Aware Magazine | Summer 2019

AWARE magazine Summer 2019

THE 162ND COMMENCEMENT OF GARRETT-EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PAGE 4

AWARE

| SUMMER 2019

Aware magazine is published quarterly by the offices of development

and marketing and communications for alums and friends of GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church with an ecumenical outreach.

PRESIDENT Lallene J. Rector EDITORIAL BOARD

The 162nd Commencement

The Class of 2019 8 | Meet the Class of 2019

3 | Presidential Perspective 4 | The 162nd Commencement

of Garrett-Evangelical

Theological Seminary 6 | Nelson and Matthews Receive Distinguished Alum Awards

7 | Celebrating the Graduates

of 1969 and 1994

Our People 14 | Let’s Work Together.

Make a Difference . . .

For Generations to Come 15 | L. Robert and Marilyn

McClean Inducted into

the Founders Society

Ceciley Akins Mary Bowmann Arents Katharine Duke Joseph R. Emmick Krista J. McNeil Shane A. Nichols Tasha N. Sargent PHOTOGRAPHY Bill Burlingham of Burlingham Productions Shane A. Nichols

Benefiting from Unneeded Life Insurance Did you know that you can name a charitable organization such as GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary as a beneficiary and benefit from a tax deduction? A gift of life insurance is a wonderful way to support our mission at a significant level, but at a fraction of the cost of other gifts.

Options for Gifts of Life Insurance

There are a variety of charitable gift plans.

Option

Benefit

Option

Benefit

Gift of existing policy

Income tax deduction

Annual gifts to cover premiums

Estate tax deduction

Annual income tax deductions

Life insurance beneficiary designation Gift of a new policy

Income tax deduction

Have questions? Go to PlannedGiving.Garrrett.edu to learn more, or contact Dr. David Heetland, senior vice president for planned giving, at 847.866.3970 or david.heetland@garrett.edu.

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE DR. LALLENE J. RECTOR “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.”

Psalm 121: 8 (NRSV)

In this issue of Aware, you will read about the launching of the new graduates and a few of their stories. Dr. Brent Waters, our Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics, is always keen to refer to this event as “commencement,” rather than as “graduation.” To be sure, we hear both words bandied about in the halls of the seminary. It begins in January and continues into the spring countdown season of joyful anticipation! The accent on one or the other is meaningful, for one term, “graduation,” suggests looking backward to the race that has been run. It is a direction worthy of attention and brings a sense of accomplishment for the learning obtained. Educational and spiritual foundations have been laid down that will long support the work of future ministry.

The other term, “commencement,” connotes looking forward to a new beginning and seems a necessary re-positioning for the journey ahead. God is regularly luring us into new beginnings, calling us to start again, to step out a little further. All ministries, ordained and lay, consist of new beginnings, again and again: new appointments, new responsibilities, new kinds of leadership, new learning, new programs, new partners in ministry, and on it goes. Each day is a new beginning, for we never know what a day will bring.

At the same time, there is wisdom in looking back to the foundation of our faith and to the disarming simplicity of Jesus’s instructions to his disciples: “These twelve Jesus sent out . . . go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ You received without payment; give without payment . . . Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food . . . As you

enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave . . .”

(Matthew 10: 5-14, NRSV) Rev. Sara Isbell, an alum and a trustee, reminded some of us about these verses in a recent meeting where we struggled, with many others, to discern a way forward for The United Methodist Church. She asked the simple question, “What would Jesus do?” It gave us all pause as we were mired in concerns about protecting the various assets of The United Methodist Church: programs, agencies, property, etc. I am not sure Jesus would have had much concern for these things.

Certainly, his concern for us would have been focused on serving the least of these and sharing the good news of the Gospel with everyone.

As I think about our new graduates and alumni, I am painfully aware of the difficult contexts in which you are engaged, including current social upheaval, challenges in rural settings, our denominational turmoil, or the frequent loneliness in leadership and ministry. It seems essential that we find ways to be resilient in “beginning again” over the course of our ministries. What can sustain us over time? God calls us to seek out and to join in the new thing God is doing in our midst. We need to stay close to God, to continue being transformed into the likeness of Christ, and to remember the witness of the psalmist. God neither slumbers, nor sleeps, but keeps watch over our going out and our coming in, over our “graduations” and our “commencements.”

Lift up your eyes to the hills and receive strength for our journeys in faith, together.

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The 162nd Commencement of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary celebrated its 162nd Commencement on Friday, May 17, at First United Methodist Church of Evanston. The seminary awarded nine doctor of philosophy, seven doctor of ministry, two master of arts in Christian education, five master of arts in pastoral care and counseling, one master of arts in spiritual formation and direction, one master of arts in spiritual formation and evangelism, four master of theological studies, and 31 master of divinity degrees. Additionally, the seminary recognized one student who completed advanced course of study.

The seminary also recognized the classes of 1969 and 1994 and presented distinguished alum awards to Rev. Jeffrey S. Nelson, who received his master of divinity from Garrett-Evangelical in 2004, and Rev. Gene Matthews, who received his master of divinity from Garrett Biblical Institute in 1962.

Rev. Grace Imathiu (pictured top left on page five), senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Evanston, delivered the commencement address titled, “Come Closer.” She began with a reading of Genesis 45:4-5: “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.’”

Imathiu reflected on her own “commencement” into ministry. She spoke of a seminary professor who challenged her to return to Kenya with nothing but Jesus — and in many ways she did, selling off all her possessions and returning with nothing but a Bible, a change of clothes, and her passport. When the customs agent asked if she had anything to declare, she responded, “Yes, I want to declare Jesus is Lord!” She also recounted her father, who was also her bishop, telling her: “Don’t forget to live close to the people. Always move closer.”

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Imathiu then focused on the story of Joseph and his brothers. She emphasized that Joseph was only able to come closer to his brothers — who had attacked him, taken his coat, and sold him to human traffickers earlier in the Genesis story — by allowing himself to become vulnerable. Likewise, faith leaders would need to make themselves vulnerable in order to come closer to the people they will work with and serve. She encouraged the graduates: “Do not be afraid of your tears. Do not be afraid of having your heart broken. Do not be afraid to limp. Do not be afraid to be bruised.”

She also reminded them that just as Joseph’s story is not just a story about Joseph, neither is theirs.

“Your story is not just your story,” she said. “Your story is what God will use to talk about God.” The significance of commencement being held at First United Methodist Church of Evanston was another powerful moment in Imathiu’s address.

She highlighted that the church was home to Frances Willard, well-renowned American Methodist educator, reformer, and advocate, who was elected to General Conference in 1888, but was denied the seat because she was a woman.

Dr. Georgia Harkness, a beloved figure in GarrettEvangelical’s history as the first woman to be a full professor of theology in the United States, was also a member of First United Methodist Church.

Imathiu also lifted up Rev. Dr. Ernest Fremont Tittle who was senior pastor at the church from 1918 to 1949 and a fierce racial justice advocate who spoke against segregation at General Conference.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had also preached from the pulpit where Imathiu was standing.

Imathiu ended saying: “Be bold. Come closer. Both in offering your invitation to others as well as in receiving the invitation to come closer. Come closer in a world that is divided, that’s pushing us apart. Come closer . . . God bless you in your adventure. You have no idea how an adventure with God is so amazing and good. Welcome as you commence this adventure with God. Amen.”

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NELSON AND MATTHEWS RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED ALUM AWARDS Each year, the seminary presents distinguished alum awards at commencement to two alums who have rendered extraordinary service. The 2019 recipients are Rev. Jeffrey S. Nelson and Rev. Gene Matthews.

Rev. Jeffrey S. Nelson has made his home in Michigan as a pastor and leader in the community. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and received his master of divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2004.

“I began my seminary education on September 18, 2001, [and] came to this place in order to wrestle with what it would now mean to pastor in a post-911 world. It was here that I began to wrestle with the uniqueness of the ministry of Jesus Christ in a world that demanded new religious pluralism,” said Nelson during his speech.

Nelson is a strong advocate for human rights and racial justice. Under his guidance, his churches have promoted fundraising initiatives for HIV/AIDS, started projects distributing vital necessities to underserved populations, and organized relief support for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

He managed the successful merger of two congregations while increasing church membership and encouraging community outreach. In 2014, the Detroit Conference awarded Nelson with the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in recognition of his ministry’s vitality. After the merger, Nelson led an initiative to provide community worship services and activities to the citizens of Brightmoor, a population struggling with poverty and drug use. He also facilitated the collaboration of several groups to create a nonprofit to attend to various community needs.

In July 2016, Nelson was appointed senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he rebuilt the staff team and helped the congregation rediscover its love of mission and service.

Nelson closed his remarks saying: “Graduates, I tell you this: The local church matters. It still matters. It’s relevant today as it ever, ever, ever was . . . So, go out into the world and take on the local church. Fall in love with it. It needs your leadership now more than ever.”

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Rev. Gene Matthews served more than 35 years as a minister, missionary, and ecumenical leader in South Korea. He received his bachelor of arts from Iowa State University and his master of divinity from Garrett Biblical Institute in 1962.

Matthews expressed gratitude for his education, saying: “I give humble thanks to Garrett Biblical Institute, forerunner of this great institution, who took a simple country boy from Iowa, graduate of the state college, and exposed him to dedicated, loving faculty and fellow students, many of whom became lifelong friends. They imparted a wealth of knowledge as well as a deep sense of compassion and concern for those badly treated by society.”

An active life-long United Methodist, Matthews began his career in ministry through a three-year missionary program at Union Christian Service Center in Taejŏn, South Korea. The center provided agricultural training to young farmers, rehabilitated amputee sufferers, and ran an orphanage and rest home for tuberculosis patients, among other initiatives.

After training at the Korean Language Institute at Yonsei University, Matthews went on to become associate general secretary of the Board of Christian Education in Seoul, South Korea. With his team, he established seven youth centers and a traveling evangelistic singing group. He was also frequently asked to assist other boards of the Korean Methodist Church in English correspondence and translation.

In the early 1970’s, Matthews became the field representative for the General Board of Global Ministries in Korea. He fostered strong ecumenical relationships with the Korean National Council of Churches and the Korean Student Federation while overseeing all property and personnel matters for the agency.

After retiring, Matthews moved back to Iowa, where he is involved in St. Marks United Methodist Church in Iowa City.

CELEBRATING THE GRADUATES OF 1969 AND 1994 During commencement, the classes of 1969 from Evangelical and Garrett Theological Seminaries and the class of 1994 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary reunited in Evanston to celebrate their golden and silver anniversaries of graduation from seminary.

We also welcomed many family members who came to join in the reunion events.

The reunion began on Thursday, May 16, with a luncheon on campus. During lunch, alums and current seminarians told stories about their favorite professors, relaxing past times, and vocational journeys. The afternoon was full of opportunities to reconnect with classmates and the seminary.

The alums also enjoyed dinner with President Lallene J. Rector, trustees, and faculty. During the meal, a graduate from each reunion class shared memories and expressions of gratitude with those gathered. Rev. Janet Lutz (GTS 1969) recalled: “We lived through the turmoil and chaos, exhilaration, and hope of the midsixties. We challenged each other in ways I had never experienced. Garrett changed my life.”

In her speech during dinner, Rev. Harlene Harden (G-ETS 1994) said: “My Garrett experience has meant so much to me. God opened my heart and mind here at Garrett, expanded my knowledge, and gave me the tools for the practice of ministry while building collegial relationships for a lifetime.”

Members of the classes of 1969 and 1994 gather on the front steps for a photo.

Rev. Dr. Alva Caldwell and Rev. Janet Lutz, from the class of 1969, offering a blessing for members of the class of 2019, at Senior Chapel, held on the eve of commencement.

Thursday ended with the alums attending Senior Chapel, a celebratory worship service designed and led by the Class of 2019. During worship, Dr. Roger Parks (ETS 1969) blessed the graduating class saying: “You are entering ministry at a remarkable time. It is a time for us all to search our deepest spiritual lives for guidance on the way forward and for the Universal Christ to come alive in our ministry.”

The next day, the classes of 1969 and 1994 were recognized by Rector at commencement for their decades of faithful service to God. Bishop John F. White offered a blessing for their past, present, and future ministry.

President Lallene J. Rector recognizing the class of 1969 and their remarkable ministries during the 162nd Commencement service.

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MEET THE CLASS OF 2019

Congratulations to the class of 2019! We commend them on their fine work and their future ministries. We are very pleased to introduce nine of these graduates, who are going forth to live out God’s call to serve the church, academy, and world.

JESSICA J. LEE Master of Theological Studies

to risk attempting creative frameworks for a revitalized future, both for the contemporary Church and its hopeful transformation.

What is your hometown and educational background? I was born in and spent my early childhood in Northern Virginia/Washington D.C.; though, I’ve now had the privilege of calling Hanoi, Beijing, Pittsburgh, and Seoul my home. In college, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study — math, physics, cognitive science — but eventually I graduated with a bachelor of arts in philosophy.

What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? Vocationally, I had struggled to understand how my innate bend toward philosophical thought and scientific inquiry could be matched with my even deeper thirst for theological construction. To my joy — and affirmation — I encountered professors who, when I was lost and confused, encouraged me to pursue my interests and harness my strengths (further gratitude extends to Iris Murdoch, St. Augustine, Origen, and Plato).

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? I entered Garrett-Evangelical as a master of divinity candidate for elder ordination in The United Methodist Church. This May, I graduate as a master of theological studies student still figuring out how academia and practical ministry can both be callings for my specific context. My time at GarrettEvangelical provided space and encouragement for me

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I will begin pursuing my doctoral degree at GarrettEvangelical this upcoming fall. My hope is to continue engaging in thoughtful constructive dialogue surrounding a re-imagination of Christian doctrine and tradition in reclaimed vocabulary that anticipates the liberation of all people, particularly through the lens of disability and cross-cultural discourse.

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MADELYN JOHNSON

SCOTT MARSH

Master of Divinity

Master of Divinity

What is your hometown and educational background?

I am from Overland Park, Kansas, and I earned my bachelor’s degree in Spanish and psychology from Kansas State University in 2016.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Garrett-Evangelical has been incredibly formative for me in finding my voice as a Christian and as a future clergy leader. There have been so many opportunities in the classroom, in projects, through friendships, and through partnerships in the local community that have helped shape me into a leader who is called to both the church and the world. I feel equipped now to navigate difficult conversations in my home community by challenging toxic and privileged theologies and offering biblical interpretations that bring life and love. Garrett-Evangelical has given me lifelong friendships and community that I can lean on as I enter my pastoral ministry.

What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? One of the most transformative moments for me in my time at Garrett-Evangelical was traveling to Chiapas, Mexico, for a cross-cultural immersion course during my first year. We learned from and saw local faith leaders practicing indigenous theology, syncretism, creation care, and liberation theology. We had the opportunity to meet a Zapatista community and hear its story of resistance and what dreaming of a new world looks like. We witnessed the art and creativity of the community through graffiti, dance, poetry, posters, and icons. These two weeks have forever shaped how I do and practice theology in my own life and ministry by helping me to embody a preferential option for the poor and to lean into the creativity and mystery of the divine.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I am currently seeking ordination in the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church. I will begin my first appointment on July 1, serving at Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield, Kansas. My hope is to use my education and gifts for ministry to help connect people with others and with resources in order to transform the local community to reflect God’s kin-dom of love and justice for all.

What is your hometown and educational background? I was raised in a small dairy town in Michigan (Reed City) and graduated from high school in 2007. I attended Western Michigan University and graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in earth science and environmental studies.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Before coming to seminary, I had already felt a strong call into ministry and benefited from some amazing mentors. Seminary was a time of relationship development with God and personal growth in academic achievement. I was a pastor in my heart, but not yet a pastor in my mind. GarrettEvangelical pushed me into new spaces, encouraged me to be self-reflective, and validated the education I brought to seminary. I want to extend a special thanks to the role Rev. Dr. Timothy Eberhart and Rev. Dr. Angela Cowser played in this.

What is your most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical? There are many transformative experiences I have had at Garrett-Evangelical, but I think the most important was moving to Evanston after a poor academic performance my first semester.

I had tried to work full time in a college ministry, provide pastoral care to a community, give time to my spouse, and take a full load of classes online; there were not enough hours in the day! And if that weren’t enough, my wife Meagan and I moved to GarrettEvangelical during finals week. Yikes! But what waited for me was a community who met my families’ needs.

Garrett-Evangelical is not a perfect place. The reality is seminary is also full of broken people who are just trying to do better, and, it turns out, God’s grace is needed no matter where you are.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I have been appointed to Faith United Methodist Church in Coleman, Michigan, and will begin my pastoral role there on July 1. First and foremost, I plan to love that community and proclaim the loving grace of our creator God to all I meet. I also plan to continue writing, spend some time with my beautiful partner Meagan, and get some much needed hammock time in.

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My time at Garrett-Evangelical helped me to articulate my call, denounce the death-dealing forces that dehumanize marginalized communities, and understand we must “announce the dream of a new society” (Paula Freire, Pedagogy of Freedom).

MARIA ALEJANDRA SALAZAR Master of Divinity

What is your hometown and educational background? I’m a 1.5 generation immigrant.

My hometowns are Lima, Peru, and Skokie, Illinois. I earned my undergraduate degree in education and social policy with a minor in Latina/o studies from Northwestern University.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? My time at Garrett-Evangelical gave me the space and support I needed to heal from past wounds and tackle head on the questions that kept me up at night. Were it not for this time, I would not have been able to recognize the work of community organizing as a form of ministry. My time at Garrett-Evangelical helped me to articulate my call, denounce the death-dealing forces that dehumanize marginalized communities, and understand we must “announce the dream of a new society” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of Freedom).

I was raised Catholic in Peru and have since wondered where I fit in. As a non-UMC student not seeking ordination, I questioned whether I belonged at GarrettEvangelical. Thanks to faculty, peers, and the staff who work the dining hall, I realized there is a place for me — and that voices like mine are much needed. The future of theological education will be determined by what seminaries offer people like me, who seek theological grounding to do social justice work outside of the formally established church. Ultimately, I realized I am seeking wholeness for myself and my people. The people I feel called to minister with are not unlike me: religious “nones,” women of color, former or current organizers, immigrants who had to grow up too fast, 10 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

individuals who carry rage, and those not connected to a traditional church and feel alone and like they do not belong anywhere, perhaps other than their movement organizing homes. Rather than feeling inadequate for not having a “church home,” I now feel called to build it, even if I am unsure or afraid of what that will look like.

What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? Garrett-Evangelical has helped me articulate my calling through reflection in courses, exposure to public theologians, and experiences like the Clergy Call to Action in Standing Rock in November 2016, and studying in Chiapas in January 2017. I’ve been challenged and pushed to name my theology and find ways of living it publicly. My most transformative experiences have been: • Seeing first-hand how spiritual practices can build resiliency • Taking initiative on building an altar for Dia de los Muertos and inviting the community to participate in prayer and activities • Integrating art into my Garrett-Evangelical experience (doing a mini-podcast as a final project, decorating classrooms and chalking outside with messages inspired from our time in Chiapas, dropping a banner from the Cross Tower) In all of these, I brought my full self and was in relationship with others. Work like this addresses intergenerational trauma, which I view as my sacred task.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future?

Early in the spring semester, I accepted a position as a program associate for immigration initiatives at Borealis Philanthropy. I started working part time and will transition to full-time work in June. I hope to continue developing the research I started at GarrettEvangelical, exploring community organizers and burnout and what it means to be a public theologian.

JUSTIN DAMETZ

BEVERLY DUKES

Master of Theological Studies

Master of Divinity

What is your hometown and educational background?

I’m originally from Benton, Kansas, a small town near Wichita. However, in the decade before coming to Garrett-Evangelical, I primarily lived in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I attended Oklahoma City University, where I studied political science. I then spent several years working in politics before starting seminary at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. I spent a year and a half there before transferring to Garrett-Evangelical.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? I came to Garrett-Evangelical as I was shifting from an MDiv into the MTS program. My time at Garrett-Evangelical has helped me figure out what I want my career and life in academic work to look like, in contrast to the more assured vocational path of ministry. Specifically, my studies have helped me realize the importance of community in the life of a Christian and have pointed me toward a return home and a desire to live my theology by being attentive to the people and places I came from.

What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? My most transformative experience was the powerful group of close friends I developed and the many wonderful meals, conversations, and experiences on our journeys that we had together.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? My wife and I are moving back to Tulsa, where we will be closer to my kids and where we will both be taking up positions as teachers with Tulsa Public Schools. It is our dream to own and operate a small, self-sustaining farm in Oklahoma in the near future. I also intend to start my PhD work in theology within the next few years.

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What is your hometown and educational background?

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I have a bachelor of science from Eastern Illinois University.

Also, I have a master of science in public service management from DePaul University.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? During my time at GarrettEvangelical, I completed my field placement at Hartzell United Methodist Church in Chicago. Being at Hartzell shaped both my ministry and calling because I was able to experience firsthand how servant leadership is used to help others on their spiritual journey.

Also, I was able to apply what I learned academically to support ministries, such as a confirmation class, Christian education, and leading worship. I am grateful to Hartzell’s senior pastor for all the support and encouragement she gave me during my time at this church.

What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? My most transformative experience was when I took classes with Rev. Dr. Larry Murphy, Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray, Dr. Nancy Bedford, and Dr. Anne Joh. In these classes, I gained a deeper appreciation of Jesus Christ. Also, I experienced Jesus’s deep love for the poor and most vulnerable among us. I was able to see and experience the transforming work of God in those who live on the margins. Servant leadership involves addressing issues of social injustices as did Jesus Christ.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I am working toward ordination as an elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church. I am currently the part-time lay supply pastor at East Side United Methodist Church in Chicago.

In these classes, I gained a deeper appreciation of Jesus Christ. Also, I experienced Jesus’s deep love for the poor and most vulnerable among us.

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Garrett-Evangelical opened my eyes to reality. It expanded my knowledge and opened my heart. It provided me with perspective. It took my finite existence and demonstrated the infinite love of God. JAMES HOFERT Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling

What is your hometown and educational background? I grew up in Mount Prospect, a small bedroom community in suburban Chicago.

My religious understanding was defined by a small community Baptist Church. In 1972, I left for Grinnell College, a liberal arts college in central Iowa. Upon graduating from Grinnell, I attended law school at Kent College of Law in Chicago. I became a partner at my first law firm after four years of practice and ultimately became managing partner of a 35-lawyer law firm. In 1995, I joined the law firm of Henshaw and Culbertson.

As a senior capital partner, I tried cases all over the country. I also published and gave national presentations.

My son Matthew was born in 1986. He seemed to be in his own world more often than not. Matthew’s differences from those who are neural-typical became more pronounced as time went on, resulting in bullying, parent-teacher conferences, and confusion.

Matthew gave me the insight and stimulus to question my connections to those ideologies, institutions, and people that previously had reflected my life. I began to question the importance of fitting into my societal milieu, values that I’d held for years, and what faith in Christ was really about. During this time, daughter Caitlin also arrived. She was beautiful, sensitive, and a gift from God. Caitlin didn’t talk until she was three.

Although extremely smart, Caitlin never really fit into a river for society. Unfortunately, that same society does not suffer differences well.

My children are my heroes. Matthew has overcome Asperger’s syndrome to become a computer programmer with a major corporation. My daughter seeks to fight a series of progressive and incurable disease syndromes.

She does this with courage, serving on the Board of Directors of Sarah’s Inn, in association with assisting 12 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

those who are subject to domestic violence as well as being an active volunteer with the organization.

During the last 10 years, I’ve had a number of God sightings. Those experiences, along with the Holy Spirit, led me to Garrett-Evangelical.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? On the first night of student orientation, we were told that every core belief we had would be challenged. We were told that all of the truths that we had held for years would be turned upside down. I was a little shell shocked after the sermon and wondered what I had gotten myself into. I commented to my student advisor after my first semester, how utterly blind and naïve I was as a human being. I remember being in theology with Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray, wanting to hide underneath the table. For the first time in my life, white privilege became an ugly reality. Seminary brought poverty, dehumanization, marginalization, racism, sexism, and every other -ism into my reality.

What is your most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical? I’ve had so many transformative experiences at Garrett-Evangelical that I could go on for pages. I remember during my CPE experience at Northwestern, baptizing a pre-mature infant, in the process of dying, with his mother’s tears; holding a man suffering from AIDS, who had just had his partner turn on him and publish nude photographs on the Internet; lying on the floor next to a woman who just lost her husband to gun violence. How could I not be changed?

Garrett-Evangelical opened my eyes to reality. It expanded my knowledge and opened my heart.

It provided me with perspective. It took my finite existence and demonstrated the infinite love of God. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I’ve decided to take a fellowship with the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy. I want to center my mission on psychotherapy among those who simply can’t afford it.

I’m going to make this coming year one of discernment.

I’ve spent a lifetime planning my future and now seek to have the Holy Spirit provide my pathway.

BRIONA B. JONES Master of Divinity What is your hometown and educational background?

My hometown is Phoenix, Arizona. I received a bachelor of arts in English literature from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Garrett-Evangelical has taught me what it truly means to put your heart into something.

Simply stating what you believe, what you do not believe, or may believe was not enough for me to live out my faith in God. Rather, my faith requires a

KINA YOUN Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling (nonclinical) What is your hometown and educational background? My hometown is Seoul, South Korea. I earned a bachelor of arts in theology and a master of divinity from Seoul Theological University.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? During my time at GarrettEvangelical, my ministry and calling has changed. To be honest, I faced a lot of conflicts when I first came to Garrett-Evangelical — cultural conflicts, educational conflicts, and theological/spiritual conflicts. However, I was able to grow because of these conflicts. I was able to be vulnerable to people. I was able to respect people with hospitality. Most of all, I was able to recognize that all of us are in the image of God.

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response — a very particular response — one that is looking to rise above all noise, interlocking systems of oppression, and injustice to truly discover that which sustains me — divine grace, love, and mercy from God. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? My most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical was the Center for the Church and the Black Experience (CBE). Words cannot describe how grateful I am for CBE. It wasn’t just about favors or recommendation letters. It was more about cultivating space for me to learn and grow in the faith in ways that are unique and relevant to who I am becoming.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I hope to be ordained as an elder and launch a women’s ministry, teaching Bible study.

Therefore, Garrett-Evangelical has shaped my ministry to be vulnerable and hospitable. Also, it helped me to love people by seeing them as the image of God. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? The most transformative experience is the diversity of Garrett-Evangelical. All of us are from different cities, states, and countries. We all have different looks, thoughts, and feelings. I have learned a lot from these diversity experiences. I was able to have a clearer theological and spiritual understanding by seeing this diversity.

What are your plans or your hopes for your future? My plan is to not forget what I learned from GarrettEvangelical and use it in my future ministry. Therefore, I will be a pastor who loves people as they are. I will be a pastor who spreads the love of God. Most of all, I will be a pastor who knows how to be vulnerable, just like Jesus Christ.

The most transformative experience is the diversity of Garrett-Evangelical . . . I was able to have a clearer theological and spiritual understanding by seeing this diversity.

AWARE MAGAZINE | CLASS OF 2019 13

LET’S WORK TOGETHER. MAKE A DIFFERENCE . . .

FOR GENERATIONS TO COME DR. LUIS R. RIVERA Reflections from Serving as Academic Dean and Vice President When I arrived at GarrettEvangelical, I picked two messages that have inspired my term of service as academic dean and vice president for academic affairs since January 2014. Those who visited my dean’s office at Garrett-Evangelical saw a big poster on the wall with the message: “Let’s work together. Make a difference.” The drawing depicts diverse groups of urban people marching with banners inviting others to organize, seek solidarity, and promote unity in the pursuit of social justice and improvement in our lives and institutions. I don’t know who left this poster behind or in what corner of an office or the attic did I find it. I liked both its message and its colors, so I rescued it and adopted its motto.

The other message was a phrase or slogan that became famous in theological schools at some point. I don’t know and have not traced the origin of this concept, “generational stewardship.” I just remembered that the Leadership Team adopted it as one of our goals. In simple terms, this was the commitment: We will work together in such a way that at the end of our service to the seminary, we will leave behind a stronger and better institution for generations to come.

I am concluding my short term as academic dean with the conviction that the collaborative work we have done in these past 5.5 years sustained important trends already happening, allowed us to achieve new collective goals, and has put the school on a path for a bright future. There is always room to improve, grow, and respond to new challenges; but those of us about to complete our service to the school can leave with a sense of satisfaction and hope. This heartening feeling is based not only on our own assessment but also on the recognition of peer evaluators of our school.

The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada concurred with the report of the re-accreditation team who visited our school in September 2018 and encouraged us to maintain and enhance the following distinctive strengths: 14 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

• Clear commitment to the institution’s heritage while simultaneously engaging in diverse and innovative expressions of that heritage • Palpable individual and communal dedication to the current articulation of the school’s vision and mission • Robust and prudently managed endowment resources combined with demonstrated capacity for raising additional funds and support The re-accreditation team of the Higher Learning Commission that reviewed our school in November 2018 concluded its reports with the following statement: “Garrett-Evangelical is successfully building on its history as one of the premier Protestant seminaries in the Midwest. Care for persons and transparency guide its operations. Focus on mission is the lodestar for its decision-making processes regarding budget and operations, and faculty intentionally pursue this mission and service both to The United Methodist Church and wider community in their work with students.”

When I read those statements, I rejoiced and realized that I have been a witness, leader, and collaborator in a theological school with strong centennial roots of generational support; a robust trunk of service in theological education; an extended and welcoming canopy of branches where generations of leaders have been nested; and fruitful seasons of innovation for past, present, and future times. I am grateful for the call and opportunity that President Lallene Rector gave me to serve Garrett-Evangelical and for the support and collaboration that I received from faculty, staff and administrators, colleagues in the Leadership Team, and the Board of Trustees.

In a year and a half, when I finish my full-time service to the school, I will complete a career of 34 years of teaching and administration in theological education. I consider my time at Garrett-Evangelical as the culmination of a journey of inquiry, service, and leadership that I have enjoyed. I will continue to support the school and invite others to work together to make a difference that will support the renewal of mission, programs, and resources at GarrettEvangelical for present and future generations of leaders who will benefit from this community of teaching, scholarship, worship, and service.

L. ROBERT AND MARILYN MCCLEAN INDUCTED INTO THE FOUNDERS SOCIETY On May 16, 2019, members of the Board of Trustees and the seminary community gathered to induct L. Robert and Marilyn McClean into the Founders Society. Established in 1984, the Founders Society was created as a means to publicly honor Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s foremost benefactors and express appreciation for those who have given substantial leadership to the seminary both in terms of gifts and service.

Garrett-Evangelical is proud to claim both Robert and Marilyn (Degler) McClean as distinguished alums of the seminary. Robert grew up in rural Kansas and Marilyn grew up in rural Illinois.

They both arrived at Garrett in 1956 and met at a social for new seminary students hosted by Murray and Dorothy Leiffer. Murray Leiffer became an influential professor and friend to both.

They were married in 1957. Marilyn received her masters in religious education in 1958 and is a certified director of Christian education. Robert received his MDiv in 1959.

After graduating from seminary, they served churches in the Kansas West Conference (which today is a part of the Great Plains Annual Conference). Robert also served for four years in the Kansas West Conference Office and then was invited to apply for an opening at the Board of Church and Society in New York. He

served as the director of the department of peace and world order at the United Methodist Office for the United Nations. After serving for 25 years, he retired as assistant general secretary for United Nations Ministries, General Board of Church and Society. They now live in Mattoon, Illinois.

During their years in New York, Marilyn served as a volunteer, helping to set up many conferences and events. Together they participated in meetings, seminars, and workshops in Australia, Europe, Japan, Africa, the Middle East, and the former USSR. They have taught in schools of Christian Mission and Pastor’s Schools throughout the United States. They both were writers as well. Marilyn wrote Vacation Church School materials and many curriculum units for all ages.

Robert wrote a monthly column for Engage magazine.

Over the years, Robert and Marilyn have been faithful leadership donors to Garrett-Evangelical.

They helped establish an endowed scholarship at Garrett-Evangelical for Kansas West students in the 1980’s. They also served as honorary co-chairs for the seminary’s $100 million Forging Our Future campaign, which concluded in June 2017.

In addition to their annual leadership support, Robert and Marilyn have made a significant planned gift commitment to the seminary to create an endowment fund, with the earnings to be used to support programs, faculty, and/or scholarships that promote international justice, peace, and ecology — areas that reflect their own lifelong values.

AWARE MAGAZINE | OUR PEOPLE 15

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