Professor to teach special classes

The Rev. Dr. Whitney Bodman, associate professor of comparative religions at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminar, will be the guest speaker for several Sundays at First Presbyterian Church.

Bodman came to the Austin seminary in 2002 from Harvard Divinity School where he completed his Th.D. in comparative religion and Islamic studies.

A 1977 master of divinity graduate from Duke Divinity School, Bodman was ordained in the United Church of Christ. He has pastored several churches in the northeastern U.S., and has been involved in interfaith organizations, including Ecumenical Clergy for the Middle East Crisis and the Massachusetts Conference of Churches Jewish-Christian and Muslim- Christian Dialogues.

His current research focuses on the Qur'an, modern Islam in the Middle East and rituals of sacred space and pilgrimage.

Bodman is chair of the Texas Conference of Churches Muslim- Christian Forum and meets with the TCC Jewish-Christian Forum. He also serves on the executive committee of the Board of Texas Impact.

Bodman will be teaching on Islam during Sunday School hour (9:45-10:45 a.m.) April 13, April 20 and April 27.

Community members are invited. Class will meet in the church's fellowship hall, 405 S. Chestnut.