AWARE A quarterly publication of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
October 2018
Aware Magazine • October 2018 Contents 1 | Presidential Perspective 2 | The 2017-2018 Annual Report 4 | An “Unlikely” Seminary Student Establishes Scholarship Aware is published quarterly by the development
office for alums and friends of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1853, the seminary serves more than 400 students from many denominations and various cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. GarrettEvangelical 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. EDITORIAL BOARD
PRESIDENT
Ceciley R. Akins Katharine Duke Joseph Emmick Krista J. McNeil Shane A. Nichols Tasha Sargent
Lallene J. Rector PHOTOGRAPHY Bill Burlingham of Burlingham Productions Shane A. Nichols
5 | Seminary Launches New Planned Giving Website
6 | Vocational Network Program: Alums Share Their Wisdom and Experience with Students 10 | Cutting Edges: The Influence of Dr. Cone and Dr. Cannon 11 | Garrett-Evangelical Welcomes New Professor of Pastoral Theology 12 | Alum News 12 | Nine Alumnae Contribute to Book, We Pray with Her 13 | Remembering Beloved Friend and Philanthropist of the Seminary, Ernest Conrad Styberg
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Presidential Perspective
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Each bishop also addressed the critical importance of inclusivity without discrimination and how our Christian unity is not based on the matter of human sexuality, but, rather, on the deeper foundations of our faith. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6, NRSV) Bishop Sally Dyck asked: “What will we be doing on February 27, the day after the 2019 General Conference concludes? . . . We’ll be making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!” And, so right she is. I have not done justice to their eloquence nor to the full scope of the bishops’ comments but their powerful witness to a deeper, biblical sense of what holds, or should be holding us together in one body, was clear. It inspired a spontaneous motion from the floor, quickly seconded, that the Board of Trustees would go on record in support of “The One Church Plan.” The motion passed easily with enthusiasm. Since then, many petitions and a number of other plans have been submitted for consideration at the 2019 General Conference. We do not know what the results of the 2019 General Conference will be on human sexuality nor how it will shape the future of The United Methodist Church. No matter what decisions are made by the General Conference, what we do know is that there is a strong prophetic strand in our Garrett-Evangelical institutional DNA that persists in our functional identity and shapes the way we try to live together. That prophetic strand has become October 2018
ctor
This past May, as our Board of Trustees meeting was concluding, a member asked if any of our three United Methodist bishops present might offer reflections on the upcoming 2019 General Conference. There was a moment of silence, but one by one, each bishop spoke boldly to the question at hand. They noted the strong episcopal support (not unanimous, but a majority) for “The One Church Plan” and described briefly how it allows for contextual determination on same-sex weddings and ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.”
increasingly embodied and explicit over our long 165-year history. To be sure, Garrett-Evangelical, much like the church, does not have an unblemished history in matters of inclusivity and welcoming hospitality. At times, we have been much too slow to stand on the side of God’s love and justice, but our prophetic strand continues to call us to repentance and pushes us forward. For the last three years, our seminary community has engaged in intentional processes of information gathering, hosting guest lectures, and engaging in careful discussion and consideration on human sexuality. We have not sought full unanimity within the seminary and may never be able to claim such, just as the bishops could not do so with regard to “The One Church Plan,” but Garrett-Evangelical must now explicitly claim who we have been for some time. It is our institutional commitment to 1) welcome, celebrate, and prepare all of our students for the variety of ministries to which they have been called by God, and 2) proactively affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of the seminary, the Church, and ordained clergy. We will bring a new institutional statement reflecting this commitment to the Board of Trustees for approval this month. The seminary will always engage a variety of perspectives as is necessary for a robust educational process, protecting space for respectful theological and intellectual disagreement. But in the midst of these pursuits, let us never forget that our Christian unity is finally based on one hope, one Lord, and one God “who is above all and through all and in all.” This is the foundation of what will sustain us as we continue to navigate our differences. Our prayers continue for all of you and for The United Methodist Church during these months leading up to the 2019 General Conference. May the love, justice, and peace of God guide us all through this season.
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The 2017-2018 Annual Report Thanks to your faithful and generous support, GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary is at the forefront of offering a relevant and responsive theological education and preparing our students for the myriad of ministries to which they are called. Together, we are committed to preparing skilled, bold, and articulate Christian leaders who will share Jesus Christ’s transforming love with others.
contributed $6,634,567 in outright gifts and an additional $8,047,558 in new planned gift commitments for a grand total of $14,682,125.
Garrett-Evangelical enjoyed its second-highest ever fundraising year in the 2017-2018 fiscal year. More than 1,000 alums, 902 friends, 47 trustees, 15 foundations, 23 corporations, and 49 churches
The graphs and charts that follow offer more details about your wonderful gifts and the students you support. On behalf of Garrett-Evangelical’s students, faculty, and staff, thank you!
There are numerous ways to support Garrett-Evangelical’s mission. To get started, go to Garrett.edu/WaysToGive.
With your generous gifts, the seminary awarded $2.5 million for student scholarships, allowing us to award 25 more scholarships for master’s degree students. In addition, your financial gifts supported full and partial stipends for students fulfilling their field education requirements, students’ book costs, and funds to respond to students’ extraordinary financial challenges.
Joseph R. Emmick Vice President of Development
Development Office Summary Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Gift Sources and Totals Alum support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(1,030 donors) $ 219,378 $ 480,729 $ 700,107
Corporate support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(23 donors) $ 35,002 $ 9,275 $ 44,277
Trustee support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(47 donors) $ 168,452 $1,026,345 $1,194,797
Church support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(49 donors) $1,558,867 $ 23,356 $1,582,223
Friend support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(902 donors) $ 146,746 $1,580,972 $1,727,718
Planned gift support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(30 donors) $ 25,498 $ 677,298 $ 702,796
Foundation support Current operations Capital gifts Total
(15 donors) $ 409,200 $ 273,450 $ 682,650
Grand total Current operations Capital gifts Total
(2,096 donors) $2,563,143 $4,071,424 $6,634,567
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The 2017-2018 Annual Report The seminary’s student body consists of more than 400 unique individuals who bring a variety of cultural heritages, spiritual perspectives, and personal gifts to our theological community. They are a direct reflection of the network of alums and friends who have encouraged them to consider seminary and a life of ministry. STUDENTS BY REGION 64%
MIDWEST
RACE AND ETHNICITY
46% WHITE
14% 8%
4% WEST
8%
12%
1% NOT REPORTED
SOUTH
Fifteen percent of our students represent the countries of Brazil, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Liberia, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Peru, South Korea, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom.
Episcopal: 2% Presbyterian: 2% Lutheran: 3% UCC: 3% Non-denominational: 5%
22% BLACK
5%
NORTHEAST
DENOMINATIONS
INTERNATIONAL
Baptist: 7%
ASIAN
Pan-Methodist: 7% UMC: 57%
HISPANIC/LATINX 1% MULTIPLE
Garrett-Evangelical is proud of the ethnic, racial, gender, and international diversity of our student body. We are committed to continuing and expanding this diversity and multicultural integration in our learning, both in and out of the classroom.
Fifty-seven percent of the student body is United Methodist. The vast majority is preparing for ordination as an elder or deacon in the church. The seminary also has an ecumenical and international reach. In total, 34 denominations are represented in the student body.
Our financial position is strong due to your generous support and a strong rebound in the equity markets. The total investment portfolio as of June 30, 2018, is $101.3 million, up 3.1 percent from the prior year.
REVENUES
EXPENSES
ENDOWMENT AND INVESTMENT
40%
11% AUXILIARY AND OTHER REVENUES October 2018
FINANCIAL AID
28%
GRANTS, GIFTS, AND BEQUESTS
21% STUDENT TUITION AND FEES
AUXILIARY EXPENSES
16% 13% GENERAL OPERATIONS
21% 50% INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION Aware Magazine
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An “Unlikely” Seminary Student Establishes Scholarship Dr. Alice Brasfield (ETS 1969) considered herself “one of the most unlikely of candidates” when it came time to apply for seminary in the late 1960’s.
advocates for me, realizing how important it was to me that I continue my education,” she said. “I am forever grateful to Garrett-Evangelical.”
To begin with, she had been out of college 11 years and had four children. She also had grown up as a Southern Baptist in Atlanta and was raised to be “a good, working-class housewife,” not a seminary student.
After Brasfield graduated in June 1969, she, her husband, and children moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico. There, she worked as a guest preacher. She also volunteered as a hospital chaplain at the Los Alamos Medical Center, but she had yet to be ordained. “In the Presbyterian Church, you have to have a paid job to be ordained,” she said. “I tried to persuade the Presbytery to create a position of traveling preacher, so congregations would see a woman in the pulpit, but it never worked out.”
But when her husband accepted a position of assistant professor in the physics department at Northwestern University, Brasfield found herself living in Evanston with a relatively new passion for Bible study. She had just moved from Minneapolis, where she had attended Andrew Presbyterian Church and “was introduced to Bible study in a serious way.” She wanted to continue her biblical education. “I saw Garrett-Evangelical sitting next door to Northwestern,” she remembered. “And so, I went in with fear and trembling and asked for a catalog.” She applied, and to her delight, Dean Jamison Jones accepted her as a part-time, provisional student, explaining that although she was an atypical student, he didn’t want to interfere with God’s work. She enrolled, taking one class at a time. As a seminary student, Brasfield faced some challenges. She rarely had other female students in her classes because most of the women were getting a degree in Christian education. “I endured some little pranks,” she said, “but I just put up with it because I wanted the education so much.” She also became pregnant with her fifth child and took a year off before resuming her studies. While at Garrett-Evangelical, Brasfield also had some victories. She won the award for best first-year Hebrew student. Additionally, some of her professors, including Rockwell Smith, Charles Kessler, Murray Leiffer, and George Buttrick, became her champions and encouraged her, especially when her husband wanted her to abandon her studies. “Several professors became strong
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Finally, she was offered a temporary, part-time job as a chaplain in the Presbyterian hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was ordained on Reformation Sunday in 1975 – six years after she graduated. Brasfield had her first call to the pulpit in 1979. By this time, she was divorced and working for Kelly Services. She went to Dixon, New Mexico, to serve a small, historical mission church tucked in the Embudo Valley. When she arrived, she realized that there was a deep rift between the Catholic and Presbyterian churches there, and she worked to mend the divide. While in Dixon, Brasfield decided to take a couple graduate courses in psychology. One of her professors, Vera John-Steiner, was so impressed, she offered to direct Brasfield’s research if she decided to pursue a PhD. In 1983, she and her new husband left Dixon and moved back to Los Alamos so she could take courses at the University of New Mexico. She graduated in 1990. Her thesis was on women and gender, based on the many interviews she did with Presbyterian clergywomen. In 1992, she resigned her ordination because she knew she would never serve in a parish again. Since then, she has been writing and running some writing workshops. She also taught a course on women and religion at the University of New Mexico.
October 2018
Although it has been almost 50 years since Brasfield graduated from Garrett-Evangelical, she recently viewed the seminary’s website and liked that the faculty was diverse and that the school seemed progressive. Her gratitude for her seminary education, along with an appreciation for what the seminary is doing now, inspired Brasfield to create a scholarship fund at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. “GarrettEvangelical took a chance on me,” she explained. “I wanted to give back.”
She said she would like the scholarship to go to a student to whom it will make a real difference. “It doesn’t have to be the smartest person in the class,” she said. “I want the scholarship to go to someone who has an eagerness to learn, like I did.” If you share Alice Brasfield’s commitment to theological education, contact Joe Emmick, vice president for development, to learn how you can endow a scholarship in your or a loved one’s name. You can reach him at 847.866.3923 or Joe.Emmick@Garrett.edu.
Seminary Launches New Planned Giving Website Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s founding was because of a generous bequest from Eliza Clark Garrett in 1853. Without Garrett’s planned gift, Garrett Biblical Institute, as it was known then, would have never been established. Since then, the seminary has benefitted greatly from numerous planned gifts that have enabled us to carry out our mission. Yet, we still know that many people
are simply not aware of the variety of ways they can support theological education for the next generation through a planned gift. Good planning requires good information, and alums and friends will now find a wealth of information on our new planned giving website. We encourage you to log on and create your plan today. Go to PlannedGiving.Garrett.edu to get started.
Helpful Features for You on Our Planned Giving Website | PlannedGiving.Garrett.edu ONLINE WILL PLANNER Access an easy, secure guide to planning your estate. Complete the information on your family, estate, and goals using your personal account. Save your information and give it to your attorney to complete your estate plan.
PERSONAL GIFT ILLUSTRATIONS View personalized gift calculations that show the income and tax benefits of setting up a gift plan using your assets and property values. Compare the benefits of setting up a charitable unitrust, annuity trust, gift annuity, or gift and sale.
GIFT PLANNING STORIES Read stories of donors who received tax benefits by making charitable gifts. Learn how a gift to your favorite charity can lead to greater income for you and your family, a tax deduction, and a lasting legacy.
GIFT ATTORNEYS Access a network of gift attorneys to facilitate document completion. You can create a personal account, grant access to a gift attorney, and make updates to your plan as life changes happen.
PROVIDE AND PROTECT View a short video and learn about the importance of having a will, how bequests are made, the role of living trusts, and much more. These presentations are valuable to help you provide for your family and protect your future.
PERSONAL PLANNER Read a new weekly article on how to meet your current financial planning goals and objectives. Learn about estate planning alternatives, including wills and trusts, that can help you plan your future. Discover ways to care for your family and help your favorite charitable causes.
October 2018
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Vocational Network Program: Alums Share Their Wisdom and Experience with Students Alums and Students Who Participated in the Vocational Network Retreat on September 26, 2018.
Rev. Katye Chambers (G-ETS 2016) knows how important it is for students to have a mentor – or two or three. Before she went to seminary at GarrettEvangelical, she worked with youth and saw firsthand how influential mentors could be. So when she was hired by Garrett-Evangelical in July 2017 and was asked to create a new vocational networking program, she responded enthusiastically. Chambers talked with Rev. Becky Eberhart, vice president of student services at Garrett-Evangelical, and together they came up with the Garrett-Evangelical Vocational Network, a program that matches alums with current students based on their shared interests and gifts. The alums mentor the students and walk with them in their discernment process. “We knew that the insight, wisdom, and experience our alums gained from their seminary education and their careers would be invaluable to our students,” Eberhart said. “So, we created a program where our alums could share that with them.” Although the students and mentors are able to talk about any topic they choose, the purpose of the program is to make sure the students have someone to talk with about their seminary experience and calling. “Garrett-Evangelical’s Field Education Office helps students with the skills needed for the practice of ministry,” Chambers said. “This program is different.” “We want our students to have the opportunity to think through their calling and vocation and identity and purpose,” she continued. “The goal is to make sure that when our students leave the seminary, they feel like they received the support and tools they need to do the ministry they feel called to do.”
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To announce the new program, Chambers wrote an email to all Garrett-Evangelical alums last fall, explaining how the program worked and asking for volunteers. Chambers said she and Eberhart hoped that 40 alums would sign up and were excited when 70 alums of all ages and from various geographic locations and callings responded. Current students were also asked if they would like to participate. “The response from alums and students was fantastic,” Chambers said. The alumni and students who responded were asked to fill out a survey identifying what they are particularly passionate about and/ or skilled at. With that information, Chambers and Rev. Katie Fahey, the director of admissions and recruitment, began what Chambers called “a giant version of the match game.” In the end, 19 students were matched with mentors, and the program was formally launched last January. This summer another 22 students were matched with mentors for a total of 41 pairs. The pairs meet once a month – in person, over the telephone, or via Skype or Google Meetups. To address the need for more training, Garrett-Evangelical sponsored a retreat in late September, and 17 students and 14 mentors attended. To find out why the mentors chose to participate, Chambers sent out a survey. “I heard things like ‘it is important to raise up new young leaders in the church,’ and ‘I wish I had this opportunity when I was in school,’” she said. “That’s exactly why we decided to create this program.” If you would like more information about the GarrettEvangelical Vocational Network or if you would like to participate, contact Rev. Katye Chambers, director of vocational networking, at 847.866.3864 or Katye.Chambers@Garrett.edu. October 2018
To find out why they signed up for the Garrett-Evangelical Vocational Network and how they have benefited so far, we talked to four alum/student pairs. All highly recommend the program. Their stories are on the next three pages.
J.R. Green, master of pastoral care and counseling student, and Dr. Sunny Lopez, president of Bethany Methodist Communities in Chicago When J.R. Green saw the email describing Garrett-Evangelical’s new vocational networking program, he knew it was an opportunity he didn’t want to miss. Green, who had gone to Wheaton College for his undergraduate degree and North Park University for a master of divinity, said that he hadn’t been able to talk with people in his field while at college or seminary.
United Methodist Homes and Services and then later with the Bethany Methodist Communities.
“I realized that this was a way to connect with someone and have a conversation about my career and how things were going, so I applied,” he said. “I knew from my previous experiences that this was a great opportunity.”
So far, Lopez considers the mentee/mentor relationship a mutually rewarding experience, and she recommends it to other alums. “In addition to helping students with their calling, the alums will continue to learn more about their own call and their own journey,” she said.
Since then, he and his mentor, Dr. Sunny Lopez, (G-ETS 1987) president of Bethany Methodist Communities in Chicago, have met several times for coffee and lunch. Green said he uses these meetings to talk about what is going on in his life and how his seminary program is progressing. “It’s great to talk with someone who listens and who knows what it is like to be in seminary,” said Green, who plans to be a licensed therapist after graduation. Green said he especially appreciates his mentor’s encouragement and perspective. “It’s been good to confirm the direction I’m going,” he said. Lopez said that what she likes best about the program is being able to hear and affirm her mentee’s story and journey of faith. “At the beginning, I wanted to hear his story – how he got to Garrett-Evangelical and what was his call,” she said. “Then, we started talking about his curriculum and his classes and how that was impacting his thinking and theological views and sense of call.” While at Garrett-Evangelical, Lopez found that her call was to pastor and counsel the elderly, and that is what she has been doing for the last 30 years, first with the October 2018
Before she became a mentor in this program, she was an advisor and adjunct faculty member in GarrettEvangelical’s Vocational Formation and Church Leadership Program. Just as she was ending that affiliation, she received the email from Rev. Katye Chambers, introducing the new mentoring program at Garrett-Evangelical. “I have always enjoyed working with the students, and I thought this would be a way to continue that work,” she said.
Innis Miller, master of arts in spiritual formation and direction student, and Dr. Andy Brubacher Kaethler, associate professor of Christian formation and culture, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Rev. Dr. Andy Brubacher Kaethler (G-ETS 2013) knows from his teaching and from personal experience how important having a mentor can be for young adults. “My own call to ministry as a young adult and beyond has been significantly shaped by the mentors that I have had in my own life and continue to have,” said Brubacher Kaethler, associate professor of Christian formation and culture at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. “Even though I am 50 now, I still have mentors, and they are really important to me.” When Brubacher Kaethler heard about the vocational networking program, he thought it would be a good way to return the favor. (Continued on Page 8) Aware Magazine
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He was matched with Innis Miller, an international student from Liberia in the master of arts and spiritual formation and direction program. Brubacher Kaethler said he was thrilled to find out Miller was from Liberia because as a child, he lived overseas for many years with his parents who did missions and development work. “To be paired with someone from West Africa was a bonus for me because it gives me a chance to reconnect with a part of my past,” said Brubacher Kaethler, who also lived in West Africa. The two connect every month by telephone, Skype, or Google Meetups. In addition to getting to know each other and talking about family, Miller and Brubacher Kaethler have talked about their different theological perspectives and how the seminary experience in the United States and Liberia differ. Brubacher Kaethler is Mennonite and went to a Mennonite high school and Canadian Mennonite University, where he received a degree in theology. He also has a bachelor of arts in religious studies and peace conflict studies from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and a master of theology from the Toronto School of Theology, also in Canada. Miller is a United Methodist with a undergraduate degree in theology from Liberia United Methodist University.
helped him personally and professionally. “It’s been rewarding talking to someone from West Africa,” he said. “I’m also a better advisor to my students. This experience has given me a little more permission to be bolder, asking questions about students’ faith and vocational calling.” Kelsey Burns, master of divinity student, and Rev. Fernando Siaba, retired United Methodist pastor Rev. Fernando Siaba (G-ETS 1976) knew immediately he wanted to volunteer when he heard about Garrett-Evangelical’s new vocational networking program. After all, he said, a couple of his mentors ended up changing his life significantly.
Lately, the two have started to talk more about their vocational calling, training, and preparation and theological issues as well.
Drafted into the army in 1970, Siaba was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. Until that point, Siaba had had no faith or church experience at all. That changed when he offered to sing in the Protestant chapel services. As time went on, he also began listening to the sermons and getting to know other Christians. One of those Christians was a United Methodist army chaplain, who later became a mentor and eventually urged Siaba to consider seminary. After he was released from the Army, he found another mentor in his pastor at a United Methodist church in upstate New York, where he attended services.
Miller said what he likes best about the relationship is a chance to hear another person’s perspective. He said he signed up for the program because he was struggling with some cross-cultural issues and thought a mentor would help him better understand how seminary works in the United States.
“I thought it was an appropriate thing for me to do, helping a seminarian, because of how I was helped early in my Christian life,” said Siaba, who recently retired from The United Methodist Church after pastoring for 41 years in Northern Illinois. “I was greatly influenced by my mentors and wanted to give back.”
“The program has given me an additional voice to the voices that I hear through the course of the semester,” Miller said. “It also gives me another audience to share my views.” The relationship between Miller and Brubacher Kaethler has helped him settle in, added Miller, who hopes to work in the United States before he returns to Liberia.
Siaba is mentoring Kelsey Burns, a second-year master of divinity student, who grew up in Michigan in The United Methodist Church. She said she heard her call at camp and listened to her call at Albion College in Michigan. Burns said she chose to attend GarrettEvangelical because “Garrett-Evangelical is a place that makes good pastors.” The evidence, she said, are the many pastors she knew who graduated from the seminary.
Brubacher Kaethler said that being a part of GarrettEvangelical’s vocational networking program has
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Burns said she signed up for the mentoring program because she had already benefited from having mentors in high school and college. Although she continued to keep in touch with her past mentors, she wanted someone who lived closer to her now. “It’s good to get another perspective,” she said. “You can’t have too many mentors.” The pair has met in person about five times so far and have talked about their lives, their calls, what Burns is learning in her seminary classes, and potential career opportunities, among other topics. The best part of the program, according to Burns, is having the support of someone who has gone to seminary and has been a pastor. “It’s great to have an outside observer to bounce things off of,” she said. “Plus,” she said, “the time commitment is perfect for a busy seminarian.” Siaba said participating in the program made him hopeful for the future. “I find it reassuring to know that God continues to call and lift up persons to continue in ordained ministry in our denomination,” he said. Denise Ann Belista, master of divinity student, and Brittany Sky, senior editor for children’s resources at The United Methodist Publishing House Denise Ann Belista, a second-year master of divinity student, said the conversations she has had with her mentor, Brittany Sky (G-ETS 2016), have affirmed her call to serve as a hospital chaplain, helping children and their parents. Belista, who grew up in Seattle, Washington, completed her bachelor’s degree in early childhood and family studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. While in Seattle, she worked as a nursing assistant in pediatrics, where she heard her call to go to seminary and become a chaplain. She signed up for Garrett-Evangelical’s vocational networking program because she wanted to meet GarrettEvangelical graduates and hear about their stories. “I was interested in finding out what my mentor did right after graduation, what her call was, and what steps she took to get where she is,” said Belista. “I also October 2018
wanted to talk to someone who understands where I am in seminary and the challenges I’m facing.” So far, Belista and Sky have emailed back and forth and video chatted. The conversations about her call, her seminary experience, Sky’s vocational journey, and their shared interest in children and child advocacy have been meaningful. So meaningful, in fact, Belista said she is convinced that she is heading in the right direction career wise. Sky, senior editor for children’s resources at The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee, earned her master of arts in Christian education at Garrett-Evangelical. She said she volunteered for the program because she loved her time at the seminary and wanted to give back to the school. A lifelong United Methodist, Sky grew up in Oklahoma and received her bachelor’s degree in religious education at Oklahoma City University. While in college, she created an internet network of children’s ministers (both paid and volunteer) called “I heart children.” After graduation, she worked as the director of children’s ministry at two congregations in Oklahoma before she became an editor at The United Methodist Publishing House. A year into her work, she realized she needed a master’s degree. Since she needed to continue to work full time, GarrettEvangelical helped her sign up for some online courses and take several intensive courses on campus. “It was a crazy time, that’s for sure,” Sky said, reflecting on those two years. She was also promoted to senior editor during her second year at seminary. Sky said yes to the invitation to join the vocational networking program because along the way, people have said yes to helping her. “Having a network of people – or even one person – who will listen to your story, encourage you, and make suggestions and connections is very important,” she said. Like many of the other mentors, Sky said she feels the program is mutually beneficial. “I offer insight that someone still new in her ministry and calling doesn’t have,” Sky said. “But she has the energy and hope and passion that I could easily forget I also have if I weren’t being inspired by her. It’s a give and take.” Aware Magazine
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Cutting Edges: The Influence of Dr. Cone and Dr. Cannon Rev. Dr. Cheryl B. Anderson, Professor of Old Testament Many of us who teach in seminaries and universities are still reeling from the recent deaths of two groundbreaking scholars: Rev. Dr. James Cone (GBI 1961 and 1965) and Rev. Dr. Katie Cannon. We do not mourn their loss just because we knew them personally or because we will miss the words of encouragement we received from them over the years. We also mourn their loss because of a debt of gratitude that will now remain unpaid. As an African American woman in biblical studies, I know that my approach to the field would not be possible in the academy if not for their work. Some might question that statement because their academic careers focused on areas that are different from my own: theology and ethics respectively. Yet how they did their work directly impacted how I have done my work, and I am sure that there are others who could say the same thing. Both of these scholars took their own family and community experiences in the segregated south as their point of departure, and they did not set aside the lessons learned from that context when they entered the academy. Instead of adopting the traditional standard of “objectivity,” their work exposed such “objectivity” for what it was: simply the perspectives of privileged white heterosexual men. More specifically, their work identified the consequences of those traditional “objective” traditions on black bodies. In other words, they learned the tradition, critiqued its harmful impact on their communities, and proposed constructive alternatives. While reflecting on their transitions, I realized how my own work strives to fit their pattern. My research agenda has centered on interpreting the Bible in the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. I have found that, in far too many situations, traditional interpretations of biblical passages have hurt rather than helped HIV prevention efforts. Such a development is due, in no small measure, to traditional interpretations having been shaped solely by the perspectives of
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privileged white heterosexual men. Yet those around the world who are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic are brown and black, female, LGBTQ, and poor. As a result, those who are most affected are not the ones who shape our understandings of the Bible, in particular, or the Christian tradition, in general. In these circumstances, a tradition that should be lifegiving has become death-dealing. To counter that dynamic, I have proposed an “inclusive” approach to reading the Bible. It is an approach that incorporates those perspectives not usually reflected in traditional understandings. In my book, Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies (Oxford University Press, 2009), I wrote that the Bible itself is a collection of writings, and each writing bears the reflection of its own context and so may vary from texts written earlier. I reminded readers that the same ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that inspired the writing and transmission of these texts remains with us and inspires us to interpret these same writings in new ways in our very different context today. As Drs. Cone and Cannon demonstrated, interpretations and doctrines can and do have physical consequences on those deemed “other.” From them, we learned the importance of scholars attending to both their own community’s context and the consequences on those communities of traditional doctrines and interpretations. On further reflection, though, it seems that the importance of both context and consequence should be recognized in the Church as well as the academy. In today’s environment, it is incumbent upon all those who believe to consider their own context and the consequences of their doctrines and interpretations on themselves and on others. How can I begin to repay my debt of gratitude to Drs. Cone and Cannon? Maybe I can re-commit myself to teaching even broader audiences about the importance of ethical biblical interpretation – interpretations that consider both our context and the consequences of our traditional understandings. Surely, it is only through the empowering presence of the divine and expanded parameters of Christian doctrine and biblical interpretation that we will see the flourishing of all creation. October 2018
Garrett-Evangelical Welcomes New Professor of Pastoral Theology Dr. Rolf Nolasco, Professor of Pastoral Theology Dr. Rolf Nolasco joined the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on July 1, 2018, as professor of pastoral theology. Nolasco is an experienced professor, trained in pastoral and counseling psychology, mindfulness and contemplative spirituality, and affective neuroscience. He is also a psychotherapist and published author and has vast experience in cross-cultural communications from living and working around the world within varying social and cultural backgrounds. “The search committee was excited by Dr. Nolasco’s publication trajectory, his documented administrative competence, his expansive embrace of compassion as a way of life, and a sense that he will flourish at Garrett-Evangelical,” said Dr. Nancy E. Bedford, Georgia Harkness professor of applied theology at Garrett-Evangelical and chair of the pastoral care and counseling faculty search committee. “We received many enthusiastic endorsements for Dr. Nolasco from students, staff, and faculty. His gifts are exactly what is needed for the field at this time.” Reflecting upon this new appointment, Nolasco said, “Garrett-Evangelical’s vision – to prepare public theologians and scholars who will proclaim the good news of the Gospel, foster deep spirituality in the lives of others, serve with cultural competency and commitment to racial equity, and lead transformative change for the well-being of all persons and creation – drums the very heartbeat of my own calling as a person and theological educator. During my initial visits to the seminary I had sensed, quite palpably, a community compelled both in action and words to embody God’s reconciling love to all, and I thought to myself, ‘I want to partake of this the best way I know how – to offer all that I am in the service of GarrettEvangelical’s mission.’” Prior to joining the faculty at Garrett-Evangelical, Nolasco served as full professor of counseling psychology at Providence University College & October 2018
Seminary in Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada. Nolasco began his professorship at Providence in 1999 as assistant professor of counseling psychology. Beginning in 2006, he also served as the program director of the counseling program at Providence at its satellite school in Calgary, Alberta. Nolasco holds a doctor of theology degree from Boston University in pastoral psychology, a master of divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of arts degree from University of the Philippines in the College of Mass Communications (cum laude). He is the author of The Contemplative Counselor: A Way of Being (Fortress Press, 2011) and Compassionate Presence: A Radical Response to Human Suffering (Cascade Books, 2016). His most recent work seeks to affirm compassion as the pulsating heartbeat of Christian theology and praxis through the hermeneutical perspectives of brain science, psychology, and practical theology. Nolasco is currently working on two books, namely God’s Beloved Queer (Wipf and Stock, 2018) and Depression, Dark Night of the Soul, and Joy (Cascade Books, 2020). In addition, Nolasco is the founding director of Compassionate Presence, an organization with a vision to create hospitable, caring, and compassionate individuals and communities empowered to take on and sustain a life of compassion as a radical response to human suffering. Compassionate Presence’s mission is to spread the message of compassion through education and training, provision of resources, and access to online-based compassion cultivation practices. This project was initially funded by Templeton Religion Trust.
To learn more about Dr. Nolasco and Compassionate Presence, go to CompassionatePresence.ca.
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Alum News Lowell Gess (ETS 1945) published two new books, Tender Moments in Scripture and Tender Moments in Ministry. James L. Papandrea (G-ETS/NU 1998) was honored by the Springtime of Faith Foundation as the 2018 Springtime Ambassador for his work in ecumenism. He was also recently promoted to professor of church history and historical theology at Garrett-Evangelical. Lisa M. Wolfe (G-ETS/NU 2003) received the 2018 Distinguished Faculty Award for the Oklahoma City University Honors Program and the 2018 Oklahoma City University Outstanding Faculty Award. Audrey Krumbach (G-ETS 2008) was named interim executive director of Lost-n-Found Youth. Michele Watkins (G-ETS 2010 and 2017) was featured as a “Millennial Womanist to Watch” by the Millennial Womanism Project. ShinHyung Seong (G-ETS 2011) published a new book, Otherness and Ethics: An Ethical Discourse of Levinas and Confucius (Kongzi).
Tasha Sargent (G-ETS 2013) was elected to the Religion Communicators Council Board of Governors. Kentina Washington-Leapheart (G-ETS 2013) was elected to The National Women’s Health Network Board of Directors. Annie A. Lockhart-Gilroy (G-ETS 2015) joined the faculty at Phillips Theological Seminary as assistant professor of Christian education and practical theology. Andrew Wymer (G-ETS 2016) was appointed assistant dean of doctoral studies at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where he is also associate professor of preaching and worship and director of the chapel. Katye Chambers (G-ETS 2016) was selected by the United Methodist Council of Bishops for the United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training: Young Adult Network. Timothy Nicinksi (COS 2017) was appointed as a chaplain at Centenary University.
Nine Alumnae Contribute to Book, We Pray with Her Nine alumnae of GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary have joined with nearly 70 United Methodist clergywomen (elders and deacons) to write the devotional book We Pray with Her: Encouragement for All Women Who Lead (Abingdon Press, 2018). This devotional is a collection of 100 entries that explores themes such as call, vocation, persistence, resistance, and struggle. Two of the Garrett-Evangelical alumnae involved with this project, Rev. J. Paige Boyer and Rev. Jen M. Tyler, served as editors. Each clergywoman who contributed to the book was under the age of 40. They serve all over the United States, from upstate New York to the West Coast to Atlanta to rural North Dakota. They also serve
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in a variety of ministerial roles in the local church, chaplaincy, academia, and more. Alumnae who contributed to the book are: • • • • • • • • •
Rev. J. Paige Boyer (G-ETS 2015) Rev. Sarai K. Case (G-ETS 2010) Rev. Mary R. Ward Dicken (G-ETS 2014) Rev. Heather S. Dorr (G-ETS 2014) Rev. Brooke E. Heerwald Steiner (G-ETS 2007) Rev. Jennifer Zeigler Medley (G-ETS 2009) Rev. Leslie G. Stephens (G-ETS 2002) Rev. Katie L. McKay Simpson (G-ETS 2007) Rev. Jen M. Tyler (G-ETS 2009)
All royalties from the book will support scholarships for young women who are certified candidates enrolled in a master of divinity program at one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries, including Garrett-Evangelical. October 2018
Remembering Beloved Friend and Philanthropist of the Seminary, Ernest Conrad Styberg Ernest “Ernie” Conrad Styberg Jr., long-time friend of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, died peacefully at his home on August 7, 2018, at the age of 88, with his wife by his side. Styberg was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on October 22, 1929. He graduated from Washington Park High School and Northwestern University. On June 30, 1951, at First Methodist Church, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Bernice M. Dembroski, who survives him. Together they shared a wonderful journey that lasted 67 years. Styberg served as president of E.C. Styberg Engineering Company – a company his father founded in 1927. As a philanthropist, Styberg was very community minded and gave his time and talent, serving in many capacities for the betterment of Racine and other charitable endeavors. Garrett-Evangelical is particularly indebted to Ernest Styberg and his wife, Bernice, for their incredible generosity. In the 1980s, the Stybergs made a $25,000 commitment to the seminary’s Endowing for Excellence campaign to establish the Clarence Seidenspinner Scholarship in memory of their former beloved pastor. In the 1990s, they again played an important role in the seminary’s second capital campaign, Bold Leaders for a New World, by making a $150,000 commitment to the Seidenspinner Scholarship. When the seminary launched its sesquicentennial campaign, Honoring Our Heritage, Forging Our Future, in 2003, the Stybergs agreed to serve as honorary cochairs and to make the lead gift in the campaign. Their $5 million commitment endowed a faculty chair in worship, a faculty chair in preaching, and a preaching institute. When they made this commitment, Ernest commented, “We want to make sure that The United Methodist Church has strong leadership in the future – leaders who appreciate the liturgical tradition of the church and October 2018
who are grounded in solid, biblical preaching and in traditional worship. If we can prepare such leaders, it will give us much satisfaction.” When the campaign goal was raised from $35 million to $60 million in 2006, the Stybergs made an additional commitment to endow five leadership scholarships and to make a significant gift to unrestricted endowment. When the goal was raised from $60 million to $100 million, they again stepped forward to do their part. This time they made a $5 million commitment to unrestricted endowment in December 2016 to put the campaign over the top. Thus, the Stybergs made the initial lead gift to launch the campaign, a lead gift in the middle of the campaign, and a lead gift to conclude the campaign. They also led the way in addressing all four of the seminary’s major campaign goals: unrestricted endowment support, endowed scholarship support, endowed faculty support, and endowed program support. Ernest and Bernice then informed the seminary that they have also included Garrett-Evangelical in their estate plans. In recognition of their outstanding leadership in all three capital campaigns and their future leadership through their estate commitment, Garrett-Evangelical inducted them into The Founder’s Society and renamed the seminary library the Ernest and Bernice Styberg Library in May 2017. The Stybergs were unable to be present, but Ernest wrote the following letter to be read at the dedication: “Bernice and I are sorry we cannot be present with you today. We are humbled to be honored by GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary. Truly it is our honor to help this great organization. The mission of Garrett fits perfectly with ours.” Dr. David Heetland, senior vice president for planned giving, officiated at Ernest’s memorial service. In his remarks he noted that “Ernie was a true gentleman: humble, quiet, witty, genuine, and generous. He and Bernice truly have blessed others, and they have helped transform Garrett-Evangelical for generations to come. His spirit will live on at the seminary, which is blessed to be able to preserve his name and his values.” Aware Magazine
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LOWER YOUR TAXES with the New Tax Law For smart taxpayers, the new law provides easy opportunities to lower taxes even more. Whether you typically itemize or take the standard deduction, there are some strategies you can use to receive new tax savings, as well as other non-tax benefits, while allowing you to support the causes that matter most to you. Your specific tax benefits from these strategies will depend on your personal tax situation as well as how you structure your gift. We are happy to talk to you and help your tax advisor find the gift that is right for you. To learn more, contact Dr. David Heetland, senior vice president for planned giving, at 847.866.3970 or David.Heetland@Garrett.edu.
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