Bernadette J. Brooten

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Curriculum Vitae

Bernadette Joan Brooten

Robert and Myra Kraft and Jacob Hiatt Professor of Christian Studies
Professor of Women's and Gender Studies
Professor of Classics
Director, Feminist Sexual Ethics Project

Address: Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, MS 054
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
Phone: (781) 736-2978
Email: brooten@brandeis.edu

Special Fields: New Testament, Post-Biblical Judaism, Early Christian Literature and History, Women and Religion, History of Sexuality, Feminist Sexual Ethics (including focus on law and sexuality)

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. 1982 Harvard University (Thesis topic: "Inscriptional Evidence for Women as Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue")

1977–1978 Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Talmud, Jewish History)

1975–1976 University of Tübingen (New Testament, Theology)

1973–1982 Harvard University (New Testament Post-Biblical Judaism, Christian Origins)

1971–1973 University of Tübingen

B.A. 1968–1971 University of Portland (German, maxima cum laude)

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Grants and Scholarships:

Brandeis University, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department Grant for Drew University Doctoral Seminar Archaeology Doctoral Seminar in Turkey (2012);

American Academy of Religion Grant for "Disrupting the Script: Raising to Legal Consciousness Sexual Assaults on Black Women" (2012);

Visiting Scholar, Women's Studies in Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School (2011–2012);

National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (2011–2012);

Brandeis Mandel Center for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities grant to co-teach "Religion in Boston" (2011);

Brandeis University, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department grant for Middlebury Summer Arabic School (2010);

Brandeis University, Norman grant for Middlebury Summer Arabic School (2010);

Ford Foundation Grant for a project on Feminist Sexual Ethics: Creating Debate on How to Respect the Full Human Dignity of All Persons (2000–2011), focus for 2002–2011: Slavery's long Shadow over the Lives of Girls of and Women;

Ford Foundation Grant (with Prof. Anita Hill) for a project on Victim Race and Rape (2007–2009);

Brandeis Provost's Conference Fund Grant for "Beyond Slavery: Overcoming its Legacy in the Lives of Girls and Women" (2006);

American Academy of Religion Grant for "Beyond Slavery: Overcoming its Legacy in the Lives of Girls and Women" (2006);

Ford Foundation Planning Grant for a project on Feminist Sexual Ethics: Creating Debate on How to Respect the Full Human Dignity of All Persons (2000–2002);

Liberal Arts Fellowship in Law, Harvard Law School (1999–2000);

MacArthur Foundation, MacArthur Fellowship (July 1, 1998–2003);

Fulbright Foundation and Royal Norwegian Research Council, Grant for research and teaching at the Theology Department of the University of Oslo, Norway (July 1, 1998–December 31, 1998);

Brandeis University, Mazer Grant for research on "Woman-Woman Marriage in the Roman Empire" (1997);

Brandeis University, Sachar Grant to develop a course: "Introduction to Christianity" (1996);

Brandeis University, grant to develop a University Seminar in "Nature and Natural Law" (1994);

American Council of Learned Societies, Grant-in-Aid (1993);

American Association of University Women, Faculty Career Enhancement Grant (1992);

Fellowship, Naruth Foundation (1992);

American Academy of Religion grant for research assistance (1991);

Grant from Milton Fund of the Harvard Medical School (1991);

Fellow, The Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College (1989);

National Endowment for the Humanities, Fellowship for University Teachers (1989);

Grant from the President of Harvard University's Fund for Innovation for the seminar, "The Bible and Public Policy" (1988);

Roothbert Foundation (1977, 1978); Harvard University, Sinclair Kennedy Traveling Fellowship (1977);

Harvard Divinity School, Arthur Darby Nock Award (1977);

Danforth Foundation, Kent Fellowship (1975, 1976, 1978);

Harvard University (1973, 1974);

University of Portland (1968, 1969, 1970);

Risq G. Haddad Foundation grant for students of Lebanese and Syrian origin (1968, 1969, 1970).

Award: 2001 Outstanding Service in Mentoring, Society of Biblical Literature.

Offices: President, New England Society of Biblical Literature (2002);

Vice-President, New England Society of Biblical Literature (2001).

Member, Honor Society: Delta Sigma Kappa (1971).

Listed in: The World Who's Who of Women (1994), Who's Who Among American Educators (1992), Who's Who Among American Women (1992), Who's Who in American Religion (1992), Who's Who Among American College Students (1971).

MAJOR CONFERENCES CONVENED:

"Disrupting the Script: Raising to Legal Consciousness Sexual Assaults on Black Women" (with Anita F. Hill), Brandeis University, March 19, 2012.

"Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacies," Brandeis University, October 15–16, 2006.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Comprehensive list of courses taught by Professor Brooten.

Robert and Myra Kraft and Jacob Hiatt Professor of Christian Studies, Brandeis University (1996–present);

Croghan Bicentennial Visiting Professor in Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Williams College (Spring 2006);

Visiting Professor, University of Oslo (Fall 1998);

Adjunct Robert and Myra Kraft and Jacob Hiatt professorship at Holy Cross College (1993–present);

Robert and Myra Kraft and Jacob Hiatt Associate Professor of Christian Studies, Brandeis University (1993–1996);

Associate Professor of Scripture and Interpretation, Harvard Divinity School (1989–1993);

Assistant Professor of Scripture and Interpretation, Harvard Divinity School (1985–1989);

Assistant Professor of Religion, The Claremont Graduate School, and Director of Research in Women's Studies, Institute for Antiquity and Christianity (1982–1984);

Principal Investigator of the research project "Sexualität, Ehe und Alternativen zur Ehe in den ersten vier christlichen Jahrhunderten" within the larger project "Frau und Christentum," University of Tübingen, Germany (June 1982–December 1984), funded by the Volkswagen Foundation;

Instructor of New Testament, School of Theology at Claremont (1981–1982);

Instructor, Hawaii Consortium for Theological Education (Winterim 1982);

Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Theology at Claremont (1980–1981);

Visiting Instructor, University of Tübingen (Seminar: "Frau und Christentum," Summer 1981; co-taught with Hans Küng, Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, and Anne Jensen);

Instructor of Women's Studies, Leibniz Kolleg, University of Tübingen (Spring 1981);

Research/Resource Associate in Women's Studies, Harvard Divinity School (1978–1979).

OTHER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:

Dormitory Proctor, Harvard Summer School (1975);

Scholarly Aide, Institute for Ecumenical Studies (Director: Hans Küng),

University of Tübingen, Germany (1972–1973; 1975–1976; 1979–1980);

Indexer, (Tübinger) Theologische Quartalschrift (1971–1972).

PUBLICATIONS:

Books:

Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacies, edited with the editorial assistance of Jacqueline L. Hazelton. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.

Love Between Women: Early Christian Responses to Female Homoeroticism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Winner of a 1997 Lambda Literary Award in the Lesbian Studies Category.

Winner of the 1997 Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Non-Fiction, sponsored by the Publishing Triangle.

Winner of a 1997 American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in the Historical Studies Category.

Nominated for a 1996 National Book Award.

Excerpted in Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review 3:4 (1996) 26f; The Best of the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review. Ed. Richard Schneider. Foreword by Edmund White. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1997, 104–108; and Schlangenbrut 14:54 (1996) 15–18.

A German translation is in progress.
Women Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue: Inscriptional Evidence and Background Issues. Brown Judaic Studies 36. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1982.

Frauen in der Männerkirche? (co-edited with Norbert Greinacher). Mainz: Grünewald; Munich: Kaiser, 1982.

In progress:

Book-length manuscript on enslaved girls and women and female slave-holders in early Christianity.

Articles:

"Enslaved Women in Basil of Caesarea's Canonical Letters: An Intersectional Analysis," in Doing Gender, Doing Religion. Ed. Ute Eisen, Christine Gerber, and Angela Standhartinger. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, forthcoming;

"Introduction," Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacies, edited by Bernadette J. Brooten with the editorial assistance of Jacqueline L. Hazelton. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010;

"Epilogue" by Mende Nazer, with the assistance of Bernadette J. Brooten, Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacies, edited by Bernadette J. Brooten with the editorial assistance of Jacqueline L. Hazelton. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010;

"Reading the Bible Through the Lens of Freedom: Feminist Sexual Ethics," Seminary Ridge Review 13:1 (2010) 1–15.

"Der lange Schatten der Sklaverei im Leben von Frauen und Mädchen," in Dem Tod nicht Glauben: Sozialgeschichte der Bibel: Festschrift für Luise Schottroff zum 70. Geburtstag, ed. Frank Crüsemann, et al. Gütersloh: Gütersloh, 2004, 488–503;

"Nature, Law, and Custom in Augustine's On the Good of Marriage," in Walk in the Ways of Wisdom: Essays in Honor of Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. Ed. Shelly Matthews, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, and Melanie Johnson-DeBaufre. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 2003, 181–193;

"Naturen, loven og det alminnelige: En systematisk analyse av tidlige kristne forestillinger om seksualitet" in Naturlig Sex? Seksualitet og kjønn i den kristne antikken. Ed. Halvor Moxnes, Jostein Børtnes, and Dag Øistein Endsjø. Oslo: Gyldendal, 2002, 73–98;

"Überlegungen zu einer neuen feministischen Sexualethik, nicht nur für Lesben," in Verwandlung des Lebens: Beträge aus Bad Boll zu einer feministischen Theologie der Befreiung. Ed. Ruth Habermann and Gudrun Ehmann. Materialsdienst 4; Bad Boll: Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll, 2000, 194–204;

"The Jews of Ancient Antioch," in Antioch: The Lost Ancient City. Ed. Christine Kondoleon. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000, 29–37;

"Female Leadership in the Ancient Synagogue," in From Dura to Sepphoris. Ed. Ze'ev Weiss and Lee Levine. Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary series 40 (2000) 215–223;

"Tidlig-kristne reaksjoner på seksuelle forhold mellom kvinner," Kvinneforskning (Women's Studies Journal of the University of Oslo, Norway) 2 (1999) 9–23, translated by Marianne Bjelland-Kartzow;

"Liebe zwischen Frauen im frühen Christentum," Zeitschrift für Neues Testament 2 (1999);

"Response to Reviews of Brooten, Love Between Women, by Ken Stone, Natalie Boymel Kampen, David Halperin, Deirdre Good, and Ann Pellegrini," GLQ 4 (1998) 606–630; part of The GLQ Forum. focusing on Love Between Women , 557–630; Part 1 and Part 2.

"Is Belief the Center of Religion?" in Religious Propaganda and Missionary Competition in the New Testament World. Ed. Lukas Bornemann, Kelly del Tredici, and Angela Standhartinger. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994, 471–479;

"‘Iael Prostates' in the Jewish Donative Inscription from Aphrodisias," in The Future of Early Christianity: Festschrift for Helmut Koester. Ed. Birger Pearson, et al. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991, 149–162;

"The Gender of Iael in the Jewish Inscription from Aphrodisias," in Of Scribes and Scrolls: Studies in the Hebrew Bible, Intertestamental Judaism, and Christian Origins. Presented to John Strugnell on the Occasion of His Sixtieth Birthday. Ed. Harold W. Attridge, John J. Collins, and Thomas H. Tobin. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1990, 163–173;

"Paul and the Law: How Complete was the Departure?" The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Supplementary Issue, No. 1 (1990) 71–89;

"Response to 'Corinthian Veils and Gnostic Androgynes' by Dennis Ronald MacDonald," in Images of the Feminine in Gnosticism. Ed. Karen L. King. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988, 292–295;

"Roundtable Discussion: Lesbianism and Feminist Theology," Response to Carter Heyward and Mary E. Hunt, Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 2 (1986) 100f;

"Jewish Women's History in the Roman Period: A Task for Christian Theology," Harvard Theological Review 79 (1986) 22–30; also in Christians Among Jews and Gentiles: Essays in Honor of Krister Stendahl on his Sixty-fifth Birthday. Ed. George W. E. Nickelsburg and George W. MacRae. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986, 22–30;

"Patristic Interpretations of Romans 1:26," in Studia Patristica XVIII: Papers of the 1983 Oxford Patristics Conference. Vol. I: Historica-Theologica-Gnostica-Biblica. Ed. Elizabeth A. Livingstone. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian, 1985, 287–291;

"Paul's Views on the Nature of Women and Female Homoeroticism," in Immaculate and Powerful. Ed. Clarissa Atkinson, Constance Buchanan and Margaret Miles. Boston: Beacon, 1985, 61–87; German translation in Hättest du gedacht, dass wir so viele sind? Lesbische Frauen in der Kirche. Ed. Monika Barz, Herta Leistner and Ute Wild. Stuttgart: Kreuz, 1987, 113–138;

"Early Christian Women and their Cultural Context: Issues of Method in Historical Reconstruction," in Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship. Ed. Adela Yarbro Collins. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1985, 66–91; German translation in Einwürfe 2 (1985) 62–93;

"Women and the Churches in Early Christianity," Ecumenical Trends 14 (1985) 51–54;

"Methodenfragen zur Rekonstrucktion urchristlicher Frauengeschichte," Bibel und Kirche 4 (1984) 157–164;

"Zur Debatte über das Scheidungsrecht der jüdischen Frau," Evangelische Theologie 43 (1983) 466–478;

"Konnten die Frauen im alten Judentum sich von ihren Männern scheiden? Überlegungen zu Mk 10,11–12 und 1 Kor 7,10–11," Evangelische Theologie 42 (1982) 65–80 (Colwell Lecture of 1981, School of Theology at Claremont). See also the responses of Eduard Schweizer, Evangelische Theologie 42 (1982) 294–297, and of Hans Weder, Evangelische Theologie 43 (1983) 175–178;

"Inscriptional Evidence for Women as Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue," in Society of Biblical Literature—1981 Seminar Papers. Ed. Kent H. Richards. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1981, 1–17;

"Jüdinnen zur Zeit Jesu—Ein Plädoyer für Differenzierung," (Tübinger) Theologische Quartalschrift 161 (1981) 281–285; also appeared in Frauen in der Männerkirche? Ed. Bernadette Brooten and Norbert Greinacher. Mainz: Grünewald; Munich: Kaiser, 1982, 141–148;

"Inscriptional Evidence for Women as Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue," in Proceedings of the Eighth World Congress of Jewish Studies, Division B. The History of the Jewish People. Jerusalem: World Union of Jewish Studies, 1982, 1–6;

"Feminist Perspectives on New Testament Exegesis," Concilium 138 (1980) 55–61; also appeared simultaneously in German, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese; also appeared in Studium Generale (Nijmegen, Netherlands) March/April (1982) 25–30;

"The Gospel in Conflict: Paul's Opponents in Galatians," The Bible Today 18:2 (1980) 89–95;

"'Junia...Outstanding among the Apostles' (Romans 16:7)," in Women Priests: A Catholic Commentary on the Vatican Declaration. Ed. Leonard Swidler and Arlene Swidler. New York: Paulist, 1977, 141–144; German translation in Frauenbefreiung. Biblische und theologische Argumente. Ed. Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel. Munich: Kaiser, 1978, 148–151.

Lexicon Articles:

"Homosexuality (female)," in Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Ed. Roger Bagnall, Kai Broderson, Craige Champion, Andrew Erskine, and Sabine Huebner. Oxford: Wiley, 2011;

"Early Christianity," in Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures, vol. 1: Lesbian Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia. Ed. Bonnie Zimmerman. New York: Garland, 2000, 167–170;

"Stendahl, Krister," in Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation. Ed. John Hayes. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999, 503f;

"Divorced wife (separate entries under Matt 5:31–32; 19:3–9; Mark 10:2–12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor 7:10–11)," "Junia," and "Unnatural intercourse of Gentile women (Rom 1:26)," in Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, Apocrypha, and New Testament. Ed. Carol Meyers, Toni Craven, and Ross Kraemer. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999;

"Andronikus/Junia(s)," in Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Handwörterbuch für Theologie und Religionswissenschaft. Ed. Hans Dieter Betz, et al. 4th ed. Tübingen: Mohr (Siebeck), 1998ff, vol. 1 (1998), cols. 474f;

"Junia" and "Homosexuality," in The Oxford Companion to the Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, 288f, 405;

"Homosexualität," in Neues Bibel-Lexikon. Zurich: Benziger, 1992, 192f.

Book Reviews:

Ute Eisen. Frauen als Amtsträgerinnen im frühen Christentum: Epigraphische und literarische Studien (1996): Review of Biblical Literature;

John Romer. Testament: The Bible and History (1988): The New York Times Book Review. June 25, 1990, 33;

Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins (1983): Bible Review 1:2 (1985) 9f;

Marilyn Joyce Segal Chiat. Handbook of Synagogue Architecture (1982): Second Century 4 (1984) 45f;

Leonard Swidler. Women in Judaism: The Status of Women in Formative Judaism (1976): Journal of Ecumenical Studies 15 (1978) 540f;

Samuel Laeuchli. Power and Sexuality: The Emergence of Canon Law at the Synod of Elvira (1972): Journal of Ecumenical Studies 14 (1977) 340f;

Walter Mueller-Roemheld. Zueinander—Miteinander. Kirchliche Zusammenarbeit im 20. Jahrhundert (1971): Journal of Ecumenical Studies 13 (1976) 460;

Hubert Cancik, Hildegard Cancik-Lindemaier, et al. Zum Thema Frau in Kirche und Gesellschaft. Zur Unmündigkeit verurteilt? (1972): The Catholic Citizen 55 (1973) 31.

Other:

"Bibliographie zur Unfehlbarkeitsdebatte" (with Karl-Josef Kuschel), in Fehlbar? Eine Bilanz. Ed. Hans Küng. Cologne: Benziger, 1973, 515–525;

Homily Models and Scriptural Commentary in the homily service Good News (1975–1981);

Translations of various articles by Hans Küng.

ACADEMIC PAPERS PRESENTED:

"Early Christian Enslaved Families," Roman Family VI: Limits and Borders of Childhood and Family, Rome, May 18, 2012;

"A Precarious Life: Human Property and the Synod of Elvira," Boston Area Patristics Group: Patristica Bostoniensia, Cambridge, MA, April 19, 2012;

"Sexual Surrogacy Enables Holy Celibacy: Euklia, Iphidama, and Maximilla in the Passion of Andrew," Harvard Women's Studies in Religion Program Colloquium, Cambridge, MA, March 28, 2012;

"Response to Kecia Ali's, Valerie Bridgeman's, Sheila Briggs's, Robert Kuloba's, Gail Labovitz's, and Marvin Williams's Reviews of Beyond Slavery," Bible and Cultural Studies Section, Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Francisco, November 19, 2011;

"Enslaved Women in Basil of Caesarea's Canonical Letters: An Intersectional Analysis," Harvard Women's Studies in Religion Program Colloquium, Cambridge, MA, October 19, 2011;

"Enslaved Women in Basil of Caesarea's Canonical Letters: An Intersectional Analysis," Doing Gender, Doing Religion Conference, University of Gießen, Germany, July 1, 2011;

"Slavery in Judaism, Early Christianity, and Islam: Comparative Perspectives," Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, Norway, April 14, 2011;

"What Can Law Do? What Can Religion Do? How Society Shapes and Is Shaped by Its Sexual Arrangements," Senter for tverrfaglig Kjønnforskning (Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research), University of Oslo, Norway, April 15, 2011;

Seminar presentation on Beyond Slavery, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Feminismus und Kirchen, Rottenburg, Germany, July 9, 2011;

"The Sifra and Eusebios on Lev 18:3 as a Prohibition of Same-Sex Marriage," Gender Studies, Association for Jewish Studies Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, December 20, 2010;

"Response to Kathy Gaca, The Making of Fornication: Eros, Ethics, and Political Reform in Greek Philosophy and Early Christianity. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003," Psychology and Biblical Studies Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Atlanta, November 20, 2010;

"Closing Remarks," Polygamy, Polygyny, and Polyamory," Hadassah Brandeis Institute, Co-sponsored by the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, November 8, 2010;

"Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacies," Keynote Address, Sects and Sexuality: Issues of Division and Diversity Conference, Florida State University Department of Religion's Ninth Annual Graduate Student Symposium/Society for Women's Advancement in Philosophy's Sixth Annual Conference, Tallahassee, FL, February 19, 2010;

"Reading the Bible Through the Lens of Freedom: Feminist Sexual Ethics," Norma Schweitzer Wood Lecture, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Gettysburg, PA, April 21, 2009;

"Paul and the Jewish Law," Paul of Tarsus: 21st Century Perspectives on the Man and his Letters Conference, The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, Boston, MA, March 15, 2009;

"Early Christian Canon Law on Enslaved Women," Special Session: Sexual Freedom: Overcoming Slavery's Legacy in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Foundational Texts, Presented by the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project, Boston, MA, November 24, 2008;

"Profound Shifts in Assumptions About Sexual Behavior Since the Early Christian Period," "Covenant, Community, and Sexuality Conference," Inter-Religious Center for Public Life and Boston Theological Institute, Newton, MA, June 16, 2008;

Panelist, "Gender Defines Religion: Religion Defines Gender," "Gender and Religion: Authority, Power, and Agency Conference," Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Cambridge, MA, April 3, 2008;

"Beyond Slavery: Overcoming its Sexual Legacy," Joanna Dewey Lecture, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, March 27, 2007;

Response to Clarice J. Martin, "'Race-ing' the Stone: Critical Race Theory and the Master Narratives of Christian Testament and Early Christian Social History," "Race and Ethnicity and the New Testament Conference," Harvard Divinity School, March 24, 2007;

"The Bible and Biblical Authority," "Slavery Legislated: Early Christian Canon Law," and "Enslaved Women as Surrogate Bodies in Early Christianity," Haskell Lectures on "Slavery: Confronting its Religious and Sexual Legacies," Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, February 18, 19, 20, 2007;

Response to Daniel Boyarin, "The Cheese and the Sermons: Towards a Micro-History of Ideas," Progressive Values in Religion Working Group, Ford Foundation, New York, January 5, 2007;

"Slavery: Yes! Same-Sex Love: No! Church Debates Over Biblical Teachings," LGBT/Queer Hermeneutics Consultation, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 18, 2006;

"Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Religious and Sexual Legacy," MacArthur Reunion, Lincolnshire, IL, November 3, 2006;

"Sexual Ethics Untainted by Slave-Holding Values," and "Welcoming Address," Beyond Slavery Conference, Brandeis University, October 15–16, 2006;

"Is Religion a Help or a Hindrance on the Feminist Journey?" Theological Opportunities Program, Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, May 18, 2006;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women," Sihler Lecture, Luther College, Decorah, IA, March 19, 2006;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women" and "Slavery in Early Christian Canon Law," Birks Lectures, Faculty of Religion, McGill University, March 7–8, 2006;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women," "The Life Cycle of Enslaved Girls and Women in Early Christianity," "Slavery in Early Christian Canon Law," and "Enslaved Women as Surrogates for their Owners in Early Christianity," Croghan Lectures, Williams College, October 20, 2005; February 13, 20, March 13, 2006;

Panelist, "Reassessing Social Status in the First-Century Assemblies," Archaeology of Religion in the Roman World Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 20, 2005;

"Slavery in Early Christian Canon Law," Brown University, May 11, 2005;

Panelist, "Scripture, Sexuality, and the Body," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Religion in the Public Arena Special Session, San Antonio, TX, November 21, 2004;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women," MacArthur Reunion, University Park, PA, October 15, 2004;

"The Life Cycle of Enslaved Women and Girls in Early Christianity," Symposium in Honor of Halvor Moxnes: "Curriculum vitae: Life stages and Identity Construction in Early Christianity," Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, September 16, 2004;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women," Women's Studies Distinguished Faculty Lecture, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, September 8, 2004;

"Response to Stanley Stowers, 'What is Pauline Participation in Christ?'" Society of Biblical Literature, New England Region, Presidential Address, Cambridge, MA, April 23, 2004;

"Women, Children, and Slaves: Rethinking Pauline Ethics," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Paul and Politics Group, Atlanta, November 25, 2003;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Girls and Women," Winston Lecture, Classics Department, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, April 2003;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Women and Girls," MacArthur Fellows' Conference, October 2002;

"Slavery's Long Shadow over the Lives of Women and Girls," Society of Biblical Literature, New England Region, Presidential Address, Waltham, MA, April 12, 2002;

"Response to Elizabeth Clark's and Serene Jones's Reviews of Love Between Women," Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Denver, Romans through History and Cultures Seminar, November 18, 2001;

"Response to Vincent L. Wimbush, 'Not Word, but Worlds (and their Histories): A Proposal for a Future for Biblical Studies," Colloquium zur Bibelauslegung als Kraft zur Veränderung der Gesellschaft, Evangelische Akademie Arnoldshain, Germany, October 20, 2001;

"Krister Stendahl's Contributions on Women and the New Testament," Society of Biblical Literature, New England Region, Cambridge, MA, April 27, 2001;

"Response to African Americans and the Bible: Sacred Texts and Social Texture. Ed. Vincent L. Wimbush. New York: Continuum, 2000." Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Ideological Criticism Group, Nashville, TN, November 18, 2000;

"Christian Sexual Ethics in Conflict," MacArthur Reunion, Chicago, November 4, 1999;

"Response to Alan Watson, ‘Jesus and the Law: Steps Towards a Theoretical Approach,’ and Calum Carmichael, ‘Law, Religion, and the Decalogue,’ American Society for Legal History Annual Meeting, Toronto, October 22, 1999;

"Faith in the Face of Evil;" I. "Enslaved Women and Girls in the Roman Empire"; II. "female Slaves and Slaveholders in Early Christianity," the Rockwell Lectures at Rice University, Houston, TX, February 14–15, 1999;

"Pagan Reactions to Female Homoeroticism in the Roman World" and "Early Christian Responses to Sexual Relations Between Women," Senter for Kvinneforskning (Center for Women's Studies), University of Oslo, November 13, 1998 (a shorter version of the lectures has been published in Kvinneforskning);

"Transformations of Ancient Women's Identity Upon Becoming Christian," Colloquium of Det kristne menneske and Theatrum Roma, October 20, 1998;

"A Systemic Examination of Early Christian Sexual Ethics" and "Response to Jorunn Økland's Review of Brooten, Love Between Women," Identity, (Homo)sexuality and Gender in Antiquity, University of Oslo, October 9–10, 1998;

"Woman-Woman Marriage in Second-Century ce Egypt," Colloquium on Women's Studies Theological Research, held at the University of Oslo, September 13, 1998;

"A Systemic Examination of Early Christian Sexual Ethics," International Conference on Gender and Religion, University of Oslo, September 9, 1998;

"Response to: 'Sexual Transgressions: The Current Debates on the History of Sodomy," with papers by Alan Frantzen, Mark Jordan, and Jonathan Goldberg, American Historical Association Annual Meeting; panel co-sponsored by the Committee on Lesbian and Gay History, Seattle, January 11, 1998;

"Response to David Halperin's, Ann Pellegrini's, Ken Stone's, and Mary Rose D'Angelo's Reviews of Love Between Women," Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Ideological Criticism Group, November 24, 1997;

"Response to Gerd Luedemann, 'The Place of Heretics within German Theology and Church," Society of Biblical Literature and Catholic Biblical Association New England Regional Meeting, Wheaton College, March 21, 1997;

"Love Between Women: Hermeneutical Considerations," Center for Hermeneutics, University of California at Berkeley, February 1996;

"Women Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue," NEH Summer Seminar, Brown University, July 1995;

"Female Leaders in the Ancient Jewish Community in Rome," Conference on Jews in Ancient Rome, Holylands Museum, Jerusalem, Israel, May 1995;

"Lesbians in Hell," Society of Biblical Literature Triregional Meeting, Boston, March 1995;

"Response to Daniel Boyarin, A Radical Jew: Paul and the Politics of Identity," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Chicago, November 1994;

"Why Did Early Christians Condemn Sexual Relations Between Women?" Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Plenary Session: Lecture-Discussion, San Francisco, November 1992;

"Is Belief the Center of Religion? A Consideration of the Supreme Court on the Free Exercise of Religion," 175th Anniversary of the Harvard Divinity School, Religion and Law Panel, Cambridge, MA, October 1992;

"Legal Questions in the Archive of Babata," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Hellenistic Judaism Section, New Orleans, November 1990;

"Response to Richard Oster, 'When Men Wore Veils to Worship: The Historical Context of 1 Corinthians 11:4' and to Cynthia L. Thompson, 'Hairstyles, Head-coverings, and St. Paul: Portraits from Roman Corinth,' Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Archaeology of the New Testament World Group, Anaheim, November 1989;

"Early Christian Responses to Female Homoeroticism and their Historical Context," Colloquium of the Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA, November 1989;

"Paul and the Law: How Complete Was the Departure?" The 1989 Frederick Neumann Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ., October 1989 (published in The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Supplementary Issue, No. 1 [1990] 71–89);

"Response to Ross Kraemer, 'Hellenistic Jewish Women: The Epigraphical

"Evidence," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Hellenistic Judaism Group, Atlanta, November 1986;

"Response to Pieter van der Horst, 'The Testament of Job: A History of Research and Interpretation," Societas Novi Testamenti Studiorum Meeting, Pseudepigrapha Seminar, Atlanta, August 1986;

"Response to Dennis R. MacDonald, 'Corinthian Veils and Gnostic Androgynes," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Images of the Feminine in Gnosticism, Anaheim, November 1985;

"Die frühchristliche Ablehnung von Liebesbeziehungen unter Frauen," "Soziale Diskriminierung Homosexueller": Conference of the Theodor-Heuss-Akademie, Gummersbach, Germany, June 1985;

"Liebesbeziehungen unter Frauen bei Paulus: Theologische Fragen," Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pastoralpsychologie, Gelnhausen, Germany, May 1985;

"Frauen, Geld und Sexualität in der Antike," "Religion und Geld": Colloquium of the Arbeitskreis Theologie und Sozialgeschichte, Arnoldshain, Germany, March 1985;

"Romans 1:26 in the Context of Paul's Understanding of Male and Female," American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Women and Religion Section, Chicago, December 1984;

"Romans 1:26 in its Historical Context," Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, Strasbourg, August 1984;

"Non-literary Sources and a New Framework for Women's History in Antiquity," Berkshire Conference of Women Historians, Smith College, June 1984;

"Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins," American Academy of Religion Meeting, Theology and Religious Reflection Section, December 1983;

"Patristic Interpretations of Rom. 1.26," Ninth International Conference on Patristic Studies, Oxford, September 1983 (published in Studia Patristica XVIII: Papers of the 1983 Patristics Conference. Vol. I: Historica-Theologica-Gnostica-Biblica. Ed. Elizabeth A. Livingstone. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian, 1985, 287–291);

"Frauen in leitenden Funktionen in der Urkirche," Conference of the Verband der Religionslehrer in der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany, June 1983;

"Evidence for Women's Right to Divorce in Ancient Judaism," XVII Congress Internazionale di Papirologia, Naples, May 1983;

"Inscriptional Evidence for Women as Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue," Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Hellenistic Judaism Seminar, San Francisco, December 1981 (published in Society of Biblical Literature—1981 Seminar Papers. Ed. Kent H. Richards. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1981, 1–17);

"Violence Against Women in Rabbinic Literature," "Beyond Violence," Conference of the Claremont Women in Religion," Claremont, CA, November 1981;

"Inscriptional Evidence for Women as Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue," World Union of Jewish Studies Congress, Jerusalem, August 1981 (shortened version of SBL paper cited above; published in Proceedings of the Eighth World Congress of Jewish Studies: Division B.: The History of the Jewish People. Jerusalem: World Union of Jewish Studies, 1982, 1–6);

"Biblical Hermeneutics: Cultural and Feminist Perspectives," Conference of Pacific and Asian Women in Ministry, Berkeley, CA, May 1981;

"Could Women Initiate Divorce in Ancient Judaism? The Implications of Mk 10:11–12," The Ernest Cadman Colwell Lecture, School of Theology at Claremont, April 1981;

"Was There a Women's Gallery in the Ancient Synagogue?" Society of Biblical Literature Regional Meeting, Pasadena, CA, April 1981.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Ph.D. Dissertations Chaired:

Denise Kimber Buell, "Procreative Language in Clement of Alexandria" Harvard University, 1995; published as Making Christians: Clement of Alexandria and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999.

Rebecca Macy Lesses, "Ritual Practices to Gain Power: Adjurations in the Hekhalot Literature, Jewish Amulets, and Greek Revelatory Adjurations" Harvard University, 1995; published as: Ritual Practices to Gain Power: Angels, Incantations, and Revelation in Early Jewish Mysticism. New York: Trinity Press International, 1998).

John Rock Lanci, "Building a Temple of God: Paul's Metaphor of the Community as a Temple in its Roman Corinthian Context." Harvard University, 1993; published as: A New Temple for Corinth: Rhetorical and Archaeological Approaches to Pauline Imagery. Studies in Biblical Literature 1; Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 1997.

Th.D. Dissertation (First: Chaired, Later: Committee Member):

Ruth Anne Clements, "Passover and the Displacement of Jewish Interpretation Within Origen's Exegesis." Harvard University, 1997; accepted for publication by Mohr-Siebeck, Tübingen.

Other:

Founding Chair, Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Consultation of the Society of Biblical Literature (2011–pres.);

Member of the Leadership Council, Harvard Divinity School (2005–2007);

Member of the Advisory Board, Women's Studies in Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School (1997–2008);

Member of the Advisory Board, The Hadassah International Research Institute on Jewish Women, Brandeis University (1997–present);

Member of the Program Committee, Society of Biblical Literature (1984–1987);

Co-editor, Harvard Dissertations in Religion (1985–1993);

Member of the Editorial Board of Harvard Theological Review (1992–1993);

Member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion (1984–1987);

Member, Societas Novi Testamenti Studiorum (membership by election), Society of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Association, Association for Jewish Studies, American Academy of Religion, National Women's Studies Association, Women's Caucus: Religious Studies, American Association of University Professors;

Co-chair, Lesbian-Feminist Issues in Religion Group of the American Academy of Religion (1988–1990);

Co-chair, Women in the Biblical World Section of the Society of Biblical Literature (1982–1983); steering committee member (1980–1987);

Participant in television and radio discussions and interviews in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States;

Lectures at American, German, Austrian, Norwegian, and Dutch universities, as well as before women's groups and Jewish and Christian groups of lay people and clergy in Germany, Austria, and the United States.

LANGUAGES:

German (fluent in speaking and writing); Modern Hebrew, French, and Norwegian—reading and speaking knowledge; Arabic—elementary reading and speaking knowledge; Ancient Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Aramaic—reading knowledge.