Soultending with Mary Magdalene

Join us in this beautiful gathering place, Kanuga, just outside of Asheville, for this immersive experience centered on Mary Magdalene. Music, art, ritual and intentional conversation will all be a part of this sacred container for a transformative encounter with the holy. *If you are interested in staying at Kanuga for this conference, please click on this link to register for lodging, food and program.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Elizabeth “Libbie” Schrader Polczer, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Villanova University. She holds a doctorate in Early Christianity from Duke University, with a focus on textual criticism, Mary Magdalene, and the Gospel of John. Elizabeth has been invited to present her peer-reviewed research at Duke University, Princeton University, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Pepperdine University, Elon University, Wheaton College, Perkins School of Theology, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Regensburg and the University of Leipzig, Germany, along with dozens of churches across the U.S. and Canada.

Elizabeth transitioned to religious scholarship after a long career as a singer/songwriter. She was the first winner of the Pantene Pro-Voice competition in 2001, after a performance opening for Jewel at SummerStage in New York’s Central Park. Prizes included a nationwide club tour with Poe, as well as a demo deal with Atlantic Records. Her band also participated in Jewel’s “Soul City Cafe” program for independent artists, opening three shows on Jewel’s “This Way” tour. She has opened for other artists as diverse as India. Arie, Michelle Branch, Ray LeMontagne, and Rusted Root, and played her music on an episode of “The Gilmore Girls.”

After writing a song about Mary Magdalene, Elizabeth enrolled in the M.A. program at General Theological Seminary. Her interest in the text of John’s Gospel culminated in the publication of her Master’s thesis in the Harvard Theological Review. She has published additional peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of Biblical Literature, T.C.: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism, and the Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies Bulletin.

Info: Wednesday, March 4th

4pm – Registration/Check-In

4:30pm – Newcomer Welcome to Kanuga (Fireplace Lounge)

5:30pm – 7pm – Dinner

7:15pm – Welcome & Introduction

8:30pm – Silence, Meditation, Chant

Thursday, March 5th

7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast

9am – Silence, Meditation, Chant

9:30am – Plenary I: Exploring the Anointing Stories in Scripture and Art

11:45am – Silence, Meditation, Chant

12pm – 1pm – Lunch

1:30pm – The Gospel of Mary & Material Reality

3pm – Free Time – Optional Activities/Focused Conversations

5:30pm – 6:30pm – Dinner

7:15pm – Plenary II: Was the Gospel of John Changed to Suppress Mary Magdalene

8:30pm – Silence, Meditation, Chant

Friday, March 6th

7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast

9am – Silence, Meditation, Chant

9:30am – Plenary III: Finding Mary Magdalene in Early Christian and Contemporary Art

11:45am – Silence, Meditation, Chant

12pm – 1pm – Lunch

1:30pm – The Gospel of Mary & Sacred Mysteries

3pm – Free Time – Optional Activities/Focused Conversation

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Host or Publisher Kanuga