By Loretta Fulton

The biblical book of Job and a new book about it will be the topic of the presentation at the September meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin with lunch at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday,
Sept. 24, at Grace Lutheran Church, 1202 S. Pioneer Drive. It will be co-hosted by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. A $3 donation is requested for lunch.

“Job’s Witness: How Suffering Changes the Way We Speak of God” is the topic of the talk by Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby, an ACU assistant professor of religion. The presentation will be based on her new book, which is scheduled to be published in November by T&T Clark (Bloomsbury). Her book is titled, The Suffering of Job and An Enfleshed Homiletic: Bearing the Body’s Witness. She described it as follows:

“My book explores the ways in which radical suffering transforms theological imagination, and thereby the way we speak about God. Most of the book of Job centers on God-talk in the wake of tragedy, challenging readers to carefully consider the relational and ethical imperative to bear witness with those who suffer.” 

Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby

McLaughlin-Sheasby teaches in ACU’s Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from ACU in 2015 and a doctorate in theological studies from Boston University in 2022.

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene