Echoes
Official Publication of the Baptist Missionary Training School Spring 2017 Dear Sisters and Friends of the Baptist Missionary Training School, We are privileged to present to you the Spring 2017 edition of Echoes. In this edition you will find information on BMTS birthdays, a profile of a BMTS Scholarship recipient, the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit and, of course, plenty of BMTS news from the alumnae of this beloved school. I hope you enjoy reading these stories and “catching up” with everyone. Please keep the updates and news coming! We will publish our next Echoes in the fall and will send out a submissions reminder in the summer. The legacy of the BMTS is alive and well. Through the generosity of so many BMTS alumnae and friends over the years, we continue to impact the world by educating women for leadership in a diverse range of ministries. The impact of the BMTS Chair and the BMTS Scholarship is immeasurable and we are so grateful for our partnership first begun over 50 years ago! I hope you take the time to read the profiles of our current BMTS Scholarship Rev. Marvin A. McMickle, Ph.D. recipients that follow. These extraordinary women are the future of President ministry and we are so proud of what they are accomplishing. We are eager to see God’s continued work in their lives and to witness their intellectual and spiritual journeys. We recently had the honor of recognizing the contributions of two BMTS sisters at this year’s CRCDS Distinguished Alumni/ae dinner. Olgha Sierra Sandman (’52) and Joan Devening Criswell (’51) were recognized for their significant contributions to our world in the areas of farm workers/migrant labor (Olgha) and women’s healthcare (Joan). We have enclosed brief profiles of each in the hope you will take the time to read them and to give thanks for these two remarkable women. At a time in our nation’s history when immigrants are villainized, the rights of workers are eroding and when a woman’s right to quality healthcare, regardless of financial means, is jeopardized, we are grateful to hold up these two exemplary women. We could not be prouder to have them in the BMTS/CRCDS family. It is a very busy time here at CRCDS. We continue to plan for the sale of the campus and for the construction of the new CRCDS facility. I ask you to keep the school and all of us in your prayers during this time of transition. We are grateful for this opportunity to steward the mission into a new era and grateful for the opportunity it presents to refocus our energy and resources in a new way. We often reflect on our collective institutional history, reminding ourselves that we have always been a school on the move. With roots in Chicago, Hamilton and Chester—and several stops along the way—we have always remained focused on our core mission of preparing women and men for transformative ministry. Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for your continued financial support. Without your generosity and the generosity of others, we would be truly limited in our ability to carry out our mission. If you have not yet given to the annual fund, I respectfully ask you to consider making your gift today. Inside this Edition You will not find a better, more worthy and more important investment. News From the Sisters 2 Sincerely, BMTS Scholarship Recipient 8 In Memoriam
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Celebrating Birthdays
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CRCDS Distinguished Alumnae
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News From
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June Wells Benoit (’46). June is so glad to receive Echoes! June always thought when she retired, she would have more time to do the things she didn’t have time to do while she was working and raising a family! June says, “I guess I have too many hobbies and things I want to do.” June’s goal in college was to prepare for a job in a children’s home, however she married a minister instead, which wasn’t on her agenda. God blessed June and her husband, Don, with 11 children, giving June her own “children’s home.” Her education prepared her well for that new adventure. She has no regrets because she has a wonderful family. Her husband, Don, had a wonderful ministry and as the children grew up, June had the opportunity to assist him in his work as an Associate Executive Minister. Don is now with the Lord and serving Him in another way. June’s family has grown considerably. Along with her 11 children, she has 35 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren, ten of whom were born this year! This number grew fast when one family presented her with a set of quads— two boys and two girls. All are doing well. June wishes that their grandfather could have enjoyed them. June still lives by herself in a senior living apartment and her oldest daughter has an apartment in an adjacent building. They do a lot of things together and have lots of fun. They keep busy with weddings, showers, graduations, etc. June is in the process of writing up stories about her family background and the fun times they had together. Katherine Brownell Kosak (’49) Katherine turned 90 years young in November. Her husband, Hermann, is 93 years young and is on home hospice care since having a heart attack in 2015. They are living in a lovely retirement home called Highland Hills. Katherine has been
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blessed with good health and is still swimming laps twice a week. Their daughter, Andree, a caterer, gave Katherine a wonderful birthday party with friends and family on the evening before Thanksgiving.
Katherine’s 90th birthday invitation
Ethelmae Walter (’49) Marian Voge, Ethelmae’s long time housemate, wrote for her and Ethelmae. Both are over 90 and are feeling their age with various health problems. They moved from Seattle to the Spokane area in 2007 to be near Marian’s family. Ietta McLeod (‘50) Ietta is in poor health and moved into an assisted living program last spring. She is quite happy there and knows quite a few of the other residents. Catherine Hermann Raycroft (’50) Cay is doing very well at her assisted living facility in New Hampshire near her daughter and family. Cay was promoted to a lesser level of care because she has done so well the past year in terms of needing optimal care and because her medical issues have decreased. David and Cay feel very blessed. Cay often talks about her life at BMTS in Chicago.
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Ruth Watson (’51) Yesterday I wrote a long remembrance of my sister Esther Marie Watson Nichols (’53), but I fear my lack of computer skills may have botched the effort. Understanding that the Community would be in alumnae session on Monday, I am re-sending the word that Esther died on April 10th, in Beaverton OR, where she and husband Bruce had made their home for their three children, Rev. Robert of Hillington, Norfolk, England; Kathleen Holmes, of California and Mary Margaret Lineback, of Oregon, their spouses and children; and numerous foster children and refugee families needing a new start. THANKS again. And blessing on all as you struggle with the horrible mess we have made of the prison system this week. A few weeks ago, Riverside Church in NYC was blessed to have Rachel Harding, Michelle Alexander and Ruby Sales bring us along with their expanded understandings of the issues and opportunities for us all. And, best wishes for CRCDS/BMTS’ new mission there in Rochester. Agnes Kelley Roark (’51) Agnes and Donna Birath Whitenack (’51) recently had a long friendly telephone visit. They keep in touch on special days and from news in Echoes. Agnes also keeps in touch with Dorothy Sticker Tilden (’51). Both have health issues, but are cheerful and keep going. Agnes would like to hear from Texas alumnae or those who live there now. Lois Kawamura Toyama (’51) Lois is 92 years young and continues to live alone in her house. She is well taken care of by family members who visit regularly. Lois appreciates hearing from BMTSers and loves receiving Echoes. Donna Birtah Whitenack (’51) Even at Donna’s present age of 87, she continually draws (with thanksgiving) on the excellent, relevant, in-depth teaching of God’s Word and on the basic principles of Christian
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Education that are so needed today! Donna has gleaned and retained life-long values at her beloved BMTS-510 Wellington, Chicago and prays, “May God’s eternal ‘Harvest’ cover our many Teachers-Friends-Saints in Heaven.” Donna lives with her daughter in Evansville, IN. Her beloved Pastor, Bob, died in 2009 after 17 years in a wheelchair. Donna’s strength comes with NEW mercies every morning! (Lam 3:22) “Great is HIS faithfulness!” Agnes Kelley Roark (’51) and Donna are still forever friends. They phone visit and reminisce and pray together as though they were across the table or sitting together in the Beaven’s large living room for their weekly Prayer Gatherings. Donna exclaims, “Yes! BE MINE TO SERVE!” Lois Worman Fey (’52) As Lois wrote in, she was looking out her window watching the blizzard-like conditions and expecting 8-12 inches. She said, “It was quite a change—yesterday was 63 degrees.” Lois is well taken care of with good meals, clean parking lots, and an on-site medical unit. She noted that they will be running “I Love Lucy” movies soon in their Fellowship Hall all day! Lois is slowing down a bit, but she is still able to drive to nearby places—her church, Bible studies and the Skilled Nursing unit where she volunteers four mornings a week filling water pitchers. Marian Katie Gereke (’52) Katie had a fall before Thanksgiving. It caused a compression fracture of a bone in her spine, temporarily disabling her with a monster brace. Her husband, Bob, is her very patient caregiver. Katie is recovering and gradually becoming more mobile. She was able to reduce the hours she wears her back brace in late February. Phoebe Brown O’Dell (’52) Phoebe and her husband, Doyal, moved to Finland in 2002 to be near their son, Michael, his wife, Sirpa, and his son, Pekka. Phoebe and Doyal haven’t been back for visits to the USA since 2008 because it is just too far to travel from Finland to the West Coast. Their daughter,
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Sherry, has visited them three times and keeps in touch regularly via email, Facebook and Face Time. They miss their two grandsons, one great grandson, three great granddaughters, and friends back in the USA, but they are happy to be living in peaceful Finland. In Finland, they have two grandsons and one great grandson (Mike’s first grandson is almost one year old). Phoebe says, “We are in relatively good health considering our age and recently had a surprise 90th birthday party for my husband, Doyal. I will be 87 in August.” Phoebe has kept in touch with classmates, Lois Worman Fey (’52), Marilyn Cook Partin (’48) and Ethel Maldonado Spiegler’s (’52) daughter Karen. Phoebe reads the CRCDS newsletter regularly on the internet and is very impressed with President Marvin A. McMickle. Phoebe and Doyal still voted in the United States, but to their distress it wasn’t enough. SAD! Phoebe is enjoying getting Echoes. She sent us the photo you see here of her and her 1952 classmates. Back Row Left to Right Marion Benton Bruns, Phoebe Brown O’Dell, Gloria Brown, Pat Doolittle Tingley Front Row Left to Right Marilyn Page Wallace, Florence Wanger, Mary Hoyt Griffes, Jewel Asbury
June Fehrm Jacobson (‘53) June has had car issues from a broken door handle to a dead car battery. She likes to wear her BMTS sweatshirt that she has owned for 60 years! June continues to receive Christmas cards from several BMTSers. When she doesn’t hear from Elinore Frey Gear (’57), her roommate, she calls to catch up on news. Although there isn’t a BMTS Alumnae group that meets in Los Angeles, she does catch up with Lois Kawamara Toyama (’51) who lives in Los Angeles. June lives far from her family. Her son and his wife have five kids and live in Florida. His oldest daughter is married.
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June also has two daughters who are married and between them she has five grandkids who all live in Northern California. June says it’s hard to be alone with her aging problems and may have to move up North.
June and her three oldest grandchildren.
Elia Robledo Duran (’54) Elia spends much of her time in Phoenix, AZ where she underwent surgery which required a lengthy stay. In addition, Elia traveled to Southern CA to visit her brother, Jonas Robledo, who visited BMTS during 1952 through 1958. He became very good friends with several students and to date is still in touch with Ema Ornelas Gordoa (’58). Loretta (Laurie) Ems Bigger (’56) Loretta’s husband, Robert (Bob), of 57 years died in his sleep on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Bob had been ill for several years. He had severe COPD, diabetes, and heart problems. Loretta had a Bigger Family Reunion the day before Bob passed. In attendance were four of Loretta and Bob’s children, Bob’s four sisters, his brother and their children. Only one niece and one nephew could not come. They had a circle prayer for Bob at the close of the day. Loretta says, “It was a touching send off for him.” Loretta is well and busy and has wonderful family support as well as a great church family. Loretta writes, “God has blessed me with good health and many friends.” Doris Farnsworth (’56) Doris has been doing more of the same as last year. She teaches Bible study on Wednesday mornings, and helps with Rayitos de Esperanza on Saturdays. Bible studies and related activities are for neighborhood children. Doris’ church sends two buses to pick them up. Doris says, “I’ve
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also spent time figuring out what it means to be in the 80’s age wise. I reached 82 in January and I haven’t gotten used to it yet. However, I am sure that God is good, that He loves us and has a plan for each of us. As long as we let Him lead, life on this earth will be good, whatever happens.” Doris is looking forward to a visit from her niece, Deanna Carlstrom, soon. Doris also had another surprise come in—a greeting from her cousin Dawn Fuller Denny, who will be in San Juan for a conference in May. Doris is hoping to see Dawn at that time.
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Katie Williamson-Sample (’56) In 1969 our daughter Valerie was born. In 1988, I co-founded a non-profit cultural arts education program entitled, “African American Academy for Accelerated Learning.“ This program was designed for the purpose of teaching African history, culture and values to children and parents. We also offered educational conferences for school teachers and administrators to help with cultural competency in the public schools. Between 1996 and 2012, we also conducted trips to Ghana, West Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia, East Africa, Egypt and North Africa. God anointed BMTS as an essential institution for educating young women and inspiring them to make a big difference in the lives they touched. Continuing this legacy throughout the American Baptist educational Institutions is an extremely important mission.
This year, all of the children in the choirs were angels.
If this photo doesn’t look to you like a Christmas activity, remember…we are in the tropics. Photos sent in by Doris
My life experiences and success was definitely the result of the solid foundation I received from my four years at BMTS, 510 Wellington Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Through my Bachelors of Arts in Religious Education, I received general education, life skills and spiritual development which was beyond compare. At the present time I am fully retired with the exception of my leadership in the Bible Study Fellowship International and my involvement in my home church, Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. I have 11 grandchildren ranging from ages 15-28. I am also a caregiver for my husband, George, who is experiencing the effects of Alzheimer’s and has been a resident in a health care facility since 2014. I am thankful for good health and energy to be active and able to participate in my family and community.
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Memories of a 1956 BMTS Graduate By Katie Williamson-Sample God truly blessed me with four miraculous years at BMTS. I will always be thankful to God and my pastor, Rev. E.H.E. Gilbert, and his wife, Irene Penn Gilbert, for providing a full-time scholarship from our Church Pilgrim Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois. I acknowledge them as my heroes, my mentors, and my spiritual parents as they saw something in me that I did not see in myself. They encouraged me and paved a way for me to attend college, which I never dreamed would be possible. I am a completely different person from what I probably would have been had God not intervened in this miraculous way. After graduating from Rockford West High School in 1952, I was accepted to BMTS. I felt God was calling me into full-time Christian service. I read about Hull House settlement house in Chicago and Jane Adams and I felt that was where I needed to go after completing my college studies. I was called to work in communities and families to encourage and support people as God’s ambassador. Upon my arrival at BMTS, I was truly impressed with President Beaven and Suzanne Rinck who was a master Bible instructor. The classroom approach was always from a spiritual perspective. This was such an exhilarating experience for me. The manner in which Suzanne Rinck presented. the study of the Bible opened up new vistas of learningand broadened my understanding of the Bible as never before. I felt nurtured and encouraged by the environment and philosophy of the school, including its family atmosphere. We were all involved in work-study and team work as we performed our assignments for keeping up the building. I was so amazed when I met other young women from various parts of the country. I had never been around Christian women who were so talented, accepting and friendly. As a result, I
developed many life-long friendships. My two best friends with whom I stayed in contact throughout our marriages, and births of our children were Mary (Susie) Apolinar Wells (’56) (deceased), and Vivian McMillan Ray (’56). Susie was the queen of Jr. Sr. Banquet in 1955 and Vivian and I were in her court. They both were bridesmaids in my wedding in 1958. from left to right: Mary (Susie) Apolinar Wells, Katie WilliamsonSample, and Vivian McMillan Ray
I have so many wonderful memories of the dorm life, great roommates, Saturday night Vespers, taking turns in the kitchen, waitressing and washing pots and pans. There are lots of stories and experiences that brought lots of laughs and tears. After graduation in 1956, I was commissioned as a Home Missionary at Brooks House of Christian Service in Hammond, Indiana. I worked under the directorship of Dwight Klinck as the Director of Children’s Work until 1958. I then married George Sample and moved to Rockford, Illinois. In 1968 we moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota with our two children, Kevin and Deanne. Minneapolis was the place I longed to live for quite some time. I was blessed to work in the Minneapolis School System as a school social worker from 1968 until 1993. I completed post graduate work at the University of Minnesota where I received thirty graduate credits and received the required certificate that grandfathered me into the position of School Social Worker. I did not, however, matriculate in the full Master of Social Work program.
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Alida Struze (’57) 2016 wasn’t the best year of Alida’s life, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to write a Christmas letter but she wanted to remember everyone at this special time of year. Alida has been struggling with weight loss over a period of time and has lost her energy. She is trying to gain weight by eating ice cream after every meal. Alida still loves going to church on Sundays and doing all the things in the kitchenette and resource room. Alida has hired an agency, Home Instead, which sends women to be with her from 9:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. They try to fix meals that Alida will enjoy. Alida celebrated her 95th birthday in October. Her book, My Life, My Letter & My Loves: Exploring An Ordinary Life, has been published. It is available on Amazon or in bookstores. Alida was surprised to receive the Centennial Alumni Award by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University of Cleveland. Alida will be in the Hall of Achievement as a Distinguished alumna. Emma Ornelas Gordoa (’58) Emma has many memories of working at the Valley Christian Center in Phoenix, AZ after graduating from BMTS. Her classmate, Betty Loun Wright (’58) worked at the Center as well. The Center is no longer open for service. Betty, her husband, Larry, and family live in Idaho. Emma and Betty communicate by phone and mail on birthdays and at Christmas. Emma is a retired elementary teacher and still volunteers and substitute teaches in the district where she taught. She is looking forward to serving again in Honduras and Mexico as a translator in the mission field. She always looks forward to serving and thanks God for the opportunity. Her favorite vacation last summer included a trip to Disneyland on her birthday, camping near the Ocean and visiting cousins and friends.
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Emma always enjoys her annual visit in Michigan with family. One of the highlights is walking five miles on the bridge in Mackinaw City on Labor Day. It has become a tradition. Emma traveled with a mission team to Honduras in July where they distributed eye glasses and Bibles. In October and November, she participated with other mission teams in Mexico doing dental work at an orphanage and caring for children at a pastor’s conference.
Emma Ornelas Gordoa (’58) (front row, third from the left) was among 24 people who went with Vision 4 Eternity on a Mission trip to Honduras in July for 10 days. Ten churches in Arizona were represented. Plymouth Village – Vespers Service Janet Sedam Roberts (’58) Joanna Payne Jones (’58) and husband, Paul. Emma Ornelas Gordoa (’58)
Atherton Retirement Home where Delia Velderrain Perez (’55) lives. Photo taken with Joanna Payne Jones (’58), and Emma Ornelas Gordoa (’58).
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Barbara Matteson Haines (’57) Barbara and her husband, Chuck, a retired Baptist minister, have had to slow down, but stay somewhat active in the church Barbara grew up in Warwick Central Baptist Church in Warwick, RI. On March 1st, Barbara and Chuck celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. Through e-mail, Barbara and Chuck keep in touch with their three children—Becky and family in New Jersey, Chris and family in New Hampshire and Karen and husband in Connecticut. They have five grandchildren — four granddaughters and one grandson. Barbara has MANY fond memories of BMTS and sends her love to all, especially to the class of ’57 when she graduated. Janet Sedam Roberts (’58) Janet continues to thrive in her busy and blessed life at Plymouth Village and First Baptist Church of Redlands. Sandy McCrory Nye (’61) Sandy’s son, Mike, died in May 2016 after 30 years of struggling with quadriplegia. The celebration of his life by friends and family provided rich blessings. In October, Sandy and her husband, George, traveled to Indiana for a two-day Bill and Gloria Gaither event and visited their Midwest family. At home, Sandy continues to transport foster kids, attends Bible studies, and sings in the church choir. Sharon Carper Pauley (’61) Sharon is now retired from public school teaching. Her avocation has been working in many churches in many capacities—primarily in teaching and designing and making quilted wall hangings for churches from British Samoa to West Virginia where Sharon lives. Ruthine Blevins Boddie (’62) Ruthine has retired after many years as a teacher, principal and assistant pastor at an Antioch, CA Pentecostal Church. She is now living with her youngest daughter in San Leandro, CA.
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Judy Clark Ireland (’62) Judy is somewhat retiring to part-time work after working many years for the Old Fellows in Meadville, PA.
Meet a BMTS Scholarship Recipient – Academic Year 2016-2017 Eileen Casey-Campbell is a Unitarian Universalist Master of Divinity student in her final year at CRCDS. When Eileen started at CRCDS, she was working for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester in “community development,” coordinating with parishes to reach out to and connect their programming and mission with their local communities. Recently, she worked for First Unitarian Church in Rochester as a membership professional, helping them reach out to new members and helping new members acclimate to the congregation. Eileen received her call to ministry in Kindergarten when she announced to her Catholic school teacher, Sister Ramona, that she wanted to be a priest! She said, “It didn’t go so well, but I still celebrated ‘mass’ in my basement with juice and crackers every week.” Eileen did not pursue her call until a few years after she graduated from Hobart and William Smith College. At that time, she struggled to find where her passions and gifts might intersect in the world of ministry. After joining a Unitarian Universalist faith, Eileen experienced her true sense of call to ministry. Eileen has been involved in the Rochester interfaith community for years and particularly enjoys working with teenagers and college-age adults. Before applying to CRCDS, Eileen was already living and working in the City of Rochester. She saw firsthand the pervasive social justice issues in Rochester and in the broader community. CRCDS
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was a natural fit for Eileen. She was drawn to its deep roots in both social justice and in the City of Rochester itself. She felt—and still feels—a deep connection to the CRCDS mission. Eileen is grateful she can continue her work and ministry in the Rochester Community while completing her degree at CRCDS. For Eileen, CRCDS offers a unique education. Eileen said, “Here there is an academic rigor that I hope has prepared me for informed and thoughtful ministry. There is also an orientation toward justice that I hope is preparing me for a ministry of consequence. In particular, I cannot overstate the importance of CRCDS as one of the few racially integrated spaces in Rochester. I have had the privilege of conversation and relationship with my fellow students, which illuminates my understanding of race and racial injustice in a way that would be impossible anywhere else, given the boundaries of segregation that still exist in society.” When Eileen was asked about the current state of women in ministry, she replies, “I know women in many traditions are still struggling to have a seat at the table. I’m grateful to be in a tradition that has been ordaining women for over 150 years, but we still face the same challenges that women in any leadership position or professional role face. We struggle to be taken as seriously as our male counterparts, we struggle for equal compensation for our work, and we struggle to make sure our feminism includes all women. These struggles, I think, place us in a unique position in a profession whose relevance is (quite rightfully) questioned by our society. We have come through fire to be where we are, and with that comes an authenticity that the world is craving from the Church.” Upon graduation, Eileen will head to Albany for an internship at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany and after that she intends to seek ordination in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. She feels a call to continue her to work with youth and young adults, particularly in a college chaplaincy format. She also intends to seek a higher degree.
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Eileen loves to get her hands dirty—growing all manner of fruits, flowers, and vegetables in her yard and making, building, or fixing all manner of things by hand. Eileen and her spouse, Brian, a nurse, have a 12 month old child, Rory, and a puppy, Pepper. Eileen is grateful for the generosity of the BMTS sisters and friends. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of my ministry path through the BMTS Scholarship funds. Without this help, this path would be impossible for me. May you be surrounded in blessings.” CRCDS is grateful for Eileen and for all those who have made her journey at CRCDS possible. The BMTS Scholarship also funded two other exceptional women enrolled at CRCDS: Keturah Clark and Lori Vail. They, too, are honored to be part of the BMTS legacy. As of December 31, 2016, the market balance of the BMTS Scholarship fund is $366,173. Thank you for supporting these students so generously.
I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ~ Ephesians 1:16
In Memoriam November 2016-April 2017 Bonnalyn Shirts Pusateri ’43 Mary Hoyt Griffes ’52 Esther Watson Nichols ‘53 Kay Easton McClarey ’58 Rosa Ferguson James ’59 Sally Dogdson, Honorary Alumna ’89
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Celebrating Birthdays
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June Evelyn Brown March through September June Wells Benoit Date Class June Kniser Nealy June Russell Gilstad March June Fehrm Jacobson Ruth Brazell Arena 17 ’51 Emma Ornelas Gordoa Dora Mae Eaton Norton 17 ’54 Emma Enoch Mary McGregor Keyser 24 ’58 June Woodbury Yapp Patricia Grinnell Thompson 26 ’51 Ruth Watson April Barbara Mosher Bishop Sharon Carper Pauley 5 ’62 Irene Velez Magana Ruth Aust Foster 11 ’60 Beatrice Williams Wilkins Kiyoko Fujiu 16 ’46 Loretta Ems Bigger Lois Kawamura Toyama 21 ’51 July Patsy Newland Hayes 22 ’57 Diane Forsberg Johnson Doris Brinker Frohock 23 ’54 Sylvia Chandler Lanham Zenol Moore 23 ’46 Marilyn Baker Saunders Tomiko Kasai Asano 25 ’49 Lois Worman Fey Elinor Frey Geer 28 ’51 Cheryle Knight May Anna Aponas Joan Erhart Sayer 4 ’52 Donna Birath Whitenack Ruby Karlson 8 ’49 Ruby McDonald Shepherd Natalie Wigandt Galaway 6 ’60 Daisy VeZain Susan Hall Soria 16 ’58 August Lois Hampton Waddington 16 ’51 Yvonne Buckley Carol Locke Medbery 23 ’63 Jean Counts Hansen Barbara Westwood Fradenburgh 24 ’50 Betty Anderson Warren Marilyn Cook Partin 25 ’48 Joy Denlinger Gale Maxine Bascom Bascom 27 ’47 Beatrice Spencer Brophey Ruth Cowley Reynolds 28 ’44 Phoebe Brown O’Dell Juanita Summers 29 ’46 Ann Hawkes Paquin Shirley Tyler Gardner Tatum 30 ’56 Ruth Milliken Dudley Janet Sedam Roberts 30 ’58 September Lois Thompson English If we missed publishing your birthday, Betty Piltz Parsons send us a note! Alice Edson Cornell BMTS@crcds.edu or Priscilla Quiroga Jenkins Echoes Carol Welch 1100 South Goodman St. Leah Johnson McGillen Rochester NY 14620 Eglantina Cerna Vogeli
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1 2 2 6 9 10 12 16 18 26 27 29 30
’61 ’46 ’56 ’50 ’53 ’58 ’51 ’52 ’51 ’64 ’41 ’52 ’56
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’63 ’53 ’54 ’52 ’63 ’45 ’51 ’56 ’60
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’52 ’57 ’53 ’54 ’47 ’52 ’52 ’45
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’62 ’55 ’44 ’57 ’55 ’60 ’63
Do you want to get in touch with your BMTS Sisters, but don’t have their addresses? Contact Lisa Bors at 585-340-9647 or bmts@crcds.edu.
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From The Admissions Office
Spring Cleaning?
Alumnae Referrals are Valuable Gifts to CRCDS!
CRCDS is happy to receive your “BMTS” related material for our collection! Please keep us in mind when you are doing your spring cleaning. Contact Lisa Bors at lbors@crcds.edu or (585) 340-9647.
BMTS alumnae may think of their contributions to the school solely in terms of financial giving. However, alumnae referrals provide some of our best leads for identifying promising women and men who have the determination and ability to carry on the BMTS and Divinity school’s legacy of visionary leadership. Please consider investing in the future of CRCDS by participating in our Prospective Student Referral Program. An online referral form is available on the CRCDS website under “Alumni/ae.” Simply provide the names and contact information of the prospective students you would like to refer to CRCDS and we will personally follow up with each individual. If you would prefer to talk with someone in our admissions office directly, please call 585-340-9500 or send us an e-mail at admissions@crcds.edu. We appreciate your assistance in encouraging future Christian leaders to enroll at CRCDS!
Horizon Society BMTS Alumna who make legacy gifts to the BMTS Scholarship, the BMTS Chair or CRCDS in their estate plans play a key role in our success. Your gifts help grow the endowment, providing essential financial support for women. Legacy gifts through wills, charitable gifts annuities or other estate gifts ensure the continued vitality and development of CRCDS from one generation to the next. Help support the future of women by including CRCDS in your estate planning. For more information, please contact Tom McDade Clay, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at (585) 340-9648 or tmcdadeclay@crcds.edu.
CRCDS Distinguished Alumna of the Year Ms. Joan Devening Criswell (BMTS ‘51) has worked tirelessly in the field of women’s rights and reproductive care for most of her career. She helped establish Planned Parenthood in Peoria, Illinois and later served as its Executive Director from 1968-1979. Joan was the Family Planning Program Administrator at the Illinois Department of Public Health’s capital, Springfield, until her retirement. She and her husband, Garland, have been married for 66 years and have two grown daughters and one son. Ms. Olgha Sierra Sandman (BMTS ’52) left home in Mexico in the early ‘50s to attend the Baptist Missionary Training School. Her ministry focused on the rights of farm and migrant workers, one in which she championed for most of her life. She met and worked with Caesar Chavez, the controversial workers’ rights organizer, and was an over 40-year board member of the National Farm Worker Ministry. She and her husband, the late Rev. Dr. Robert Sandman, worked together in missionary causes and spent a year working with Turkish refugees. She remains active in supporting farm workers and “la causa.”
1100 South Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620 www.crcds.edu Follow us: @crcds Like us: facebook.com/crcds
2017 Biennial Mission Summit Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon Join us for our CRCDS-hosted dinner on Saturday, July 1st at 5:00 pm Ticket price: $30.00 per person For more information, visit
http://americanbaptists2017.weebly.com/
Don’t forget to stop by the CRCDS table!
Echoes is published two times a year. The next issue is Fall 2017. Submissions are due by September 29, 2017. Send your news to: Echoes CRCDS 1100 South Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620 (585) 340-9647 or BMTS@crcds.edu