AWARE
Magazine Summer 2021
The 163rd Commencement of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Aware Magazine Summer 2021 3 | Presidential Perspective with Javier A. Viera 4 | The 163rd E-Commencement of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 6 | Laurie and Ough Receive Distinguished Alum Awards 7 | Celebrating the Graduates of 1970, 1971, 1995, and 1996
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8 | Our Hopes and Aspirations: Meet the Class of 2021 14 | Reverend Bill Tomlinson Supports Seminary Education through His Will 15 | In Memoriam and Alum News
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Aware magazine is published quarterly by the offices of
development and marketing and communications for alums and friends of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church with an ecumenical outreach. Feedback and comments for the Aware Editorial Board should be directed to Shane A. Nichols, chief marketing and communications officer, at seminary.relations@garrett.edu. ON THE COVER Members of the Class of 2021 taking one last look at the Horace Greeley Smith Tower at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Photo credit: Rev. Andersen Reed Voinovich (G-ETS 2018 and trustee)
PRESIDENT Javier A. Viera EDITORIAL BOARD Mary Bowmann Arents Katharine Duke Joseph R. Emmick Shane A. Nichols Tasha N. Sargent Maudette Watley
PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE WITH JAVIER A. VIERA At a recent regional gathering of friends and supporters of the seminary, a layperson wasted no time in asking me some poignant questions: “What are you teaching them to do? What is your value proposition?” His questions were grounded in the assumption that “people just aren’t coming back to church after the pandemic. We’re at about 60% of our pre-pandemic attendance, and we were already struggling before the pandemic hit. I’m not sure we’ll be around in five years, at least not in the same way.” The church has faced challenges before, even challenges of greater scale and impact than COVID-19. I’m not worried that faithful and vibrant expressions of Christian faith and practice will emerge post-pandemic. What I am certain of, and this is, in part, what I told my new friend, is that these new expressions won’t look like what I assumed he meant by the pre-pandemic church. His questions, “What are you teaching them to do? What is your value proposition?” have stayed with me, and as we celebrate another graduating class from GarrettEvangelical, they seem like good ones to ponder more deeply; although, I might prefer them in less corporatespeak. What are we sending these recent graduates into the world to do? How are we preparing them to meet the uncertainties, challenges, and disappointments/ disillusionments that most surely await them? You’ll see from their profiles on pages eight through 13 the variety of creative ministries they are pursuing and creating and the passion with which they long to serve God and neighbor. They give me great hope for the future of Christian witness in the world. Yet, it does feel like in the time between their arrivals and departures much has substantially and permanently changed. How have they been prepared for that change? This is how I would answer the poignant questions I was asked: I hope we’ve prepared them to lead in a Christ-like manner and spirit. The gospel presents Jesus as someone deeply connected to the realities, joys, sufferings, and longings of his people. Incarnation and Resurrection are the bookends of his life and ministry. I hope that our graduates have been prepared to lead incarnationally— present to, in, and with the realities of the people and communities they serve and always proclaiming in word and deed the good news of resurrection—the new life that God has promised, even amid despair. Jesus led with empathy and hope and always reminded
those with him of God’s real and enduring presence. I hope we’ve prepared them to lead with a vibrant, passionate spirituality and confidence in God’s justice and goodness. My prayer is that our graduates are Spirit-filled people, deeply and personally connected to the Source of their vocation and calling, theologically grounded and inspired, and moved by the Spirit of God to lead, act, proclaim, and care boldly about the well-being of God’s people and God’s earth. If they follow the Spirit’s lead, this will send them on adventures of a lifetime, that will put them on the frontlines of the struggles for justice and peace in our world, that will lead them to confront powers and principalities, and that will lay on them the responsibility of helping communities to grow by imagining creative expressions of faithful witness and hope in the world. This manner of leadership and spiritual engagement will require Spirit-filled imagination and courage that is only sustained by a vibrant connection and groundedness in the Spirit. I hope we’ve prepared them to lead with confident humility. Nurtured by regular participation in the sacramental life, I pray their identity is primarily shaped by their baptismal covenant and their place at the eucharistic table, which means first and foremost that they and all are beloved, welcomed, and accepted as children of God. If they start from this “social location,” they can only lead in the same manner—receiving all as God’s beloved, working to build and strengthen communities that do as well, and struggling mightily against all barriers to that end. When we see the face of God in the other and accept our own futures as intimately tied to their flourishing, it shapes how we lead and how we understand the ends leadership serves. How do we know what we’re training people for? What is our value proposition? Of course, the above is less an exhaustive list than it is a beginning. I hope we’ve prepared our 2021 graduates to be Christlike adventurers, inspired by and connected to the movement of the Spirit, who are confidently and humbly able to creatively improvise and effectively translate the justice, love, and mercy of God into lived reality, for themselves and for the people and communities God has called them to love and serve. That is a value proposition that is priceless. AWARE MAGAZINE | 3
THE 163RD E-COMMENCEMENT OF GARRETT-EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY A first in the seminary’s 168-year history, GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary held its 163rd Commencement online on Friday, May 14, 2021. Following the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and the State of Illinois to decrease the spread of COVID-19, the seminary opted for an online experience to commemorate and celebrate the Class of 2021. Though the online format presented new challenges, administrators worked diligently to preserve the order and traditions of the service. All from the seminary community were able to watch the 163rd Commencement together via a watch party on the seminary’s YouTube channel. The seminary awarded six doctor of philosophy, 12 doctor of ministry, two master of arts in Christian education, four master of arts in pastoral care and counseling, one master of arts in public ministry, three master of theological studies, and 30 master of divinity degrees. Additionally, the seminary recognized one student who completed the advanced course of study, seven students who completed the basic graduate theological studies, and two students who completed certificates. In addition to this being the first commencement service held online, it was President Javier A. Viera’s first time to preside. In his opening remarks to the graduates he said, “In you we place our hopes, aspirations, and dreams for a more better, more peaceful, and more just world and church.” During the service, the seminary recognized members of the classes of 1970, 1971, 1995, and 1996. Due to the global pandemic, the classes of 1970 and 1995 were unable to celebrate their 25th and 50th reunions in 2020 and were invited to participate in 2021. In addition, distinguished alum awards were presented to Rev. Sue Laurie, who received her master of divinity from GarrettEvangelical in 1995, and Bishop Bruce Ough, who received his master of divinity from GarrettEvangelical in 1978 (see pages six and seven for more on the distinguished alums and the reunion classes). 4 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
The seminary was honored to have Bishop William J. Barber II (pictured top left on page five) as the commencement speaker. In addition, Barber was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity. In the citation for the honorary degree, Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, associate professor of formation, leadership, and culture, said, “Bishop Barber, you are a voice of hope, a scholar of light and truth, you are a repairer of the breach, and we are humbled to present you with this degree.” “I am so honored today to be with you GarrettEvangelical for the 2021 commencement,” said Barber. “Thank you to the Board of Trustees for honoring me with this honorary degree; I never take things like this for granted.” A pastor, professor, organizer, author, and soughtafter speaker, Barber is the architect of the Moral Movement, which began with weekly Moral Monday protests at the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013. In 2018, Barber helped relaunch the Poor People’s Campaign, which was begun by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, starting with an historic wave of protests in state capitals and in Washington, D.C., calling for a moral agenda and a moral budget. In his address, Barber focused on the danger of trying to worship God without a conscience. “Worshiping God is more than a praise song, worshiping God is more than a hallelujah,” said Barber. “To worship God is to be born again with a deep conscience and concern for the plight of others. And any concept of Christianity that doesn’t teach this is actually a dangerous form of false religion, a theological malpractice and downright idolatry.” Barber concluded by reminding the graduates to not only serve the Lord, but also to serve the Lord with a conscience. After the conferring of the degrees, the service concluded with a final blessing upon the Class of 2021 by eight members of the faculty. To watch the 163rd Commencement service in its entirety, go to YouTube.com/GarrettSeminary.
Rev. Sue Laurie President Javier A. Viera
Bishop William J. Barber II
Graduate Innis Landrus Miller
Graduate Myungsu Kim
Class of 2021 Members
Dr. K.-K. Yeo
Graduate Efraín Belmontes
Bishop Bruce Ough
Class of 2021 Members
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LAURIE AND OUGH RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED ALUM AWARD Each year, the seminary presents distinguished alum awards at commencement to two alums who have rendered extraordinary service. The 2020 recipients were recognized at the 163rd Commencement service, held virtually on May 14, 2021. They are Rev. Sue Laurie and Bishop Bruce Ough. Rev. Sue Laurie received her master of divinity from Garrett-Evangelical in 1995. Since her days at GarrettEvangelical, Laurie has served as a pastor, prophet, and preacher dedicated to justice and inclusion, especially for LGBTQ+ persons in and beyond The United Methodist Church. “To be recognized as a distinguished alum for tasks not finished, wow, my heart,” said Laurie upon receiving the award. As a pastor, Laurie seeds new faith communities and supports existing ones. Laurie teaches with confidence in God’s love and grace. She has an ability to feel the pain of exclusion and allow it to inform the ongoing ministry of gathering and offering a different path. As a prophet, Laurie advocates for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in and beyond The United Methodist Church. Laurie has participated actively in justice-seeking groups such as Love Prevails, Church Within A Church Movement, and UMForward. Serving as the national outreach coordinator for eight years with Reconciling Ministries Network, Laurie has traveled the United States speaking and teaching in many Annual Conferences. She has attended countless gatherings where decisions about LGBTQ+ persons were made. At General Conference 2016, Laurie was ordained by her community as a testament to God’s undeniable call to ministry. As a preacher, Laurie gives witness to the Good News of Christ’s love for all people. Those familiar with Laurie’s preaching commitments often say, “Sue is a circuit rider, and the world is her parish.” Laurie is known for her life-sustaining sense of humor, her integrity, and her ability to save lives and souls that may otherwise be lost to discrimination and oppression. 6 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
Bishop Bruce Ough received his master of divinity from GarrettEvangelical in 1978. Ough was ordained deacon in 1975 and elder in 1979 in the former North Dakota Conference. Ough has served as council director and camp program director in the Dakotas, as Director of Oakwood Spiritual Life Center in Indiana, and as senior pastor, district superintendent and director of the Council of Ministries in the Iowa Conference. “I am honored and humbled by receiving GarrettEvangelical’s distinguished alum award,” said Ough. Ough served as resident bishop of the West Ohio Area of The United Methodist Church for 12 years. He then served as resident bishop of the DakotasMinnesota Area from 2012 until his retirement in 2020. Ough is the current executive secretary of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, a position he has held since September 1, 2020. The executive secretary is charged with the dayto-day running of the Council of Bishops’ office in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Council of Bishop’s Executive Committee. Ough has served the broader United Methodist connection in many ways. He was elected as a delegate to numerous General and North Central Jurisdiction Conferences and has served as a member of several jurisdictional and general church agencies. He was appointed bishop of the Southeast Asia Mission (Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand) from 2010–2015, served as the president of the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops, and chaired the Council of Bishops’ Plan Team on Missional Focus. He chaired the United Methodist Connectional Table for the 2012–2016 quadrennium and served as president of the Council of Bishops from 2016–2018.
CELEBRATING THE GRADUATES OF 1970, 1971, 1995, AND 1996 During commencement, the classes of 1970 and 1971 from Evangelical and Garrett Theological Seminaries and the classes of 1995 and 1996 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary reunited virtually to celebrate their golden and silver anniversaries of graduation from seminary. The virtual reunion experience included a session about the seminary’s mission today with President Javier A. Viera and Dr. Sara Williams, a social hour for reconnecting with classmates and former professors, and a lecture by Dr. Charles Cosgrove about Augustus and Eliza Garrett. Many reunion alums also joined the broader GarrettEvangelical community for Senior Chapel and the commencement ceremony.
Social Hour for Members of the Classes of 1995 and 1996 via Zoom
Thank you to the alums who volunteered to help organize and host our virtual reunion experience: Rev. Craig Miller (GTS 1971), Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries (ETS 1971, G-ETS 1986), Rev. Dr. Doug Vernon (GTS 1970), Rev. David Aslesen (G-ETS 1996), Rev. Cerna Rand (G-ETS 1995, 1998), and Rev. Melissa Warren (G-ETS 1996). Social Hour for Members of the Classes of 1970 and 1971 via Zoom
Excerpt from Reunion Invocation by Rev. Craig Miller (GTS 1971)
Excerpt from Prayer of Blessings for the Class of 2021 by Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries (ETS 1971, G-ETS 1986)
“As each of us may have followed different paths of ministry that you set before us, O God, we have all been privileged in our own way to fulfill the vocations to which you have called us, led by your spirit and accompanied on the journey by the presence of Christ. . . . May we continue in the midst of the whirlwind of these times to be the faithful servants you called us to be as ambassadors of faith, hope, and love many years ago.”
“Lord, we pray for blessing of these students who will soon depart for new fields of service, new opportunities to be in ministry, and new ways of being the church. . . . In a world full of hateful rhetoric, remind them that they are called to bear the Good News, and its teaching of love, justice, reconciliation, hope, and peace.”
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OUR HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS: MEET THE CLASS OF 2021 Congratulations to the Class of 2021! Despite these unprecedented times and an academic year unlike any other, the Class of 2021 not only rose to the challenge but also flourished. We commend them on their fine work and their future ministries, and in them we place our hopes, aspirations, and dreams for a better and more peaceful and more just world. We are very pleased to introduce 12 of these graduates, who are going forth to live out God’s call to serve the church, academy, and world.
EFRAÍN BELMONTES Master of Divinity What is your hometown and educational background? I was born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. I attended a Christian/Methodist high school, Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas. Following high school, I wanted to start my theological education right away. As a result, I earned my bachelor’s degree in theology with a minor in family counseling. Then, after I heard about the possibility to earn a full scholarship offered by the HispanicLatinx Center for a master’s degree at GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary, I applied and was accepted. Now, I have successfully finished my master of divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Being part of the Garrett-Evangelical community has allowed me to understand how the Kingdom of God was transformed and to discover effective and concrete ways to practice the Christian faith today. This faith goes beyond any closed entity; rather, it is made public and is in constant conversation with social justice. Hence, Garrett-Evangelical has offered resources and tools that have shaped my theological reflection and shaped me as a leader who accompanies, guides, and inspires others in faith and life. Garrett-Evangelical has given a new direction to my call, a more humane call that invites me to continue to draw closer to God as I draw closer to my neighbor. 8 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
What is your most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical? One of my most transformative experiences at Garrett-Evangelical has been having the opportunity to explore the relationship between knowledge and practice. During these three years, I have had professors who have known well how to reconcile knowing with being in a very inspiring way. And that has been very significant in my growth and development as a theologian, and especially, as a pastor and leader. For example, the word “sentipensar” (a made-up definition of the word, to feel and think in Spanish), a phrase that I heard for the first time by Professor Nancy Bedford, has helped me to understand that my calling and vocation as a theologian consists of thinking from my heart and reasoning from my feelings. From this combination, I have learned that theology is ultimately a response to a wound; therefore, I find myself with the task of dialoguing in favor of the most vulnerable while I embrace, approach, and respond to their needs. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? As I have graduated from seminary, I recognize this might be just a start as a theologian, leader, and pastor. Nevertheless, as my vocation has always been bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to those in need, I desire to find/create a space where I can help, guide, and inspire others to do the same. Overall, I look forward to where the Holy Spirit guides me, along with those who seek justice and place love first.
CASSANDRA CHEE
MARIA PENROD
Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
What is your hometown and educational background?
What is your hometown and educational background?
Home for me is Okinawa, China, and Korea, and my roots run through Los Angeles, Seattle, and Honolulu. I have a bachelor’s degree in visual communications design from the University of Washington. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? When I came to Garrett-Evangelical, the only thing I felt certain about was that I wanted to learn how to live the gospel in more liberating ways alongside those most vulnerable in my communities. At GarrettEvangelical, I found places where I was encouraged, challenged, and inspired to locate God locally and globally. It has been my women of color professors, mentors, and peers, in particular, who have supported me through this process. They affirmed that calling begins from within those we come from and determines who we are called to. Although there was much that I learned within the classroom, the times I witnessed mentors and teachers preach powerfully, listen carefully to the community, and constantly dream has most shaped my ministry. In my ministry, I am committed to divesting from harmful theologies and instead investing in more life affirming ones. Today that means co-creating and building power with local, indigenous, working class, LGBTQ+, immigrant women to grow theologies that reflect God in love and justice. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? The most transformative experiences at GarrettEvangelical were the in-between times. Getting to know peers at the coffee percolator outside of the chapel, studying and “studying” together in the library, digesting lunch and a lecture while walking by the lake, checking in with everyone in the first few minutes of a class Zoom call — it was in these spaces that I reflected on what I was learning in the classroom and was moved by the experiences of my peers and faculty.
My hometown is Overbrook, Kansas. I have a bachelor of science in journalism and mass communications with a minor in political science from Kansas State University. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Before coming to seminary, I knew that I was called to some kind of professional ministry. My time at GarrettEvangelical gave me the language and discernment skills to sharpen my call. It felt like I was looking through the viewfinder of a camera, adjusting the lens, and everything started to come into focus. The education I earned at Garrett-Evangelical taught me how to be a deep and critical thinker, how to embody my theology, and how to practice solidarity with marginalized people. My calling evolves over time, and I know that those skills will serve me well. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? The most transformative experience I have had at Garrett-Evangelical has been learning from peers. From class, to lunch, to the library, to driving to Sonic for half-price slushes, the growth that came from these relationships has made me a better pastor and a better human being. I would also like to lift up my field education experience. Both of my site supervisors at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church impacted me immeasurably. They provided a space for me to try new things, fail, learn, and try again. They were excited about my ideas and treated me like I was an essential member of the team, not just a field education student. I cannot thank them enough. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I am commissioned as a provisional deacon in the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church, and I have accepted a job as the director of youth ministry at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas. AWARE MAGAZINE | 9
LATONYA JOHNSON Master of Divinity | Redford Township, Michigan How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Garrett-Evangelical has taught me how to build self-awareness to my approach to leadership, which has enhanced my skills and provided me with a strong foundation in theology. I feel equipped to deepen my impact within the community where I serve. Garrett-Evangelical has also enhanced my skills in the areas of preaching, missional practices, and leadership. The education I obtained at Garrett-Evangelical has shaped my understanding of God’s word. I feel empowered to minister with excellence within my community. Garrett-Evangelical is a seminary that provides a well-rounded education to people of all faiths. I’ve enjoyed studying with students who reside outside the United States, as well as with students from other states. I’ve had an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual alongside other students, as well as with wonderful professors who pour their hearts and souls into teaching God’s word from various perspectives.
MICHAEL WILKERSON Master of Divinity | Yuma, Arizona How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Garrett-Evangelical has given me background information in the faith tradition that has shed light on the foundation of the church and its liturgical practices. I have also been exposed to various hermeneutics, which have broadened my understanding of scripture and expanded my understanding of theology. And by studying the source languages of Hebrew and Greek, I sometimes see different ways of interpreting text that offer new insights within a given context. This has led me to new ways of exploring my faith and sharing it with others.
GRACE OKERSON Master of Arts in Public Ministry | Miramar, Florida How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? During my time at Garrett-Evangelical, I have learned how to de-center whiteness in my theological interpretation. This has shaped how I interact with biblical texts and how I begin to center those on the margins following God’s preferential option for the poor and disinherited of society. This has deeply impacted the work that I have done towards dismantling white supremacy and prison abolition. What is your most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical? My most transformative experience has been through the reading of Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas that was written in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin. Through the reading of this text, I was reminded of the incident that initially radicalized me and brought the issue of eradicating anti-Black bias to the forefront of my sense of vocation. Through reading this text, I was able to realize where I’ve been, where I am, and where I am going when it comes to my vocation. This text was introduced to me through a class taught by Dr. Brian Bantum – “Theology, Race, and Culture.” 10 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
TOAR BANUA HUTAGALUNGM
BECCA GIRRELL
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Ethics
Doctor of Ministry with a Concentration in Congregational Leadership
What is your hometown and educational background?
What is your hometown and educational background?
Question of home is always difficult to answer for a liminal person like me. I was born in Mataram city, on an island called Nusa Tenggara Barat in Indonesia. Yet, I had to move from one island to another island several times, until I settled in Jakarta, where I began my first calling in 2005. I graduated with a bachelor of science in theology from Jakarta Theological Seminary. Six years later, I graduated with a master of arts in theological research from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts. Six years ago, I was fortunate to be able to start pursuing my doctoral degree at GarrettEvangelical. Although Mataram is my birth town and Indonesia is my home country, Evanston is my home, too. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? I entered my theological journey in Jakarta intending to be a pastor. Nevertheless, I started to realize that I have a wider calling, which is to be a professor. GarrettEvangelical has shaped me to be critical and vocal in raising my concerns, to embody the idea of persistence and survival, to enjoy studying and working, to teach passionately in a class, and to value friendships and communality with the fellow students, faculty, and staff. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? Initially, I felt compelled to educate the future pastors in seminaries/theological institutions to have better doctrinal understandings. However, I started to realize that my theological perspective was too colonized. It began to gradually change when I started to learn postcolonial and decolonial studies from Dr. Anne Joh as well as from my committee members. That was (and is still) the moment of “conversion” for me when God accompanied me in my spiritual and academic journey. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I want to teach and contribute to an ecclesial setting.
I grew up in rural Vermont, and notably, I was not very involved in church. My family was Catholic but not practicing. I attended Elmira College (Elmira, New York) where I received a call to ministry, and I majored in philosophy and religion. Next, I attended Boston University School of Theology. I graduated valedictorian in 2004 with my master of divinity degree. I then spent more than a decade in parish ministry before deciding to pursue my doctorate. I felt a deep longing for more robust leadership development for the lay folks with whom I serve, and I chose Garrett-Evangelical’s doctor of ministry program in congregational leadership because of its strong focus on leadership, management, and best practices from multiple fields. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? The program for the doctor of ministry degree was exciting and informative. Spending a couple of weeks on campus in intensive classes worked well for me to be able to then return to my church and immediately apply the things I was learning. The people in the church I was serving noticed the increase in my energy, confidence, and skill every time I learned and applied new information. Garrett-Evangelical’s partnership with the Kellogg School of Management’s Center for Nonprofit Management was especially fruitful in building skills from outside the church to help me be a more effective leader and become more effective in equipping others. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? I instantly loved the people in my cohort, and it was wonderful to connect with these classmates, including during our online classes. I miss them very much. I also found the Kellogg program “Faith and Leadership Week” to be transformational, and I wish every church leader at every level could experience this program! AWARE MAGAZINE | 11
JON ROBINSON Doctor of Ministry in Preaching What is your hometown and educational background? I was born in Pueblo, Colorado and grew up outside of Denver in the 1970s and 1980s. I have a bachelor of arts in management from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois (2005), a master of divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (2008), and a doctor of ministry from GarrettEvangelical (2021). How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? Garrett-Evangelical’s motto used to be “Preparing bold leaders for the church, the academy, and the world.” These words were woven into the fabric of GarrettEvangelical’s culture, and they left an indelible mark on my matriculation and my ministry. The world is in desperate need of bold leaders everywhere, but especially in the church, where we are being forced to
EDWIN COTTO-PÉREZ Doctor of Ministry in Preaching What is your hometown and educational background? I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I graduated from Luchetti Visual Arts High School in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Later, I went to Sacred Heart University, also in Santurce, where I earned a bachelor of arts in public communication. In 2003, I took a leap of faith and joined the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. I earned a master of divinity in May 2008 (cum laude). How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? It has been a journey of commitment, sacrifices, and wins. The challenges we face in the context of Hispanic/Latinx communities make our pastoral tasks 12 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
reimagine our existence in the face of two simultaneous pandemics: COVID-19 and racism and white supremacy. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? I was profoundly shaped by the opportunity to serve as the co-chair of the Garrett-Evangelical Black Seminarians (G-EBS) during my time as a master of divinity student. The work we did on justice issues, both within the seminary and in the community, helped inform the servant leadership I now provide as the pastor of St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church in South Minneapolis, located less than a half mile from the intersection of 38th St. and Chicago Ave., where George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? As an itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, I try not to make too many plans because I serve at the pleasure of the bishop. But jokes aside (I’m kind of kidding), I plan to continue the legacy of the Black prophetic preaching tradition I have inherited, encouraging God’s people to take seriously the divine invitation for us to embody discipleship beyond the walls of our buildings.
more complex. Only with the commitment and certainty of the call have I been able to carry the ministry and academic burden during this process. However, I must admit that the process was enriching in so many ways, and the end result makes me a better person and hopefully, a better pastor. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? The most transformative experience while studying at Garrett-Evangelical has been community coexistence during the in-person courses. Sharing with pastors from different cultures and with diverse ministerial realities in a multicultural setting was an experience that I will cherish forever. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I hope to develop leaders and lay preachers. I’d like to provoke a greater integration of church and community so that I can be instrumental in the transformation of our congregation, and the community.
DANIEL SHROYER Basic Graduate Theological Studies (Deacon Studies) What is your hometown and educational background? My hometown is Wheaton, Illinois, where I lived until high school. I earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma – I’m a third generation engineer to graduate from OU in Norman, Oklahoma! Later, I also earned an MBA from Louisiana State University. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? My entrance essay for Garrett-Evangelical concluded with this line, “I find that the more I listen and serve, the clearer God’s call becomes.” Now, more than five years later, I can confidently say that the listening and service undertaken during my time at seminary has been absolutely transformative for my understanding of God’s action in the world, as well as my personal ministry and vocation. My time at Garrett-Evangelical gifted me with ways of experiencing and being in the world that I aspire to carry forward as I continue to discern God’s call in my life and to engage in servant leadership of my community by promoting justice, compassion, and human flourishing. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? I do not have a single, transformative experience to which to point, but rather a cluster of experiences centered around the theme of relationality. The interconnectedness of all things — the spiritual to the physical, the theological to the practical, human to the divine — ran as a thread through all my courses and experiences. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I will attend the Texas Annual Conference Candidacy Summit to continue my discernment journey. More and more, I feel called to minister in the corporate setting as an ordained deacon. Though the path is not fully clear, I am trusting the Spirit to lead me in ways that contribute to the coming Kin-dom and bring glory to God in the diversity of ministry contexts that intersect in my life.
SANDEE PROUTYCOLE Basic Graduate Theological Studies (Deacon Studies) and Certificate in Spiritual Formation What is your hometown and educational background? My hometown is Watertown, South Dakota. I have a bachelor of science degree in mathematics with concentrations in secondary education and computer science from South Dakota State University. How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling? My time at Garrett-Evangelical has reinforced my call to become a deacon in The United Methodist Church, where I hope to be a bridge to that community of individuals who are hurting, oppressed, or excluded and welcome them into the Kin-dom of Christ. The rigorous academics challenged me to expand and grow my faith and world view, along with my desire to bring to fruition transformative change in the world for all of God’s children. What is your most transformative experience at GarrettEvangelical? Being a remote, part-time student while working fulltime in ministry, I personally found attending intensive courses on campus and meeting other students during the J-term and summer sessions to have a profound impact on my seminary experience. The total immersion in the academic environment, along with the opportunity to dialogue with others both in class and outside of class during late night study sessions, made for a wholistic experience both spiritually and academically. What are your plans or your hopes for your future? I will begin the ordination process to become a deacon in the Dakotas Conference this year. I will also pursue opportunities for ministry in both individual spiritual direction and communal spiritual formation settings that allow space for God’s love to heal and transform the lives of the brokenhearted, oppressed, and excluded. AWARE MAGAZINE | 13
REV. BILL TOMLINSON SUPPORTS SEMINARY EDUCATION THROUGH HIS WILL Rev. Bill Tomlinson (GBI 1954) said he feels strongly that a Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary education is important — so important that he has put the seminary in his will. “Our ministers need to be exposed to different ideas, especially today,” he said. “We need educated ministers. That is why it is important to support seminaries.” Tomlinson said he can’t remember a time he wasn’t in the church, but he didn’t think about becoming a minister until mid-way through college. For most of his early life, Tomlinson lived on farms in Ohio. After spending a couple of elementary school years on his grandfather’s farm near Columbus, he and his family moved to another farm in Northeastern Ohio for the rest of his early education and high school. After graduating from Paris Township High School, he headed to Ohio State University, where he started to take general education courses. Then, he got a parttime job working on a dairy farm. Thinking he would become a dairy farmer, he changed his course of study. “I thought I had better major in dairy husbandry,” he said. His course of study changed again about midway through his college career when he felt a call to ministry. In the fall of 1948, he enrolled at Garrett Biblical Institute. He chose Garrett Biblical Institute because Garrett Professor Rocky Smith had come to Ohio State and persuaded him to apply and later matriculate. According to Tomlinson, the highlight of his years at Garrett was meeting his wife, Eileen Ganzel, who was getting her master’s degree in religious education. Tomlinson worked at the Garrett dining hall, and they both worked at the First Methodist Church. When they weren’t working, they studied and spent a lot of time together. During that time, they found they had a lot in common. Like Tomlinson, Ganzel had grown up on a farm, she in Nebraska. Their first official date was on Valentine’s Day. 14 AWARE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021
Tomlinson said he found the coursework at Garrett difficult. “In my fifth quarter, I received an announcement from the Academic Committee that my grades were not sufficient for me to continue,” he said. Because he was already enrolled and had a job, he stayed on for the next quarter, taking Professor Rocky Smith’s rural sociology course. He aced it but decided to drop out of school and move to Iowa, where he had received a charge at Exline, Sharon Chapel, and Zoar. About that time, he and Ganzel got married. After working for a couple of years, he petitioned to return to Garrett and was accepted. He returned, but his wife and their first daughter stayed behind in Iowa. His experience in the Iowa parish helped him excel. “After I was out in a parish for a couple of years, I began to see how things fit together, and I did much better,” he said. Tomlinson graduated in 1954 and began a 41-year career as a minister in Iowa. In that time, he and his wife served 28 churches in 12 parishes. They also had three children, Kathleen, Muriel Ann, and Walter. The highlights of his career involved working with the youth and the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries. “I have said several times that if it hadn’t been for the camping program, I would not have stayed in the ministry,” he said. Tomlinson got involved in The United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries more than 70 years ago because he “loved being outdoors.” He served this ministry in almost every capacity, including serving as the interim director for three different camps. At one point, Iowa had eight camps, and Tomlinson said he had worked at all eight. After his retirement in 1991, Tomlinson has continued to volunteer at the Wesley Woods camp, building new facilities, repairing old facilities, and helping out. “Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years, and then he went to preaching. I preached for 41 years and then went to carpentry,” he said. If you, like Bill, are motivated to put the seminary in your will, go to plannedgiving.garrett.edu to learn more or contact the development office at 847.866.3970.
In Memoriam Our Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the following alums who have died in Christ. 1950’s Paul Gilman, ETS 1953, Avilla, IN, died May 28, 2021. Kenneth Wyatt, ETS 1953, Tulia, TX, died May 24, 2021. Paul Mugler, GBI 1956, Salina, KS, died November 10, 2020. Seymour Halford, GBI 1957, Dixon, IL, died June 1, 2021. Edward Heyer, ETS 1957, Hinckley, IL, died May 31, 2021. Fred Conger, Jr, GBI 1958, Batavia, IL, died June 11, 2021. Frank Wood, ETS 1959, North Tonawanda, NY, February 26, 2020.
Robert Mushrush, GBI 1960, Peoria, IL, died May 26, 2021. David Glen Owen, GTS 1962, Indianapolis, IN, died on March 16, 2021. Bertram Vermeulen, GTS 1962, Fremont, MI, died March 14, 2021. James Edward Carter, GTS 1964, Hamilton, OH, died June 2008. Kenneth E. Johnson, GTS 1964, Zavalla, TX, died May 2, 2014. Donald Nunnally, ETS 1964, Lincoln, NE, died April 2, 2019. Kenneth M. Rogers, GTS 1964, Rochester, MN, died May 3, 2021.
1960’s
Robert Kersten, GTS 1967, Chandler, AZ, died April 10, 2021.
Jerald Baker, GBI 1960, Medina, OH, died October 25, 2020.
Charles J. Cederholm, GTS 1968, Flagstaff, AZ, died March 7, 2018.
James Iwig, ETS 1960, Lawrence, KS, died December 26, 2019.
Jon Cockrel, GTS 1968, Metropolis, IL, died June 8, 2021.
1980’s Darrell Lamar Jackson, G-ETS 1981, Chicago, IL, died February 15, 2021. Rose Woodke, G-ETS 1985, Plymouth, IN, died May 11, 2021. Carolyn Oehler, G-ETS 1988, Brentwood, TN, died June 13, 2021. 1990’s Martha S. Horrell, G-ETS 1990, Richmond Heights, MO, died July 27, 2020. Lloyd Crandall, G-ETS 1994, Stevens Point, WI, died August 24, 2020. Shane Allen Burton, G-ETS 1995, Hudson, WI, died August 29, 2020. Sandra Hamilton, G-ETS 1999, Eau Claire, WI, died June 23, 2021.
Alum News M. Wayne Clark (GTS 1973) was recently interviewed by Ankeny Living Magazine on the Human Genome MFT Therapists and Genetics and Pastoral Counseling in Genetics. Clark has also published several books including Christmas in Stories, A Potato Christmas, and A Boy on the Farm. Marti Lundy (G-ETS 1993) has been appointed as the conference superintendent for the North District of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. Joseph Williams (G-ETS 2013) was named a Mellon/ American Council of Learned Societies Dissertation Completion Fellow. In addition, he was awarded an Andrew W. Mellon Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Willams is a doctoral candidate at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Autumn Hartman (G-ETS 2020) has accepted the position of prevention specialist for the State Opioid Response Grant with Rosecrane Jackson in Spencer, Iowa. LeAnn Pederson Pope (G-ETS 2020), a 1979 alumna of Carthage College, has been elected and installed as a trustee to the Carthage Board of Trustees. Josh Richardson (G-ETS 2020) is the director of the newly launched Brugmansia Ministries, which is an interfaith organization preparing religious communities to address climate change and climate migration. We want to celebrate you! To submit your accomplishments and achievements for a future issue of Alum News, email Alum.Relations@Garrett.edu today. AWARE MAGAZINE | 15
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 2121 Sheridan Road Evanston, Illinois 60201
SAVE THE DATE Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the Presidential Inauguration of
Javier A. Viera to be held on wednesday, the twentieth of october, two thousand and twenty-one, at four o’clock in the afternoon
b details and information will be available at garrett.edu in early september
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID EVANSTON, IL PERMIT NO. 326
