The Seminary Explores

During her residency, Tucson-based writer Julie Swarstad Johnson will be working on poems inspired by stories of pacifist faith communities around Gettysburg before, during and after the time of the battle, with a particular focus on the experiences of the Sherfy family (owners of the Peach Orchard). Her own practice as a member of Mennonite and Quaker congregations will add perspective to the historical role these communities. It is an opportunity to understand examples of pacifism and faith in American public life. She took time from her research, writing and explorations for a conversation with Katy Giebenhain about her project. The author of Jumping the Pit by Finishing Line Press, Swarstad Johnson is a Library Specialist at the University of Arizona Poetry Center.

Julie Swarstad Johnson will give a free public poetry reading March 3rd at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center at 3:00 p.m.
The event is sponsored by a grant from the Gettysburg Foundation and other generous sponsors. For more information about the event call 717-334-1124.

Thanks to our host site for this interview, Waldo’s and Co. on the square in Gettysburg.

Social-justice poet Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo is the first “Poets in the Park” artist-in-residence at the Gettysburg National Military Park. She stopped by the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary for a conversation about her evolving collection, her experience as a desert aid worker on the U.S.-Mexico border, hobo markings, Tarot card prompts and more.

When it comes to poet/priests, R.S. Thomas is about as good as it gets. This Seminary Explores conversation includes insight into his relevance and the brilliant tensions in his work by John McEllhenney, author of A Masterwork of Doubting Belief: R.S. Thomas and His Poetry.

For more information on the R.S. Thomas Literary Festival visit: http://www.st-hywyn.org.uk/rst.html

Dr. Robert Randolph, the 2015 minister-in-residence at Gettysburg Seminary spent a week on campus this fall. He is an award-winning poet, pastor of a Presbyterian church and Chair of the English and Foreign Languages Department at Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, PA.

For more information on his publications visit: http://elixirpress.com/ 

Michigan-based poets Michelle Bonczek Evory and Rob Evory were selected as the first Artists-in-Residence at the Gettysburg National Military Park. They discuss their lively, intense first weeks with Katy Giebenhain, Poetry + Theology editor of Seminary Ridge Review, and share some original new work. They are in residence for the month of July, 2015.

http://thepoetsbillow.org/gettysburg/

http://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Dr. Largen interviews Dr. Kent Gramm, Visiting Professor of English at Gettysburg College, about his new book, Psalms for Skeptics, a series of sonnets based on one phrase from each of the Psalms 101-150.

The Poetry + Theology editor for Seminary Ridge Review speaks with Irish poet Micheal O’Siadhail about his friendship with theologians, his poetry, and whether or not faith is a thing to be kept private. O’Siadhail gave a public reading on the Gettysburg Seminary campus as part of his U.S. book tour for Collected Poems (Bloodaxe Books, 2013).