Reclaiming the Center Projects
Reflections on the Scandal of Particularity
The Rev. Joanna Adams
Pastor, Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
My preaching and my teaching will never be the same. The way I read the New Testament has been forever transformed by our colloquy conversation. Never again will I ignore or accept the inherently anti-Jewish bent of the Church’s original historians and theologians. The way I read the Hebrew Scriptures will also be reshaped by the insights I have gleaned from our conversation these past three years. My respect for the richness of the traditions of Judaism has deepened beyond measure. My awareness of the differences between Judaism and Christianity has likewise been more clearly defined. The dialogue has made me a more self-aware Christian and has strengthened my commitment to creating more public spaces where people of different faiths can come together for mutual enlightenment and learning, and, even more, to serve the common good.
I have deeply appreciated the brilliance of our scholars, the wisdom of our practitioners, the professionalism and personal concern of our leaders, not only for the process, but for each of the individuals involved. I have been especially grateful for the gift of genuine friendship. I am confident the same thing happened among the men, but I especially rejoice that the women in the colloquy were able to discover such special bonds of affection and common life experiences. We shall be sisters forever. I also felt privileged to be in community with the young adults who participated. Church, synagogue, and academy will benefit from the contribution of these fine leaders, educators, and scholars for decades to come.
The experience was demanding. The lectures and discussions brought out important differences, but also provided heretofore nonexistent bridges of understanding. Each and every one of us was changed forever. What more can one ask, other than that the communities from which we come will be similarly enlightened and transformed? My hope more than ever is that the values and power of religion be used in this nation and around the world to unite, rather than divide, to build up and not destroy.
© 2009 Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies
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