Praxis, Fall 2010

Praxis Fall 2010

A publication of the Center for Christian Study

A New Year Has Begun!

We’ll tell you about Move-In Day, why Christian study matters, our year-long forgiveness theme, our new staff and more!

Praxis

A New Year has Begun!

Fall is finally here! I love this season and all that it brings: the slightly chilly weather, meaning I can wear a sweater but still enjoy being outside; the smell of bonfires; the rush of the crowd at our football games; apple picking (and a new reason to make apple recipes!), and the beautiful change in the leaves that we are so blessed to enjoy here at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Study Center Staff Bill Wilder

Executive Director bill@studycenter.net

On the University campus and at the Study Center specifically, the new season brings a new school year. In this year there is a lot of excitement to come with it.

Jay McCabe

Director of Undergraduate Ministries jay@studycenter.net

Tim mcconnell

Three students at this year’s Move-In Day Lunch.

See page 6

See page 3

With this issue of our newsletter, we will be introducing you to all kinds of “newness” around here: New friendships being formed at our Move-In Day Lunch, an introduction to the new lineup of lectures within our new theme of “Forgiveness”, our new Director of Undergraduate Ministries and our new Elzinga Residential Scholars (who also have a new name and a new fall curriculum).

What you’ll read in this issue is an introduction to a larger picture of what is happening at the Study Center. With all of the focus on things that are new, we also decided to begin this issue with a reflection from our Executive Director, Bill Wilder, on what we are about as a ministry and our heart behind all that we do.

Director of Graduate Ministries tim@studycenter.net

shelly pellish

See page 5

Director of Development, Alumni + Parent Relations shelly@studycenter.net

Debbie Rodriguez

See page 7 See back cover

Director of Finance + Administration debbie@studycenter.net

Ashley Wooten

Director of Communications ashleyw@studycenter.net

Amy Zell

Director of Counseling Resources amy@studycenter.net

Special thanks Photography

by Elisa Bricker, U.Va. ‘04, ‘05

Happy Reading!

Who We Are

Ashley Wooten PS: I should also mention that we have a new logo and new branding, a new website and beautiful new furniture to provide a more welcoming front room in the building!

All of these were paid for by friends of the Study Center who donated their time, talent and treasure to provide these blessings. Praise the Lord for these gifts!

We are a non-profit education and outreach ministry serving the University of Virginia and Charlottesville since 1968. We seek to serve Jesus Christ by fostering the serious consideration in the university environment of a Biblical worldview, and by encouraging and facilitating wise discussion of the Truth in light of the challenges of contemporary culture.

Contact Us

Phone: (434) 817-1050 Email: info@studycenter.net Website: www.studycenter.net Twitter: studycenteruva Facebook: studycenteruva

What’s Inside: Bridging the Divide

Move-In Day

by Bill Wilder, page 3

photos by Elisa Bricker, page 5

Financial Update

Forgiveness

by Shelly Pellish, page 4

by Tim McConnell, page 6

On the cover: Sorority sisters Elise Jordan (U.Va., ‘10) and Jaclyn Stokes (U.Va., ‘13) were two of the more than 450 who gathered at the Study Center to greet the incoming first-years and reunite with old friends.

The Praxis Newsletter is published for our friends and supporters.

University Christian Ministries, Inc. (dba Center for Christian Study) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation EIN 51-0192618.

Bridging the divide: Head and Heart at the Center fo r C h r istia n Study

by Bill Wilder, Executive Director The Center for Christian Study can be a bit of a puzzle at the outset. On the one hand, many people come to know this place by way of its welcoming presence on Chancellor Street: the Move-In Day Lunch, our exam food drops, Rush open house, or simply as a place to study and hang out.

On the other hand, there’s the name: Center for Christian Study—and then enough small groups, lectures, and courses to leave the impression that we’re a think tank or academic institute. What exactly are we up to at the Center for Christian Study (or “the Stud,” as the students often call it)?

The first thing to be said is that we delight in bringing these apparent opposites together: hospitality and study, heart and head, love and truth. It is the natural result of our conviction that Scripture itself offers up a vision of transformation that is comprehensive and utterly holistic, including our hearts, our minds, our bodies, and all creation in its scope.

That’s a rather countercultural view, of course. We live in a world that tends to pit the head against the heart, and truth against love. So at the Study Center we take

and God’s world. In that way they grow in their knowledge and love of God, of all those he has made in his image (at the University and across the globe), and of that part of his good creation they take up in their studies.

Not only is this mission in accord with a Biblical view of love and truth; it also aligns very closely with the University setting of our ministry. The other night I asked a group at the Study Center what two things college students spent most of their time on (excluding sleep). “Friends and work” was the immediate reply. Right! University life is all about making friends and developing relationships that may last a lifetime. Presumably it’s also about reading, studying, writing papers, and cramming for exams.

We love being there on both sides of that apparent divide.

Above all, we want students to grow in their love for others and in their love for our Lord. In big ways and small we hope to be a gathering place that introduces students to the rich varieties of Christian community (including some of our own) and church life at the University and in Charlottesville. Such Christian community then becomes the setting for worship, discipleship, service, and outreach.

At the same time, it’s important to us here at the Study Center to encourage “At the Study Center we take particular pleasure in being and enable students in their “work” or a place that welcomes and summons students to a deep their studies. That is, after all, God’s and rich study of God’s Word and God’s world.” specific call on their life for these four years and it’s something we want them to do with joy and with excellence. particular pleasure in being a place that welcomes and That’s why we love to see all the students at the tables in summons students to a deep and rich study of God’s Word the library and the main meeting room—reading novels,

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studying organic chemistry, working on Arabic or Chinese vocabulary, writing a dissertation on seventeenthcentury Spanish history.

However, the call to Christian study also means inviting these young women and men to a knowledge of Christ and Scripture that keeps pace with their rapidly accelerating understanding of the world and their

group (reading world-class scientist Francis Collins this year on evidence for belief), a Jesus and Christian Origins group (addressing questions about the identity of Jesus and the reliability of the gospels); and a Business for the Glory of God group (considering the opportunities and temptations in the business world).

It’s also why we are sponsoring major

“The call to Christian study also means inviting these young women and men to a knowledge of Christ and Scripture that keeps pace with their rapidly accelerating understanding of the world and their vocation at a world-class university.” vocation at a world-class university.

It’s so easy for the interaction between our faith and the things we’re learning in the world (including the university) to become an unfortunate and lopsided competition, as our knowledge of the world and our vocation rapidly outstrips our knowledge of Scripture and Christian truth. Sometimes it’s our faith and commitment to the gospel that gets left in the dust.

That’s why we have all those small groups, lectures, and courses—all part of a Faith and Life program that pursues (as our vision statement puts it) “a wise discussion of the Truth in light of the challenges of contemporary culture.” It’s why we have a small group curriculum that includes a Faith, Reason, and Science

lectures for University students this year on “Genesis 1 and the Claims of Science” and “The Historical Jesus.” It’s why our theme for the year is Forgiveness, as we think together about the problems and possibilities of forgiving in a world marked by so much evil. These are all rich opportunities to engage the questions about Jesus or creation that are so persistently posed in our culture, particularly in the University context.

Of course, it’s also important to make room for sustained and focused attention to the Scriptures themselves. This is what our vision statement at the Center refers to as “fostering the consideration in the University environment of a Biblical

worldview.” It’s attempting to listen to Scripture on its own terms, letting it speak in its own way (rather than setting the agenda with our own persistent questions).

So one of our small groups is studying the Gospel of Mark; another, Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians; and a third, led by Saint Augustine himself (by way of his book and ably assisted by our own Director of Graduate Ministries, Tim McConnell) is considering faith, hope, and love.

We’re also offering a Thursdaynight class on Biblical theology here at the Study Center, attended now by almost eighty undergraduates, twenty-somethings, grad students, and Townies. The goal in each case is to consider together the richness and beauty of Scripture (and Christ!) in a way that leads us to obedient worship.

So that’s what we’re up to at the Center for Christian Study, strange as it may seem at first. It’s a commitment to “friends and work,” love and truth, the head and the heart, all for the sake of lives more fully given over to the Lord Christ.

These resources and opportunities are for students at the University of Virginia, of course; but they are also for anyone who can walk, drive, or download their way into one of our educational programs. We invite you to join us in whatever way you can. For more information, please visit our website at www.studycenter.net.

He P rovid e s : A F i nan c ia l U p dat e f ro m S h e l ly P e l l is h Telling you stories of God’s faithfulness this fall would be incomplete without updating you on how last year’s fundraising year ended. With a month to go last June, we had reached the 75% mark of our fundraising goal with only a month to go. Thanks to the strong response we received from our family of U.Va. alumni, parents and friends, we recorded our strongest annual fund year on record, in spite of difficult economic times! We received gifts from 436 individuals and families totaling $785,142.36 as of June 30, 2010 (pre-audit figures). Thanks also to proactive budget reductions, we were able to complete the fiscal year with needs met and debt free! The result: we were able to hire Director of Undergraduate Ministry, Jay McCabe, who joined us in August. We are grateful for God’s provision and to you for your generosity.

Give towa rds the 2010-2011 Annual F und us in g the envelope on the r i g h t.

pa g e 4 s Pr a x i s Fa l l 2010

move-in day: The Center for Christian Study

hosted over 450 students, family members, faculty and grounds ministry staff for its annual Move-In Day Lunch on Saturday, August 21st.

T H ANK YOU to o u r MOVE-IN DAY VOLUNTEER S The staff would like to thank the following people who volunteered their time to help us welcome over 130 first-year families to our home on Chancellor Street.

Student Committee: Caroline Richards (U.Va., ’11), Chair Kaitlin Fulkerson (U.Va., ’11) Abigail Hull (U.Va., ’11) Leslie Janikowsky (U.Va., ’11) Leigh Anne Piercy (U.Va., ’11) Doogie Proffitt (U.Va., ’11) Alex Tenney (U.Va., ’11) Valerie Wilder (U.Va., ’11) Event Volunteers: Arley Arrington (U.Va., ’11) Brooke Atkinson (U.Va., ’13) Shauna Baker-Karl (U.Va., ’13) Jason Barbo (U.Va., ’12) Ellen Barratt (U.Va., ’10) Annesley Berndt (U.Va., ’13) Hillary Berndt (U.Va., ’12) Jodie Berndt (U.Va., ’84; Parent, ’12, ’13; Board) Caroline Black (U.Va., ’12) Ellen Bosserman (U.Va., ’12) Paige Brunsink (U.Va., ’11) Kate Casady (U.Va., ’11) Emily Case (U.Va., ’12) Shelley (U.Va., ’78) and Randy Case (U.Va., ’79; Parents, ’10, ’12; Parents Council) Lauren Cave (U.Va., ’11) Meredith Cox (U.Va., ’11) Josh Danehower (U.Va., ’11) Abby Decker (U.Va., ’13) Travis Dennis (U.Va., ’12)

Christian Dibblee (U.Va., ’11) John Mark DiGrazia (U.Va., ’12) Ken Elzinga (Faculty; Past Board) Melanie Fish (U.Va., ’13) Robbie Forrest (U.Va., ’11) Njeri Gachathi (U.Va., ’12) Jessica Garber (U.Va., ’12) Logan Gates (U.Va., ’13) Deborah Gayman (U.Va., ’13) Lindsay Goodrich (U.Va., ’13) Mark Gruetzmacher (U.Va., ’13) Ellen Haick (U.Va., ’13) Kendall Hancock (U.Va., ’11) Virginia Hawkins (U.Va., ’13) Katie Hazelton (U.Va., ’13) Lansdale Henderson (U.Va., ’13) Jackson Hill (U.Va., ’11) Whit Hunter (U.Va., ’13) Julie Inglis (U.Va., ’13) Barrett Jacobson (U.Va., ’12) Ellen Jones (U.Va., ’13) Marilyn Kelly (U.Va., ’11) Paige Kimbel (U.Va., ’13) Hannah King (U.Va., ’12) Berkley Kingman (U.Va., ’13) Kelly Lersch (U.Va., ’11) Megan Marotta (U.Va., ’13) Sarah Mayes (U.Va., ’13) Holly McCabe (U.Va., ’05) Caroline Mills (U.Va., ’12) Ellen Minzenmayer (U.Va., ’11) Frances Morton (U.Va., ’11) Missy Muir (U.Va., ’10)

Kelsey Murrell (U.Va., ’13) Effie Nicholaou (U.Va., ’13) Meredith Noble (Parent ’10, ’13; Parents Council) Thomas Ochs (U.Va., ’13) Ashley Parsley (U.Va., ’12) Rachel Penney (U.Va., ’12) Alexa Peyton (U.Va., ’13) Hayley Pocock (U.Va., ’13) Dylan Priddy (U.Va., ’11) Janie Rhodes (U.Va., ’13) Abby Robertson (U.Va., ’12) Hannah Rogers (U.Va., ’09) Alison Schroer (U.Va., ’12) Brooke Schuler (U.Va., ’13) Margaret Schwethelm (U.Va., ’11) Kendall Serpe (U.Va., ’12) Grady Smith (U.Va., ’11) Jaclyn Stokes (U.Va., ’13) Shelby Sutton (U.Va., ’13) Stuart Taylor (U.Va., ’13) David Tenney (U.Va., 10) Emily Morgan Thompson (U.Va., ’12) Laura Tyler (U.Va., ’10) Josh Wade (U.Va., ’12) Karisa Ward (U.Va., ’11) Scott Webster (U.Va., ’12) Ellie Westfall (U.Va., ’13) Harry Whelchel (U.Va., ’12) Eric Wherley (U.Va., ’11) Ruthie Williamson (U.Va., ’11) Kelly York (U.Va., ’13) Meghan Zukowsky (U.Va., ’13) Pr a xis fal l 2 0 1 0 s pa g e 5

Forgiveness I first learned forgiveness in my relationship with my brother! He is older than me by more than three years, and never let me forget it. Sitting on my head to force a change of the television channel was pretty standard afterschool behavior! At the end of the day Mom would ask us to stop the fighting and forgive each other. My brother and I are very close now. I hold no grudge against him for all our childhood tussles and he had as much cause to forgive me as I did to forgive him. I am a blessing to him and he is a blessing to me, by the grace of God. Forgiveness is at the very heart of the Gospel, the good news, that the God who is just is also forgiving. Lectures this year at the Center will explore forgiveness—a common human experience which is also in some ways a distinctive marker of the Christian faith. Part of our interest in the topic of forgiveness stems from the fact that ‘justice’ is now a watchword of the faithful Christian student, and justice and forgiveness are related. As we work out what forgiveness means, we will also be talking about justice.

It is one thing to talk about brothers fighting in the living room, and another thing altogether to apply the principles of forgiveness at the social, institutional, or theological level. Forgiveness looks different when you are talking about criminal acts, and different still when talking about nations. Wrongs can carry such weight as never to be dismissed with mere words. When a child

the state, which is supposed to be the avenger, is asked instead to apply only forgiveness it results in confusion and pain. Our federal government has no Department of Forgiveness, but we do keep a Department of Justice!

It is right for the wrongdoer to feel the terror of the avenger, an agent of the wrath of God. But when wrath has been poured out, and justice has been served…what then? Who will practice reconciliation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the criminal and the victim? We have to seek a way of living together even after we have hurt one another deeply.

The state cannot reasonably act as the forgiver when it has already acted as the avenger. But there is a community in the world where we can locate forgiveness. It is a community of forgivers who have themselves been forgiven. Forgiveness is the Christian way of life. St. Augustine wrote, “Our righteousness ... in this life is such that it consists only in the remission of sin rather than in the perfection of virtue. This is borne out by the prayer of the whole City of God during its pilgrimage on earth; for it cries out to God with the voice of all its members: ‘forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us!’” (City of God, 19.27). Christians humbly make their confession, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” then joyfully sing praises to the forgiving God. The church bears witness to the one true message of good news in the world—that God who is just is also forgiving.

In the early 16th century, Martin

“There is no other ultimate grounds for forgiveness than this: Luther madly feared the justice that in Jesus Christ, God is both wrath and love, judgment and of God. When he read about the mercy, the satisfaction of justice and the demonstration of grace.” justitia Dei, the justice of God, in has been abducted, abused and murdered, a statement of remorse is not enough. When one country goes to war against another, a diplomatic gesture does not bring peace. Justice is required.

It is the role of the state to require justice. The state carries the sword to keep order and peace, to serve the Lord by being a terror to those who do wrong. The state ‘is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer’ (Romans 13:4). When

pa g e 6 s Pr a x i s Fa l l 2010

his Latin version of Romans 1:17 he could see only the wrath of God on the horizon. God comes as judge, and woe to me the sinner! But as he studied the Greek, he learned that the verse actually says that God is inherently righteous and good and will make that known to those who have faith. What is more, Luther learned that God intends to bring that righteousness into our lives in loving fashion.

God is indeed just, but God is also forgiving.

This just and forgiving God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. God became man in Christ, and took the place of

Ca n we r eco mme nd so me furt her re ad in g o n t h e to p i c of f o rgi v e n ess? V i si t w w w. s t u dycen ter.net and check o u t our Reco mm e n d e d R ea d i ngs i n t h e Re so urc es s ec t i o n .

by Tim McConnell, Director of Graduate Ministries

the sinner. It is right for the sinner to bear the wrath of the avenger— this is justice. Jesus Christ took the punishment for our wrongs when he “bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Pet 2:24). The wrath of God is fully exercised. And even in this moment, the love of God is on display, for he himself bore our sins!

The death of Christ makes forgiveness possible, and the resurrection of Christ proclaims to the world that God’s promise of forgiveness is a guarantee.

Both the wrath of divine justice

and the grace of divine forgiveness are demonstrated in the same Jesus Christ. The wrath of God and the love of God. The justice of God and the forgiveness of God. They are all summed up in this same person. There is no other ultimate grounds for forgiveness than this: that in Jesus Christ, God is both wrath and love, judgment and mercy, the satisfaction of justice and the demonstration of grace. In short, when we look for forgiveness we are looking for a person. Forgiveness is Jesus. So then, in each discussion as justice and forgiveness are elevated,

so also will the name of Jesus Christ, the crucified Savior, be lifted up.

I invite you join us this year in bearing witness to Jesus Christ by discussing the nature of forgiveness. It may just be an opportunity for the Lord to redeem a relationship with a brother, or a sister, or a boss or coworker.

Wrongs can be forgiven as we strive to imitate and honor our forgiving Lord, and relationships that feel like curses can turn to blessings in his grace.

Inter act wi t h t h is art i c l e o n ou r b log, w w w. s t u dyc e n t e r . n e t/ co n n ec t-a n d -s h a r e / b lo g.html

T he 2010-2011 L ectu r es o n Forg iveness A Just Forgiveness Wednesday, September 15, 7 p.m. with Everett Worthington, author of A Just Forgiveness Moving Beyond Crime & Punishment: Restorative Justice and Its Implications for America Thursday, October 14, 6 p.m. at the U.Va. Law School with Pat Nolan, Vice-President of Prison Fellowship You Visited Me: Christian Concern for the Prisoner Wednesday, October 27, 7 p.m. with Steve McFarland, former director of Prison Fellowship and current Chief Legal Officer of Worldvision, Inc.

Film and Forgiveness (2 films) Saturday, January 29 at 4 & 8 p.m. with Drew Trotter, Director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers Guilt, Justice and Forgiveness: Three Goods Mondays, March 14 & 21, 7 p.m. with Lois Westerlund, retired English professor at Barrington College and Roger Williams University For the lectures that have already passed or which you are unable to attend, we hope you will take advantage of listening to the audio available for download on our website, www.studycenter.net, in the “resources” section.

meet our newest staff member:

Jay Mccabe Role at the Study Center: Director of Undergraduate Ministries Family: Married to Holly since 2007.

They are due to have a baby boy (Joel) on October 10th. *Read the full interview with Jay on our website in the “news” section.

Life before the Study Center: I grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and learned to appreciate ACC basketball, SEC football, and pulled pork BBQ. I came to UVA and graduated in 2005 (double-majored in Economics and Religious Studies). I was a volunteer Young Life leader in college, and joined Young Life staff in 2007. After two years with Young Life, I decided to attend seminary at Gordon-Conwell and just finished a wonderful year there. I’m still working on my Master of Arts in Theology. Now, Holly and I are excited to be back in Charlottesville and be a part of the Study Center.

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A publication of the Center for Christian Study

Fall 2010

Praxis

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introducing the 2010-2011

Elzinga Residential Scholars Residents (L-R):

Melanie Fish, Valerie Wilder, Josh Wade, Mawusi Kamassa, Scott Webster, Deborah Gayman, Megan Marotta, Lansdale Henderson, Natalie Kirchner, Meghan Zukowsky, Barrett Jacobson, Ellie Westfall, Thomas Ochs, Kelsey Murrell, Jason Barbo, Njeri Gachathi and Logan Gates.

ut the us abo Curio me for our a new n l program? tia n e resid rn more at t. e L a center.ne study www.

Applications for 2011-2012 are now being accepted. www.studycenter.neton