A Jazz Homily: How Old Testament Law Shapes Beautiful Communities with Guest Dr. Mark Glanville

Exodus 3:7-12

This jazz-talk uses blues and jazz music explore the biblical law in the Old Testament, unpacking the significance for incarnational churches today. There are parallels between the development of blues and jazz and the development of biblical law: both have their roots in the atrocity of slavery. Blues and jazz developed in the oppression of slavery and of the reconstruction era in the U.S. Biblical law emerged from the atrocity of slavery in Egypt. This talk unfolds the invitation in biblical law by looking at three laws in Deuteronomy, reflecting how they can shape the church today to reflect the tenderness of Jesus.

Dr Mark Glanville (PhD, Trinity College, BristolI, UK) is the Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrews Hall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Mark trains leaders for post-Christian contexts, using biblical scholarship and jazz piano.Before pastoring, Mark worked full time as a jazz pianist. He currently plays on the Vancouver jazz scene, and he hosts the Blue Note Theology podcast. Mark is an Aussie: he likes to express his masculinity by snapping a crocodile’s neck with two fingers.