The first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America (CBA) — Old and New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine — intends to strengthen resources for educators and to build partnerships with parishes for guidelines about Scripture, she told EWTN News.
Levine was elected by a vote of CBA members at the organization’s annual general meeting in August for a one-year term. She has been a CBA member since 1988. She had served as the vice president in the previous term and earlier served as a consultor for the executive board and held editorial positions for CBA’s scholarly journal, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly.
Although the association is open to scholars of any religious faith, the president is typically a Catholic. Levine told EWTN News she was stunned to be elected to the role but expressed gratitude for the position.
“When I received notice from the chair of the nominating committee, I emailed another member to ask if this were a joke,” she said. “I was more than surprised, I was stunned. I was also, and remain, honored and grateful.”
Levine has served on several CBA task forces and continuing seminars, participated on panels, and presided over sessions. Much of her
