Bible Forum Release

The Bible is God’s never-changing Word…. But is it still relevant in our time? What use and value does it have for present-day Philippines and modern-day Filipinos? What can Christians do to make more people appreciate the Bible? How can we best minister the Word of God in a context like ours? These questions are just some of the issues that the first-ever Philippine Bible Forum seeks to address.
Sponsored by the Philippine Bible Society, the Bible Forum slated for November 19-20, 2007 has for its theme: “The Bible in the 21st Century Philippine Context”. This inter-confessional event will feature the plenary speeches of Prof. Takamitsu Muraoka, professor emeritus of Hebrew Language and Literature of the Leiden University, the Netherlands; Amb. Henrietta de Villa, National Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV); social anthropologist Dr. Melba Maggay, and Dr. Agustin B. Vencer, Jr, vice-President of DAWN Ministries.

The Forum will also feature divided sessions where practical papers will be presented by men and women of the cloth and lay people, among them Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano (A Stranger No More:LeavingHome with theBook of Ruth); Pastor Philip Flores (God’s Message, not just Good Message: The Pastor and his Bible); Rev. Fr. Francis B. Lucas (And the Word was made Flesh: Communication and Spirituality); Pastor Eric Maliwat (Bible, Heart Language, and the Media) and Rev. Fr. Luke Moortgat (Kerygma: Bringing the Good News to the Houses, Slums, and Streets).
Technical paper presenters, on the other hand, include noted Filipino Bible scholars and theologians inclduing: Bishop Daniel C. Arichea, Jr. (Revisiting Gospel and Culture and their Relevance for Faithful Interpretation of the Scriptures), Dr. José M. de Mesa, (“Hamartia and Pandaraya: A Contextual Co-Relation), Dr. Jonathan Exiomo, (Some Implications of Postmodernity to a Dichotomic Worldview of “Interpretation and Application” in Biblical Studies), Rev. Fr. Gerardo Tapiador, SVD, (In the Light of the Risen Lord: A Biblical Theology on Cremation), Dr. Madeline Vega of the Asian Theological Seminary, and Dr. Rebecca Cacho of St. Scholastica’s College Department of Theology.
So, if you’re among those who seek answers to biblical questions and enjoy theological discourse, join this scholarly but relevant discussion on God’s Word. Be part of the first-ever Bible Forum in the country and help make God’s Word known and be more meaningful to fellow Filipinos! Registration fee is P800 but early birds, who registers on or before October 31, will get a P100 discount! For more information, call the Philippine Bible Society at 524-7598 and look for Mars Magbitang or Sheila Hipe.