Our Church
- Home
- Worship
- Youth Fellowship
- History
- Interior Sanctuary Pictures
- Map of Facilities
- Staff
- Mar. Calendar
- Mar. Newsletter
- Spring Adult Classes
- Christian Education
- PreSchool
- ActivityPhotos
- Other Programs
- Rothermel EducationProg.
- Session Members
- Using Stewardship Gifts
- Scotland Pilgrimage
|
|
|
|
|
Rothermel Educational Programs An endowed lecture series of First Presbyterian Church that has established an ecumenical and interfaith board to secure speakers of national and international acclaim, and to plan program topics of current interest on matters primarily, though not exclusively, having to do with where science and religion intersect. Typically two events are scheduled annually, one in the fall and one in the spring. The Rothermel Foundation came into being in 1989 with a bequest from the late Amel Rothermel, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, with the objective to further religious faith in a Supreme Being in a modern , scientific age Board of Trustees |
| Barbara Berk, Temple B,Nai Sholem Nick Blackerby, First Presbyterian Nancy Bowers, Christ Episcopal Joseph Brigham, First Presbyterian Mary Brigham, Garber Methodist |
Bryan Brown, St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Charles Dettor, First Presbyterian David Duane, Centenary United Methodist Robert Hennon, First Presbyterian Linda Staunch, First Presbyterian Rick Welborn, First Baptist |
|
Future Programs Ethics in Future of Nanotechnology Dr. Vicki L. Colvin Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology Rice Quantum Institute November 12, 2006 |
| Past Rothermel Programs | |
|
Interfaith
Dialogue Mark Pelavin Assoc. Dir. of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism November 2005 |
TRUTH AND FICTION IN THE DA VINCI CODE Dr. Bart D. Ehrman Chair, Department of Religious Studies University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill May 2005 |
|
The Dead
Sea Scrolls and the Bible Dr. James C. VanderKamm Professor Hebrew Scriptures Notre Dame U. October 2004 |
Environmental Health - Life or Half-life Dr. Dade W. Moeller
Professor Emeritus of Environmental Health, and a former Associate Dean of the School of Public Health
Harvard University
February 2005 |
|
The Religious Crisis of the Civil
War Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. Professor Virginia Tech February 2003 |
Current Concepts in Biotechnology W. Stephen Burke Sr. VP NC Biotechnology Center November 2003 |
|
"Healthy Diets"
Professor of Nutrition School of Public Health and Medicine UNC at Chapel Hill
February 2004 |
Stem Cell Research:
Miracle or Mayhem? Dr. Nelson Chao Professor of Medicine and Immunology Duke University & Dr. Karen Lebacqz Professor of Theological Ethics Pacific School of Religion, Berkley, Ca. |
|
Apocalyptic literature of the Holy
Bible Rev. Dr. James Efird Professor of Biblical Interpretation Duke University |
|
|
Professor of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Medicine UNC at Chapel Hill |
| A member of UNC faculty since 1971; Professor since 1977.
Member or past member of editorial boards of several scientific journals,
including the fields of nutrition, bone, and osteoporosis. Author or
co-author of more than 100 scientific reports, reviews, and monographs.
Author of two books. Current research interest are in: calcium and
bone metabolism as influenced by nutrient intakes across the life cycle,
physical activity and other lifestyle factors; nutrition and cancer; and
general nutrient disease relationships, including osteoporosis, diabetes,
and hypertension. Dr. Anderson will be speaking on "Health Diets" Sunday, February 8, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. in the Murphy Smith Fellowship Center of the First Presbyterian Church. The Center is located on Middle Street in the Historic District of New Bern. |
|
The Rothermel Foundation Presents
Mark J. Pelavin Associate Director of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Washington, D.C. Speaking on Interfaith Dialogue Sunday, November 6, 2005, 2:00 p.m. Smith Fellowship Center 508 Middle Street, New Bern Mr. Pelavin will present an introduction to a program entitled “Open Doors, Open Minds: Synagogues and Churches Studying Together.” The goal of the program is to foster mutual understanding and appreciation between Jews and Christians, and to dispel xenophobia and misunderstanding. It is aimed at helping participants understand how our faith is actively lived—to see how our beliefs, values, hopes and doubts shape our individual and communal lives. Mark J. Pelavin received a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics from Brandeis University and J.D., cum laude at Georgetown University Law Center. Since May 1996 he has been the Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Mr. Pelavin is particularly recognized for his expertise on issues concerning separation of church and state. He is an expert in confronting the religious right and his observations and writings have been carried by the New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today among many other newspapers across the nation. The Religious Action Center advocates on a broad range of social justice issues. It provides extensive legislative and programmatic materials used by synagogues, federations and Jewish community councils nationwide, and it coordinates social action education programs that train Jewish adults, youth, rabbinical and lay leaders. Mr. Pelavin was recently elected Vice-chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Prior to assuming his present position, Mr. Pelavin served as the Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the American Jewish Congress, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential Jewish public affairs agencies. He had worked for American Jewish Congress since March 1984 and had directed its Washington operations since September 1989. Previously he was Director of Policy Planning, Associate Washington Representative and Assistant to the Executive Director for American Jewish Congress. Our program will begin with a lecture by Mr. Pelavin followed by a refreshment break, and question and answer session.
|
James Claire VanderKam, a member of the Notre Dame faculty since 1991,
was Professor VanderKam received his bachelor's degree from Calvin College in 1968 and a B.D. from the Calvin Theological Seminary in 1971. He did research as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland and received his doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University in 1976. He is proficient in many modern and ancient languages, including Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Ethiopic. Professor VanderKam is a well-known author, having published many articles in scholarly journals and written and edited several books, including The Community of the Renewed Covenant: The Notre Dame Symposium on the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Book of Jubilees, and EnochÑA Man for All Generations. For his book The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, which has been translated into six languages, he won the 1995 Publication Award of the Biblical Archaeology Society for the Best Popular Book on Archaeology. While at Notre Dame, his research has focused on the Dead Sea Scrolls. He is editor of thirteen volumes of scrolls in the official publication series "Discoveries in the Judean Desert" and is editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Professor VanderKam continues to be very involved in professional organizations and has served on many editorial boards. He is an active member of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature. In addition, he is the book review editor of The Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha and Related Literature, editor of Dead Sea Discoveries and a member of the editorial board for Vetus Testamentum and several monograph series. He has also presented numerous papers and given invited lectures at professional meetings and on college and university campuses throughout the world. |
|||||
|
THE
REV. JOHN O'BRIEN CHAIR IN THEOLOGY was established by the University in 2001
with a gift from the late Rev. John A. O'Brien, a priest-author who spent
40 years teaching and writing at Notre Dame before his death in 1980. A
popular Catholic apologist whose books, articles and pamphlets have
reached millions of readers, Father O'Brien was a leader of the Newman
Club movement, in evangelization, and as an early advocate of Church
renewal resulting from the second Vatican Council. Father O'Brien's generosity has provided a total of ten endowed professorships, one fellowship and a library collection at Notre Dame. The overall purpose of his bequest was to contribute directly to the Catholic intellectual life and to the Catholic character of the University. |
|
Current Concepts in Biotechnology On Sunday, November 9, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. at the Smith Fellowship Center, 508 Middle Street, W Steven Burke, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and External Relations for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, will present a lecture and lead a discussion on Current Concepts in Biotechnology. Mr. Burke has been an active participant in the national and international biotechnology communities since the mid 1980’s, working in particular as an advocate for attention to educational, public, and societal issues. He speaks frequently throughout the United States and Europe on biotechnology development and challenges. Topics to be discussed in the November 9th lecture include: the politics of genetically modified foods and other products; risks and benefits in biotechnology; the potential for genetically modified foods for feeding the world’s hungry, and ethical considerations. Among his other activities, Mr. Burke serves on the guiding board of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Please join us for this lecture and discussion. Light refreshments will be served. |
|
ROTHERMEL and the NEW BERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY present: James I. Robertson, Jr., Ph.D. Alumni and Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech and Executive Director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies
Saturday February 8, 2003
"The Religious Crisis of the Civil War" Our Rothermel speaker was a football official with the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1976 to 1992, and selected to officiate in nine post-season bowl games. What is more, in 1983 he was ordained a Deacon in the Anglican Church. However, he is not invited to be among us for being a football official or an Anglican Deacon. He was invited because of scholarship in the field of Civil War History, and for one of his sub-specialties, battlefield wounds and medical treatments. Given that New Bern was occupied from 1862 through 1865 by Union troops, that the sanctuary of First Presbyterian served as the hospital and the manse as the surgical ward, with medical personnel living in homes along and in proximity to Johnson Street, the Rothermel Board thought his perspective on what likely took place inside and on our church property at that time, of great interest to everyone. Dr. Robertson, a native of Danville, Virginia, and a graduate of Randolph Macon College (B.A.), and Emory University (M.A., Ph.D.), is well suited to speak on any subject having to do with the American Civil War of 1861-1865. He currently teaches the largest Civil War History Class in America averaging 250 students per semester in the year long course of study. He regularly appears in Civil War Programs on the Arts & Entertainment Network, the History Channel, C-Span, and public television, and does a weekly Civil War program aired on 11 public radio stations. In 2000, he was selected "Virginian of the Year" by the Virginia Press Association. While still a young man, he led the Civil War Centennial Celebration from Washington D.C. from 1961-1965, working with Presidents Nixon, Kennedy and Johnson, and prior to that served on the Civil War Round Table with Harry Truman. He is the recipient of every major award given in the field of Civil War History. His award winning books are: The Stonewall Brigade, General A.P. Hill, and America Becomes One Nation. His next two books: Soldiers Blue and Gray and his 950-page biography of the Presbyterian Confederate General, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend, were both nomin-ated for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He recently published, Jackson’s Book of Maxims, (see Raleigh News & Observer, Sunday November 17, 2002). Along with his faculty colleague, Dr. William C. Davis, he has co-edited a book-length study, Faith in the Fight: Civil War Chaplains, scheduled for publication in early 2003. Order forms for books and video tapes by Dr. Robertson will be available on Saturday, and in the church office the following week. Dr. Robertson also served as historical consultant for Warner Brothers Cinematic Produc-tion, "Gods and Generals" which is based on his biography of Jackson. The 32 hour movie is scheduled to be released nationwide in theaters on Friday, February 21, 2003. |
|
Apocalyptic Literature
of the Holy Bible of the Holy Bible
|
The Rev. Dr. James Efird Professor of Biblical Interpretation Duke University |
| August 23 Friday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Introduction to Apocalyptic and The Phenomenon of Darbyism August 24 Saturday 9 a.m. – Noon Part 1: “An Introduction to the Books of Daniel and Revelation” Daniel 8; Revelation 1, 4-5, 6, 12-14, 17 & 20-22 August 24 Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Part 2: “An Introduction to the Books of Daniel and Revelation” Daniel 8; Revelation 1, 4-5, 6, 12-14, 17 & 20-22 August 25 Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Dr. Efird will be preaching at both services
|
A highly regarded authority on the
Book of Revelation, Dr. Efird, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) has taught on the faculty at Duke for over forty years. At
the same time he has won a well-deserved reputation teaching laity in
local churches of many denominations across North Carolina and elsewhere.
A native of North Carolina, he was educated at Davidson College (BA),
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Duke University
(Ph.D.) The author of over 60 articles, 13 books and editor of 3 others, “Mickey” has also served as an interim pastor to many Presbyterian congregations round the Triangle area all his years at Duke and is widely regarded among laity as an excellent teacher and communicator. Dr. Efird will be speaking in the sanctuary Friday from 7-9 pm, Saturday 9-12N and 1-3 pm (a light lunch will be provided from 12N-1 pm in the Fellowship Center). Sunday Dr. Efird will be preaching at both the 8:30 and 11:00 am services. Dr. Efird is internationally known in his specialty on a particular type of biblical literature called “Apocalyptic.” Among his publications, two of his books: Revelation Today and End Times: Rapture, Antichrist and Millennium will be useful to those who wish to get a head start. They can be found at religious or divinity school bookstores or on the internet.Middle and Senior High age youth are encouraged to participate in sessions with Dr. Efird. Please call the church office for luncheon reservations and nursery care. |
|
Stem Cell Research: Miracle or Mayhem? Sunday April 14 & Saturday April 27 2:00 PM |
 The first of our two presenters on the topic of Stem Cell Research is Dr. Nelson Chao, Professor of Medicine and Immunology, Duke University, and Co-Director of the Stem Cell Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center. Prior to coming to Duke in 1996, he was Director of the Outpatient Clinic Bone Marrow Transplantation Program and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California. Educated at Harvard (B.S.), Yale Medical School (M.D.), followed by post-graduate studies at Stanford, Dr. Chao has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles dealing with cancer research, bone marrow transplantation, and stem cell research. He is the author of two books and chapters in many other texts dealing with bone marrow transplantation and stem cell research, and cancer research. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Chao is also on the editorial review board of several medical journals. He will be speaking on the biological and scientific aspects of Stem Cell Research Sunday, April 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Smith Center. Dr. Chao makes his home in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and three children. He also serves as a volunteer at the Chapel Hill Soup Kitchen.
|
|
T
 he second half of our “tandem” Rothermel Program on Stem Cell research this
April, features Dr. Karen Lebacqz, the Robert Gordon Sproul Professor of
Theological Ethics at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California.
She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wellesley College (B.A.) in Biblical
History, and did graduate work in Religion and Society at Harvard University
(M.A., Ph.D.).The author of six books and co-author of two others, Professor Lebacqz has contributed 75+ articles and chapters in professional journals and books, as well as conducted 50+ speeches and workshops at professional associations, churches and medical schools around the world. Her professional memberships and awards, let us just say, are considerable. An expert on bioethics (including issues related to the Genome Project, cloning, pre-natal, and euthanasia), sexual and professional ethics, she is well suited to lead us in an exploration of current Judeo Christian ethical thinking on stem cell research. Please make plans to hear her speak at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, April 27, in the Murphy Smith Center. There will be plenty of time and opportunity for questions. Light refreshments will be served. |
| The next Rothermel Lecture, which is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 27, 2005, will feature a talk by Dr. Dade W. Moeller, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Health, and a former Associate Dean of the School of Public Health, Harvard University. His presentation coincides with the publication of the 3rd edition of his textbook, Environmental Health, previous editions of which were used in some 50 colleges and universities in the United States and other countries of the world. His talk will cover a wide range of environmentally related issues, beginning with guidance on the subject provided in the Bible, followed by a review and discussion of the many types of “environments” in which we live, with particular attention on the “personal” environment since it is the one over which people, as individuals, have the most control. Interestingly, it is also the “environment” that has the most impact on our health and well-being. Dr. Moeller will conclude his presentation by reviewing the impacts of radiation on our lives, and what people can do to minimize the doses they receive from this source. In this regard, Dr. Moeller brings a wealth of experience, having worked at both the Oak Ridge and Los Alamos National Laboratories of the U.S. Department of Energy, having participated in the U.S. atmospheric weapons tests, and having served for 15 years as a member of the statutory Advisory Committee on subsequently served 5 years as chairman of that Agency’s Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste. Dr. Moeller is a registered professional engineer, and is certified by the American Board of Health Physics and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering. |
|
THE DA VINCI CODE Dr. Bart D. Ehrman, Chair, Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will be speaking on “TRUTH AND FICTION IN THE DA VINCI CODE: A HISTORIAN REVEALS WHAT WE REALLY KNOW.” Sunday, May 1, 2005 Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code has been on the popular best-seller list since its publication and has sold over 25 million copies (per ABC news) since its release in 2003. It has raised many questions regarding Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the early church, and has also raised a storm of debate within the present Roman Catholic church and Protestant denominations over the legitimacy of the ‘facts’ reported in this novel. Dr. Bart Ehrman, the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill will address these controversial ‘facts,’ including the historical Jesus, the historical Mary Magdalene, the history of the early church, and present an historical account of the role of Constantine in the creation of early Christian theology and scripture. Dr. Ehrman completed his M. Div. and Ph.D. degrees at Princeton Seminary (magna cum laude) and has published extensively in the fields of New Testament and Early Christianity, having written or edited fifteen books, numerous articles, and dozens of book reviews. Recent books published are: Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code: a Historian Reveals What We Really Know; Lost Christianities; Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Become the New Testament. He has been guest lecturer at many colleges and universities and has made presentations on National Public Radio, CNN, A & E Network, and the History Channel. Dr. Ehrman has been at UNC-Chapel Hill since 1988 and has been Department Chair since 2000. His special area of interest and research is New Testament Interpretation; History of Ancient Christianity; Formation of the Canon; Historical Jesus, and Apostolic Fathers. Dr. Ehrman has the further distinction of having participated in the initial Rothermel series presentation in March, 1990. WE WELCOME HIM BACK AT THIS TIME ! |