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Rector's Bible Study

Learn at Emmanuel

Rector's Forum

Sundays  |  9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Jesus and the Disinherited.jpg

The Rector's Forum will explore Jesus and the Disinherited, written by celebrated theologian and religious leader Howard Thurman (1899–1981), who revolutionizes the way we read the gospel. Thurman lifts Jesus up as a partner in the pain of the oppressed and reveals the gospel as a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised. In this view, the example of Jesus’s life shows us that hatred does not empower—it decays. Only by recognizing fear, deception, contempt, and love of one another can God’s justice prevail.

 

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About Our Time Together

 

Every Sunday during the program year from 9:30 to 10:15, adults gather for the Rector's Forum. ​

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The  Rector’s Forum is a teaching and discussion time led by Father Gene that gives parishioners an opportunity to explore aspects of the Christian faith in greater depth.

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In the Rector's Forum, a book is selected, generally, a book that is scripture-related, theology, history, biography, or even a novel or memoir that raises moral, spiritual, or faith-related questions. Participants read the assigned material (sometimes in advance, sometimes in sections week by week), and then come together to:

  • Analyze the text through a Christian lens – considering how themes, characters, or arguments relate to biblical teachings, Christian tradition, or contemporary faith practice.

  • Draw connections to scripture and theology – the rector may link passages from the book to Bible readings, doctrines, or the church’s liturgical life.

  • Encourage spiritual reflection – participants are invited to reflect on how the material resonates with their own faith journey, challenges their assumptions, or offers new insights.

  • Foster community dialogue – it creates space for parishioners to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from one another in a thoughtful, faith-centered environment.

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