Workshop Title: The Bible and Film

Dates: March 6 – 8, 2023

Led by: Dr. Samuel Adams, Professor of Old Testament, Union Presbyterian Seminary

Leader Bio:

Dr. Samuel L. Adams is the Professor of Old Testament and Director of Community Engagement at Union Presbyterian Seminary. As an ordained minister in the PC(USA), he has served churches in New Haven, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; and in Richmond, Virginia. He is also the editor of the journal, Interpretation.

His interests include wisdom literature, wealth and poverty in the biblical world, apocalypticism, and the Bible and film. He has published books on wisdom, death and the afterlife, and the socioeconomic world of the Bible. He is active in a number of community initiatives in Richmond.

Workshop Description:

This workshop will explore the different ways in which Christianity, the Bible, and film can be placed into mutually enriching conversation. How can biblical texts provide new lenses for our viewing of films? In what ways can films enrich our understanding and interpretation of Scripture?

Participants will engage a variety of topics and films in the process, including actual depictions of biblical stories, Christ figures in film, monsters, the Bible and American identity in film, religious satire, and themes related to the book of Job. Individuals will suggest numerous points of contact between the films being studied, Scripture, and the parishes in which they may serve.

Participants will be asked to watch (or re-watch) 3-4 movies in advance of the event, and will have the opportunity to show clips of their favorite films.

Workshop Agenda:

Day 1   |   Monday   |   March 6, 2023

2:00-3:00 p.m.: Doors Open/Check In (participants may arrive any time within this window)

3:00-5:00 p.m.: Discussion/Movie Clips

5:30-6:30 p.m.: Dinner (included)

7:00-9:00 p.m.: Group Movie

Day 2   |   Tuesday   |   March 7, 2023

8:30-10:30 a.m.: Discussion/Movie Clips

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Accessing Digital/Electronic/Streaming Resources of the Seminary

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Lunch (included)

2:30-5:30 p.m.: Discussion/Movie Clips

Dinner on own with free evening/optional group movie

Day 3   |   Wednesday   |   March 8, 2023

9:00-11:00 a.m.: Discussion/Movie Clips

11:45-12:30 p.m.: Community Worship (Optional)

12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Community Lunch (Optional)

1:30 p.m.: Depart

Cost (includes Monday dinner and Tuesday lunch):

$165 per person, if register by January 31, 2023

$190 per person, beginning February 1, 2023

Meals: Dinner on Monday and lunch on Tuesday are included. When you register you will be asked to indicate any food preferences (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, etc.). For those wishing to stay for Community Lunch (after the seminary’s Community Worship) on Wednesday, an additional cost of $14 per person, can be added within the online registration for this event.

CEUs: 1.2 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for this event. Note: CEU certificates can be generated upon request at the time of the event.

Campus Housing: 

Housing on campus is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  You can sign up for housing, for an additional cost, when you register.

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To REGISTER for the event, click here.

Space is limited, and a waiting list will begin once capacity is reached. Register early!