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Bulletin
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The Newsletter of Lexington Theological Seminary
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Celebrating the 150th Commencement Graduation highlights The Rev. Daniel Aleshire keynotes, Presidential and Congregational Partner awards presented Pages 2-3
Honoring academic excellence
Graduates honored at annual awards luncheon Page 7
Summer 2016 | Vol 52, No. 2
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THE BULLETIN
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Good Work As we reflect on our 151-year history, we are reminded that formation and preparation for ministry has often taken place in the church. Refocusing on the congregation as an integral part of the training and preparation for ministry, allows students to immediately put their education into practice. Simply put, we recognize that what is good for our students is good for the church. A prime example of the fruitfulness of a strong relationship between the Seminary and our congregational partners is the senior capstone project. Master of Divinity students are required to develop a strategy to address an on-going problem faced by the congregation. Their work includes substantive theological and practical responses to mental illness, racism and church growth. With thanksgiving for the students who identified these projects and for the congregations that embraced them, I share a few of these projects with you, in the students’ own words. Anna Hope Curwood, M.Div. Title of Project: A Christian Response To Mental Illness Hoped for Impact: I believe the church’s ability to address the needs of individuals facing mental health issues is an ongoing cause which can grow within the life of my local congregation. I began to build awareness of understanding why we should be equipped to help people who are living with mental illness and then we are moving into the how and what it will look like for our congregation (and the wider church) going forward. I hope to meet people where they are in their understanding and provide opportunities for growth and acceptance by offering a variety of programs. By planting seeds of information and further developed understanding of those living with mental illness, I hope the faith community will begin to support an open and continued Christian response to mental illness. Christopher MacDonald-Dennis, M.Div. Title of Project: Truly Being the Hands and Feet of Christ: Actualizing Living Table United Church of Christ’s Stated Continued on page 6
Clockwise, this page from top: Graduates were filled with emotion as they recessed from the ceremony; Rev. Dr. Daniel Aleshire delivers the keynote address; Rev. Dr. David Shirey of Central Christian Church accepts the Congregational Award from LTS President Charisse Gillett; E.B. II and Jody Lowman accept the President’s Award, pictured here with Dr. Gillett and their pastor and LTS alumnus Rev. Dr. Isaac Nicholson; 2016 graduates Karen Cote, Anna Hope Curwood, and Marie Weaver; Faculty, staff, friends, and family pray for blessings on the class of 2016 at the graduate communion service.
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or the 150th time in the institution’s history, Lexington Theological Seminary celebrated the achievements of students and recognized those in the LTS community who have helped to further the Seminary’s mission and vision. In the historic sanctuary of Central Christian Church, the Seminary conferred degrees upon 11 students, including those earning the Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, and Certificate in Congregational Renewal and Leadership. The Rev. Dr. Daniel O. Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the Commission on Accrediting, served as keynote speaker at this year’s Commencement ceremonies. Mr. E.B. and Mrs. Jody Lowman of Ashland, Ky. received the 2016 President’s Award for outstanding service and ministry in partnership with Lexington Theological Seminary. The President’s Award was established to recognize outstanding service and ministry on behalf of the Seminary by an individual, congregation or organization. Last year’s recipient of the award was the Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and
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President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The 2016 Congregational Partner Award was awarded to Central Christian Church for demonstrating exceptional support for the mission and ministry of Lexington Theological Seminary.
The class of 2016, faculty, staff, trustees and partcipants in the 150th Commencement of Lexington Theological Seminary. For more photos, please visit www.lextheo.edu and click the news tab.
The Class of 2016 CERTIFICATE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY Keith Alan Hearnsberger Blytheville, Arkansas
MASTER OF DIVINITY Vernie L. Bolden, Jr. Roanoke, Virginia
Joel E. Tucker Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Anna Hope Curwood Highland Heights, Kentucky
Marie B. Weaver Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Mark Garrett Harrison, Ohio
MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES Karen Davis Farmer Cote Springfield, Georgia
Christopher A. MacDonald-Dennis St. Paul, Minnesota
Richard Henry Pulley, IV Virginia Beach, Virginia
Mary C. Runge Galesburg, Illinois CERTIFICATE IN CONGREGATIONAL RENEWAL AND LEADERSHIP John Y. Wu Palo Alto, California
SEMINARY NEWS
ALUMNI NEWS
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Alumni/ae notes
In Memoriam 1/25/16 through 6/13/16
Diane Mitchell, Friend February 18, 2016 Jay McGowen, Friend March 1, 2016 Larry Paul Jones, ‘82 March 6, 2016 James E. Robinson, ‘02 April 8, 2016 Betty Dickey, Friend April 12, 2016
THE BULLETIN
1986, 2002 Rev. Rebecca Z. McNeil is serving as Associate Minister for Mission First! at First Christian Church in Omaha, Neb. She writes that this is her home church, “where I was on the cradle roll, was baptized, put my foot through the wall during youth Sunday rehearsal in high school, and was ordained.” 2002 Rev. Dr. Mandye Yates is serving as Senior Minister of First Christian Church, Fullerton, CA. She is married to LTS alum Rev. Lee Yates, 2001, and they have two children. Do you have news to share? Email Rev. Julie Richardson at jrichardson@ lextheo.edu.
Alumni education savings available Lexington Theological Seminary is introducing a new way for alumni to connect with ongoing, relevant ministry resources by waiving the application fee for alumni who wish to audit courses. Alumni will only pay the $60 per credit hour tuition for auditing courses. If you have questions, contact Rev. Erin Cash at ecash@lextheo.edu. To apply, visit https://apply.lextheo.edu.
This page, clockwise from top: Jan Cottrell and John Broomhall make their way to the green; Cliff Chandler, Gary Kidwell, Randy Johnson and Joe Hartman; David Blondell turns the tables on the photographer, snapping a photo with his smart phone, and the golfers get their cards ready as they await the official start. Opposite page, Julie Richardson and Kathy Rountree with the sponsor banner; Trustee Rick McQuady with former chairman Gary Kidwell, Tracy Parker, trustee Barbara Bailey, and President Gillett; Frank McCracken and Bob Parker share a laugh before teeing off; Buck Woodford makes a put; LTS alumnus Chad Snellgrove warms up with a swing.
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SUMMER 2016 | VOL 52, No. 2
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LTS Golf Scramble 2016 Teams hit the links at the University Club of Kentucky to support the Ministerial Education Fund again this year. Top foursomes for the annual June scramble were: •
Lee Livingood, Jacob Enlow, David Angelucci and Danny Martin with a score of 55. The group represented hole and scramble sponsor Dean Dorton Allen and Ford PSC.
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Antoine Spillman, Craig Turner, Kevin Mullins and Keith Burdette from scramble sponsor Commonwealth Technology, with a score of 56.
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David Blondell, Jim Begley, Allen Steely and Bob Shanklin, representing Crestwood Christian Church, with a score of 60.
Congratulations to these teams and thanks to our players and sponsors. The big winners were the students at LTS, with a total gift to the Ministerial Education Fund of $10,000. Thanks to everyone who participated!
ALUMNI NEWS
SUPPORTING THE MISSION
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Appreciation Gifts In memory of... Noel Vernon Blankenship Rev. William S. Ryan and Rev. Narka K. Ryan Clayton H. Boyer Mr. and Mrs. Victor Singer Carlos D. Brown Dr. Charisse L. Gillett and Rev. Donald K. Gillett Cathy P. Brown Dr. Charisse L. Gillett and Rev. Donald K. Gillett Tim Browning Dr. and Mrs. John R. Browning Anthony L. Dunnavant Mr. and Mrs. L. Leon Durham Jr. Ezra LeRoy Dunnavant Mr. and Mrs. L. Leon Durham Jr. Edith H. Dunnavant Mr. and Mrs. L. Leon Durham Jr.
Dana Bly Horan Mr. and Mrs. R. Michael Bales
Anna Hope Curwood Mrs. Don Staab
Paul A. Johnson Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut Dr. James M. Wray Jr. Mrs. Charlotte Johnson
Carol Devine Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut
Rev. Marion McElveen Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut
Jim and Nancy Johnson Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut Mrs. Evelyn N. Watkins
Mrs. Florence Reneau Rev. Betty Reneau Dr. Harold R. Watkins Rev. and Mrs. Gary W. Kidwell Ms. Barbara E. Pfeifle Mr. Samuel G. Reel, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. H.T. Wood Mr. Steve D. Wood Rev. David M. Woods Dr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Linberg
In honor of... Mark and Kim Blankenship Mrs. Evelyn N. Watkins
Sonny Fountain Rev. Johnny W. Wray
Loren Broadus Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut
Newton “Fig” Fowler Rev. Johnny W. Wray
Central Christian Church Rev. Chad G. Snellgrove
Dr. Ronald W. Graham Dr. and Mrs. William B. Dozier
David Clark, Sr. Dr. Charisse L. Gillett and Dr. Donald K. Gillett
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Sharyn Dowd Rev. Anne Elizabeth Gregory
Gary Kidwell Rev. Jan M. Ehrmantraut Michael Kinnamon Rev. Anne Elizabeth Gregory Mrs. Ruth Kitchen Rev. Ann Clay Adams EB & Jody Lowman Rev. and Ms. B. Dinsmore Nisbet Dr. Margie Ralph Ms. Dabney E. Parker Dr. David Sharrard Rev. Dennis R. Zimmerman White Oak Pond Christian Church Rev. Chad G. Snellgrove
Would you like to show appreciation for someone’s life and ministry? Making a gift to the Ministerial Education Fund in someone’s memory or honor is a special way to pay tribute to that person’s life and ministry. To give, or for more information, call Mark Blankenship at (859) 280-1250 or email mblankenship@lextheo.edu.
(Continued from page 2) Commitment to Anti-Racism Hoped for Impact: This project will help Living Table United Church of Christ live out its anti-racist commitments in a way that it has not yet done. I hope that these activities will begin the process of walking our talk around ant-racism. Mark Garrett, M.Div. Title of Project: Community and Mission from the Beginning of a Capital
Campaign Hoped for Impact: The capstone looks at the beginning phase a church would go through while considering a capital campaign. The focus of this initial phase is for the congregation to gain a greater understanding of who they are as a community of faith and grasp their future mission. The ultimate aim for such an endeavor would be for a congregation to discover their unique mission as a church
and explore avenues for a campaign to raise the funding for capital expenditures. I celebrate all of our graduates and invite you to join us in praying for these students, their families and the congregations which they serve and will serve in the future. Your partner in ministry, Dr. Charisse L. Gillett, President
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2016 Graduate Honors
Each year prior to commencement, the Seminary bestows upon our graduates awards established by or in honor of several people whose legacy continues to inspire and encourage ministry students at LTS.
Kitchen-Adams: Pastor/Scholar Vernie Bolden
Riley Montgomery Karen Cote
W.A. and Billie Ruth Welsh: New Testament Mark Garrett
Hal and Evelyn Watkins: Field Education Joel Tucker
Richard Pope: Church History Joel Tucker and Richard Pulley
A. J. Whitehouse: Pastoral Care Mark Garrett Not pictured: Ronald Graham: Senior Symposium Mary Runge Chris MacDonald-Dennis Newton Fowler: Ethics and Society Mary Runge Chris MacDonald-Dennis
Robert & Linda Cueni: Homiletics Vernie Bolden
Sharyn Dowd: Biblical Studies Anna Hope Curwood
George V. Moore: Field Education John Wu
Faculty pictured, clockwise from top left: Dr. Emily Askew, Dr. Jerry Sumney, and Dr. Barbara Blodgett; Below, Dean Richard Weis offers congratulations to the graduates, right; left, President Charisse Gillett and graduates Pamela Pettyjohn, ‘15, and Marie Weaver, ‘16, pay tribute to Chris MacDonald-Dennis, ‘16, at right in the photograph President Gillett is holding, as he was unable to attend.
SUPPORTING THE MISSION
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From generation to generation.
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Linda Curwood, ‘77, Bill Curwood, ‘75, and Anna Hope Curwood, ‘16
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Lexington Theological Seminary admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school administered programs.
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