Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 84, number 2, Fall 1992

COLUMBIA
THEOLOGICAL

SEMINARY

Vantage

FALL 1992

Alternative Context
goes to China

A contingent of 21 people from the
seminary community participated in
May in Columbia's first-ever Alterna-
tive Context for Ministry course in the
Peoples Republic of China.

Dividing their 17-day experience
between Hong Kong, Shanghai,
Nanjing and Beijing, students, faculty,
board members, spouses, a staff
member, and several family members
traveled through eastern and southern
China to learn how the church func-
tions in a markedly different culture.

Participants met with church and
government officials, including
Bishop K.H. Ting, the official leader of
China's government-sanctioned
Three-Self Patriotic Movement, and
Stapleton Roy, the U.S. ambassador to
China. They also visited urban and
rural churches including one which
reopened on Christmas Eve 1980, 14
years after it was padlocked during
Chairman Mao's anti-Western Cul-
tural Revolution.

Other visits included trips to
Nanjing Seminary, the largest Protes-

tant seminary in China, and to a
"Meeting Point," a Chinese congrega-
tion to which no permanent minister
is assigned; the Forbidden City and
Tiananmen Square; the Beijing opera;
and the Great Wall of China.

"Something I knew in advance,
but which was still overwhelming,
was the quantity of the population,"
Catherine Gonzalez, professor of
church history, said. "Ordinarily,
when you have up to 10 million
Christians in a society, you think you
are doing well. But that is not the case
in China, which has more than 20
percent of the world's population."

China is home to 1.2 billion
people, though it possesses only one-
seventh of the world's arable land.
Participants agreed the vast popula-
tion, limited space, and a history of
isolationism have shaped China's
perceptions about life, the church and
theology.

"One of the issues we discussed is
human rights," George Stroup,
professor of theology, said. "I think

Columbia's group visited the Great Wall of China, once a symbol of Chinese isolationism
(Left to righ t: Dan Milford, Ben Trawick, Professor George Stroup , and Greg Breter)

our group would argue that freedom
of speech is in the interest of the
community. Our perspective is that
individuals matter from both a
political and theological viewpoint.
The Chinese would argue that what

matters most is the life of the whole.
Chinese political leaders would argue
that human rights means a full
stomach and that exceeds the
freedom of expression."

Continued on page 5

Columbia grants
eighty-eight degrees

Judith and Aaron Fulp-Eickstaedt, who graduated with distinction, have been called to
churches in Neiv York. . .

Speaking to a congregation of more
than 1,000 at Columbia's May 10
commencement services at Peachtree
Presbyterian Church in Atlanta,
Charles Weltner challenged 88 gradu-
ates to avoid the lure of "twelve
modern gods, not made with hands."

While graduates depart to serve
the church, Weltner noted, they are
likely to confront many or all of these
idols: "the buildings where the church
gathers; the choir and the new organ;
the building fund; the parking lot and
the roof; the session; the church's
social "outreach"; the creation of
institutional position papers; the
reaction to institutional position
papers; politics (presbytery, synod,
General Assembly); a doctoral degree
earned or honoris causa; your
sermons on cassette, radio, or televi-
sion; a taller steeple."

"Beware of gods made with
hands," said Weltner, presiding justice
of Georgia's Supreme Court and a
1983 MATS graduate. "Sometimes,
these hand-made gods may seem to
be 'the way out' from a stultifying
repetitiveness or from the lmpenetra-

bilitv on the part of a congregation to
every new idea. But God is God. God
cannot be captured in material forms
(gold, silver, or wood) or in structures
(building funds, choirs, or politics)."

After the service, Peachtree hosted
a reception for graduates, their
families and friends, and the faculty
The 4:00 p.m. ceremony followed the
11:00 a.m. baccalaureate service at
Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta.

Gail R. O'Day, associate professor
of Biblical preaching at Emory
University's Candler School of
Theology, drew her baccalaureate text
from John 10:22-30, Rev. 7:9-17, and
Psalm 23, noting that as Christians
and as leaders we remain "sheep."

"Sisters and brothers in Christ,
you have learned much, but if you
begin to think that knowing these
things positions you as the shepherd,
instead of sheep, think again. 'My
sheep hear my voice. I know them,
and they follow me.' This is the life of
ministry, this is the life of faith: to
share with all God's sheep in the
restorative, grace-filled gifts of God."
Continued on page 3

From the President

Douglas W. Oldenburg

In ord] R i" maintain focus and per-
spective, every organization (and
every individual) should periodic all)
step back from all its busyness and

ask the fundamental questions: "Who
arc we?" "What is our purpose 1 "
"What is our reason tor being?"
"What does God call us to be and to

do 9 " "What is our mission?" Such
introspection can, no doubt, become
an unhealthy preoccupation, but those
who never pause to ask such search-
ing questions may lose their way and
flounder in confusion.

During the past year, as part of
our curriculum review, the faculty,
students, and Board of Directors have
been asking those questions. "What is

Columbia Theological Seminary?"
"What is God calling us to be and to
do?" The discussion has been stimu-
lating, and the result is this new
statement of mission, which has now
been adopted by the faculty and the
board. It is the foundation upon
which we will build a new curriculum
to prepare women and men for
leadership in Christ's church. We
invite your comment.

Statement of Mission

Columbia Theological Seminar} is

an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA),
and a commumt\ <>i theological inquiry
and formation for ministr\

in the service of the Church
of Jesus Christ

At Columbia, people of faith seek to witness
to God's creative power,

redemptive action,
transforming justice,
and reconciling love,

in a pluralistic society and

interdependent world.

We understand Christian faith to include
worship of God,
faithfulness to Jesus Christ,
cultivation of the mind,
disciplines of the Christian life,
ministries of proclamation, nurture,

compassion, and justice,
expression of faith through the arts,
and participation in the life of the Church.

Our special mission in the service of the Church,

and especially the Presbyterian Church (USA), is
to educate women and men for leadership

in ordained and lay ministries;
to offer first degree, graduate degree,

and continuing education programs;
and to provide theological resources
for the denomination,
for the ecumenical church,
and for persons with a variety of
theological concerns.

Because we are an educational institution,
our calling is

to prepare persons to lead congregations

in worship, witness, mission, and service;
to pursue learning that joins

mind and heart;
to develop personal and professional skills

for leadership in the church;
to learn

from the world-wide Church,

horn education, the arts, politics,

economics, and science,
and from those outside the centers
of power and influence;
to consider critically from the perspective

of the Christian faith, assumptions - including
our own - about the human situation based on

ideological, technical, and

scientific definitions.

Because we are a confessional community of the Church, we
live under the authority of Jesus Christ
as witnessed to

in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,
in the Church throughout the ages,
and in the Reformed tradition and
its confessions;
affirm the worship of God as a vital and

central feature of our life together,

and celebrate the goodness of God
in all creation;
believe in Christ's lordship over the

whole world;
articulate an evangelical understanding
of life rooted in the rule
of God's justice and love;
listen with openness

to voices of hopelessness and hope
around and within us;
acknowledge our own brokenness
and need for redemption;
commit ourselves

to diversity and inclusivity,
to ecumenicitv,

and to discerning the ongoing manifestations of
God's presence in human affairs;
nurture a personal and corporate faith
which takes responsibility
for our choices

amid the political realities,
the social institutions,
and the global context
in which we live.

In carrying out our mission,

we seek to be faithful to the gospel,

and to become a living expression of

the Body of Christ in the world.

Dean of Faculty Glenn R. Bucher assumes presidency of GTU

Pkimdent DOUCI as W. Oldenburg has
announced the resignation of Vice
President oi Academic Affairs and
Dean of Faculty Glenn R. Bucher. Dr.
Bucher has accepted the president y ol
Graduate Theological Union in
Berkeley, California.

Dr. Bucher came to Columbia
three years ago from The College of
Wooster, where he was dean of
faculty and Lincoln Professor of
Religious Studies.

Dr. Bucher served as Columbia's
dean until August 15, when Professor
Charles Cousar began serving as
interim dean of faculty and vice
president for academic affairs. (See
article on page 8.) Dr. Bucher will

continue working on special projects
at Columbia for two weeks each
month in September and October.

One such project is "Christ and
Culture: A Sino-American Dialogue, "
a conference funded by a Luce Foun-
dation grant which Dr. Bucher helped
secure.

Brian Childs, professor oi pastoral
theology and counseling at Columbia
and a member ol the Search Commit-
tee which hired Dr. Bucher said
"Glenn Bucher has a grand vision for
the transformation of theological
education. He has been a great dean
and leader." George Stroup, professor
of theology, agreed. "In three years,
Glenn Bucher has made enormous

contributions to Columbia. He has
encouraged us to become more
national in our thinking and to think
of theological education not just in
terms of preparation for ordained
ministry but in terms of education for
the whole church. He has also sought
to make Columbia more diverse and
inclusive." Professor of Church
I listory Catherine Gonzalez added,
"Glenn Bucher has given the faculty
strong leadership, particularly in
rethinking the curriculum and
strengthening the international
program."

President Oldenburg said, "Glenn
Bucher has served Columbia as an
effective colleague, and we are all

deeply grateful for his friendship and
the many contributions he has made.
We will miss him greatly, but he goes
with our gratitude and best wishes."

VANTAGE

Commencement 1992
i on tinued from page 2

1992 Master of Divinity degree placements Doctor of Ministry

Acting on behalf of Columbia's
Board of Directors, Board Chair John
Conant conferred degrees at com-
mencement. Next, President Douglas
Oldenburg presented each graduate
with a diploma, assisted by Philip
Gehman, vice president for student
life. Glenn Bucher, vice president for
academic affairs, hooded each gradu-
ate.

Thirty-four ministers received
the Doctor of Ministry degree, and
seven received the Master of Theol-
ogy degree. Forty-one received the
Master of Divinity degree, including
12 who graduated with distinction:
Kelly Allen, David D'Alessio, Kyle
Fedler, Aaron Fulp-Eickstaedt, Judith
Fulp-Eickstaedt, Sally Lorey, Beecher
Mathes, Susan Newton, Lori Pistor,
Michael Poulos, Tamara Puffer, and
Catherine Taylor.

In addition, the seminary
awarded one Master of Arts in Youth
Ministry degree and five Master of
Arts in theological Studies degrees.
Clay Hulet received the MATS with
distinction.

Eleven students were recognized
for academic excellence and received
special awards. Aaron Fulp-Eick-
staedt received the Wilds Book Prize
for graduating with the highest dis-
tinction in academic work over the
entire seminary program.

Kyle Fedler received the Florrie
Wilkes Sanders Prize in Theology for
a paper showing sound theological
scholarship and relevance to the
needs of contemporary Christians,
and Elizabeth Inman and Philip
Dunford shared the Presbytery of St.
Andrew Women of the Church
Preaching Award for the best sermon
preached by an M.Div. student
during the academic year.

Ann Kelly received the Columbia
Seminary Leadership Award, recog-
nizing her promise of providing
outstanding leadership to the church
and for demonstrating unusual
leadership qualities and spiritual
depth and integrity.

Kyle Fedler received the Ludwig
Richard Max Dewitz Old Testament
Studies Award for the best Old
Testament exegesis during the aca-
demic year. Kelly Allen, Susan New-
ton and Beecher Mathes shared the
James T. And Celeste M. Boyd Me-
morial Book Fund Award given to
persons who intend to build their
collections of theological books as a
resource for ministry.

Four graduate fellowships were
granted to students who plan to
pursue degrees beyond the master's
level. Mary D'Alessio received a
Columbia Friendship Circle Gradu-
ate Fellowship, and Clay Hulet and
Catherine Taylor received Columbia
Graduate Fellowships. Kyle Fedler
received the Harvard A. Anderson
Fellowship, awarded to the graduate
determined by the faculty to have the
greatest potential for future academic
achievement. LJ

Nan Adams, chaplain/coordinator of volunteers, FCS Urban Ministries,

Atlanta, Georgia

Kelly Allen, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Ste. Genevieve Missouri
Roy Bailey

David Bowerman, assistant chaplain, The Lovetl Schools \tlanta, ( leorgia
Harris N. Brown, pastor (continuing). New Bethel A.M.E. Church. 1 ithonia,

Georgia
Robert Campbell, associate pastor. First Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa,

Alabama
David D'Alessio, co-pastor, Cokebury Presbyterian Church, Cokebury,

Pennsylvania, and Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, Eighty Four,

Pennsylvania
Mary D. D'Alessio, co-pastor, Cokebury Presbyterian Church, Cokebury,

Pennsylvania, and Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, Eighty I our,

Pennsylvania; graduate study, Duquesne University Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania
Kay Davis, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Deckerville, Michigan
Polly Deppen, clinical pastoral education, Children's 1 lospital of Alabama,

Birmingham, Alabama
James Dickson, pastor, Clio and Carolina Churches, Clio, South Carolina
Mark Downs

Philip Dunford, pastor. First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, North Carolina
Paul Evans, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, Georgia
Kyle Fedler, graduate study, Yale University Divinity School, New I laven,

Connecticut
Aaron Fulp-Eickstaedt, pastor, Community Chapel of West Glens Falls, Glens

Falls, New York
Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt, pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg,

Warrensburg, New York
Corey Ingold, associate pastor, Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, Charlotte.

North Carolina
Elizabeth Inman, associate pastor, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black

Mountain, North Carolina
Ann Houston Kelly, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Rogers,

Arkansas
Kenneth Letterman, pastor, Whitehaven Presbyterian Church, Memphis,

Tennessee
Sally Lorey, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama
Beecher Mathes
Michael Maxfield

Norman McCrummen, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Waycross, Georgia
Sam McGregor

Allison Moody, pastor. First Presbyterian Church, Fitzgerald, Georgia
Kevin Morris, pastor, Ebenezer and Greensburg Presbyterian Churches,

Greensburg, Kentucky
Neal Neuenschwander, pastor, Parkway Presbyterian Church, Knoxville,

Tennessee
Susan Moorefield Newton, associate pastor, Mars Hill Presbyterian Church,

Acworth, Georgia
William Owens, associate pastor, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Roswell,

Georgia
Lori Pistor
Michael Poulos, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North

Carolina
Tamara Puffer
Karen Rogers, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Winnsboro, Louisiana, and

Baskin and Union Presbyterian Churches, Baskin, Louisiana
Beth Shannon-Faulk, clinical pastoral education, Georgia Baptist Medical

Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Linda Sherer, clinical pastoral education, Emory University Hospitals, Atlanta,

Georgia
Jeffrey Sockwell, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, Mississippi
Catherine Taylor, associate pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Atlanta,

Georgia
Lisa Traynham, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Selma, Alabama
Andrew Walton, pastor, Forsyth Presbyterian Church, Forsyth, Georgia

Master of Arts in
Theological Studies

Clayton Hulet, Decatur, Georgia
William Jordan, Decatur, Georgia
Daniel Kendrick, Atlanta, Georgia
Julie Lehman, Greensboro, North

Carolina
Elizabeth Nuernberger Myers, Besse-
mer City, North Carolina

Master of Arts in
Youth Ministry

Judy Moore, Atlanta, Georgia

i arl Bland, Rockingham, North

( arolina
lohn Bledsoe Atlanta ( leorgia
Zoltan B6na, Budapest Hungarj
Paul Bonham I [urdle Mills,North

( arolina

Ronald Bow ie ( lrape\ ine, rexas
Thomas Howman, Darlington South

( arolina
Timothj Bow mar Summen ille,

South Carolina
Roy< e Browde Wetumpka Alabama

lames Calhoun, ScottsbOTO Maluma
( lar) ( hi i-.i-ii-.i-ii I hiluth, Georgia

Samuel ( ooper, Walterboro South

( arolina
Frank c ovington, Roanoke Rapids,

North Carolina
Richard Crowe, < harleston, South

1 arolina
Ernest Urns. Marietta, Georgia
Joseph Dorociak, Germantow n

i ennessee
Donald Fortson, Charlotte, North

I arolina
( Iraham I [ardj [at ksom ille, Florida
Bryant Harris, ( olumbus, Georgia
Michael I [elms, I [artwell, ( leorgia
fohn l lill, Macon, Georgia
Samuel I [obson, l Lncoln, Nebraska
Ray [ones, Bay Minette, Alabama
Mark Kuehnerl Bii mingham

Alabama
lame, I og.m, ( harlotte, North

Carolina
i awrence Mbagara, Nairobi, Kenya

< ilenn Miller, Beaufort, South I arolina

Stephen Montgomery, Nor< rOSS

* leorgia
James Phillips, ( Ireenwood

Mississippi
Ronald Richardson, Tupelo,

Mississippi

< lordon Robinson, Denmark, South

( arolina
Roberl Stauffai her, Spanish Fort,

Alabama
Bruce Stewart, Montgomery, Alabama
Charles Summers, Davidson, North

Carolina
Paula league, Birmingham, Alabama

Master of Theology

Michael Adams, Conyers, Georgia

I liseo Pere/ Alvarez, /.a< ualpan, Din

de Mex. Me- ico
Browning Fergus, Atlanta, Georgia

I I yon Chun Kim, Daegu, Korea
Terns Neuman, Lakeland, Honda
Derek Stapleton, St. < leorge, Barbados
Paul Thompson, Christiana, famaii a

Composites oi rra Class of 1992 are
available from the Office of Seminal
Relations, Columbia Seminary, P.O.
Box 520, Decatur, G A 30031. Com-
posites have been mailed to all 1992
graduates.

FALL 1992

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.

September 17-19 Writing for Publk moN rhis intensive workshop will offei
experienced and aspiring writers the < hance to explore the "nuts and bolts" ..t
getting published Leadei Ronald Tapp Cost: $75.

September 21, 28, October 5, 12 Fali LaySchooi oi Bible and Theolch i

September 21-25 CONTINUING EDI ( VTION FOR KOREAN-AMERK AN PASTORS Co-
sponsored with the Synods of I iving Waters and South Atlantic, this event will
focus on worship and church growth. Leaders: Douglas Oldenburg, Wade
Huie, Lucy Rose, William McEachern, Dae Y. Shin.

October 2-3 C.S. Lewis \

October 16-18 GLOBAL MISSION ADVOi mi TRAINING CONFERENI I

October 18-23 AWii-k m KOINONIA wdHahii m FOR Humanity An opportunity
to participate in the life of both communities, working where needed and
learning about the activities and convictions of both. Leader: Sara C. Juengst.
Cost: $100.

October 23 Certjfk ition for Administrate/] Personnm .

November 18-20 SeasONSOI MlNlSTJRy; Thi Earu Yl SSS An invitational event
for the Class of l^s 1 ' to reunite with classmates and share the joys and woes of
beginning ministry. Members of the Columbia faculty will meet to discuss
topics of interest. Leaders: Charles Campbell, Lee Carroll, Robert Ramey.

December 4-5 Presbyters Leadership Training This event will give presbytery
leaders a clearer understanding of the systemic nature of PC(USA) polity in
dealing with specific needs of the Committee on Preparation tor Ministi \
Committee on Ministry, and the Permanent [udk ial C ommission. Cost: $50.

C.S. Lewis
seminar set

Bs luii i \k demand, Columbia Semi-
nary is offering a second celebration
of the work of Clive Staples Lewis,
one of Christianity's most well-known
authors. On October 2 and 3, Dabney
Hart, who visited Lewis in England
and is professor of English literature
at Georgia State University, and Pat
McGeachy, pastor of the Downtown
Presbyterian Church in Nashville,
will lead a time of sharing insights
about Lewis's work.

The event will focus on two ol
Lewis's works, The Great Divorce and
The Abolition of Man. Dr. 1 lart, who
wrote the first dissertation in America
about C.S. Lewis, has been asked to be
a consultant for the forthcoming BBC
television production of The Great
Divorce.

Participants are asked to submit
short reflection papers about Lewis's
impact on their own lives. Five of the
papers will be shared with the group

The event begins at 4:00 on
Friday, October 2, and concludes at
3:00 on Saturday. Open to clergy and
laity, it costs $50. For more informa-
tion or to register, contact the Office of
Continuing Education.

Certification
course for
administrative
staff offered

Each Yl \k, Columbia Seminary and the
Administrative Personnel Association
of the PC(USA) otter a training
program for church secretaries and
other office staff. The event allows
credit in the PC(USA)'s plan for
certification in church administration

As part of that program, Columbia
is >>nce again providing the required
theology course, which will be taught
by C. Benton Kline, president emeri-
tus and visiting professor o\ theolog)
at Columbia The elective course on
spiritual growth will be taught by the
Rev. Betty Stribling, associate presby-
ter tor evangelism and small churches
tor the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

The event takes place October 23
from 9:00 to 5:15. It is open to all
secretaries or other office staff,
whether or not they are enrolled in the
certification program, and costs $35.
c i intact the Office of Continuing
Education for more information.

Fall Lay School
planned

1 1 i i mi r o >nsecutive Monday eve-
nings in September and October,
( i ilumbia Seminary will conduct its
Mil lay School of Bible and Theology.
I hree < lasses will be offered: "Penta-
teuch: A Foundational Document for
I aith and Subversion/' taught by
Walter Brueggemann, pit 'lessor of
Old Testament; "Spin t no h t \ What It
Means tor Presbyterians,'' taught by
Ben lohnson, professor of e\ angelism
and church growth; and "I earning to
'Read' Theologically," taught by
Richard Dietrich, director of the La)
Institute of Faith and Life.

Classes will meet on the seminary
campus on September 21, 28 and
October 5 and 12, 1992, from 7:30 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m. Registration is $25. For
more information or to register, call
the seminary at 404/378-8821, or mail
name, address, choice of class, and $25
to Lay School, Columbia Seminary,
Box 520, Decatur, Georgia 30031. f

Global Mission
Training event
scheduled

A "Global Mission Training Confer-
ence" will be held October 16-18 to
train presbytery and local church
mission advocates to interpret the
mission of the larger church. Colum-
bia is sponsoring the event with the
Synods of South Atlantic and Living
Waters, the Presbytery of Greater
Atlanta, and the Global Mission
Ministry Unit of the PC(USA).

Dave Young, director of IDEA for
the Global Mission Ministry Unit, will
present the opening address. Among
the seminars and workshops to be
presented are People of Other Faiths
in Our Communities, Planning
Mission Trips, Preaching in a Global
Context, Youth in Mission, and the
Church in Solidarity with Women.
Mission updates on the church's work
in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East
are also scheduled.

Registration is $45. For more
information or to register, contact the
Lay Institute at Columbia.

Forum 1993
January 25-27

Smyth Lecturer: Brian Wren, hymn
writer, poet, educator, Rome,
Pennsylvania

Ai umni/ae Lecturer: Maria Harris,
professor of religious education,
Fordham University and New York
University, New York, New York.
I'm u mi r: |ohn Claypool, rector, St.
Luke's Episcopal Church,
Birmingham, Alabama.

Watch for more details in the next
issue of Vantage.

Richard Dietrich

Dietrich named
director of
Lay Institute

Rl< hard S. Dietrich has been named
director of Columbia Seminary's Lay
Institute of Faith and Life. He began
his duties July 15.

In this position, Dr. Dietrich
designs and directs the Lay Institute,
which provides continuing education
programs for lay men and women in
such areas as Christian faith and the
work place, Biblical studies, leader-
ship development, and lay ministries.
The Lay Institute was established at
Columbia in 1987 by a generous en-
dowment.

Dr. Dietrich brings pastoral and
teaching experience to his new work.
He was associate minister of First
Presbyterian Church, Gainesville,
Florida, and minister of Huffman
Presbyterian Church in Birmingham,
Alabama. Dr. Dietrich has taught at
Tulane University, Jefferson State
Community College, the Alabama-
Mississippi Women's Conference, and
the Chautauqua Institution's New
Minister's Conference.

He served as reviser of The Hebrew
Scriptures for Education for Ministry, a
program of lay theological education
administered through the University
of the South. His articles and reviews
have appeared in St. Luke's Journal of
Theology, Living Prayer, and Interpreta-
tion. Dr. Dietrich is co-editor of
&straightaway , an underground
newsletter for the Presbyterian
Church.

A graduate of Union Theological
Seminary in Virginia, Dr. Dietrich has
also studied at the Evangelisches-
Reformiertes Seminar of the Univer-
sity of Bern, Switzerland. He earned a
master's in English from Tulane
University and has done advanced
study in creative writing at the
University of Florida.

Columbia President Douglas W.
Oldenburg said, "Rick Dietrich comes
with the experience, the vision, the
skills, and the enthusiasm to bring the
Lay Institute to a new level of educa-
tional ministry for laity. We look
forward to an exciting new chapter in
the life of the Lay Institute."

VANTAGE

The 1992 Thompson Scholars with Dr. Ben Johnson (front row. right)

Thompson Scholars explore
evangelism issues

Twenty pastors and church leaders
from across North America traveled
to Columbia in March to participate in
the seminary's Thompson Scholars
program and look at critical issues in
evangelism for the Presbyterian
Church (USA).

Participants were drawn from
Washington to Florida and from
Ontario to Oklahoma to explore the
Biblical foundation, sociological
context, and psychological dimensions
of evangelism.

"With our denomination witness*
ing decline and loss of membership,
we must rethink this task and rededi-
cate ourselves to it," said participant
Peter Larson, pastor of First Church of
Garden Grove, California, and a Prin-
ceton graduate.

The Thompson Scholars program
spans a two-week period, involving
lectures, small-group interaction,
research, on-site visitation, and
creating programs. The first two hours
each day are spent with Columbia
professors who lecture on relevant
topics, followed by small-group
discussion in which the insights are
applied to specific projects. Partici-
pants visited a variety of churches to
observe evangelism emphases.

"I sense a new wind blowing," Joe
Rightmyer, a Columbia graduate and
pastor of Covenant Church in Jackson,
Mississippi, said. "I think we've spent
a lot of time arguing over the defini-
tion of evangelism and not doing
anything. Now I see much being done.
Obviously, evangelism is defined
differently in different places, but the
church has awakened to the fact that
we want to do something at all
levels: General Assembly, presbytery,
and local."

"We have ministers and lay folks
trying to discern what God wants of
us," said Betty Stribling, associate for
evangelism and small churches for
Greater Atlanta Presbytery and an
Austin Seminary graduate. "How do
we share our faith? How do we grow
in that faith? How do we grow in
numbers, not for numbers' sake, but
so people will know the Christ?"

Research projects selected by the
scholars included a theological

FALL 1992

foundation for changes in one
church's current evangelism program,
a strategy for reaching baby boomers,
development of a model for staffing a
large church to encourage evangelism,
and a plan for enhancing spiritual
growth of pastors.

"I think the big issue in evangel-
ism is not numbers," Ms. Stribling
said. "We have to ask why we are
declining and what is happening with
our pastors, sessions, and people in
the area of spiritual development?
How do we help our church have the
language and the faith that grows out
of a spiritual relationship to Christ?"

Many participants agreed to
establish informal networks of inspi-
ration and accountability through
sermon and idea exchange and
personal communication. They
credited Professor Ben Johnson and
the Thompson Scholars program with
broadening their vision and deepen-
ing their commitment. "The most
precious gift for me is spirituality and
a renewed confidence in the Gospel,"
Todd Jones, pastor of First Church,
Spartanburg, South Carolina, and a
Princeton graduate, said. "This has
been strengthening and confirming of
my faith to be with people who share
those same convictions with passion.

"I'll go back to the church with a
sense of renewal but also a sense of
urgency for the importance of the
message and the story that the church
has to tell. I have come away seeing
that for the church to be effective in
evangelism, the church needs to live
and exhibit a life that speaks of the
Great Evangel. 'Speaks' in the sense
of witnesses," he added. "We need to
be distinctive communities if people
are going to believe that what we have
to say is true."

The Scholars program was funded
through an endowment honoring Dr.
Cecil Thompson, professor of evangel-
ism and mission at Columbia from
1948 to 1968. Since 1989, Dr. Ben C.
Johnson, Peachtree Professor of
Evangelism and Church Growth, has
directed the program with a vision to
provide new and informed leaders in
evangelism within the Presbyterian
Church. To apply for the program,
write Dr. Johnson at the seminary. Q

The Columbia group worshipped mm Nanjing at a ( hristian Meeting Point which had
no ordained minister The ( hinese ihown above are sitting around the walls oj the
i hurt //. listening to the the sei wi e on a loudspeakei

Alternative Context to China
continued from page !

Undergirding those views, Dr.
Stroup said, is a genuine Love ol
China. Other participants agreed. "I
think it is very difficult tor a West
erner to understand how the i hm. Ii is
situated in that context, both because
it's so small and seemingly irrelevant
and because it's clearly got to be allied
in some sense to the revolution/'
Walter Brueggemann, professor of
Old Testament, said. "I imagine it's .i
tricky thing to do that partly to be
allied with the revolution and partly
to be indigenous to the Chinese

Departing Vice President for
Academic Affairs Glenn Bin her
helped secure the grant trom the Luce
Foundation which allowed China to
be part of Columbia's Alternate
Context for Ministry course Mm
i ' >urse, which was added to the
required curriculum in l c Wfr, is
designed to introduce students both to

i culture different from their own and
ii> the lit'' and ministry ot thechun h
m anothei so< ial i ontexl

1 1> nu lude an Asian country is to
introdui < > radii all) different i ultural
phenomenon/' IV Bucher said told
I inn. i bei ause *>t the richness "t that
> i\ iii/.iiK.n ,niti i 2 billion people, has
enormous potential/ both economl
i .lib and politii all) it must be taken

ei nmslv."

Mi.' [992 China alternative
Context experieni e was the in it ol

two funded In tin- I uce grant Many

I'.nih Ipants agreed the experieni e
was lire-impacting.

"At one oi "in stops along the

way, we saw a billboard th.it had a
picture i it a globe on it the world,"
Ben i rawick said. "But every time I
walked by it, I had .i sense that it V

wrong B ause we were on that side
oi the world, it had Asia and Australia

on it rather than North and South
\mrii. ,i It on iinvd Id in. lh.it,

i ii i ause i 'i w here I was, it provided a

Continual mi page 7

Partii ipants were guests at a kindergarten class dance performance in Shanghai (I efl to
right: Chinese interpretet and government host Jiang I ian, Professor Lee Carroll, hoard
member Florida Ellis, justo Gonzalez. Professor Catherine < 'm alez. Plou^hu
consultant Robert Evans, and the kindergarten teacher)

For the Record

If you have recent news you would like to contribute to this section,
please send it to the editor.

Martha Sexton '90 is organizing

pastor and evangelist for a new
church development in Blythewood,

SC John Patton, professor ol

pastoral theology at Columbia,
supervised a clinical pastoral educa-
tion group for Interfaith Ministries oi
Hawaii in Honolulu for two months
He lectured twice in July for clergy
conferences sponsored by the Samari-
tan Counseling Center of

Honolulu Tom Malone '71 is

director oi curriculum development
for children's and family resources m
the education and congregational
nurture unit for the PC(USA>
Raymond Gamble (DMin '90), pastor
of the Palm City, FL, church, was
elected to the 1992-93 edition of IV/zo's
Wlw Among Human Servit

Professionals Willard Hurlburt '75

was honorably retired by the Presby-
tery of South Alabama and is sen ing
as stated supply at First chun h,

I vnnville, TN Charles Newton II

'91 is associate pastor at St. Luke's
church, Dunwoody, GA. In April he
was a speaker in a colloquium pre-
sented by the Emory Universit) l a\*
School as part oJ the law and Religion

program Ruthanne Huff, technical

services librarian at Columbia, at-
tended the American Theological
Library Association meeting in Dallas
where she was .i member of a work-
shop panel, "Selecting an Automated
System." She also attended the
annual meeting of SOLINET, tin-
Southeastern Library Network.
Robert Ramey, professor of
ministry at Columbia, taught in the
vacation church school at Emory
church, Atlanta, preached twice at
Morningside church, Atlanta, and
taught an adult course on Reformed
spirituality at First church, Danville,
VA Anna Case-Winters '76, associ-
ate professor of theology ,ii
McCormick Seminary, was a leader
for the Midwest Regional Conference
of the National Association of Presby-
terian Clergywomen in June Harry

Brazell '90 has been appointed to the
Butler, GA, United Methodist

Church Will Ormond '43, professor

emeritus at Columbia, preached the
opening sermon at a ministers
conference and led a workshop. He
preached at the West Suffield, CT,
Congregational Church and at the
Presbyterian church in Gainesville,
AL, for Sumter Heritage Day. Dr.
Ormond led a four-part study of Mark

for the Alpharetta, GA, church

Philip Gehman '68, vice president for
student life and dean of students at
Columbia, was a small group and
work crew leader at a Montreat youth

conference in July Preston Shealy

'86 is pastor of First church, Marianna,

FL Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner,

adjunct assistant professor of practical
theology at Columbia, has articles in
Sociological Analysis: A Journal in the
Sociology of Religion (summer) and in
Lectionary Homiletics (July).

James Lowry '66 is pastor ol
Idlewild church, Memphis,
TN Christine Wenderoth, asstu iate
librarian and assistant professor oi

practical theology, attended the
American Theological library Asso-
ciation meeting where she read a
paper, was re-elected to the Board of
Directors/ was elected to a task force
for professional standards, and
continued on the Collection Evalu-
ation ami Development Steering

Committee Richard Swayze '59 is

pastor of Westminster church,

Gulfport, MS Ernestine Cole,

associate dean of students at Colum-
bia, has preached at West End,
Westhills, and Oakhurst churches and
attended the summer meeting of the
Committee on Social Witness Policy,

PC(USA), in Minneapolis Ben

Johnson, professor oi evangelism and
church growth at Columbia, preached
ii I irst church, Richardson, TX. He
was keynote speaker and workshop
leader for Western North Carolina
Presbytery and the Presbytery of

Denver Larry Griffin, maintenance

staff at Columbia, is vice president of
Southeast Atlanta Resource Center for
Housing (SEARCH), a group formed
to meet housing, daycare, ^nd security

needs ot that area Jey Deifell '66,

senior pastor of First church in York,
PA, participated in a pulpit exchange
during July with the Rev. [ohn Mcln-
doe, senior pastor at St. Columba's
Church of Scotland in London

Brian Childs, professor of pas-
toral theology and counseling at
Columbia, made two presentations for
the Institute for Humanities and
Medicine, National Endowment for
the Humanities, and led a continuing
education event at Princeton

Seminary Walter Brueggemann,

professor of Old Testament at Colum-

BIRTHS

To Melana Scruggs '87 and Bert
Simmons, t i daughter, Erin Nicole,
April 20, 1992.

To Paul '88 and Jennifer Kirbas, a son,
Jeffrey Parker, May 16, 1992,
To Dean '88 and Linda Strong, a son,
Connor Bradley, July 20, 1992.
To Jeff '89 and Tricia Lewis, a daugh-
ter, Laura Eden, May 29, 1992.
To Lynette '90 and John Mark Solo-
mon, a son, Luke William, July 1,
1992.

To Keith '91 and Cathy Riddle, a
daughter, Celeste Margot, Julv 12,
1992.

To Dana '94 and Bill Hughes, a son,
John Steffee, June 11, 1992.
To Rick '95 and Cathy Douylliez, a
son, Jeremy Gibson, July 27, 1992.

DEATHS

Irving Melville Ellis '25, Feb. 12, 1992.
Frank A. Mathes '41 (ThM 70), Feb.
19, 1992.
Palmer Patterson '50, July 18, 1991.

bia, preached and lectured at the
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Conference of Rhode Island and the
Southeastern Conference of the UCC
in Atlanta 1 le gave the commence-
ment address at Union Theological
Seminary in Virginia and led the Bible
study for the PC(USA) General
Assembly in Milwaukee. He has
taught at Georgetown University and
Boston College and lectured at
Mundeline Seminary He has an
article in / estschrift for Norman
( .ottwald. Dr. Brueggemann's book,
Interpretation and Obedience, has been
picked by Journal of At ademy oj Parish
Clergu as one of its "Top Ten Books of
the Year." His books, Prophetic
Imagination and Hopeful Imagination.
have been jointly published by SCM

Press in England Clover Beal '91 is

associate pastor of Ray-Thomas
Memorial church, Marietta, GA.

Greta Reed '91 is associate pastor
of Second church, Ft. Lauderdale,

FL Will Coleman '85, instructor in

theology, was awarded a dissertation
year scholarship for 1992-93 from The
Fund for Theological Education
(TFTE). He received fellowships from

TFTE in 1988 and 1989 Several

students and alums were married
recently: Tim Riser '90 and Stephanie
Gray, April 25 in South Carolina;
Mark Jumper '82 and Ginger Lou
Jones, Nov. 28; Lucy Scofield '94 and
David Bowerman '92, May 30 in
( leorgia; Kevin Morris '92 and Kim
Carr, July 25 in Georgia; Walter
Dinkins '88 and Anne Stolz, June 26
in New Mexico, Dave Gibbs '90 and
the Rev. Gretchen Seidler, Aug. 8 in
Illinois; Dan Milford '93 and Nadia
Rosales Saenz, April 4 in Mexico; and
John Hinkle '94 and Leila Doughton
(sister of Jones Doughton '93), Aug. 1
in North Carolina. ..Howard
Killingsworth '62 is parish associate

for First church, Athens, GA Bishop

Frederick Talbot (DMin '87) was a
team member from the World Meth-
odist Council in dialogue with the
World Anglican Communion in
Jerusalem in March. ...Norman
Campbell '72 (DMin '80) is pastor of
Broadmoor church, Shreveport,

LA Diana Mahida '78 is interim

pastor at First church, East Wil-
liamsburgh, NY.

David Gunn, professor of Old
Testament at Columbia, co-authored
the article on Hebrew Narrative in the
Anchor Bible Dictionary. He was
plenary speaker at the northwest
regional meeting of the Society of
Biblical Literature/ American Acad-
emy of Religion at Walla Walla
College, WA, where he also delivered
the college centennial lecture. Dr.
Gunn spoke at Case Western Reserve
University and was a guest speaker to
an international seminar on Old
Testament literary studies at Aarhus

University in Denmark John Kelley

(DMin '89) is pastor of the New
Covenant (PCA) church in

Hickory William Lancaster '73

(DMin '84) is now full-time associate
for mission interpretation and ste-
wardship for Foothills

Presbytery Norman Hibbard '82 is

interim at the Auburn, IN,
church Charles Cousar '58, profes-
sor of New Testament and interim
dean of faculty and vice president of

academic affairs at Columbia,
preached during the summer at the
North Decatur, St. Andrews (Tucker,
GA), and Covenant (Athens, GA)

churches Dan Nail '80 is pastor of

the Fellowship church in Tallahassee,
FL.

Ronald Cram, associate professor
of Christian education at Columbia,
preached at teacher appreciation
Sunday at Covenant church, Athens,
GA, and taught second-graders for
vacation Bible school at First church,
Atlanta. Dr. Cram built a house with
Habitat for Humanity during the

summer Mary Jane Cornell '81 is

interim pastor at Memorial Drive
church, Stone Mountain,

GA Rebecca Parker, director of

admissions and financial aid at
Columbia, preached at Covenant
church, Athens, GA, and led a spiritu-
ality workshop at Covenant church,

Atlanta Stanford Parnell '33,

honorably retired in 1975, is in his
seventeenth year as parish associate of

First church, Shreveport, LA Sarah

Speed '88 is interim part-time pastor
at Silver Creek church, Lindale,

GA David Moessner, associate

professor of New Testament at
Columbia, gave a meditation for
morning prayers at the international
Society for New Testament meeting in
Madrid, Spain. In June he taught an
adult class at North Avenue church,
Atlanta. An article of his appeared in
The Study of Luke-Acts in the Twentieth
Century^ Three American Contributions,
published by Scholars Press.

Sara Juengst '83, director of
continuing education at Columbia,
attended the program board meeting
of the Presbyterian Conference Center
at Hilton Head and the Small Church
Celebration in San Antonio, spon-
sored by the PC(USA)'s Small Church
Supervisory Networking Team, of
which she is a member. Ms. Juengst
served as a commissioner to the
General Assembly from the Presby-
tery of Greater Atlanta Joyce Rimes

'73 is interim pastor, First church,

Lynn Haven, FL John Campbell '56

was honorably retired from First
church, Warner Robins, GA in

Continued on page 7

Vantage

Volume 84, No. 2, Fall 1992
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, G A 30031-0520

VANTAGE

Prospective
student
weekends set

Each year, Columbia invites all who
wish to explore a call to the ministry
to attend one of two Conferences on
Ministry- Conference weekends are
designed for both those who have
decided to pursue ministry and those
who are testing the waters. The
weekend offers a chance to consider
the idea of ministry by talking with
students, faculty, and staff, sitting in
on a class, worshipping with the
seminary community, and learning
about curriculum, student housing,
and financial aid.

Bobbi White, who attended the
conference in February, is now in
Greek School at Columbia and will be
a member of the first year class in Sep-
tember. "The classes we attended
were outstanding, and I could tell it
would be easy to catch the excitement
of learning here." She was impressed
with Columbia's concern for the
"parish and for its diversity of stu-
dents. "I knew Columbia would be a
place where I would learn not only
from the fine professors but from the
other students as well."

David Cagle will also be a mem-
ber of the new M.Div. class in Septem-
ber. He attended the conference last
November and talked with students
and faculty members during the
weekend's events. He found
Columbia's emphasis on community
to be especially inviting. "I knew
academics were top-notch at Colum-
bia, but the weekend showed me the
importance the seminary places on the
heart as well as the mind. That
weekend confirmed my decision for
Columbia."

Conferences on Ministry are
scheduled for November 6-8, 1992,
and February 26-28, 1993. For more
information on these prospective
student weekends or to register,
contact Rebecca Parker, Director of
Admissions and Financial Aid,
Columbia Seminary, P.O. Box 520,
Decatur, Georgia 30031, or call 404/
378-8821.

For the Record

continued from page 6

Alternative Context to China
continued from page 5

December Glenn Bucher, vice

president for academic affairs and
dean of faculty at Columbia, attended
the bi-annual meeting of the Associa-
tion of Theological Schools in Pitts-
burgh and spoke at an Auburn-Lilly
conference in New York City. Dr.
Bucher planned and moderated a
forum on "Political Correctness, the
Reformed Tradition, and Theological
Education," which is published in the
fall issue of Theological

Education James Hollis '82 was

honorably retired by East Tennessee

Presbytery in December Soon Son

'87 (DMin '91) is pastor of the Korean
church in Birmingham, which hosted
American-Korean Friends Night, a
program of Korean culture focusing
on Korean children adopted by
Alabama families.

FALL 1992

different view of the world. And that,
I think, is what Alternative Context is
all about.

"Another thing of interest hap-
pened at a refugee camp for Vietnam
refugees, which is an enormous
problem in Hong Kong at the mo-
ment. On one side of the building was
a mural. At the top it said, Language
is the key to the world,' and at the
bottom, 'Learn English.' It wasn't just
that language was the key to the
world, but English was the key to the
world. I realized that I have trie key to
the world, and they do not. Those two
images stand out in my mind."

Greg Breter said two significant
impressions for him were the privi-
lege of worship and the broadness of
the church. "I have thought a lot
about persecution and why it is that
the church always seems to come out
of persecution so much more alive
and with deeper faith," he said.

"I believe this experience is going
to permeate future ministry for all of
us who were there," Mr. Breter said.
"We couldn't hear the stories and
have the experiences without walking

"The church has blossomed
arid is growing rapidly,
despite years of government
suppression. That is a
challenge to us. "

away and thinking about the privilege
we have to worship. I also came away
with more of an emphasis on the Body
of Christ and our common bond
and the responsibility to support and
pray for each other."

Others made note of theological
issues raised during the trip.

Dr. Stroup noted his interest in
First Corinthians issues of the needs of
the Body of Christ as opposed to those
of individual members of the Body
and how a Chinese interpretation
would read, especially in light of
China's leaning toward the "collec-
tive"; Dr. Gonzalez wondered about
the significance and interpretation of
communion in a society that is con-
stantly taking tea together and where
all meals are communal; and Dr.
Brueggemann said he is re-examining
the importance of historical criticism
for teaching the Old Testament
recognizing it as a "Western quirk.
One of the larger hermeneutical issues
is that our brand of Christianity is tied
to our political-economic practices in
more ways than we realize, and
experiencing another culture helps us
to recognize that."

In 1992, Columbia also offered
Alternative Context experiences in
Appalachia, inner city Atlanta,
Central America, Hungary, and
Jamaica. (See Vantage, spring 1992.)
Most are offered during Januarv s
abbreviated term, with most student
participants from the second-year
class. Another experience in China
will be offered in May 1993, with
seven students joining faculty, board
members, and a staff person.

Nancy Graham '93

Development /Seminary Relations

By James F. Dickenson

Vice President, Development/Seminary Relations

A Capital Campaign
progress report

Thki i mi d oul m our progre

report regarding ( olumbia
Seminar} s ( apital ( ampaign.

I irsl in August i"" ' we passed
the $21,500,000 mark Vsyou will
recall, the < .ipit.il ( ampaign began
July 1, 1988, with a goal of
$31,450,000. Forthefirsl twoyears,
through June 10 1990, the seminar]

quietly talked with mdi\ uluals,
foundations, and other entities and
secured commitments of $11,325,000

In the summer ol 1990, the
campaign was publicly announced. A
capital campaign committee was
formed under the leadership of John
A. Conant, chair, and John Weitnauer,
COH hair, consisting of 25 men and
women from throughout those
southeastern states with which the
seminary has had traditional ties. The
committee has done outstanding
work in securing major gifts from
many interested people who believe
in and want to support theological
education. We will continue to solil it
major gifts during the life ol the
campaign, which ends in December
1994.

Second, the church phase ol our
capital campaign has begun within
the Synod of South Atlantic. In tin
mid-1980's, the seminary was given
the years 1992-1993 to conduct
campaigns in the presbyteries and
churches of the synod.

On February 1, 1992, we began
our first church campaign in the
Presbytery of Northeast ' leorgia.
During February, March, and April,
appeals were made In longregations
We are delighted to report that
Northeast Georgia's presbytery goal
was exceeded, and it was one ol the
most successful camp.u ,n >ver
conducted in that area

Savannah and Flint River Pre
teries are planning and conducting

i ampaigns fora numbei oi ,,ui M \ the
seminary included Other presbyteries

will begin then semin.ii\ campaigns

in eai Iv 1993, with one oi two in fete
1993, and a numbei in 1994

Third, fundraising for the new

libra] J is Well under way. In the

original $31,450,000 goal two thirds

"i the hinds were earmarked loi the

endowment One third ol the goal

was earmarked tor renovations of

existing buildings and new construc-
tion.

The library has been the center-
piece Of our renovation/new on

struction program for this campaign

The plan calls for renovation oi the
current library building and lot
construction oi an addition whi< h

will provide almost double the
current space The renovation n.-w
construction project will COSl
$5,357,000. More than $2 million of

this amount has ahead\ beei nmit

ted, leaving a balance <>t $2,457,000 to
be secured.

1 1 1. Board of Directors established
.i policy which calls tor an endowment
lor new buildings. The endowment
need tor the library was set at $1 i
million This amount has already
been committed. Moreover, another
$163,000 has been added to the library
endowment through a generous gift
via a charitable trust

i he Capital c ampaign is on

schedule; the church phase has had a
great beginning; and the library
projei t, i enter tor theological studies,
and student housing renovations now
have priority on the seminary's
development schedule.

We never forget that you make all
these things possible, and for that we
thank you and express our deepest
gratitude to ( !od for this great work in
which we share. !

Columbia's Asian Ministries Center, m conjunction with the Presbyterian College and
Theological Seminary in Korea, held //s annual two-week continuing education event
for Korean pastors in June. They attended classes at Columbia and visited churches
and shelters in Atlanta.

Cousar named
interim dean

( harli B I sar, Samuel A.
( artledge Professor of New Testa-
ment and a Columbia graduate, has
been named interim dean of faculty
and vice president of academic
affairs, effective August 15. He was
appointed to this position upon the
resignation of Glenn Bucher. (See
article on page 2.)

Dr. Cousar, who has taught at
Columbia since 1%0, served as dean
ol academic affairs from 1971 to 1978.
1 le is co-chair of the seminary's
Curriculum Committee, which is
carrying out an extensive Lilly-
tunded review of the curriculum.

The author of dilation* (Interpre-
tation series) and A Theology of tin-
Cross: The Death of Jesus in the Letters
of Paul, he has served as president of
the southeastern region of the Societv
of Biblical Literature and is also a
member of Studiorum Novi Testa-
ment! Societas.

Commenting on Dr. Cousar's
appointment, President Douglas
Oldenburg said, "We are fortunate
that Charles Cousar has agreed to
serve as our interim dean and vice
president. He assumes the position
with my full confidence and support,
as well as that of the faculty. We are
grateful to him for his willingness to
serve Columbia in this way"

"Christ and Culture: A Sino-
American Dialogue" planned

Al'I'KOMM Mil. 100 rHEOLOGl W\

church leaders, seminary educators,
and China experts from this country
and the international community will
meet at Columbia October 23-25 for
the seminary-sponsored conference,
"Christ and Culture: A Sino-Amen-
can Dialogue."

Five speakers will present papers
at open plenary sessions during the
three-day conference, which also will
include participants from China.
Speakers include Chen Zemin, dean
of Nanjing Seminary, the largest
Protestant seminary in China; Wang
Wei Fang, a scholar of Biblical
literature; Phil Wickery of the Amity
Foundation; theologian Rosemary
Ruether of Garrett Theological
Seminary; and Doug Meeks, dean at
Wesley Theological Seminary.

Invited guests will also respond
to papers in small-group sessions.

Kwok Pui-Lan, a seminary
professor from Hong Kong, will lead
a Bible study Saturday morning,
while Catherine and Justo Gonzalez
will lead Sunday morning Bible
study. A panel discussion will follow,
and the conference will end with a
worship service at which Walter
Brueggemann, McPheeters Professor
of Old Testament at Columbia, will
preach.

All conference events, except a
Saturday evening at the Carter Center,
will take place on the seminary campus.

Departing Vice President for
Academic Affairs Glenn Bucher, who
discussed conference issues with Bishop
K.H. Ting during Columbia's Alterna-
tive Context experience in China (see
article on page 1), says the Columbia
faculty has already learned a great deal
about how those issues interface in
China.

"The church in China is a product
of Western missions, and so it now faces
questions about indigenization," Dr.
Bucher says. "Christianity is a minority
religion. Taoism, Buddhism, and Islam
have greater followings there. The
Chinese church refers to itself as a post-
denominational church, so it's had to be
ecumenical not only in conversation but
in practice. Those are all items we face
here in very different ways."

Chinese Alternative Context
experiences for 1992 and 1993, as well
as the Sino-American dialogue, are
funded by a Luce Foundation grant to
Columbia Seminary.

Opening
convocation is
September 16

R. Kevin LaGree will be the speaker at
Columbia's 165th opening convoca-
tion and honors day on Wednesday,
September 16. Dr. LaGree is dean and
professor of divinity at Candler
School of Theology, Emory Univer-
sity, Atlanta.

A graduate of Harvard University
Law School and Saint Paul School of
Theology, Dr. LaGree has held
appointments in the United Methodist
Church and was vice-president for
institutional advancement at Saint
Paul School of Theology. He has
taught and lectured on Wesleyan
theology, United Methodist doctrine,
and biomedical ethics.

First year Master of Divinity and
Master of Arts in Theological Studies
degree students will be introduced to
the Columbia community after Dr.
LaGree's address. Many of the first
year students are currently in summer
Greek School at Columbia.

The seminary expects an entering
class of approximately 60 students in
the two degree programs.

Opening convocation will take
place at Columbia Presbyterian
Church at 11:15 a.m. The public is
invited.

Vantage

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, Georgia 30031

CONTENTS

Alternative Context course goes to China 1

Commencement 1992 1

From the President: Statement of Mission 2

Bucher accepts GTU presidency 2

Graduates and placements 3

Continuing education calendar and events 4

Dietrich named Lay Institute director 4

Thompson Scholars program 5

For the Record 6

Admissions conferences 7

A Capital Campaign update 7

Cousar named interim dean 8

"Christ and Culture" 8

Opening convocation 8

Second Class
Postage
Paid at
Decatur, GA

Publication No. 124160

COLUMBIA
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY