2025 - Loyola University Chicago Hybrid

Report of the Eighty-Seventh International Meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association of America

  PROGRAM       ABSTRACTS   

            The eighty-seventh international meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association of America was held as a hybrid meeting, August 2-5 at Loyola University Chicago (LUC) and via Zoom. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) began on Saturday, August 2, with the Executive Director, Archie T. Wright, reading the following message received from the Apostolic Nunciature [N. 24469/25]:

 On behalf of the Apostolic Nuncio, I am pleased to forward the following Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, on the occasion of the 87th International Meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association of America.

HIS HOLINESS POPE SENDS HIS GREETINGS TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE 87^TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, TAKING PLACE AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO FROM 2 TO 5 AUGUST 2025. HE HOPES THAT THROUGH THESE DAYS OF PRAYER, REFLECTION AND STUDY, THOSE PRESENT WILL BE RENEWED IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LOVE FOR SACRED SCRIPTURE. HE TRUSTS THAT THEY WILL LIKEWISE BE CONFIRMED IN THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION TO HELP THE CHURCH IN ITS TASK OF DICSERNING THE MEANING OF THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE FAITHFUL. HIS HOLINESS PRAYS THAT AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR IMPORTANT WORK OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND WRITING, THEY MAY SEEK TO IMITATE THE EXAMPLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY BY WELCOMING THE WORD OF GOD FULLY IN THEIR WHOLE LIVES (CF. POPE FRANCIS, ADDRESS TO THE ITALIAN BIBLICAL ASSOCIATION, 12 SEPTEMBER 2014). WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, THE HOLY FATHER COMMENDS THOSE TAKING PART INTERCESSION OF SAINT JEROME, PATRON OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND HE WILLINGLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF WISDOM AND PEACE IN THE LORD.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN

SECRETARY OF STATE

In harmony with the Holy Father's heartfelt sentiments, I also wish to express-on my own behalf and that of the Apostolic Nuncio-our deep appreciation for the invaluable service and scholarly witness offered by the Catholic Biblical Association of America.

With every good wish for a fruitful and inspiring Assembly, I remain

Msgr. Veceslav Tumir

Charge d'affaires, a.i.

˜™

The meeting program began with panel book discussion presented in collaboration with The Hank Center for The Catholic Intellectual Heritage entitled “How Catholics Encounter the Bible” moderated by Julian Sieber. The panelists included the book’s author, Michael Peppard, Theresa Gross-Diaz, Felipe de J. Legarreta, Anathea Portier-Young, and Brian Yong Lee. A social concluded the evening’s schedule.

Sessions on Sunday, August 3rd

Eighteen first-time attendees gathered with the Executive Director, Archie Wright and Events and Technology Director, Joshua Scott, for a Welcome breakfast; long-time attendees Christopher Skinner, Jennie Grillo, and Raphael Rodriguez joined to share their experience of participating in CBA. Three task forces and seven continuing seminars met simultaneously each day from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The Task Forces included: “The New Feminist Biblical Criticism” (established in 1989 and renamed in 2023; with co-conveners Carol J. Dempsey, O.P., Sarah E. Kohles, O.S.F., Susane Scholz; featuring a celebration of the work of J. Cheryl Exum and Eloise Rosenblatt, R.S.M.); “Addressing Representations of Jews and Judaism in Catholic Exegesis, Homiletics, and Catechesis” (established in 2019; co-conveners: Christopher Seeman and Linda S. Harrington; this year’s focus was a review of the Task Force video and Lectionary texts); and “Baptism in Paul’s Letters” (established in 2024; with co-conveners: Michael P. Barber, Timothy M. Milinovich, Paul D. Wheatley, and presentation by Gregory Tatum, O.P., Ronald D. Witherup, P.S.S., and Najeeb T. Haddad).

The Continuing Seminars and their respective leaders / presenters studied: “Divinity in Ancient Israel” (established 1998; co-conveners: Andrew R. Davis, Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, and Garrett Galvin, O.F.M.; presenters: Thomas Bolin, Xenia Chan, and Mark S. Smith; respondents: Heath Dewrell, Ki-Eun Jang, and Mark Enemali, C.S.Sp., respectively); “Hebrew Poetry” (established 1999; Convener: Joseph E. Jensen; presenters: John R. Jackson, Joseph E. Jensen, Sophia A. Magallanes-Tsang, Thomas P. McCreesh, O.P., and Mirosław S. Wróbel); “The Deuterocanonical Books” (established 2010, focus in 2025: The Reception of the Deuterocanonical Books in Antiquity and Beyond; co-conveners: Francis Macatangay and Kelley Coblentz Bautch; presentations by Vincent Skemp, Núria Calduch-Benages, Jeremy Corley, Kelley Coblentz Bautch, and Noelle G. Johnson); “John’s Gospel and Letters” (established 2019; co-conveners Mary Kate Birge, S.S.J. and Peter Judge; presenters: Christopher Seglenieks, Christopher Skinner, Hugo Méndez, Alicia D. Myers, plus a tribute to Francis J. Moloney with contribution from Toan Do, Mary Coloe, Frank Matera, Sherri Brown, Eric Wyckoff, Tim Friedrichsen, and Mary Kate Birge); “Paul’s Letters” (established 2021, renamed 2023; co-conveners: Timothy Milinovich and Brian Lee; presenters: Marcin Kowalski and Wendy Cotter, C.S.J.);“Isaiah and the Twelve” (established 2022, co-conveners: Joachim Eck and Richard J. Bautch; focus for 2025: Theophanies, theophanic text elements and theophanic language; presenters: Melanie Peetz and Joachim Eck; panel with Todd Hibbard, Burkard Zapff, Richard Bautch and Joachim Eck); “Second Temple Judaism and Christian Origins” (established 2024; co-conveners: Archie T. Wright, Ronald Herms, Angela Kim Harkins; presenters: Gregory E. Sterling, Angela Kim Harkins, and José David Padilla); and “Theological Exegesis” (established 2024; co-conveners: Antonio Portalatín and Ahida Pilarski; focus for this year: exploratory conversations on theological exegesis; presenters: Ahida Pilarski and Antonio Portalatín).

The morning concluded with papers presented in simultaneous sessions: Timothy J. Sandoval, "The Virtue Ethics of Proverbs and the Poem to the Woman of Valor" and Brittany E. Wilson, “Embodying the Divine: God, Jesus, and the Body in New Testament Christology.”

In collaboration with the Hank Center, LUC’s Archives and Special Collections curated and presented a display of medieval and early modern manuscripts in the Elizabeth M. Cudahy Memorial Library, available for viewing on Sunday and Monday afternoons.

Four sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers delivered: Andrew M. Garbarino, “Psalm 24 as a Poetic Monument”; Frank Shaw, “Ancient Greek Ellipses: The Case of καὶ γάρ and ἀλλὰ γάρ”; Jeremiah Coogan, “Rethinking Gospel Genre: A Provocation”; Abigail Bodeau, “The Use of Prophetic Literature in Catholic Liturgical Music”; Joseph Kimmel, “Strong Words: Empowered Speech in Christianity and Buddhism”; Jean Rómeo Ntsama, “In Search of the Feast of the Acclamations: Preliminary Reflections”; Wenyue Qiang, “‘Lest the King be Captured’: Legal Scripturalization of the Law of the King’s Guards in the Temple Scroll”; Samuel Johnson, “Two-Level Dramas: Jewish Biblical Narrative, Luke-Acts, and the Origins of the Fourth Gospel”; John Kaltner, “Wash Me Thoroughly from My Iniquity, and Cleanse Me from My Sin: Safeguarding David’s Reputation in the Islamic Tradition”; Nelida Naveros Cordova, C.D.P., “Paul’s Christocentric Monotheism in Opposition to Epithumia”; Andrew Geist, “Mammon or Purses that Wear Out? Trust in Wealth in the Bible and the Neo-Assyrian Court”; Mark Reasoner, “Paul the Apocalyptic Theologian: Reflections on an Unquestioned Label”; Carlos García Alayon, “Liturgy and Cosmology in Hebrews: The Son’s Enthronement and the Reconstitution of Heaven”; Paul L. Danove, “Christological and Anthropological Implications of a Rare Use of Δίδωμι (Give) in the LXX and NT”; Tomasz Koszarek, “KÎ Introducing a Rhetorical Question”; Kris Sonek O.P., “John Chrysostom and the Jewish Sages: A Rhetoric of Harmony”; Mark Enemali, C.S.Sp, “The Ark and the Idol: Exploring Divine Presence in Mesopotamian and Israelite Cultures”; Martin C Albl, “A Fisher of People”: Assessing the Role of Simon Peter in Transmitting Jesus Traditions”; John J. Peters, “The Synoptic Problem Stalemate and Ancient Historiography”; Peter M. Vale, “Deception and Dominance Cast in Bronze: Aspetti’s Judith with the Head of Holofernes vis-à-vis Jerome’s Vulgate Judith.”; Julie Newberry, “Age, Education, and Allusion: Irony and Nicodemus’s Complex Characterization”; Ki-Eun Jang, “Representing Canaanites: Historiography, Heritage, and Hermeneutics”; Samuel Klumpenhouwer, “The Glossa Ordinaria on Exodus”; Melanie Peetz, “The Mishkan: A Project of all People”; and Christopher W. Skinner, “Rethinking the Transmission History and Early Reception of the Gospel of Thomas”.

The Association gathered in Madonna della Strada Chapel for the Sunday celebration of Eucharist with Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Most Rev, Mark Bartosic, presiding and Rev. Kevin Zilverberg offering the homily. The liturgy was followed by an outdoor barbeque.

The evening general session began with Vice-President Richard J. Bautch leading a remembrance of members who have died since the 2024 AGM: Andries van Aarde, John R. Donahue, S.J, J. Cheryl Exum, Christine Anne Franke, Lawrence E. Frizzell, Terence Stephen Keegan, O.P., Norbert Lohfink, S.J., Michael Patella, O.S.B, .Eloise M. Rosenblatt, R.S.M., Rev. Richard J. Sklba, James H. Swetnam, S.J., Donald R. Vance, and Thomas Wahl, O.S.B. The CBA Presidential Address, “Moving Beyond Text Fetishism: Toward a Catholic Biblical Hermeneutic” was delivered by Carol J. Dempsey, O.P. The address was followed by a social.

Sessions on Monday, August 4th

Rev. Brice Higginbotham was the presider and homilist for the 7:00 A.M. celebration of Eucharist.

The task forces and continuing seminars resumed their work in the morning, followed by simultaneous sessions: “Contextual Readings of the Book of Ruth in Southern Africa” delivered by Karina Martin Hogan and “Paul, A Pharisee in the Messiah: The Apostle’s Teaching within Judaism” presented by Michael P. Barber.

Two sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers delivered: Elizabeth Schick, “Drawing from the Well: Interpreting the Samaritan Woman of John 4”; Ethan Schwartz, “Tradition-Informed Historical Criticism: A Jewish Reading of Dei Verbum as an Invitation to Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in Biblical Studies”; Peter Dubovský, “Conversion of Kings in the Books of Kings and Chronicles”; Kevin Zilverberg, “Seed-Picker or Word-Planter? Latin Reception of σπερμολόγος (Acts 17:18) in the Old Latin, Vulgate, and Latin Fathers”; Kevin Scott and Abigail Bodeau, “Joel, Jonah, and the Subversive Depiction of Foreigners among YHWH’s Community”; Timothy Milinovich, “Closing Arguments: Rethinking the Structure of Romans, with a Focus on Rom 9-15”; James B. Prothro, “Reading Jude: Biblical Interpretation for a Church in Crisis”; Michael Cover, “And the Sheep Will Be Turned into Wolves' (Did. 16.3): Metamorphosis and Conversion in the Didache’s Little Apocalypse”; Hryhoriy Lozinskyy, “Is Jubilee Year a Pro-Levite Regulation?”; Olegs Andrejevs, “Minor Agreements 1992-2025 in Mark 4-8”; James Nati, “‘Truth’ as a Framing Principle in the Second Temple Period”; and Christopher Frechette, “An Embodied Trauma Hermeneutic: Old Testament Applications”.

Business Meeting

The CBA President and Chair of the Business Meeting, Carol J. Dempsey, O.P. called the meeting to order after establishing a quorum.

First on the agenda was the Executive Director’s report, given by Archie T. Wright who expressed gratitude to the Executive Board, in particular the Executive Committee (Gregory E. Sterling and Carol J. Dempsey, O.P.). He also thanked the members of the Committee on the Program for the AGM, chaired by Sherri Brown, the CBA Tech Support (Joshua Scott, Jonathan Hatter, and Megan Wines) and Lisa Tarker or their work in bringing the 2025 to fruition.

Wright reported that the state of the Association is good, noting that the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) has been hard at work proposing new initiates for CBA’s future. With respect to CBA membership, Wright stated that the total currently is 1,074 (768 Full, 124 Associate, 97 Graduate Students, 15 Life, and 70 Sustaining). He pointed out the importance of CBA members recruiting new members since a large number of CBA’s membership is aging. Wright asked all members, in particular those who teach in graduate programs, to speak to their students and colleagues about the benefits of CBA. He suggested using the pdf brochure available on the CBA website (https://www.catholicbiblical.org/join-CBA). His report also pointed to some of CBA’s programs: Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting (2025 at Princeton Theological Seminary, 2026 planned for Villanova); Midwest Regional Meeting, a collaborative effort with Chicago Society of Biblical Research (St. Mary’s College, ND); the prospective Westcoast Area Regional Meeting; CBA’s Third Emerging Scholars Conference (held virtually November 5-6, 2025); and CBA’s ongoing Unbound Book Reviews series.

The CBA Full Members present (in-person and virtually) voted without exception to accept the Executive Director’s Report.

The Committee on Finance and Investments (CFI), Sheila E. McGinn presented the report on the association’s financial status. She began by recognizing the other members of the committee: Garrett M Galvin, O.F.M., J. Todd Hibbard, Craig E. Morrison, O. Carm. Ferdinand I. Okorie, C.M.F., and Archie Wright, ex officio. McGinn added that CFI member, Eloise Rosenblatt, R.S.M. died unexpectedly (April 14, 2025) and noted that there will be a vote later in the meeting to fill the vacancy.

McGinn requested that the members not share the information that has been posted on the CBA website as it is highly confidential and for members only. She reported that the CBA Executive Director and she as CFI Chair communicate regularly with UBS Investment Manager, Ron Chesney, at least monthly. With the aid of PowerPoint slide illustrations, she indicated that the CBA endowment fund balance has hit an all-time high but recognized that the markets have been erratic. She shared that the UBS team believes that CBA is well situated to ride out the stormy market. Currently, she stated, CBA’s portfolio is roughly 75% in equity, 23% in bonds and other debits, and 2% in cash equivalents. She said that CBA has gradually increased international equities to 9-10% since these have been more stable and outperforming American investments. She concluded her remarks indicating that every five years the CFI reviews its investment policy and as such it will be taking on that task soon.

The CBA members accepted financial report unanimously with no abstentions.

The President and Chair of the Business Meeting then recognized Wright to present the report of the Committee on Membership. The Full Members voted unanimously to approve the following individuals for membership in their respective levels into The Catholic Biblical Association of America.

For Full Membership:

Patrick Ogbonyomi Alemayo, C.S.Sp., Nazeer N. Bacchus, Joachim Damasse Badadji, Antony John Baptist, Étienne Noël Bassoumboul, Jorge M. Blunda, Fernando Henrique Cardoso da Silva, Laura Carlson Hasler, Moses Jarvis R. Catan, Christy L. Cobb, Cristiana Conti, Marvin Cruz, Christopher P. Donnelly, Tucker Samson Ferda, Katharine Lynn Fitzgerald, Crispin Fletcher-louis, Rogério Alves Gomes, Rhiannon Graybill, Jesse R. Grenz, Antoine Guerini, Franklin T. Harkins, Jonathan J. Hatter, Christopher Baird Hays, Ryan Heinsch, John Paul Hozvicka, C.S.J., Luke Irwin, Carlos Alberto Jaramillo Neyra, Michael B. Johnson, Kyle Keimer, Piotr Kazimimierz Kot, Evangeline Kozitza Dean, Adam Kubiś, Karen D. Lavery, Miroslaw J. Lopuch, Tomasz Mazurek, James F. McGrath, Álvaro Pereira-Delgado, Justin M. Reed, Julia Victoria Rhyder, Niveen I. Sarras, Stéphane Saulnier, Elizabeth B. Schrader Polczer, Alberto Solano Zatarain, Sarah J. Tanzer, Leslie G. Virnelson, Stefano Vuaran, Justin Winzenburg, Angela E. Zautcke, Eric C. Zito.

For Associate Membership:

Andrew C. Blila, Mack E.P. Griffith, Frederick W. Guyette, Jibu James, Zane M. Langenbrunner, Claudia M. Petruncio, DO, Wenyue Qiang, Jackson J. Reynolds, Feliciano Tapia, Margaret R. Zdunich, NDS, Pawel L. Zmija.

For Graduate Student Membership:

Wilson Sagayaraj Adaikalasamy, S.V.D., Ryan B. Barkley, Taylor D. Barrett, Benjamin L. Beavers, Evyenia (Nia) K. Botti, Pauline K. Byrne, Daniel Caliz, Johnathan A. Castelblanco, S.J., Colin A. Destache, Nathan Drasovean, Kory J. Eastvold, Francis A. Eke, Andrew Esomonu, Ferrell L. Gossett, Tyler J. Harris, Brayden R. Hirsch, Michelle D. Hunt, Roshan John, Marshall C. Johns, Matthew Klem, Frank S.K. Kuwornu, Kalman Mate, Cornelius Uchenna Ngoka, O.P., Theresa Joseph Nguyen, O.P., Nataly Lucia Romero Maita, Yevgeniy Safronov, Austin J. Slade, Ciril Sunny, Dustin Jon Thompson, Esteban Julio Vazquez, Jasmine L. Wiens.

In addition, the Full Members approved, with one abstention, the Executive Board proposal that Honorary Life Membership be conferred upon Amy-Jill Levine for her noteworthy contributions to biblical studies and to the CBA.

In the absence of Susanne Scholz, Chair of the Committee on Nominations, Wright was recognized to present the nominations for the Executive Board and Standing Committees. The following officers were approved by the CBA Full Membership: for 2025-26 term as President and Vice- President respectively, Richard J. Bautch and Amy-Jill Levine; for 2025-27 term as Consultors to the Executive Board Sarah Kohles, O.F.M. and Timothy M. Milinovich; for completing Jeremy Corley’s 2025-26 Consultor term Ferdinand I. Okorie, C.M.F. The following were approved for committee membership: on Nominations (2025-28 term) — Olivia Stewart Lester; on Finance and Investment (2025-28 term) Annette Bourland Huizenga; on Program for the Annual General Meeting (2025-28 term) — Maria Barga (second term), Mark Enemali, CSSP (second term), Ahida Calderón Pilarski; on Research Support (2025-28 term) — Laurie Brink, Brigid Frein, Jennifer Glancy, and Francis Macatangay; on Technology and Outreach (2025-27 term) — Horacio Vela and Carmen Palmer. In addition, the Full Members voted to approve Jon L. Berquist as General Editor of Old Testament Abstracts (OTA) for a 2025-28 term.

Corrine L. Carvalho, the General Editor of The Catholic Biblical Quarterly (CBQ), was recognized to present her report. She offered a review of the past year: there remains an unevenness in textual submissions with long queues in the Synoptic Gospels and the Prophets. In order to address Synoptic queue, she reported that the number of New Testament scholars on the Editorial Board had been increased. She suggested that there always will be large submissions on the Synoptic Gospels, but it is difficult to judge what other areas might have an increased number of submissions. She expressed appreciation for those rotating off the Editorial Board: Mary Coloe, Carol J. Dempsey, O.P., Michal Beth Dinkler, Thomas Dozeman, Pheme Perkins, Jeffrey Stackert, and Marion Soards. She thanked the new Old Testament Book Review Editor, Daniel Pioske and the New Testament Book Review Editor Bryan Dyer whose term concludes at the end of the year. She noted that the Editorial Board is working to solidify his successor. Finally, she expressed appreciation for the CBA staff’s support and that of Maurya Hogan of HK Sciptorium. With a PowerPoint slide projecting statistics, she indicated that submissions have remained steady but the number from women has gone up to highest percentage in three years, yet still low at 19%. She noted that the awaiting publication queue has been reduced, largely due to the additional reviewers. Carvalho mentioned that the Editorial Board is interested in moving more into contextual criticism and asked members to think of people who are doing interesting methodological or theoretical work on biblical interpretation from particular viewpoints. She also encouraged submissions from under-represented areas such as Deuteronomic history and Wisdom literature.

The report of the CBQ General Editor was accepted unanimously. Likewise, the Full Members approved of the following Associate Editors for the 2026-29 term: Cathleen Chopra-McGowan, Bryan R. Dyer, Garrett Galvin, O.F.M., Jacqueline M. Hidalgo, Felipe de Jesus Legarreta-Castillo, Melody Knowles (second term), Daniel Machiela (second term), Hugo Mendez, Isaac Augustine Morales, O.P. (second term), Rafael Rodriguez (second term), Susanne Scholz (second term), Christopher Skinner, and Ethan Schwartz.

Richard J. Bautch presented his report as General Editor of CBQ Monograph Series (CBQMS) and CBQ Imprints (CBQI), beginning with a celebration of the newest publication, CBQI-6, Models of the Teacher in Biblical Texts and their Reception, edited by Bart J. Koet, Gearard O’Floinn, and Archibald L. H. M. van Wieringen. The volume, he stated, centers on a deceptively simple question: what makes a good teacher? He suggested that the volume offers biblical scholars new perspectives on ancient texts, while providing both insight and inspiration for contemporary educators. In addition, Bautch reported that CBQ Imprints will be publishing the studies that were featured at the CBA’s Emerging Scholarship conference held in the Spring of 2023. He noted that the Emerging Scholarship volume will be the seventh in the CBQI series, which began in 2020 and continues to serve as a dynamic platform for both established and emerging voices in the field. He also shared that nearing publication in the CBQ Monograph Series is Erick Gichomo Mwangi’s In Search of the Ideal Supplicant: The Portrait of David in Psalms 138–145.

On the business side, Bautch reported that in the past two years Wipf and Stock (W&S) has continued to increase sales of 319 volumes in 2023 and 404 in 2024 (compared to 13 in 2022 prior to the partnership with W&S)

The General Editor of CBQMS and CBQI concluded with an expression of gratitude to the members of the Editorial Board, in particular Mary Rose D'Angelo and Joachim Eck who are rotating off this year.

The Full Members accepted the report of the CBQMS and CBQI General Editor with one abstention. In the same manner, the following Associate Editors of CBQMS and CBQI (Term 2026-29) were approved: Thomas Bolin, Nélida Naveros Córdova, Roberto Martinez (second term), and Susanne Scholz (second term).

Jon L. Berquist was called upon to present the report of the General Editor of Old Testament Abstracts (OTA). He introduced himself, stating that he started with CBA some thirty years ago abstracting for OTA. He said that most of his career has been teaching at the graduate /doctoral level but that he also has seventeen years experience in academic religious publishing, so that this new position brings together several of his interests. Berquist thanked his predecessors, Christopher T. Begg and Joseph E. Jensen, who carried OTA for quite some time. He also noted that this year, the journal benefited from the work of Sheila E. McGinn.

Berquist noted that OTA is fast approaching its fiftieth anniversary and that ways to celebrate the occasion are being considered. He reported that plans are underway for OTA be completely digital in 2027, noting that most users access the journal through a service such as Atla, Ebsco, or Project MUSE. He shared that the journal averages 1,000 entries per issue. Berquist stated that his priorities are building upon positive relationships with stakeholders such as the copy editors, improving internal workflow (managing 3,000 separate contributions annually), incentivizing electronic subscriptions, and a major emphasis is recruiting abstractors. He posited that being an abstractor is an important way to contribute to the CBA for senior members and a way to find out what is going on the field for those who are junior scholars.

CBA Full Members voted to accept the OTA General Editor’s report with one nay.

As General Editor of the Biblical Studies from CBA (BSCBA), Sheila E. McGinn shared an update on the series that began in 2015, shepherded by Frank Matera until 2023, and published by Paulist Press. She began by recognizing the Editorial Board members, Angela Kim Harkins and Peter Spitaler. She thanked Richard J. Bautch for his service on the Editorial Board from its inception. She noted that eleven volumes have been published and two more are slated to be published in 2026: Catherine Petrany’s, Suffering and Salvation in the Psalms of Lament and Kevin McCruden’s Hebrews: Priestly Christology of Jesus and His Humanity. Four more titles are in production for 2026-27 and eleven more works are in the pipeline, she reported. She suggested that those who are involved in academic research, the series is a good way to spinoff the material and make it accessible to the wider population.

The CBA Full Members voted unanimously to accept the report of the General Editor of BSCBA and in a separate vote to approve Elaine T. James and Matthew Goff as members of the BSCBA Editorial Board (2025-28 term).

The Co-Chairs of the Committee on Research Support, Harry P. Nasuti and Kelley Coblentz Bautch, were recognized to report on the activities of the Committee. Nasuti recalled that in the past, the Committee had been responsible for overseeing the Travel Grants, Grants from the CBA for Biblical Scholarship, and the Visiting Professorships. He noted that in the past year CBA asked the Committee to write up the criteria for and review the applications for two Fellowships: Sabbatical and Archaeological, Dissertation Stipends, and the expansion of the Travel Grants. Nasuti said that with the added responsibilities, it quickly became apparent that the workload was untenable for the eight Committee members Thomas Bolin, Mary Rose D’Angelo, Brigid Frein, Kristine Garroway, vănThanh Nguyễn S.V.D. and Susanne Scholz). He stated that the President appointed additional members to assist with the workload (Michael Azar, Nélida Naveros Córdova, C.D.P., Michael Cover, and J. Todd Hibbard). He indicated that the need for the Committee to improvise necessitated a visioning to restructure the Committee. Nasuti reported that the Committee, with the help of the Executive Director, proposed to the Executive Board a new structure which the Board accepted at its past meeting – dividing the Research Support Committee into two Committees one for Research Support and the other for Professional Development; and the Emerging Scholars Fellowship which had a separate review committee would be folded into a new committee, Emerging Scholars Support along with the Dissertation Stipend. He indicated that the creation of the new Committees and restructuring of the Research Support Committee would be presented as Constitution and By-laws amendments at next year’s AGM Business Meeting.

With regards to this year’s awards, Nasuti reported that the Visiting Professorships for 2025-2026 Academic Year were granted to Margaret Y. MacDonald (Pontifical Biblical Institute) and Jose Enrique Aguilar Chiu (École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem); the a total of $89,600 was awarded for CBA Research Grants to fourteen applicants (Klaus Peter Adam, Peter Claver Ajer, Jeremiah Coogan, Daniel B. Glover, Todd Hanneken, Angela Kim Harkins, Laura Carlson Hasler, Klaus Peter Adam, Michael Kochenash, Lauress Wilkens Lawrence, Olivia Stewart Lester, Hryhoriy Lozinskyy, vănThanh Nguyễn, S.V.D., Brent Strawn, Brittany Wilson, and Michael Kochenash); ten Travel Grants totaling $8,012.50 were awarded to Xenia Chan, Ki-Eun Jang, Noelle Johnson, Joseph Kimmel, Tomasz Kozarek, Barbara Murphy, Jean Romeo Ntsama, Elizabeth Schick, Eileen Schuller, O.S.U, and Kevin Scott; thirteen worthy applications were received for the one Sabbatical Fellowship which ultimately has been granted to Hyun Chul Paul Kim; usually two Archaeological Fellowship would be granted but this year the Committee was able to award three (Kristine Garroway, Michelle Navarette, Melanie Peetz) because two did not ask for full the $5,000 – yet two have been deferred as their digs were cancelled due to the situation in Israel; thirteen strong applications were received for the five Dissertation Stipends which were granted to Tyng-Guang (Brian) Chu, Noelle G. Johnson, Cristina Rasa Tomkevičiūtė, Kyle Rouse, and Elizabeth Schick.

Coblentz-Bautch expressed gratitude to those who served on the Committee, in particular those are rotating off – Nasuti and Mary Rose D’Angelo. She noted that those who served as interim members have indicated a willingness to serve again.

The Committee on Research Support report was accepted by the CBA Full Members with one abstention.

Anathea Portier Young was recognized as Chair of the Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee (SPC) to report on the Committee’s work. She began by reminding the members that at the time of its inception last year, the Committee was charged with articulating a strategic vision for the next decade of the CBA and were informed that this work includes assessing the programs and structures of the organization and offering proposals for future programs and activities. She noted that the Committee affirms CBA’s mission stated in Articles 1-3 of its Constitution. She provided background information, recalling the 2010 SPC that delivered its report in 2012 which focused on CBA’s structure (e.g., Constitution and By-laws, role of the Executive Director). She indicated that this SPC is not trying to replicate or redo the work of the previous Committee but recognizes that we are in new moment and there are new prompts for strategic planning considering the rapid change across several domains, including higher education, theological education, demographics, the US religious landscape, technology and media.

She reported that in the past year, the SPC held two full day in-person meetings and numerous Zoom meetings, one result being the creation of sub-committees on Membership and Outreach. The SPC currently is focused on soliciting member input, she stated, adding that the SPC had a Listening Session earlier in the AGM; has developed a member survey to be sent out on the Feast of St. Jerome, September 1; is meeting with Committees and Editorial Boards and focus groups. Portier Young concluded her remarks stressing the importance of increasing, diversifying, and revitalizing CBA’s membership as well as forming partnerships with other academic associations, expanding its relationships within the Church, addressing issues of common global concern, and pursuing a broad range of methodologies.

The Ad Hoc Committee is comprised of Mary Kate Birge, C.S.J., Andrew R. Davis, Ronald Herms, Sarah Kohles, O.F.M., Séamus O’Connell, Ferdinand I. Okorie, C.M.F., Maria Pascuzzi, C.S.J., Richard Schneck, S.J., Gregory E. Sterling, ex officio members Archie T. Wright and Joshua Scott, with Anthea Portier Young as Chair.

The CBA Full Members accepted the report of the SPC in a unanimous vote.

New Business

The Executive Director was recognized to present the Proposed Land Acknowledgement Statement. Wright provided background by stating that the proposal was initiated by the Deuterocanonical Books Continuing Seminar, the Executive Board created an Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Jeremy Corley which undertook a membership consultation, and finally was approved by the Executive Board. If approved by the CBA Full Members, Wright asserted, the statement will be read at the beginning of CBA meetings, beginning with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting in 2026.

The President and Chair of the Business Meeting then opened the floor for questions and discussion. The question was raised as to how this particular concern come out of the Deuterocanonical Books Seminar. Vincent Skemp, a member of the seminar, responded that they were discussing Pope Francis’ encyclical and a larger discussion ensued with regards to indigenous peoples. Gregory Tatum. O.P. and Martin C. Albl voiced strong opposition to the proposed statement while Joseph E. Jensen spoke in favor.

With no further discussion forthcoming, the Business Meeting Chair asked Wright to read the statement.

The Catholic Biblical Association of America acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples across what is now North America, the traditional custodians of each of the lands on which the CBA operates, and its members gather.

As a community dedicated to the study of Scripture, we recognize the various ways biblical texts have been used to justify colonization, assimilation, genocide, and the forced separation of Indigenous Peoples from sacred homelands. We acknowledge the role of the Bible in the suppression and erasure of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, including religious practices, languages, and Oral Traditions. These structures of colonialism, in which Christian individuals and institutions have been complicit, continue to affect the lives of Indigenous Peoples and must be rejected.

We affirm the Catholic Church’s commitment to work with and listen to Indigenous Peoples as “principal dialogue partners” (Laudato Si’ §146), and we commit to honoring Indigenous communities, culture, sovereignty, and sacred connection to ancestral lands.

After Wright concluded, Dempsey called for a vote. The motion to accept the Land Acknowledgement Statement passed with 72 in favor, 4 opposed, and 9 abstaining.

In April, CBA members received an announcement regarding two proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws. Dempsey noted that the first proposed amendment to the CBA By-laws requires a majority to pass, while the second proposed amendment which involves both the Constitution and By-laws requires a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to pass. She then read the first motion.

MOTION: That By-Laws 3.5.7. through 3.5.10 be renumbered in order to include the term for the General Editor of the Biblical Studies from the CBA (BSCBA) in the following manner: “3.5.7. The General Editor of BSCBA shall be elected by the majority vote of the Full Members for a term of four years and may be re-elected once.”

The floor was open for discussion, but none was forthcoming, so Dempsey called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously with a show of hands of Full Members in the room and via Zoom poll.

Dempsey then read the second proposed amendment.

MOTION: That the CBA By-Laws be amended in the following manner:

1. the renumbering of Constitution Art. VI, Sections 2, 3, and 4 in order to add the following:

Section 2: Members of the OTA Editorial Board shall be duly elected as specified in the By-laws and serve under the direction of the General Editor of OTA; their function shall be to assist the General Editor in preparing the for publication.

2. the renumbering of By-Laws current 3.5.9. and 3.5.10. in order to add the following

3.5.9. At each annual general meeting normally two Associate Editors of the OTA, upon recommendation by the Editorial Board, shall be elected by the majority vote of the Full Members for a term of four years. Associate Editors may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

No discussion or questions were raised, so Dempsey called for a vote. The motion passed with 98 in favor, none opposed, and one abstention. The OTA General Editor offered a friendly amendment, stating that other Editorial Boards, such as CBQ, benefit from a larger number of Associate Editors, he moved that 3.5.9. state “At each annual general meeting normally six Associate Editors of the OTA…” The friendly amendment passed in a vote of 88 in favor, one opposed, and one abstention.

Berquist then presented for nomination the OTA Editorial Board. First he noted that the Executive Board approved the creation of two Emeritus Editors: Christopher T. Begg and Joseph E. Jensen who were approved in a unanimous vote. Next, he presented the Associate Editors for the 2025-26 term: Katherine Brown, Zev Garber, Victor Matthews (second term); for the 2025-27 term: Carol J. Dempsey, O.P, (second term), Renata Furst, Richard Taylor; and for the 2025-28 term: Brandon Grafius, Fred Guyette, Thomas Hieke (second term). The Associate Editors were approved by a vote of 97 in favor; one opposed, and one abstention.

Wright was called upon to present next item on the agenda – a Proposed Dues Structure. He began by stating that membership dues have not been raised since 2009 and the SPC suggested looking at a tiered dues structure based on salaries. Wright stated that the Membership sub-committee considered CBA’s current dues ($50 as a flat fee for members and $20 for students), the fees for SBL, and the salary levels of faculty nationally to propose a graduated dues fee structure that would be implemented with an honor system of self-reporting earnings: $0 - $24,999 paying $25, $25,000 - $74,999 paying $50; $75,000 –$124,999 paying $75, and $125,00 and over paying $100. He noted that Student would pay $20 and Retired Members would pay $50 annually. He stated that it would reflect a modest increase in dues revenue which might help offset the cost of some of the new initiatives.

The floor was opened for questions and discussion. Carvalho requested adding a feature while paying dues with an option to gift a Student and/or Retired Member their annual membership. Wright responded that the Executive Board would have to approve it, but he could not think of reason why that could not happen. Mark Matson expressed concern about raising the rate for Graduate Students while at the same time trying to increase the number of Graduate Students in the Association. He also noted that the reduced dues for Retired Members were only introduced recently (2020) to help Members with reduced income to stay active but they would not receive the printed version of CBQ. He wondered that if the proposal which brings their dues level with those earning $25,000 - $74,999 means that Retired Members will receive a printed version of CBQ. Wright indicated he would have to look into it. Joachim Eck questioned whether the salary reported would be gross or net income. Wright responded that it would be gross. Mary Kate Birge, C.S.J. made two observations: 1) when she retires, as a woman of religious orders, her income will be limited to Social Security, roughly $10,000 which puts her in the lowest income tier the dues of which are one-half of the dues for Retired Members; 2) again, as a woman of religious orders, she receives no income – her earnings are paid directly to the Motherhouse. Christopher Seeman inquired whether there was any projection as to how much increase revenue could be expected from this proposed dues structure. Wright replied that the new accounting firm will be asked to undertake a study. Michael Barber spoke in favor of Carvalho’s suggestion but spoke against the proposed dues structure. Barber stated that he is not opposed to supporting CBA, but if members are being asked to give moremore, they should have broader representation, adding he wished CBA’s nomination process was more transparent with more than one option per open position.

Thomas M. Bolin moved that the proposal be tabled until data from the accountants has been received. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman seconded the motion to table the proposal. The motion to table the proposal passed with 50 in favor, 4 opposed, and 2 abstaining.

The Chair of the Committee on Resolutions, Karina Martin Hogan, was recognized to present two resolutions:

1.  Be it resolved that we, the members of The Catholic Biblical Association of America, gathered at our 87th Annual General Meeting, do hereby reaffirm our commitment to our Constitution and its statement “The Association, in fidelity to Dei Verbum, The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, seeks to devote itself to the Scholarly study of the Bible and related Disciplines,” and desires to “proffer [the members’ expertise] to the Church,” “in keeping with the love and veneration which the Church has ever had for the inspired word of God.” The resolution passed unanimously.
2. Whereas Loyola University Chicago, Archie Wright, our colleagues on the Program Committee, and the technical team that enabled and tended to audiovisual needs and our virtual participants have done an admirable job of organizing and shepherding this hybrid annual general meeting; be it resolved that The Catholic Biblical Association of America offers them its heartfelt thanks. Again, the resolution passed unanimously.

With no new business, the President called for a motion to adjourn. Angela Kim Harkins so moved and Andrew R. Davis seconded the motion. With complete acclamation from the Full Members present, the meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. CDT

            Before dinner, a prayer service was led by Laurie Brink, O.P with Mary T. Brien, P.B.V.M. preaching

The general session in the evening was a panel discussion: Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dialogue and the Role of Scripture with Jaime Waters facilitating the discourse between Liran Gerassi, Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, Susan L. McNeil, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and Azam Nizamuddin, Attorney. The evening concluded with a social.

Sessions on Tuesday, August 6^th

Rev. Eric Wagner was the principal celebrant and homilist for the 7:00 a.m. Eucharistic liturgy.

The task forces and continuing seminars met in the first part of the morning. The meeting concluded with a general session address from Ariel Feldman, “Praying (with) Deuteronomy: From Qumran to Dura-Europos.”

The following CBA members and invited guests were in attendance at the meeting either in-person or virtually:

Archie T. Wright
CBA Executive Director

Lisa A. Tarker
Recording Secretary