Vantage Fall 2017

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GROWING STRONGER BY DEEPENING OUR ROOTS A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

SUCH AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO TALK ABOUT “DEEPENING OUR ROOTS�!

Several weeks ago, tropical storm Irma came through Atlanta and hit our campus. The storm, by the time it made its pathway up to us, was considerably weakened from its powerful hurricane onslaught in the Caribbean and Florida. Even so, the storm left some damage behind. Power was out on some parts of campus for several days. Twigs and leaves and branches carpeted our lawns. Six trees came down.

One damaged a car. Another landed on Dr. Leanne Van Dyk PRESIDENT a garage roof. We recognize that the after-effects of Irma on our campus pale in comparison with significant damage elsewhere. But the sight of toppled trees was a vivid visual reminder of the sheer power of wind.

A tree comes down, of course, because the root ball does not hold. The wind exerts force on the upper branches of the tree and the roots are not able to withstand. So down it goes. I am told that trees in Georgia are particularly prone to wind force because the red clay soil prevents sturdy root ball growth.

In order for Columbia Theological Seminary to prepare effective leaders for the church and the world, we too need a strong root ball to hold us up in the winds of conflict and change. We are working hard to deepen our roots into the hope and promise of the gospel so that we will produce abundant fruit. When our Board of Trustees met in October, they considered carefully a new strategic plan that puts real action and intention to deepening our roots. The strategic plan was carefully created by a Task Force of alumni, trustees, faculty, staff, and students. Led by trustee the Rev. Brad Smith, the Task Force presented to the Board a plan to live 2

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faithfully and boldly into our mission. The four strategic priorities include: 1. T he creation of a nationally recognized program for pastoral leadership formation for our graduates.

2. T he expansion of online educational programming so that people who are called to ministry but cannot move to Atlanta can still be Columbia Theological Seminary students.

3. A plan for improved campus facilities, some of which are showing their age and need significant renovation.

4. A bold educational resource, based on high quality educational technology, for congregations and other faith contexts, so that our seminary faculty will be able to serve many contexts in accessible ways.

The Board adopted the strategic plan and these four priorities unanimously. It is now the task of the seminary to plan and study these priorities and build the pathway to their completion. I am very interested in your input, feedback, questions, advice, and insight. In the coming weeks and months, I will continue to share with you how our new initiatives are growing and developing.

Many Blessings,

Leanne Van Dyk President

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

VANTAGE POINT

pg 2

HYPERFOCUS

pg 14

REASONABLE SERVICE

pg 22

LIFELONG LEARNING

pg 28

TAUTA PANTA

pg 31

NEWS FROM COLUMBIA

pg 31

ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES

pg 34

FACULTY & STAFF

pg 38

BEST OF THE BLOG

pg 42

VANTAGE / VOL. 110, NO. 1 FALL 2017

EDITORS

Michael K. Thompson Corie Cox

DESIGN

Lucy Ke

Dr. Kathy Dawson (second from right) with DMin students in Germany visiting Martin Luther (see story on page 4).

CONTRIBUTORS

FEATURE

EXPLORING OUR ROOTS PG

4

PG

10 PG

17 PG

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Michael K. Thompson Rob Bye, Unsplash Emelyn Gwynn

TRAVELING WITH HISTORY

Acknowledging roots that began on other continents THE SPIRIT’S BUSINESS

The Holy Spirit here and to the ends of the earth

NEW @CTS MEDIA

News about the impact of your support

This issue of VANTAGE is available online at www.ctsnet.edu.

RECOGNIZING SCHOLARS PG

Fellowships, awards and prizes for 2017

Jess Adams Julie Bailey ’09 Mary Lynn Darden Kathy Dawson ’94 Sarah Erickson ’03/DEdMin ’10 Lisle Gwynn Garrity ’15 Israel Galindo Heidi Gleason Bridget Jeffs Steven Miller Cynthia T. Peleña Caitlin Reeves Valrie Thompson Jeffery Tribble Leanne Van Dyk Dave VanderMeer MAPT ’17 Rachel VanKirk Mathews ’18 Debra Weir Buz Wilcoxon MDiv ’08/DMin ’15 William Yoo

An educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

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EFFERY TRIBBLE AND DAVE VANDERMEER MAY VERY WELL HAVE PASSED EACH OTHER FLYING OUT OF INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS THIS PAST AUGUST. KATHY DAWSON’S INTERNATIONAL TRIP WAS A LITTLE OVER A MONTH LATER. To be Christian in the United States means acknowledging roots that began on other continents. Dawson, Tribble, and VanderMeer have each spent time in recent months travelling to places that, in different ways, and in part, have created the church we recognize today.

Jeffery Tribble, Associate Professor of Ministry at Columbia Seminary and presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, was nominated by seminary president Leanne VanDyk to attend the Interfaith Partners for Peace Divinity School Leaders and Scholars program in Palestine. Tribble spent nine days travelling, dialoguing, and observing with others in land long-sacred to Christians, as well as Jews and Muslims.

When DMin students in the Gospel and Culture track suggested to Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education Kathy Dawson that they wanted to visit the places of Martin Luther and friends in celebration of the 500th

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anniversary of the nailing of the 95 theses that launched the Protestant church, she was in. They connected with a group of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastors and members of Upper Susquehanna Synod who were planning such a tour, and they became traveling companions. The group visited many of the towns connected with Martin Luther’s life: Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, and Leipzig.

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians chose to recognize and celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by forming a choir from seven churches across the US. CTS alumnus Dave VanderMeer, Minister of Music and Fine Art Ministries at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, travelled with 50 choristers to Scotland to sing with 90 others at historic churches in Glasgow, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh. While there, they met with John Bell from the Iona Community for a presentation on congregational song, and with one of the leading Scottish authorities on the Gaelic language singing of psalms in the earliest Scottish churches.

We wanted to know how these journeys intersected and diverged when viewed through the lens of our current Christianity, so we posed a few questions to them: Were there any specifically impactful moments for you?

Dave VanderMeer (DVM) There were a number of powerful moments on this trip. One of the most meaningful was singing a concert in St. Giles, the church from which John Knox led the Reformation in Scotland — arguably the mother-church of American Presbyterianism.

Our final concert was in Greyfriars Kirk in Old Town Edinburgh, a church which dates back to 1620 and is still a thriving worshiping community offering services each week in both English and Gaelic.

Probably the most meaningful non-singing event was at Colinton Parish Church where 140 of us were welcomed one fabulous evening with dinner prepared by members of the church in the style of any church potluck supper, followed by an evening of entertainment including singing popular Scottish songs, and watching impromptu acts from each of the choral groups.

We came away from the whole trip even knowing what the statistics say about the decline of the church in Europe, that there are many healthy and active congregations worshiping in ways that were quite familiar and comfortable for a very churchy group of Americans.

Jeffery Tribble (JLT) One impactful moment for me was our dialogue with an Ecopeace leader at the River Jordan.

I was captivated by the opening question of the speaker: “When the IsraeliPalestinian agreement was negotiated, was there attention to the environmental and ecological implications?” My wife has a background as an environmental engineer and currently is on the advisory council of Purdue University Environmental and

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Ecological Engineering Program. My initial thought was “Cherlyn would eat this presentation up!”

But the speaker explained, while there is gridlock on the big question of solving the 2-state solution, the ONE area where there has been regional cooperation has been on development of a water plan for Israel and surrounding nations. This involved the application of technology (e.g. desalination of salt water) to avoid what would have otherwise been a zero-sum game (i.e. “whoever has water has power and those who do not have water don’t have power”).

As a student and teacher of leadership, this moment sparked my imagination as an instance of “when facing really complex and difficult challenges, mobilize people to work on one part of the bigger mess.”

Kathy Dawson (KLD) There were many impactful moments along the way for each of us. We shared some of these in our periodic evening reflection sessions as a class.

For me, one of the most chilling impactful moments was when we returned to Berlin and toured the Topography of Terror’s special exhibition on the use of Martin Luther’s person and words during World War II. The rise of the Nazi party coincided with the celebration of Martin Luther’s 450th birthday (left), so there were a number of pictures of cities we had just visited with German Christians doing Nazi salutes and Martin Luther’s statue being flanked by swastikas.

In this same exhibition they also showed the German resistance and particularly Dietrich Bonhoeffer making use of Martin Luther as a symbol of speaking truth to power. It made me wonder about the relevance of these Reformers today.

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You each witnessed religious traditions and churches from which our modern church grew. What struck you most about how U.S. churches developed from those roots?

What are the “big differences”?

DVM We did not observe many notable differences between worship in the United States and worship in Scotland (right).

Perhaps the most striking liturgical difference was the relative infrequency of Communion in the Church of Scotland — sometimes only once or twice a year — as we in the United States move toward Communion much more frequently.

JLT American Christianity is of course very diverse with many denominational strands having “roots” in other countries.

What was fascinating to me about this trip was that Israel is geographically “at the intersection of” Africa, Europe, and Asia. While there, I was intensely aware of groups of people from these different cultures and languages converging on “the Holy Land” as a site of religious inspiration and instruction.

KLD The German Christian Church obviously has seen relevance in the Reformation era, if they were willing to dedicate 10 years to remembering and studying the impact of this event on the church today. Many participants talked about the importance of embodied, incarnational learning in actually seeing the places of the Reformation and thinking about the team around Luther who made this movement a success.

In America we tend to lift up the lone hero, but Martin Luther could not have succeeded in the Reformation without Frederick the Wise, Philip Melanchthon, Katharina von Bora, Lucas Cranach, and others. Each used their gifts for the common purpose of living into this new concept of Christian community.

Is there one “takeaway” from the trip that you would identify that will impact your ministry going forward?

DVM For me the most important takeaway was the sense of historical continuity. To sit in the church where John Knox preached and realize that I could have worshiped centuries ago using words and music that we sing and say each week was a very positive and unifying experience.

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“ Another impactful moment for me was one of our Israeli guides framing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the following way: ‘We can negotiate things, but we cannot negotiate our narratives.’”

JLT One “takeaway” from the trip was the crucial role of narratives for shaping a people’s practices. I know this as a practical theologian. Narratives provide a context to explain the intentions in carrying out an activity, the beliefs that provide the background for our intentions, and the setting in which the activity is carried out.

Another impactful moment for me was one of our Israeli guides framing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the following way: “we can negotiate things, but we cannot negotiate our narratives.”

Of the intergenerational power of narratives, this intelligence expert who had witnessed high-level peace negotiations stated, “if you were to ask an Israeli child and a Palestinian child to draw a picture of their (rightful) homeland, they would draw the same picture.”

Thus, a “takeaway” for me is a greater appreciation of the importance of understanding the powerful ways that our narratives shape our perspectives and the trajectory of our lives. These trajectories can be changed only if they are critically examined and we have the courage to make choices that may be radically different from our historically shaped narratives.

KLD One recurring plea from our local guides in Germany will stay with me. They asked Americans to not take democracy for granted, but to treat it as something precious.

When I think about the place from which they spoke—a history fraught with conflict from the Peasants Revolt of Luther’s time to the rise of the Nazi regime to the oppression of the Communist occupation, I hear the voice of wisdom in their words.

What does it mean to come to terms with our own history, to ask forgiveness from those we have oppressed or to take a stand for the rights of others, because we can do no other?

How does one bridge the gap between the historic time period and the present day when sharing these experiences with others?

DVM Among the things I found most surprising was that there really wasn’t much of a gap between the Reformed worship in 17th century Scotland and our worship today. In Edinburgh of that time they would have sung only psalms, while we sing metrical hymns that vary dramatically in genre and style. And our worship leaders happily are not all white males. But, in the grand scheme of things, worship in St. Giles in 1620 would be more like worship in mainline Presbyterian churches in 2017 than it would be different.

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JLT This insight about the power of competing narratives in the Middle East took me immediately to the present day example of competing narratives in the American South today.

There are competing narratives about the present significance of the Civil War. “States’ rights” remains a powerful belief for some who cherish their Confederate narrative and ancestry. As an African American born in the North amidst the Civil Rights era struggles, I have a different view of the role of government than those who cherish “states’ rights.”

Because the power of the federal government was needed not only to end slavery in the 19th Century but also to end legal segregation in the 20th century, I have come to appreciate not only the power of personal agency, but also the power of structural forces in which we exercise our personal agency as citizens.

As theologians, we engage persons in the meaning making process. The Hebrew Scriptures and history of the Israeli people continue to be the cradle for the story of Jesus and the story of the Early Church. We continue to believe in a God who acts in history and are guided as present day actors with an awareness of history and the emergent forces shaping our futures.

We continue to believe in a God who acts in history and are guided as present day actors with an awareness of history and the emergent forces shaping our futures.

KLD When trying to present people and places of history there is always that great divide from their time to the present.

For the Reformation era one has to get over the hurdle that the church simply doesn’t have the power and voice in society that it did during that time period.

What makes the Reformation relevant and worthy of study today is that the church continues to be in need of reform and is constantly reforming.

The good news is we don’t have to do this alone. Martin Luther was not a successful reformer, because he was a lone wolf. He surrounded himself with a team committed to the cause of presenting a loving God accessible to the people.

This continues to be our task in a world that often doesn’t see the need for faith.

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B Y R A C H E L VA N K I R K M AT H E W S , M D I V ’ 18

This article is modified from a sermon given in May based on Acts 8:26-39. It reflects on a visit to Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church and Stillman College, which Dr. William Yoo wrote about in the Summer 2017 edition of Vantage.

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EADING UP TO THE MEETING OF PHILLIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH IN THE EIGHTH CHAPTER OF ACTS, THE EARLY CHURCH BEGINS AND GROWS. Both the Book of Acts and the early church begin with the ascension of Jesus. After he’s been resurrected and spent time with his disciples, Jesus rises up to heaven before their eyes. Before he ascends, seeing that they’re standing beside their beloved teacher who has just risen from the dead, the disciples naturally ask, “Is now the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”

To which Jesus replies, “Sorry, God’s timing is not for you to know. What I can tell you is that the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” These were Jesus’ last words before he was out of their sight.

The disciples were then left alone, probably very confused. Besides the fact that the resurrected Jesus just ascended to heaven, he answered their question about restoring Israel in a very unexpected way. The Jewish people, the disciples included, were expecting the Messiah to restore Israel The disciples were then left alone, to kingship over its own land. But Jesus’ answer to the probably very confused. disciples confirms that he is breaking that expectation.

Instead, with his last words Jesus promises the presence of the Holy Spirit as they witness not only in Jerusalem, but also “to the ends of the earth.” This would be like thinking someone was about to give you a cookie, and then realizing, no, actually, you have to bake and decorate a cake for 50 people! But Jesus doesn’t say, “By the way, the work’s not done, and you will have to work alone.”

No, Jesus said the Spirit will be with you in going to the ends of the earth, in talking with people you never imagined you’d be talking to, in witnessing to this gospel message you barely understand yourself. Jesus clarifies that his friend and partner who is coming, the Holy Spirit, will be with you and is in the business of tearing down societal walls, of building community, and of sharing the good news.

In the story of Acts eight, there are three main characters: Philip, the Ethiopian Eunuch, and the Holy Spirit. Philip has appeared before in Acts. He is one of the

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seven who have been newly commissioned to do the Further, the text says the Ethiopian Eunuch was church’s work of caring for the hungry and poor. He returning home from a journey to Jerusalem to worship. is tasked with caring especially for those who may be Though he was not racially Jewish, he acknowledged the forgotten otherwise, those left out of the mainstream, greatness and glory of the one God of Judaism, the one the widows, the poor, the outcasts.

Lord, and wished to worship the Lord. In the ancient The story gives us a lot of world, someone like him details about the Ethiopian was referred to as a “GodEunuch. First, of course, we fearer.” We also know he was ... I want to honor his character know he is from Ethiopia. To a “God-fearer” because he in all of its complexity .... we honor him those from Judea, Ethiopia owned a scroll of Isaiah, the more fully as a child of God. was, “the end of the earth.” one he was reading as Philip Ethiopia was the furthest was brought to him. Finally, away any human population we can conclude that the existed that they knew of.

Ethiopian Eunuch is wealthy.

Additionally, this Ethiopian man is referred to multiple The scroll was not a common thing to own at a time times as “the Eunuch,” meaning he is castrated. We when most did not read or write, and when there were don’t know exactly why he is a eunuch, but in the very few copies of written materials. His position in the patriarchal ancient world that he lived in, the ability queen’s court also confirms his wealth. to carry on one’s family line, represented power. The Let me pause here to give a short side note.

Eunuch has been made powerless because he no longer One reason for describing the Ethiopian Eunuch in conforms to that sexual norm, so he exists outside of such detail is to resist reducing this man to his sexual his culture’s mainstream. orientation. This text refers to him mostly by just “The

Rachel VanKirk Matthews (front left) during the Columbia Seminary visit to Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church and Stillman College.

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Eunuch,” and so in retelling story, Ethiopian Christian this story one might focus tradition tells of Ethiopia “You know, a group of African Americans only on that one piece of his being the first nation tried to worship at First Presbyterian life. However, this story gives to accept the Gospel. in the 60s but we were turned away. us such a full, rich picture Today, 60% of Ethiopia’s That’s a real nice church now though . . . .” of him and I want to honor population is Christian. his character in all of its What hero missionaries complexity. By seeing the Eunuch as a more full and Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch are! Together they complex person, understanding his sexual orientation began this long tradition of Christianity in Ethiopia that to be an important part of him, but not his whole spread throughout Africa and the world! experience, we honor him more fully as a child of God. This story is a wonderful reminder of the great, Now we know these characters well, and can transforming work of missionaries worldwide! We picture the scene play out. The Ethiopian Eunuch is should not, however, celebrate Philip and the Ethiopian reading in his caravan, and Philip, a newly commissioned Eunuch without recognizing the Holy Spirit in the missionary of the church, comes jogging up beside story. The Spirit is easily forgotten. But if we look again him out of nowhere, breathless. The Eunuch invites at what we know, this story makes no sense as a tale of him in, needing help in interpretation, one thing leads only the two men. The Ethiopian Eunuch was traveling to another, and, with the baptism of the Ethiopian back from the temple in Jerusalem. There he would not Eunuch, the Gospel has now been spread, “to the have been allowed entrance as a castrated male and ends of the earth”. The Eunuch then goes on his way as a Gentile. He would have been turned away from rejoicing and sharing the Gospel himself! From this worshipping the God he acknowledged and knew in his

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heart. The verse from the Isaiah scroll he is reading says, “In his humiliation justice was denied him.” The Eunuch might be thinking, “Could this Scripture be about me? I was just humiliated at the temple. Turned away because of who I am.” And then Philip, a Jewish man, just like the ones who would have denied him entrance into the temple, runs up alongside his caravan. The Ethiopian Eunuch does the most extraordinary thing. He invites Philip in.

In the Spring of my second year at Columbia Theological Seminary, I traveled with a group from the seminary to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We visited Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest African American Presbyterian churches in Alabama, and Stillman College, a Presbyterian Historically Black College and University. The trip was organized because a board member of the seminary, who is also a congregation member of Brown Memorial, told a group of administrators and faculty that no one from Columbia had been down to visit Stillman or Brown Memorial in a very long time. The trip was a chance

to set right the lack of relationship between these institutions. For me, it was a confessional experience.

I was a resident and student in Tuscaloosa for four years, attending the larger state university, and a member of the Presbyterian church downtown. In my time there, I never formed a single relationship with a Brown Memorial member or Stillman College student.

I remember many moments from this trip, but one is a conversation with a long-time Brown Memorial Church member.

I explained to her that I had graduated from the University of Alabama, had attended First Presbyterian just a few blocks away, and was sorry to say that I never visited Brown Memorial while I was in Tuscaloosa. She encouraged me, saying, “That’s quite alright honey.”

She pauses, “You know a group of African Americans tried to worship at First Presbyterian in the 60s, but we were turned away. That’s a real nice church now though.

Filled with lots of good people, and the pastor is a kind, kind man.” She pauses again and smiles at me, “I’m glad you’re here now.” We embrace.

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I could barely understand. How was she able to invite me in? How could she speak so warmly of the church that had denied her entrance, and embrace me in that moment? I am so humbled by her openness to me. We were not the only actors in the story though. The Holy Spirit had plucked me up out of seminary, brought me down Highway 20, and was there between us, opening up our hearts to one another, helping me to be honest with her and her to be open to me. The Holy Spirit was tearing down the societal walls that separated us, and creating a connection between us. How do I know the Holy Spirit was present? Because it was a miracle only God is capable of. Because Jesus told his disciples that wherever walls are torn down and connection between two people is made, community built, embraces shared, the Holy Spirit is at work. That is the business of the Holy Spirit.

No one is capable of this work without the Holy Spirit, and so we cannot tell these stories without her. There would be no story without her. Why does it matter if the story is told correctly? Because it is mis-told stories that give glory to man where glory to God is due. It is a mis-told story that would lead me to pride because what a good thing I did in visiting Brown Memorial. It is mis-told stories that glorify later missionaries sharing the gospel to Africa, the continent that received the Gospel first. It is a mis-told story that describes Philip and the Eunuch tearing down the wall between them all on their own, without the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit plucked Philip up. The Holy Spirit brought Philip down the wilderness road, and was present between he and the Ethiopian Eunuch, opening up their hearts to one another. The Holy Spirit is the

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one who tore down the societal walls that separated them, making the connection between them possible.

We tell the story correctly, we acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s hand in the work because only then can we see clearly that the Triune God is in the business of tearing down walls, making way for connection and community.

Thanks be to God. 10/26/17 11:44 AM

STUDENT VOICES HANNAH GRACE INJAMURI, MDIV 2019

I first became connected to Columbia Theological Seminary through my dad’s friend who is a Dalit scholar in India. He recommended me to this institution, since he knew I was searching for academics and a good community life. I felt connected by the way everyone was so welcoming: the faculty, staff and the students from the first day of classes. This is when I realized it was to be my home away from home (India). I am grateful for Dr. Raj Nadella who helped me adjust to this community. I am also thankful for the International Coordinator the Rev. Kim LeVert who always pays heed and helps me and makes my stay here easy and comfortable.

H Y P E R F O C U S

LIBRARY EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM WITH CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY B Y C Y N T H I A T. P E L E Ñ A

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ENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY IN ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES OFFERS A MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE WITH SPECIALIZATION IN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARIANSHIP (MLIS-TL). AS ACADEMIC COORDINATOR OF THE PROGRAM, I WAS A LIBRARY EXCHANGE VISITOR IN JOHN BULOW CAMPBELL LIBRARY (JBCL) AT COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

This library exchange program took place from August 2-September 20, 2017, as part of the Professional Enhancement and Training Program of Central Philippine University.

It aims to provide training and exposure in administering quality theological library education

especially to students of diverse nationalities. The MLIS-TL students are from Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Philippines.

I was fortunate enough to have experienced and learned the different perspectives of theology library work. JBCL is headed by the

proactive and dedicated director Dr. Kelly Campbell, with her passionate and supportive librarians.

They welcomed me and they imparted to me their knowledge and skills. They made me feel as though I was part of their team.

The JBCL librarians are service

Cynthia Peleña (center) with Caitlin Reeves (left) and Tammy Johnson, both staff at John Bulow Campbell Library.

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LIBRARY EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM continued

oriented. They see to it that the students feel comfortable and they make sure the library is a conducive place for learning. The librarians have different strengths and qualifications, as they work together and organize their work in sync with one another. I also learned from them that work flows are very important for the collection development process, cataloging of books, batch processes using various library software, and the distribution of processed materials to the different sections of the library. They do their work efficiently, in order to provide the seminary students, faculty members, Columbia Seminary community, and researchers quality library information resources in a timely way.

One lesson I learned during these seven weeks included the many different types of work a librarian performs. This lesson provided me with more insight into my own work as a teacher-librarian.

The Collection Development and

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Acquisition Librarian of JBCL taught me the features of various library software like OCLC Connexion, OCLC is used for batch processing, searching, adding to OCLC WorldCat, and exporting records for authority work and to the OPAC. The Sirsi ILS-Sirsi workflows client contains back office, acquisitions, cataloging, serials, circulation, utility, reports, back office for metadata, and OPAC. The JBCL uses the Library of Congress Classification Web (Classweb). Coffeecup Direct FTP software, and Library Technologies, Inc. (LTI) for authority control processing.

The JBCL staff conducted a library orientation program for new students incorporating fun, experiential activities, exposure to people, personal interactions, and rewards. Each librarian is assigned to five students. This librarian will be their personal librarian while they are in the seminary for the duration of their study. I learned that this is a best practice of having a dynamic

library orientation program that provides new students with a positive first impression of the JBC library.

My experience enhanced and widened my perspective in theological librarianship, especially when working in the C. Benton Kline, Jr. Special Collections and Archives. Overall, it has been a rewarding and challenging experience. I have gained skills in inter-cultural learning and understanding. I have learned so much more than I thought I would in the short time I was there.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia, the Association of Theological Education in SouthEast Asia, Central Philippine University, and Columbia Theological Seminary, and especially to the John Bulow Campbell Library librarians. I thank all of you who have been part of my journey. “To God be the glory.�

THE BLACK 3-RING BINDER C. BENTON KLINE, JR. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS & A R C H I V E S C E L E B R AT E S O P E N I N G W I T H E X H I B I T

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N A RECENT PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PUBLIC SERVICES ARCHIVIST BRIDGET JEFFS EXHIBITED A BLACK THREERING BINDER.

Enclosed within the creaking covers was a history of a local congregation, updated annually by the Women of the Church.

The binder represented a small portion of the Presbyterian Women’s Histories (PWH), one of the collections cared for in the archives. A board member remarked how special these narratives and photographs would be for churches to have to promote anniversary celebrations—a prime

example of the type of research for which the archives exist.

In addition to the PWH, the C. Benton Kline, Jr. Special Collections & Archives houses the records of Columbia Theological Seminary. These records document the evolution of theological education and seminary life, including material from academic affairs, educational programming, student life, publications, memorabilia, photographs, and

A board member remarked how special these narratives and photographs would be for churches to have to promote anniversary celebrations — a prime example of the type of research for which the archives exist.

C. BENTON KLINE, JR. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES

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alumni and faculty papers. Caitlin Reeves began as Processing Archivist in April with the primary focus on making these collections discoverable and usable.

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The third collecting area of the archive includes personal and organizational materials relating to the activities of Presbyterians in the American South. Church and

Presbytery records are kept on deposit, and a significant number of these collections document slavery, the civil war, the debate on evolution, and much more. The research possibilities abound.

After a brief hiatus, the archives are once again open for use. Bridget Jeffs began as Public Services Archivist in August to facilitate visits and assist in research.

For those new to archival research, researching in the archives is different than with traditional library materials. With books, patrons can browse both the stacks and the online catalog. But because archival material is unique

and requires environmental climate control, it is kept in locked storage areas. The archives are only browseable in the online catalog. The catalog, accessible from the John Bulow Campbell Library homepage, allows researchers to browse or perform keyword searches.

Viewing material is by appointment only. Whether you need help getting started or know exactly what you would like to use, we would be pleased to hear from you at archives@ctsnet.edu.

The Certificate in Spiritual Direction program is designed for individuals who discern a call to the ministry of Spiritual Direction.

May 15, 2018 is the deadline for applications for the Certificate in Spiritual Direction.

After a brief hiatus, the archives are once again open for use.

The first class for this cohort meets in October, 2018.

Bridget Jeffs (above, right) began as Public Services Archivist in August to facilitate visits and assist in research.

To learn more about this program, requirements, class schedules, general information, or to download an application visit

www.CTSnet.edu/ certificate-spiritual-direction

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STUDENT VOICES DALLAS THOMPSON, MDIV 2019

When I first came to campus for seminary weekend, I felt connected sharing meals with faculty, current students, and other prospective students. I knew then that was the place for me, because I felt that people at Columbia Theological Seminary (even professors) really cared about getting to know me!

DON’T FORGET! Give your year-end gift using the enclosed envelope or online at www.ctsnet.edu/give.

LEADERSHIP IN MINISTRY ATLANTA • BOSTON • PORTLAND, OREGON • and our new location — LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA Workshops enrolling now LEADERSHIP IN MINISTRY participants gain insight by learning with others who share their unique vocational challenges and joys. Learn more about these dynamic leadership learning opportunities, and register for cohorts in one of four convenient regional locations.

See the program dates through early 2019 by visiting our website. leadershipinministry.org

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NEW @CTS MEDIA We continue to create videos on behalf of Columbia Theological Seminary to share news on campus and show the impact of your support.

View them and share them with friends! Below are a few of our latest videos in this series:

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International Programs at Columbia Theological Seminary Published on July 26, 2017 Columbia Seminary’s commitment to preparing students for ministry in a global context is reflected in our broad approach to international education, which has emerged from dialogue with church leaders from around the world. Learn more at www.CTSnet.edu/ international-programs.

September 2017 Message from President Leanne Van Dyk Published on Sept 27, 2017 Dr. Leanne Van Dyk talks about The Center for Lifelong Learning and opportunities for online education.

Faculty Interview: Prof. Jake Myers Published on Sept 27, 2017 Dr. Jake Myers talks about the transformation students experience in his class and the ways faculty uniquely support students at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Learn more about him and all of our faculty at www.ctsnet.edu/faculty.

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Erin and Dahl Published on Oct 5, 2017 Erin and Dahl share their stories and appreciation for the community they share at Columbia Theological Seminaries. Thank you to the supporters of the Annual Fund that make it possible!

Faculty Interview with Prof. William Yoo Published on Oct 20, 2017 Dr. William Yoo talks about the complexities of history, the tools for interpreting it faithfully, and the sense of empowerment he wishes to share with all students at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Learn more about him and all of our faculty at www.ctsnet.edu/faculty.

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For these and other videos, please visit us on YouTube at www.youtube. com/user/ctsmedia.

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C T S BU I L D S R E L AT ION S H I P S IN KOREA B Y M I C H A E L T H O M P S O N , D I R E C T O R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

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R. LEANNE VAN DYK, PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, AND DR. KEVIN PARK, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, VISITED PRESBYTERIAN SEMINARIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND CHURCHES IN SOUTH KOREA DURING NOVEMBER 6-16. DRS. VAN DYK AND PARK WERE ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL LEADERS OF THE EVANGELICAL COALITION OF KOREAN AMERICAN MINISTRY (ECKAM) OF THE PRESBYTERY OF GREATER ATLANTA, WHO HELPED PLAN THE VISIT.

“This trip is one of the many ways we develop strong, creative relationships with Korean Presbyterian seminaries and churches to enhance Columbia Theological Seminary’s commitment to global theological education,” said President Van Dyk. The itinerary will include Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Hanshin University and Hanshin Graduate Theological Seminary, and Honam Theological University and Seminary, as well as prominent Korean Presbyterian churches.

“Columbia Seminary’s relationship with Korea goes back many years,” noted Dr. Park. “In fact, one of our alumni, William Alderman Linton, class of 1930, was a founder and first president of Hannam University in Korea.”

Earlier this year, Dr. Park also announced the creation of a new Asian North American degree concentration for the DMin degree program, designed to support and equip those who are presently engaged in various types of ministries in the Asian North American context where English is the primary language used for ministry.

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Dr. Park is also the interim director of the Korean American Ministries (KAM) at Columbia Seminary.

KAM exists for the purposes of advising Korean, Korean American, and Asian students in all degree programs of the seminary, as well as providing Lifelong Learning programs and otherwise raising up Asian theological voices in the U.S. and global contexts.

For more information, please visit www.CTSnet. edu, or contact Dr. Kevin Park, Associate Dean for Advanced Professional Studies at 404-687-4533 or ParkK@CTSnet.edu

NEW AND EMERGING ASIAN NORTH AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN LEADERS COME TO COLUMBIA B Y D R . W I L L I A M Y O O, A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R O F A M E R I C A N R E L I G I O U S A N D C U LT U R A L H I S T O R Y

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HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING FOR THE PC(USA) ASIAN LEADERSHIP STUDY PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FROM AUGUST 14 TO 18. I MET APPROXIMATELY THIRTY PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS REPRESENTING A MULTIPLICITY OF ASIAN CULTURES AND SERVING IN CONGREGATIONS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

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ASIAN NORTH AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN LEADERS continued

New and emerging church leaders from California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas shared with me their inspiring stories of migration, some as refugees, and ministry within immigrant congregations. I learned about the vitality and increasing presence of Asian American Presbyterian ministries among the Chin people and the Mizo people, two of the over 100 ethnic groups from Myanmar (also known as Burma), in Atlanta, Indianapolis, and many other cities. I also heard powerful testimonies from church leaders who migrated to the United States from Indonesia, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

I am grateful for the leadership of Rev. MeiHui Lai and Dr. Kevin Park. Rev. Lai is the Associate for Asian Congregational Support, a division of the PC(USA) Racial, Ethnic, In 1958, there were and Women’s Ministries over 1,750 American within the national Presbyterian Mission Presbyterian Agency. She is a pioneer missionaries serving and leader with a long throughout the record of groundbreaking world. The only work in congregational denomination ministry and theological to have more

missionaries abroad was the Seventh-day Adventists.

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education across the United States and Taiwan. In addition to Dr. Park’s important work as the Associate Dean for Advanced Professional Studies at our seminary, he is a leading voice in Asian American Presbyterianism.

As Columbia Theological Seminary deepens our roots and continues to carry out our educational aims, it is helpful for us to remember both our denominational commitment and our institutional participation toward world mission. In 1958, there were over 1,750 American Presbyterian missionaries serving throughout the world. The only denomination to have more missionaries abroad was the Seventhday Adventists. In the 1830s, J. Leighton Wilson, a graduate of Columbia Seminary, and his spouse, Jane Bayard Wilson, set sail from South Carolina to serve as missionaries in West Africa. Dr. Erskine Clarke has written a masterful book, By the Rivers of Water: A Nineteenth-Century Atlantic Odyssey, tracing how this missionary couple founded schools, translated the Scriptures, and fought against the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

My indelible experiences with the Asian Leadership Study Program illumines two important lessons for us today. The first lesson is that our

STUDENT VOICES SAM TURPEN, MDIV 2019

understanding of effective global engagement has evolved from an older pattern of white Presbyterians in positions of teaching authority over Christians from the global South to a model of shared leadership as Christians from the United States partner together with church leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The second lesson is that our seminary has a call from God to keep expanding our vision to see the ample opportunities to invest in and learn from new and emerging church leaders from many different racial and ethnic communities in our city, our country, and God’s changing world. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 13:16, “Blessed are eyes, F Ayour L L 2 0 1 7 for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”

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VANTAGE V VA ANT AN ANTA A NTA N NT TAG TA AG GE E

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C O L U M B I A

T H E O L O G I C A L

FALL

My two strongest connections to Columbia Theological Seminary are my pastor, Sid Burgess who served Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Homewood, AL for many years; and my last work supervisor, Stacy Rector at Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty in Nashville. Both displayed a sound knowledge and respect for cross ministry, and have led me to my theological education.

Knowing them only strengthened the confidence in my choice.

BRITTANY FISCUS-VAN ROSSUM, MDIV 2017

Columbia Theological Seminary really helped me to find my calling. Before I came here, I had a limited view of what ministry was. My classes, my professors, my peers, and my internship pushed me and helped me to grow in so many ways. As I leave here I feel prepared in so many ways I did not even expect or anticipate.

S E M I N A R Y

SAM KIM, MDIV 2017

Dr. Erskine Clarke has written a masterful book, By the Rivers of Water: A Nineteenth-Century 10/26/17 11:44 AM

Atlantic Odyssey, tracing how [the Wilsons] founded schools,

I first became connected to Columbia Theological Seminary through my relationship with Dr. Steve Hayner.

I met him when he preached at my school in South Korea.

He encouraged me to come here to be nurtured and develop as a leader.

translated the Scriptures, and fought against the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

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REASONABLE

SERVICE

NEW ADVENT RESOURCE

B Y J U L I E B A I L E Y, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND CHURCH R E L AT I O N S

A Sanctified Art LLC is Hannah Garrity, Sarah Are ’17, Lauren Wright Pittman ’16, and Lisle Gwynn Garrity ’15.

Photo by Emlyn Gwynn.

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REACHERS, TEACHERS, AND ALL BEARERS OF GOD’S GRACE HAVE HARD TASK — TO PROCLAIM THE INBREAKING OF GOD’S REIGN, WEEK AFTER WEEK, TO A BUSY AND BROKEN WORLD. IT’S HARD WORK. IT’S IMPORTANT WORK. AND COLUMBIA WANTS TO HELP YOU DO IT WELL. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN CHARGE OF A SERMON OR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, OR IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF PERSONAL INSPIRATION FOR THE LIVING OUT OF YOUR OWN DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY, YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A NEW RESOURCE, CREATED TO HELP INSPIRE YOU THIS ADVENT SEASON.

Our new advent resource includes weekly videos of our professors offering reflections on each Sunday in Advent’s lectionary texts, as well as creative inspiration by some of our talented alumni.

We hope you will sign up for digital inspiration, including downloadable Advent Candle-lighting liturgy, Advent coloring posters, poetry prayers, and sign up to receive weekly art and artist reflections via email.

Want to know more about A Sanctified Art? Here’s our interview with Sanctified Art (SA) founder and creative director, Lisle Gwynn Garrity.

Vantage: What is A Sanctified Art LLC? We are a team of four artists in ministry and we collaborate to create multimedia art and resources for worshiping communities. We work around the liturgical calendar to bring scripture and theological themes to life

through film, visual art, poetry, coloring pages, devotionals, liturgy, graphic designs, banner art, and more. All of our resources are digital, which means that what we offer can’t be passively consumed—each community must figure out ways to integrate our resources into their context and truly make them their own. Our mission is to empower churches with the tools to inspire creativity; we hope to use visual art as a tool for deeper connection and reflection.

Where are you based?

We live in four different states, so our collaboration happens mostly over text, email, and Google hangouts.

SA is a calling for all of us, but each of us also gives our time and vocational gifts to other work also. When our schedules align, we gather in my home in Black Mountain, NC, for retreats to work and create together.

How did you get started?

After I graduated from Columbia in 2015, I dove fully into my call to be both a pastor and an artist.

Because there was no existing job that fully blended both of these roles, I began to discover that part of my calling was to create something new. I had a vision for somehow offering visual art and creative resources online to be able to reach a larger audience.

A few months after graduation, I realized I had essentially been having the same conversation with two colleagues at CTS (Lauren Wright Pittman and Sarah Are), and my sister-in-law (Hannah Garrity), who had been serving as the artist-in-residence at Montreat Conference Center over the summers. Our conversations explored how we could use our gifts as artists and creatives to serve the wider Church. One day, something just clicked for me and the vague vision began to take shape. So I invited them to coffee and pitched them the whole concept and business plan—and, to my surprise, they all immediately said, “Yes.” At our first meeting as a whole team, we each spent time sharing our journey as artists and how our

creativity blended with our faith. Our stories resonated so strongly; we were not alone. Our formation is the result of each of our individual callings blending into a harmony we didn’t know was possible.

What is your vision for the Church?

We believe the Church has reached a turning point. What has worked in years past may not work in years to come. To move forward, we have to be honest, reflective, and in touch with the unique ways God is stirring in our lives. Pastors are overworked and volunteers are exhausted; when push comes to shove, creativity can often go out the door. We believe faith leaders need the support of artists and creatives to partner in artful, God-breathed ministry. Driven by the prophetic power of art, we believe that creativity helps us connect our hearts with our hands, our faith with our lives, and our mess with our God. Sign up to receive this new advent resource by visiting www.ctsnet.edu/advent

ADVENT RESOURCE 2017 www.ctsnet.edu/advent

Preachers, teachers, and all bearers of God’s grace have a hard task – to proclaim the in-breaking of God’s reign, week after week, to a busy and broken world.

It’s hard work. It’s important work. And we want to help you do it well.

Sign up to receive complimentary, digital resources from Columbia Seminary, including: • Videos of our professors offering reflections on each Sunday in Advent’s lectionary texts • Downloadable Advent Candle-lighting liturgy • Advent coloring posters • Poetry prayers • Weekly art and artist reflections These resources are available to all who sign up!

Go to the address below to have your name added to our Advent Resource 2017 mailing list: FALL 2017 / VANTAGE / 27

R E CO G NI Z I NG

SCHOLARS

FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS, & PRIZES FOR 2017

Elizabeth J. “Betsy” Stow (MDiv, 2018) was awarded the C. Virginia Harrison Memorial Award. Virginia Harrison served in innumerable capacities at Columbia Theological Seminary from 1925 to 1961. Upon her death, members of her family established an award to be given each year to a rising senior who is conscientious, responsible, hardworking and who shows great potential for leadership in the church. Betsy is under care of the Presbytery of Savannah, Georgia.

Her home church is Allenhurst Presbyterian Church.

Betsy did her undergraduate work in Music at Wingate College in North Carolina and earned a Master of Arts in Historical Musicology and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

She was a librarian in the Liberty County branches of Live Oak Public Libraries, based in Savannah, Georgia, for eleven years before entering seminary in 2015.

Currently, Betsy worships with Columbia Presbyterian Church, where she has served as Minister Intern. She also serves as a supply minister or musician from time to time in area churches.

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Erica Durham, Public Services Librarian, was presented the Betsey Burgess Staff Award. Betsey Burgess served Columbia Seminary faithfully for 22 years, and upon her retirement established this award for the staff member “who has demonstrated faithfulness, dedicated service, and Christian character upholding the Seminary’s purpose and mission.” President Leanne Van Dyk presented the award to Erica, commenting on her welcoming presence and depth of knowledge in the many ways she assists students, staff, and faculty.

Erica, herself a CTS alumna, previously served local congregations and the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. In 2008, after completing a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies with an emphasis in theological librarianship, Erica joined the staff of the John Bulow Campbell Library.

ON MAY 20, 2017, COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY held its annual commencement exercises at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. This year, 74 degrees were awarded in six graduate degree programs.

These are just some of the students who distinguished themselves with outstanding scholarship.

AWARDS

RECIPIENTS

Harvard A. Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brittany Lynn Fiscus-van Rossum Columbia Graduate Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam James Shortley Emma Gaillard Boyce Graduate Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Arthur VanderMeer Fannie Jordan Bryan Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassie Lea Waits Anna Church Whitner Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ayanna Avise Grady-Hunt James T. and Celeste M. Boyd Book Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Bishop Loftin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyungwon Erin Noh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Myrae Patrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eunji Seo The Robert Ramey, Jr. Christian Leadership Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew David Conner Wilds Book Prize ($1000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brittany Lynn Fiscus-van Rossum William Dudley Fund Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaeyouk Jung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey David Randolph Abdullah Awards: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Moral & Spiritual Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Glory Elizabeth Cumbow Julia Abdullah Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassie Lea Waits Samuel A. Cartledge New Testament Studies Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassie Lea Waits Ludwig Richard Max Dewitz Old Testament Studies Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassie Lea Waits Emma Gaillard Boyce Memorial Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Arthur VanderMeer Paul T. Fuhrmann Book Prize in Church History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebekah Beam Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bora Yoon The John Nelsen Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stacey Simpson Duke George and Sally Telford Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerri Mock Hefner H. J. Riddle Memorial Book Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Marie Mehan Indiantown Country Church Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millicent Jai White Thomson The Toms-McGarrahan Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Rachel Are Florrie Wilkes Sanders Prize in Theology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam James Shortley William Rivers Waddey Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Rachel Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katelyn Michelle Nutter Dowling St. Andrew Presbytery Preaching Award . . . . . . . . *Carl James Dates (Awarded September 6, 2017) AAAS Science Sermon Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *Carl James Dates (Awarded May 3, 2017) * Name: indicates a student who is not graduating (a returning student).

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2017

G R A D U AT E S

CONGRATULATIONS T O O U R R E C E N T G R A D U AT E S !

DOCTORAL LEVEL GRADUATES: ThD, DMin, DEdMin, ThM

FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Laura Cunningham, Stacey Simpson Duke, Laurie Davis, Lalrintluangi Hmar (ThD), Olive Mahabir,

Steven Hovater, Kerri Hefner, Noe Juarez-Loayza. BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Sharol Hayner, Scott Hagan, Jonathan Smith, Jeff Brown, Stephen Brinkman, Dominique Robinson, Karen Webster, Afia Ban (ThM).

NOT PICTURED: Peter Langerman, Allan Purtill.

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MASTERS LEVEL GRADUATES: MDiv, MAPT, MA(TS)

FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Michelle Marie Mehan, Bora Yoon, Jiyoung Choi, Hannah Ruth Hill, Eun Young Kim, Millicent Jai White

Thomson, Brittany Lynn Fiscus-van Rossum, Emily Shacklett Wilmesherr, Cassie Lee Waits, Eunji Seo, Staphanie Bishop Loftin.

SECOND ROW: Rebekah Beam Carpenter, Matthew David Conner, Katherine Leah Saxbury, Sarah Rachel Are, Ki Man Kim,

William Seth Young, Jaeyuok Jung, Katelyn Michelle Nutter Dowling. THIRD ROW: Dujong Lee, Barrett Anderson Payne, Nicholas Smith, Kyungwon Erin Noh, Sarah Hunter Smith, Lauren Myrae Patrus, Ayanna Avise Grady-Hunt. FOURTH ROW: Sang Hoon Han, Victor Jerome Bayne, David Arthur VanderMeer, Jeffery David Randolph, Adam James Shortley, W. DéShun Kilgore.

NOT PICTURED: D’Andre Remon Ash, Christopher William Jones, Shinyoung Ko.

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LIFELONG LEARNING

JANUARY 22-25

T

he Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century was just one of many reformations that continue into the 21st Century. Luther’s experience of the freedom of conscience is finding fresh expression in contemporary issues related to preaching, biblical studies, education, marriage, inclusion, sexuality, and racism.

The Center for Lifelong Learning invites you to take an in-depth look at these and other topics during Reformations: Then & Now, on January 22-25.

The conference included plenary sessions and workshops exploring “Reformations” associated with education, theology and justice, worship and preaching, the Bible, and more. Seminary faculty and guest presenters will join keynote speakers Kirsi Stjerna and Brooks Schramm.

Stjerna is the First Lutheran, Los Angeles/ Southwest Synod Professor of Lutheran History and Theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California, Lutheran University; and faculty at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley and Helsinki University, Finland. Schramm is Kraft Professor of Biblical Studies (OT/Hebrew Bible) at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Among other books and articles, Stjerna and Schramm served as editors of Encounters with Luther: New Directions for Critical Studies, Westminster John Knox, 2016 and authored Martin Luther, the Bible, and the Jewish People, Fortress Press, 2012.

Google Kirsi Stjera and Brooks Schramm and you’ll find a plethora of papers, talks, reviews, and articles on the Reformation featuring or authored by the two of them. (You may even realize that although they live on different coasts, they are married!) (OR: You may realize this is more than a professional relationship as well: they are a bi-coastal couple, parents, pastors, and teachers.) What you will absolutely realize is their expertise in the field of the Reformation.

“Stjerna and Schramm were the natural choice to lead this fantastic learning opportunity,” says Sarah Erickson, Director of Lifelong Learning at CTS. “We were thrilled we could work things out with all the scheduling required to plan an event this large. We are so excited to have them with us for Reformations: Then & Now, as well as all the other scholars we’ve lined up.”

“I’ve always been interested in stories and human nature, and the Reformation history is a fantastic field in that regard….I was afraid of history because of the dates….Then I had a “feminist awakening” and thought, ‘I’ve been fooled! Where are the women?’ It is a long story but I ended up traveling to Boston to study feminist methodology. I was privileged to work with great historians and theologians there who supported my work and let me try different things (Boston University, Boston College, Harvard Divinity School) and I took a long “feminist excursion through the Middle Ages” with some fantastic female visionaries, and eventually found my way back to Luther and the Reformation, equipped with methodological tools and confidence that, yes, we can take a new look at Luther, while we should also dig deep to explore the continued on page 41

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LIFELONG LEARNING

COURSE SCHEDULE UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE CENTER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING Our classes are designed to keep you learning, exploring and connecting. On campus, around the world, or online, the Center for Lifelong Learning offers a robust array of classes led by top-notch seminary faculty and other experts.

Our offerings are Biblically and theologically grounded, with a practical focus to help participants, both church professionals and lay people identify and address real-life needs.

At the same time, we see lifelong learning as recreation and rejuvenation! Time to step out of life’s busy routines and give in to your curiosity, stop and experience renewal of mind, spirit, body and emotion.

Visit www.CTSnte.edu/events for descriptions and registration links to these classes and more!

YOUR SPIRITUAL BRAIN: NEUROBIOLOGY AND FAITH 1/8 – 2/12/18 Online Course with Lisa Schott HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: STORYTELLING FOR LEARNING AND TRANSFORMATION 1/8 – 2/2/18 Online Course with Cynthia P. McDonald REFORMATIONS THEN AND NOW 1/22 – 1/25/18 with keynote speakers Kirsi Stjerna and Brooks Schramm, workshops led

by Drew Denton, Jake Myers, Martha Moore Keish, Michael Morgan, Haruko Nawata Ward, Kathy Dawson, Tim Hartman, and Leanne Van Dyk RESETTING THE TABLE: INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP 2/5 – 3/9/18 Online Course with Bethany McKinney Fox and Mark Curtis Crenshaw

MAKING LOVE WITH SCRIPTURE: ENGAGING THE BIBLE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM 2/5 – 3/16/18 Online Course with Jake Myers PRAYER: DEEPENING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH GOD 2/5 – 3/9/18 Certificate in Spiritual Formation Online Course with Deedra Rich ON DESIRE AND FLOURISHING: A STUDY OF ANCIENT ISRAELITE WISDOM 2/8 – 2/11/18 Certificate in Spiritual Formation with Christine Roy Yoder FOSTERING PERSONAL CHANGE 2/15 – 2/16/18 with Mark Biddle PERSONNEL AND LEADERSHIP 2/25 – 2/28/18 Compass Points Certificate Program

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LIFELONG LEARNING

COURSE SCHEDULE continued

DEVELOPMENT 2/28 – 3/3/18 Compass Points Certificate Course IMMERSION EXPERIENCE: AN INVITATION TO A DEEPER SPIRITUAL LIFE 4/12 – 4/15/18 Certificate in Spiritual Formation with Debra Weir, Deedra Rich, and Carl McColman

“I have a room for a second life”: Journeying by Heart with the Poet Rainer Maria Rilke Certificate in Spiritual Formation

April 19 - 22, 2018

Montreat Conference Center with instructor Mark Burrows, Professor of Theology and Literature at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, Germany Register today at

www.CTSnet.edu/events

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THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS AND AFFIRMATIONS IN OLDER ADULTHOOD 4/16 – 4/18/18 Older Adult Ministry Certificate Course with Carolyn and Bruce WinfreyGillette SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND OLDER ADULTS 4/18 – 4/20/18 Older Adult Ministry Certificate Course with Mary Anona Stoops CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR’S THINK TANK 4/19 – 4/20/18 with Kathy Dawson

“I HAVE ROOM FOR A SECOND LIFE”: JOURNEYING

BY HEART WITH THE POET RAINER MARIA RILKE 4/19 – 4/22/18 Certificate in Spiritual Formation with Mark Burrows BESIDE STILL WATERS – A CONTEMPLATIVE RETREAT 4/30 – 5/4/18 Certificate in Spiritual Formation with Chris Glaser and Debra Weir CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION 5/15/18 Application Deadline Certificate in Spiritual Direction THRIVING AS A CHURCH MINISTRY STAFF ASSOCIATE 6/4 – 7/6/18 Online Course with Holly Inglis

T A U T A P A N T A

WE ARE ALL PART OF A LIVING TRADITION that reaches back to the earliest days of God’s people reflecting on their world, their experience of God, and their sense of God’s calling. Tauta Panta refers to “all these things,” as in “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33).

These are notes from our journey as alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Columbia Theological Seminary.

NEWS FROM CAMPUS

JUNE 24, 2017:

CLL Receives Lilly Grant to Serve Pastors in Crisis and Pastors Who Innovate The Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) at Columbia Theological Seminary has received a $50,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through Thriving in Ministry, a new initiative that seeks to support selected religious organizations in creating or enhancing programs that help clergy thrive as pastoral leaders and thus strengthen the congregations they serve. The grant will help CLL consider expansion of programs for clergy leaders in several areas including support for clergy who have experienced forced terminations and expansion of CLL’s own Pastoral Excellence Program.

“We’re excited to explore the possibility of these new offerings through the support of Lilly Endowment’s planning grant,” said Dr. Israel Galindo, Associate Dean for CLL and Director of Online Education.

“CLL has a significant track record in offering peerlearning experiences, and we are motivated to see which activities could enable us to identify and reach additional clergy groups. This will involve research, imagination, and strategic work, all of which can be developed through this grant.”

OCTOBER 16, 2017:

New Major Gifts Officer for Columbia Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary announced today the appointment of a new Director of Major Gifts. Charles A. Wiley III currently serves as the Associate Director for Theology, Worship, and Education Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Wiley is the latest

in a series of appointments for the seminary’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

“We have spent much of this year building our team for our fundraising and communications efforts, and Charles is a great addition to the team,” said Steven Miller, Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

“His relationships with people both inside and outside the PC(USA) will be important to the essential work we are doing here.”

“Having Charles Wiley join us is timely,” Dr. Leanne Van Dyk, President of the Seminary, stated.

“We are engaging some new strategic initiatives at all levels of the seminary. New funding will be critical to our success in every area.”

OCTOBER 18, 2017:

Columbia Seminary to Host Lecture on Diversity and Pluralism in Islam Columbia Theological Seminary has invited Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na‘im from Emory University to lecture for its class on The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque. On Monday, October 30 at 6:30 pm, Dr. An-Na’im will present his talk “Islamic Diversity or Pluralism: Does Theology Lead or Follow?”

Individuals may RSVP for this event in the Broyles Leadership Center, Room 101 on the Columbia Seminary campus located at 701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA near Atlanta.

“Communities are desperate for leadership that bridges many diversities,” said Dr. Deborah Flemister Mullen, Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the seminary. “Our office is pleased to co-host this event and provide space for conversation between people of different religious faiths. We want to build knowledge and intercultural competencies for our students and other local leaders.”

For the full stories and more, please visit www.CTSnet.edu/columbia-connections.

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DAV I D B A RT L E T T D I S T I N G U I S H E D P R E A C H E R A N D S C H O L A R , D I E S AT 7 6

Dr. David L. Bartlett, an ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches, USA who served parishes in Minneapolis, MN; Chicago, IL; and Oakland, CA passed away early Thursday morning, October 13, 2017. He was the J. Edward and Ruth Cox Lantz Professor Emeritus of Christian Communication at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT and the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.

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olumbia Seminary is profoundly grateful for the life and ministry of David Bartlett,” said Dr. Leanne Van Dyk, president of the seminary. “The impact of his wise teaching, his gracious encouragement, his joyful humor, and his steady faithfulness is deep and wide in this community. We extend our love and sympathy to his family in this time of grief and loss.”

Cam Murchison, Professor Emeritus of Ministry and former Dean of Faculty recollected, “The things I treasure most about David Bartlett are his expansive generosity, his eloquent articulation of Christian faith, his masterful grasp of the New Testament, his boundless hospitality (along with Carol) for students, colleagues, and even passing acquaintances, his quickness and depth of mind, his indefatigable energy in work and play, his steadfastness in personal commitments, his pastoral compassion, his love of the arts, and his abiding joy in his family. He has been a colleague, a teacher, an adviser, a mentor, and a most dear friend. In the words of W. H. Auden, he has been for many: ‘… my North, my South, my East and West, /My working week and my Sunday rest.’”

Dr. Bartlett was born on February 16, 1941. He completed his undergraduate education at Swarthmore College in 1962, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts.

He then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1967 and his Doctor of Philosophy from the Department of Religious Studies in New Testament in 1972. David Bartlett was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and a Roothbert Fellow for “those prompted by ‘spiritual motives’ and pursuing careers in teaching.”

Dr. Bartlett had long careers in teaching and preaching, holding both academic and pastoral positions. In addition to his remarkable tenure at Yale Divinity School and Columbia Theological Seminary, both of which honored him as professor

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emeritus, he served on the faculties of American Baptist Seminary of the West, Graduate Theological Union, The Divinity School of The University of Chicago, and Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He also served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Yale Divinity School for eleven years.

For several years, Dr. Bartlett was on the Editorial Boards of works such as Interpretation and Preaching Great Texts. He was on the Board of Consultants for the Journal of Religion and the National Advisory Board for the Christian Networks Journal.

Along with Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor, Dr. Bartlett co-edited the well-known Feasting on the Word commentary series. This twelve-volume series provides pastors and educators a variety of views on scripture that can be utilized easily in worship and teaching. “The scope of the project was so vast that I could not imagine saying yes, but the prospect of working with David proved irresistible,” said Barbara Brown Taylor. “We were sitting in a restaurant named ‘Feast,’ near the seminary, when we decided to call the series Feasting on the Word. Twelve volumes later, David’s steady vision, ready humor, biblical genius, and vast network of friends had pulled us through. It was the hardest and happiest work I have ever done. The only thing that tempers this loss is knowing for sure how much better the world is because David lived in it.”

Dr. Bartlett’s most recent book is Christology in the New Testament (Abingdon Press, 2017), published just last summer. Dr. Bartlett also co-edited the Westminster Bible Companion with Dr. Patrick D. Miller, Jr. He also contributed to The Fourfold Gospel (London: SPCK, 2006; Philadelphia: Fortress, 2006) for which he wrote the section on Matthew. His Lyman Beecher Lectures, delivered at Yale Divinity School, were published under the title What’s Good About This News? (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2003). He wrote the study of I Peter for The New Interpreter’s Bible.

David Bartlett is survived by his wife Carol and their two grown sons, Jonah (and wife Elizabeth) and Ben. There was a funeral service at Marquand Chapel, Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT. A memorial service for Dr. Bartlett was held in Atlanta on Monday, November 27, at 11 am at Trinity Presbyterian Church (3003 Howell Mill Road).

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ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES

WA S H I N G T O N & J E F F E R S O N C O L L E G E I N AU G U R AT E S D R . J O H N C . K N A P P M A ( T S ) ’ 9 5 A S 1 3 TH P R E S I D E N T

STUDENT VOICES MARBEN BLAND, MDIV 2019

What connected me to Columbia Theological Seminary was meeting a graduate, Jamie Phillips, who increased my interest and engagement with the school.

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Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) inaugurated John C. Knapp, Ph.D., as the institution’s thirteenth president. Dr. Knapp began his appointment at W&J on August 1, 2017, following the retirement of former W&J President Dr. Tori Haring-Smith.

“W&J has a long history of excellence in the liberal arts, evidenced by our established and outstanding academic and extracurricular programs. Dr. Knapp is an insightful and exceptional leader in the field of higher education, and his talents make him an exceptional choice to lead W&J into the future,” said Richard T. Clark (W&J ’68), chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees. “The Board is fully confident that Dr. Knapp will lead W&J to even greater achievements and engage everyone to build toward an even brighter future for the College.”

Dr. Knapp’s career includes serving as president of Hope College in Holland, MI, for four years prior to his appointment at W&J. A renowned expert in ethics as well as a seasoned academic, administrator, professor, author, consultant and community leader, Dr. Knapp was founding director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. He also established and directed the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Additionally, he founded and chaired the Atlanta Diversity Management Network, a project dedicated to sharing best practices among the region’s largest employers, including five universities. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Knapp was a successful entrepreneur, trusted advisor and president of a communications consulting firm in Atlanta.

Dr. Knapp earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in theology and religious studies at the University of Wales, United Kingdom, a Master of Arts degree in theological studies at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, and a Bachelor of Science degree in urban life with a concentration in communication at Georgia State University.

Of his appointment at W&J, Dr. Knapp said he appreciates W&J’s strengths and wants to build on them.

“W&J College enjoys a stellar reputation across the country and around the world. The College has been well-led and has strengths that can be leveraged to make sure it continues to be competitive now and in years to come,” he said. “Since arriving in August, my wife, Kelly, and I have experienced a warm welcome and have had the chance to hear from members of the College community about their visions for the future of W&J. From everything we’ve heard and experienced, W&J is a great place not only to come and earn a degree, but to live. I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish here together.”

Commenting on W&J’s leadership appointment, Trustee Diana Reed, chair of the W&J Presidential Search Committee, said the search and selection of a college president is perhaps the most important activity a Board of Trustees can undertake, and that in today’s

challenging academic and economic environments, a college president must be exceptional in many areas of expertise and talent.

“Dr. Knapp’s dedication to higher education is evident in many facets of his career. He has maintained a high academic profile at the collegiate institutions he has served, and has been recognized and awarded for his scholarly work. His focus on liberal arts education extends to the values he places on diversity and inclusion, and he has a proven track record of increasing diversity at the institutions he has served, uniting faculty, staff, and students behind a common vision.

The Search Committee is thrilled with the outcome of this process, and we believe Dr. Knapp is the right person to lead W&J into the future, while appreciating and supporting the College’s strong history and existing programs.”

CTS GRADS REPRESENT AT STEWARDSHIP KALEIDOSCOPE

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Shannon Kershner (worship leader), Adam Copeland (keynote), Julie Jensen, Emily Zeig Lindsey, Catherine Neelly Burton, Brian Coulter, Amy Baer, Ryan Baer, Drew Marshall, Sydne Allen, Travis Allen, Suzi Marshall, Brandi Casto-Waters, Todd Speed, Morgan Hay. NOT PICTURED: Cader Howard, Patrick Marshall, and Maggie Frampton Beamguard.

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ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES continued

1980s | Margaret “Peggy” 1990s | Tom Sikes, MDiv Ann Hegeman, MDiv ’82 was installed at the Yarnell Presbyterian Church in Yarnell, AZ on November 5, 2017. She previously served the First Presbyterian Church of Cleghorn, IA. Mark Jumper, MDiv ’82 continues as an Assistant Professor and now Director of Chaplaincy & Military Affairs at the Regent University School of Divinity. He directed their ten-year reaccreditation process with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and was named to the Professional Advisory Group overseeing the operation and reaccreditation of the CPE program at the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center. He has had several articles published in War and Religion: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict and in Evangelical America: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Religious Culture.

’90, DMin ’00 serves as a new pastor at Prospect Presbyterian Church in Meridian, MS. His validated ministry is Missionscape which provides a 30-min road trip show called “Road in Between”.

It blends faith with culture using the model of Philip in Acts 8:2640. He also offers 30 and 60 second TV spots called “Hush in the Rush” translating the gospel in everyday situations. You may see his programming on the “Tom Sikes” YouTube page, and on the Facebook pages for “Road in Between,” “Hush in the Rush,” and “Missionscape.”

Ann Pitman, MDiv ’93 retired as Interim Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, IN, on September 1, 2017.

2000s | Kyle Goodman,

MDiv ’04 was installed as pastor of the Alamance Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC in July 2017.

Phillip Hagen, MDiv ’04 was installed at the First Presbyterian Church of Idaho Falls, ID. He, his wife Michelle, and son Jack, moved from Unity Presbyterian Church in Woodleaf, NC. Dan Stephens, MDiv ’04 serves the United Way of Central Alabama.

Adam J. Copeland, MDiv ’09 edited a new book, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship [Westminster John Knox Press, 2017].

Nancy Meehan Yao MDiv ’09 is the Associate General Presbyter for the Shenandoah Presbytery.

STUDENT VOICES MELVA LOWRY, MDIV/MAPT 2018

I was first connected to Columbia Theological Seminary through my father, the Rev. Dr. Melvin Lowry, a graduate of the DMin program.

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Thank you to everyone who sent us updates!

Keep sending us your updates for “alumni news & notes” so your classmates and others can know what you are doing. Go to our Website at www.CTSnet.edu/update-my-info.

2010s | Heather Fosburgh Bardole, MDiv ’13 will be ordained on Sunday,

November 12, 2017, at 5:00 pm at Kirkwood United Church of Christ, Atlanta, GA. Nathaniel “J.R.” Dunlap, MATS ’11 recently wrote and published a book titled Don't Leave Me Like This: Inspiration to Leave a Legacy. The book endeavors to push religious leaders from the conversation of helping themselves and others get their spiritual affairs in order (salvation) into a dialogue with the conflict that temporarily hinders millions of people within God’s church from setting their earthly affairs in order— wills, inheritances, advanced directives, insurance or the lack thereof. The book is available at prfministry.org/books and on Amazon.

Emma Ouellette, MDiv ’11 serves at the Bayside Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, VA. Richard Zimmerman, DMin ’11 released a new book, Walk with Me to Another Land: A Narrative Approach to Transitional Ministry [Wipf and Stock].

Chris Peters, MDiv ’14 serves the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairhope, AL. Lauren Peters, MDiv ’14 serves UKirk at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. Rob White, MDiv ’13 is the new pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hernando, MS. Bethany Benz-Whittington MDiv ’15 now serves the Westview Presbyterian Church in Longmont, CO. Robert “Bobby” Newman MDiv ’15 was ordained at Highland Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC on April 30, 2017, where he will serve as Associate Pastor.

The American Theological Library Association Serials (ATLAS) research database is available to Columbia alumni.

The database provides online access to more than 150,000 articles and citations—and to the full text of hundreds of peer-reviewed journals.

Columbia’s library provides funding for this valuable resource for alumni. It is a key tool for lifelong research, study, and sermon preparation.

For more information—and a login ID and password—contact Erica Durham (404-687-4661 or durhame@ctsnet.edu).

Chad Wright Pittman, MDiv ’16 now serves as director of DOOR Atlanta.

IN MEMORIAM

Fred B. Boozer, BD ’65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January 13, 2017 Ann W. Bullard, BBE ’63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 14, 2017 Charles E. Cook, BD ’59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 8, 2017 Marion H. Currie, BD ’42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 25, 2017 William E. Frisbee, BD ’64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 23, 2017 Charles B. Huntley, DMin ’86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 26, 2017 David P. Keister, MDiv ’88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 3, 2017 Jeffrey K. Krehbiel, DMin ’04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 27, 2017 Curtis A. Murray, BD ’66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .February 9, 2017 Harry F. Petersen, BD ’58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 9, 2017 LaDonna Scruggs, MDiv ’99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 12, 2017 Don L. Wilson, BD ’95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 7, 2017 FALL 2017 / VANTAGE /

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FACULTY & STAFF P U B L I C AT I O N S A N D A C T I V I T Y

NOVEMBER–MARCH ENGAGEMENTS

November 2017 Nov 2-5, Sarah Erickson REA Annual Conference; St. Louis, MO. Nov 3-5, William Brown, Marcia Riggs, Christine Roy Yoder Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology 2017 Conference; Pittsburgh, PA. Yoder serving as chaplain.

Nov 6-16, Leanne Van Dyk and Kevin Park Trip to South Korea with pastors from the Korean American community in Atlanta. The purpose of the trip is to visit seminaries and congregations in South Korea and explore possibilities for global partnerships.

Nov 8, Jeffery Tribble Co-Convener for Christian Education, Ecumenical Faith Formation and Leadership Development Table of the Christian Unity Gathering of the National Council of Churches; Washington DC; Developing NCC publication on Justice and Racial Equity.

Nov 8-10, Raj Nadella Meeting of Theological Dialogue on Matter of Faith and Order Convening Table at the National Council of Churches in Washington, DC. Nov 9, Marcia Riggs Howard Harrod Lecture at Vanderbilt Divinity School; Nashville, TN. 42

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Nov 9-10, William Yoo Presbyterian History and Racial Justice at the Covenant Conference, hosted by the Covenant Network of Presbyterians; Baltimore, MD. Nov 13-15, Israel Galindo Leadership in Ministry I, Atlanta, GA. Nov 17-22, Marcia Riggs American Academy of Religion Meeting; Boston, MA. Nov 18-21, Brennan Breed, William Brown, Raj Nadella American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. Brown presenting “Beyond Good and Evil: Formation, Transformation, and Disruption in the Hebrew Wisdom Literature.” Breed presenting with alumnus Davis Hankins in the “Megilloth” section, titled “What is Qohelet’s Problem?” Nadella will chair a session and serve as panelist in a different session.

Nov 19, Christine Roy Yoder Reception with Walter De Grutyer Press at the Harvard Semitic Museum in Boston, MA, to celebrate the publication of When the Morning Stars Sang: Essays in Honor of Choon Leong Seow on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday (BZAW 500). Yoder is co-editor of the book with Scott C. Jones, which is dedicated to her dissertation advisor and mentor.

Nov 21, William Brown AAR/SBL Annual Meeting; Boston, MA.

December 2017

January 2018

Dec 2, Anna Carter Florence Preaching at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, Knoxville TN.

Jan 21, Leanne Van Dyk Speaking and preaching, Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, FL.

Dec 2, William Harkins Teaching Family Systems Theory and Clergy Wellness in the Diocese of Atlanta Deacon Formation Program.

Jan 22-25, Tim Hartman, Martha Moore-Keish, Michael Morgan, Leanne Van Dyk, Haruko Ward Workshop leader at Reformations Then & Now at the Center for Lifelong Learning at CTS.

Dec 7, Leanne Van Dyk Speaking at the Association of Theological Schools’ Presidents’ Intensive Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Dec 10, Melinda McGarrah Sharp Workshop on Vocation at Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA. Dec 17, William Harkins Guest homilist and teaching adult education at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Highlands, NC. Dec 17-19, Mindy McGarrah Sharp Consultation on pastoral theology and medical ethics for The McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, Houston, TX. Dec 20, William Harkins Leading a Diocesan “Blue Advent” liturgy at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip for those grieving losses during the Advent/Christmas season.

STUDENT VOICES SONYA YOUNG, MDIV/MAPT 2020

My connection with Prof. Jeffrey Tribble is the most important one for me at Columbia Theological Seminary. Prior to coming here, he was my conference studies teacher in the AME Zion Church, who encouraged me to further my seminary studies.

Jan 25, Leanne Van Dyk Preaching, Calvin Worship Symposium in Grand Rapids, MI.

February 2018 Feb 1-3, Mindy McGarrah Sharp Wabash Center Colloquy on Writing.

Feb 6, Leanne Van Dyk Lecturing at Alumni Reunion at Columbia Seminary.

The schedule also includes: Tuesday, February 6 Kim Long & Jeffery Tribble Small Church Ministry Anna Carter Florence & Jake Myers Preaching Deb Mullen, Erskine Clarke, Catherine Gonzalez, William Yoo Talking about Race in Church Beth Johnson & Raj Nadella New Testament Bill Harkins & Mindy McGarrah Sharp Pastoral Care Bill Brown & Brennan Breed Old Testament Wednesday, February 7 Kathy Dawson & Christine Hong Education Martha Moore Keish & Tim Hartman Theology Feb 9-10, Anna Carter Florence Preaching and keynote speaker at Presbytery of South Alabama in Dothan, AL. Feb 16-17, Christine Roy Yoder Keynote speaker at Savannah Presbytery’s Leadership Development Conference in St. Simons Island, GA at Epworth by the Sea. FALL 2017 / VANTAGE /

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FACULTY & STAFF continued

Feb 25, Cam Murchison Present the Duerr Lectures at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX on the theme “Stewards of Creation.”

Feb 28, Leanne Van Dyk Lecturing at ATS Women’s Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Feb 28, Martha Moore-Keish Inaugural J.B. Green Lecture and Reception in Decatur, GA.

R E C E N T P U B L I C AT I O N S Anna Carter Florence, Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching Rehearsing Scripture: Discovering God’s Word in Community is due early Spring (Eerdmans) based on her Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching at Yale Divinity School.

Israel Galindo, Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning and Director of Online Education: Leadership in Ministry: Bowen Theory in the Congregational Context (Didache Press, 2017).

Mar 12-15, Christine Roy Yoder Keynote speaker for Women’s History month celebrations at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA.

Tim Hartman, Assistant Professor of Theology “An Act of Theological Négritude: Kwame Bediako on African Christian Identity” was just published in Religion, Culture and Spirituality in Africa and the African Diaspora (Routledge, 2017), pages 81-96. Also, “The Promise of an Actualistic Pneumatology: Beginning with the Holy Spirit in African Pentecostalism and Karl Barth” in Modern Theology 33:3 (July 2017): 333-347.

Mar 16-18, Martha Moore-Keish Green Valley Presbyterian Church in Henderson, NV.

Jacob Myers, Assistant Professor of Homiletics Preaching Must Die!: Troubling Homiletical Theology, (Fortress Press, November 2017).

March 2018

Mar 20-22, Raj Nadella PC(USA) General Assembly Committee on Representation meeting in Louisville, KY.

Cam Murchison, Professor Emeritus of Ministry “Reformed Resources for Practical Theology: The Christian Life and Consumer Capitalism,” in Imagining a Way: Exploring Reformed Practical Theology and Ethics, ed.

by Clive Pearson, Westminster John Knox Press, 2017.

Robert Ramey, Professor Emeritus of Ministry More Than a Memory: Lord's Supper Meditations for Your Life (2017).

William Yoo, Assistant Professor of American Religious and Cultural History “When Talking Isn’t Enough: Moving from Conversations about Race to Actions toward Racial Justice” in Presbyterians Today, October/November 2017.

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R E C E N T AWA R D S AND HONORS Tim Hartman, Assistant Professor of Theology Wabash Center grant of $5,000 for “Teaching Theology and Theological Reflection in the contemporary context of Columbia Theological Seminary.”

Mindy McGarrah Sharp, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, along with her co-director Patrick Reyes of FTE, is the recipient of an Innovation Grant from the Duke Leadership Institute for their project titled “Guiding Innovation in Intersectionality: Disrupting White Supremacies, Expanding Scholar-Activist Creativities.”

Jeffery Tribble, Associate Professor of Ministry Appointed Episcopal District Director of Continuing Education for the South Atlantic Episcopal District (GA & SC) for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

REFORMATIONS: THEN & NOW continued

experience of women during the reformations and as a consequence of the reformation theologies.”

“For me, it is Luther’s understanding of the nature and the power (and the vulnerability) of faith,” says Schramm. “In my view, this is where Luther was at his most radical, and it’s why reading him — even in a postEnlightenment world — never gets old.”

Workshops include: • L uther’s Treatise, On the Schem Hamphoras (the Ineffable Name) with Brooks Schramm • R eformations and Educational Ministry with Kathy Dawson, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education; Director of MAPT Program, Columbia Theological Seminary •G reat Continental Mission: Pope Francis and the Latin American Reformation in the 21st Century with Drew Denton, PhD, Director of Faith Formation, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Atlanta, GA • W omen and the Reformation with Kirsi Stjerna • P raedicātiō reformata, semper reformanda with Jacob D. Myers, Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Columbia Theological Seminary

• R eformation and "the one holy catholic church": Can Protestant churches be catholic? with Martha Moore Keish, J.B. Green Associate Professor of Theology, Columbia Theological Seminary • R eformation and the Word: The First Generation of the English Bible with Michael Morgan, Seminary Musician, Columbia Theological Seminary • W omen Reformers in Early Modern Africa, Asia and the Americas with Haruko Nawata Ward, Professor of Church History, Columbia Theological Seminary • C ontemporary Global Theologies of Reformation with Tim Hartman, Associate Professor of Theology, Columbia Theological Seminary Schedule also includes daily plenary sessions, worship, and a panel discussion moderated by seminary President Leanne Van Dyk featuring Drew Denton, Jihyun Oh, Moderator of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and Interim Ministry specialist and others.

Find Reformations Then & Now listed on www.

CTSnet.edu/events and click on the event to find more information, a sample schedule, event pricing and to register. We hope to see you there!

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BEST OF THE BLOG

JUNE 12 THE TEN BEST WAYS TO RUIN YOUR CHURCH STAFF

BY ISRAEL GALINDO

For those pastoral leaders who want to keep and develop quality ministry staff colleagues, here are the ten most common ways pastors ruin church staff—and how to avoid them. (For those pastors who want to get rid of troubling church staff, then this is the way to do it!).

1. Demand perfection and conformity. Insecure leaders tend to demand unrealistic expectations. If you are a secure leader, however, you will seek out mature and competent staff and free them to work out their ministry. You will learn from them—they will be good teachers to you, challenge you, and be colleagues in ministry. Let your staff members make mistakes, that’s often a sign they are innovative and risk-takers, and remember that their mistakes and failures are not a reflection on you.

JULY 20 MOVING PRAYER

BY KATHRYN SPARKS

Praying through bodily movement is an ancient form of communication with God and is practiced by people of every faith expression in the world.

Indeed, prayer offered through bodily movement or embodied prayer nurtures deep listening and locates relationship with God in the physical realm, the realm of the present moment. It can take the form of one or more postures, gestures, or movement of the entire body to rhythm, music or scripture. Embodied prayer is God breathing in us.

When embodied prayer is encountered in the

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context of corporate worship, it can also be called liturgical movement or liturgical dance.

Liturgical movement is easily found within our worship life. We stand, sit or kneel. We are baptized and receive communion. We might experience the laying on of hands in special services for healing. Pedestrian movement is everywhere in worship, with sitting as perhaps most dominant in American mainline churches.

AUGUST 31 DISCUSSING CHURCH: DISABILITY, DONUTS, FAITH, AND FRIENDSHIP

BY BETHANY MCKINNEY FOX

Sitting down to dinner with a group of friends with intellectual disabilities, I asked if they’d help me with this blog post on how churches can be more intentional about welcoming and fully involving people with intellectual disabilities. They agreed. They had lots to say, and there isn’t space to include everything – so here’s just a sampling of thoughts from each person (their names have been changed; they chose their own fake names, for fun).

Doug: “I go where I’m cared about.”

He talked about how having friends at church, being greeted warmly, sharing about each other’s lives, and hugs are essential for him to feel like part of a church. He appreciates the part of the service where he can come up to the front to have someone pray for his specific needs, and he also loves taking communion, so “God can be inside of me,” as he says.

SEPTEMBER 14 “WHAT HAS OUR CHURCH BEEN DOING WRONG?”

BY JIHYUN OH

This was a question posed to me by a very concerned member of the congregation a year into my time there as interim pastor there. As happens often during interim periods, church membership, attendance, and giving were lower.

Often, many people who were already disengaged with the church in one way or another decide to leave without the emotional tie to the pastor.

Others cannot bear the unknown of who the next pastor will be. Still others who come from different denominational backgrounds cannot understand the interim pastor process and why it takes so long to find a new pastor.

This question asked whether there was something terribly wrong with them that the search was taking so long? Was there something that people didn’t like that the church should consider changing?

STUDENT VOICES CAITLIN MONTGOMERY, MDIV 2019

My connection with Prof. Brennan Breed is how I first got to know Columbia Theological Seminary. He visited my college and spoke with me about the many different opportunities that can arise from a theological education. He really invested in conversations with me about coming to Columbia Seminary. I’m so grateful for him and the other professors here!

OCTOBER 19 FIVE PRACTICES TO LOWER ANXIETY IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE

BY MARGARET MARCUSON

There are a lot of swirling currents in our society today.

It’s easy to get reactive in response to all that is going on, whatever your political position. After the election last November, I realized I had to do something to manage my own anxiety. I developed a series of practices which have helped me stay calm(er). Here’s what I’ve been doing: 1. I re-read Edwin Friedman’s A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. I read a page or two a day as part of my morning devotional time for six months. I’d read the book three or four times before, but I experienced it differently this time. For one thing, the slow pace helped the ideas sink in. For another, the current spike in societal anxiety made Friedman’s ideas all the more relevant. Now I’m reading the new Leadership in Ministry book, a few pages a day.

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