Where Tomorrow’s Leaders are Students Today
Campus NewsBriefs A Weekly Update of Activities at Rust College Vol. 42, No. 20
March 21, 2013
Religious Emphasis Week 2013 ~ “We’ve Come This Far By Faith”
Students and faculty members celebrated Religious Emphasis Week, March 11th-15th, sharing stories of faith, leadership and service through panel discussions, worship services, the weekly AEP assembly, and a performance by the Watoto De’Afrika Memphis Performing Arts Academy, lead by Mr. Donald O’Connor. Special guests included Elder Bobby Earl Dailey of Oxford, Mississippi, Rev. Dr. Elizabeth A. Williams of Nashville, Tennessee and Rev. Mattie D. Gipson, also of Oxford. Elder Bailey opened Religious Emphasis Week, speaking to students and faculty during the Opening Banquet and candlelight vigil. Elder Bailey received his Master of Divinity in 1992 from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. He is an educator and former military police officer who is currently a pastor within the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). He is Senior Pastor of Providence UMC, Buford Chapel UMC and West St. Peter UMC, of Oxford. Rev. Dr. Elizabeth A. Williams is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health, Health Administration and Health Services at Tennessee State University in Nashville. Dr. Williams has completed several fellowships, and is pursuing a Master’s of Divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She is a licensed pastor and is currently seeking ordination as an Elder. Dr. Williams spoke to faculty and students during the interfaith discussion held Wednesday, March 13, about becoming natural leaders and pursuing greatness. Rev. Mattie D. Gipson is a native of Oxford, Mississippi, and a graduate of Rust College, in which she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1967. Mrs. Gipson has been active in church from her early childhood years and has served in offices in the local church and on the District and Annual Conference levels. She received a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology (Atlanta, GA) in May 1997 and became a full-time pastor within the Mississippi Conference of the UMC the following June. In June 2011, she was appointed Superintendent of the Greenwood District of the UMC. Students and staff were able to participate in a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Chandra Tummalapalli, an assistant professor within the Division of Science and Mathematics. “Share Our Faith Stories Better Together” allowed the audience to ask questions to the panel on the diversity of religion, offering overviews of Hinduism and Islam. Other panelists included Dr. Mian Ashraf, Dr. Sujata Sinha, Dr. Margaret Delashmit, Mr. Abdoulie Cham, Mr. Emmanuel Bass, Ms. Jennifer Washington and Ms. Danielle Caradine. (continued page 2)