COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Vantage FALL 1995 Columbia salutes six for 112 years of service Six mi miu rs ( if Columbia's faculty and administrative staff, representing more than .1 ( entury of service, will lea\ e the seminary by November. Robert H. Ramey, professor of ministry, and F. Barry Davies, instruc- tor m church music, retired from the t,K ult) .it the conclusion of the spring semester. Among the seminary's staff, registrar Elsie D. Urie, staff associate for pastoral care Ann A. Titshaw, the president's administrative assistant Peggy M. Rowland, and receptionist and switchboard operator Betty Beatty have announced their departures. All began their careers at Colum- bia during the 1970s. While being interviewed during the summer, each noted the growth in the number of students and faculty as the most significant change during their service. Mrs. Beatty, who began work as a receptionist in the development office in l L >72, said she could not count the number of phone calls she directed each day to more than 80 extensions. It you wanted to talk to anybody in the seminary you had to talk to me first," she said. "It was rather hectic." Dr. Ramey began teaching in 1979 after several pastorates. For him, change not only has affected the seminary, but the nature of ministry itself. "Ministry is entering a new context today/' he said, "whether you call it the Tost-Constantinian ^ge or something else. Something is happen- ing in society. Culture will no longer prop us up Known as the "Silver Fox," Dr. Ramey has regularly taught courses in ministry and spiritual growth and been appreciated for his rapport with students. Columbia Seminary Press recently published his book ( trowing Church Leaders: New Skills tor New Ta^k>. In October, Abingdon Press will publish The Pastor's Start-Up Manual, his guide for new pastors and those transferring to new congregations. "1 learned that kindness is better than being right, gentleness better than correctness," wrote Mark P. Clark, an attorney and former Ramey student in Wimberley, Texas. He was one of hundreds of former students and colleagues to write tributes. "I am the better for having known you. And the seminary was the better for having had you on its faculty " Dr. Ramey will continue teaching in the fall as a visiting professor and, during his semi-retirement, will preach and continue his hobbies: i Front row, l-r: Peggy Rowland and Elsie Line, hack row, l-r: Bob Ramey, Betty Beatty, Ann Titshaw, and Barry Davies running, playing tennis, and cheering for the Atlanta Braves. Dr. Davies plans to stay active as parish associate and director of educational ministries at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain. He began his tenure as organist at Columbia upon enrolling as a Master of Divinity student in 1979. Since then, he has played at almost every chapel service and directed the choir in Columbia numbers of productions. He has taught elective courses on the use of music in worship, and, teamed with Dr. Ramey, a course in spirituality Dr. Davies's efforts in global ministry were recognized recently with the "Wings of Song Award" from Kingston College in Jamaica. He had served as director of the Jamaica School of Music before coming to Columbia and has maintained close Continued on page 5 grants degrees to 111 students Richard Gillespie 'SO receives the Th.D degree and celebrates with his four sons following commencement. He /s the grandson of Richard T. Gillespie, who was president o) the seminary when it was moved from Columbia South Carolina to Decatur, Georgia, in 1927. Before receiving diplomas from five degree programs, 1 1 1 graduates at Columbia's commencement May 21 were challenged to engage a frag- mented societv Melva Costen, Helmar Emil Nielsen Professor of Music and Worship at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, told graduates in the commencement address that they would need disci- pline and a sense of both duty and destin) to fulfill their vocations. There is a new look about this rite of passage," Dr. Costen told the audience at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. "Candidates are both male and female, from a variety of races, at home and in diaspora, having experienced various forms of struggle, oppression, as well as new forms of freedom and liberation Our language has been updated, affirming the wholeness and inclusiveness of humanity, and broadening our understanding of the image ot ( ii id In his baccalaureate sermon, "Ministry in Macedonia," Douglas W I 1 1\, professor emeritus and former director of advanced degrees, said that the vocation of ministry demands response to surprising occurrences, knowledge of local culture, and trust in the Holy Spirit. Hix said, "You must outthink your contemporaries so you can show them how the simple gospel relates to the things they believe most deeply and most unconsciousK Columbia trustee Flowell Adams conferred degrees, assisted by Presi- Continued on page 2 Fondly remembered Douglas W. Oldenburg, President SOMEONI HAS "In the life of every institution, there are individuals who will be remem- bered fondl) bi cause they embodied its spirit and were themselves molders ol its unique character." Weusuall) think ol retin d faculty members and presidents in this regard, and remember them w ith greai affe< tion and gratitude foi the indelible mark they made on our seminary As you can read on page one, we have retired two fa< ult) members Bob Ramey and Barr) Davies- who have had .1 significant influence on the lives ol mam students .mi) the seminary itsell As important .is the fa< ult) is to an) educational institution, there are many others working who help set the tone and character ol ^\n institution, c olumbia Seminary is currently losing hmr members of its administrative Staff who "will be remembered londl\ because they embodied its spirit and were themselves molders of its unique hara< \