exploit- in the publishing, reviewing, Disciples History (Chalice Press, housing opportunities through ed women and their children. and editing processes of several 2009), and is about to publish a education, advocacy, and coa- With more than 27 years in study editions of the Bible; and book on race and Christianity lition-building in Alameda and the field of social work, she has worked as executive editor of in the United States through Contra Costa Counties. She spent the last 11 with NFNL. El Discípulo, a Christian educa- Chalice Press. She is also an holds a master of divinity and By providing access to edu- tion journal in Spanish, widely anti-racism/anti-oppression a master of public policy from cation, job training, interim read and used in Puerto Rico trainer with the Disciples of the University of Chicago, and financial assistance, mental and the Hispanic U.S. She Christ, a regular public speaker cares much more about public health, and spiritual support, has also written two children’s and preacher, and a consultant policy than a normal person she has helped hundreds of ex- books. for Hope Partnership’s New should. ploited women and their chil- Nohemí has worked with Beginnings program. dren overcome backgrounds of indigenous groups in several abuse, addiction, poverty, and Latin American countries. In limited opportunities. Panamá she made important Irie is the proud single contributions in the health, About the Suggestions mother to 20-year-old India education, and transforming Liana Session, a college sopho- process of the Wounaam com- for leaders writer more, gifted vocalist, and wom- munity. She serves at the Dar and of words, has most recent- anist activist in the making. al-Kalima College in Bethle- ly led her in new directions as a hem as a Spanish teacher to freelance writer. future tour guides. In addition to writing, Kathy enjoys teaching and has taught many workshops and classes, including healthy boundaries for clergy in Georgia, Christian spirituality and spiritual formation for the Christian College in Georgia, as well as Bible studies and other classes in congregation- al and retreat settings. She also has served on numerous advisory boards, including the Rev. Kathryn McDowell General Board of the Chris- is an ordained minister in the tian Church, the Regional Rev. Dr. Nohemí Pagán is Christian Church (Disciples of Board of the Christian Church a Puerto Rican-born ordained Christ) who served for 10 years in Georgia, and the Execu- minister of the Christian Rev. Sandhya Jha serves as pastor and associate pastor tive Committee for Disciples Church (Disciples of Christ), as director at the Oakland of two Georgia congregations. Women. married to Dr. Samuel Pagán, Peace Center, a collective of In addition to her congre- She is a native of Nebras- mother of two sons, and 40 nonprofit agencies working gational experience, she has ka, but has called Georgia grandmother to three grand- to create justice and peace in enjoyed a career in nonprofit home for the past 30 years. sons and one granddaughter. the city of Oakland and the public relations, as well as She and her husband, Dave, a Along with her husband, she Bay Area. The Oakland Peace time as a stay-at-home mom. professor at Georgia Institute has served congregations in Center is the legacy project Her educational background of Technology, are the proud Puerto Rico and the United of First Christian Church includes a master of divinity parents of three young adult States, and also as a missionary of Oakland, where Sandhya from Emory University’s Can- sons. When she’s not writing in the Caribbean, Latin Ameri- pastored for seven years. The dler School of Theology, and a or teaching, you can find her ca, and the Middle East. church has handed over its bachelor’s degree in journalism enjoying time with her family, She holds a master of di- large building to the commu- from the University of Ne- quilting, reading, traveling, vinity from the Florida Center nity of people who can carry braska. This combination of backpacking, and hiking. for Theological Studies and out First Christian’s dream of a education and experience, plus a doctoral degree in ministry peace-filled city. a lifelong love of the church

60 SPRING 2014