Br. Jeffery Jordan, OFM, turns scholarship into service

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates Br. Jeffery Jordan, OFM, following his successful dissertation defense for a Ph.D. in theology with a concentration in spiritual scripture at Boston College. At the heart of his research is a conviction shaped by eight years of scholarship, illness, loss and fraternity: Scripture provides us with words when we find ourselves in situations where we don’t know what to say.

Along the way, he came to see completing his doctorate not simply as a personal achievement, but as an expression of his Franciscan vocation as an educator, friar and priest.

What can a damaged scroll tell us?

Br. Jeffery specializes in Dead Sea Scrolls, apocalyptic scripture and other writings from the Second Temple Period. His dissertation focuses on a badly damaged scroll found in Cave 11 in 1956. It contains a series of apocryphal psalms, writings not found in the biblical Psalter and concludes with a version of Psalm 91 that differs from the version found in the Bible today.

The scroll’s physical condition made it challenging to study. Br. Jeffery compared its appearance to an “apple peel,” zigzagging like a snake. Much of the text required reconstruction, leaving many questions: How was it used? Were these individual psalms even prayed together?

Those uncertainties pressed Br. Jeffery toward a defining question in his research: What can scholars responsibly say about a text when so much about it remains unknown?

Building on decades of previous scholarship, Br. Jeffery scrutinized the scroll through anthropology, ritual studies and 4E cognition – a method that considers how thinking and language are embodied. His work became more than an effort to reconstruct the scroll’s original text.

The psalms in the scroll speak to a world in which illness and other afflictions could be understood in relation to evil spirits. Br. Jeffery argues that the psalms give an afflicted person language to confront that affliction and receive divine assurance and comfort.

When scholarship meets life

As he studied how these ancient prayers comforted people in times of hardship, he faced hardship of his own. Serious health issues complicated the final years of Br. Jeffery’s doctoral work. Then his mother, Gloria Jordan-Herring, was diagnosed with cancer and he returned home to provide hospice care. His dissertation could wait; his mother could not.

“I had to realize that it wasn’t all about this,” he said. “Life goes on while you’re doing research.”

That period away from his dissertation became part of its formation. His mother, who had no background in Scripture or theology, asked questions about his work. Her questions helped him learn how to better explain his work to someone outside of his discipline.

The experience of caring for her reinforced something his research had taught him: “Life is embodied and you can’t take away the human person from it,” he said.

Surrounded by fraternity

Br. Jeffery is grateful to the people who supported him throughout his studies, including his dissertation director, Angela Kim Harkins of Boston College. He also remembers the friars who encouraged him and those who traveled to be present for his defense – including Franciscan biblical scholars from different generations whose presence connected him to a scholarly tradition larger than his work.

Br. Jeffery opened his defense with a 20-minute presentation, followed by questions from his director and readers. When the committee left to deliberate, the wait felt long, although he later realized it had lasted only a few minutes. He saw Angela smile when the committee returned. When she hugged him, he knew the nearly eight-year journey had reached its destination.

“It still doesn’t feel real in some ways,” he said.

Br. Charles O'Connor, one of the friars who accompanied Br. Jeffery for his dissertation defense, said he was impressed with how he handled the presentation and questions from his examiners.

“His explanation of all aspects of his thesis demonstrated his knowledge and expertise,” he said. “Truly impressive.”

As Br. Jeffery surveyed the room, filled with his friar brothers whose presence reminded him of why he pursued the degree in the first place, he felt the meaning of the moment.

“It was also a celebration of our Province and our Order,” Jeffery said.

Province-wide, pride has spread. Minister Provincial Br. Michael Perry, OFM, said he was excited to hear about Br. Jeffery’s successful dissertation defense.

“He did a brilliant job, and we now have another professor who can help illuminate the Gospel life through the sacred texts,” he said.

Scholarship in service

Br. Jeffery is teaching Old Testament at Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio and anticipates he will teach New Testament and Pauline Letters next semester. He is also affiliate faculty at the University of the Incarnate Word and hopes to continue to teach and research while fulfilling his responsibilities in formation as Master of Friars in Temporary Profession. He also plans to present his research locally and internationally.

Br. Michael Fowler, OFM, who lives and ministers with Br. Jeffery in San Antonio, sees that scholarship already taking shape in his brother friar's ministry.

“He is very open to a lot of new ideas, and he is a gentle kind of person, especially with our students,” Br. Michael said. “He is obviously connecting with people and helping to spread the Gospel that way.”

Br. Jeffery looks forward to using his scholarship to serve others and deepen his Franciscan vocation.

“How can I pass on my love of Scripture?” Br. Jeffery asked. “How can I educate people on the word of God? How can I more fully engage with the world, in the academic world, as a friar?”

These questions return him to the ancient scroll he studied for years and to a simple realization: words matter.

In the psalms, words of fear and lament, hope, praise and thanksgiving are placed into human mouths. They give people the language they need when life has left them unsure of what to say. It is the connection between a damaged scroll and the everyday experience of prayer.

After eight years of study, Br. Jeffery returns to a simple truth: Scripture still speaks.

“When you don’t know what the words to say, you’re given the words,” he said. “We’re given the words.”

And when you don’t know how to pray?

“Just open your Bible,” Br. Jeffery said. “The words are there for you.”