In April, Dr. Renita Weems, Seminary of the Southwest’s Visiting Professor in Old Testament studies, assembled and presented a powerful womanist hermeneutics workshop on the Southwest campus entitled, “Thinking Women of Faith.” Gathering for several events through out the week of April 15, 2024, the goal of the gathering was to bring together professors, pastors, and public thinkers hear what it means to do their work in an era of profound cultural, theological, and institutional changes in the academy, church, and society as a whole.
The impressive list of attendees included a prominent group of scholars and pastors:
The Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams (Virginia Theological Seminary), Dr. Valerie Bridgeman (Methodist Theological Seminary), Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas (Vanderbilt University), Dr. Marla Frederick (Harvard University), Dr. Melanye Price (Prairie View University), Dr. Brittney Cooper (Rutgers University), Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan (Philadelphia), Pastor Virzola Law (Dallas), and Rev. Traci Blackmon (St. Louis). Southwest’s own John E. Hines Assistant Professor of Preaching, Rev. Dr. Dominique Robinson was also a facilitator and host for the events.
“I had the pleasure of hosting 10 colleagues from around the country during my semester here at Seminary of the Southwest,” said Dr. Weems. “We met to discuss our recent threats against black women in the church and the academy that dominate the news. We are grateful for the hospitality extended our group by the seminary. Formal and informal conversations with Southwest students about ministry, vocation, social justice, and womanist scholarship left us feeling encouraged and inspired about the future of the church and the world.”
The Rev. Dr. Fentress-Williams preached at the Chapel Service on Monday, April 15th, and Dr. Robinson led a panel discussion with all the participants during lunch immediately after. Several of the guests spoke in classes throughout the week.
“What an honor and blessing for the Seminary of the Southwest community to have had Dr. Renita Weems among us this semester,” said the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, dean and president. “She shared generously her learning, her faith, and her humor. She introduced us to her friends in the Womanist workshop and proclaimed a faithful prophetic word. Her presence has changed us for the better, and we will count her a member of the wider seminary community into the future.”
