"Performing the Story"

Dr. David Rhoads -- a retired professor at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago -- gives an engaging, meaningful, dramatic presentation of New Testament scripture that brings new perspective to well-known verses. "Performing the Story" is what Dr. Rhoads describes as an authentic method, in keeping with the way scripture would have originally been presented.

Dr. Rhoads will give a 50-minute session in the morning, with an additional 30 minutes near the end of the program, ending the day in an upbeat way.

Dr. David M. Rhoads is a retired professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Ordained in 1968, Rhoads was pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Asheboro, N.C. (1968-1970), and professor of religion at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin (1963-1968), before joining the seminary's faculty in 1988. He is married to the Rev. Sandra Roberts. He has two children and five grandchildren, two of whom he and Sandra raise. They live in Racine, Wisconsin.

Widely published, Rhoads is the author of several books including Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel (Fortress Press 1999, revised edition with Joanna Dewey and Donald Michie), and The Challenge of Diversity: The Witness of Paul and the Gospels (Fortress 1996). In 1999, he edited with Kari Syreeni the book, Characterization in the Gospels: Rethinking Narrative Criticism (Sheffield Academic Press). In 2004, he published a collection of his essays, Reading Mark, Engaging the Gospel. In 2006, he edited From Every People and Nation: The Book of Revelation in Intercultural Perspective, a collection of essays by scholars from many different social locations. He is an accomplished oral interpreter of Biblical writings that include The Gospel of Mark, the Sermon on the Mount, Galatians, James, I Peter and the Book of Revelation. In addition, he has taught in the Select program of video courses for continuing theological education.

An enthusiastic environmentalist, Rhoads is advisor to the seminary's Green Zone Committee and has planned eco-conferences, edited guidebooks for parishes, and helped initiate "The Web of Creation," an online environmental service for congregations (www.webofcreation.org). He now also directs the Green Congregation Program, which works primarily with clusters of congregations in some Midwest synods of the ELCA. In 2007, he edited a collection of sermons by 36 different theologians and preachers: Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet (Continuum, 2007). Rhoads also recently wrote The Green Congregation Training Manual, and with David Glover, An Environmental Guide for Churches, Their Buildings and Grounds. Both are availale online at www.webofcreation.org.

Rhoads received the bachelor of arts degree from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the bachelor of divinity degree from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. The master of arts degree was bestowed by Oxford University, Oxford, England, and the doctor of philosophy degree by Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Dr.Rhoads recently received the Fortress Press Teacher of the Year Award for Innovative Teaching in a Graduate Setting (2004) and was named Distinguished Alumnus by the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary (2005).