Sem’s ‘Days of Theological Reflection’ to focus on digital age

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host two “Days of Theological Reflection” May 5-6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Boomershine

Designed for pastors and students involved in homiletical and exegetical education, both days will focus on these topics in light of the changing culture of the digital age.

On May 5, the Rev. Thomas Boomershine will address “Hermeneutics and Interpretation in a Digital Age.” Boomershine is professor emeritus of New Testament and Christianity and Communications at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He also is an author and founder of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International, and has been a primary source for the development of Performance Criticism as a new paradigm for the study and interpretation of the Bible.

The Rev. Matt Peeples, lead and founding pastor of The Point in Knoxville, Tenn., will be the plenary speaker May 6 on the theme of homiletical reflection. The title of his presentation is “Engage the Digital Age: Communicating the Unchanging Gospel in an Ever-Changing Culture.”

Peeples received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in 2009, and is the first graduate of the church-plant training program of the LCMS Mid-South District. He is “passionate about connecting the disconnected, training the next generation of church planters, and preaching the Gospel,” according to a seminary news release.

The May 6 program also will feature two sectional speakers:

Rev. Ben Haupt, director of library services at Concordia Seminary, who will address “Reading and Preaching the Scriptures in a Digital Age.”

Rev. Justin Rossow, site leader at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Mich., who will talk about “Fostering Hearing God’s Word Together, Online.”

“This year’s theme is very timely,” said the Rev. Dr. David Schmitt, professor of Practical Theology at the seminary. “Our speakers are familiar with how social media shapes communication and builds communities, and they have demonstrated effective communication of the Gospel in their ministry within this digital age. It will be great to learn from their experience.”

The registration fee for each day is $25 and CEU credit is $10. Lunch may be purchased for $8. To register online, click here or call the seminary’s Office of Continuing Education at 314-505-7286.

Posted March 18, 2015