Newsletter:
Vol. 4. Iss. 3
15 July 2003
Reflections on the Future
of The Society for Biblical Studies
Peter J. Miano
Winston Churchill the once said, “When I want to know what the future will bring, I look back.” Historical reflection is for the purpose of looking forward. It is true that we can see into the future only as far as we can recall the past.
The Society for Biblical Studies has reached a very important juncture in its development. It has successfully completed six years of service. It now includes more than 2,000 constituents from coast to coast. Its faculty includes eight members who live in the United States, England, Greece, Palestine and Israel. Its Board of Directors incluudes people from Jerusalem to San Diego. Its programs range from domestic seminars to international travel in England, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Egypt. It is appropriate and helpful, as we begin to envision its next stage of development to reflect upon its past.
S.B.S. has come a long way. I look back with apreciation to those who have been part of its growth. It has had a lot of help and I wish space allowed me to mention all of those who have made significant contributions of spiritual, emotional and financial support. Six years ago, The Society for Biblical Studies was an idea and a vision. Without all this help, it would be an unfulfilled one today.
Even before S.B.S. was formally founded, it received significant endorsements from Bishop Samir Kafity, the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem and then Bishop coadjutor, Riah Abu al Assal. Both agreed to join our Board of Directors and continue in that capacity today. Then, in June 1997, I met with Prof. Michael Prior, who was scholar in residence at Tantur (Jerusalem) at that time. After explaining my idea, during which Michael listened with interest, he agreed to endorse the S.B.S. enterprise. He joined its Board of Directors and faculty and continues to infuse the organization with wisdom, audacity and timely levity. From this point forward, our Board of Directors has included a wide range of people who endorsed the vision and have continued to provide guidance and support. Bishop Ann Sherer (Missouri Area United Methodist Church) is a charter and current member of the Board of Directors. She has led five international study seminars for consecutive classes of ordinands. About S.B.S.’ mission, she says, “Because we have traveled and studied in biblical lands our preaching has a depth that we could not have achieved without contextual education...the team says that the contextual educational component that S.B.S. has shared with us is the singular most important part of our formation in the past five years.” Dr. Charles Lippse, who serves as president of S.B.S.' Board of Directors, says, “I don't know of another organization that pursues and accomplishes so well the vision of biblical study and contemporary application of the biblical faith.” I believe that S.B.S. is unique in pursuing the vision of integrating historical study with contemporary application of the biblical faith. Historical reflection is for the purpose of moving forward.
Along the way, S.B.S. received important moral, financial and tactical support. Barb and Herb Hoover of Columbus, IN have been hearty supporters from the inception of S.B.S. Ken White, who is a featured speaker at our November conference, invested countless hours in development strategy. Keith Folger from Minnesota was the very first person to design a program with S.B.S. That program, in March of 1998 was followed closely by Prof. Steve Parish’s Memphis Theological Seminary group. Jon Almond, the first president of the Board of Directors, led S.B.S.’ first program in Greece. Jon was the very first person—aside from myself—who spoke of S.B.S. in terms of "we," that is as a group project, instead of a one man show. That was an important milestone and now I am gratified to know that many people consider themselves part of the adventure.
When S.B.S. was incorporated, I worked by myself. The office—in a spare room in my house— had a phone, an answering machine and a pc. These are still fundamental tools, but things developed rapidly and muscularly. Now, the operational side of things includes Heather Thomas and Shayne Galloway, who add personality as well as competence. When you call the office, they will be there to help out and they take care of all the logistical details that help turn visions into realities.
For me, one of the exciting aspectsd of developing S.B.S. has been buiilding the faculty and I am thankful for the enthusiasm of our faculty. I am sure many will remember the Rev. Dr. Dan Casey who was one of the first to commit himself to our faculty. Most recently, Dr. Peter Schultz and David Scahill joined our team. The combined faculty resources give us experience and expertise for programs from the U.K. to the Holy Land.
The adventure has not been easy, but no one thought it would be. Some people speak in terms of the risks of initiating new missions. I didn’t see risks. Frequently mission initiatives never initiate, because people fear risks. I was certain that starting S.B.S. would involve huge challenges and that problems would be inevitable—no risk about it. I was also certain that that the worst case scenario would be S.B.S.’ failure and that this was guaranteed if we didn’t get started on it.
