Laura L. Brenneman
Assistant Professor of Religion
Church Affiliation: Mennonite Church (USA)
Education
University of Durham, England, 2001 – 2005, Ph.D. in Theology
AMBS, 1999 – 2001, M.A. in Theological studies with a concentration in Biblical Studies
Eastern Mennonite University, 1998 – 2000, Masters of Conflict Transformation
Eastern Mennonite University, 1992 – 96, B.A. in Biology
Academic Positions
Bluffton University, Assistant Professor, 2004 – present
Courses Offered
Introduction to Biblical Worldview
Introduction to Old Testament
Introduction to New Testament
New Testament Greek
Jesus: Early Witnesses
Exegetical Studies: Gospels
Exegetical Studies: Johannine Literature
Exegetical Studies: Pauline Epistles
Exegetical Studies: Hebrews
Exegetical Studies: The Book of the Twelve
Methods of Biblical Interpretation
Theories of Peace and Conflict
War, Peace, and Nonviolence
Christian Values in a Global Community
Current Leadership Roles
New Testament Editor of the Studies of Peace in Scripture series by the Institute of Mennonite Studies, Elkhart, IN, April 2008 to present.
Director of Bluffton University's Peace and Conflict Studies Program, September 2005 to present.
Chairperson of Bluffton University's Special Studies and Honors Committee, September 2007 to present.
Faculty Advisor for Bluffton University’s Habitat for Humanity, September 2004 to present.
Awards and Grants
"What Does Peace Have To Do with Freedom? How Pauline Theology Can Inform Christian Identity," the C. Henry Smith Peace Lecturship for the 2008-2009 academic year.
Bluffton University Research Center Grant for the study of conflict in churches, Summer 2005.
Nowell Rostron Bequest, St John’s College, Durham, December 2002.
Van Mildert Scholarship, Endowed Scholarship in Theology, University of Durham, for the academic years of 2002/03 and 2003/04.
Research grant from the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, August 2002.
Overseas Research Students (ORS) Awards Scheme, academic scholarship from Universities UK, for research at the University of Durham from 2001 to 2004.
Academic Excellence Award, from the Bible Department, AMBS, May 2001.
Tomorrow's Leaders Today, a community service award from Public Allies, Chicago, May 1997.
Research Interests
Community conflict, particularly in local congregations
Systemic conflict in societies
Approaches to conflict resolution in the Bible
Early Judaism
Early Christianity
The Apostle Paul
Publications
“Imitation as Participation: Discipleship in Paul’s Letters.” In The Work of Jesus Christ in Anabaptist Perspective, ed. Alain Epp Weaver and Gerald J. Mast, 106-23. Telford, PA: Cascadia Publishing House, 2008.
"Further Footnotes on Paul, Yoder, and Boyarin." Crosscurrents 56 (Winter 2007): 60-69.
"A Pearl of Great Price: Reflections on Research and Teaching." In Higher Learning and the Wisdom of the Cross: Mennonite University Faculty Conference Presentations, 23-24. Goshen, IN: Mennonite Education Agency, 2006.
Presentations
“What Does Peace Have To Do with Freedom? How Pauline Theology Can Inform Christian Identity,” presented at an Adult Education Forum at Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR, September 14, 2008.
“Habits of the Heart: ‘Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away…,” a Christian Education Sunday sermon for First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, OH, September 7, 2008.
“The Gospel, Freedom, and Nonviolence: Pauline Theology through the Lenses of Galatians and
Romans,” presented at the Believers’ Church Conference, Winnipeg, Canada, June 13,
2008.
“Philadelphia and Freedom: Conversation on Galatians,” a Bible study with Mennonite church
leaders in Philadelphia, Historic Meeting House, Germantown, PA, May 13, 2008.
"Diaspora Identity and Mission: Paul's Message of Freedom to the Galatians A Response to Daniel Boyarin's 'Judaism as a Free Church: Footnotes to John Howard Yoder's The Jewish-Christian Schism Revisited,'" Mennonite Scholars Panel at the annual American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature conference, Washington, DC, November 18, 2006.
"Freedom and Christian Identity: A Bible Study on Galatians," presented at the Franconia Mennonite Conference annual meeting, Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, PA, November 11, 2006.
"A Pearl of Great Price," a reflection for the Mennonite Education Agency's Mennonite University Faculty conference, Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH, August 9, 2006.
"'Your Daughters Shall Prophesy:' How Can We Keep Silent?" a presentation for "Lee Snyder, Bluffton University, and Women in the Academy," an event honoring President Snyder's tenure at Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH, April 19, 2006.
"'I Have Become Like a Broken Vessel' (Psa 31.12b) How Shall We Receive Jesus?" a Palm Sunday sermon for Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, OH, April 9, 2006.
"Paul and Church Conflict: How Metaphors Affect Outcome," Bluffton University Faculty Colloquium, February 10, 2006.
"What Does Freedom Have to Do with Peace? Christian Calling and Mennonite Theology" a sermon for Pinto Mennonite Church, MD, November 27, 2005.
"Paul on Love and Freedom," a response to P. Travis Kroeker's, "Whither Messianic Ethics? Paul as Political Theorist," Mennonite Scholars Panel at the annual American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature conference, Philadelphia, November 19, 2005.
"Paul's Call and Christian Vocation," for the Goshen College conference, "Cultivating a Culture of Calling: Mennonite Perspectives of Vocation," October 21, 2005.
"Corporate Discipline and the People of God: Metaphors of the Group in 1 Corinthians," Bluffton University Colloquium, March 18, 2005.
"God, Justice, and Nonviolence," a sermon for Pinto Mennonite Church, MD, September 16, 2001.
