Susan M. Elliott Red Lodge, Montana

Susan M. (Elli) Elliott began her doctoral work after years in urban ministry in Chicago where she served a local church, directed human rights organizations, worked in grassroots economic development, and organized direct actions on local and international justice issues. For several years, she managed construction companies and a mailing service as ventures to employ and train urban young people in Chicago. She also spent a year in a village in Mexico assisting with the economic development work of the Arizona Farmworkers Union.

Elli Elliott's scholarly work focuses on the pagan and Roman Imperial backgrounds of early Christianity, including Greco-Roman mystery cults—particularly the cult of Cybele—and central Anatolian popular religiosity. Her first book explores Paul's letter to the Galatians and the relation of the circumcision controversy to the practice of ritual self-castration. Her current book project is based on a lecture series offered in local churches using work of George Lakoff on the family metaphor in political discussion to understand early Christian family language in the context of the Roman Empire She is the author of scholarly articles that have appeared in the Journal of Biblical Literature, Biblical Research, Semeia and Listening: A Journal of Religion and Culture, a contributor to Eerdmans' Dictionary of the Bible and The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, and a member of the Scholars Version translation team.

Books

• Whose Family Values? Early Christians Live a Different Empire (working title) in preparation
• Cutting Too Close for Comfort: Paul's Letter to the Galatians in Its Anatolian Cultic Context, 2003.

Academic Credentials

• B.A. equivalent, The Institute at Prescott College, Prescott, Arizona
• M.Div., Jesuit School of Theology at Chicago
• Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago

Academic Appointments

• Faculty Member, Theological Education Institute of the Central Rocky Mountain Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1999–2003
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology, Loyola University Chicago, 1997
• Lecturer of Theology, Loyola University Chicago, 1993-1996

Professional Service

• Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fairmont, Minnesota, 2005–
• Minister for Faith & Learning, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2003–2005
• Pastor, Zion United Church of Christ, Sterling, Colorado, 1997–2003
• Director, Justice and Peace Network of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1990–1992
• Pastor and Community Program Director, Douglas Park Church of the Brethren, 1987–1990
• Director, Interfaith Coalition for Justice to Immigrants, Chicago, 1981–1982
• Coordinator, Alliance to End Represssion, Chicago, 1978–1980

Membership in Professional Societies

• Society of Biblical Literature
• Westar Institute
• Catholic Biblical Association
• North American Patristics Society
• Chicago Society for Biblical Research

Church and Community Service

• Plenary Bible Study Leader, Annual Meetings of the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ, 2004 and 2005
• Moderator, Northeastern Association, Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1999–2000
• Chair, Local Church Ministries Committee of the Faith Enhancing Ministries Committee, Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1999–2000
• Chair, Chicago Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ Personnel Committee, 1994–1996
• Precinct Captain, 47th Ward Committee to Re-elect Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago, 1986-1987
• Shop Steward and Bargaining Committee Member, Hull House Employees' Union, United Auto Workers District 65,  1986–1987
• Board Member, Synapses, Inc., 1984-1988, Board President, 1987–1988

Awards and Honors

• Arthur J. Schmitt Dissertation Fellowship, Loyola University Chicago, 1995–1996
• Loyola University Teaching Fellowship, 1994–1995
• Student Paper Competition Prize, Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, 1993
• American Bible Society Scholarly Achievement Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies, Loyola University Chicago, 1993

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