KATHRYN M. SCHIFFERDECKER 2481 Como Ave. 651-641-3227 (O) St. Paul, MN 55108 kschiffer@luthersem.edu DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Ordained 2001 EDUCATION: Th.D. Harvard University, Divinity School, Hebrew Bible 2005 M.Div. Yale University, Divinity School, summa cum laude 1996 Affiliated student Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago 1996 B.A. St. Olaf College, English, summa cum laude 1990 DISSERTATION: Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job Committee: Jon Levenson (chair), Gary Anderson, Ellen Davis PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS: Associate Professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN 2011- present Visiting Professor, Mekane Yesus Seminary, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2012-2013 (On sabbatical year from Luther Seminary) Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN 2006-2011 Associate Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, WI 2001-2006 LANGUAGES: Reading proficiency: Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Aramaic, German BOOKS: Esther. Illuminations Commentary Series. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans (under contract). Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job. Harvard Theological Studies. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008. ESSAYS, CHAPTERS, AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO COLLECTIONS: Job in The Oxford Handbook of the Bible and Ecology. Ed. Hilary Marlow and Mark Harris. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019.
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 2 A Tree Planted by Streams of Water : Scriptural Lessons on Hope, in The Emerging Christian Minority. Ed. James Buckley and Michael Root. Pro Ecclesia. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2019. Two exegetical essays in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship. Ed. Thomas Long, Luke Powery, et al. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2018. Learning from the Global South, in Worship the Lord with Gladness: Essays in Honor of Frederick J. Gaiser. Ed. Mark Throntveit and Rolf Jacobson. Word & World Supplement Series 7, 2017. Entries on "Hegai," "Hammedatha," "Haman," "Hadassah," "Hathach" in Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2015. Six exegetical essays in 2014 Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual. Nashville: Abingdon, 2014. Job as Prototype of Dying and Rising Israel. In The Call of Abraham: Essays on the Election of Israel in Honor of Jon D. Levenson. Ed. Gary Anderson and Joel Kaminsky. University of Notre Dame Press, 2013. Introduction and study notes for the Book of Job. The Lutheran Study Bible. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2009. Creation Theology. In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings. Ed. Tremper Longman and Peter Enns. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2008. Old Testament introductions for Year C. Sundays and Seasons: Year C, 2010. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2009. Old Testament introductions for Year B. Sundays and Seasons: Year B, 2009. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2008. JOURNAL ARTICLES: Baptismal Homily, Lutheran Forum 52:3 (Fall, 2018). Sabbath and Creation, Word & World 36:3 (Summer, 2016). Praying the Psalms, Word & World 35:1 (Winter, 2015). "The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and the ELCA in Dispute: A Time for Humble Listening," Word & World 34:2 (Spring, 2014).
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 3 A New Look at a Sermon Series: Preaching through Ruth, (with Frederick Gaiser, Dirk Lange, et al.) Word & World 33:2 (Spring, 2013). Of Stars and Sea Monsters: Creation Theology in the Whirlwind Speeches. Word & World 31:4 (Fall, 2011). Job s Speech About and To God. Lutheran Forum 45:2 (Summer, 2011). And Also Many Animals : Biblical Resources for Preaching about Creation. Word & World 27:2 (Spring, 2007). ONLINE PUBLICATIONS and OTHER DIGITAL MEDIA CONTRIBUTIONS: 63 essays on lectionary texts for WorkingPreacher.org (2008 2018). 305 podcasts (with Craig Koester and Rolf Jacobson), I Love to Tell the Story: Podcast for the Narrative Lectionary, WorkingPreacher.org (a weekly discussion of the Narrative Lectionary texts for preachers) (2011 2018) 14 Lenten devotionals for Luther Seminary s online devotions, God Pause (2017 and 2018). 6 video commentaries for Bible Q & A, EntertheBible.org (2012-2015) Why Do We Suffer? Who Wrote the Bible? and My Favorite Bible Passage essays for EntertheBible.org (2011-2014). 19 podcasts (with Eric Barreto), Everything You Wanted to Know About the Bible but Were Afraid to Ask, EntertheBible.org (2011-2012) 5 video commentaries for Craft of Preaching, WorkingPreacher.org (2008-2013). Isaiah 40:21-31: On Faith and Football, HuffingtonPost.com, OnScripture, Odyssey Networks (February 1, 2012). Book introductions and commentary for Leviticus, Joshua, Obadiah, Haggai. EntertheBible.org (2009). BOOK REVIEWS: Review of The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible. Lutheran Quarterly 30/1 (2016). Review of Julia M. O Brien s Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets. Word & World 30/2 (2010).
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 4 PRESENTATIONS: Plenary Speaker, Scripture s Witness to the Holy Spirit, Braaten-Benne Theological Lectures, Denver, CO, August, 2018. Plenary Speaker, Learning Our Place, Seminary Stewardship Alliance annual meeting, Portland, OR, October, 2016. Plenary Speaker, On Being the Stranger, Rethinking Sunday Morning conference, Luther Seminary, July, 2016. Plenary Speaker, A Tree Planted by Streams of Water: Scriptural Lessons on Hope, The Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology annual conference, Baltimore, MD, June, 2016. Presenter, Lutheran Hermeneutics, Minnesota Lutheran and Roman Catholic Bishops annual meeting, St. Cloud, MN, October, 2015. Responder to Bill McKibben s The Comforting Whirlwind (with Theodore Hiebert, Ched Myers, Barbara Rossing, and Bill McKibben), American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November, 2014. I Know that My Redeemer Lives: Death and Resurrection in Job, Jewish-Christian Dialogue and Sacred Texts Consultation, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November, 2014. Honoring Jon Levenson, Jewish-Christian Dialogue and Sacred Texts Consultation, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, November, 2013. Job as a Model for Prayer, Homiletics and Biblical Studies Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November, 2011. Jewish and Christian Understandings of Suffering: Studies in the Book of Job, 23 rd Annual Jewish-Christian Seminar, Luther Seminary, April, 2008 (with Rabbi Barry Cytron) Laughing at Humanity: The Relation of the Human to the Non-Human in the Book of Job. Consultation on Ecological Hermeneutics, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November, 2005. Boundary-Making and Laughter in the Book of Job. Wisdom in Israelite and Cognate Traditions Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November, 2005.
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 5 RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Teaching Fellow, Harvard University, 1998-2000 Reviewer/Reader, Harvard Theological Review, Harvard Divinity School, 1998-2000 Editorial Assistant, Harvard Theological Review, Harvard Divinity School, 1997-2000 Staff Editor, New Testament Language Project, Cambridge, MA, 2000 Pastoral Intern, Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie, IA, 1994-1995 COURSES TAUGHT 2006-2018: Law and Narrative (online and residential) Scripture and Its Witnesses (online and residential) Pentateuch (online and residential) The Book of Job (online and residential) Psalms God, Evil, and Suffering Bible and Ecology The Five Scrolls Hebrew Hebrew Reading Preaching Old Testament Texts Judaism, Christianity and Our Common Scriptures Isaiah Hermeneutics Topics in Old Testament Study The Dead Sea Scrolls Preaching the Pentateuch (D.Min. class) ADDITIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE (selected): Mount Carmel Ministries: Faculty, Alexandria, MN, August, 2018. Minneapolis Area Synod First Call Theological Conference: Sabbath, February, 2018. Lay School of Theology: Ruth, Esther, and Song of Songs, Luther Seminary, November, 2017. Parish Nurse Fall Renewal: Job and Pastoral Care, Luther Seminary, October, 2017. Holden Village: Faculty, Chelan, WA, July, 2017 and August, 2018. Mount Olive Lutheran Church: Scholar-in-Residence, Minneapolis, April-May, 2016. Northern Rockies Institute of Theology: Learning Our Place: Wilderness and Wonder from a Biblical Perspective, Great Falls, MT, December, 2015. Christikon Lutheran Bible Camp: Faculty for continuing education events, McLeod, MT, August, 2008 and August, 2015. Montana Synod Assembly: Workshop Leader, The Global Church: Challenges and Opportunities, Great Falls, MT, June, 2015. Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Lay School of Ministry: Exodus and Leviticus: Holiness, Law, Land, Chippewa Falls, WI, February, 2015.
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 6 St. Michael s Lutheran Church: Lenten Mid-week Preacher, Roseville, MN, Feb.-March, 2015. Lay School of Theology: Learning Our Place: Wilderness and Wonder from a Biblical Perspective, Luther Seminary, March-April, 2014. School for Lay Ministry: The Book of Job, Luther Seminary, March, 2014 Normandale Lutheran Church: Getting to Know God: Learning and Living God s Story, Edina, MN, Sept.-Oct., 2013. Western Mission Network Consultation: Living with Hope in Anxious Times, Carefree, AZ, January, 2012 Como Park Lutheran Church: Resident Preacher and Scholar, Sinners, Slobs, and Saints: Five Biblical Portraits, St. Paul, MN, 2011-2012 Northern Rockies Institute of Theology: Preaching the Old Testament, Great Falls, MT, Sept., 2011 Zumbro River Conference meeting, Southeast Minnesota Synod: Bible and Ecology, Rochester, MN, January, 2011 Northern Rockies Institute of Theology: Biblical Responses to Suffering, Great Falls, MT, November, 2010. Lay School of Theology: The Dead Sea Scrolls, (organizer and presenter), Luther Seminary, March-April, 2010; Sept.-Oct., 2010. SELECT: lectures on Exodus/Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Job for the course Introduction to the Old Testament, taped November-December, 2007. Celebration of Biblical Preaching: assorted workshops, Luther Seminary, 2010-2018. Mid-Winter Convocation: assorted workshops, Luther Seminary, 2008-2014. Kairos: several courses for pastors continuing education, Luther Seminary, 2007-present. Teacher for adult forums/bible studies at numerous Twin Cities area churches, 10-15/year. SERVICE AT LUTHER SEMINARY (selected): Bible Division Chair, 2014-present Property Task Force/Campus Vision Team/Housing Task Force 2014-present Ph.D. Task Force and Advisory Committee (designed new Ph.D. program and supervising its implementation), 2014-present Advisor for Biblical Preaching D.Min. cohort, 2017-present (supervising nine D.Min. theses) Advisor for Ph.D. student Ee Yan Tan, 2018-present Faculty representative to the Luther Seminary Board (elected by faculty), 2018-present Word & World Board, 2014-present (secretary, 2015-present) Word & World Books Advisory Committee, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2017-present Welcome Statement writing team, 2018 Green Team convener, 2014-present Burgess Lecture committee (2013-2017) Rutlen Lecture, Fretheim Lecture committees (2013-present) Commencement Speaker (chosen by students), May, 2017 Community Life Task Force, summer, 2017 Mid-Winter Convocation Preacher, 2010 and 2017
Kathryn M. Schifferdecker 7 Preacher for December Graduation (chosen by students), 2013 Lilly Grant teams Vibrant Congregations (2011-2012), and Christians Callings in the World (2008-2012). Faculty Concerns Committee (elected by faculty), 2009-2012 Advisor or Reader for 25 M.A. and M.Th. theses Candidacy advisor for 42 students (2006-2018) Preacher and/or presider for daily chapel (4-5 times/year) SERVICE IN WIDER CHURCH and ACADEMY: Adult Education Board member, Christ Lutheran Church, Lake Elmo, MN, 2017-present School Board member, Gethsemane Lutheran School, Maplewood, MN, 2015-present Confirmation small group leader, Christ Lutheran Church, Lake Elmo, MN, 2015-2018 Montana Synod Candidacy Committee member, 2009-present Preacher, Montana Synod Assembly, June, 2017 Session presider, SBL Upper-Midwest Regional Meeting, April, 2010 Guest preacher and Sunday School teacher, St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN, 2007 2010 Synod Assembly Bible Study leader, Jacob Becoming Israel: Promise for a New Day, South Central Synod of Wisconsin, May, 2002. FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS: Seminary Stewardship Alliance Seed Grant, 2014 Wabash Center Workshop for Pre-Tenure Theological School Faculty, 2009-2010 Dean s Dissertation Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School, 2002-2003 Theological Studies Grant, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 1996-2000, 2002-2003 Foreign Language Area Studies Grant, Harvard University, 1998 (funded modern Hebrew study in Israel) Roland Bainton Award, Yale Divinity School, 1992-1993 Phi Beta Kappa, St. Olaf College, 1989-1990 Departmental Distinction in English Literature, St. Olaf College, 1989-1990 National Merit Scholar, St. Olaf College, 1986-1990 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Society of Biblical Literature, Association of Teaching Theologians (ELCA) FAMILY: Married to Doug Steinke (since 1999) Children: Esther (born 2003), Isaac (born 2004), Sarah (born 2008)