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Alumni
Robe donations from SFTS alumni create ripple effect
By Laura Gallardo ’03, ’22
The summer 2020 issue of Chimes included “One robe, two stories,” about Donald Keuper ’54 (M.Div.), whose family honored his life by gifting his pastoral robe to San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS), with the “the sincere hope that this robe might be used by young pastors at the Seminary, or at your discretion, perhaps given to a deserving student.” The eventual recipient of Keuper’s robe was Heather Johnston ’20 (M.Div.), and the story included letters exchanged between the Keuper family and Johnston. The Chimes editorial team received several responses to this story, excerpts from which are included below:
What a wonderful read in this current issue of the Chimes. … My husband, Bob, began at SFTS in 1953, and I came in 1954. We were married in Stewart Chapel on March 4, 1956, with David Essler officiating. Bob had a remarkable 33-year career in the U.S. Navy, 26 of which he served as a Navy chaplain. After his military service, Bob served three churches as parish visitor. He also volunteered for 10 years at Camp Pendleton giving a Sunday evening service for students at the School of Infantry.
I admired the letter written by the Keuper family about Donald’s robe, and I would be more than happy to gift Bob’s robe and hood for an SFTS graduate. Bob and I always talked about the professors we had at SFTS, all of whom were deeply devoted to their calling and always available to students. We were so blessed to be at SFTS, and every bit of learning we gained at the Seminary was put into use during our careers.
—Genece Oshanyk Warren ’56
On Nov. 8, I turned on the TV, and the reporter was instructing everyone in Paradise and the surrounding areas to evacuate immediately. When we got to the main road, it was pitch dark with flames on both sides. … I felt God’s presence and quickly began to pray, thanking God for my family and friends, the opportunity to go to college and seminary, the churches in which I had served, and all the people who had touched my life. … We lost everything in the fire but our memories.
We eventually found a house in Santa Rosa, and I discovered the Presbyterian Church of the Roses, where I was invited to become parish associate for pastoral care. The first time I preached there, I realized that I did not have any robes, as they had burned in the church where I was volunteering in Paradise. My nephew, Brad Davis, contacted SFTS to inquire where to purchase one for me and was told they had robes that had just been donated for such purposes. On Christmas morning, I opened a mysterious box, and in it were two robes and a stole, along with a precious note from Former Dean Jana Childers, who had been my homiletics professor when I went to SFTS in the 1990s, offering me her old preaching robe! How amazing and good our Lord is!
—Lynne Vandercook ’94 (M.Div.)
It is my pleasure to donate the clergy garment belonging to my late husband, Bob, to a student at San Francisco Theological Seminary—Bob would have liked that! Our mission work brought us to Window Rock/Fort Defiance, Arizona; Taiwan; and Liberia, West Africa. In between mission experiences, Bob served Covenant Presbyterian Church in Danville, North Carolina, and Plainsboro Presbyterian Church in Plainsboro, New Jersey. He retired from the church in 1990, and I am delighted to send his clerical robes to an SFTS graduate who can make use of them.
Photos courtesy of Lynne Vandercook ‘94 (M.Div.)
Lynne Vandercook ’94 (M.Div.), pictured with her nephew Brad Davis, is wearing a robe gifted to her by Former Dean Jana Childers.
—Lavonne Slusher, widow of Robert Slusher ’57 (B.Div.)
Iteared up when reading how other graduates and their families also have wanted to gift their robes to SFTS. It’s like ripples across a pond, and it touches me so much that it began with our donation of Dad’s robe. Right now, when the world is in such turmoil and everyone is so physically distant from each other, something like this tells us that there are still threads that bind humankind in wonderful ways. What a blessing. … Thank you for starting the ripples that I hope will benefit more of the deserving students at SFTS.
—Carol Abigana, daughter of Donald Keuper ’54 (M.Div.)
If you are interested in donating your pastoral robe for an SFTS student, contact Molly Widdicombe, director of development, at 415-451-2805 or molly_widdicombe@redlands.edu.
1950s
John Eugene Brown ’57 (B.D.) is retired.
1960s
John Shellenberger ’61 (B.D.) recently published Ethical Religion and Christian Activism: A Handbook for the Modern Christian Making Church Life Meaningful (iUniverse Inc., 2020). Carol Shellenberger ’62, ’82 (M.A.) (M.Div.) is retired. Eric Iversen ’63 (M.Div.) is a pastor, chaplain, and family services worker in human resources, PCUSA, and human resources in the Commonweath of Kentucky. He explains that the Sheldon Jackson window in Stewart Chapel includes the medallion of a reindeer, and the medallion represents Jackson’s reindeer project of the late 1800s. Eric’s grandfather, Eidar Iversen, told Eric that as a teenager in Alta, Norway, Eidar assisted a veterinarian to certify the herds of reindeer shipped with their Sami [nomad] herding families to North America. The Sami worked with Alaskan indigenous families to learn reindeer husbandry. One accessible account of the project is based on the journals of the cooks and quotes from Jackson’s reports. Some of Jackson’s tactics today are not considered “politically correct,” which the cooks’ diaries point out. And yet, despite these failings, the collaborative nature of the venture, the privations endured, and the passion for Christ’s Gospel from that era, may well have lessons for the ministry of SFTS alumni around the Pacific Rim and beyond. Choo Yeow ’65 (Th.D. GTU) is intentional interim pastor with the First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawaii and is helping the church to find its next senior pastor.
1970s
Charles (Rick) Mills ’72 (M.Div.) is retired. Stephen Lutz ’73 (M.Div.) is retired. Jon Hermes ’75 (M.Div.) is retired. Kim Warner ’75 (M.Div.) retired in 2012 from various congregations and the Texas Presbyterian Foundation. Geoff Nelson ’77 (M.Div.), ’07 (D.A.S.D.) served as pastor in American Fork, Utah, from 1977 to 1985 and at Whittier Presbyterian Church from 1985 to 2012. He is now retired and working in spirituality. In 2016, Geoff published Dreaming In Church (Wipf and Stock) featuring tools and guidelines for using nightly dreams as a spiritual practice. Steve Simmons ’77 (M.Div.) and Cynthia Leslie Simmons ’77 (M.Div.) pastored churches in Presbyterian congregations in Oregon, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Cynthia retired in 2016, while Steve served as director of continuing education and later assistant professor of theology at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, until his retirement in 2017. Both now serve as Parish Associates at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, and deliver Meals on Wheels three times a week. Steve also serves as an editor for the International Journal of Practical Theology. He earned a Ph.D. in Christian theology from the University of Chicago in 1995. Greg Carlson ’78 (M.Div.) is retired.
1980s
Bob Frasier ’80 (M.Div.) retired March 1, 2021, and continues serving as stated clerk for the Presbytery of North Kansas. W. Stephen Sabom ’80 (S.T.D.) is retired. William Stevens ’85 (M.Div.), ’01 (D.Min.) is retired. David Wood ’85 (M.Div.) is retired and works part-time with two small historic churches: Deer Creek United Presbyterian Church and Pleasant Unity United Presbyterian Church in the Pittsburgh Presbytery. Mary Hansen ’88 (D.Min.) has served as pastor, chaplain, associate pastor, and interim pastor since 1978. Judith Wellington ’88 (M.Div.) is an interim paster, a transitional ministry position that began in May 2021.
1990s
Nan Jenkins ’90 (M.Div.) retired in 2009 as solo pastor at Mission Presbytery. David Spahn ’93 (D.Min.) is retired.
2000s
Daniel Wolpert ’00 (M.Div.), executive director of the Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing, announces the publication of his fifth book, Creation’s Wisdom, Spiritual Practice and Climate Change (Orbis, 2020). Scott Wylie ’00 (CASD), ’12 (D.Min.) was United Methodist Church pastor, California-Nevada Annual Conference, from 1986 to 2017 and is now retired. Dong Won Kim ’02 (M.Div.) is senior minister at the Uniting Church in Morningside, Queensland, Australia. Roberta Karchner ’05 (M.Div.) honorably retired on Jan. 1, 2021, after 15 years as a pastor. Roberta also released the first of three lectionary books of worship resources for pastors, available on Amazon.com. Paul Phillips ’05 (M.Div.) retired at the end of 2020. Paul spent the last three-and-ahalf years serving as an interim pastor in Alabama, Mississippi, and Northeast Ohio. He has moved to southern Arizona, his home state, and serves on the National Response Team for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and looks forward to active service with PDA once travel restrictions are lifted, as well as “whatever else God has planned next for me,” he says. In May 2021, he was called out of retirement and back to interim ministry, accepting a position in Oakesdale, Washington. Welliam Jayapranata ’07 (D.Min.) is chairman of WEJA Life Management, and she is consulting and coaching for human resource development programs for marketplace leaders. Andrew Nguyen ’09 (D.Min.) is a professor at Christian Leadership University and pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington. 9
ALUMNI From the Alumni Council: Join us for the 150th anniversary celebration
By Rev. Dr. Bear Ride ’78 (M.Div.), ’91 (D.Min.)
Photo by Cali Godley
Alumni Council President Rev. Dr. Bear Ride ’78 (M.Div.), ’91 (D.Min.) addresses the graduates at Commencement.
As I approached the podium on the Geneva Terrace during the recent Commencement exercises, I looked out toward Mount Tamalpais. It struck me that for 150 years, all of us have started from this same place—the lofty grounds of our beloved alma mater. However, that is where the “sameness” ends because we are so diverse today. Reaching well beyond the parameters of geography, denomination, race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity— we are “us”—and 150 years of “us” is something to behold.
My job at Commencement was to introduce the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Rev. Dr. Jorge Abdala ’16 (D.Min.) to the graduates, faculty, and guests in attendance. I invite you to read more about Jorge on page 13—his story and ministry reflect proudly on our shared institutional bonds. My “charge” included the words of the Apostle that we have all heeded and shared in our lives and ministries:
Go out into the world in peace. Have courage. Hold fast to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted. Support the weak. Help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Holy One, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
As this year’s Alumni Council president, I invite you to review a bit of what we’ve been up to on behalf of the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS, now part of the University of Redlands Graduate School of Theology) this past year—and consider what we might do together in the future.
The Alumni Council sponsored four virtual events over the last academic year: • October: “Thinking the Faith, Changing the World—A Faculty Vision for the Ethos of SFTS” • December: “Feast of Lights History Lesson” hosted by SFTS Trustee Candy Unruh • March: SFTS Trivia Night hosted by Rev. Dr. Bear Ride ’78 (M.Div.), ’91 (D.Min.) and Ashley Pogue ’19 (M.Div.) • April: Earth Day Discussion— “Moving Through Climate Despair with Biblical Theology and Practical Ministry Tools” with Talitha Aho ’12 (M.Div.) and Rev. Dr. Douglas Olds ’10 (M.Div.), ’20 (D.Min.) and hosted by Stephanie Ryder ’14 (M.Div.)
Event recordings can be found at www.redlands.edu/alumni/events/ previous-event-recordings.
And the next “big thing” coming up (not to be missed) is the 150th Anniversary Celebration on campus Nov. 12-14, 2021. 150 years! This is a party not to be missed. Please mark the dates on your calendar and pass the word along to your fellow alumni. This is not just a celebration about the 150th birthday of SFTS; it is also an opportunity to reconnect with classmates and faculty from many generations, as well as meet and greet our new colleagues and friends from the University of Redlands. 9
Anniversary Weekend
Save the Date → November 12-14, 2021 For an in-depth history of SFTS over the past 150 years, visit www.redlands.edu/SFTS150. GST-21-009 Chimes Magazine 150th Ad r6.indd 1
Drop me a note at bear.ride@gmail.com to offer your ideas or comments about the past 150 years, your years at SFTS, or how you might want to become involved in the evolving new spirit of the Seminary. You may also call Alumni Relations at 415-451-2805 to find out how you can join us on the Alumni Council.
