Assistant Professor of New Testament
 B.A. Vassar College, M.R.E. Wesley Theological Seminary,
 M.A.R. McCormick Theological Seminary, Ph.D.,
 University of Chicago Divinity School

"One way the Bible (both Testaments) is authoritative for me is that through my readings of the texts I want to allow God's Spirit to author me and my faith. I believe the Bible is authoritative for the church in a similar way: we are to be "people of the Book." At the most basic level, we need to be knowledgeable about its contents. But even more, we need to study and discuss the biblical texts together. When we really wrestle with a teaching, and listen carefully to other persons' perspectives, then our Bible study fosters true Christian community, and forms us as disciples of Christ who have a growing capacity to discern God's will."

Before coming to UDTS, the Rev. Annette Bourland Huizenga taught in adjunct positions at McCormick Theological Seminary and at Catholic Theological Union. She holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School, writing her dissertation on "Philosophers of the Household: Moral Education for Women in the Pastoral and Pythagorean Letters." This will be published in the Novum Testamentum Supplements series in early 2013. Her scholarly interests circle around the social-historical contexts of early Christian communities: family structure, slavery, women in the Pauline assemblies, Roman law and economy, and education. Presently, she is writing about all of these topics in a volume on the Pastoral Letters for the Wisdom Commentary series (Liturgical Press).

Annette was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament at LaSalle Street Church-Chicago (non-denominational), where she served as one of the pastors for ten years. She is grateful too for her United Methodist roots: she was raised in a church in the Baltimore Conference, obtained a Master of Religious Education from Wesley Theological Seminary, and worked as a DCE in United Methodist Churches in the Chicago area.