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A Conference Exploring Hermeneutics, Text and Culture
READING
TWO
TEXTS
June 9-10, 2026
WHEN /
June 9-10, 2026
Join us for an insightful conference focused on the connections between God's Word and our local contexts in God's World.
This event is designed to explore edgy topics, deepen our understandings, and foster open, safe, and meaningful discussions.
About the Conference /
WHERE /
Ventura, CA
Details /
Spend a week on the coast of Southern California, enjoying great conversation, ocean breezes, sunshine, local food and wine. Conference is hosted at Grace Lutheran, Ventura. TRAVEL & HOTEL INFO HERE
Are you coming to ENJOY THE SUNSHINE?
Click here for vacation ideas:
Speakers
TUESDAY / JUNE 9
8:30am Registration
with Breakfast Buffet
9am Welcome
James W. Voelz
The Dynamic Action of Reading/Interpreting Texts -
Understanding the (Rather Complicated) Process
Paul Raabe
Contemporary Views of Jesus and Their Impact on Reading the Biblical Text
12pm LUNCH BREAK
David Duke
Predicaments in Interfacing Texts of Scripture with Difficult Pre-texts in Pastoral Care
Andrew H. Bartelt
Isaiah 7:14 in its Context and ETs in Their Context
Nadine Grayl
Reading the Text of Scripture and the Text of the Life of My Clients
6pm Happy Hour
and
DINNER
WEDNESDAY / JUNE 10
8:30am
Breakfast Buffet
9am Welcome
James W. Voelz
Postmodernism, Deconstructionism, and All That Weird Stuff - How Reading One Text Involves Reading Many Texts
William Carr
Intertextuality Happens in the Hebrew Bible… in Isaiah, Too
Phillip Brandt
Intertextuality in James's Speech in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem Council
12pm LUNCH BREAK
Paul Raabe
Hermeneutics for the Song of Songs
Michael Middendorf
Are We Using Words the Way the Bible Does? Semantic Issues with Theological Vocabulary
6pm Happy Hour
and
DINNER
THURSDAY / JUNE 11
SoCal Excursion
Santa Barbara
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