Guidelines: May-August 2011

"Guidelines" is a unique Bible reading resource that offers four months of in-depth study written by leading scholars. Contributors are drawn from around the world, as well as the UK, and represent a stimulating and thought-provoking breadth of Christian tradition. Instead of the usual dated daily readings, "Guidelines" provides weekly units, broken into at least six sections, plus an introduction giving context for the passage and a final section of points for thought and prayer. On any day you can read as many or as few sections as you wish, to fit in with work or home routine. As well as a copy of "Guidelines", you will need a Bible. Each contributor also suggests books for further study. Published every four months (in January, May and September), commissioned by Canon Dr Jeremy Duff and edited by Lisa Cherrett.
Contents of this issue: Matthew 21 - 24 Peter Walker 2 - 22 May; Psalms 38 - 50 Henry Wansbrough 23 May - 5 June; Money and economics Justin Welby 6 - 19 June; Isaiah 1 - 12 Sharon Moughtin-Mumby 20 June - 3 July; 'Guard your heart' Jenny Hellyer 4 - 17 July; Jesus' farewell in John Jeremy Duff 18 July - 7 August; Genesis 25 - 34 Alec Gilmore 8 - 21 August; and, Mission after Christendom Steve Hollinghurst 22 August - 4 September. About the contributors in this issue: Peter Walker is Associate Vice-Principal and Director of Development at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, where he lectures in New Testament Studies and Biblical Theology. He has a special interest in the historical Jesus. As a qualified tour guide around Israel, he leads student groups on tours every other year. Henry Wansbrough OSB is a monk at Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire. He is Executive Secretary of the International Commission for Producing an English-Language Lectionary (ICPEL) for the Roman Catholic Church, and lectures frequently across the globe. Justin Welby is Dean of Liverpool. Previously, as Canon of Coventry Cathedral, he was responsible for Coventry's international ministry of reconciliation.
Justin is also the Personal and Ethical Adviser to the UK Association of Corporate Treasurers, and lectures extensively on ethics and finance. Sharon Moughtin-Mumby is Mission Theologian for Parishes in the Diocese of Southwark, responsible for the 'Bible in Mission' project which aims to energise and resource Bible reading and engagement across the Diocese. Her latest book is "Sexual and Marital Metaphors in Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel" (Oxford Theological Monographs, OUP, 2008). Jenny Hellyer is a spiritual director, musician, clergy wife and mother based in Oxford. After teaching and theological study, she was part of the Lee Abbey Community in Devon for seven years. Jeremy Duff is a vicar in Widnes with a teaching and writing ministry, which has included posts at Liverpool Cathedral and within Oxford University. His writings include "Meeting Jesus: Human Responses to a Yearning God" (SPCK, 2006) and "The Elements of New Testament Greek" (CUP, 2005). Alec Gilmore is a Baptist minister, author, lecturer and Senior Research Fellow at the International Baptist Theological Seminary, Prague.
His most recent book is A Concise Dictionary of Bible Origins and Interpretation (T&T Clark/Continuum, 2007) Steve Hollinghurst works for Church Army as Researcher in Evangelism to Post-Christian Culture, based at the Sheffield Centre. He has an academic background in social science and theology, with postgraduate research into contemporary spirituality. He is part of the team that runs the Elemental venue at the Glastonbury festival.