Westar Institute News
Santa Rosa, California
November 2005

Westar to launch new seminar on Christian origins
In July 2004, in an editorial published in Westar's magazine, The Fourth R, Robert Funk listed work still to be done by Fellows of Westar Institute. He began by saying, "We are only at the beginning of our work. We have yet to produce a new history of the rise and formation of the Jesus tradition."

At its Spring 2006 Meeting in Miami, Florida, the Jesus Seminar will begin work on a new description of the Jesus tradition. In this next phase, the Jesus Seminar on Christian Origins, Fellows will develop a new history of early Christianities and Christian writings up to the middle of the second century, employing the methods and techniques pioneered by the original Jesus Seminar on the sayings and deeds of Jesus. The process will include the circulation of scholarly papers on particular segments of the tradition, discussion and debate of the issues, and voting to measure the degree of consensus. John S. Kloppenborg, the world's leading authority on the Sayings Gospel Q, will give the inaugural address for the seminar on Friday, March 4, at the Miami meeting.

As in the past, the following Westar principles will guide the work of this Seminar:

• All serious questions about religion deserve research, discussion and resolution; no inquiry should be out of bounds.
• Scholarship should be collaborative in order to expand the base of decision making, cumulative in forming and building on a consensus, and genuinely ecumenical.
• Scholars should conduct their deliberations in public and report the results to a broad, literate audience in simple, non-technical language.

Stephen J. Patterson of Eden Theological Seminary, Daryl D. Schmidt of Texas Christian University, and Bernard Brandon Scott of Phillips Theological Seminary  will serve as joint chairpersons for this new phase of the Jesus Seminar.
 

Summer School Faculty Set
Plans for the Westar Summer School are advancing well. The curriculum will consist of three classes for each of two weeks with the following faculty:

• Week 1: Sunday evening, June 4–Friday noon, June 9, 2006
  Eugenie Scott, Stephen J. Patterson, Roy W. Hoover
• Week 2: Sunday evening, June 11–Friday noon, June16, 2006
  Karen Armstrong, Thomas Sheehan, Perry V. Kea

Mark your calendar and watch your mail and this website for further details, coming very soon.
 

Scholars-in-Residence
In the weeks following the death of Westar founder, Robert Funk, Westar Fellows James Veitch of Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, and Daryl Schmidt of Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, came to Santa Rosa and helped the Westar staff with a variety of projects, including the management of the programs for  Fall 2005 and Spring 2006. They also co-taught a class for local area Associates. Their presence helped fill the void left by Bob Funk's absence.

Though both returned home in early November, Daryl Schmidt will return to Santa Rosa in December and again in February 2006 to help in whatever way he can. And other Westar Fellows have also indicated their willingness to spend a few weeks or months at a time as Scholars-in-Residence to help bridge the gap to a new Director.

Fortunately, with the support of its members, Westar is able to maintain an apartment for visiting scholars. And, unlike Westar's former cramped quarters, the new office space at 140 Todd Road affords visiting scholars a very comfortable work environment. The timing of the move could not have been better and the need for scholars in residence has never been greater. We hope you will continue to support this important program. The scholars it brings to Westar will almost certainly play an major role in the transition to new and permanent Westar leadership.

September 2005 News

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