AWARE A Quarterly Publication of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
April 2018
Looking Ahead with Joy!
Aware Magazine • April 2018 Contents
Aware is published quarterly
EDITORIAL BOARD
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ceciley Akins Katharine Duke David L. Heetland Krista J. McNeil Shane A. Nichols Tasha Sargent
Bill Burlingham of Burlingham Productions Shane A. Nichols
3 | Presidential Perspective: Looking Ahead with Joy! 4 | Connectional Learning
7 | David Heetland Stepping into a New Role 8 | Newest Master of Arts Degrees Tailored to the Needs of Today’s Church and World 12 | Carrie and Scott Carnes Invest in Theological Education 14 | Mary Phillips, Class of 1879: The First Woman to Graduate 15 | Alum News
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Every year, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary recognizes two graduates with Distinguished Alum Awards. One award is given to an alum who graduated more than 25 years ago, and a second award is given to an alum who graduated 25 years ago or less. Nominees should embody the principles of Christian service in effective ministry and be graduates of Garrett-Evangelical or one of its parent bodies (Garrett Biblical Institute, Garrett Theological Seminary, Evangelical Theological Seminary, or the Chicago Training School).
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Accepting Nominations for the 2019 Distinguished Alum Awards
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Founded in 1853, the seminary serves more than 400 students from many denominations and various cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. Garrett-Evangelical creates bold leaders through master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. Its 4,500 living alums serve church and society around the world.
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by the development office for alums and friends of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church.
Nominations must be received by July 27, 2018. Persons previously nominated will be considered and will not require a second nomination to ensure their consideration. To download the nomination form, go to Garrett.edu/DistinguishedAlums or contact Ceciley Akins, director of stewardship, at 847.866.3971 or Ceciley.Akins@Garrett.edu.
Presidential Perspective: Looking Ahead with Joy! Dear Garrett-Evangelical Alums and Friends: During this Easter season, we have once again celebrated the reason for our hope, a risen Savior who has promised to accompany us into new life and unto the end of time. For so many reasons, GarrettEvangelical is “looking ahead with joy” and becoming even more intentional about its focus on hope. I am reminded of one of our congregational partners here in Evanston, the historic Second Baptist Church, established in 1882. The leadership of Second Baptist in the community on matters of economic, racial, educational, and housing justice, as well as in interfaith relationships, is an embodiment of the church’s selfunderstanding as “a beacon of light.” Perhaps Garrett-Evangelical should consider thinking of itself as a “beacon of hope” for the Church and for the world, especially in this season of great challenge almost everywhere we turn. We recognize our own opportunities–opportunities to lead with hope and confidence during these days. We are embracing new pedagogies and delivery formats that are making our resources even more accessible to those who seek deepened understanding of their faith and preparation for various forms of ministry. I recently attended a gathering in Dallas of United Methodist “anchor institutions.” Attending were leaders from our United Methodist theological schools, members from the Council of Bishops, hospital and foundation leaders, and participants in the “Commission on a Way Forward.” We considered how our institutions might be affected by the outcomes from the 2019 General Conference on church conflicts regarding human sexuality. And while uncertainty and anxiety abound, what was clear is that our higher education institutions have already been planning for a changed future. Garrett-Evangelical stands firm in our commitment to serve the broader church, in our commitment to an inclusive and hospitable welcome, and in our mission to prepare bold, spiritual leaders. We are planning for the possibility that our seminaries may no longer be supported by Ministerial Education Funds even as we remain proud that The April 2018
United Methodist Church has substantively supported its theological schools beyond what other mainline denominations have done for their schools. We have much to rejoice in and much about which to be hopeful. Our alumni NEVER cease to inspire with their creativity in ministry and their commitment to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Generation Z is taking ministry by storm with innovative ways of responding to the spiritual longings and the material needs of others in today’s world. We are learning from them through the help of a Lilly Endowment grant in young adult ministry, and we will incorporate this learning into our curricula. As I travel to various meetings, there is no missing that Garrett-Evangelical is enjoying a period of recognition for our excellent faculty, new degree and certificate programs, and our Connectional Learning initiatives. While our desire to be a beacon of hope for the world is penultimate in its earthly grounding–for we are but a human institution striving to be a servant seminary– we know that, ultimately, our hope is grounded in the transforming love of a risen Christ and in our efforts to bear witness “unto the ends of the earth” as we seek to follow in the way of Jesus. Georgia Harkness’s 1954 hymn, “Hope of the World,” captures it well. Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious, who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain: we would be faithful to thy gospel glorious; thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign! (vs. 4) Blessings to you in this Easter season. Share the hope that is within you, and keep up your great work out there!
Dr. Lallene J. Rector President
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Connectional Learning
Connecting you with the eduction you need, where you need it, when you need it, and how you need it.
In Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, one of the seminary’s commitments is to “Respond to the educational and professional development needs of prospective and current students, alums, clergy, and laity through further solidifying our identity, providing relevant theological education, and offering a variety of lifelong and leadership learning programs.” The seminary began its response to this commitment in 2017 when it reimagined and rebranded its lifelong learning program as “Connectional Learning.” Led by Erin Moore, director of strategic initiatives, Connectional Learning forms an extended learning community of clergy, laity, and working professionals. A wide-range of programming seeks to connect personal learning interests with accessible non-degree educational resources; professional development needs for knowledge and skills with continuing education units; and diversity of learners to a variety of delivery formats (on and off-campus, online, hybrid). Connectional Learning has had an impressive first year with 328 alums and 446 non-alums participating in 23 Connectional Learning continuing education opportunities (webinars, online courses, conferences, workshops, and more) since January 2017. This is an astonishing increase in participation from the 2016 calendar year when only 75 persons participated in continuing education events at the seminary. The seminary is extremely excited to build upon the last year, and we hope even more will participate in our Connectional Learning offerings in the coming academic year. To learn more about Connectional Learning, we recently sat down with Moore.
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Why “Connectional” Learning for the program title? Connectional Learning is our adaptation of “connected learning.” Connected learning strives to customize education to the learner by leveraging advances in technology. Our twist on this concept is to create education and training that enables learners to choose the type of programming that fits best for their physical location, ability to travel, learning preferences, time, and budget. Connectional Learning offers online, regional, and on-campus programs to meet our learners where they are and connect them with the education they need, when they need it. What makes Connectional Learning unique at Garrett-Evangelical and unique from lifelong learning/continuing education programs at other schools? We noticed that other programs emphasize providing education on-campus. Garrett-Evangelical alums are located across the United States and internationally, and we understand accessing on-campus education isn’t always possible. Connectional Learning is designed to be just-in-time, accessible education that is responsive to requests we receive from our alums, as well as other clergy and laity. Through webinars and a variety of online courses, we have a growing number of online continuing education opportunities. We are also increasing our regional presence by offering Garrett on the Road events at churches located in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We hope to continue annual events in these locations and expand to Michigan during the 2018-19 academic year. What is your role with the Connectional Learning program? I see myself as the conductor. The faculty compose the education and training, and I manage the logistical and, in some cases, technological details. With support from our marketing and communications office, I create webpages and registration for each April 2018
Upcoming Opportunities offering and develop the marketing plan best suited to get the word out about what we are doing. If I play this role correctly, the outcome is faculty members are able to focus on designing their offerings, and learners have easily accessible and engaging education and training. How does Connectional Learning support the seminary’s mission to prepare skilled, bold, and articulate leaders who share the transforming love of Jesus Christ? The conditions today in which clergy and laity try to live out their commitments to ministry and faith is changing rapidly. We are all called to seek the information and training we need to be engaged in what is happening in both the church and the world. Continuing education is one of the ways we can not only remain relevant in our work, but also be on the cutting edge of what is to come. Our Connectional Learning programs challenge clergy and laity (including working professionals) to think of their ministry and their faith in new and exciting ways while staying true to the foundation of what it means to be Christian. I believe Connectional Learning is a great manifestation of living out the seminary’s mission. How does Connectional Learning connect and support the recent grants Garrett-Evangelical has received and the work of the various centers and institutes at the seminary? Thanks to grants we’ve received from Lilly Endowment in the last few years, Garrett-Evangelical has been able to expand its reach with new lifelong learning opportunities that fall under the umbrella of Connectional Learning. For example, thanks to the “Leading Vibrant Congregations: A Collaboration of Faith and Finance” grant, we will be offering a 10-week online course, “Financial Management for Churches and Nonprofits” as well as in-person seminars on strategic planning and change management to equip pastors to be competent in financial affairs and to become more effective leaders in their congregations and communities. Through conferences and workshops, the centers and institutes remain vital to the seminary’s continuing education offerings. Connectional Learning partners with the centers and institutes to help connect, promote, and support their work. (Continued on page 6) April 2018
June 18 – 22, 2018 | Faith-Based Community Organizing Workshop St. James Commons, Chicago, Illinois Freedom’s Journey: The Art of Organizing for Change and Mission Led by Civil Rights Activist Gerald Taylor, who brings 50 years of organizing experience
June 24 – August 27, 2018 | Online Course Spiritual Disciplines and Prayer Led by Rev. Dr. Dwight Judy, professor emeritus of spiritual formation
August 20 – September 28, 2018 | Online Course Interfaith Spirituality for Christians Led by Dr. Ruth Judy, associate faculty, Sofia University
September 6 – October 11, 2018 | Online Course Evangelism for Non-Evangelists Led by Rev. Dr. Heather Lear, director of evangelism at Discipleship Ministries, and Rev. Dr. Mark Teasdale, E. Stanley Jones professor of evangelism
September 4 – November 11, 2018 | Online Course Financial Management for Churches and Nonprofits Led by Dr. Jim Croft, academic director for nonprofit finance at the Kellogg School of Management’s Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University
September 18, 2018 | 12 – 1 p.m. | Webinar Theology in Migration Led by Dr. Nancy Bedford, Georgia Harkness professor of applied theology, and Ms. Maria Salazar, MDiv student
September 29, 2018 | One-Day Workshop Hope for Creation First UMC of Whitewater, Minnesota Led by Rev. Dr. Timothy Eberhart, assistant professor of theology and ecology
October 1 – November 9, 2018 | Online Course Retreat and Small Group Leadership Training Led by Rev. Dr. Brenda Buckwell, director of Living Streams Flowing Water Spiritual Formation Ministries
Garrett.edu/ConnectionalLearning Aware Magazine
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In February, Garrett on the Road went to Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and First UMC in Madison, Wisconsin. Ti mo
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What have been some highlights from Connectional Learning since its launch? Our Garrett on the Road events, which offer a facultyled lecture or workshop in partnership with a church outside of the Evanston/Chicago area, have been a huge hit. So far, we have offered two events hosted by First United Methodist Church of Madison, Wisconsin, and one event hosted by Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These events covered topics on ecological regeneration and child advocacy and were designed to engage our area alums, members of the host church, local social service organizations, prospective students, and other area clergy and laity. We have been able to introduce many new people to Garrett-Evangelical, while at the same time being in service to the churches that host us.
How do you see Connectional Learning growing and expanding in the next three to five years? My hope for Connectional Learning is that people see Garrett-Evangelical as a resource. So, the next time people think, “I want to learn about spiritual formation, evangelism, lay leadership/ministry, public theology, or administrative leadership skills like financial management or fundraising,” their next step is to visit the Connectional Learning section of the seminary’s website. It is my hope that our offerings will keep expanding so that people will feel confident they will find what they need. In a similar vein, I hope GarrettEvangelical will be the first partner that comes to mind when churches want to have an event in a specific area of interest and discussion. What can people look forward to from Connectional Learning in the next year? Our programming for the next few years will focus on continuing existing offerings and developing new programming that: 1) fills the gap between theological education and the practical leadership and management skills needed to lead a thriving church or nonprofit organization; 2) encourages public ministry, activism, and evangelism; 3) prepares laity for leadership in the church; 4) supports spiritual formation and direction; and 5) inspires youth and young adults to engage with the church and consider a future in ministry. You can learn more about Connectional Learning and see upcoming opportunities on the seminary’s website, Garrett.edu/ConnectionalLearning. If you have suggestions on future offerings or want to learn how your church can partner with the G e n n if er seminary, please contact Erin Moore, B director of strategic initiatives, at Erin.Moore@Garrett.edu or 847.866.4547.
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Our webinars and online courses have also been well received. We know our learners are busy, and these webinars, typically held over the lunch hour, can be a great way to learn something new or dig deeper into an area of interest. Our “Evangelism for NonEvangelists,” course, an online offering with webinars taking place over five consecutive weeks, drew more than 120 participants this spring with additional people on a wait list! Recent webinar topics have included Proclaiming Justice with Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks, Using Your MDiv in the Social Sector with Trustee Roxane White, and The Heartbeat of Leadership with Rev. Dr. Brenda Buckwell.
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David Heetland Stepping into a New Role
A letter from Rev. Dr. David Heetland, Vice President of Development Dear Garrett-Evangelical Family:
On June 30, 2018, I will complete 35 years as vice president for development at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. At that time, I will step away from day-to-day management of the development office. I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Joe Emmick, who I believe can take the seminary’s development program to new heights. Joe will join the development staff on May 1, 2018.
Joe comes to Garrett-Evangelical with more than 20 years of experience leading successful university capital campaigns, cultivating and soliciting individual major gifts, and creating and executing strategic plans. A graduate of Wabash College, he served as dean for college advancement at his alma mater before becoming vice president for development and alumni relations at Elmhurst College. His most recent position was as associate dean for external relations at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Joe will build on the development office’s outstanding record of accomplishment, including its recent historic $100 million campaign, and will continue its commitment to provide the necessary financial undergirding so the seminary can fulfill its core purpose as a premier institution of theological education. While I will be stepping away from day-to-day management, I am not stepping away from this wonderful seminary. I will continue to work in my new role as senior vice president for planned giving. As a Certified Financial Planner, I hope to help persons who wish to assist Garrett-Evangelical in fulfilling its mission for generations to come through estate planning. If you are one of those persons (and I hope you are!), do not hesitate to be in touch with me by email (David.Heetland@Garrett.edu) or phone (847.866.3970). I’d be happy to discuss which planned giving vehicle (a gift annuity, a bequest in a will, life insurance, a trust arrangement, or naming the seminary as a beneficiary of an IRA or pension plan) might be best for you. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Joe to the Garrett-Evangelical family. He will be calling upon you for your help in building upon the accomplishments of the past 35 years as we seek to ensure the future strength of this great seminary. Looking ahead with joy,
David L. Heetland April 2018
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Newest Master of Arts Degrees Tailored to the Needs of Today’s Church and World
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fter many months, GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary launched its newest master of arts degree in spiritual formation and direction (MASFD) in the fall of 2017. Directed by Rev. Dr. Frederick Schmidt, who holds the Rueben P. Job Chair in Spiritual Formation, the MASFD builds upon Garrett-Evangelical’s deep and abiding commitment to nurture spiritual leaders who will ensure that the church has leaders who are not only intellectually prepared
to serve God and others, but who are also spiritually formed in Christ so God can use them for the transformation of the world. Additionally, this coming fall Garrett-Evangelical will respond to the ever-growing need for theologically trained leaders working through public ministries of advocacy, organizing, and justice-making in collaboration with other communities of faith and conscience. The master of arts in
public ministry (MAPM) will equip and educate faith leaders for wise, courageous, and transformative public ministries in service to God’s loving justice for all peoples and creation. Rev. Dr. Timothy Eberhart, assistant professor of theology and ecology, is serving as the director of this program. Both degrees have tremendous potential for the church and our world. To learn more, we recently spoke with Schmidt and Eberhart.
Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction Rev. Dr. Frederick Schmidt, Director and Rueben P. Job Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation What does spiritual formation in today’s context look like? I used to teach a class called, “Making Sense of the American Spiritual Landscape.” My colleagues regularly observed, “That’s a great trick, if you can do it.” Church leaders will find themselves working in a far more complex environment than those who were serving the church 30 years ago. People characterize themselves as “spiritual, but not religious” for a variety of reasons. So, they don’t connect with the church as a matter of course. They look to a wide array of spiritual authorities, and they combine traditions and practices with more of an eye to personal and private enrichment. Garrett-Evangelical has offered spiritual formation courses for more than 30 years. Why did the seminary decide to create a master of arts in spiritual formation and direction (MASFD)? What was the thinking behind creating this degree? I am delighted to say that among Protestant seminaries, Garrett-Evangelical has been at the forefront of spiritual formation, and—continuing that tradition—we have one of the few endowed chairs in spiritual formation. The chair honors the life and work of Bishop Rueben P. Job, who was a leader in spiritual formation, the world editor of The Upper Room, and the author of several books devoted to prayer and spiritual formation. I am honored
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to be the inaugural holder of that chair. That information is important as background because the creation of the MASFD builds on that commitment. Another reason for the degree is to address the issues I just named. Why does Garrett-Evangelical think this degree is important and relevant in today’s world? The need to connect with God spiritually is as old as the human race itself, but if Christian leaders hope to address the spiritual longing of people in the 21st century, they will need to speak directly to that longing. In order to do that, leaders will need to understand the Christian spiritual tradition. They will need to connect the “spiritual” and “religious” dots for those people— explaining why what we do on Sundays is as inherently spiritual as it is religious. They will also need to help their congregations grasp the unique shape of Christian spirituality and cultivate specific spiritual practices that will aid them in their own journeys. Who will benefit from this degree? The list is pretty long because even those who are not immediately responsible for the task of spiritual formation can benefit from the degree. So in addition to formation and retreat leaders, as well as spiritual directors, several other groups would benefit, including:
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• Leaders who are convinced that their task has a spiritual dimension and who want to develop their understanding of spirituality, its history, background, and practices • Leaders of nonprofits, churches, and other agencies who are looking for the spiritual tools of discernment and skills in contemplative action • Leaders of all organizations who are looking for tools to transcend conflict and turf wars in the search for the transcendent, spiritual claims • Therapists interested in complementing their training with gifts in spiritual direction • Chaplains in hospitals, prisons, schools, the Armed Forces, and other settings where spiritual direction is an intrinsic part of their work • Innovators who are looking for the spiritual skills that feed creativity in mission and service • Pastors who are looking for fresh perspective on the tasks of preaching, counseling, and leading • Candidates for the diaconate in The United Methodist Church who expect to serve in churches and/or agencies where the sensibilities and skills of a spiritual director are applicable What does a degree in spiritual formation and direction entail exactly? What are the requirements? The program includes nine foundational courses, six core courses, and 12 hours of electives. In addition to the subject areas covered by the core courses, five of them include “modules” or units devoted to training in spiritual direction. Students can also get a certificate in spiritual formation. How does that work? Students who complete the MASFD are also given a certificate in spiritual direction, which is awarded by the seminary. But The United Methodist Church has a paraprofessional certification in spiritual formation that overlaps with some of the course work in the MASFD. So, it is also possible to make progress toward that certification as well. In 2012, the seminary launched the Rueben P. Job Institute for Spiritual Formation in honor of a April 2018
retired United Methodist bishop, spiritual leader, and Garrett-Evangelical alumnus, Bishop Rueben P. Job. How does this Institute fit in with the degree? We’ve been working on a vision for the Job Institute over the last year or more. Its mission is to provide resources for continuing education in spiritual formation and direction. The webpage, which we will be developing over the next four months, already includes continuing education programs offered through the seminary’s Connectional Learning program. Starting in July, the page will also include links to sites devoted to spiritual formation and direction, an events page, a link to my blog (which is hosted by Patheos.com), and reviews of new books in the field of Christian spirituality. We hope to create a premier site that provides reliable resources for anyone interested in the subject or looking for help with their ministry. What kinds of skills will our graduates have after earning this degree? What kinds of careers might these students pursue? I am sure that I will miss things here: Certainly they will acquire a knowledge of the history of Christian spirituality, an acquaintance with the diversity of Christian spiritual practice over the centuries, the ability to mentor others, the skills to serve as a spiritual director, and the sensibilities and tools needed to help churches and organizations craft their works that transcend business as usual and are enlivened instead by the capacity for spiritual discernment. It will also help students to deepen their own spiritual lives, so they can actually find new ways to be present to God and to others in ways that lead to deeper engagement with the work of God’s Kingdom. As for careers, the degree bears on a wide range of careers: pastors, spiritual directors, formation and retreat leaders, chaplains, educators, and leaders who are convinced that their work will be enriched by attention to their own spirituality and the spiritual challenges that their organizations face. (Continued on page 10) For more information about the master of arts in spiritual formation and direction degree, go to Garrett.edu/MASFD.
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Newest Master of Arts (Continued) Master of Arts in Public Ministry Rev. Dr.Timothy Eberhart, Director and Assistant Professor of Theology and Ecology How would you define public ministry? I hesitate to respond with too narrow a definition. And I say that because I believe that public ministry, on the broadest level, is nothing more and nothing less than the common ministry of everyone who seeks to follow Jesus in the Spirit for the sake of the world God so loves. The scope of God’s loving-justice witnessed to in the scriptures isn’t confined to some set-apart private sphere, or just to the interior lives of individuals, or to religious practices narrowly understood. The redemptive work of God is ultimately universal in scope. In that sense, every Christian is called to ministry. All of the baptized are called and equipped by the Spirit to seek God’s justice—at home, in gathering together at church, in the marketplace, in civic life, in neighborhoods and communities, and as global citizens of our common planetary home. We were very intentional in naming this a degree in public ministry and not one in social justice or public advocacy. We are a seminary of The United Methodist Church rooted in the ecumenical Christian faith. We are equipped to train and to form Christian leaders, and we have long done so in ways that have prepared ordained ministers to serve faithfully and with excellence for the sake of the public good. What we have not done as well, at the curricular level at least, is train and form lay leaders who feel called to live out their vocations in the public realm as a living expression of their Christian faith. So we were clear that this is a ministerial degree, but one that claims and affirms an expansive understanding of ministry for all Christians. That leads me to my next question, which you’ve begun to answer. Why did Garrett-Evangelical decide to offer a master of arts in public ministry? What was the thinking behind creating this degree? There are an increasing number of students applying to seminary who are clear they desire a theological education but who do not see themselves fitting into traditional forms of congregational ministry. They’re compelled by Jesus. They care deeply about the state of the world. Many have been shaped by their experiences in the church—some of those experiences being rich and meaningful, others more painful. But they desire to study
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the Bible more critically, to learn about Christian history in greater depth, to explore questions of spirituality in a community of learning, and to examine the pressing moral issues of our time—even if they’re still discerning where they will end up after graduation. So how can we extend the many goods of a theological education to the whole church, so that all members of the church body and not just clergy have the opportunity to engage their faith through sustained reflection and be equipped for the work of ministry in whatever form that might take? We very much hope that a large number of those who enroll in and graduate from this degree will be laity. And I think the implications of that are pretty exciting—for our churches, our seminary classrooms, and ultimately for the kind of impact they are going to have in the world. Garrett-Evangelical has also been a leader for a long time in educating United Methodist deacons, those called to ordained ministries that connect the church with the needs of the world. We’ve structured this MA to meet the requirements for deacons, and I’m confident there will be many preparing for diaconal ministries who will find this a compelling degree program. I also believe there will be some clergy, those who already have a theological education, who will be well served by this degree. Those already engaged in various forms of public ministry will also benefit those who would like to strengthen their capacities to make a difference in their communities. In that case, it’s possible they would be able to transfer in a set number of credit hours. Why does Garrett-Evangelical think this degree is important and relevant in today’s world? Public life today is marked by a host of very troubling trends. Some of these are more recent, and others have deep, even ancient, roots. We can name the more visible rise of white supremacist ideologies and racist groups. We can point to the mass incarceration of black, brown, and red peoples in this country. We can identify the obscene gap between the most wealthy and the very poor, the bottoming out of middle class wealth and middle class institutions oriented toward the common good, and the increasing number of those threatened by April 2018
extreme poverty. Related to this are the growing threats to a democratic society and what the scientific community is telling us about the implications of climate change is terribly disconcerting. So how do we understand these trends, these dynamics that are impacting public life and that are being expressed in the public sphere? Are we able to make connections between them, identify patterns, and see how they reinforce one another? Mental health professions are tracking a rise in depression and anxiety in the United States, as well as an increase in drug addictions, especially in impoverished communities. Surely, among the many factors involved, there’s a connection here to the feelings of vulnerability that so many are experiencing on so many different levels. So, what does it mean to believe in the God of Jesus Christ at such a time as this? What is the meaning of Good News today, not just for individuals but for the world? And what role do people of faith have in understanding and addressing these issues in redemptive and transformative ways? At the same time, there are many signs of hopeful resistance and creative responses emerging all around us. I very much believe that the various crises we are seeing present opportunities for transformative, and even radical, changes to our public institutions and our common life. Again, what role might Christians play in joining together with other faith traditions and with people of goodwill in building and wielding power through movements and organizing and direct service? Do Christians have unique resources and perspectives we might offer at this just time in our history? I believe we do. What kinds of careers would these students pursue? We anticipate our graduates will pursue a variety of different career paths, and there will be many who continue on in their existing careers but desire the theological grounding to support and better equip them in what they’re already doing. Many may be people who lead nonprofit organizations, community organizers, and child or family service workers. We may have alums who are politicians or who work in government offices as staff members writing public policy. Others might contribute through think tanks. I could imagine there will be socially minded entrepreneurs who find ways to live out their faith through business models that benefit the common good. Still others might work at a more general level for the April 2018
church, working on public advocacy and justice issues for their particular denomination or through ecumenical work. And I’m sure there will be careers that we haven’t even though of that our alums will pursue—or maybe even create! One of the commitments I have in directing this degree is to find ways of staying connected with our alums in ways that support them in their public ministries but also in ways that impact the degree program in terms of what we teach, how we teach, what we can learn from their experiences, how we can build power together through their networks, and how current students can connect with their work. Who will benefit from this degree? Ultimately, I hope those who benefit from this degree will be the people and the places our graduates end up serving in public ministry. I hope vulnerable children benefit. I hope incarcerated populations benefit. I hope black neighborhoods and communities and individuals and institutions benefit. I hope poor rural communities struggling amidst drug addictions and high cancer rates benefit. I hope degraded landscapes and threatened wildlife and polluted waterways benefit. If we can look back in 20 years at the impacts our graduates of this degree have had in the public realm, and if we can point to specific lives and particular organizations and particular places that are flourishing because of their work, then we’ll know we’ve succeeded as a school through this degree program. And that gets back to who we understand God to be and what God is doing in the world. This is a theological matter. Christians affirm that God so loves the world— the whole of it and every part. So to follow a call to serve in public ministry is to participate in God’s aim to heal the world—the whole of it and every part. And in that sense, I am very much looking forward to being wonderfully surprised at the unexpected benefits that might come about as a result of this degree.
To read the full interview with Rev. Dr. Timothy Eberhart and to learn more about the master of arts in public ministry, go to Garrett.edu/MAPM.
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Carrie and Scott Carnes Invest in Theological Education Soon after the Reverends Carrie and Scott Carnes graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2012 and 2010 respectively, they made what they considered an important financial decision—they created the Scott and Carolyn Carnes Endowed Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to Garrett-Evangelical students who want to become ordained ministers in The United Methodist Church. Even though they were newlyweds and young pastors, they felt a responsibility to encourage others to go to seminary and help them financially once they were there. “We were passionate about the need for trained clergy,” explained Scott. “It is so important to invest in the cost of theological education, so it is less of a burden for students attending seminary,” added Carrie. They approached Garrett-Evangelical about creating a named scholarship, knowing that they had limited resources. “We didn’t have a lot of money to give, and I still had student loans from earning my undergraduate degree, but we wanted to help other students,” said Scott. “We talked to the seminary about giving a little each month, thinking that over a lifetime of ministry, it would add up to something.” “When you first graduate, it’s easy to think that you don’t have anything to give,” agreed Carrie. “But we made it a regular part of our giving every month. Anyone can choose some small amount and begin giving it to the school.” One of the many reasons Carrie and Scott wanted to give back to Garrett-Evangelical is they both valued the education they received there and want others to have that same opportunity. “What I love so much about Garrett-Evangelical is
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that it takes the practical and the theological and brings them together,” said Scott. “It reaches both worlds that are at odds right now and brings together some progressive social ideas along with the evangelical witness of the church. Garrett-Evangelical brings people together in a way that not every seminary can.” Growing up United Methodist in St. Louis, Missouri, Carrie felt a call to ministry about the time she was confirmed. She went to Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and majored in art history and minored in English literature. “My pastor from back home told me, ‘Don’t go majoring in Bible or theology or something. They will teach you all you need to know about that when you get to seminary,’” she recalled. After she graduated, Carrie volunteered with the Young Adult Volunteer program, a year of service for young people through the Presbyterian Church USA. She went to Tucson, Arizona, one of 22 sites worldwide, and worked for the nonprofit group, No More Deaths, a humanitarian organization dedicated to end death and suffering in the Mexico-U.S. borderlands. That year of service had a profound impact on her. She was impressed with how churches across this country and in Latin America worked together to help the immigrants and bring awareness to their plight. “Seeing the immigration system up close and personal was really life changing for me, but seeing the response of the churches was equally transformational,” she said. That experience inspired her to go to seminary. “I realized the power the church can have,” she explained. Attracted to the balance of practical and academic, she chose Garrett-Evangelical and started attending classes in the fall of 2008. Her soon-to-be husband, Scott, was already in his second year at Garrett-Evangelical when they met. He had gone to college at the Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and had gotten involved in the Wesley Foundation there. “I found a group of people who accepted me for all of my faults and helped me see what it is to be a person of faith,” he said. April 2018
He began to feel a call to ministry while in college. He was asked to preach at his hometown church and later told his mother, “I think I have to become a minister.” He changed his major from computer science to speech communication and graduated in 2004. Scott began working in churches as a youth and children’s director. He considered seminary but was worried about how he would afford it. Instead, he took a job as director of student ministries at the First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he stayed for two years. One day, Bishop Donald Ott, the former pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Green Bay and a Garrett Theological Seminary alumnus, walked into his office and told Scott, “I want you to go to GarrettEvangelical, and I’ll take you down to see the campus.” Scott said he was relieved that the bishop’s visit was not about something he had done wrong. Scott assured him he would look at GarrettEvangelical, and when he did, he knew he had found the deep sense of community he was looking for in a seminary. “It was a place where I could experience God in an authentic way and share who I was,” he said. One evening in January 2009, Carrie’s friends asked her to go to ‘dollar burger night’ at a local restaurant in Evanston. The same night, Scott’s friends did the same. The two met, but Carrie’s attention was focused on the ex-priest she just met from South America, who was sitting beside her. “I went home and told my friends, ‘I think I met the man I am going to marry tonight,’” Carrie said. “And
it was true. I did, but it was just someone different than I thought.” The two were engaged six months later and married less than a year after that. Scott was appointed as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Pontiac, Illinois, and Carrie was able to complete field education work nearby at a small rural church in Chenoa. Carrie continued as the pastor at Chenoa after graduation. She has also served as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church of Peoria, Illinois, and Scott has also served at the United Methodist Church in Hudson, Illinois, and as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois. Currently, the couple lives in Collinsville, Illinois, right outside of St. Louis. Scott, who is also earning his doctor of ministry in preaching at Garrett-Evangelical through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, is the pastor of Collinsville First United Methodist Church. Carrie is the associate pastor at Union United Methodist Church of Belleville and leads its Journey campus, in Freeburg, Illinois. They continue to give regularly to the Scott and Carolyn Carnes Endowed Scholarship Fund and are more committed than ever to supporting seminary education. “When I go back to visit and see how the seminary is responding to this time of transition in the church, I know that Garrett-Evangelical is approaching ministry creatively and is preparing bold spiritual leaders for the new world,” explained Carrie. For more information about creating a named scholarship, please contact David Heetland at 847.866.3970 or David.Heetland@Garrett.edu.
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Mary Phillips, Class of 1879: The First Woman to Graduate By Karin Chamberlain and Dr. Charles Cosgrove, Professor of Early Christian Literature In 1879, Garrett Biblical Institute awarded a theological degree to a woman for the first time. Her name was Mary Phillips. The only other school to have done so was also a Methodist institution, the School of Theology at Boston University, which graduated two women in the 1870s. It appears that Garrett and Boston were the first institutions of higher learning in the United States, probably in the world, to award theological degrees to women. Mary Adelia Phillips was born to Jeremiah and Adelia Phillips on October 25, 1858, in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Olney, Illinois. She experienced conversion when she was 15 years old. That same year, 1874, she finished high school in Olney and over the next two years struggled with the sense that she was called to preach the gospel. Her father, a physician and Methodist lay preacher, described her as “a sensitive plant” who shrank from the thought of becoming a minister. But eventually Phillips accepted her calling and began to prepare by secretly reading theological works. Two years later, she took the audacious step of applying for admission to a theological school, Garrett Biblical Institute. The school’s catalogue stated that admission was “open to all young men from an evangelical church, who are proper persons to study in preparation for the Christian ministry.” Phillips could only hope that the faculty would interpret “young men” as young persons. Phillips may have heard that Garrett had, in fact, admitted a woman to a degree program in 1873, although the applicant never attended. Her name was Anna Oliver. Oliver was a student in the Department of Theology at Oberlin College, but the faculty and board of trustees at Oberlin were opposed to granting a theological degree to a woman. “First from one thing and then from another,” she later told an interviewer, “I was debarred until, for all that I was getting there, I might as well have been taking private lessons in Hebrew and Greek.” After just a few weeks at Oberlin, Oliver wrote to 14 seminaries of various
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denominations, including Garrett, asking whether they would admit her to a degree program and graduate her. All rejected her except Garrett and two others, one of which was the School of Theology at Boston University, where Oliver ended up attending. So when Phillips applied to Garrett, her path had already been cleared by the faculty decision in the case of Anna Oliver. Among the Garrett faculty, it was Henry Bannister, professor of New Testament, who was the most ardent advocate of theological education for women. Women’s suffragist and educator Frances Willard would later recall hearing Bannister rail against those who objected to the idea of women receiving ministerial training. “I tell you once for all,” he said, “while I am here any reputable woman that wants to study shall study, and any one that wants to graduate shall graduate.” In the fall of 1877, Phillips left Olney and traveled north to Garrett Biblical Institute. As the train departed, her parents saw “her pale face, wet with tears, pressed against the window, where it remained until the train was out of sight.” Her first weeks at Garrett were difficult. The faculty was friendly, but many members of the all-male student body gave her a “cold reception.” Even the pastor at the local Methodist Church “was cold as ice.” Yet Phillips was amiable, hard-working, and smart. By the time she graduated, she was a favorite among her classmates. Despite chronic ill health, she managed to complete the institute’s very intense threeyear curriculum in just two years. The faculty and trustees voted to award her a degree, and because she had been such a stellar student, she was invited to give one of the commencement addresses. She declined. Perhaps it was modesty. Or maybe it was anxiety because although she had been embraced by the Garrett community, she could not count on a warm reception from the crowd of visitors at the graduation ceremonies. Back home in Olney, Phillips passed her ordination exam and sought ordination in the Southern Illinois Conference. April 2018
Her supporters among the clergy estimated that two thirds of the conference members were in favor of admitting her, but her ordination was blocked by Bishop Edward Andrews, who refused to permit a vote when her name was put forward at the meeting. Although Andrews died not long after, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church responded to the escalating national debates about women’s ordination by tightening church law on women’s ministry, rewriting the Book of Discipline to explicitly bar women from both ordination and licensure to preach. These severe actions did not take place until 1880. Meanwhile, Phillips sought a ministerial position, and by December of 1879, she was assistant preacher in Robinson, Illinois. Sadly, her health deteriorated, and after a few months, she had to give up preaching. She
moved home, and her father took charge of her care. Although he was a physician by profession, there was nothing he could do to stem the tide of her disease. Phillips died of tuberculosis several months later at the age of 21, but her father, ever her strongest supporter, became an outspoken advocate for women’s ordination, drawing a parallel with the anti-slavery fight of the preceding generation. “Slavery is dead,” he declared, “and the Bishop is dead. The day will come when the women of the Church will enjoy equal rights.” The faculty and trustees of Garrett Biblical Institute agreed and continued to award theological degrees to women who sought equal rights in Christian ministry. Karin Chamberlain is a descendant of one of Phillips’s uncles and is writing a history of the various branches of the family. For more information about Phillips’s story, go to Garrett.edu/MaryPhillips.
Alum News Paul McCleary (GBI 1956 and GTS 1972) received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the General Commission on Archives and History. McCleary was honored for his work with the World Council of Churches on the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal Church merger and Methodist church polity and governance. Larry Peacock (G-ETS 1976) is the new executive director of the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie, Oregon. Anne Broyles (G-ETS 1979) published a new children’s book, Arturo and the Bienvenido Birds (Pelican Publishing). It is an English-Spanish sequel to the International Latino Award winning book, Arturo and the Navidad. Carol L. Bennington (G-ETS 1980) became a member of the leadership team at the newly founded Fox Institute of Creation Spirituality in Boulder, Colorado. She serves as dean of students and is chair of the academic affairs committee. John C. Carr (G-ETS 1980) received a doctor of divinity (honoris causa) degree from Knox College Toronto. The honorary doctorate was awarded in recognition of Carr’s contribution as a leader in the pastoral care, counseling, and education ministries to which he has devoted his adult life. April 2018
Anthony Kelley (G-ETS 1980) published, What the Spirit is Saying to the Church (Christian Faith Publishing). Kelley’s book is an apocalyptic view from the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Heidi Schlumpf (G-ETS 2000) was named national correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. Shonda Nicole Gladden (G-ETS 2011) and Kit EvansFord (G-ETS 2017) were selected as 2017 DO GOOD X Fellows. DO GOOD X catalyzes a diverse community of Christian social entrepreneurs to launch impact ventures that solve our world’s greatest problems. Tammy Wiens (G-ETS 2014) was named director of Christian education and faith formation for the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Tiggs Washington (G-ETS 2015) published a book of sermons, Sermons for the Journey: A Collection of Sermons for the Liturgical Year (CreateSpace Independent Publishing). Neichelle Guidry (G-ETS 2017) was appointed dean of Sisters Chapel and director of the WISDOM Center at Spelman College. Aware Magazine
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