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Candler Connection | Summer 2012
Marshall: I think it happens in small ways. There are
Marshall: I think the majority of students still come
When I first came, there were no African-American
different kinds of informal partnerships—guest lec-
here intending to pursue ordination and go right
students at Emory. The idea down at state govern-
turing and conversations on pedagogy. I’ve enjoyed
into parish ministry. I do have conversations with
ment was that if anyone tried to break the segrega-
working with students in the Graduate Division of
students who are less clear about that. Some want
tion laws in colleges and universities, then they
Religion at Emory who serve as teaching associates.
to do faith-related social work, not necessarily in a
would pass taxation laws against them and simply
I’ve been lucky to have really capable, great TAs, and
parish context but still attached to ecclesial bodies
tax them out of existence. The School of Theology
we configure ourselves as a teaching team. I did a
in some way. I have folks thinking about a PhD in
faculty was convinced—this was around 1958—that
little bit of team teaching at my previous institution
ethics or a practical theology degree. I think there’s
there was no way we could continue with integrity
and really enjoyed it. You learn so much.
a healthy spread of people in the program. I don’t
without being open to students regardless of race.
know the demographics of students from when you
We sent a message to central administration from
Mallard: Oh, yes! Eastern church history had been
were here, but we now have an increasing body of
the theology faculty: We’ve decided to have an open
omitted in my education, so I was rapidly taking
second-career folks.
policy on admissions in the School of Theology.
as God Loves, and if you’ve never had a copy, get it.
Did you see a big shift in your time in the demo-
The reactions were very interesting. In those days,
The first semester her book was out, she made
graphic makeup of the student body?
on Oxford Road, there was a waffle shop. I went in
notes under Roberta. Her first book was To Love
one day, and there was a sign pasted on the cash
it required reading in Christian Thought, and at Christmas, we found the students were giving it to
Mallard: Oh, yes. I think of two revolutions while
register: “We cash checks for Emory students only.”
their friends as Christmas gifts. First I ever heard of
I was here. One was the racial revolution and the
I said, “Surely that means you’ll cash a check from
a required text becoming a Christmas gift!
development of the African-American contingent in
an Emory faculty member.” There was an old man
the student body, which was wonderful and amaz-
sitting on a stool at the counter, who said, “He’ll
Ellen, what is your sense of the MDiv students now?
ing. The other was the gender revolution. My first
cash it for you if you’re not from the School of The-
Are they very strongly geared toward graduating and
advisee who was a woman came in 1970. These
ology.” I said to him, “But I am from the School of
going to the parish? I have the impression that in
were remarkable and beautiful changes in the
Theology,” and he was fit to be tied. It was like he’d
some cases, students think that before they enter the
student body.
never seen one of us before! He stirred his coffee,
parish system they will do something else.
swallowed it down, and walked out whispering this, that, and the other.
“There’s something about teaching conflict transformation and ethics in diverse classrooms that enriches the experience.”