Vantage Summer 10

e g a t Va n inaugura

Th

tion of Se tephen A as Colum . Ha y n e r b ia ’s n in th pr e s id e n t

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another . . . so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

summer 2010

Romans 15.5-6

work in G o d ’s e t ipa ? ic t t o pa r e world nd to do in g in t h a o d e B d o o G t ed W h at is h u r c h call C e h t is W h at rld? in t h e w o H o w ca n C o l u m b ia n o u r is h of leade yet anot rs for th her gene e Church r at io n ?

News N e w D e g r e e i n P r ac t i cal T h e o l o g y

Master of Arts 4 concentrations

equipping women and men for a broad array of ministries through the practice of theological and contextual reflection

in Practical Theology

" The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12 NRSV).

c h r i s t i a n e d u c at i o n christian leadership pa s to r a l c a r e / pa s to r a l t h e o l o g y wo r s h i p

Columbia

w i l l o ff e r a n e w t w o - y e a r d e g r e e p r o g r a m ,

the Master of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT), beginning in the 2010-2011 academic year. MAPT students may choose one of four areas of concentration: Christian Education, Christian Leadership, Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology, or Worship.

Kathy Dawson, associate professor of Christian education, directs the program. “The MAPT is designed as preparation for specialized professional or volunteer ministry in congregations and beyond,” she says. “This degree may also be appropriate for lay persons serving in non-ordained ministry positions.”

Program details and application materials are available online at http://www.ctsnet.edu/DegreePrograms/MAPT.aspx, or contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@ctsnet.edu.

C h a r l e s Ra y n al ’ s n e w b o o k o n h i s t o r i c J o h n s I s la n d Presbyterian Church

by British Dissenters and French Huguenots, Johns Island Presbyterian Church was built on a promise of religious freedom and tolerance offered by the South Carolina charter. One of the oldest continuously active congregations of any denomination in North America, the church has survived multiple wars and the clash of different cultures to endure into the twenty-first century. Dr. Charles Raynal’s informative history, Johns Island Presbyterian Church: Its People and Its Community from Colonial Beginnings to the Twenty-First Century, pays homage to this Lowcountry religious icon. Published

by History Press, the book is available from the seminary’s bookstore. $17 plus shipping. To order, call 404.687.4550, or e-mail bookstore@ctsnet.edu.

Founded

three centuries ago

In 2009, Dr. Raynal retired from the seminary as associate professor of theology and director of advanced studies. He continues as director of Columbia’s program in Presbyterian and Reformed History and Theology.

C e l e b r at e C o l u m b i a O n S e m i n a ry S u n d ay Septemb er 19, 2010 Please consider a “Minute for Columbia’s Mission” in behalf of Columbia as the Presbyterian Church (USA) celebrates the denomination’s ten theological institutions on Sunday, September 19. For more information, please contact Randy Calvo, Jr. ’81, director of alumni/ae and church relations, at calvor@ctsnet.edu, or 404.687.4593.

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News “She speaks from deep faith and has the rare gift of encouraging the language of faith from others.”

• N e w D e a n o f Fac u l t y / e x e c u t i v e V P

D e b o r a h F. M u l l e n has been named

dean of the faculty/executive vice president. Her appointment, effective October 1, 2010, was approved by the seminary’s Board of Trustees on May 14.

A seasoned academic administrator and an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Mullen is currently on the faculty of McCormick Theological Seminary, in Chicago. She succeeds D. Cameron Murchison, Jr., who has held the position for the past nine years.

Dr. Murchison, also professor of ministry, will begin a sabbatical leave at the start of the 2010-2011 academic year and will retire in June 2011.

Columbia’s president, Stephen A. Hayner, announced Dr. Mullen’s appointment during the seminary’s commencement service on Saturday, May 15. “Our prayerful, nationwide search has led us to a new dean of the faculty/executive vice president who represents a wonderful combination of spiritual vitality, professional leadership skills, relational wisdom, and church commitment,” he said. “God is at work here forging a partnership of seminary, congregation, and individuals to sustain a strong, healthy institution preparing leaders for Christ’s church. Deborah Mullen will bring wonderful gifts and energy to this work, and I am thrilled to have her as a key partner in this ministry.”

At McCormick Seminary, Deborah Mullen is associate professor of ministry and historical studies, and she is director of the Center for African American Ministries and Black Church Studies, which she founded in 2003. She joined the McCormick faculty in 1989 to fill the newly created position of associate dean of the master’s program for experiential education and field studies. In 1996, she was elected dean of masters level programs, a post she held for 10 years.

Before joining the McCormick faculty, Dr. Mullen was associate dean of students/director of minority student affairs at her alma mater, the University of Rochester. She received the M.Div. degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School/

Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary, and the Ph.D. in the history of Christianity from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.

Mark Douglas, associate professor of Christian ethics, chaired the search committee that nominated Deborah Mullen. “She is as winsome in person as she is impressive on paper,” Dr. Douglas said. “She gave wonderful answers to the search committee’s questions and asked provocative questions to follow up our answers. She speaks from deep faith and has the rare gift of encouraging the language of faith from others.”

A member of the Presbytery of Chicago, Dr. Mullen was previously in Genesee Valley (NY) Presbytery, serving a four-year appointment as stated supply pastor of Trinity Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, in Rochester. During her pastorate she was active ecumenically and was a collaborator with other local church pastors in the development of ministries for families and youth on the southwest side of Rochester.

From 1988 to 2000, Dr. Mullen represented the Presbyterian Church (USA) on the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches of Christ, serving two terms on the executive committee and as its vicechair. She has served the denomination in a variety of national leadership roles and internationally at ecumenical gatherings sponsored by the World Council of Churches. She served two terms as one of seven elected members on the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation’s board of directors.

Among her published works are articles and book chapters found in Shaping Beloved Community: Multicultural Theological Education, the Presbyterian Survey, The Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Renewing the Vision, Out of the Ashes, and Ending Racism in the Church. Dr. Mullen was also co-editor of Ordination: Past, Present, and Future, a collection published by the Presbyterian Church (USA). V

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The ina ugu ration of Ste ph en A. Hay n er

O ne C hurch , O ne H ope , O ne L ord On April 12-13, 2010, the community of Columbia Theological Seminary celebrated.

We celebrated with alumni/ae reunions and honors. We celebrated with the inauguration of our ninth president, Stephen A. Hayner.

With glorious music, with great preaching, and with joy and enthusiasm overflowing, we did

•

indeed celebrate One Church, One Hope, One Lord!

Together, With One Voice Romans 15.1-6

In this section of Vantage, we present Professor David Bartlett’s sermon, “Together, With One

by David Bartlett

Voice,” preached during the

Sometimes

worship service the day before the

with one voice doesn’t look exactly the way

inauguration. This is followed by

we thought it would.

“Surprised by Joy,” an excerpt from

Sunday after Sunday at the worship of the Congregational Church of New Canaan, Connecticut—as in many churches—the congregation joins together in a shared prayer of thanksgiving.

In the third pew just to the left sits Janet Roberts. She will turn 100 next week, and she does not see very well or hear very well. Like many of us who do not hear very well, she sometimes speaks rather loudly; like many of us who do not see very well, she usually reads rather slowly. So, however slowly and deliberately the congregation says the words of the unison prayer, Janet is always slower and more deliberate still.

Week after week communal prayer ends something like this: Minister and almost all the people: “Therefore with grateful hearts we come again into your presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

alumna Sue Boardman’s account of the inauguration, reprinted with permission of the Presbyterian News Service. And from Dr. Hayner, we have his inaugural address, “Walking Wisely.”

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praising

God

together

O ne C hurch , O ne H ope , O ne L ord

And then everyone sits absolutely still while Janet says alone and aloud: “Therefore with grateful hearts we come again into your presence through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Then everyone says: “Amen.”

Paul writes to the Romans: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another . . . so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Is that it? Is that odd mix of silence and solidarity, the speaking and the waiting, the deference and the confidence, is that one voice? It is just that: a vision for the church and a vision for this school on this joyous occasion.

Here’s how I think the church can glorify God with one voice; here’s how I think that Columbia Theological Seminary can glorify God with one voice.

Paul himself gives us the first clue. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scripture we might have hope.”

Of course what Paul means by “scripture” is what we call the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament, depending on the day and the audience. Little did he dream that one day we would think that these very words that he is writing would be “scripture” too. But the principle holds.

When Paul wants to show forth the shape of God’s future he looks to the stories of God’s past; when he wants to encourage hope he relies on memory.

What seems counterintuitive and countercultural to everybody around us is the center of our lives; we live at the intersection of memory and hope.

We look back only in order to look ahead.

Think of this occasion itself. It is in every way a time of hope, but when President Hayner decided how to call us to hope he did what Christians always do. He asked for an interpretation of the old text. He called us to consider words that were written in former days for our instruction, knowing that through those old words the ever new God who gives us steadfastness and encouragement, the ever new God will entice us toward hope.

(Facing page) Steve and Sharol That is why the church and this seminary are unashamedly Hayner (MDiv ’07) with and irrevocably wedded to daughter-in-law Kristen and the task of interpreting and applying scripture. In every son Chip (on their left) and class, in many conversations, son Drew. Their daughter, whenever we gather to worship: there they are, Emilie, was not able to attend those words written of old the inauguration service. for our instruction and our encouragement.

(This page) David Bartlett, For five years now this distinguished professor of New seminary has been committing a major act of publication. Two Testament, in a familiar stance, of our faculty obsessively, eight as he preaches during the worship of us exhaustingly, and every one of us faithfully has been service the evening before contributing to a lectionary Dr. Hayner’s inauguration. guide called Feasting on the Word [Dr. Bartlett, along with adjunct professor Barbara Brown Taylor, is the editor of Feasting on the Word].

The title Feasting on the Word captures what we are about here.

Not, as in some schools “gazing skeptically at the word, if it really is the word” or as at some other schools “Beating each other over the head with the Word.” No, God’s word in holy scripture: Feast, Nurture and Delight.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scripture we might have hope.”

So that is one clue to the way we live faithfully as the church as the seminary. We live under the guidance of scripture.

But Paul also gives us the other clue. According to the NRSV Paul says: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It’s that “together with one voice” phrase that is tricky, a fact that I discovered only after I had sent it in as the title for this sermon. A fact that I suspected when I waited for Janet Roberts to finish her contribution to the communal prayer at New Canaan Congregational.

So now watch me backpedal a bit.

“Together” cannot simply mean “in unison” as if worship consisted in everybody always saying the same thing at the same

V A NT A G E Summer 2010

5

time. If “Together” meant “in unison” then Janet Roberts But we rejoice in the variations. In the recent student body wouldn’t be praying “together” with her fellow Christians in we’ve had a Baptist student preparing to minister to children of New Canaan each Sunday, and I can assure you that she is. incarcerated parents to provide them comfort, guidance and hope; “Never refer to the Greek text in a sermon,” I tell my two Korean Presbyterian students preparing to do graduate study students; “just humbly think about the Greek to yourself.” in order to teach homiletics to a new generation of their fellow Ah, well, so much for that rule. The Greek term that the NRSV Koreans and Korean Americans; a graduate devoting her life to translates “together” is better translated “with one purpose.” ministering to people with AIDS and their families, through the Paul tells us to glorify God, not word of comfort and the sacrament Pa u l t ells us to gl orify God, necessarily all at once, but with of justice. And on and on and on. not nec essari ly all at on ce, one purpose.

And our faculty: solidly And what about that “with Presbyterian, wonderfully decent but with one pur pose. one voice” phrase. Paul cannot and usually in order. But the two possibly mean that we praise God on one note. The saintly colleagues about to move on from our faculty—the two family choir in heaven and on earth, in congregation and seminary members we are girding ourselves to miss are a Disciples of Christ must be more mixed than that. When the Romans hear these man [Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi] on his way to Southern Methodist verses they are about seven minutes from having heard Paul University, and a Roman Catholic woman [Kathleen O’Connor, remind them that they are the Body of Christ and they do not who is retiring], fortunately on her way only as far as McKinnon all have the same gifts. Certainly that means that we do not all Drive. sing or praise or think or pray on exactly the same pitch. And We install a president who brings his own gifts, history and hopes, just three and a half seconds ago the Romans heard Paul tell who will not sing in exactly the same register as anybody else, who will them to “live in harmony,” not to “live in uniformity.” teach us and learn from us and join us in raising harmonious—well, That’s what this vision is about, I think; that we should usually harmonious—voices to the glory of God. sing with one purpose and that we should sing harmoniously, A few years ago the theologian George Lindbeck retired after not that we should always sing in unison and certainly not that a rich and fruitful career as teacher and scholar. At his retirement we should all become monotones for the sake of the Kingdom.

We do not know what will happen to our churches in the decades ahead. Sometimes we’re afraid that we are moving quickly from mainline to old line to flat-line. Beep beep beep beep . . . bee-ee-eep.

Here’s what we know. God will be God; Christ will be Lord, and the church will be church. Those of us who love the old ways may need to learn to sing a new song or two in a strange land. And we’ll be singing in a bigger choir than we used to think.

But the God of steadfastness and encouragement will give us hope. The Bible tells us so.

And also a word about this school, as we inaugurate an old friend who is a new president. party Professor Lindbeck was asked to say a few words. He said that We, Columbia Theological Seminary, we are not, we have the week before he had been ill and happened to turn on the radio not been, we will not be a multitude of monotones singing— to pass the time. To his delight he found the annual Christmas monotonously—in unison. We are more like a theme and concert by the Saint Olaf College Choir. variations. The theological theme is the sovereign God revealed During intermission the announcer had asked one of the in Jesus Christ and witnessed by the Word. The vocational students what she appreciated about being a member of the choir. theme is and is to be preparation for the ministry of word and She said: “When I perform with the choir I realize that I am joining sacrament in the churches and especially in the Presbyterian in music that began long before I got here, and that will continue Church USA. Thanks be to God. long after I have gone.”

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O ne C hurch , O ne H ope , O ne L ord

With President Hayner kneeling in the center, Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education, leads the congregation in the laying on of hands. Presenting symbols of the president’s office: Katie Owen ’11; Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA); Lindbeck said: “That is what it has meant for me to do Christian theology. I became part of a music that was sung long before I got here and will continue long after I am gone.”

So do we, all of us, now with a new conductor, join in Columbia’s song, which is the church’s song as well—long before we got here; long after we have gone.

With one purpose; in steadfast harmony; through Jesus Christ, singing Glory, glory, to our God. Amen. V

Marcia Riggs, J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics; and Steve Montgomery ’92 (DMin).

David Bartlett is professor of New Testament at Columbia.

He preached this sermon at a worship service on April 12, 2010, the evening before Steve Hayner’s inauguration as the seminary’s ninth president. A recording and transcript are available online at www.ctsnet.edu > News & Publications > Recordings & Transcripts.

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surprised by joy b y S u e B o a r d m a n ’ 9 0 / ’ 9 7 ( DM i n )

C o l u m b i a P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h wa s f i l l e d t o t h e r a ft e r s as the Columbia Theological Seminary community gathered April 13 to celebrate the inauguration of Dr. Stephen A. Hayner as the ninth president in the school’s 182-year history. The event had the feel of a family reunion and in the middle of it all stood a grinning Steve Hayner.

The colorful, not quite solemn processional reflected the growing diversity at Columbia Seminary and across the Presbyterian Church (USA). The music—in many languages—was yet another symbol of the changing denomination.

After the attendees reaffirmed their baptismal vows, William Scheu, chair of the seminary’s board of trustees, led Dr. Hayner through his inaugural vow. Kimberly Long, assistant professor of worship, anointed Columbia’s new president with oil, saying, “Steve, I mark you with the sign of the cross. Remember your baptism and be anointed by the Holy Spirit for this part of your ministry.”

Dr. Hayner then moved, with Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education, to the middle of the sanctuary for the laying on of hands. Referring to Romans 8, Dr. Nishioka told him, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels ... nor whining faculty members, nor vice presidents, nor students, nor trustees, nor anything else in God’s creation will be able to separate [you] from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” . . .

One of the service’s songs was a new hymn written by Dr. Hayner’s wife, Sharol: “One Church, One Hope, One Lord.” She wrote a previous version of the hymn 30 years ago for University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. The 2006 Columbia graduate said she recently updated the text based on her growing understanding of God’s work in the world.

Symbols of his new office were presented to Hayner by Gradye Parsons, PC(USA) General Assembly stated clerk; Katie Owen, president of the Class of 2011; Columbia trustee Stephen Montgomery (DMin ’92) [pastor of Idlewild church, Memphis, TN]; and Marcia Riggs, J. Erskine Love William Scheu, chair of the Professor of Christian Ethics.

Board of Trustees, led Dr. Hayner The congregation roared as Dr. Montgomery handed President Hayner a bright green stuffed frog, explaining that frogs see the world in terms of danger and food. “You are not called in the inaugural vows. to ensure that Columbia will survive. That’s God’s job!” Dr. Montgomery said.

“We hope you’ll find that freeing. My hope is that you will remind us of another set of convictions that run contrary to the frog’s perception and the world’s perception of what’s true,” he continued, “that you might help us have that mind that was in Christ Jesus so that rather than letting the world squeeze us into its mold … we might discern the will of God and the Kingdom of God’s values.”

At a lunch after the service, Ted Wardlaw, a former Atlanta pastor who is president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, said, “This is a glorious day. There’s a palpable sense of joy and vision in what Steve said and in the whole gathered community.

“Being chosen to be a seminary president,” Dr. Wardlaw continued, “is like being struck by lightning.

It’s so rare. You don’t prepare for it. Steve has a strong sense of vocational obedience which will carry him through the good days as well as the hard ones” . . . V We are grateful to Presbyterian News Service for granting permission to publish this excerpt of Sue Boardman’s article. Her entire article is available online at Vantage.ctsnet.edu.

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T he P resident ’ s I naugural A ddress

W al k i n g W i s e l y Proverbs 15.30-33; James 3.13-18

by Stephen A. Hayner

“The Lord

W e ar e called t o m ak e d i sc i pl e s — to nourish, t o e d ucat e , t o in sp i r e , an d alway s t o p o i n t e ach other to j e s u s , w h o is “the author an d pe r f ec tor o f o u r fa i t h.”

be with you !

And

also with you !”

It’s a small ritual repeated many times a day around here, but for me it’s important. It’s important as a teacher that I can bless you with this reminder—and that you remind me that God is with me as well. We invoke the presence of the Trinity—for the work we do, the truths we ponder, and the way we treat each other—because everything we do has eternal consequences.

It reminds me that we live and study and grow in the presence of the Lord—and that means we treat each other well, and we learn together with humble spirits. We are neither the final authority—nor do we lord it over each other.

When we bless each other by invoking the presence of God, we claim the reality of God’s work: the diversity of the Creator, the reconciliation of the Savior, the empowering presence of the Sustainer.

The Lord is with us as wind and fire—as the one who is mysteriously at work, and at the same time lights our way.

Today I recognize again how much our call as a seminary is beyond—always beyond—our abilities. I know that many of you would like to hear me talk today about what I see as the future of Columbia—and perhaps even about my bold new plan. But I don’t have such a plan. In my first months as president what I do have is a renewed vision of our call as a community. And I have a lot of joy! And what is our call? As an institution our call is framed by three questions:

What is God doing in the world? hat is the church called to be and to do to participate in God’s work W in the world?

How can we nourish yet another generation of leaders for the Church?

God has called us to nourish leaders—to be a center of leadership development—for the church.

We are called to make disciples—to nourish, to educate, to inspire, and always to point each other to Jesus, who is “the author and perfector of our faith.”

God has called us to a great mission and has entrusted us with enormous resources.

• We have a faculty full of talented, productive, committed, exceptional scholars and teachers, who even more importantly are first-class people. They love God; they love each other; they love the church; and they love Christ’s work throughout the world.

• We have a staff and a Board of Trustees full of deeply committed, creative, hard-working professionals, who serve all of us with both excellence and good stewardship. They constantly help us be more than we can afford.

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• We have students and alumni/ae who believe that the call of God to serve the world through the church is worthy of a lifetime of faithful loving and sacrifice.

• We have a library full of research and teaching resources—and a campus which has become a place sanctified by work done here, by the decisions made here, and by the steps of daily obedience taken here.

Each o f us h e r e wi ll h ave t o d e t e r mine h o w we will r e spo n d to G o d ’ s call .

W e say “ y es”

In the 1920s, the leaders of Columbia took a bold step to move the seminary to Atlanta—and to build a state-of-the-art facility where faculty, staff, and students could live and learn together how to encourage and to resource the church in what would become a leading city in the new South. Columbia at that time claimed a place alongside business and finance, alongside politics and public discourse, alongside education and the arts, with a distinctive role in relationship to the church.

That’s still our aspiration. We’re building again. Though our work of discipleship and nurturing leaders is not dependent on buildings, the building that we are doing is important in reaching out to those whom God is calling to the church. Our new residence hall with its environmentally friendly and community enhancing footprint has already given us a sense of what it means to move ahead. And our new leadership center, when it is built, will become a lasting symbol and constant reinforcement of our commitment to leaders and to the church.

We are not standing still these days. We’re not waiting for the Vision Task Force to do its work, though we anticipate that they will greatly help us. Already . . .

• We are broadening access to our teaching resources through evening and weekend courses—and the addition of our seventh degree program, the Master of Arts in Practical Theology, with its four concentrations in worship, Christian leadership, Christian education, and pastoral theology/ pastoral counseling.

a n d we say “ n o ” ev e ry d ay t o t h e na rro w way o f J esus

• We are embarking on a review of our entire M.Div. curriculum—asking ourselves again how we can best prepare leaders for the church that serves God’s purposes.

b e i n g op ened b e f o r e u s.

• We are recommitting ourselves to the value of diversity and the continuing journey for what it means to understand and be supportive of God’s whole church—people of every tribe, and tongue, and nation.

T o d ay y o u a re s p ec i f i cally a s k i ng m e to s ay “ y e s ” —and I p r ay t h at you w i ll d o t he same.

While we stand squarely on the shoulders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and on the Reformed tradition, we remember that our call is not to sustain the institutional church of another era, but rather to prepare the church in all its breadth to be the bride of Christ in a changing world.

My role is but a tiny part of what I believe to be both an awesome and joyful calling for all of us in the years ahead. Each of us here will have to determine how we will respond to God’s call. We say “yes” and we say “no” every day to the narrow way of Jesus being opened before us. Today you are specifically asking me to say “yes”—and I pray that you will do the same.

For my part, among the many facets of my call are these:

I am called to read God’s compass in this place. The world and the future are confusing, and therefore often frightening. In my lifetime I have not lived through a time of deeper or broader anxiety. The anxiety is in the church, in the culture, and around the globe.

Navigating in this environment is like sailing in a dense fog at night. And any sailor will tell you that under those conditions our minds begin to make up realities. Close your eyes—and point to where you think north is at this moment. Keep pointing—and open your eyes. We’re directionally challenged—but in the fog it’s even worse, and virtually no one can sail in a straight line or maintain a sure heading. In those conditions, following a compass is the only way—and even then, many a sailor will swear that the compass is wrong.

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T he P resident ’ s I naugural A ddress

My call is to do what I can to read the compass—to hold us on course in relation to the Living Word and the Written Word. That means prompting us as a community when we are tempted to forget the foundation of God’s Sovereignty, the preeminence of Christ’s love, the counsel of the Spirit, the call to reconciliation, the stewardship of all creation, the glory of diversity, the freedom of servant-humility, and the like.

I am called to provoke hunger for Christ’s Kingdom. My call is to encourage discontent with the status quo and a hunger for Christ’s Kingdom in all of its fullness.

In our culture we seldom feel hunger. Instead, we so satiate ourselves in abundance that we don’t take time to be truly nourished. We only feel hunger in those moments when our entertainmentbuzz, or consumer-buzz, or addiction-buzz, or even self-centered spirituality-buzz wears off. And then, instead of listening to the deeper hungers, we often hasten for our next readily available fix. We may be malnourished, but we are still satiated—full, but never satisfied.

In the majority world, both physical and spiritual malnourishment is often easier to see. The first task of an aid worker with a malnourished child is not to give him or her food, but rather to provoke hunger. Children and adults who are nearly dead of malnourishment have little hunger. So the health worker puts just a little vitamin-enriched sugar water on a finger and sticks it in the person’s mouth.

The first sign of hope is when the child cries again.

It does little good to offer those in the church great spiritual food, if there is no hunger for Christ and Christ’s Kingdom. This is why the Scripture calls all of us to be “witnesses” to Christ’s work— so that someone says, “I want some of that!” That’s why our faith communities are to be such amazing places of God’s grace and love, so that someone says, “I want some of that!” That’s why the sacred journey of our lives with Christ are to be lived with authentic transparency, so that someone says, “I want some of that!” And a hunger is provoked.

My call among us, among other things, is to provoke hunger. It’s the kind of evangelism that a shy person like me can do.

I co m m i t t h i s day t o g i ve all th at I a m able to p r epar i ng lea d e r s f o r a ch u rc h t hat is c o m m i t t e d to f ollow i ng Jes u s i n

I am called to sing the Spirit’s song. The Spirit always sings a song of community and it is the only way we will ever succeed. “One Church, One Hope, One Lord” is lived out together, utilizing our God-given diversity.

A good friend of mine was traveling in a Land Rover down a deeply rutted jungle road in Uganda, when he came upon a huge tree which had fallen squarely across the road. Nothing could pass, and the tree was far too big for him and his companions to move. Some of the people nearby, who heard the tree fall, arrived on the scene until there was quite a crowd—all talking about what should be done.

One or two action-oriented souls began to hack away with axes at branches. Others tried to push.

But the work was slow and the day was hot.

Then an old man who had been observing began to sing a rhythmic work song, and all present began to sing along. They put their shoulders to the tree and pushed in unison. And the tree began to move.

I am only one. I’m not a traditional scholar. I’m not much of an expert in anything. But God has called me to listen to the Spirit, and to the church, and to this community and to sing the Spirit’s song.

So with an eye on the compass, with a hunger for Christ’s Kingdom in my heart, and with a song on my lips, I commit this day to give all that I am able to preparing leaders for a church that is committed to following Jesus in God’s work throughout the world. That is my joy! AMEN. V

Go d ’ s w o r k th r o ug h o u t th e w o rl d .

Th at i s m y jo y !

Steve Hayner gave this address on April 13, 2010, during his inauguration as Columbia’s ninth president.

A recording and transcript are available online at www.ctsnet.edu > News & Publications > Recordings & Transcripts.

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The Campaign for Columbia Theological Seminary

Formation | Transformation

$60 million goal is within reach

Campaign enters final stretch

by Richard DuBose In January of 2003, Columbia’s trustees and faculty gathered at a retreat center near Atlanta for what would prove to be one of the most consequential meetings of Laura Mendenhall’s presidency.

The agenda called for them to determine the goals and objectives for a fund-raising campaign that would significantly improve the seminary’s ability to serve the church’s greatest needs.

From that meeting, a resolution was crafted which called for resources for faculty development, for student support, and for the modernization of the living and learning environments for students on campus and beyond. The total need came to $60 million, a sum almost twice as large as any fundraising campaign Columbia had ever attempted.

Seven years later, that goal is in sight. Here in midsummer 2010, Columbia’s generous constituency has contributed more than $54 million to fund the priorities the Board adopted in 2003. Columbia has attracted outstanding new faculty members, called to continue in this seminary’s tradition of pastor/ scholar. An increasingly diverse student body enriches beyond measure the seminary’s immediate and extended community. Our financial aid program for students has kept pace with rising costs for their theological education, as well as personal living expenses, in turbulent economic times. A new “green” residence hall provides comfortable, convenient, attractive housing for students—and uses 50 percent less energy than a conventional structure of its size. Up-to-date information technology systems and equipment are facilitating internal Our campaign’s message has been and external communication and about reconnecting Presbyterians with streamlined operations.

Our campaign’s message has been a living reality: that God is at work in the partnership of Columbia, congregation, about reconnecting Presbyterians and in each of us to sustain the work of with a living reality: that God is at work in the partnership of Columbia, preparing leaders for the church of Jesus congregation, and in each of us to Christ. And Columbia’s alumni/ae and sustain the work of preparing leaders friends have responded to that message. for the church of Jesus Christ. And Columbia’s alumni/ae and friends have responded to that message. More than 4,500 generous donors have contributed. More than 2,500 people have participated in our Partners in Ministry events, contributing more than $3 million in gifts and pledges to support our students directly. The number of alumni/ae making gifts to the seminary has doubled in the past ten years.

Now only one large item on that list of priorities has not been fully funded—a new building, a Leadership Center with modern classrooms outfitted with the best available educational technology.

Efforts are focused now on finding the remaining gifts we need for this amazing facility. We have less than $5.5 million to go, so over the coming months, you can be sure that Columbia Seminary will be in touch with you to ask for your help in bringing this bold, unprecedented fund-raising effort to a successful conclusion.

It’s my hope that you will respond to our request in the spirit in which it is offered: that a theologically educated and practically trained clergy is essential for lifting up and sustaining the clear, authentic voice of the Reformed tradition in the 21st century. As our plans unfold, I urge you to join us in support of those God is calling to lead our church. Join us in helping to prepare those leaders to build up the body of Christ. V Richard DuBose is vice president for institutional advancement.

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Campaign gifts bring technology upgrades to Columbia

Information technology (IT) as a day-to-day reality came late to Columbia Seminary. As recently as the mid 1990s, the telephone system operated on a central switchboard. Every afternoon, when the seminary closed and the operator signed off, the phones stopped working. By the end of the decade, the seminary was making incremental and appropriate investments in IT applications to support its educational, operational, and communications objectives. In the last five years, gifts to the campaign have given a big boost to the seminary’s efforts to take advantage of advanced technologies.

Columbia’s first investment addressed the most urgent need: education software to enable faculty to enhance traditional classroom instruction, offer course management and supplemental resources, and to track student progress more effectively. The “Angel” management system was particularly valuable for students living off campus—and essential last fall when Columbia began offering the Master of Divinity degree in a five-year, evening program as an alternate to the traditional three-year program.

Columbia next redesigned its website to communicate better with on-campus and offcampus constituencies, to facilitate updates to the site, and to provide a stable platform for online transactions such as application, registration, and payment, now common at most schools. The current website, launched two years ago, has earned high marks for ease of navigation, and a content management system allows each program area to update content for its respective area. What’s more, the website is now able to accommodate the much needed tools that will permit online transactions through a new administrative information system.

In March 2008, following receipt of a $200,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Columbia contracted with Three Rivers Systems for the CAMS Enterprise (Comprehensive Administrative Management System), a 100 percent web-based, multiuser administrative solution. This new system integrates information contained in numerous databases—in student life, academic affairs, and the business office—into one consolidated data source. It’s an incredibly complex process, and by far the most challenging aspect of Columbia’s IT upgrades, but we are In connecting our classrooms making progress with the implementation of to the world around us, the admissions, registration, student housing, technologies we are investing and billing modules. in enable more opportunities What really matters, of course, is how these investments affect Columbia Seminary’s for experiential, participatory, programs, and specifically the quality of and communal learning. the theological education our students receive. Columbia is investing in technology not just to simplify the business of providing and participating in graduate studies. Information technology will also add depth and meaning to the classroom experience, especially involving collaborative learning among teachers and students. Already, we are seeing quantitative and qualitative effect.

Further, our investments are building a platform for the next phase of Columbia’s technological development. In connecting our classrooms to the world around us, the technologies we are investing in enable more opportunities for experiential, participatory, and communal learning. Our expectation is that that the improvements and new resources in technology will only increase opportunities to build community and enhance our focus on the preparation of a new generation of leaders for Christ’s church. V

Built with campaign gifts, Columbia’s new student residence hall has earned the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council.

It is the first facility in Decatur, GA, to earn LEED Gold Certification and is expected to use approximately 50 percent less energy than a conventionally constructed facility.

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tauta panta

T A UT A P A NT A

The alumni/ae, faculty, staff, administration, and students of Columbia Theological Seminary are 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. So when we went looking for a new title for this section of Vantage, we looked for something that would remind our readers of our common connection to this venerable and ever-changing stream of witness. 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).

Friends and former classmates at the Alumni/ae Awards Dinner, April 12.

1950s Herb Barks ’59 spoke recently at First church, Spartanburg, SC, to discuss his new book, The Magic Bridge . . . . Roland Perdue ’59 is serving as interim pastor at White Memorial church, Raleigh, NC. 1960s William Phipps ’68 recently retired as member-at-large, The Peaks Presbytery, Roanoke, VA. 1970s David Morgan ’70 retired as pastor, New Hope church, Asheville, NC . . . . Tom Malone ’71 has partially retired, but is serving as the stated supply pastor of Landrum church, Landrum, SC. He continues to be active in Foothills Presbytery and the South Atlantic-Puerto Rico region of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. He plans also to do some writing . . . . Fahed Abu-Akel ’74 was elected moderator of the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus in July, 2009. The purpose of the caucus is to minister to the growing Middle Eastern community in the USA . . . . David Turner ’75 is pastor of Barnwell (SC) church, which dedicated its Legion Ministry Center in February, 2010. Given to the church by American Legion Post 46, the building was transformed during a 16-month renovation project by church member volunteers into a center that will minister to community needs. The center will be used as a soup kitchen, an evacuation center, mission camps for youth groups, and eventually will include a picnic area and playground.

1980s Judd Shaw ’80 is now general presbyter of the Presbytery of East Tennessee . . . . Don Frampton ’82 and Bob Gamble ’82 are featured in a book of 101 essays, How to Achieve a Heaven on Earth. This collection of essays encourages readers to find meaning in their own lives and share it with others for the betterment of the world.

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[al u m▼n i / a e ] 1990s Chris Bobo ’93 recently retired as pastor of Culdee church, West End, NC . . . . Dallas Speight ’94 (DMin) moved to Arlington, VA, where he is a suicide prevention task force representative in the Soldier and Family Ministry Office of the Chief of Chaplains . . . . William Williamson ’94 (DMin) has retired as pastor at First church, Columbia, TN . . . . Louly Hay ’96 is a new trustee of Presbyterian Homes of Georgia.

2000s Kathy Crighton ’00 and Richard V. Tatum, Jr., were married March 27, 2010, in New Orleans . . . . Bettina Kilburn ’01 gave the homily in the service. Kathy has been called as pastor of First church, Plattsburgh, NY, starting April 24, 2010 . . . . Ashley Seaman ’01, pastor of North Denver (CO) church, was featured in an article in the Denver Post in January, 2010. The congregation sold its historic building and rents space from the buyer so the church can concentrate on issues of faith . . . . Nelson DeBrosse ’04 is pastor at Grace Covenant church, Conyers, GA. His use of his saxophone in worship was highlighted in an article in the Rockdale Citizen . . . . Julie Jensen ’05 is now associate pastor at First church, Cartersville, GA . . . . Bill Davis ’07 was ordained January 31, 2010, at First church of Howard County in Columbia, MD. He currently serves as the associate program director at Calvin Center . . . Jeremy Wilhelmi ’07 and his wife, Whitleigh, celebrate the birth of their son, Beckett Forester Wilhelmi, born September 25, 2009. Jeremy recently served on the leadership team for the PATHWAYS Youth Ministry Leader Seminar in Dallas, TX. This seminar is sponsored by the Ministries with Youth, Office of Christian Vocation and Princeton Theological Seminary . . . . Andy Chambers ’08 began a new call May 2 as pastor of Frederica church on St. Simons Island . . . . Karen Fleming ’08 has been chosen for a second-year chaplaincy residency at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA . . . . Sara Hayden ’08 is director of the Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission, which is a shared ministry of the Presbyteries of Cherokee, Greater Atlanta, and Northeast Georgia . . . . Kathryn Threadgill ’08 was featured in an article in the Mobile Register newspaper. She is youth pastor at Government Street church . . . . Katelyn McKown Gordon ’09 recently received a call as associate pastor-elect for congregational life at Providence church in Charlotte, NC. She will be ordained June 13 . . . . Sandra Hedrick ’09 was ordained April 11. She is serving as part-time interim pastor of First church, Jasper, FL . . . . David Rogers ’09 has received a call as interim pastor at Bethany church in Covington, GA. David will be ordained May 16 at Shallowford (Atlanta) church . . . . Paul Sherwood ’09 has received a call as associate pastor at Reid Memorial church, Augusta, GA . . . . Adam Copeland ’09 is a pastor in Hallock, MN (population 1,100) ten miles from ND and 20 from Canada. He is also doing freelance writing for These Days, TheThoughtfulChristian.com, WorkingPreacher.org, The Christian Century, and this summer during GA for Presbyterian Outlook.

In Memoriam J ohn Crow ’60 November 19, 2009 David Daniel s ’53 October 6, 2009 Elmer Enlow ’42 May 1, 2006 Robert Har ris ’63 November 2, 2007 Luther K ramer ’67 December 26, 2009 Edward R. Knight ’91 December 7, 2009 J ohn Sprole Lyons ’70 February 23, 2010 Robert M c B ride ’80 April 23, 2010 J ohn M c C learen ’94 ( DMIN) December 6, 2008 Dwight N ysewander ’46 February 28, 2010 J o seph Spooner ’44 January 15, 2008 J oyce Rime s ’73 March 9, 2010 R ichard G. Shelor ’54 March 9, 2010 Osc ar Hussel, professor emeritus March 15, 2010

Alumni/ae gathered for worship the evening before Dr. Hayner’s inauguration.

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A l u m n i / a e A s s o c i a t i o n awa r d s for 2010 Three Columbia graduates were honored during the Alumni/ae Association’s annual awards dinner on April 12. Professors emeriti Hubert Taylor ’47 and James Newsome ’55/’57 (ThM) received the Distinguished Service Award. Mark Adams ’98 received the Pioneer in Ministry award.

H u b e rt V a n c e T ay l o r is a

graduate of Lafayette College and Westminster Choir College. He earned a Ph.D. in public address at Northwestern University. While leading the music ministry of Central church, in Atlanta, he enrolled in Columbia and, when he graduated, was invited to join the faculty. He served as professor of worship, speech, and hymnody and established and conducted a seminary choir that provided music for campus worship services and that toured supporting churches across the southeast. Dr. Taylor was a member of the committee that compiled the Presbyterian Hymnbook of 1955, the cooperative effort of five Reformed-Presbyterian denominations to provide a common hymnal for North American Presbyterians. He also participated in the production of the Worship Book of 1972.

As a coordinator for the Speech Association of America, he contributed to Preaching in American History and Sermons in American History, volumes that make clear how preaching shapes church and society. For more than a decade, Dr. Taylor directed the choral music for denominations participating in the internationally broadcast Protestant Hour (now Day One) and helped develop the educational program for the Protestant Radio and Television Center. He was a pioneer in using television and videotape to assist speakers in crafting their messages.

J a m e s N e w s o m e is a graduate

of Millsaps College. In addition to his two degrees from Columbia Seminary, he completed a Ph.D. in Old Testament at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Newsome served as minister of Christian education at Peachtree Road church in Atlanta; assistant pastor of First church, Columbus, GA; pastor of Mars Hill church of Athens, TN; and as pastor of First church, Paducah, KY. Dr. Newsome returned to Columbia in 1977 as

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director of advanced studies, and then later joined the faculty as professor of Old Testament. He is the author of By the Waters of Babylon: An Introduction to the History and Theology of the Exile (John Knox, 1979); a commentary on First and Second Samuel (John Knox, 1982); The Hebrew Prophets (John Knox, 1984); A Synoptic Harmony of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles (Baker, 1986); Greeks, Romans, and Jews: Currents of Culture and Belief in the New Testament World (Trinity Press, 1992); and Exodus (Geneva, 1998). During 20 years as a professor at Columbia, he was an advisor, role model, guide, and friend to students, who affectionately referred to him as “Gentleman Jim.” M a r k A d a m s ’ 9 8 has served for 12 years as U.S. coordinator

of Frontera de Cristo, a ministry centered in Agua Prieta, Sonora, and Douglas, AZ. In partnership with an elder in the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, he coordinates the ministry’s six areas: church development, health, family counseling, the New Hope Community Center, mission education, and the Just Trade Center. He was involved in the establishment of Café Justo in Chiapas, Mexico, a grower cooperative through which has been created a sustainable, small-scale international coffee company that is owned and controlled by the coffee growers, thus shifting or redistributing the profits from large international non-local companies to the members of their local community. He is the co-author of the book Just Coffee: Caffeine With A Conscience, which describes the remarkable story of the coffee company. Mark is a frequent speaker, preacher and writer, helping the Presbyterian Church (USA) and others understand and respond to some of our neighbors’ struggles for justice in wages, just treatment in business, just immigration practices, and justice with the environment. V

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FOR THE RE C ORD

William P. Brown, professor of Old Testament: lecturer on “Wisdom’s Wonder: From Character to Creation” for the regional meeting of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, at Mercer University; Sunday School session at Trinity church, Atlanta, on “The Bible as God’s Word”; leader of “The Spiritualities of Creation,” a conference at Montreat, NC; preacher at North Decatur (GA) church; during General Assembly of PC(USA), speaker at the Faith and Science luncheon . . . Randy Calvo, Jr. ’81, director of alumni/ae and church relations: leader for annual men’s retreat for St. Charles Avenue church, New Orleans . . . Anna Carter Florence, Peter Marshall Associate Professor of Preaching: preacher/teacher at the following—Asbury Seminary, Orlando, FL, as part of the Distinguished Preacher series; seminar for pastors at Virginia Wesleyan Methodist College, Norfolk, VA; seminar for pastors and lay pastors at the College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID; at Moon River Spiritual Academy in Savannah, GA; at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, Savannah, GA; on the radio program “Day 1,” Atlanta, GA; at Trinity church, Atlanta; at Carrollton (GA) church; at 2010 Festival of Homiletics, Nashville, TN; for pastors at University of Uppsala, Sweden; Wardlaw Lectures for Association of Theological Schools, at Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago . . . Pamela Cooper-White, Ben G. and Nancye Clapp Gautier Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling: respondent, panel on clinical treatment of trauma at conference “In the Trenches,” sponsored by Carolina Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training and Presbyterian Hospital Chaplaincy Department 3-D Institute for Social Development; panelist on “Healing and Wisdom: Ministry in Depth” at Society for Pastoral Theology annual conference, Chicago, IL . . . Sarah Erickson ’03/’10 (DEdMin), director of lifelong learning: participant, Foundations of Christian Leadership program, Duke University; worship leader at Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection, Conyers, GA; presenter of the Georgia Wyche Bible Study at Lake Waccamaw (NC) church; worship leader/pastoral care resource person at North Decatur (GA) church . . . Jerry Gladson, adjunct professor of Old Testament language, literature, and exegesis: at the Southeastern Society of Biblical Literature meeting, presented the paper, “Modernity and the Deus absconditus in Lamentations 3” . . .

Laura Mendenhall, president emerita: Distinguished Service Award (for alumni/ae) from Austin Seminary Association . . . Michael Morgan, seminary musician: lecture, Psalm Festival, and organ recital at the “Our Story, Our Song” conference on congregational song, Andalusia, AL; lecture and Psalm Festival at Noel United Methodist Church, Shreveport, LA; also at Indiantown church, Hemingway, SC; lecture on women hymn writers for the women’s study group of Central church, Atlanta, and at Columbia Seminary on the spirituality of the Psalms and aging; lecture at the Presbyterian Heritage Center, Montreat, on the history of the English Bible (with year-long display of rare Bibles); panel on denominational relations, national convention of American Guild of Organists, Washington, DC; lecture on Psalms and worship, Columbia Seminary . . . Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education: preacher, teacher, lecturer at the following—Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Jones Lectures), Austin, TX; Presbytery of Los Ranchos, Malibu, CA; Canyon Hills church, Anaheim, CA; First church, Columbia, TN; Broad Street church, Columbus, OH; First church, Salisbury, NC; University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Woods lectures), Dubuque, IA; keynote speaker for Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ, Wenatchee, WA, and for Eastern Region of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators in Chambersburg, PA . . . Charles Raynal, professor emeritus of theology and former director of advanced studies: preacher at 250th anniversary celebration of Bethesda church, York, SC; see also news of new book on page 2 . . . Jeffery L. Tribble, Sr., assistant professor of ministry: teacher/preacher/speaker/workshop leader for the following—Bible study for men in Phillips State Prison Transitional Center, Buford, GA; workshop “Do this in Remembrance of Me” for ministerial retreat of the South Atlantic Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Zion Church at Lake Junaluska (NC) Conference Center; New Vision A.M.E. Zion Church, Stone Mountain, GA; United Men in Christ Father’s Day breakfast at Union Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, continued on following page

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Washington, DC; at New Life A.M.E. Zion Church, College Park, GA, taught class in fourth-year course of study (part of quadrennial course of study plan written by Dr. Tribble for Georgia Conference Course of Studies, A.M.E. Zion Church); session chair for “On the Ground: Bridging the Academy and Church” in Boston at the biennial meeting of the Association of Practical Theology (elected Executive Committee program coordinator for 2010-2012 . . . Haruko Ward, associate professor of church history: lecturer on “Reformations and the Jesuit Missions in the East Indies: Nagasaki,” at Candler School of Theology, Emory University . . . Christine Roy Yoder, associate professor of Old Testament literature, language, and exegesis: invited participant in the Christian Leadership Initiative, a 13-month fellowship (with periods of study in Jerusalem this and next summer) sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Israel; speaker/teacher/guest theologian for the following—retreat at First church, Knoxville, TN; “Austin Sacred Sisters,” Atlanta, GA; Bible study at “Preaching the Text,” a conference at Montreat, NC; Atlanta pastors’ group; at Central church, Atlanta, “‘...That they might worship me’”: Reflections on Worship in the Old Testament”; presenter of the paper “The Relevance of Wisdom” for the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion (Southeast), McAfee School of Theology of Mercer University, Atlanta, GA; participant in Association of Theological Schools workshop for mid-career faculty, in Pittsburgh, PA.

C OMIN G E V ENTS

ecycle Please r of ad this issue After you re iend fr a it along to Vantage, pass ur yo to it , or take or colleague er. nt ce g in d recycl neighborhoo

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William P. Brown, professor of Old Testament: lecturing on the theme of atonement, at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago (September 22-25); speaking on “Wisdom’s Wonder: The Journey of Awe in the Bible,” at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Bishop’s Convocation of the Northwest (October 10-12). . . Pamela Cooper-White, Ben G. and Nancye Clapp Gautier Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling: at the American Academy of Religion annual meeting, in Atlanta (October 28-November 2), presenting the paper “Denial, Victims, and Survivors: Post-traumatic Identity Formation and Monuments in Heaven” in Psychology, Culture and Religion (PCR) Group; respondent on a panel titled “Disorderly Conduct: Creative Collaboration among Women Who Are Practitioners and Academics in Pastoral Theology” in Practical Theology Group; convener of a presession for Psychology, Culture, and Religion on the newly published Red Book of C. G. Jung; member of PCR Steering Committee; at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, PA, a vocal recital with pianist/organist Mark Mummert (November 14) . . . Sarah Erickson ’03/’10 (DEdMin), director of lifelong learning: preaching­—North Decatur (GA) church (July 25, August 1, 8, 15) . . . Ben Johnson, professor emeritus of Christian spirituality: “Contemplation in the Life and Writings of Thomas Merton,” (Certificate in Spiritual Formation course) at Columbia Theological Seminary (November 14–19) . . . Michael Morgan, seminary musician: organ recital—at Highlands (NC) church, 125th anniversary celebration (August); lecture—“The Scottish Church and Our Worship Today,” at First church, Bowling Green, KY (September) . . . Jeffery Tribble, Sr., assistant professor of ministry: Preaching at the following—Green Grove A.M.E. Zion Church Anniversary Celebration, Gough, GA, July 10; Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church, Augusta, GA, Sept. 12; Smith Chapel A.M.E. Zion, Girard, GA. Sept. 19. Presiding over Augusta District Conference and Christian Education Convention, Smith Chapel, Girard, GA, August 13-14 . . . Haruko Ward, associate professor of church history: Presenting papers—“‘Many Particular and Notable Things’ in the Christian Conversion of Muslim Women in Jesuit Missions in Portuguese Goa,” for Theology section, Sixteenth Century Society Conference, Montreal, Canada (October); “Beyond Torture to the Paradise: Women Martyrs’ Claim of Spiritual Authority at the Closing of Japan’s Christian Century (1624–1650),” for History of Christianity section, American Academy of Religion, Atlanta (late October/early November).

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P U B L I C A TIONS

William P. Brown, professor of Old Testament: recent book—The Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder (Oxford University Press), identified by Christian Century magazine as one of the best in biblical studies for this year . . .

Pamela Cooper-White, Ben G. and Nancye Clapp Gautier Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling: article—“Sacred Space and the Psyche: Reflections on Potential Space and the Sacred Built Environment” published in Healing Wisdom: Ministry in Depth – Essays in Honor of Ann Belford Ulanov (Eerdmans); article—“‘I Do Not Do the Good I Want, but the Evil I Do Not Want Is What I Do’: The Concept of the Vertical Split in Self Psychology in Relation to Christian Concepts of Good and Evil,” published in Korean in Theological Studies (Hanshin University Press, vol. 54); editor—winter 2009 issue of Journal of Pastoral Theology on the theme of “Engaging Difference in Pastoral Theology: Race/Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Theology” . . . Charles Cousar, professor emeritus of New Testament: books reviewed—Philippians and Philemon (NT Library), by Michael Gorman, N. T. Wright, and Douglas Campbell for Interpretation . . . Jerry Gladson, adjunct professor of Old Testament language, literature, and exegesis: new book—The Five Exotic Scrolls New Issue of Online Journal Available Now! of the Hebrew Bible: The Prominence, Literary Structure, and Liturgical Significance of the Megilloth (Edwin Mellen Press) . . . Ben Johnson, professor emeritus of Christian spirituality: new books—Beyond 9/11: Christians and Muslims Together and Companions in Contemplation; website—www.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the bencampbelljohnson.com (30 years of work available free) renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will . . . Michael Morgan, seminary musician: “In Every Corner of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12.2 Sing!”—an article in Journal for Preachers, Pentecost 2010 issue . . . Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education: sermon published in In “Testing One, Two, Proclaiming the Great Ends of the Church, edited by Joseph D. Three,” this issue’s lead Small, Geneva Press, 2010; chapter published in Emerging article, Associate Professor Competencies in OMG—A Youth Ministry Handbook edited Kathy Dawson argues (a)

by Kenda Creasy Dean, Abingdon, 2010; article— “The Role of the Pastor in Christian Formation,” in the that contemporary public spring 2010 issue of Windows, the magazine of Austin education maintains too Presbyterian Theological Seminary . . . Charles Raynal, narrow an understanding of professor emeritus of theology and former director how to assess what children of advanced studies: articles—“The Second Helvetic learn; and (b) that the church Confession” in Presbyterians Today, denominational needs to think more carefully magazine; “John Calvin on the Sacraments” for Princeton about the place of assessment Theological Seminary’s website on the new English translation by Elsie McKee (Smyth Lecturer last fall) of in its own work nurturing John Calvin’s 1541 edition of the Institutes of the Christian and educating its younger Religion. See also page 2 for information about Dr. Raynal’s members. new book, Johns Island Presbyterian Church: Its People and Responding to Dr. Dawson’s article are William P. Brown, Its Community from Colonial Beginnings to the Twenty-First professor of Old Testament; David Bartlett, distinguished Century . . . Haruko Ward, associate professor of church professor of New Testament, and Carol Bartlett; and Holly history: journal articles—“Women Martyrs in Passion and Inglis (DEdMin student). A bibliography and curriculum are Paradise,” Journal of World Christianity 3, no. 1 (2010); “Jesuit Encounters with Confucianism in Early Modern also included.

Japan,” The Sixteenth Century Journal (winter 2009) . . .

The faculty journal of Columbia Theological Seminary is Brian Wren, professor emeritus of worship: new books—

www.atthispoint.net Speaking of Children

available free and only online at www.atthispoint.net.

Back issues are also available online.

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Hymns for Today (Westminster John Knox Press) and Love’s Open Door: Hymns and Songs 2004-2008 (Hope Publishing Company (USA) and Stainer & Bell (London, UK). Book republished— What Language Shall I Borrow? God-Talk in Worship: A Male Response to Feminist Theology (Wipf and Stock) . . . Christine Roy Yoder, associate professor of Old Testament language, literature, and exegesis: articles—“Shaping Desire: A Parent’s Attempt (Proverbs 1-9),” Journal for Preachers 33 (2010); “Isaiah 66.10-14” for Workingpreacher.org.

To arrange a preaching, speaking, or teaching engagement with a member of Columbia’s faculty or staff, please contact the person directly.

E-mail addresses and telephone numbers are listed online at http://www.ctsnet.edu/Directories.aspx. You may also call the seminary’s main number at 404.378.8821 for assistance.

Cong ratulat i o n s!

Martha Moore-Keish has been promoted to associate professor of theology, with tenure.

Dr. Moore-Keish, who joined the faculty in 2004, is a graduate of Harvard College, received the M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (now Union Presbyterian Seminary), and the Ph.D. from Emory University. Her publications include Christian Prayer for Today (Westminster John Knox, 2008), and Do This in Remembrance of Me: A Ritual Approach to Reformed Eucharistic Theology (Eerdmans, 2008). In 2008, she was the recipient of a theological scholars grant from the Association for Theological Schools, which funded her sabbatical research on Eucharistic theology and practice in south India.

Welc ome!

Carmen Bolton joined the Business Office staff in February 2010. She moved here from Laurel, MS. Carmen is a graduate of Jones County Junior College. She is retired from the State of Mississippi after working with Ellisville State School for 25 years.

Professor Bill Brown (back, right) and a group of Columbia students participated in the ING Georgia Marathon/

Meredith Torre, archives and special collections assistant, joined the staff of the John Bulow Campbell Library in September 2009. She earned a BA in English from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has worked in libraries at the university, and more recently, has held positions at the Georgia State Archives, Emory University’s Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library (MARBL), and the Emory Health Sciences Library.

Half Marathon on March 21.

Gods peed!

With lights out and computers down wherever and

Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, professor of world Christianity, has joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, in Dallas, TX. Dr. Cardoza-Orlandi had been a member of Columbia’s faculty since 1994. Contact information: ccardoza@smu.edu / 6633 Clearhaven Circle, Dallas, TX, 75248.

Note: A tribute to Dr. Cardoza-Orlandi will be published in the Fall/Annual Report issue of Vantage.

whenever possible, Columbia celebrated Energy Sabbath on April 23. Following a call to worship, prayers, and singing at the new residence hall, an outdoor chapel service continued at the community garden, concluding with communion in a grove of trees on the seminary campus.

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Robert Thomson ’05 left the seminary in January 2010 after nine years of service. Most recently he had been acquisitions and cataloging assistant in the John Bulow Campbell Library.

[s t u d▼e n t s ] L a u r a N e e ly i s f i r s t i n t e r n i n C o l u m b i a ’ s N e w L e a d e r s h i p I n i t i at i v e CTS middler Laura E. Neely has been selected for the first fullyear internship offered through the seminary’s New Leadership Initiative. During the 20102011 academic year, she will work with David Bailey (DMin ’82) and Central Presbyterian Church, Anderson, SC, and with Annette Graham ’98 and Good Hope Presbyterian Church, Iva, SC. Ms. Neely will receive a salary during the internship and then a scholarship to fund her senior year on Columbia’s campus.

A graduate of Queens University, Charlotte, NC, Laura Neely majored in philosophy and religion. She is a member of Highland church, Winston-Salem, NC, and a candidate under care of Salem Presbytery. During the summer of 2009, she completed an

internship at Waverly Road church, Kingsport, TN. She also served as a member of the planning team for the 2010 Montreat Middle School Conference. She was a college intern at Covenant church, Charlotte, and a summer intern at Highland church.

As middler class representative to Columbia’s Student Coordinating Council, she organized the seminary’s weekly forum on theological and worship topics and served as student representative to the faculty’s worship and convocation committee.

She has also served as editor of the seminary’s community directory and as an assistant editor for Vantage and Vantage Online.

The New Leadership Initiative is designed to provide the strongest possible pool of new pastors by encouraging students to serve year-long, full-time internships just before the final year of seminary. For information about how your presbytery or congregation can participate, please contact Kim Clayton, director of contextual education: claytonk@ctsnet.edu or 404.687.4518.

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allen

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christians

duncan

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Columbia students join the C o m pa n y o f N e w P a s t o r s

owen

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Ten rising seniors have been selected to participate in the Company of New Pastors, a program designed by the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to prepare new pastors for the challenges of ministry. Faculty mentors for Columbia students are Martha Moore-Keish, associate professor of theology, and Mark Douglas, associate professor of Christian ethics.

Funded through a grant from the Lilly Foundation, the program begins in the spring of a student’s middler year and involves a series of daily disciplines (reading from the daily lectionary as well as selections from the Confessions) and, until graduation, monthly gatherings with their faculty mentors.

After graduation and through the first few years of ministry, group members meet with new pastors from the other seminaries that participate in the program.

CTS Company of New Pastor s Travi s A lle n Graham, TX (First church) Richard C a r r Spartanburg, SC (Nazareth church – Moore, SC) W ill Chri st i a ns Vestavia Hills, AL (Southminster church) Mary Kath l e e n D u n c a n Anderson, SC (First church) Scott Hill Clarkesville, GA (First church – Toccoa, GA) Denise M c L e o d Laurinburg, NC (Trinity church) Katie Owen Topeka, KS (First church) L auren Sim m o ns Seneca, SC (Greer First church – Greer, SC) Kristin Stro b l e Stow, OH (United church – Cuyahoga Falls, OH) A ndrew W h a l e y Knoxville, TN (First church) V A NT A G E Summer 2010

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[s t u d▼e n t s ] Denise McLeod ’11 completed an internship at Trinity church, Decatur, GA; preached at Briarwood church, Jackson, MS, and Trinity church, Clearwater, FL; is doing CPE this summer at Morton Plant Mease Hospital, Safety Harbor, FL . . . . Lauren Simmons ’11 and Stephen Slingerland were married on May 22 in Clemson, SC. She is serving as a summer intern at First church, Covington, GA . . . . Ross Reddick ’11 completed an internship at John Knox church, Marietta, GA; preached at Grace church, Trussville, AL . . . . Devin Strong ’11 (DMin) is doing pulpit supply in a variety of ELCA congregations in the Atlanta area . . .

Dawn Martin ’12 was co-leader of the Jesus Marathon Training Team, which ran in the ING Marathon/Half Marathon this spring; serves as youth director at College Park church (Atlanta), where

L i f e l o n g For more information and to register for events listed below, go to www.ctsnet.edu > Lifelong Learning > Courses and Events, and scroll to the dates of the events you wish to attend.

Or contact the Center for Lifelong Learning at 404-687-4587.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place on the seminary campus. Meals and lodging may be extra. Courses that are listed as part of a certificate program are open to occasional students.

she preached on several occasions this spring; spent two weeks in Ireland in May learning about the Protestant/Catholic conflict from PC(USA) missionaries there . . . . Norma Calvo-Cascante ’12 (DEdMin) participated in a consultation about the spiritual nurture of children for World Vision International in Latin America and the Caribbean region . . . . Candi Dugas ’12 (DMin) is facilitating her degree practicum at Impact United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. Titled “My Side of the Story: My Church, My Voice,” this project explores the vitality and relevancy of the Christian Church for people today . . . . Mark Hults ’12 was part of a team of preachers at the combined Kairos Atlanta/Southwest Christian Fellowship Good Friday Service in Atlanta . . . . Rob White ’13 is serving as youth director at Heritage church, Acworth, GA.

l e a r n i n g events

Yo u t h M i n is t ry L e a d e rsh i p In i t i at i v e August 27–28 Because the Bible Tells Me So: Putting the Bible Back in Bible Study. Anna Brown, Victor Cyrus-Franklin. $165 (housing extra).

October 22–24 Beginning Retreat. Rodger Nishioka, Neema Cyrus Franklin.

$165 (housing extra).

P r e s byterian Women’ s 2010 Bible S t u dy August 16–18 Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today.

Louise Lawson Johnson. $100 ($90 for 2 or more registrations from same church).

I m m i grant Lay L eader Training ( H i spa n i c ) To enroll in these courses, you must first be enrolled in the certificate program. $50 for participants living in presbyteries of Greater Atlanta, Cherokee, Northeast Georgia ($105 outside that area; $80 each additional person). Textbooks extra.

August 21 Introduction to Reformed Theology. Instructor. José Torres.

September 25 Presbyterian History and Polity (Workshop 3). Eriberto Soto.

October 16 Old Testament Survey and Interpretation. Christine Roy Yoder,

Bill Brown.

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Ce rt i f i c at e i n S p i r i t ua l F o r m at i o n September 12–17 Missional Spirituality. Steve Hayner, Jim Wood. $370 September 17–18 15th Anniversary Celebration. $50 October 7–10 Immersion Experience: Invitation to a Deeper Spiritual Life.

This course is the starting place for the Certificate in Spiritual Formation. CTS faculty. $315.

October 21–24 Liturgy of the Hours: An Old Practice for the New Church

(at Montreat Conference Center). Paul Lang. $390.

November 14–19 Thomas Merton and Contemplation. Ben Campbell Johnson.

$370.

V a n t ag e

Cover

Vol. 101, No. 3, Summer 2010

D av i d JP H o o k e r and W i s n u S a s o n g k o with others I am Willing 2008 acrylic, ink, graphite, and rust on canvas 23" x 23"

Published quarterly by Columbia Theological Seminary Periodicals postage paid at Decatur, GA Circulation: 12,000 Edito r Genie Hambrick Des ig n Lucy Ke Photo g r a p h y Ed i to r Ben Beasley ’10 Cont r i b u to rs Geoff Ashmun David Bartlett Sue Boardman ’90/’97 (DMin) Ralph Bush Randy Calvo, Jr. ’81 Pam Cottrell Mary Lynn Darden Mark Douglas Sarah Erickson ’03/’10 (DEdMin) Will Givens Steve Hayner David JP Hooker Stanley Leary Martha Moore-Keish Linda Morningstar ’98 (MATS) Deborah Mullen Elizabeth Orth Barbara Poe The Presbyterian Outlook Jody Sauls Wisnu Sasongko Sandra Taylor Marshall Turkel

I am Willing is a collaborative work included in “Boundary Crossings,” the Charis international traveling art exhibit on the seminary campus through August 6. David JP Hooker, a North Carolina native now on the faculty of Wheaton College, described the creative process as a dialogue that took place among people of different cultures. He says, “The common language spoken was not English; it was painting.”

“I am Willing represents that spirit of eagerness we experienced working together,” says Wisnu Sasongko.

Relating the work to a concept in Indonesian culture, Mr. Sasongko explains, “When the people of Yogya or Bali try to give you something, you reply ‘maturnuwun’ which means something like ‘thanks,’ but doesn’t imply either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ It simply indicates regard, which is essential to our culture, and requires it of the other person in return. It indicates a reciprocity like the artistic exchange we had in this piece.”

A b out the artists D av i d JP H o o k e r received a B.A. in English from Furman University and an M.F.A. in ceramics from Kent State University. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including South Carolina State Museum, and has been exhibited in numerous colleges and universities in the United States. Internationally, he has exhibited in Switzerland and was a finalist in the 8th International Ceramics Competition in Mino, Japan. He is an associate professor of art at Wheaton College in Illinois.

W i s n u S a s o n g k o was born in Jakarta, Indonesia. He graduated from the Fine Art Faculty ISI Yogyakarta and went on to pursue a master’s program in cultural studies at Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta.

He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in Indonesia and abroad including the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and Canada. He was the 2004-05 artist-in-residence at the Overseas Ministry Studies Center, New Haven, CT, and was a featured artist in the exhibit The Christian Story: Five Asian Artists Today (2007) organized by MOBIA in New York City. He is the recipient of a number of awards and is a member of the Asian Christian Art Association (ACAA).

For information about the Charis exhibit and for its next location, go to http://www.calvin.edu/nagel/projects/charis/.

Corr e c t i o ns

Col um bi a

The work of Atlanta artist Gregor Turk was featured in the winter/ spring issue of Vantage. His Series X comprises convex ceramic tablets, each of which is a meditation on center points and intersecting lines.

In one sentence, because of a typographical error, this body of work is described as “tables.”

Friendshi p C i rcle cel eb rate d t h e 5 3 rd “Come See C ol u mb i a Day ” on April 2 2 .

Claudia Aguilar, one of 12 seminary students who visited Mississippi Delta congregations in November, is from Mexico, not Brazil.

Sara Hayden ’08 was called in September of 2009 to serve as director of the Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission, a shared ministry of the Presbyteries of Cherokee, Greater Atlanta, and Northeast Georgia. In the last issue of Vantage, For the Record incorrectly noted her call as “coordinator of the Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission for Greater Atlanta Presbytery.”

Left: Installed as new officers were (L to R) Connie Herr, secretary-historian; Elizabeth J. Kerr, president; Joanne Schuetz, vice president. Right: Columbia Friendship Circle, past presidents: (L to R) Mary Bell Streetman, Nan Jones, Mary Hammett, Camille Ruddick.

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Periodicals Postage Paid at Decatur, GA Publication No. 124160

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, GA 30031 404-378-8821 www.ctsnet.edu

contents New Degree in Practical Theology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 New Book by Charles Raynal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Celebrate Columbia on Seminary Sunday . . . . . . . . . 2 New Dean of Faculty/Executive VP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Inauguration of Stephen A. Hayner . . . . 4–11 Worship Sermon by David Bartlett. . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Article by Sue Boardman ’90/’97 (DMin). . . . . . . 8 The President’s Inaugural Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Campaign Enters Final Stretch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Tauta Panta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–22 Alumni/ae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Faculty/Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Lifelong Learning Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

A L e s s o n f r o m t h e Sa n k o f a This

Pam Cottrell Director of Annual Giving

s p r i n g at

A t l a n ta ’ s

annual

D o g w o o d F e s t i va l , I purchased a charcoal print of

a sankofa. The sankofa is a mythical West African bird that is usually pictured with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back. To the Akan people of Ghana, it symbolizes the value of taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make progress. During the inauguration of Columbia’s ninth president, Steve Hayner, I thought about my new found treasure, the sankofa.

An inauguration is more than pomp and circumstance. It is a time of reflecting on the past and from that using what is good to move forward into the future. In his inaugural address, President Hayner reminded us that “while we stand squarely on the shoulders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and on the Reformed tradition, our call is not to sustain the institutional church of another era, but rather to prepare the Church in all its breadth to be the bride of Christ in a changing world.”

For more than 180 years, Columbia Seminary has been an essential institution of the church. We have remained faithful to our mission of educating and preparing hundreds of women and men for Christian leadership in God’s ever-changing world. Additionally, we are committed to giving financial support to our students as they strive to fulfill their call to Christian service and leadership, wherever God calls them. Our endowment and tuition income cover only part of the cost. We rely on gifts to the Columbia Annual Fund from alumni/ae, friends of the seminary and churches for the rest. Please help us continue the tradition of giving as we journey forward into the future. V Please use the enclosed envelope to send a gift to the Columbia Annual Fund. To give online through our secure website, go to www.ctsnet.edu and click on Supporting the Seminary.

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