Susan A . Calef, BA, PhD
Assistant Professor

Contact
College of Arts and Sciences
Theology
DHHC - Dowling Hall/Humanities Center
Susan A . Calef, BA, PhD
Assistant Professor
Teaching Interests
- New Testament & Christian origins
Research Focus
Narrative Criticism of the Gospels; Feminist Hermeneutics; Bible in Public Discourse; Biblical Spirituality; Early Christian Social History: the Body in Christian Self-Definition; The Legacy of Paul in the First – Third Centuries (Acts of Paul & Thecla)Department
Theology
Position
Assistant Professor
Books
- "By Grit and Grace: Women and the Early Christian Frontier"
in M.G. Lawler & G. S. Risch, Practical Theology: Perspectives from the Plains (2000), p. 78-103 2018 - "The Radicalism of Jesus the Prophet: Implications for Christian Family"
Todd Salzman et al., eds., Marriage in the Catholic Tradition. Scripture, Tradition, and Experience (2004), p. 53-65 2018 - "The Shape of Family and Family Values: 'The Bible Tells Us So,' or Does It?"
R. Simkins and G. Risch, Religion and the Family (2008), p. 223-246 2018 - "Women in the New Testament"
in R. Miller, ed., Women and the Shaping of Catholicism (2008), p. 12-37 2018 - Oxford University Press
'Reading Guide to the Gospel of Mark,' for the Catholic Study Bible, Third Edition
Oxford University Press, 2016, p. RG 428-442 2015 - Anselm Academic Press
'Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels,' Anselm Companion to the Bible, ed., Corinne L. Carvalho. Winona, MN (2014), p. 309-319 2014 - Orbis Press
'Taking Up the Cross: Suffering and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark,' in Richard Miller, ed., Suffering and the Christian Life. Maryknoll, NY , p. 49-79 2013 - Anselm Academic Press
“Introduction to the Gospels,” in Anselm Academic Study Bible. Winona, MN: , p. 1549-1554 2013 - Holiness and the Feminine Spirit: The Art of Janet McKenzie (
'The One Sent: Mary Magdalene and Jesus, the Christ' (a reflection on artist Janet McKenzie's painting), p. 102-106 2009 - Prayer and the Catholic Tradition
Prayer in the New Testament
in R. Miller, ed., Prayer in the Catholic Tradition, p. 18-40 2007 - Thecla 'tried and true' and the inversion of romance
Amy-Jill Levine, ed., A Feminist Companion to the New Testament Apocrypha, p. 163-185 2006
Articles
- Horizons
Review of Embracing the Human Jesus: A Wisdom Path for Contemporary Christianity. By David Galston. Salem, OR: Polebridge, 2012.
41, p. 397-399 2014 - Journal of Religion & Society
' 'Prophet Margins' in the Economy of Salvation: Having, Being, and Doing in the Gospel of Luke'
Journal of Religion & Society, Supplment Series 10, p. 106-131 2014 - Liguorian
“Coming to a Parish Near You: John’s Good News"
March 2011, p. 23-26 2011 - Journal of Religion & Society
'Charting New Territory: Religion and 'the Gender-Critical Turn'
5, p. 1-5 2009 - Journal of Religion & Society
'Kephale, coverings, and cosmology: the impenetrable 'logic' of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16'
5, p. 21-44 2009 - Journal of Religion & Society
editor, Women, Gender, & Religion
Journal of Religion and Society, Supplement Series 5 2009 - Journal of Religion & Society
'Charting New Territory: Religion and 'the Gender-Critical Turn', p. 1-5 2009 - Catholic Biblical Quarterly
review of G. Aichele & R. Walsh, eds., Those Outside: Noncanonical Readings of Canonical Gospels
69, p. 847-849 2007 - Liguorian
Coming To A Parish Near You: Luke's Good News
December 2016, p. 8-12 2006 - Theological Studies
review of Bruce Winter, Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities
66, p. 930-931 2005 - "Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles"
in C. Carvalho, ed., Anselm Companion to the New Testament (2014), p. 189-199
Publications
- Dictionary entry: "Acts of Paul and Thecla"
New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 5 (2009), p. 550 2018 - Dictionary entry: "Acts of Paul"
New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol 4 (2009), p. 402-403 2018 - Liguorian
"The Real Mary Magdalene: Replacing Fiction With Fact"
October 2004, p. 22-26 2018 - “The Real Mary Magdalene.” The New Freeman (St. John, New Brunswick, Canada)
May 27, 2005 , p. 13-15 2018 - "The Mary Magdalene of The DaVinci Code: Fact or Fiction?"
Creighton University Magazine , Summer 2006, p. 15-21 - “The Mary Magdalene of The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction?” The Leaven (Kansas City, Kansas)
November 26, 2004 , p. 8-9
Editing and Reviews
- review of Klaus Berger, Identity and Experience in the New Testament
Journal of Religion and Society 7 (2005). 2018 - review of Satoko Yamaguchi, Mary and Martha. Women in the World of Jesus
Theological Studies 64 (2003) , p. 658-659 2018 - review of John L. White, The Apostle of God. Paul and the Promise of Abraham.
Theological Studies 62 (2001) , p. 610-611 2018 - review of Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Rhetoric and Ethic. The Politics of Biblical Studies.
The Journal of Religion 81 (2001) , p. 278-280 2018 - Theological Studies
Review of Laurel K. Cobb, Mark and Empire. Feminist Reflections.
76, no. 3, p. 634 2015 - Horizons
review of Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Democratizing Biblical Studies: Toward an Emancipatory Educational Space, p. 370-371 2010 - review of Gregory W. Dawes (ed.), The Historical Jesus Quest. Landmarks in the Search for the Jesus of History.
Journal of Religion and Society 3 (2001) - review of John G. Gager, Reinventing Paul
Theological Studies 62 (2001), p. 201-202 - review of John J. Pilch, Healing in the New Testament. Insights from Medical and Mediterranean Anthropology
Theological Studies 61 (2000) , p. 788-789 - review of Halvor Moxnes (ed.), Constructing Early Christian Families as Social Reality and Metaphor
The Journal of Religion 80 (2000) , p. 120-22 - review of Margaret Y. MacDonald, Early Christian Women and Pagan Opinion: The Power of the Hysterical Woman
The Journal of Religion 78 (1998) , p. 621-22
General
- review of Robert Jewett, Saint Paul Returns to the Movies: Triumph Over Shame.
Journal of Religion and Society 2 (2000)
Presentations
- "'So be it . . .': Gender, Family, and Sacrificial Theology Envisioned in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ." Religion and the Visual Symposium: Exploring the Visual Communication of the Sacred. 2015
- "Hearts Burning Within: Scripture, Story, and Spirit-Life," fifteen lectures, Summer Festival of Learning, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Eastern American Province, Sag Harbor, NY, July 6-11, 2014. 2014
- "Suffering in the Gospel of Mark: Reflections for the Lenten Journey," Campus Ministry Lenten Lunch Series, Creighton University 2014
- "The Bible in Public Discourse and Theological Reflection on War and Violence." Guest lecture in JPS/THL 588. 2013
- "Discipleship for the Reign of God: Being Body of Christ in the Contemporary Context," Staff Retreat, St. Wenceslaus Parish, Omaha, NE. 2013
- "The Passion in Scripture and Cinema: Teaching Critical Attention to Gender." College Theology Society 2013
- "Faith, Spirituality, Health, and Healing: The Research Findings." Guest lecture in WGS/SRP/COMM 477. 2013
- Center for Health Policy and Ethics: "Day Away, Women Who Rock." 2013
- "Jesus as Prophet Mighty in Word and Deed: Reflections on Prophetic Ministry for the Contemporary Context," a series of lectures, Academy of Spiritual Formation, United Methodist Nebraska Conference, St. Benedict Spirituality Center, Schuyer, NE. 2013
- "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" Good Friday Service, Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE. 2013
- "'Profit Margins' and the Lukan Economy of Salvation: An Analysis of Being, Having, and Doing in the Gospel of Luke." Kripke Center Symposium on the Bible, the Economy, and the Poor. 2013
- "Early Christian Table Fellowship in Socio-Cultural Context." Guest lecture ion SRP 455. 2013
- "Women Living Prayer: A Morning of Reflection," West Hills Church, Omaha, NE. 2012
- "A Prophet Might in Word and Deed: The Lukan Jesus as Model for Prophetic Ministry," Theological Education Workshop, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Tarrytown, NY, September 28-29, 2012. 2012
- "Discipleship for the Reign of God: Reflections on Being Body of Christ in Today's World," Ministerial Staff Retreat, St. Vincent DePaul and St. James Parishes, Knowles Mercy Spirituality Center, Waterloo, NE. 2011
- "Taking Up Your Cross: Suffering and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark." Conference on the Church in the 21st Century, Kansas City, Missouri. 2011
- "Women and the Word," lecture and table talk, Knowles Mercy Spirituality Center, Waterloo, NE. 2011
- "Women Living Prayer: A Morning of Reflection," St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. James Parishes' Tenth-Annual Women's Day of Reflection, Omaha, NE. 2011
- "The Genesis of 'authority' (exousia) on her head' (1 Corinthians 11:10). AAR-SBL-ASOR Rocky Mountains Great Plains Region Annual Conference, 2010. 2010
Other
Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society Grant
Awards
- Excellence in Teaching Award
Delta Zeta Sorority - Volunteer of the Year
Nebraska Humane Society - Outstanding Faculty Award
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority - Mary Lucretia and Sarah Emily Creighton Award
Creighton University
Consulting
- Consultant
External expert
Consultant for graduate project on feminist theology
UNO graduate student Kani Rubango
2014