Prophetic Ministry and Imagination

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The Candler Foundry in partnership with Sandy Springs UMC

Course Description

Who and what were the prophets of the Old Testament? What did their words and lives mean in the time they lived, and what do their words and lives mean today?

In this course, we take a close look at a few figures from the Bible - Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus – and how they embodied what Walter Brueggemann refers to as "the prophetic imagination."

Along the way, participants will be exposed to a large sweep of history, from the early Israel down through the time of Jesus and all the way up to our own moment. Throughout we will emphasize how the prophets, who expressed grief and who spoke words of hope, can help us better understand how God has acted in history and is acting now.

For more information, please email our Coordinator of Courses in the Community Damellys Sacriste at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.

Meet the Instructor: Rev. Eric McDonnell

PhD Candidate in Hebrew Bible, Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion

Rev. Eric McDonnell is a doctoral student in Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at Emory University. His interests include biblical poetry, the Book of Psalms, and hermeneutics. Before coming to Emory, Eric earned a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Akron in his hometown, Akron, Ohio, and a M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He enjoys cooking, reading, playing his guitar, and dorky board games. Eric is ordained through his home church, First Baptist Church of Decatur, where he teaches adult Sunday school.

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to reach out to Eric at Eric.McDonnell@emory.edu.