SUMMER 2025 A PUBLICATION OF WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
CULTIVATING OUR CALL — a campaign for the future of Western Theological Seminary Pages 3-4
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025 Pages 13-16
VOLUME 28, NO. 1
The Commons is published twice each year for alumni/ae and friends of Western Theological Seminary, 101 E 13th Street, Holland, MI 49423. Reproduction in whole or in part with permission only.
Have a question or idea for a future article or story? Contact us at info@westernsem.edu.
The Commons Editorial Board: Anne Schmidt, Sydney Huizenga, Brent LaVigne, Felix Theonugraha, Lindsay Porter
Special thanks to... Rayetta Perez and the many contributing authors in this issue.
@westernsem
@westerntheologicalseminary westernsem.edu
Worship is at the center of all we do at Western Theological Seminary, and that includes Commencement.
03 05 09 11 13 17 19
CULTIVATING OUR CALL: a campaign meeting the pressing needs of ministry today
07
DISCOVER HOW THE HISPANIC MINISTRIES PROGRAM is equipping women for ministry
DISCOVER THE MANY WAYS THE CENTER FOR DISABILITY AND MINISTRY is supporting ministry for and by those with disabilities
MEET THE NEW COUNSELING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JESSICA STOVALL as she shares a vision for couples and families
CULTIVATE: a letter from Brent LaVigne, Vice President of Development
HONORING REV. DR. CAROL BECHTEL, the 2025 Distinguished Alumna Recipient
Dear Friends,
The Church is in a season of opportunity. While Christianity in the U.S. faces its share of challenges, it’s also a time brimming with possibilities for renewal and growth. As our Lord Jesus said two thousand years ago, the harvest is ready, but the workers are few. Here at Western Theological Seminary, we remain resolutely committed to forming and equipping leaders who will serve the Church with wisdom, faithfulness, and grace.
That’s why we are excited to introduce the Cultivating Our Call campaign. This initiative is designed to meet the evolving needs of ministry today by:
• Expanding mental health resources with a new counseling program
• Increasing scholarships to support students answering the call to ministry
• Growing initiatives and centers that serve both the Church and local communities
• Strengthening global and intercultural engagement, equipping leaders to navigate today’s interconnected world.
Through the pages of this issue of The Commons, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about these initiatives and how they are shaping the future of the Church. We invite you to join us in this important work—together, we can cultivate a new generation of pastors, counselors, and ministry leaders who will share the Gospel with conviction and grace.
Blessings,
FELIX THEONUGRAHA, PHD President
BRANCH 1: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
Prepare qualified counselors with a Christian worldview by creating the Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (launched Fall 2024)
Introducing the Cultivating Our Call Campaign. Join us as we seek to meet the needs of ministry today. of Christians describe their church as supportive relative to their mental health issues. A significant majority of those who attend church, even occasionally, will seek out counsel from their pastor prior to contacting care from a mental health professional [1].
Equip pastors and church leaders to provide counsel and identify when congregants need help from a mental health professional
Create and grow immediate-impact scholarships for future pastors, counselors and leaders so that seminary education is affordable and accessible
• Provide 200 grant-funded scholarships
• Establish or increase 30 named scholarships to honor an individual or family
1 in 5
adults in the United States suffer from some form of mental illness [2].
Pastors often report feeling unequipped to support and lessen the stigma of those within their congregations who may be experiencing a mental illness [3].
67% 34%
$30,570 of WTS graduates have government loans for seminary education [4].
is the average student debt of each WTS graduate (combined undergraduate and graduate programs) [5].
Strengthen the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination, promoting continuing education and renewal to prevent pastoral burnout
2 in 5
Nearly two in five pastors have considered quitting full-time ministry [6].
Meet the changing demographics of the global Church by increasing intercultural capacity & international engagement
Grow the Hispanic Ministries Program and offer Spanish language degree programs
Expand the Center for Disability and Ministry, supporting ministry leaders of all abilities in nurturing and receiving the gifts and contributions of persons with disabilities
77%
In 2020, fully two thirds of all Christians were in the Global South, with only one third in the Global North. By 2050, we anticipate that 77 percent of all Christians will live in the Global South [7].
62 million
The Hispanic population reached 62 million in 2020, an increase of 23% over the previous decade [8].
1 billion
Over one billion people, about 15% of the global population, currently experience disability [9].
*Citations available on WTS website
Learn more about each branch and how to give:
How the Hispanic Ministries Program is Empowering Women
Dr. Alberto La Rosa Rojas
Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics and Director of the Hispanic Ministries Program
God has given women the gift of leadership. As part of God’s people, women are included in God’s promises to make us into “a chosen race, a royal priesthood … that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, NRSV). However, women have faced significant challenges in demonstrating their inherent capabilities and leadership in some social, political, and religious spheres.
For example, the hierarchical and patriarchal structure found in some Hispanic church organizations creates obstacles for female leaders. The faith community and society will move forward when we recognize that men and women are equal and can work collectively in leadership roles as they embody the image of God, the “imago Dei.”
Through the Hispanic Ministries Program (HMP), WTS collaborates with Spanish-speaking ministries, providing education and empowerment for Latina women called to ministry. HMP fosters a culture of encouragement, allowing these women to explore and fully develop their God-given calling.
DR. GRETCHEN TORRES
Assistant Director of the Hispanic Ministries Program
I am one of many who have benefited from the Hispanic Ministries Program’s unwavering commitment to equipping women for leadership positions. While I’ve faced many challenges throughout my ministry, God has placed key individuals in my path to support me along the way. The Hispanic Ministries Program has been crucial in developing my skills and preparing me for ministry.
After graduating with a Graduate Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry (GCUPM), and Master of Arts and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Western Theological Seminary, I have had many opportunities in church ministry, including leading conferences, contributing to Bible study lessons on women’s ministry, and serving as the Director of Christian Education for the Pentecostal Church of God International Movement in the Midwest Region.
Now, I serve as an Assistant Director for the Hispanic Ministries Program and teach its Spanish Capstone course.
Dr. Torres speaking at the 2024 Hispanic Ministries blessing service
ANGELINA CORRUJEDO
Master of Arts Graduate 2025
Angelina Corrujedo knows that embracing faith means learning to wait on the Lord. Angelina, a senior Latina servant of God, waited an entire lifetime to graduate this spring with her Master’s degree from WTS. She embraced this opportunity for theological education despite cultural and social challenges that delayed her academic journey. Her determination inspires other Latina women who are called to prepare for ministry.
The Holy Spirit continues to empower Latina women like Gretchen and Angelina to contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom in our communities. Angelina shared that she is “grateful for Western’s Hispanic Ministries Program, which helps Latina women recognize the Imago Dei within themselves, and is committed to providing ongoing theological education for Hispanic women and men called by God to ministry leadership.”
Dr. Gretchen Torres
First GCUPM cohort in Holland
Nurturing Children with Disabilities Initiative: Journeying with Children
by Dr. Julie Land, Nouwen Fellow
Imagine entering a worship gathering populated by children and adults. Some are sitting on the floor or in chairs; others are standing to explore the space, perhaps overtaken by curiosity. Many of the children inch close to the front.
You see books and other items gathered on the floor, including a picture book open to a page full of colorful plants and animals held in the shape of a large hand: God has all creation in God’s hands. You hear the spoken words, “with stories, and letters, and poems, God says, live in my love.” Near the books you see a pitcher filled with rainwater.
You may feel the water on your skin as Dr. Sue Rozeboom, Professor of Liturgical Theology at WTS, splashes it around as a reminder that with water God tells you that God loves you. Nearby is a bowl with pond water and two fish looking out at you. You see that God created and cares for the fish, too. There are grapes and bread on a plate next to a chalice, perhaps reminding you that your stomach is hungry. You hear, “with food and drink, God says, I will take care of you.”
Rev. Dr. Sue Rozeboom leads families in worship at the Outdoor Discovery Center.
A young girl is playing with wood animal figures and a boat. Other children play with the figures, too, and pass them around. You also meet a screech owl once injured and now residing and receiving care at the Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC). From the corner of your eye, you watch the girl sitting next to you eagerly wave a friendly hello to the owl. God says to you, “I love you. Live in my love. I will take care of you.”
This is a tiny glimpse into the worship space we experienced during our time together at the Nurturing Children with Disabilities (NCD) orientation at the Outdoor Discovery Center last month.
The NCD initiative, with the desire to platform the voices of children with disabilities, creates spaces for adult congregants to listen to the children in their midst and follow their lead. Through the eyes of children, we learn about worship and our relationship to the world God created. These spaces will bring people together for worship, primarily outdoors, in God’s creation and with God’s creatures. Adults will accompany children in multiple immersive experiences at the Outdoor Discovery Center and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center (Renew). Renew enhances the well-being of individuals through the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of therapeutic horsemanship. Together, we will also respond to and reflect on these experiences through art with Holland artist Joel Schoon-Tanis.
Through these immersive experiences, we will attend to how children engage with nature and perhaps encounter our own childlike wonder, which, as Sofia Cavalletti writes: “Is a very serious thing that, rather than leading us away from reality, can arise only from an attentive observation of reality.”1
Worshipping in nature helps us
practice
wonder. It also offers an opportunity to renew our relationship with God’s creation, recognizing creation as a communion of subjects, rather than objects to be commodified.
And, as the psalmist shows us, we join our praise with creation’s ongoing praise to our creator (see Psalm 104).
Furthermore, God’s creation offers a space that naturally provides multiple modes of engagement, not reducing communication, knowledge, or worship to words, rationale, or tight categories of understanding. When we engage all our senses, we are led to a sense of wonder, awe, and thanksgiving consistent with the psalmist, who recognizes God’s present love and care for all of God’s creation. I hope we may sense an invitation to pray to be transformed and attentive to God’s voice and activity in the world, particularly in the lives of children as they interact with God’s creation.
As Marie Helene Delval writes in Psalms for Young Children, “God has the whole world in God’s hands: Let’s shout out loud with joy to God! Because God is a really big God, He can hold the world in his hands, the deep caves, the mountaintops, the blue seas – and you and me, too!”2
1 Sofia Cavalletti, The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children, (Chicago IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 1992) 139.
2 Psalm 95, from Marie Hélène Delval, Psalms for Young Children. Illustrated by Arno, (Eerdmans, 2008).
ABOUT DR. JULIE LAND
Dr. Julie Land is originally from Camano Island, Washington, where she grew up enjoying the beautiful mountains and local Puget Sound. Dr. Land has her BS in Spanish and a Master in Divinity, and received her PhD from the University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Scotland. Her dissertation is titled, For I Have Called You Friends: A Discourse on Friendship, Disability Theology, and the Eucharist. Her research focuses on friendship, the theology of disability, and the Eucharist, and in these and other areas, she is interested in how the Bible informs Christian ethics.
The Nouwen Fellow is a full-time, non-tenure-track member of the faculty whose responsibilities include teaching, scholarship, and program development for Western’s Center for Disability and Ministry (CDM) and the CDM’s Nurturing Children with Disabilities Initiative.
Nurturing Children with Disabilities gathering (top and bottom photos)
CELEBRATING THE FIRST MA IN CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (CMHC) COHORT
We joyfully celebrate the first cohort of Clinical Mental Health Counseling students at Western Theological Seminary! This innovative program blends the best of soul care and trauma research, preparing students for licensed clinical practice. These future counselors will bring hope, healing, and faithful presence to a world in need.
Shattering Illusions and Shaping Intimacy: A Vision for Couples and Families
by Jessica Stovall Assistant Professor-in-Residence of Counseling
We all have dreams and expectations regarding our roles in our communities. For some, spouse and/or parent will be among those roles. Whether we realize it or not, we each come to these roles with a script which shapes our behavior and our expectations of the behavior of others. Our scripts often include what it means to be a good mother or father, wife or husband, daughter or son and how we think our spouse, parents, and children should treat us. If we are not careful, these scripts can become rigid and prevent true belonging.
We must begin to shed the false dreams and expectations in the scripts for ourselves and our loved ones to live in the full truth of who we are in Christ. This form of truth-telling involves embracing disillusionment.
We must release the illusion that if we are perfect, we can earn the love of our spouse, parents, or children.
Dr. Elizabeth Pennock
Counseling students participating in a class discussion
Once we shatter our unrealistic expectations for ourselves and our loved ones, how do we pick up the pieces and foster true intimacy? We experience intimacy when we truly know someone and are truly known by that person. To truly know someone, we must see them as they are, not how we wish they would be. We must also allow them to see us as we truly are, not as we wish we could be (Thompson, 2015).1
Here are a few practical steps to embody healthy vulnerability and intimacy courageously. First, when you make a mistake and/or wrong someone else, take note of the emotions and physical sensations that occur within you. Do you have an urge to run away? To vehemently deny that you are in error? To shift blame onto someone else? When you feel these things, take a breath and say, “I was wrong when I _____.” Next, allow the other person to share how your mistake impacted them. Resist the urge to minimize, rationalize, or defend your actions. Resist the urge to insist that others live up to your standards.
Intimate vulnerability is not limited to situations where a wrong has been done. To help you feel more comfortable sharing your inner thoughts and emotions, create a rhythm of expressing your delights and desires to loved ones. Notice what it feels like to be responsive to your loved one and have them be responsive in return. Notice the joy that comes from engaging in mutual delight in the everyday gifts from the Lord.
Perhaps these recommendations feel rudimentary. Indeed, they are meant to provide a foundation on which to build deeper intimacy. If there has been a significant rupture in the fabric of your relationship, more will likely need to be done to restore that relationship. However, practicing this courageous attunement with a safe person is both healing and protective. So many of us never had the experience of having a parent or other loved one vulnerably admit wrongdoing and listen to us without excusing their own actions.
Through our openness, perhaps our children and our spouses can flourish without the weight of perfectionism. By embracing the disillusionment of shattered hopes for the ideal marriage and family, we can join with rest of the Christian community as we are all “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).2
1 Thompson, C. (2015). The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves. InterVarsity Press.
2 New International Version. (2011). Biblica, Inc.
ABOUT JESSICA STOVALL
Jessica Stovall joined WTS as Assistant Professor-in-Residence of Counseling in fall 2024. She holds an MA in counseling and an MTh from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), where she is pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education. Jessica has taught psychology, worked as a counselor, and supervised trainees. Her approach is relational and traumainformed. She serves on the CAPS East regional board and is committed to mental health ministry, having worked in Thailand with a social justice nonprofit.
Just as good soil makes growth possible, your gift to the Cultivating Our Call campaign helps prepare the way for future pastors and ministry leaders to take root and flourish. Visit westernsem.edu/cultivate to learn more and make your gift today.
cul·ti·vate
/ˈkəltəˌvāt/
Verb 1. prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
My father has an old rototiller— think late 1970s: Craftsman, red, heavy, and built to last. My earliest memories of springtime include watching him pull that machine out of the garage, knowing that planting season had arrived.
If you’ve ever worked the land, you know the importance of preparing the soil. Growing up near the city, this old rototiller was the most unruly piece of equipment we owned. Once fired up, it made quick work of the ground, but the process was rough—the machine bucked and jerked as it dug deep, breaking up the hard earth to make way for new growth.
That old rototiller still runs today and in fact I’ve borrowed it a number of times over the years. Every time I use it, I’m reminded of the important work of cultivation—of preparing for what’s to come.
CULTIVATING OUR CALL
At Western Theological Seminary, we intentionally chose the word “Cultivate” when launching our campaign. To cultivate means to prepare the ground for planting—to do the necessary work so that growth can happen. That’s what we seek to do at WTS: prepare the way for what God is doing in the lives of students called to ministry.
We can’t create the call. That belongs to God. But we can ensure that when students hear God’s voice, they have the support, education, and resources to answer. Already, so many have stepped forward to help prepare the way for our next generation of pastors, chaplains, and church leaders. Rick Capotosto, a member of our development team, shared a powerful story about one such supporter:
“Proper cultivation involves more than just digging—you have to know what the soil needs to nourish the plant. One WTS donor, supportive of our Eugene Peterson Center, desired to cultivate pastors through this program. But before giving, she took time to ‘study the soil.’ She read Dr. Winn Collier’s biography on Eugene Peterson and one of Peterson’s own books. She met with Dr. Collier, spoke with President Theonugraha and our development officers, and attended a Peterson Center presentation—all to deeply understand how this program effectively cultivates our calling. Only then did she steward her resources into the campaign. She knew the soil.”
THE WORK OF PREPARATION
That old rototiller spent most of the year tucked away in the garage, unseen and unnoticed. When the time came, the rototiller went to work— breaking hard ground so that something new could grow. The rototiller wasn’t the flower or the harvest, but without it, nothing would have taken root.
Similarly, those who invest in the formation of ministers play a crucial role in their preparation.
We are grateful for so many who have said, “We will be cultivators of what God is planting and growing.” Will you join us in preparing the way for those called to ministry?
Yours in Christ,
BRENT LAVIGNE, PHD Vice President of Development
At Western, we’re committed to exploring the deep questions of faith and ministry. Listen to these latest resources, available now on Apple, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Low in the Water — A good word for pastors and those who find life in the Word.
Disabling the Church — A podcast by the Center for Disability and Ministry. This series amplifies the voices, giftedness, and perspectives of disabled people, challenging ableist biases and reimagining the church as a space of true belonging.
COMMENCEMENT 2025
Western Theological Seminary celebrated the Class of 2025 with a commencement ceremony on April 26, honoring 77 graduates.
Rev. Dr. David Stubbs, Professor of Ethics and Theology, delivered a powerful address, encouraging graduates to lives of faithful presence and courageous hope. Family, friends, and faculty gathered to recognize each graduate’s calling and journey.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE FULL RECORDING
Rev. Dr. David Stubbs
Carter Heald, MDiv
Bria Jeanice, MA
President Felix Theonugraha celebrates the graduating students
Graduates celebrate with family and friends after the ceremony
Jennifer Pavelka, MDiv and Austin Geelhoed, MDiv
The Class of 2025
“So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us and as many years as we have seen evil.”
Psalm 90:12-17
2025 CLASS VERSE
The Church of Refugia Doctor of Ministry Cohort
Graduates celebrating after the commencement ceremony
Ruth Langkamp, MDiv
2025 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA:
THE ENDURING IMPACT OF REV. DR. CAROL BECHTEL
In a season focused on cultivating God’s call in students’ lives, it’s fitting to honor a distinguished alumna who has spent her career planting and nurturing those very seeds.
As she retires this year, we are pleased to honor Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel as the 2025 Distinguished Alumna. In 31 years as a member of the WTS faculty, she impacted over 1,000 students, preparing their hearts and minds to answer God’s call on their lives.
Dr. Bechtel joined the faculty in 1994, bringing with her a deep love of Scripture, a gift for making the ancient world come alive for contemporary hearers, and her harp. Dean Dr. Kristen Johnson shares, “Dr. Bechtel’s steadfast presence at Western Theological Seminary has shaped generations of students for ministry. Her teaching and her wider ministry in the church have had a tremendous impact, including forming women for ministry in deep and significant ways.”
“Dr.
Bechtel’s steadfast presence at Western Theological Seminary has shaped generations of students for ministry.”
And her students agree: “I can feel the warmth and passion of Prof. Bechtel as she helps and guides us to reflect on the essence of theology,” one student shared.
celebrating with graduates at commencement
A dedicated mentor, Dr. Bechtel especially encouraged women preparing for ministry. Dr. Bechtel broke through the “stained glass ceiling” as the first woman ordained by the Classis of Illinois. She was also the first woman in the RCA to be ordained as a General Synod Professor of Theology.
Before joining WTS, she taught at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, was a teaching fellow at Yale Divinity School, and pastored Turn of River Presbyterian Church in Connecticut. In addition to a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary, she holds degrees from Hope College and a PhD in Old Testament from Yale.
Dr. Bechtel has also served the broader church in many roles. A General Synod Professor of Theology in the Reformed Church in America, she was President of the RCA’s General Synod (2008–2009) and currently serves as Executive Director of the American Waldensian Society.
Dr. Bechtel
Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel gave her “last lecture” as the 2025 Founders’ Day lecturer. View the lecture online by visiting: wtsem.info/foundersdaylive
She grew up on a farm in Fulton, Illinois, and now resides in Holland, Michigan, with her husband, Tom Mullens. They enjoy life with their four children and ten grandchildren. Her hobbies include Wsinging, gardening, cooking, and playing the harp.
Scan the QR code to find more resources, books, and blogs by Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel on her website.
BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD Seminary Hymn by Dr. Carol Bechtel
With grateful hearts we gather before the face of God— a flawed, forgiven body, yet gifted, formed, and called. From many places gathered as grain from many fields— diverse, yet still united, as grapes from many hills.
We seek no iv’ry tower, no place in which to hide— but rather through our study your costly grace to find. Your prophets and your gospels equip us to relate the advent of salvation— the end of death and hate.
Through pulpit, font, and table we grow in faith and grace. In classrooms and in friendships we glimpse your loving face. O keep us ever learning, and may your Spirit teach through all of life’s encounters, through ev’ry word we preach.
INTERLUDE
Now send us out for service, and lead us as we go— so ev’ry heart that’s hurting your love and grace may know. Make our whole lives a witness, and keep us ever strong— until with all creation we sing your Sabbath song.
In 2024, Rev. Dr. Bechtel wrote a hymn embodying the spirit and mission of Western Theological Seminary. This hymn is featured at every commencement ceremony.
ALUMLINE NEWS
Victor Folkert ‘79 recently published a small group resource for Lent, Cross Purposes. The guide is available in print or Kindle on Amazon. (For details, see https:// victorfolkert.com/cross-purposes/) The website also has a link to sermon prompts, which pastors might use even if they don’t use the guide for small groups.
Raymond “Van” Rathbun ‘85 has been serving multiple congregations since 2019 as their Specialized Transitional Minister. Skills and resources gathered over years of ministry help him coach congregations and their leaders toward healthier ministry.
Dann Stouten ‘85 has retired from the role of Pastor of Teaching & Leadership at Christ Memorial Church (Holland, MI) and is now spending his time doing some leadership coaching with young pastors in the area, writing, and living into his most important role as husband, father, and grandfather. His most recent novel, The Thin Space, won the International Impact Award last October, and he is currently working on another novel and a nonfiction book.
Mark LaChonce ‘01 graduated in May 2024 from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago with a PhD in World Christianity and Mission. He and his wife Jennifer moved to Jordan in August 2024 to serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Mark serves as site director of the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Lutheran Church Baptism Site ministry and Pastor of the International Lutheran congregation in Amman.
Joel VanderWal ‘10 started as the new Lead Pastor at Alleluia! Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL.
Thiago & Lia Dantas ‘20 are so grateful for the equipping they received at WTS. After finishing their studies, they returned to the Amazon in Brazil to serve the river and indigenous people. They are RCA missionaries doing missionary work in the Amazon, focused on evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, and church planting. Medical mission trips are part of their strategy to acquire access to remote villages and develop relationships.
Cody Bell ‘21 stepped away from the para-church ministry, Young Life, to attend law school at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He obtained his Juris Doctor in 2024 and passed the bar exam shortly after. He currently represents clients across the United States in the area of church and ministry law. He is excited about helping current pastors and ministry leaders, including possible pro bono assistance. Learn more at churchandministrylaw.com.
Nora Pinero ‘23 was appointed as Commissioned Pastor for Dallas, Texas.
Andrew Arndt ‘24 released his third book, A Strange and Gracious Light: How the Story of Jesus Changes the Way We See Everything with Herald Press. He also signed a deal with Whitaker House to publish two devotional commentaries based on Christian classics: Augustine’s Confessions and The Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
Daniel Carpenter ‘24 was ordained in January 2025 at Pillar Church in Holland, MI.
Vanessa Funk ‘24 is the new Minister of Word and Sacrament for The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack. Rev. Vanessa and her husband, AJ (MDiv ‘24), moved to Hudson, NY in December of 2024.
ON TO GLORY
Jack H. Miller (1931–2025)
Western Theological Seminary gives thanks for the life of Jack H. Miller, who passed away on April 2, 2025, at age 93. A generous business leader and philanthropist, Jack made a lasting impact on West Michigan— including Western. His final gift helped launch our trauma-informed Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, preparing therapists to meet urgent mental health needs. His legacy will live on through the lives and ministries shaped by this work.
Carlton “Bruce” Wierks (1945–2024)
We honor the life and ministry of Carlton “Bruce” Wierks, who passed away peacefully on November 1, 2024, at age 79.
Bruce began his pastoral ministry at Chatham Reformed Church in New York and went on to serve local congregations, the RCA Extension Foundation, and as a financial planner. He retired from his role in Advancement at Western Theological Seminary, where he helped strengthen the seminary’s mission through generous partnerships.
We are grateful for Bruce’s faithful service, warm hospitality, and deep commitment to sharing Christ’s love.
Wayne Tripp ‘55
b. Dec. 18, 1930, Kingbury, NY
d. Dec. 22, 2024, Cedar Grove, WI
Earl Laman ‘57
b. Sept. 17, 1931, Muskegon MI
d. Dec. 13, 2024, Holland, MI
Arthur DeJong ‘59
b. Feb. 24, 1934, Patterson, NJ
d. Jan. 26, 2024, Black Mountain, NC
LeRoy Koopman ‘60
d. Nov. 3, 2024, Holland, MI
Paul R. Fries ‘62
b. Oct. 24, 1935, Humboldt, IA
d. Nov. 10, 2024, Lebanon, PA
Sherwin Broersma ‘63
b. Feb. 12, 1937, Vriesland, MI
d. Apr. 21, 2025, Cadillac, MI
Jacob Van Mantgem ‘65
b. Oct. 6, 1937, The Netherlands
d. Feb. 25, 2025, La Porte, TX
Kenneth Reynen ‘68
b. Mar. 7, 1943, Sheldon, IA
d. Apr. 5, 2025, Mission Viejo, CA
Walter Henry Pickup, Jr ‘68
b. Aug. 14, 1938, Albany, NY
d. Feb. 14, 2025, Dyer, IN
Robert A. White ‘69
b. 1944, Illinois
d. Oct. 18, 2024, New York
Marjorie Longwood ‘85
b. June 30, 1943, Blue Hill, ME
d. Feb. 11, 2025, Rochester, MI
Audrey Rammellkamp Brady ‘88
b. Dec. 8, 1957, Seoul, Korea
d. Jan. 1, 2025, Fonda, IA
Hendrick VanEssen ‘88
b. Mar. 2, 1931
d. Apr. 19, 2025
Chad Farrand ‘14
b. Mar. 16, 1972, Rochester, MI
d. Mar. 4, 2025, FL
TRANSITIONS
“There was not a time that I came to campus that I was not received with joy by Carol Ann. She was always willing to help me and guide me. Honestly, her selflessness and care for people within the seminary was a true example of what agape is all about.”
– WTS Alumni
Celebrating 21 years of Service: Carol Ann Bailey
After 21 years of faithful service, Western Theological Seminary celebrates the retirement of Carol Ann Bailey. Carol Ann has been a steady and gracious presence in the life of the seminary, offering hospitality, care, and administrative support across multiple departments. Her kindness, attention to detail, and deep love for the WTS community have made a lasting impact on students, faculty, and staff alike. We give thanks for her many years of dedicated service and wish her joy and rest in this next season. This spring, students and alumni reflected on the impact of her work at WTS:
“A blessing to every DL MDiv student! She was our caretaker, cheerleader, champion, and constant support every step of the way throughout the program.”
– WTS Alumni
The Sabbath Way: Making Room in your Life for Rest, Connection, and Delight Dr. Travis West
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus
Dr. Wesley Hill
Now
Thank you Dr. Kristen Deede Johnson for your service
For the past six years, our Dean, Dr. Kristen Johnson, has led Western Theological Seminary with wisdom, integrity, and a deep commitment to our shared mission. She has brought her sharp mind, collaborative spirit, and extraordinary energy to our calling of helping to form “women and men for faithful Christian ministry and participation in the Triune God’s ongoing redemptive work in the world.”
Under her leadership, we completed a thoughtful and strategic curriculum review and revision. We have found ways to re-enliven our in residence program and deepen facultystudent connections in the distance learning program. Meanwhile, we have expanded our Doctor of Ministry, Hispanic Ministries, and Master of Arts programs. While the work of many colleagues made advances like these possible, Dr. Johnson’s faithful and collaborative leadership was key to bringing them to fruition. She has helped WTS to cultivate and share its many gifts.
In the midst of all this, she has also played a key role in recruiting outstanding faculty, strengthening our academic community, and mentoring colleagues with wisdom and care. Her ability to lead with vision and grace has left an enduring impact on Western Theological Seminary, for which we are deeply grateful.
As she steps into her new role as Principal of Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, we celebrate her many contributions to the students, staff, and faculty of WTS and look forward to seeing how she will continue to serve Christ and his church in the years to come.
Congratulations to Andy Bast
After 11 years of dedicated service to Western Theological Seminary, Andy Bast has transitioned to a new role as Vice President of Development at Words of Hope. We are deeply grateful for his faithful leadership and celebrate this next chapter in his call to ministry.
