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Enclosed is your class newsletter MACM • Spring 2011
Friends University Issue 32 Spring 2011
Campus Connection
MACM
From Your Class Agent Susan Waters penguinrunner6@cox.net
I hope you had a blessed Christmas and have started what will be a Happy New Year. As I write this we have a forecast of 5-9 inches of snow for western Kansas. I think I’m ready for spring! I want to continue looking at the works of Dr. Chris Kettler, G’77, with a discussion of his second book, “The God Who Rejoices; Joy, Despair, and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ.” To quote Dr. Kettler, “This book is a continuing exploration of the doctrine of the vicarious humanity, building upon previous studies I have done. As the latest, The God Who Believes, dealt with faith and doubt, this one looks at joy and despair.” Dr. Kettler first defines despair (both personally and theologically), and then defines joy in the same respect. He says, “Life is full of despair. Can one really be joyful in the midst of despair, and where is Jesus Christ in this? This is the basic, gut-level, question of this book.” Dr. Kettler opens up areas of despair and joy of which I was not even aware. He credits MACM student case studies and several alumni by name who contributed greatly to his last two books. You will have to get the book to see if you know any of them. (I’m not one of them in case you were wondering if I was whistling my own tune!) Because despair and joy are often not discussed from a theological perspective, Dr. Kettler says, “I am seeking to push the envelope theologically and see how far we can open up the doctrine of the vicarious humanity of Christ to new implications,
pastorally, practically, and existentially.” Dr. Kettler says, “How can we experience joy when the world remains as it is? This, indeed, is the problem of joy living with despair. The Gospel of Luke, however, sees its resolution in nothing less than the joy Jesus brings (Luke 10:21). In other words, our joy and despair have already taken place in Christ and they continue, but only in him and in his perspective.” I would encourage you to get this book and support this man who has devoted his life to teaching theology. It was so amazing to read the book and actually remember how he taught those concepts during my classroom days. Maybe you did not struggle in his classes, but I did. It helped me to read his book after all these years and realize I actually “got it!” Dr. Kettler’s most recent book is titled, “Reading Ray S. Anderson; Theology as Ministry, Ministry as Theology.” From the brief description I found, it looks like a fantastic read. God willing, I will discuss this book in the next article. I would love to hear what you are doing and how you are using your Christian Ministry degree. If I beg you, will you e-mail me and let me know? Please?? God bless you and enjoy your snow days!
Susan Waters, M’04
Alumni Office Alumni Office Friends University 2100 W. University Ave. Wichita, KS 67213 316-295-5900
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www.friends.edu Spring 2011 Friends University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding this policy: EEOC/Title IX Coordinator, Friends University, 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, KS 67213, 316-295-5000. Friends University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, telephone 312-263-0456, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.
NEWS BRIEFS Alumni news posted monthly online at www.friends.edu/ friends-flash
For more University news, go online to www.friends.edu/ newsandpublications
For more student news, go online to www.crimsonchronicle.org
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Search Underway for 13th University President
December Seniors Honored at Special Luncheon
As you may have heard, Dr. Biff Green, president of Friends University, will be retiring June 30, 2011. The Board of Trustees has launched a national search for the 13th president of Friends University which is expected to conclude by March 1, 2011. To find out more about the presidential search, please visit www.friends.edu/presidential-search.
With the help of the Wichita Alumni Advisory Board, the Friends University Alumni Association honored those traditionalundergraduate seniors who graduated in December with a special luncheon Dec. 8.
Friends University Offers Hometown Advantage Grant Do you know a high-school senior from Sedgwick County, Andover, Augusta or Rose Hill who is exploring college options? Friends University is offering students from these areas a $5,000 grant toward tuition at Friends University starting in fall 2011. The $5,000 grant is renewable, is available in addition to other scholarships and does not need to be paid back. It is designed to make it more affordable for new students who demonstrate financial need to get an independent college education.
Members of the Wichita Alumni Advisory Board, University President Dr. Biff Green and his wife, Binnie, and Board of Trustees Chairman Rodney Pitts, G’82, served a tasty Mexican buffet of steak and chicken fajitas, Spanish rice, refried beans, cinnamon chips and all the fixins! Students received words of encouragement from Dr. Green, Mr. Pitts and Wichita Alumni Advisory Board members Marvin Connet, G’82/’84, and Lisa Kraemer, G’10. As they prepared to enter the world as representatives of Friends University, the seniors were urged to remember the time they spent with their classmates and friends. Congratulations once again to this group of graduating seniors!
For more information, call 316-295-5100 or e-mail duncande@friends.edu.
don’t forget Easter Egg Hunt Lenexa – April 16 Topeka – April 16 Wichita – April 23 Commencement Lenexa – May 1 Topeka – May 1 Wichita – May 7
From the Executive Director of Alumni and Annual Fund You may recall that the Alumni Office has been working with the State of Kansas to create a Friends University license plate. On Jan. 4, 2011, the director of vehicles informed us that while they have all the necessary documents to move forward, they would need additional monies from the state budget to produce the plates. At the time of the printing of this newsletter, the director of vehicles stated that they would be meeting with the secretary of revenue in mid-January to work on adding our plate costs to their agency budget.
The Alumni Office anticipates re-grouping with the director of vehicles in mid-February to determine where funding is with our plate request. More information will be posted online at www. friends.edu/kansas-license-plates.
Lisa Tilma, G’01/M’04 Executive Director of Alumni and Annual Fund