Competency Areas
Aligned with Competency Area(s) 1
1. Biblical Knowledge
Be rooted and grounded in scripture and able to interpret and apply the scriptures in ways that are appropriate to original and contemporary contexts.
Biblically-Informed Pastoral Leadership: Old Testament
Taught by Rev. Dr. Marvin Lance Wiser
In this introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, we will explore its major sections — Torah, Prophets, and Writings — and key themes such as salvation, redemption, justice, and righteousness. We will consider the prophetic invitations of the text and practice interpreting scripture by connecting ancient contexts with the contexts in which you serve, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs.
This course is part of the DSF Certificate Program.
Meet Your Instructor,
Rev. Dr. Marvin Lance Wiser
Rev. Dr. Marvin Lance Wiser (DSF/GTU graduate, Ph.D./2023) began serving Eden Church on June 11, 2018, focusing on youth, young adults, bilingual families, and accompaniment ministries. Since 2020, he has also directed Eden’s Pandemic Response contracts with Alameda County agencies.
Pastor Marvin, his spouse Yuliana, and their daughters, Sofia and Natalia, returned to the Bay Area after two years in Dallas, where he worked as a Business Liaison and Bilingual Organizer for Workers Defense Project. He previously served in Field Education at Pacific School of Religion, taught at San Francisco Theological Seminary, and volunteered with refugee and immigrant rights organizations. In Texas, he and his spouse founded Wiser Lingual Solutions, a translation service for social justice nonprofits.
In 2022, Pastor Marvin completed his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible) at the Graduate Theological Union. His dissertation explored Judean ethnicity in the Persian period through comparative Latinx studies, showing the hybrid nature of ancient identity.
He holds degrees from Harding University and Andover Newton Theological School, along with certificates in mission, conflict, and interfaith leadership. Born and raised in Tennessee in the a cappella Churches of Christ, he was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2013 and holds standing in both the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.