In early September, 2015, Dr. Bradley Nassif (SVOTS 1985) delivered the opening address at the third International Consultation of Orthodox and Evangelical theologians. The topic of his paper was, “The Gospel in Eastern Orthodox Perspective.” Dr. Nassif focused on how the Church conceived and expressed the gospel in the age of the Ecumenical Councils (325-787 AD).
As guests of His Beatitude Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland and the Evangelical Alliance of Finland (SEA), Dr. Nassif and 62 other Orthodox and Evangelical leaders gathered September 1-5, 2015 at the Sofia Cultural Centre, Helsinki, for a Consultation sponsored by the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative. The goal of the Initiative is to work towards better understanding between Orthodox and Evangelical communities, and to strive for healing where wounds exist. Representing Christian communities from twenty-five different countries, attendees at the consultation discussed the theme ‘The Gospel as Good News," examining the common understanding of the meaning and purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how this is communicated today, and its implications for community transformation and pastoral ministry.
In 2013 Professor Nassif was the keynote speaker for the first Consultation. His address, titled “Tradition, Catholicity and the Mind of the Church,” was included in the newly published book The Mission of God: Studies in Orthodox and Evangelical Mission (Regnum Press, 2015), edited by Dr. Mark Oxbrow of the Mission Center at Oxford University.
Most recently, Dr. Nassif edited a collection of essays in honor of Fr. Paul Tarazi, professor emeritus at St. Vladimir’s, titled, Festschrift in Honor of Professor Paul Nadim Tarazi, Vol. 2: Studies in the New Testament (Peter Lang, 2015). Contributors included Archbishop Demitrios Trakatellis, Archbishop Athanasius Yvetic, Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, and others.
Professor Nassif also recently received a $50,000 annual grant given by the Kullis Foundation. The goal of the grant is to promote an annual Orthodox Speaker’s Series at North Park University in Chicago, where Dr. Nassif serves as Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies. The conference, which is free of charge, is designed to strengthen the practical life of Orthodox pastors, leaders and parishioners of local churches.
The inaugural conference lecture will be given by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at North Park University, with the proposed topic of “The Unchanging Gospel in an Ever-changing Culture.” Father John Behr, St. Vladimir's Dean, Dr. Edith Humphrey of Pittsburgh Seminary, and Dr. Marcus Plested of Marquette University, will be respondents. Future series will continue to focus on the centrality of the Gospel in Orthodox life and thought.
