Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 84, number 3, Winter 1992-1993

COLUMBIA
THEOLOGICAL

SEMINARY

Vantage

WINTER 1992-93

Mrs. Carter speaks
on The Atlanta Project

Addressing 250 members of the semi-
nary community at an October 6
reception and dinner meeting, former
First Lady Rosalynn Carter outlined
goals for The Atlanta Project, a newly
formed non-profit network designed
to help the metro area's poor citizens,
and challenged Columbia Seminary to
be actively involved.

Mrs. Carter spoke at the seminary
during the fall meeting of the Board of
Directors. Earlier in the day, John
Fife, moderator oi the Presbyterian
Church (USA), preached in chapel.

Since its inception early in 1992,
The Atlanta Project has enlisted more
than 100,000 volunteers representing
individuals, businesses, corporations,
foundations, and churches. Launched
by former President Jimmy Carter, the
mission began official operations
October 1, and community interest
continues to be spurred by the
project's broad-sweeping efforts to
stem homelessness, teenage preg-
nancy, poverty, and other urban
problems.

"Jimmy says one reason we're

getting so much cooperation is that
people hope," Mrs. Carter said. "They
hope that, somewhere on God's earth,
problems can be solved."

Mrs. Carter urged members of the
seminary community to join the
grassroots effort by becoming volun-
teer tutors, counselors, mentors to
children, church liaisons, and "friends
m need" for elderly persons.

Nearly $25 million has been raised
already for the inner-city campaign
The project was born after Mr. Carter
and Emory University President
James Laney discussed options for
narrowing the gulf between Atlanta's
"haves and have-nots." Mr. Carter
shared the idea with individuals and
groups and, sparked by the enthusi-
asm it generated, an organizational
blueprint was sketched.

"I think the reason we thought
this would work is our involvement
with Habitat for Humanity," Mrs.
Carter said. She and Mr. Carter are
high-profile volunteers with the non-
profit organization, which constructs
high-quality, low-cost homes for the

Mana Harris. Alumni/ae Lecturer Brian Wren, Smyth Lecturer

President Douglas W. Oldenburg and Mrs. Rosalynn S. Carter

economically disadvantaged. "It is
amazing how a person's life changes
with a house. We have found when
people go to a house that belongs to
them, the first thing they talk about is

what college their kids are going to
attend."

As ideas for The Atlanta Project
solidified into plan, organizers

Continued on page 5

1993 Forum offers
lectures and reunions

John Claypool, Cut* Preacher Bert Carm.chael. Luncheon Speaker

Columbia Seminary invites all friends
and alumni/ae to its 1993 Forum,
January 25-27. The three-day event
will bring noted speakers and preach-
ers to the campus and will also be a
time for class reunions and other
activities.

This year's Smyth Lecturer is
Brian Wren, English hymnwriter,
poet, and theologian who now lives in
Maine. He is a major contributor to
Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship
and the author of Education for Justice
and the hymn collections, Faith
Looking Forward, Praising a Mystery,
and Neiv Beginnings. His lectures are
scheduled for January 25 at 3:30 p.m.
and January 26 and 27 at 11:30 a.m.

Maria Harris, religious educator,
will be the Alumni/ae Lecturer. A
member of the faculties of Auburn
Theological Seminary and New York
University, she has served as editor of
Professional Approaches for Christian
Educators. Her books include The Faith
of Parents and Fashion Me a People:
Curriculum and the Church. The theme

of her lectures will be "A Spirituality
for Adults at Century's End." She will
lecture January 25 at 1:30 p.m. and
January 26 and 27 at 9 a.m.

John Claypool, rector of St. Luke's
Episcopal Church in Birmingham,
Alabama, will be guest preacher for
Forum. Well-known lecturer and
author, his books include Glad Reun-
ion, Opening Blind Eyes, and The Light
Within You. His sermon titles are
"Good Luck! Bad Luck!" and "The
Service of Understanding." Dr.
Claypool will preach January 25 and
26 at 7:30 p.m.

Alumni/ae activities will be
conducted throughout Forum. On
Tuesday, January 26, the Rev. Bert
Carmichael '67 will speak at the
Alumni/ae Luncheon and Association
Meeting at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Carmichael
is full-time chaplain at Cobb Hospital
and Medical Center in Austell,
Georgia. He has served pastorates in
Kentucky and was an Army chaplain
in a military hospital in Vietnam.

Continued on page 2

From the President

Douglas W. Oldenburg

A few decades ago, some far-sighted
people spotted a trend: financial
giving to theological institutions from
denominational bodies was on a
downward curve! In the Presbyterian
Church, such denominational giving
over the past twenty years has de-
creased from about 25 percent of oui
operating budgets to about 5 percent
today- The reunited Presbyterian
Church (USA) sought to stem the
receding tide by a new system for
funding our theological institutions
the Theological Education Fund,
sometimes known as the 1 ' - Plan.
About 20 percent of our congregations

are participating in the fund today,
but the giving level has not yet
matched the total amount given
through previous funding patterns.

It became clear to those far-
sighted people that our seminaries
had to become more intentional about
''development" - developing friends

and supporters to help finance our
mission. Thus, development offices
were established and persons were
called to the task

1 1 n the past several years, Colum-
bia Seminary has benefited greatly
from the services of Jim Dickenson,
vice president for development and

New curriculum to emphasize
'real-life ministry situations'

Columbia Seminary is in the third year
of a program to redesign its curricu-
lum. According to Catherine
Gonzalez, professor of church history
and Curriculum Committee chairper-
son, the process has revealed several
foundational concepts.

Columbia's curriculum review
and revision, funded by a generous
grant from the Lilly Endowment, is
part of a larger effort to address the
unique circumstances of free-stand-
ing, denominationally based seminar-
ies. In its national magazine Progre^
sions, Lilly recently featured Colum-
bia, placing the seminary in the midst
of this century's most searching ex-
amination of theological education in
North America.

Since 1990, Columbia's faculty
and administration have studied the
present curriculum, listening to
criticisms and suggestions from
students, alumni/ae, pastors, lay
people, and other church leaders.
They have also analyzed the church's
message and ministry in contempo-
rary society.

After the anaylsis and consulta-
tion, two fundamental perspectives
have emerged. First, the classical
disciplines of Bible, theology, and
history should remain central to
theological education, and second,
more attention to spiritual formation
in seminary coursework is needed.

According to Dr. Gonzalez,
pastors who were interviewed felt
strongly about both. "We asked them,
'If you were selecting a seminary
today, knowing what you now know
of ministry, what would you look for
in theological education?'" They did
not respond with a call for more
training in administration or church
polity. "Instead, they asked for more
depth in the study of the scriptures,
history, theology, and spirituality." As
a result, the new curriculum will be
grounded in these areas of study.

Revisions will also allow signifi-
cant variety in teaching methods and
learning opportunities. Professors will

be able to design more effective and
dynamic courses using interdiscipli-
nary instruction. "We want to help
students see the interrelationships
between the theological disciplines
and real-life situations of church
ministry," Dr. Gonzalez says. "This
kind of learning happens best when
there is communication across disci-
plinary lines."

"Prayer, for example, is such a
large topic that most seminaries do
not offer a course on it. The reason is
that the topic doesn't fit into any one
discipline," she explains. In an
interdisciplinary format, the topic
becomes not only possible, but very
rich. "One faculty person could
discuss the history of prayer, another
the psychology of prayer, while a
Christian education professor could
teach how to teach prayer." Rather
than a string of lectures, such courses
would offer active in-class dialogue
between faculty and students.

Under the revised curriculum,
seminarians will also benefit from
more elective courses and a regulated
workload, in which students may take
no more than four courses in a term.
"We recognize that our student body
no longer consists of 22-year-old men
living a semi-monastic life," Dr.
Gonzalez says. "The new curriculum
will be more sensitive to the needs of
students with families and part-time
jobs."

While the new curriculum will
probably not be implemented until
the fall of 1994, benefits of the review
process are already evident. Robert
Ramey, professor of church ministry,
has invited Dr. Gonzalez to teach the
history of the sacraments in his course
for second year students. According to
Dr. Gonzalez, "This commitment to
interdisciplinary learning has sparked
some wonderful imagination among
our faculty." Greg Lund '95

seminary relations, and Bonneau
Dickson, field representative. Both
are retiring at the end of this calendar
year, and we are profoundly grateful
to them. Please read the special
articles in this issue of Vantage
regarding their outstanding service to
( . ilumbia.

The success of their efforts is
reflected in the enclosed long list of
friends, churches, and foundations
which have supported us (Please see
the Acknowledgement supplement )
Without such support, we simply
could not exist It is evidence that
although support from traditional
denominational structures has dimin-
ished, Columbia continues to be
funded by the Presbyterian family
through gifts from individuals and
congregations.

This is the first time we have
published a donor list, and there is

always the danger that we will leave
someone out. We have tried to be
very careful to avoid omissions, but if
it has happened, we ask your forgive-
ness and understanding. The purpose
of publishing such a list is to say a
public "Thank you!" and to remind all
of us of the large number of individu-
als, churches, and foundations that
support us and make it all possible.
We trust each of you feels a sense of
deep satisfaction in knowing that you
are helping to do one of the most
important things in the world -
training the future leaders of the
church! Can you think of anything
more worthy of your support?

With warmest regards,

Winter reading suggestions by
Columbia's faculty

God for Us by Catherine Mowry La Cugna

Faith Seeking Understanding by Daniel L. Migliore

Flying to Nowhere by John Fuller

A Peace Reader (revised) by Joseph J. Fahey and Richard Armstrong

God the Economist by M. Douglas Meeks

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

Death and Desire: The Rhetoric of Gender in the Apocalypse of John by Tina Pippin

A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

Theocracy in Paul's Praxis and Theology by Dieter Georgi

Truth to Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth by Lesslie Newbigin

Retelling a Life by Roy Schafer

The Meaning of Peace ed. by P-B. Yoder

A Thousand At res by Jane Smiley

Parable of Ten Preachers by Thomas Troeger

The Spirit of Life: A Universal Affirmation by Jiirgen Moltmann

How to Reach Secular People by George Hunter

Culture Wars by James Davidson Hunter

Catholics by Brian Moore

Pax Roniana and the Peace of Jesus Christ by Klaus Wengst

Types of Christian Theology by Hans W. Frei

Working the Angles by Eugene Peterson

The Passion of Interpretation by W. Dow Edgerton

Praying for Sheetrock by Melissa Fay Greene

The Inside Story: A Narrative Approach to Religious Understanding and Truth by

Paul Brockelman
Constructing a Public Theology by Ronald Thiemann
Video Kids: Making Sense of Nintendo by E.F. Provenzo
Slavery as Salvation by Dale B. Martin
Jesus Christ in Modern Thought by John Macquarrie
Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature by Roland Murphy
Mark and Luke in Poststructuralist Perspectives by Stephen B. Moore

1993 Forum
continued from page 1

Alumni/ae in reunion classes will
have a luncheon on Wednesday,
January 27, at 12:30 p.m., at Forum's
concluding event. The following
alumni/ae serve as reunion chairs:

1938, 1933, and earlier - Bonneau
Dickson

1943- Will Ormond

1948 - Tom Horton

1953 - Doug Hix & Trent Howell

1958 - Harrv Philips

1963- Charles Talley

1968- Hubert Wardlaw

1973 - William Lancaster

1978 - Walter Peters

1983 - Robert Blumer

1988- Mike Castronis

1992 -Catherine Taylor

Women students and alumnae
will meet for a dinner on Tuesday
evening, January 26, at 6 p.m. The
dinner will follow a 5 p.m. gathering.

In addition, participants will have
an opportunity for informal questions
and conversation with the lecturers
and preacher January 28 and 29 at
10:30 a.m.

All alumni/ae and friends of the
seminary are invited to the campus
for these three days of lectures,
worship, and reunions. For more
information or to register for Forum,
call 404/378-8821. LJ

VANTAGE

Columbia strengthens ties
with Jamaica and Hungary

In the decade since Columbia Semi-
nary launched a "globalization
program" to integrate international
and multicultural experiences in
theological education, it has estab-
lished the required Alternative
Context for Ministry course, quad-
rupled enrollment of international
students, and established important
ties with the church and seminaries in
Jamaica, Hungary, Kenya, Korea, and
Great Britain.

The ties with the Caribbean and
Eastern Europe are a particularly
important component of Columbia's
globalization effort this year and are
proving beneficial for all partners -
pointing to a desire for intercultural
mutuality and theological dialogue.

Columbia's relationship with the
church in Jamaica began in 1978. That
year the Atlanta Theological Associa-
tion (ATA) and 16 Caribbean partici-
pants met in Atlanta to discuss
"Internationalizing Theological
Education." At the conclusion of the
Lilly-funded conference, it was agreed
a program should be developed for
continued dialogue and sharing of
resources by churches and the theo-
logical institutions of the two areas.
Program committees were appointed
for both the Caribbean and Atlanta
areas with instructions to work
together in the development of certain
projects.

Since that charge was issued,
more than 30 Columbia students have
completed summer supervised
ministries in Jamaica, and over 120
Columbia students have participated
in a January seminar in Jamaica. In
addition, there have been annual
continuing education excursions to
Jamaica, student exchange programs
and a joint Doctor of Ministry pro-
gram between Columbia and the
United Theological College of the
West Indies (UTCWI).

"I think there's been some success
in getting people to appreciate the
concept of globalization in both places
to experience the catholicity of the
church," says Professor Ashley Smith,
a former president of UTCWI and
now a visiting professor at Columbia.
"When we're here, we're not just with
American Presbyterians. You have

studies at UTCWI when the exchange
programs began, notes the importance
o( the relationship for both schools
particularly for students like Ms.
Henrv. the first woman exchange
student from UTCWI to Columbia.
"At UTCWI we have noticed in
the last two years a significant in-
crease in the enrollment ot women
students in all colleges," he says. "We
think the relationship with a seminary
where women are also trained is
important because it gives these
women a chance to see that other
institutions are also training women."
During the fall term at Columbia
Ms. Henry joins Professor Smith, \\ ho
is teaching "The Church in the Carib-
bean Context," his wife Winnie, who
is auditing courses, and Professor
Byfield, who is studying at Columbia
during his sabbatical from UTCWI.

After eight years of planning and
discussion, the joint Doctor of Minis-
try degree program began in fall 1988
- the first such program in Jamaica.

"How could two institutions from
two radically different cultural
contexts offer a course together?" asks
Doug Hix, Columbia's director of
advanced studies. "It seemed an
insuperable prospect. We discussed it
off-and-on for eight years, just inching
along. In 1988 we finally got it in place
and had the first group of 13 Jamaican
and Caribbean pastors."

The joint D.Min. degree is con-
ferred by Columbia, and students are
enrolled in Columbia, though most
courses are taught in Jamaica. Stu-
dents travel to Columbia in July of
their second year for a month of
studies. Eleven pastors have gradu-
ated to date. A second group, formed
in 1990, spent July 1992 at Columbia,
and Dr. Hix will launch a third group
in November.

"It took a long time for us to get
started," Dr. Hix says, "but in about
10 years we'll have graduated 30 or
more. They find it exciting and we do
too. We have a strong commitment to
its worthiness."

A number of U.S. pastors and
D.Min. students have also partici-
pated in Columbia's continuing
education study seminar to Jamaica
the week after Easter. The continuing

"It truly is the gift of new eyes.

n

large international groups and people
who are not Presbyterians. Students
who are not from the South come here
and study with people from every
continent."

Desna Henry, an exchange
student from UTCWI, cites the
"richness of experiencing another
culture" as an important benefit to the
exchange program, stressing the
importance of "finding how the
church operates here and making
comparisons with the operation of the
church in Jamaica. Also it's a chance
to explore the curriculum offered here
and the possibilities for later study."

Bevis Bvfield, who was dean of

education program, which is vari-
ously led by Dr. Hix or the Rev. Sara
Juengst, Columbia's director of
continuing education, may be taken as
a D.Min. course. "It's our way of
getting the average garden variety
pastor, lay person and D.Min. student
to experience life and the Christian
experience of the people in the
Caribbean," Dr. Hix says.

Lee Carroll, director of Colum-
bia's supervised ministry program,
confirms the change brought about by
such experiences - both for him
personally and for others who have
participated. "Who I am in my culture
and church is enriched immeasurably

(Front row,l~r) Winnie Smith Kingston, Jamaica KarolyToth Budapest Hungary
Desna Henry, Petersville Jamaica (Back row, l-r) Andras Lovas Budapest Hungary
Ashley Smith, Kingston, Jamaica Bevis Byfield Kingston, Jamaica

through experiences in [amaica with
these programs," he notes "It tmlj i
the gift of new e\

Mr. Carroll oversees Columbia's
student interns who, via the ATA, are
placed in churches from a vai iel J I il
denominations for the 10-week
course.

All the churches have pastors who
are supervisors - and, in many cases,
pastors who have studied at Ci ilum-
bia. Students live with a host family
from the congregation and experience
a range of pastoral responsibilities,
under the supervision ol a famaii an
pastor, who may serve up to six
churches.

Mr. Carroll notes that students
must deal with assumptions about
church, culture, and theology while
engaged in the practice of ministry.
Caucasian students learn what it's like
to be in a minority, while black
students must contend with cultural
assumptions about Americans.

"It helps students learn how to
work with and understand people
who are different from themselves,"
he says

Though Columbia's ties with
Hungary were established nearly a
decade after the partnership with
Jamaica, they quickly proved lobe
strong. The formal relationship with
Hungary began during 19H4-85, when
students Margit Balog and Gyorgy
Horvath came to study.

The alternative context course,
begun in Hungary three years later,
helped to deepen the seminary's
relationship with the Reformed
Church in Hungary. That relationship
has broadened in recent years - and
may expand still more with opportu-
nities arising after the collapse of
communism there.

Hungarian Bishop KarolyToth is
currently a visiting professor, teaching
"The Church in a Socialist Cont<
Andras Lovas, a Th.M. student, and
his wife Dora have also joined the
Columbia community for the 1992-93
academic year.

Mr. Lovas completed the five-year
seminary course at Raday College in
Budapest before beginning studies at
Columbia. He learned of the Colum-

i M.i ex< hange program from the senior
pastoi .it the Hud.ilok ( htm h, Dr.
[anos P.is/toi, who was a visiting

k holai .it < olumbia In 1987 88
\ii,m spending the 1992 93

i. .i.li-mu war in Decatur, Mi I .\.i .

plans to return to I lungary, * omplete
requirements for his ordination and

probably assume the asso i.ite pastoi
ship ol [anos Pasztoi I hurch.

Karoly Toth, who was bishop
from 1977-1991, isnovs president ol
i . umenical Study ( entei In Budapest
I le will also tea* n in a si hool win. h

trains religious lea< hers when he
returns to I lungary.

Bishop loth remembers the

darker hours in I lungary's re< enl
history bul says he is hopeful foi the

future and ex( Ited about the

interai Hon with schools like! olum-
bia. "As an e< umenist, this context is

extremely important," Bishop Tolh
says. "The churches need to know

ea< h other, to educate people to be
aware ol the universal church ol fesus

Christ We belong together."

i [e adds, "The whole "i Ea itej n

.mil ( . 1 1 1 r . 1 1 lnrope is m need ol

learning how demo< ra< \ Is fun< tion
mg be ause we don'l have experience

in that - that is, m mutual tolerance,
mutual respe< i, readiness to dialogue,
the whole mechanism ol the demo-

( rati, proi ess

"We are badly in need of a change
ol mentalitj I hat will take a long
time. The church should give a good

mpleof that toedin ate people to

be tolerant not to look at the othei
person as the potential enemy but as a

potential partner/'

The newfound openness in
I lungary has brought with it new-
found opportunities for the church -
noticeably in the area of media

[wan Russell-Jones, Columbia's
associate professor of theology, media
and the church, has proposed that
Columbia work with the church there
respond to some of its opportunities -
following through on the request of
many Eastern Europeans.

As government regulations are
relaxed, and as some governments
provide free broadcasting time to

Continued on page 5

WINTER 1992-93

Continuing

Education

Calendar

For further information or to register for courses, call or write:
Sara Covin Juengst, Director of Continuing Education, or
Richard S. Dietrich, Director of the Lay Institute of Faith and Life
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA 30031/404-378-8821.

December4-5 Presbytia Leadership Training To give presbytery leaders a
clearer understanding of the systemic nature ol our polity dealing with specm.
needs of the Committee on Preparation foi Ministry,* ommittee on Ministry,
and the Permanent Judicial C ommission. ( ost: $50.

December 29-January 1 "< EMPLATI VND CELEBRATE"

January 5-7 January Sem >R MINISTERS

January 5, 12, 19, February 2 LaySchOOI 01 BlBLl AND THEOLOGY

January 25-27 Fokum

February 5, 12, 19, 26 Morning Lay Schooi ofBibli andTheolog\

February 19-20 Reugion and the Arts: Tin Artoi Storytelling

Marchl Conversations with Tex Sampli Reaching Peopli imhe'90s

March 2-3 Seasons of Ministry Tiih MlDDl l Vl ttS

April 12-20 A WEEK in Jamaica A pilgrimage following Lent and Easter in a
Third World country where the church is strong and vibrant. Participants will
spend a week in study of Jamaica at United Theological College in Kingston,
seeing urban and rural parish work in Ocho Rios, and experiencing life in
another culture. For lay persons and clergy. Leader: Doug Hix. Cost: $800
(includes travel, room, board).

April 18-21 Ministry or Urn Confer, n. . Through worship, Bible study, small
group discussion, reflection, and other activities, participants will seek, hear
anew, and respond to Cod's call to ministry in home, workplace church, local
and global communities. Montreat Conference Center. Cost: $90.

April 25-30 A Week with the TraPPISTK Contemplative Retreat for Men A
retreat for men at the Monastery of the Holy Ghost, Conyers, Georgia for
reformation, relaxation, and spiritual discipline. Leader: Doug Hix. Lost:

$140.

April 26-30 A Week at St. Helena's: Contemplative Retreat for Women A
retreat for women at St. Helena's convent, Augusta, Georgia. A time to get
apart, to pray, to worship and meditate. Led by a community of sisters in a
beautiful retreat setting. Leader: Sara Juengst. Cost: $185.

April 30-May 2 Fellowship Gathering of Presbyterians Meeting the Master in
the Mountains. A weekend gathering of Presbyterians at Montreat Conference
Center. Leaders: Douglas Oldenburg, Ben Johnson, Rick Dietrich, and others.

May 10-11 Seasons of Ministry: The Last Ten Years A conference to help
ministers gain new perspective and energy for the last years of ministry through
story-sharing, goal setting, and life planning. Leaders: Members of the Colum-
bia faculty. Cost: $75.

'Seasons of ministry' set

Led by Columbia faculty members,
this March 2-3 seminar for pastors
ages 35 to 55 will provide a forum
for reflection and discourse about
personal and professional issues as-
sociated with the "middle years" of
ministry. The seminar's goal is to
provide new perspective and energy
through story-sharing, discourse,
and theological reflection.

Walter Brueggemann will
conduct a biblical study, "Vision for

Middle Times." Other topics covered
will be "Handling Personal Crises,"
"Staff Relationships," "Keeping Preach-
ing Fresh," "Spiritual Reflection," "Fi-
nancial Planning," and a reflection with
Douglas Oldenburg. Cost is $75. Par-
ticipants are encouraged to attend both
the Tex Sample seminar on March 1,
and the Middle Years event for maxi-
mum benefit. D

'Contemplate
and Celeorate'

I iNTEMPLA IE AND CELEBRATE" is the

1 1 huh ol the New Year's retreat
Offered December 2^ - January 1 by
thi I ay Institute of Faith and Life. It
i> designed to create opportunities
through meditation, study, work, and
worship to reflect on the old year and
welcome the new.

The retreat gives invitation to live
simply and quietly in an atmosphere
tree from the holiday rush and the
pressure of work in the world. There
will be opportunities for conversation,
spiritual direction, guided prayer with
leaders knowledgeable of the lite of
the spirit, and time alone with God.

Retreat leaders include Joan Gray,
minister of Columbia Presbyterian
Church, Decatur; Currie Burns,
minister of Clifton Presbyterian
Church, Atlanta; Rich Stanford,
minister of Hillside Presbyterian
Church, Decatur; and Rick Dietrich,
director of the Lay Institute.

For more information or for reser-
vations, contact the Lay Institute.

Two Winter Lay
Schools offered

For four Tuesday evenings in January
and February, Columbia Seminary
will conduct its winter Lay School of
Bible and Theology. Four classes will
be offered: "Were You There
When...?" taught by J. Will Ormond,
professor emeritus of biblical exposi-
tion; "Listening to Sermons: Old Ways
and New," taught by Lucy Rose,
assistant professor of preaching and
worship; "A Heap of Broken Images,"
taught by Iwan Russell-Jones, associ-
ate professor of theology, media, and
the church; and "Matters of Life and
Health," taught by Brian Childs,
professor of pastoral theology and
counseling. Classes will meet on the
seminary campus January 5, 12, and
19 and February 2, 1993, from 7:30
p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

In addition, the Lay School is
offering a morning class on Fridays in
February from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30
a.m. The course is "Four Short
Books," taught by Rick Dietrich,
director of the Lay Institute.

Registration is $35 for evening
courses and $25 for the morning
course. For more information or to
register, contact the Lay Institute.

ACE program

Beginning in January 1993, Columbia
Seminary will offer a systematic
approach to continuing education for
clergy and educators who are not
pursuing degrees or certification.
Upon completing 32 hours of course
work in specified areas, participants
will receive a certificate. The initial
course, "Reflections on Ministry," will
be held Wednesday, January 6, from
7:30-9:30 p.m. For more information,
contact Sara Juengst, director of
continuing education. D

January 5-7:
Seminars for
Ministers

I mui\'s wnual January Seminars
for Ministers, slated for January 5-7,
1993, will feature a number of out-
standing scholars in a wide variety of
seminars and will include a luncheon
with PC(USA) Moderator John Fife.
The regularly offered preaching
course will focus on "Preaching to the
Baptized During Lent and Easter,"
using baptism as the liturgical and
theological framework and literary
, nth ism as an exegetical tool. It will
be taught by Charles Campbell,
instructor in homiletics at Columbia.
Luke Johnson, professor of New
Testament and Christian origins at
Emory University, will offer a biblical
study on "Making Friends with
Wicked Mammon: Christian Faith and
the Faithful Use of Possessions." This
seminar will open the texts of Scrip-
ture and experience.

Rebecca Chopp, associate profes-
sor of systematic theology at Candler
School of Theology, will teach "Fierce
Grace: Ministry in the North Ameri-
can Situation," using the Bible,
historical texts, and contemporary
theology to examine the witness of the
church in the social and personal
dimensions of North American life.
The seminar will give attention to new
tasks and images of ministry.

Deborah McKinley, associate for
worship in the Theology and Worship
Unit of the PC(USA), will present the
last of the Supplemental Liturgical
Resources, "The Liturgical Year." The
seminar will focus on how to use this
resource with a congregation.

A fourth seminar, "Blessed
Wounds: Pastoral Care of Adult
Survivors of Child Abuse," will offer
hope for those concerned about child
abuse in all its forms. Roberta Noble-
man's seminar will center around her
evening performance, "Masks and
Mirrors," on January 5 at 7:30 p.m. in
the Columbia chapel. Cost is $3.

For more information or to
register for the seminars, contact the
Office of Continuing Education.

Tex Sample
visits Columbia

Ttx Sample, author of U.S. Lifestyles
and Mainline Churches, one of the most
provocative analyses of American
culture and its effect on the Christian
church, will hold a day-long seminar
at Columbia on "Reaching People in
the '90s." Mr. Sample is a lively,
direct, and personal speaker, mixing
anecdotes with factual material to
discuss developing strategies of
mission and evangelism to diverse
groups within our culture. This
March 1 event will be a tremendous
inspiration to pastors and concerned
lay persons who desire to be faithful
and knowledgeable in bringing the
good news of Jesus Christ to today's
world. Cost is $50.

VANTAGE

mm

The ReiK Sara Juengst and Dr. Ronald Cram

Christian education serves laity's
ministry in church and world

Despite its general perception by
many as a "step-child" in theological
studies, Christian education is the
object of growing respect - drawing
increased attention at Columbia and
other theological institutions and
favorable reviews from some sur-
prised students.

Columbia student Bob Frost
knows firsthand. "I thought the
Ministry of Teaching course would be
a dull class - learning how to put
together a Sunday school book," he
admits. "It turned out to be the most
important course I've taken!"

It's a confession that Dr. Ronald
H. Cram, associate professor of
Christian education, and the Rev. Sara
C. Juengst, director of continuing
education, who also teaches Christian
education electives, say they hear
often. The realization may be sparked
by increased recognition of the pastor
or church leader as "teacher" instead
of "performer." As Christian educa-
tors recognize and appeal to the
learning styles of a spectrum of
church members, the academic
discipline is embracing new ways to
invite lay persons to be partners in
theological reflection and action.

Dr. Cram says, "Students attend
theological institutions on behalf of
the local congregation. The seminary
student comes to Columbia to learn
how to serve and empower the
ministry of the laity in the church and
in the world. Jesus showed us that
teaching is an act of radical, trans-
forming, and risky love. When such
love is modeled by a pastor or lay
leader, we come to understand in part
what it means to teach as Jesus did."
The church is becoming increas-
ingly aware of laity's vital ministry.
Lay persons are nurtured and
equipped in the church, very often
within the framework of formal
Christian educational experiences.

"Educational ministry is necessar-
ily non-hierarchical and collective,"

WINTER 1992-93

Dr. Cram says. "Christian education is
a way of engaging in Biblical theologi-
cal reflection with the entire congrega-
tion. Christian education is an
essential act of practical theological
reflection."

Because of that, Ms. Juengst notes.
Christian education is also multi-
faceted and theologically demanding.
"It is a vehicle for putting everything
else together," she says. "It helps one
to use theology and all the disciplines
one has learned. When one under-
stands that, it gives a new perspec-
tive."

"I want to underscore that it is
complex," she adds. "There is no easy
answer. As the church changes and
we recognize new developments
about learning, we have to learn to
adjust. Usually, there is not much
adjustment."

It is precisely the local church
about which Ms. Juengst and Dr.
Cram are centrally and passionately
concerned. They applaud the growing
respect for Christian education as a
vital link in ministry and as a disci-
pline of practical theology which
invites interdisciplinary dialogue - for
the good of the local congregation's
mission.

"Christian education can't be
separated from the whole life of the
church," Ms. Juengst says. "If we're
about wholeness, we must be using all
the knowledge we've acquired to help
people become whole. Christian
education is a tool to help that hap-
pen "

Dr. Cram maintains that the
importance of effective Christian
education cannot be overestimated -
that it takes a backseat to other facets
of ministry only at a significant cost.
'"Loving incompetence' is harmful/'
Dr. Cram says. "Leaders can literally
love their congregations to death
Lack of teaching skills often results in
significant individual and communal
damage."

Dr. Cram and Ms |uengst agree
that Columbia has a I [( h heritage in
C hristian education While a < ourse in
Christian education is not required at
all theological seminaries C olumbia

has consistently maintained a commit-
ment to its important e

And tin- \ ision foi ( olumbia s
Christian education commitment is
expanding - both at immediate and
long-range le\ els Both educators
acknovs Ledge the importance ol
exploring the role >>t art, aesthetic
music, drama, and dance in edu< atiort
"It we're becoming less and less print-
centered as a culture and more and
more image-centered, there is no
the seminar} of the future >. lunch car
avoid these ways ol communicatii
Dr. Cram says

Still on the drafting table are
visions for Columbia to bei ome a
Christian education resource center
for the Presb) terian Church (USA) .1
superb Christian education library irt
the soon-to-be-added library winj
increased role in inter-religious
dialogue; advocacy lor marginalized
people - especially theverj young and
very old; and a laboratory setting in
which curriculum resources mas be
developed and tested.

Ms. Juengst says, "With this
number of emerging possibilities, 1
think we are on the verge of some-
thing important happening at
Columbia." Nanqj Graham '93

Study tour goes
to 'Places of
Paul'

! Ma\ 17 ft mi 6 1993 < olumbia
w ill sponsor . travel study toui "i

tnd 1 urkej \ isiting sites
,issiu iated w iti> the apo itl< Paul 1 he
ti ip is open i" an) one interested in
exploring this ancient >\u<-\ fas< inating
part ot the world and ii.n ing a more
\ i\ id understanding oi New resta
men! scenes 1 he toui v\ ill Ln< lude
\ isits i" Athens C orinth 1 hessalonia
Philippi .in. 1 1 phesus, w iii> a foui
da) - mis,' to tin' islands <>t M) konos,
( rete, Santorini, Rhodes, and Patmos
1 ectures on histoi i< al and biblit al
sites will be pro\ ided b) 1 h I Phillips
\oble, Presb) terian rninistei and
former president ol the Board ol
Pensions, who has led numerous tours
to this area. Toui leadei is Sara (
Juengst, dire toi ol 1 ontinuing educa
tion

c ost oi the trip is approximatel)
$2,995. Contact Ms. [uengst .11 ( olum
bia for more information. D

Jamaica and Hungary
continued from pag

churches, Eastern European Chris
tians are faced with abundant oppor-
tunities but are handicapped by .1 la< k
1 >i experience.

"They've not had any training,"
Dr. Russell-Jones says, "they've not
seen much of what other countries are
doing because they have been so
tightly controlled. So they have no

models

Dr. Russell-Jones says he hopes to
raise $10,000 to underwrite a seminal
in Hungary for 30 to 40 people - to
, oate a vision among I astern Euro-
pean church leaders tor merging the
Reformed perspective of faith with
technological advances The seminar
would also expose participants to
production and program structuring,
giving them the freedom to explore
and develop their own patterns

"It's easy to forget that the church
in Hungary is in a challenging situ-
ation," Dr. Russell-Jones says It's a
real missionary context. A window of
opportunity seems to be open now.
Who knows what will happen down
the road 1 The whole system 1 1]
broadcasting will be shaped m these
ITS It the Church isn't in
there, shaping the debate, it n ill
an opportunity that may never com.
again."

During the past 15 years, seizing
opportunities has been a vital pan 1 il
Columbia's efforts to Internationalize

theological education. As a result,
relationships developed with the
church in Jamaica and Hungary have
had an impact on hundreds of lives
and opened the door for wider theolo-
gical conversation in the seminary and
across the globe.D Nancy Graham '9 3

Mis Carter at Columbia

1 ontinued from page '

defined the sphere ol greatest need
noting especially those metropolitan
areas with the highest rates ol teenage
pregnancy. The target area whi< h
emerged blankets Fulton ( ount) and
parts ol 1 teKalband Clayton counties.

1 he high-risk zones whit h are
hum.' 1.. more th. in .mini n> people,
were divided into 10 "< lusters"
ea< ii one feeding into a high schooL
\i, 1 ar te] 1 de ignated direi toj foi
the Decatur cluster, r hi h feeds into
1 >ecatur l Ugh school,

1 he need is shot king," Mrs,
Cartel said "As much as 1 thought 1
knew about the [metropolitan]
1 . immunity/ 1 was shock* d

Already otlu'i majoi I ities .ire

seeking to model the program, though
Mrs, Cartel says Atlanta organizers
agreed to develop i he Atlanta Project
over a 12-month period before export-
ing its ideas to other urban area
"We've had requests from almost
ry major city," she said. "Our
initialsare r.A.P. The Atlanta
Project and we hope that will
become 1 he \merica Proje< t/" Mrs.
Carter said.

She noted the proje 1 sgoal is to
empowei persons to help thema I

not to p.itmni/c them < Mgam/ers

hopi to 1 ui through iome red tape
and help Atlanta's 1 10 federal agen

irk in concert "We don't want
t duplicate" What is already being

done, Mrs I artei said.

"We have set some very high

goals and it will take all of us working
1 ii,,., foi the project to be success

ful." Mrs. Carter said "We will make
mistakes," she added. "We'll try some
things that won't work. But the surest
way to fail would be not to try." Q

For the Record

f youl^^^^^^ to con,ribu,e ' thU SeC " 0n '
please send it to the editor.

Martin Song (DMin '88) is pastor of
the Atlanta Taiwanese Church.....Sam
McGregor '92 is pastor of the Slier
City NC, church George Stroup,

profcssoi oi theology, and Shirley
Guthrie, professor of systematii
theology , attended the first gathering
of the Editorial Board of the C olumbia
] heological Seminary and Westmin-
ster/John Knox Press Series on
Reformed Theology in Louisville The
scries will publish 10 volumes on
Reformed theology during the next
five years Professors Guthrie and
Stroup are co-< hairs ol the Editorial
Board. Dr. Stroup preached at First
church, Lexington, KV, in

October Joseph McNeill (DMin Ml)

has been named a missionary by the
Southern Baptist Foreign Mission
Board. The McNeills are in equatorial
Brazil, where he will start and de-
velop churches and they will be
involved in outreach

ministries Ford G'Segner '70 is

assistant director of military ministn
US Army Chaplain Center and School
Ft. Monmouth, N] Amanda Lape-
Freeberg '90 is pastor of First church,
West Barnet, and United church,
Barnet Center, VT John Patton,
professor of pastoral theology, pre-
x, nted a workshop, "Caring for Your
Generations," with Professor Brian
Childs at the annual meeting of the
Society for Practical Theology, which
met in Atlanta. Dr. Patton gave three
lectures on "The Paradigms oi Pas-
toral Care" at the Presbyterian Hospi-
tal in Oklahoma City Jeff Aiken '69

is pastor of First church, Allentown,

PA.

Keith Riddle '91 is associate
pastor for program and member
development, First church, Fayettev-

ille, NC David Gunn, professor ot

Old Testament, lectured at Perkins
School of Theology and spoke on a
panel for Women's Week at Candler
School of Theology. At the annual
meeting of the Society of Biblical
Literature, he read a paper on the
character of God in Genesis 1-3 to the
Reading, Rhetoric, and the Hebrew
Bible Section and met with the edito-
rial boards of Journal for the Study oj
Old Testament and Literary Currents m
Biblical Interpretation Scott Arm-
strong '88 is pastor of First chun h,

Jackson, AL Laura Norris '90 is

associate pastor of the Kenmore, NY,

church George McDonald '78 is

pastor of Central church, Princeton,
KY Stan Saunders, visiting profes-
sor of New Testament, and Brenda
Smith were married August 29 in
Weilstetten, Germany Henrietta
Wilkinson 'x84 lives in a retirement
home in Spanish Fort, AL, where she

is resident counselor Tod Linafelt

'91 is in the Old Testament Ph.D.
program at Emory

University Michael Fleenor '79 is

pastor of First church, Maysville,

KY Dan McMillan '84, pastor oi

First church, Lenoir City, TN, received
the D.Min. degree from Eastern

Baptist Theological Seminary He is
also a Reserve Air Force C haplain

Lucy Rose, assistant professoi ol
preaching and worship, preached at
First church, Elberton, GA and was a
guest at Bethesda church, Aberdeen
NCfora Peacemaking Event, where
she preached, taught Sunday school
and gave a lecture She preached and
[ed .) workshop on worship for
Central church, Athens,

GA Harrison Taylor '54 is interim

pastor I niversity church, San
Antonio Jaap Wheelhower (DMin
'86) was honorably retired b) Peace
er Presbytery in November

'91 Victor Yoon, director ot the

( enter tor Asian Ministries, led a
Bible study tor a small church celebra-
tion in San Antonio and preached in
Austin. In October, he lectured at
Honam Theological Seminary,
Kwangju, Korea, attended the execu-
tive forum ot the Synod of the Sun,

and preached in Houston David

Keister '88 has been called as pastor
of Concord church, Sumter,

SC Iwan Russell-Jones, associate

professor of theology, media, and the
church, has taught Sunday school at
Central church, Atlanta, and St,
Anne's Episcopal Church, Atlanta.
He- led a Bible study for InterVars.tv
Christian Fellowship at Oglethorpe
University and a fall retreat tor South
Jacksonville church. His article,
"Eighty-one Seconds of Videotape,"
appeared in Journal for Preachers.

C Benton Kline, visiting profes-
sor and president emeritus, is teaching
.it Union Seminary in Virginia this fall.
II, has led workshops and worship
for a Northeast Georgia Presbytery
Leadership Event and an officers'
retreat for the Newnan, GA,

BIRTHS

To Karen '90 and John '90 McLean, a
daughter, Suzanne Hope, Sept. 30,

1992.

To Agoston Dobos (ThM '91) and

Emoles, a daughter, Emoles, June 29,

1992.

To Jon '91 and Kimberly Wallace, a
daughter, Erin Kimbro, Dec. 23, 1991.
To Ken (MATS '91) and Jackie Young,
a son, Andrew Laurin, Aug. 1992.
To Susan Moorefield Newton '92 and
Taylor, a son, David Taylor, Oct. 18,
1992.

To Lisa Majoras '93 and Nelson
Fredsell, >i son, Lael Marton Fredsell,
Oct. 17, 1992.

To Jeff '94 and Cindy Beebe, a son,
Benjamin, Sept. 14, 1992.

DEATHS

John T.N. Keels '32, Oct. 18,1992.
Harvell Jackson '33, June 14, 1992.
Ernest Edward Gilmore '53, Feb. 14,

1992.

Henry Earl Baker 'x63, Nov. 12, 1991,

Robert Bay '69, April 1,1991.

Charles L. Weltner (MATS '83), Aug.

31,1992.

of ministry, preached at the Buford,
GA, church, at Cuba church, Blakely,
GA, and at Emory church, Atlanta.
He conducted a retreat at Montreat for
First church, Cartersville, GA.

Richard Brooks '80 is stated
supply and tentmaker at Grace
Covenant church, Birmingham,

AL Walter Brueggemann, professor

of Old Testament, lectured at New
Orleans Baptist Seminary, Cleveland
Ecumenical Institute, Ingraham
House, Bristol, CT. He gave the
Morgan Lectures at Lutheran South-
ern Theological Seminary and lec-
tured and preached at Briarwood
church, Jackson, MS. Dr. Bruegge-
mann taught at First church, Marietta,
GA, and preached at United Church
on the Green, New Haven, CT. His
articles have been published in Anchor
Continued on page 7

f^^TiTcTnohn Mack Walker, depicting Peter, lame*, and John at the
TrZsSZ wasvresented to Columbia during the tall meeting of the Board of
DirTctoTst pft.unveiled by Sarah WomacK Mr Walker 's sister ,s tn memory of
g^L^ R. English, a Columbia graduate of 18,5.

church Brian Childs, professor of

pastoral theology and counseling,
presented "The Family and Pastoral
Care" at Magnolia Manor Geriatric
Center in Americus, GA. He attended
the annual meeting of the Society for
Health and Human Values in Mem-
phis, and a review was published in

Presbyterian Outlook Stephen Vance

'81 (DMin '91) is pastor of First

church, Muskegon, MI Laura Aull

'90 is pastor of voked congregations in

Deposit and Hancock, NY Will

Coleman '85, instructor in theology,
has successfully defended his doctoral
dissertation at Graduate Theological
Union. He has also received a Col-
laborative Research Grant from the
American Academy of Religion. He
will work with Dr. Dwight Hopkins of
Santa Clara University on interdisci-
plinary studies in theology, herme-
neutics, African-American literary
criticism, and African-American

religious thought Robert Smith '82

has been called as pastor of First
church, Roanoke, VA.

Shirley Guthrie, professor of
systematic theology, has taught at Mo
Ranch and at presbytery schools for
Presbytery of the Pines and Presby-
tery of New Hope. He preached at
First church, Newnan, GA, and the
Davidson, NC, church and gave the
Staley Lectures at Davidson College.
He was on a panel concerning theol-
ogy and politics at North Decatur
church and taught Sunday school at
Riverside church, Jacksonville,

FL Tully Hunter '90 is pastor of the

Raeford, NC, church Gary Bullard

'85 has been called as pastor of
Presbyterian Church of the Master in

Omaha, NE Charles Talley '63 was

honorably retired by Central Florida
Presbytery He is adjunct professor at
Florida Southern College in Port

Charlotte Ann Graham '89 is pastor

of the Westkirk church, Pompano
Beach, FL Robert Ramey, professor

Vantage

Volume 84, No. 3, Winter 1992-1993
Published quarterly by
Columbia Theological Seminary
Circulation: 25,000

The Office of Development/
Seminary Relations

Editor: Juliette Harper
Director of Publications
and Publicity

Postmaster: Send address

changes to Vantage

Columbia Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, GA 30031-0520

VANTAGE

Bonneau H. Dickson

For the second time, Bonneau Dickson
is retiring - this time from Columbia
Seminary. Since 1980, Dr. Dickson, a
1933 Columbia graduate, has served
the seminary in its Office of Develop-
ment and Seminary Relations. After
December 31, he hopes to continue
working for the seminary as a volun-
teer.

At its fall meeting, the seminary's
Board of Directors recognized and
thanked Dr. Dickson and presented
him with a plaque. It reads: "Colum-
bia Theological Seminary hereby
honors the honorable Reverend
Bonneau H. Dickson for his untiring
labors, godly ministry, and inesti-
mable goodwill as the seminary's
field representative." D

For the Record
continued from page 6

Bible Dictionary on "I and II Samuel"
and "Authority of Scripture" and in
The Hymn: A Journal of Congregational
Song. His book, Old Testament Theol-
ogy: Explorations in Structure. Theme.
and Text, has been published by

Fortress Robert James '56 is interim

of First church, Belmont, NC Fred

Widmer '44 has retired as adjunct
professor at Beeson Divinity School,
Samford University, Birmingham, AL.
Ronald Cram, associate professor
of Christian education, led teacher
education events for First church,
Marietta, and the Douglasville, GA,
church. He led an adult education
seminar at the fall leadership school
for Greater Atlanta Presbytery, taught
the third grade class at First church,
Atlanta, and lectured on "The Trinity
and Christian Education" at Trinity
church, Atlanta. At the Association of
Professors and Researchers in Reli-
gious Education annual meeting, he
presented a paper, "The Trinity,
Mission and Inter-religious Dialogue."
Dr. Cram is writer for the new Foun-
dation Series Unit on Christian
education and had an article, "Chris-
tian Education in Theological Educa-
tion," published in Religious Education,

vol. 87, no. 3 Lee Carroll '68,

assistant professor and director of
supervised ministry, led a session
retreat and preached at Westminster
church, Knoxville, TN. He chaired the
Search Committee for a new executive
director of the Urban Training Organi-
zation of Atlanta. Mr. Carroll is
moderating a task group from Colum-
bia, Johnson C. Smith Seminary, and

the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta,
which is designing a training process
for a presbytery team to work with
urban congregations [n transitional
situations.

Leeann Rogers Scarbrough '87,
pastor of First church. Piedmont, AL,
is stated supply of Carmel church,

Spring Garden, AL Philip Gehman

'68, vice president for student life and
dean of students, served on the
Southern Association oi Colleges and
Schools/Association of Theological
Schools Reaccreditation Committee
for Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary in I ouisville William
Hurlburt '75 was honorabh retired
from the Evergreen, AL. church in
January. He is stated supply of First

church, Lynnville, TN Joey Byrd '87

is pastoi ol SherriU's Ford, NC,

church David Moessner, associate

professor of New Testament, wrote an
article on the prologue ol the ( lospel
of Luke in the Festschrift I rans
Nem/iuk The Four Gospels, 1992.

Ben Johnson, professor of evan-
gelism and church growth, has led
officers' and pastors' retreats for s t
Andrews-Covenant church, Wilming-
ton, NC; the Cumberland Presbyteri-
ans in Memphis; Basking Ridge, NJ,
church; Miami Presbyterv, Dayton,
Ohio; and Community church,
Pinehurst, NC. He was keynote
speaker for the twenty-fifth anniver-
sary dinner of Christian Laity of
Chicago. He spoke and led workshops
at the Mid-West Celebration of
Evangelism in Chicago; North Puget
Sound Presbytery; Tres Rios Presby-
terv; and Wee Kirk Conference, San
Jose Presbytery. Dr. Johnson led
seminars for the Northeast Georgia
Medical Center and Women of the
Church, Myers Park church, Charlotte
and was special Order of the Da)
Speaker/State of Evangelism
PC(USA) for Chicago. D

lames F, Dickenson

Frank I Willey

Vice President Dickenson retires;
Willey named director

Religion and the
Arts planned

The annual Religion and the Arts
seminar at Columbia will feature
storytelling, led by Loralee Cooley,
who has worked as a storyteller since
1977. Ms. Cooley has taught story-
telling at Clamored Fine Arts Center
and was primary founder of the
Southern Order of Storytellers.

The February 19-20 workshop will
include a presentation by Ms.
Cooley's husband, Ed, demonstrating
the use of narrative and memories in
dealing with bereavement; an evening
storytelling concert by Mrs. Cooley
and others from the Southern Order of
Storytellers; practice in using the
storyteller's instruments - voice and
body; and storytelling from partici-
pants.

Participants are encouraged to
bring any published materials they
use, such as books, records, and tapes
for a "show and tell" resource center.
Also required of the participants are
the following ingredients: enthusiasm
and imagination (or a willingness to
try for both).

The seminar is open to anyone.
Cost is $50. For more information,
contact Sara C. Juengst at Columbia.

As wvh N( 1 1' i \--i yeai [ames F.
Dickenson will retire fromi olumbia
Seminary as \ i< e presidenl foi devel
opment and seminar) relations,
effective December 31, \W Mr.
Dickenson came to the seminary in
April I ms4 from Presbyterian College,

where he was vice president foi
development. Frank T. Willey has
been named director of development

and seminary relations and has begun
his duties in that position.

Commenting on Ins retirement,
Mr. Di( kenson says, "I will missdailj
contact with the seminary family. I
am grateful to have been able to work
with tWO fine presidents, | Davison

Philips and Douglas W ( Hdenburg
"l have enjoyed the opportunirj
to work with John A ( onant, i haii ol

the hoard, and |ohn I I Weitnauer,
chair of the board's Planning and
Development Committee, >uu\ the rest
of Columbia's fine Board ol I Kre< tors
I have a special place in mv heart foi
the development and seminary
relations staff that has worked with
me so diligently through these eight
years. There arc main Other persons,
including the seminary's faithful
supporters, who are too numerous to
mention but not forgotten. My
appreciation extends to eai h "i them
as well "

At the fall meeting of the Board of
Directors, Mr. Dickenson was re<
ni/ed with the following resolutionol
appreciation:

WHEREAS, James F. Dickenson has
served Columbia Theological Semi-
nary as Vice President for Develop-
ment/Seminary Relations since April
1, 1984,

WHEREAS, he has brought to his
work a lifetime of dedication and
service to Jesus Christ through the
Presbyterian Church, as pastor and
administrator,

WHEREAS, he has served the Church
by being involved at every level, that
is, the local church, presbyteries,
synods, and General Assembly,
WHEREAS, he is a skilled profes-
sional officer of development,
WHEREAS, his careful planning has
developed a strong staff, and has
identified and cultivated both indi-

viduals and foundations who have

made and will make ,i difference in

the life ol ( olumbia I heologii al Semi

nary,

Will ki as. his foresight In bringing

people on th< Board ol I >ire< tors who

b\ tneii vn isdom md gifts ha> e

resulted m a BtTOng and effe< tt\ '
Board,

Wl [ERE \S, theendowmenl whi< h
was fifteen million dollars to hen he
came to the Seminar) . is now fiftj
million dollars, the increase being due
in no small part to ins leadership
Wl II I'l VS with v isior and skill he
has developed the mosl ambitious

. .mipaign in ( oluiiihia I heologii al

Seminar) s historj with a goal ol
$31/4 iCMJOO,

Wl [EREAS undei his leadership the
,,,, , ess "i this fai reai King i ampaign
seems as lured,

Wl II ki v.. he i retiring or Deo m
bei ;i 199 ! following a distinguished
careei ol Bei \ it e,

I | || K| | . KI , be ii resolved thai the
Board ol I >irei torsol I olumbia
I heologii al Seminary:

Records its gratitudi i<* ( ""I foi

the hi'' and rninistrj ol fames i- I Hi t

enson, Expresses its lie.utlrlt appM

, u i, on foi ins most significant contri-
bution to the presenl and future ol
i olumbia I heologii al Seminary,
Prays for God's continued blessings
,,ii iiun and his family/ And dire ts
that a copy of this resolution be
spread on the minutes ol thi Board of
I directors.

Mr. Dickenson plans to take "only
a partial retirement. I want to con-
tinue working as a consultant in the
development and fund-raising fiel. I I
plan to open an office after the fil ll Ol
the year."

Frank Willey began working in
Columbia's development offi< e in
August 1989. When the seminar)
"Rooted in Tradition, Growing with
\ , ,,m,i i apital campaign went public
in fall 1990, he was appointed cam-
paign director. On the recommenda-
tion of President Oldenburg,
Columbia's Board of Directors has
approved Mr. Willey to head the
Office of Development and Seminary
Relations. D

WINTER 1992-93

Presbyterian Women invited to
Columbia Friendship Circle's
'Come See Columbia Day'

i u.i \k, Presbyterian Women from
across the southern United States
gather tor the Columbia Friendship
< ir. le's "( nine See Columbia Da)
This year's convocation will be April
1, 1993.

Emily Wood, newly elected
president of the Columbia Friendship
Circle, encourages attendance. "For
more than 40 years, Presb) terian
Women from Columbia's parent
synods (South Atlantic and Living
Waters) have actively supported the
mission and students of our semi-
nary. I urge everyone to come and
experience the festivities, worship,
and moving student testimonies on
the beautiful spring campus."

The six recipients of the 1992-93
C olumbia Friendship Circle Scholar-
ships will speak: Ann Runnion,
( entral Florida Presbvtery; Tom
Pipkin, Tampa Bay Presbvtery; Boin
Cho, Northeast Georgia Presbyter)
lanet James Hankins, East Tennessee
Presbytery; Larry Yerger, Tropical
Florida Presbytery; and Tim Simpson,
St. Augustine Presbyter)

For more information about the
Columbia Friendship Circle or

"Come See Columbia Day," contact
Barbara Poe, CFC Liaison, in the
seminary's Office of Development
and Seminary Relations, 404/378-
8821.

Conference on
Ministry

for prospective
students

More than 120 theologians, church leaders, seminar]/ educators, and students attended
"Christ and Culture: A Sino-American Dialogue" at Columbia October 23-25. Five
scholai - presented papers and fielded questions during the consultation, including three
pictured above Wang Wei fan, Chen Zemin, and Philip Wickeri, The consultation
funded by a grant from the Luce Foundation, whit h is also funding student/faculty study
tours to China in I992and 1993. Front row,l-i Kwok Pui-Lan, faculty member at
February 26-28, 1 993 Episcopal Divinity School, who led a Bible study; Wang Weifan associate professor and

dean of students at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary; Chen Zemin vice principal
and academic dean and professor at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, Jiang Uan,
Jiangsu International Culture Exchange Centre in Nanjing, interpreter for Columbia's
study tours. Back row. l-r: George Stroup, coordinator of the consultation and professor
at Columbia. Philip Wickeri, overseas coordinator of the Amity Foundation: Lennart
Hamark, Christian Study Centre in Hong Kong; and Charles Cousar, professor and
interim dean of faculty and one president for academic affairs at Columbia

To register or receive more
information, call the Office of
Admissions at the seminary,
404/378-8821.

Vantage

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, Georgia 30031

CONTENTS

Rosalvnn Carter speaks at Columbia 1

Plan to attend Forum 1993 1

From the President 2

Columbia's curriculum review 2

Winter reading recommendations 2

Connections with Jamaica and Hungary 3

Continuing education calendar and offerings 4

Christian education at Columbia 5

For the Record 6

Retirements, new appointment at Columbia 7

'Come See Columbia Day' 8

Second Class
Postage
Paid at
Decatur, GA

Publication No. 124160

COLUM B I A
THEOLOGICAL
SEMI NARY