The Society of Biblical Literature holds an annual convention for professors of Bible and graduate students in Scripture. At the recent meeting in Atlanta, GA (November 20-23) ISAAC scheduled an Additional Meeting to preview SANACS Journal issue #3 and to introduce some of our other publications. ISAAC was represented by Dr. Andrew Lee, East Region Director, and by Dr. Russell Moy, Board chair.
An abstract from Dr. Uriah Kim’s essay, “Reading David from Asian American Context,” was shared as Dr. Kim was unable to attend SBL this year. His thesis is that David was able to cross boundaries and forge alliances in part due to his own biracial background. Kim then offers insights into boundaries and the possibilities of Asian American hybridity.
Dr. Bo Lim, who teaches Old Testament at Seattle Pacific University, introduced his essay on “In Search of a Narrative: The (Post-)Exile for Asian American Biblical Interpretation and Theology.” He proposed the themes of exile and diaspora to organize an Asian American narrative. Using an expanded concept of exile, Lim analyzed passages from Isaiah and Ezra-Nehemiah and applied them to the experience of the Korean American church.
Dr. Chloe Sun (Logos Evangelical Seminary) briefly introduced Mirrored Reflections: Reframing Biblical Characters, which she co-edited with Dr. Young Lee Hertig, director of ISAAC Southern CA. The stories of women in the Bible are intertwined with personal anecdotes from the lives of the Asian American women writers. Chloe had the opportunity to sign the books that were purchased by the attendees.
New friendships were made through the meeting with guests coming from as far away as Hawaii and as close as Atlanta. For at least one person, it was his first encounter with Asian American issues in an academic setting and he quickly procured all the items on the book table so that he could continue reading in this field.
– Andrew Lee, reporting
SANACS 