N.T. Wright's conference - 10-13 June 2014 - University of Fribourg

The Center for Faith and Society (site in German, part of the Institut for Ecumenical Studies, UniFr) organized their first-ever conference by inviting N.T. Wright, biblical scholar and former Anglican bishop. Not bad for a start! Almost four hundred participated in this four-day event. Congratulations to the team for putting this event together. People from various Christian traditions and theological persuasions attended and...it all happened very peacefully ;-)

L to R: N.T. Wright, Ulrich Luz, Markus Lau, James Morgan

I had a small but enjoyable part in this event. I gave the devotional on Monday morning, then I helped to lead the Question and Answer session on Wednesday afternoon with my colleague Markus Lau (see picture). It was good to explore Wright's thoughts on Paul as a Jewish thinker whose mind and heart were transformed through his encounter(s) with the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit.

With my keen interest in Luke's writings (Luke and Acts), Wright's lectures helped me again to imagine what Paul encountered (with his missionary team) as "the apostle to the nations" and how he responded to genuine pastoral concerns through his convictions as a "Messianic Jew." Wright's lectures were mostly based on his recent books: "Paul and the Faithfulness of God" (Part IV in "Christian Origins and the Question of God").

Ivory Coast comes to Fribourg

Drs. Appoh François Kouamé and James Morgan

One of the benefits of living in Fribourg and working at the University is to be a part of an international community. In the hallways and classrooms you hear many languages and accents. Since I spent almost ten years in Niger, it is a pleasure for me to have colleagues and students from Africa: Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cameroun, Benin, etc.

In my first participation in the jury of a doctoral defense here, I was really glad that the candidate was from Ivory Coast. It was a touch of grace and made me feel at home in front of the audience in that academic atmosphere. Appoh François Kouamé wrote about a subject that is very close to his heart as pastor and teacher: the notion of blood brothers and brothers in Christ (the dissertation title, De "frères de sang" à "frères en Christ". L’appel des premiers disciples : prolégomènes à l’herméneutique de la fraternité spirituelle). In general, the question of brotherhood in Africa is more keenly felt in families and churches than in western culture. It can help or hinder spiritual unity in African churches. Kouamé explores this question by beginning with an analysis of passages in the Bible regarding brothers and then focuses on the two sets of brothers that Jesus chose as his disciples. If you are interested in this topic, you can find it here (in the collection of e-theses at UniFr).