2026 - Loyola University Maryland
Report of the Eighty-Eighth International Meeting of
The Catholic Biblical Association of America
Program Abstracts
The eighty-eighth international meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association of America was held as a hybrid meeting, July 18-21 in Baltimore at Loyola University Maryland (LUM) and via Zoom. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) began on Saturday, July 18th, with a welcome from the Executive Director, Archie T. Wright during which he recognized Harry P. Nasuti as having sponsored 13 new members while Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. The meeting program began with panel discussion entitled “Texts, Tools, and Trust: Biblical Scholarship in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” moderated by Ahida Calderón Pilarski. The panelists included Joshua Scott, Marie Heath, and Brian Hillman. A social concluded the evening’s schedule.
Sessions on Sunday, July 19th
First-time attendees gathered with the Executive Director, Archie Wright and Events and Technology Director, Joshua Scott, for a Welcome breakfast. Two Task Forces and eight 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., and Susane Scholz; featuring a paper presentation by Nataly Romero and Sarah Kohles’ review of 1 Samuel: A Conceptual Feminist Interpretation by Susanne Scholz with the author as respondent); and “Baptism in Paul’s Letters” (established in 2024; with co-conveners: Timothy M. Milinovich, Paul D. Wheatley, and presentations by Emily Barnum, Garwood P. Anderson, and Michael P. Barber). Also, during this morning period on Sunday and Monday, a Round Table organized by John Paul II Catholic University Lublin, Poland convened featuring Piotr Kot, Marcin Kowalski, Tomasz Mazurek, and Miroslaw Wróbel.
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: Daniel Pioske, Hryhoriy Lozinsky, and Corrine L. Carvalho; respondents: Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, Peter Dubovský, and James Nati, respectively); “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, Francis Macatangay, Timothy Sandoval, Jordan Schmidt, and Christopher Moriconi); “John’s Gospel and Letters” (established 2019; convener Gilberto A. Ruiz; presenters: Eric Christian Zito, Sherri Brown, and Gilberto A. Ruiz); “Paul’s Letters” (established 2021, renamed 2023; co-conveners: Timothy Milinovich and Brian Lee; presenters: Rafael Rodriguez and Olivia Stewart Lester);“Isaiah and the Twelve” (established 2022, co-conveners: Joachim Eck and Richard J. Bautch; focus for 2026 and onward: The Day of YHWH – explorations of the philological, historical, theological and hermeneutic complexities of a key concept in Isaiah and the Twelve; presenters: Burkard Zapff, Paul Kim, and Carol J. Dempsey, O.P.); “Second Temple Judaism and Christian Origins” (established 2024; co-conveners: Archie T. Wright, Ronald Herms, Angela Kim Harkins; presenters: Martin C. Albl and Joseph Kimmel); “Theological Exegesis” (established 2024; co-conveners: Antonio Portalatín and Ahida Pilarski; focus for this year: Biblical Literal Sense; presenters: Séamus O’Connell and Andrew Geist); and “The Pentateuch” (established 2026; co-conveners: Kirsten M. Schäfers, Hryhoriy Lozinskyy, and Noelle G. Johnson; presenters: Tommaso Bacci, Attila Bodor, Eric J. P. Wagner, C.R., Noelle G. Johnson, Giovanna R. Czander, and Dale Launderville, O.S.B.). On Tuesday morning there was a joint session of two Continuing Seminars “Second Temple Judaism/Christian Origins” and “The Deuterocanonical Books” featuring a presentation by Angela Zautcke and response from Michael Duggan.
The morning concluded with papers presented in simultaneous sessions: “Borderlands Matter / Borderland Matters: Reading Num 25 as a Borderlands Text in the Context of Num 21-36” by Kirsten M. Schäfers and “Have We Misunderstood 1 John?” by Hugo Méndez.
Four sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers delivered: Noah Dellinger, “The Lovely Victim of the Envious Eye: Num 24 in Light of the Evil Eye”; Jeremiah Coogan, “The Centurion's Boy: Enslavement, Paternity, and Christology in Matthew 8:5–13”; Eric Wagner, CR, “The Mountains of Micah 6 Rise Again”; Alberto Solano, “The Author of Hebrews was a New Covenant Jew”; Gary P. Klump, “The Sensus Plenior: A Reappraisal”; James Nati, “Ideologies of Writing in the Book of Jubilees”; E. J. Davila, “Revisiting Matthew 1:23 and Rehabilitating Matthew's OT Hermeneutic”; Laura Carlson Hasler, “Haggai and Scriptural Affordances: A Proposal”; Patrick Ogbonyomi Alemayo, C.S.Sp., “Prayer and Theophanic Experience in the Narrative of Stephen's Martyrdom in Acts 7:54–8:3”; Tomasz Mazurek, “Emotional Dynamics in the Targumic Rewriting of the Exodus Narrative”; Judith H. Newman, “Priestly Presence and the Profile of Jacob from Qumran”; Tomasz Koszarek, “The Rîb Genre in Jotham's Speech (Jdg 9:7–20) and in Other Old Testament Texts”; Joshua Chan, “The Markan New Tongues in Early Christian Reception”; Kevin Scott, “Disability Imagery and Yahweh's Community in the Book of Malachi”; John Granger Cook, “Initial Text and Recontext: 1 Enoch 1:9 in Jude”; Toochukwu S. Agha, “Does the Hebrew Bible Prohibit (or Allow) Tattooing the Body?”; Daniel L. Smith, “A Divine Difference: Roman Exemplarity and Israel's God”; Lauress Wilkins Lawrence, Ph.D., “Keep It Real: Community-Informed Biblical Scholarship”; Veronika Lütkenhaus, “Where Is Go(o)d in Suffering? Implications of Creation in Lamentations 3”; Mark Enemali, “The Politics of Atonement: Philistine Authority and the Negotiation of Sacred Power in 1 Samuel 5–6”; Elizabeth Schick, “Beloved Disciples: Martha and Mary in John 11:1–12:8”; Justin Winzenburg, “Gentile Blasphemers and Gentile Benefaction: Rethinking the Conflict of James 2”; Ethan Schwartz, “Wanting What the Gods Want: Critique of Cultic Worship in the Biblical Prophets and in Plato's Euthyphro”; Mark Reasoner, “Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Portraits of Paul”.
The Association gathered in Alumni Chapel for the Sunday celebration of Eucharist with Baltimore’s archbishop, Most Reverend William E. Lori, presiding and offering the homily. The liturgy was followed by an outdoor barbeque.
The evening general session began with Vice-President Amy-Jill Levine leading a remembrance of members who have died since the 2025 AGM: Mary Katherine Deeley, Francis J. Moloney, S.D.B., Harry T. Fleddermann, and Joseph Jensen, O.S.B. who served as CBA’s Executive Secretary from 1970 until his retirement in 2012. The CBA Presidential Address, “Covenants in Perspective: The Second Temple Period and Beyond” was delivered by Richard J. Bautch. The address was followed by a social that began with a toast to Lisa Tarker who is retiring in December after thirteen years serving on CBA’s staff.
Sessions on Monday, July 20th
Rev. Patrick Ogbonyomi Alemayo,C.S.Sp. was the presider and homilist for the 7:00 A.M. celebration of Eucharist.
The Round Table, Task Forces and Continuing Seminars resumed their work in the morning, followed by simultaneous sessions: “The Power of Prophetic Speech” delivered by Nathan Mastnjak and “Sons, Slaves, Free(d)men, and Friends: 'The Works of Abraham’ (John 8:39) in John’s Jewish Context” presented by Anthony Giambrone, O.P.
Two sessions of research reports during the afternoon heard the following papers delivered: Andrew R. Davis, “Textual Variation and Jeremiah's Theology of Grief”; John Dennis, “Are the 'Wild Animals' in Mark 1:13 Jesus' Friends or Foes?”; Sarah Kohles, “Perpetuating versus Challenging Enslavement: The Case of Sisera's Mother”; Vincent M. Smiles, “Paul’s Separation of Law from Covenant & Its Implications”; Joachim Eck, “Moses’ Father-in-Law in Exodus 2; 4; 18 and Numbers 10:29–32”; Shelly Matthews, “Women Received their Dead by Resurrection’ (Heb 11:35a): The Gendered Nature of Ancient Ascent and Resurrection”; Francisco Martins, “Rewriting Trauma: The Representation of Exile in Chronicles”; Sam Johnson, “Proleptic Parousia’: Resurrection Appearances as Parousia Appearances from Matthew to John”; Franklin T. Harkins, “Lord, you have worked all our works for us: A History of Interpretation of Isa. 26:12”; Daniel B. Glover, “Angelization in Alexandria: Philo, John, Clement, and Origen in Dialogue and Debate”; Kris Sonek, O.P., “Rabbis, Church Fathers, and Modern Semantics: Ancient Exegesis and the Interpretation of Genesis”; Carmen Palmer, “Perpetual Enslavement and Its Internal Contradictions in Ancient Judaism and the Ancient Mediterranean”.
Business Meeting
The CBA President and Chair of the Business Meeting, Richard J. Bautch called the meeting to order after establishing a quorum. Bautch noted that the members had been informed that in order to address the many items on the agenda, reports had been posted to the CBA website for members to read, thus verbal reporting would be limited. Full Members received electronic voting devices before entering the room. Full Members present via Zoom were instructed to vote using the Zoom poll. (The links to reports and official vote for all motions have been posted to the CBA website).
First on the agenda was the Executive Director’s report, given by Archie T. Wright who expressed gratitude to the members present both in-person and virtually. He also thanked the members of the Research Support Committee, and the various Editorial Boards, in particular the Co-Chairs and General Editors who normally would present their reports during the meeting. He also introduced Neil Lucas, Assistant Office Manager, who is training to take on the tasks performed by Lisa Tarker.
Wright reported that the staff are working on securing the location for the 2027 AGM on the west coast. He said that meetings with Loyola University Marymount in Los Angeles and Santa Clara University have taken place and that he is optimistic about Loyola University Marymount. Wright related that plans for a 2027 Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting in New Jersey are underway and that Seton Hall University is a likely location. He also shared that the Executive Board just approved the charter for a New England Chapter of the CBA with Angela Kim Harkins preparing for the first meeting to be hosted by Boston College in the Spring of 2027.
The Executive Director shared that in the previous week, he, Joshua Scott, Amy-Jill Levine, and Christopher Seeman were in Adelaide, Australia for CBA’s partnering with the Australian Catholic Biblical Association (ACBA), the Australian Catholic Theological Association (ACTA) and the Uniting Church in a number of presentations on antisemitism – a concern not only in Australia, but worldwide.
Wright stressed the importance of membership growth. He reported that fifty-seven applications for Graduate Student status were received, indicating that the figure compares favorably to last year’s thirty-one applications received. Wright encouraged members to invite their graduate students and colleagues to join the Association. He indicated that consideration is being given to establishing a contest for recruiting members.
Wright also presented the financial report, indicating that CBA’s portfolio is growing, up 10.15% over the past fiscal year. He explained that while the market remains very risky at present, CBA has very disciplined and diversified investments and UBS is overseeing these very well. Wright stated that CBA’s budget has been managed responsibly with the draw on investments for the 2025-26 fiscal year being 4.86%, less than the anticipated 5%.
The Chair of the CBA Executive Board, Gregory E. Sterling, was recognized to present the proposed membership dues fee structure. Sterling began by pointing out that CBA membership dues have not been raised for a very long time and are very low considering the services provided. He stated that the proposal to have graduated scale based on personal income was surfaced by the Strategic Planning Committee, and endorsed both by the Committee on Finance and Investment and the Executive Board, noting that the sliding scale makes dues payment more equitable and just. Sterling pointed out that the proposed dues are still considerably lower than those for SBL. The dues fee structure can not be implemented until the 2028 dues cycle.
Proposed CBA Membership Dues Fee Structure
|
Total Personal Annual Income |
Amount |
Differential Compared to Current Rate |
|
$0 - $24,999 |
$25 |
-$25 |
|
$25,000 - $74,999 |
$50 |
$0 |
|
$75,000 –$124,999 |
$75 |
$25 |
|
$125,000 and over |
$100 |
$50 |
|
Student |
$15 |
$5 |
|
Retired |
$25 |
$5 |
The floor was open for discussion. There being none, the President called for a vote. The CBA Full Members present (in-person and virtually) voted overwhelmingly in favor of adopting the proposed membership dues fee structure.
The following reports were voted on and accepted by the CBA Full Members present (in-person and virtuallly): Executive Director, Finances and Investments, General Editor of CBQ, General Editor of CBQMS and CBQI, General Editor of OTA, General Editor of BSCBA, and Committee on Research Support.
The President and Chair of the Business Meeting then recognized Sheri Brown 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:
Garwood P. Anderson, Verónica Moreno Arjona, Paul Bere, S.J., Heidi M. Biermann, Mathew Laghai Bomki, S.J., Christina L. Bryant, Helen P. Buckwalter, Xenia L. Chan, Andrii Chornopyskyi, Celia M. Deutsch, N.D.S., Luca Di Pasquale, O.F.M., Erik A. Estrada, Stephen A. Fix , Andrew M. Garbarino, Austin Foley Holmes, Rebecca L. Harris, Pamela Elizabeth Hedrick, Lydia Hernández-Marcial , Raleigh Heth, Khoa D. Hoang, O.Carm., Laura S. Holmes, Antony John, M.S.T., Piotr Jutkiewicz Micah D. Kiel, Krzysztof Kinowski, Kacie J. Klamm, Dominika A. Kurek-Chomycz , Heather L. Macumber, Anna Mátiková, F.S.P, Nicolo Mazza, S.J., Adam E. Migilo , Andrew J. D. Myers, Laura S. Nasrallah, James Mwaura Njunge, Matthew Novenson, Ludwig Beethoven J. Noya, Raheel Pascal, Luca Pedroli, Christopher A. Porter, Duncan G. Reid, Benjamin E. Reynolds, David B. Ridge, Cleotha Robertson, Edwin Rodrigues, S.J., Benedetta Rossi, Dieter T. Roth, Christian P. Sanchez , Elizabeth R. Schick, Brandon Simonson, Charles A. Sommer, Loren T. Stuckenbruck, Mario Testa, Kevin L. Tolley, Joshua A. Turpin, Abeneazer G.Urga, Gesila Nneka Uzukwu, D.M.M.M., Peter M. Vale , Cyriac John Valiyakunnumpurathe, Ka Yu Wong.
For Associate Membership:
Jithin Thadathil Abraham, Stanislaus C. Achu, David E. Basher, Noa G. J. Bolmenäs, Matthew T. Broeren, C.S.Sp., Edward C. Hale, Ivete Holthmam, I.H., Asish Thomas Koshy, Tylar W. Lee, Pamela A. Mathy, Leon wa Tshianga Ngandu, S.V.D., Bradley J. Risch, Benjamin C. Rogers, S.J, Melvin J. Stasinski, Michael C. Westcott.
For Graduate Student Status:
Naveen Alapati , Tinu Sheen Augustine, Jeffrey Brian Bamaca, David Z. Blackwell, Lisa Blue, Kyle A. Boor, Etienne Sylimane Camara, Robert John N. Castillon, Joshua H. M. Chan, Alexander G. Colby, Maximilian T Cook, John Michael Copas, Denes Fernand Costa da Silva, S.V.D., Kenna J. Curry, E. J. Davila, Rohit Ekka, T.O.R, Elizabeth A. Elin, Scott Fleischman, Anne Marie Foster, Nicole M. Greenfield, Kim Paris Gunter, Thomas Elliott Hoerner, Emmanuel Nkemjika Igweshi, Emily Reina Kerkhof, Caleb Kimball King, Jr., Kevin J. Klonowski, Joshua Joy Kollanoor, Abraham Kposu, S.V.D., Robert A. Kranz, Christopher J. Kuhl, Asia M. Lerner-Gay, Sudabée Lotfian-Mena, Veronika Lütkenhaus, Sylvanus Baiengskhem Lyngdoh, S.L., Carlos R. Maeda, Lamphrang Marbaniang, O.F.M. Cap., Zachary L. McNeal, Claire E. Mummert, Sr Marykristel Nwuba, D.D.L., Gabriel Mugwazo Nyoni, Deusdedit Eliezer Nzota, S.D.B., Fernando Elías Pérez-Esteban Picazo , Vinicius de Lima Podda, Caleb N. Punt, Dindo D. Purto, S.S.P., Jennifer A. Reil, Édilon Rosales de Lima, Joseph F. Rziha, Matthew Siebert, Togu Sihite, Genivieve (Jada) A. Stricker, Carine Tarla, I.C.M., Fernanda Q. Thurmond, Thomson Rose Tomy, Silas O. Vermilya, Michael C. Westcott, Jeyeol Yi , Reichert J. Zalameda.
The Chair of the Committee on Nominations, Mahri Leonard-Fleckman was recognized to present the candidates for the Executive Board, Standing Committees and Editorial Boards. The following officers were approved by the CBA Full Membership: for 2026-27 term as President and Vice- President respectively, Amy-Jill Levine and Anathea Portier-Young; for 2026-28 term as Consultors to the Executive Board Thomas Bolin and Isaac Augustine Morales O.P. The following were approved for committee membership: on Nominations (2026-20 term) — Michael P. Barber, Dulcinea Boesenberg, and Francis Macatangay; on Finance and Investment (2026-29 term) — Craig E. Morrison, O. Carm. (second term) and Ferdinand I. Okorie, C.M.F. (third term); on Program for the Annual General Meeting (2026-29 term) — Najeeb Haddad (second term) and Charles Hughes-Huff (second term); on Research Support (2026-29 term) — Peter Dubovský and Shelly Matthews; on Technology and Outreach (2026-28 term) — Francis C. Cousins (second term) and David A. Schones (second term). In addition, the Full Members voted to approve the following candidates for membership on their respective Editorial Boards: Michael P. Barber, Jeremiah Coogan, Nathan Eubank (second term), Charles Hughes Huff, Elaine James (second term), Carmen Palmer, Alvaro Pereira-Delgado, James Prothro, Julia Rhyder, Nicholas Schaser, Brian Shockey, Olivia Stewart Lester (second term) for the 2027-30 term on the CBQ Editorial Board; on the OTA Editorial Board, for the 2026-27 term–Randy Payne and Eric Wagoner, for the 2026-29 term–Christopher Matthews and Timothy Willis, and for the 2027-30 term–Katherine Brown (second term), Miguel Correa, Zeb Garber (second term), John Goldingay, and Isaac Kalimi; for the 2027-29 term of CBQMS and CBQI, Timothy M. Milinovich as General Editor, and Katja Hess, Daniel Machiela (second term), Ahida Calderón Pilarski, and Richard Wright as Associate Editors; and for the 2027-29 term of BSCBA, Sheila E. McGinn as General Editor, and Dierdre Dempsey and Timothy Milinovich as Associate Editors.
As President and Chair of the Business Meeting, Richard J. Bautch presented the six amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, noting that the texts were emailed to the membership in the Spring and have been posted to the CBA website. Each of the following motions to approve proposed amendments passed by the appropriate margins (Constitutional amendments passed with a 2/3 majority of those present in favor per ART. IX – 1 and By-law amendments passed with a majority of those present voting in favor per ART. IX – 2.
1. Limitations on Leadership Roles on the Executive Board
That the following be added to the By-Laws pertaining to the Executive Board
4.26. Going forward, no one person shall ordinarily hold more than one seat on the Executive Board at a given time. In no case may a single individual have more than one vote.
2 a. Redefining the Committee on Research Support
That the current Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution
There shall be a Committee on Research Support consisting of eight members duly selected as determined by the By-laws. This committee shall be responsible for recommending such grants as the Association may make in the support of biblical scholarship and for overseeing the award of any and all grants.
be changed to the following:
Section 5: There shall be a Committee on Research Support consisting of seven members duly selected as determined by the By-laws. Every year, two–three members are rotated off and two–three new members elected, so that the committee continues to have seven members. This committee shall be responsible for recommending the Research Grants for the Promotion of Biblical Scholarship and the Archaeology Fellowships.
2b. Creation of a Standing Committee: Committee on Professional Development Support
That the numbering of current Article VII, Sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Constitution be changed to accommodate the new Committee, the Committee on Professional Development Support:
Section 6: There shall be a Committee on Professional Development Support consisting of seven members duly selected as determined by the By-laws. Every year, two–three members are rotated off and two–three new members elected, so that the committee continues to have seven members. This committee shall be responsible for recommending the grants for the Pontifical Biblical Institute and Ecole Biblique Visiting Professorships, the Sabbatical Fellowship, and the Travel Grants.
2c. Creation of a Standing Committee: Committee on Emerging Scholars Support
That the numbering of current Art. VII, Sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Constitution be changed to accommodate the new Committee, the Committee on Emerging Scholars Support:
Section 7: There shall be a Committee on Emerging Scholars Support consisting of five members duly selected as determined by the By-laws. Every year, one–two are rotated off and one–two new members elected. This committee shall be responsible for recommending the grants for Emerging Scholars Fellowships and Doctoral Dissertation Stipends.
2d. Expansion of By-Law 4.4.5
That the current By-Law 4.4.5. Research Support be changed to the following:
4.4.5 Research Support Committees
4.4.5.1 Committee on Research Support
The Committee on Research Support, including the member proposed as Chair, shall consist of seven members who are elected by majority vote of the Full Members present and voting at the Business Session of the Annual General Meeting. The term is normally for three years. Every year, two–three members are rotated off and two–three new members elected. Members are ineligible for re-election for five years after last serving.
4.4.5.2 Committee on Professional Development
The Committee on Professional Development, including the member proposed as Chair, shall consist of seven members who are elected by majority vote of the Full Members present and voting at the Business Session of the Annual General Meeting. The term is normally for three years. Every year, two–three members are rotated off and two–three new members elected. Members are ineligible for re-election for five years after last serving.
4.4.5.3 Emerging Scholars Committee
The Emerging Scholars Committee, including the member proposed as Chair, shall consist of five members who are elected by majority vote of the Full Members present and voting at the Business Session of the Annual General Meeting. The term is normally for three years. Every year, one–two are rotated off and one–two new members elected. Members are ineligible for re-election for five years after last serving.
3. Renaming and Changing the Scope the Committee on Technology and Outreach
That Article VII, Section 7 of the Constitution be rewritten as follows:
Section 7: There shall be a Committee Outreach and Communications consisting of six members duly selected as determined by the By-Laws. The mission of this Committee shall be to assist the CBA in researching various components of new CBA initiatives of outreach into areas identified in the initiative. The goal of the Committee will be to help build local, national, international networks for our members and the organization of the CBA as a whole.
and that in By-Law 4.4.7. “Technology and Outreach” be replaced with “Outreach and Communications, to read:
4.4.7. Outreach and Communications
The Committee on Outreach and Communications, including the member proposed as Chair, shall consist of six members who are elected by majority vote of the Full Members present and voting at the Business Session of the annual general meeting. The term is for two years and members may normally be re-elected for three extra terms.
Since two new committees were formed in the adoption of the aforementioned amendments, Mahri Leonard-Fleckman presented candidates for each with the understanding that the committees would determine the terms for each of their members in order to conform to the rotation schedule stated in the Constitution and By-Laws. The Full Members elected Andrew R. Davis, Deirdre A. Dempsey, Meghan Henning, Karina Hogan, Daniel Pioske, Christopher W. Skinner, Brittany Wilson to the Committee on Professional Development Support. Likewise, Angela Kim Harkins, John Kaltner, Kevin B. McCruden, James B. Prothro, and Malka Zeiger Simkovich were elected to the Committee on Emerging Scholar Support.
Anathea Portier Young was recognized as Chair to present the report of the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). She began by reminding the members that two years ago CBA’s leadership charged the SPC, “to articulate a strategic vision for the next decade of the CBA...this work includes assessing the programs and structures of the organization, and offering proposals for future programs and activities.” She reported that over the past two years, the SPC operated collaboratively and “reflected the values of a synodal process committed to mutual listening and shared discernment.” The Committee conducted detail data analysis and sought input from members and stakeholders through four mechanisms: Listening sessions at last year's AGM, a Member Survey, Member Focus Groups, and a Meeting with nine bishops at the USCCB 2026 Spring Plenary Assembly. Portier-Young said that seven strategic goals emerged from the Committee’s work and guide the recommendations and initiatives outlined in this plan:
1. Increase, diversify, and revitalize membership.
2. Deepen collaboration within the academic guild, strengthen the association’s service to the Catholic Church and expand the CBA’s global presence.
3. Develop and expand the CBA’s public identity and digital presence to increase accessibility, broaden engagement, and support membership growth.
4. Strengthen transparency and participation in the CBA’s leadership nomination and election processes.
5. Diversify and strengthen the CBA’s revenue streams to sustain its programs, support new initiatives, and maintain financial stability.
6. Enhance the quality, accessibility, and coordination of CBA meetings and events to support scholarship, foster collaboration, and broaden participation.
7. Increase the visibility, sustainability, and digital accessibility of CBA publications.
She stated that the SPC’s plan places these strategic priorities with articulated strategic goals for each under the headings of membership, outreach, public-facing identity, governance, finances, meetings and events, and publications. She admitted that the plan is ambitious and will require resources, time, and discernment to implement. She said that the SPC envisions a well-planned and intentional rollout with a realization that some of the proposed actions may not be feasible within the 10-year timeline or within budgetary constraints. (The Strategic Plan is posted to the CBA website).
After Portier-Young outlined the plan, the floor was opened for questions and discussion. Sherri Brown noted that in the plan was a suggestion of five annual issues of CBQ and suggested that the title would need to be changed since it no longer would be a quarterly. Portier-Young confessed that had not been considered and proposed that CBQ might have an annual supplement. Michael P. Barber questioned whether moving CBQ to an online journal might diminish its prestige. Portier-Young responded that the recommendation was based on actual usage of the journal which points to a majority of users accessing CBQ through electronic databases and subscriptions, and not through the print medium. She also related that John Kutsko, Executive Director of Atla, has indicated that the trend is moving away from hard copy journals to digital, searchable journals. She also suggested that digitalizing the journals will improve the timeliness, also cutting out the cost of printing and delivery. She reported that in January OTA will become an online publication with 150 abstracts per month to get abstracts out even faster with Atla, rather than waiting 3 or 4 months to get a full version in print. Gregory E. Sterling pointed out that another consideration about the online publications versus the print is the environmental issue: online versions save both paper and the environmental impact of distribution.
Brigid C. Frein raised the issue of making more material on the website available without login, and encourage CBA to be careful about people’s contact information. She added that some things should be available only to CBA members. Portier-Young agreed that care should be taken not to share confidential information such as contact details.
Mark B. Giszczak expressed surprise that AI is not addressed in the strategic plan and inquired how AI fit into the CBA’s next decade. Portier-Young replied that CBA will not be accepting AI co-authored papers into its journals or AI-authored content in its other publications but indicated uncertainty whether a policy statement was in the works. The CBQ General Editor, Corrine L. Carvalho, indicated that during the Scholarly Exchange Luncheon the journal publishing group described of CBQ as a publication by scholars for scholars which would exclude AI.
With no further discussion forthcoming, the Chair of the Business Meeting called for a vote to accept the SPC report, clarifying that the motion is not to implement any of the specific proposals, but to accept the report. The CBA Full Members accepted the SPC report in a unanimous vote.
In the absence of Chair of the Committee on Resolutions, Sarah E. Kohles, O.S.F., was recognized to present the resolution:
Whereas Loyola University Maryland, 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. The resolution passed unanimously.
With no new business, the President called for a motion to adjourn. Mark Smith so moved, and Mary Kate Birge, S.S.J. seconded the motion. With complete acclamation from the Full Members present, the meeting adjourned at 5:16 p.m. EDT
Before dinner, a prayer service was led by Terry Lafferty with Angela Zautcke preaching.
The general session in the evening was advertised as “Honoring a Beloved Disciple” and was a surprise presentation of the Festschrift honoring biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine, Disruptive Readings: The Work and Wisdom of Amy-Jill Levine, edited by Joel N. Lohr, Marc Z. Brettler, and Mary C. Boys. The evening concluded with a social including a champagne toast and cake in honor of Levine.
Sessions on Tuesday, July 21st
Rev. Mark Enemali, C.S.Sp. 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 Olivia Stewart Lester, “Paul, Judaism, and 1 Thessalonians”
The following CBA members and invited guests were in attendance at the meeting either in-person or virtually:
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Acemoglu, Thomas J.O. Achu, Stanislaus Adam, Klaus Peter Agha, C.S.Sp, Toochukwu S. Ahn, John J. Alapati, Naveen Albl, Martin Alemayo, C.S.Sp., Patrick Ogbonyomi Anderson, Garwood P. Attridge, Jr., Harold W. Augustine, Tinu Sheen Azar, Michael G. Bacci, Tommaso Bamaca, Jeffrey Brian Banazak, Gregory Barber, Michael P. Barnum, Emily Bautch, Richard J. Béré, S.J., Paul Bergsma, John S. Binz, Stephen Birge, S.S.J., Mary Kate Bobertz, Charles Bodeau, Abigail L. Bodor, Attila Boesenberg, Dulcinea L. Bolin, Thomas Boys, Mary C Brettler, Marc Zvi Brien, P.B.V.M., Mary T. Brink, O.P., Laurie A. Broeren, C.S.Sp., Matthew T. Brown, Katherine Brown, Sherri Callender, Jr., Dexter E Cancino, S.J., Victor M. Carlson, Reed Carvalho, Corrine Cavicchia, O.F.M., Alessandro Chan, Joshua H. M. Chan, Xenia L. Checkai, O.P., Ronald (Leo) A. Chornopyskyi, Andrii Coblentz Bautch, Kelley Cook, S.C., Joan E. Copas, John Michael Corley, Jeremy Cotter, C.S.J., Wendy J. Cousins, Francis Cruz, Marvin Czander, Giovanna R. Danove, Paul Davila, E. J. Davis, Andrew R. De Andrado, Paba Nidhani Dellinger, Noah T. Dempsey, Deirdre A. Dempsey, O.P., Carol J. Dennis, John Alan Dewrell, Heath D. Dubovský, S.J., Peter Duggan, Michael Eck, Joachim Eisenberg, Roberta Elin, Elizabeth Enemali, C.S.Sp., Mark Ojonugwa Fedorek, Ian Feldman, Ariel Fleischman, Scott Frein, Brigid Fumbelo, Cliff Kayombo Furst, Renata C. Gadenz, Pablo T. Gallagher Elkins, Kathleen García Alayon, Carlos Garroway, Kristine S. Geist, Andrew Geller, Jay Giambrone, O.P., Anthony Giszczak, Mark B. Glancy, Jennifer A. Glover, Daniel B. Goh, O.F.M., Lionel Y.C. Green, Matthew S. Greenfield, Nicole Guyette, Frederick W. Hagan, O.S.B., Harry Hall, Robert G. Harkins, Angela Harkins, Franklin T. Hasler, Laura Carlson Heereman, Nina Hens-Piazza, Gina Hernández-Marcial, Lydia Hess, Katja Hibbard, J. Todd Hoerner, Thomas Elliott Hogan, Karina Martin Hughes-Huff, Charles Iqbal, Sweety Jackson, John R. James, Elaine T. John, Roshan Johnson, Gregory A. Johnson, Noelle G. Johnson, Samuel B. Kalimi, Isaac Kaltner, John Kiley, Mark Kim, Hyun Chul Paul Kimmel, Joseph L. Klamm, Kacie J. Klump, Gary Kohles, O.S.F., Sarah E. Koszarek, Tomasz Kot, Piotr Kazimierz Kowalski, Marcin Lafferty, Terry Lambert, O.S.B., Matthew C. Langton, Karen J. Launderville., O.S.B., Dale |
Lavery, Karen D. Lawrence, Lauress Wilkins Lee, Brian Yong Lee, Woo Min Legarreta, Felipe de Jesus Leonard-Fleckman, Mahri S. Levine, Amy-Jill Lopuch, Miroslaw J. Lotfian-Mena, Sudabée Lozinskyy, Hryhoriy Lucas, Neil Luna, Rodolfo F. Lütkenhaus, Veronika Macatangay, Francis MacDonald, Margaret Y. Manzo, Juana Laura Marek, Libor Margulies, Zachary Martinez, O.F.M. Cap., Roberto Mastnjak, Nathan R. Mathews McGinnis, Claire Mathy, Pamela Mátiková, F.S.P., Anna Matson, Mark Matthews, Shelly Mazurek, Tomasz McCruden, Kevin B. McGinn, Sheila E. McKenzie, Steven L. McMahon, Paul McNeal, Zachary L. Mendez, Hugo E. Milinovich, Timothy M. Mitchell, Alan C. Monaco, C.P., David G. Morales, O.P., Isaac Augustine Moriarty, S.M., Robert K. Moriconi, Christopher C. Morrison, O. Carm., Craig E. Morton, Russell Murphy, Barbara A. Nasuti, Harry P. Nati, James Naveros Cordova, C.D.P., Nelida Nelson, Richard Newman, Judith H. Ngandu, S.V.D., Leon wa Tshianga Ngema, Wilson Ngoka, OM.I., Cornelius Uchenna Nguyen, S.V.D., vanThanh Ntomb, Guy Pascal O'Connell, Séamus Okorie, C.M.F., Ferdinand Osiek, R.S.C.J., Carolyn Page, James Palmer, Carmen J.H. Penchansky, David Petrany, Catherine Petruncio, Claudia M. Pilarski, Ahida Calderón Pioske, Daniel D. Pires Nunes Martins, S.J., Francisco José Portalatín, Antonio Porter, Christopher A. Portier-Young, Anathea E. Putnam, TL Rappé, Donald J. Reasoner, Mark Reid, O.P., Barbara Rodriguez, Rafael Romero Maita, Nataly Lucia Ruiz, Gilberto A. Sanchez, Jonathan M. Sander, Paul J. Sandoval, Timothy J. Sarras, Niveen I Schäfers, Kirsten M. Schaser, Nicholas J. Schick, Elizabeth R. Schmidt, O.P., A. Jordan Schneck, S.J., Richard J. Scholz, Susanne Schrader Polczer, Elizabeth B. Schuller, O.S.U., Eileen Schwartz, Ethan Scott, Joshua R. Scott, Kevin M. Scritchfield, Brandy N. Shaw, Frank E. Simkovich, Malka Zeiger Simonson, Brandon Skemp, Vincent Smiles, Vincent M. Smith, Daniel Smith, Mark Solano Zatarain, Alberto Sommer, Charles Sonek, O.P., Kris Spatafora, M.S.F., Andrea Sperry, Mary Elizabeth Sterling, Gregory E. Stewart Lester, Olivia Stricker, Jada Tarker, Lisa A. Thurmond, Fernanda Q. Udoekpo, Michael Vela, Horacio Wagner, C.R., Eric Walters, Patricia Waters, Jaime L. Willis, Timothy Wilson, Brittany E Wines, Megan Winzenburg, Justin Wright, Archie T. Wróbel, Mirosław S. Zanchettin, Leo Zapff, Burkard Maria Zautcke, Angela E. Zito, Eric C. |
Respectfully submitted,
Archie T. Wright
CBA Executive Director
Lisa A. Tarker
Recording Secretary