Dead Sea Scrolls topic of April 11 Prentice Meador Distinguished Lectures

The Lipscomb University Prentice Meador Distinguished Lectures this year features a presentation by noted author and Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Weston W. Fields Monday, at 7 p.m., April 11 in Collins Alumni Auditorium, located on the Lipscomb campus. A question and answer session and book signing follow the evening lecture.

 

Since 1991, Fields has been executive director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation, which has worked with Oxford University Press to publish many of the scrolls. The foundation has assisted in organizing 14 Dead Sea Scrolls exhibitions around the world. These exhibitions were established to support the preservation of the scrolls in Jerusalem and to encourage publication of the scrolls and related topics.

 

In addition, Fields also serves on the board of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publications, the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Studies, the American Schools of Oriental Research, the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research and the Museum of Biblical and Sacred Writings in Los Angeles.

 

Fields has authored four books and is currently writing two more. His most recent book is The Dead Sea Scrolls. A Full History, Vol. 1. Fields taught at Grace College and Theological Seminary for 10 years and at the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem for seven years. In 1993, Fields received a Ph.D. from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His dissertation focused on the recurring motifs of the Sodom and Gomorrah narrative, working with Dead Sea Scrolls texts with professors Shemaryahu Talmon and Emanuel Tov.

 

The Prentice Meador Distinguished Lecture is free and open to the public.

 

Lipscomb established the Prentice Meador Distinguished Lectures in 2010 to honor Prentice A. Meador Jr., a longtime minister and professor at Lipscomb who died Nov. 25, 2008, following a brief illness. The annual series is intended to highlight work done in innovative, effective communication in the areas of contemporary faith and spirituality.

 

For more than 40 years, Meador was an influential preaching minister serving large churches across the country. Meador wrote for several publications and authored several books in the field of religion. In 1992, Meador became managing editor of 21st Century Christian magazine. Meador earned his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He taught communication at UCLA, the University of Washington, Missouri State University and Abilene Christian University.

 

For more information call 615.966.5799.