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School of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor of Old Testament Andrew R. Davis has been awarded a grant from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to develop a curriculum for a course in Jewish-Christian learning based on the Psalms.
The curriculum, titled Calling Out from the Depths: A Curriculum for Catholic-Jewish Encounter with the Psalms, will be based on a course Davis has co-taught for several years with Rabbi Or Rose from Hebrew College.
Andrew Davis
“The course brings together Catholic students from the School of Theology and Ministry and rabbinical students from Hebrew College for prayer and conversation around the shared sacred texts of the Psalms,” said Davis. “Given the success of the course, Or and I decided to develop it into something that can be replicated at the parish/synagogue level. We are grateful to have the U.S. Bishops’ support and enthusiasm for the project.”
STM Dean Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., praised the initiative, which he says reflects the school’s commitment to enhancing interreligious understanding.
“The STM is committed to teaching Scripture in a way that honors and respects Jewish interpretations. Andrew and Rabbi Rose’s class—bringing together Jewish and Christian ministry students—is a model for interreligious dialogue and education. That their curriculum will become available in parishes and synagogues is a wonderful multiplier effect.”
Among Davis’ research interests are literary approaches to Biblical narrative; Prophetic literature, especially Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Amos; The Book of Job; feminist approaches to the Old Testament; ancient Israelite religion; and Biblical historiography. His STM courses have included Book of Isaiah, Prophets, and Job and Suffering.
This month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Confraternity of Christian Doctrine awarded eight grants for projects that support its goals to promote Catholic biblical literacy and Catholic biblical interpretation.
“The CCD works with the Catholic Biblical Association to offer these grants, accepting applications only from the CBA, including the organization itself, its designees, and its full and associate members. In fidelity to Dei Verbum, the CBA’s purpose is to promote scholarly study in Scripture and related fields by meetings of the association, publications, and support to those engaged in such studies,” according to the CCD announcement.
University Communications | June 2021