Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 79, number 2, Fall 1987

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

FALL 1987

Columbia Seminary
completes renovations

Columbia Theological Seminary
recently completed major renovations
on Campbell Hall and the Friendship
Apartments. Work on the buildings
lasted for six months. The new
changes will greatly enhance the life
and work of the seminary.

Funds for the Campbell Hail
renovation came from an anonymous
foundation, which donated $300,000.
The work on Campbell Hall, built in
1927, actually began during the
summer of 1986. The exterior of
Columbia's main administrative and
classroom building was thoroughly
cleaned and waterproofed. After this
was completed, work began in the
basement of Campbell Hall.

The basement had one large
classrooom and a small, inadequate
area for the typing pool. In addition,
there were several small rooms for
storage and an area for maintenance.

Workers stripped out the entire
basement. They tore down walls and
excavated new areas to provide more
space. The original space was
renovated to hold several offices.

There are now two mail rooms
with a work area, space for the typing
pool, a large storage room, two
administrative offices, and the
Supervised Ministry Office. The
Supervised Ministry Office had been
on the first floor in an area shared by
the Admissions Office. Supervised
Ministry now has a large reception
area, two offices, and a conference
room.

In addition to these facilities, the
newly excavated space on the
building's east side has restrooms and
two offices. These offices are already in
use by adjunct faculty members.

After the work was completed in
Campbell Hall's basement, workers
moved to the first floor. The area
previously shared by Supervised
Ministry and Admissions was
renovated for use by the Admissions
Office alone. The space now has a
reception area, an office for the
Director of Admissions, a conference
room, a storage room, and a small
room for a copier.

On the other side of the hall
another area of the first floor has been
transformed. It formerly held the
Dean of Students Office and the
mail/copier room. When the mail
room moved into the big, new area
downstairs, the entire area on the first
floor was given over to the Dean of
Students. Renovations made room for
a reception area, a conference room,
the Dean of Students office, the
Associate Dean of Students office, the
financial aid/secretary's office, and a
coffee area.

The seminary's office space has
become much more functional and
efficient. All three new conference
rooms are intended for multiple use
for small classes, conferences,
meetings, or interviews. Until this
time there was inadequate space to
interview students for calls to
churches, admission to Columbia, or

MM^L

Exterior of Campbell Hall was pressure washed and waterproofed.

for supervised ministry placements. All
the renovations in Campbell were
done as part of a larger plan to meet
present needs and to prepare the
seminary for the next century.

The Friendship Apartments were
the second site for renovation on the
Columbia campus. The building of 12
student apartments had not been
renovated since its completion in
I960. Renovation funds for the
apartments came from another
anonymous foundation, which
contributed $180,000.

The apartments' interiors were
painted along with the building's
stairways. Extra insulation was added
to the attic for greater energy
efficiency, and the old windows were
replaced with thermopane windows.

Each apartment received a new
furnace and air conditioning.
Previously, none of the apartments
had air conditioning.

Inside the apartments, each unit
received new mini-blinds to replace
the old Venetian blinds. New water
heaters were installed, and new carpet
was put down.

The biggest change took place in
the apartment kitchens. Each kitchen
now has a new set of cabinets, as well
as a new stove. In addition, the
workers put in new floor coverings in
all of the kitchens.

The work on the apartments was
done during the summer with
minimal displacement of students and
Continued on page 2

Columbia begins new year

New students register for fall classes.

President Douglas Oldenburg
presented a challenge to the Columbia
Seminary community in his address,
"Beginning with a Vision," during
the opening convocation at Columbia
Presbyterian Church on September 9.
He invited all students and faculty to
share in the shaping of that vision.

The opening convocation officially
welcomed new students who have
come to learn and to work in
Columbia's academic programs this
fall. Columbia has added 52 new
students to the master's degree
programs. The majority of students
enter the M.Div. program while
others enroll in the more specialized
Master of Arts in Theological Studies
or the Master of Arts in Youth
Ministry programs. In addition, five
persons have been admitted as

unclassified students.

The new students come from 12
states and four countries, and 88
percent of them are members of the
Presbyterian Church (USA). The
average age for this group is 33.7.
This new group of students represents
a doubling of the percentage of
women students over the last two-year
period; forty percent of the new
students are female.

These students are graduates of
such institutions as Eckerd, Agnes
Scott, Davidson, Presbyterian, Austin,
Flagler, and Wofford Colleges and the
College of William and Mary, the
Universities of Georgia, Florida,
Tennessee, California at Irvine, Texas;
Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Georgia State,
Tulane, and Wake Forest Universities;
Continued on page 2

From the President

Douglas W. Oldenburg

In my opening convocation address,
"Beginning With A Vision,'' 1 invited
faculty and students to join me in
shaping a vision for Columbia
Seminary. 1 acknowledged that it is
always tempting to settle for the way
things are and suggested that the
beginning of a new school year is a
good time to "climb the mountain''
again for a renewed vision of what
could be. For openers, I offered three
elements in my vision for Columbia
1. A Scholarly Community - searching
for God's truth. Recognizing that
many of us have a built-in resistance
to the erudite sound of the word
"scholar," 1 nevertheless envision
Columbia to be a community where
scholarship hard, disciplined study,

New year

Continued from page 1

and others. Thirty-seven percent of the
class graduated from church-related
institutions.

The new students bring a variety
of gifts with them to Columbia
seminary. A brief listing of some of
their jobs includes a director of
placement and career counseling,
landscaper, director of Christian
education, science teacher, auto leaser,
attorney, associate director of music;
store manager, mortician, free-lance
writer, counselor, vice president of
research and development, special
education teacher, and engineer.

The Columbia Scholarship
recipients for this new class are Sue
Boardman, Karen Edwards, Lynette
Solomon, and Jonathan Wallace. The
Columbia Scholarship is a one-year
scholarship for persons who have
shown significant academic and
leadership abilities during their
undergraduate study.

The Honor Scholarship recipients
for the class are Carol Boggs, Sid
Burgess, Sara Burress, Judy Lutz, and
Earl Smith. Honor Scholarships are
awarded annually on the basis of a
students academic achievement,
leadership, and demonstration of
promise for the ordained ministry.

Below is a listing of the new
students and their hometowns
Sylvia Babu, Bangalore, India
Shawn Barkley, Richmond, KY
Barbara Benton, Birmingham, AL
Sue Boardman, Lakeland. FL
Carol Boggs, Spartanburg, SC
Colleen Bolkcom, Lakeland, FL
Harry Brazell, Ellaville. GA
Harris Brown, Atlanta, GA
Sid Burgess, Birmingham, AL
Sara Burress, Atlanta, GA
Bob Chastain, Decatur, GA
Tae Cheong, Connelly Springs, NC
Hae Jeong Chun, Inchon, Korea
Sharon Core, Decatur, GA
Ginny Cushman, Summerville, SC
Audrey Deas, John 's Island, SC
Sue Dobbs, St. Petersburg, FL
Karen Edwards, Tarboro, NC
Mark George, Conyers, GA
Chuck Goodman, DeBary, FL

Mary Stewart Hall, Griffin, GA
Ken Holt, Jacksonville, FL
Beth Hoskins, Commerce, GA
Wil Howie, Oxford, MS
Jane HufTstetler, Pine Bluff, AR
Jeff Hutcheson, Jonesboro, GA
Dolores Ingraham, Tallahassee, FL
Todd Jenkins, Valdosta, GA
David Jones, Anderson, SC
Dennis Jones, Woodstock, GA
Tim Kiser, Altamonte Springs, FL
Ed Knight, Atlanta, GA
Zeta Lamberson, Marietta, GA
Don Lawson, Inverness, FL
Pete Little, Chattanooga, TN
Judy Lut2, Jacksonville. FL
Rob McDaniel, Cusseta. GA
John McLean, Camden, SC
Mike Murdock, Charlotte. NC
Julius Nelson, Monrovia, Liberia
Charlie Newton, Marietta, GA
Jackie Newion, Lilburn, GA
Laura Norris, Decatur, AL
Bob Reese, Milton, FL
Keith Riddle, Charleston, SC
Bill Rogers, Stone Mountain. GA
Mark Schumann, St. Petersburg, FL
Peter Shelly, Austin, TX
Earl Smith, Brandon, FL
Will Smith, Albertville, AL
Lynette Solomon, Dallas. TX
Catherine Taylor, Mobile, AL
Holly Tickle, Huntington Beach. CA
Rindy Trouteaud, Roswell, GA
Jonathan Wallace, Alexandria, VA
Jim Weldon, Jacksonville, FL
Debbie Zarrett, Stone Mountain, GA

Renovations
Continued from page 1

their families. Bud Brainerd, a second
year student, said, "The renovations
are wonderful! We particularly like the
air conditioning and the changes in
the kitchen. The seminary really paid
attention to details. "

All of the renovations have given
the seminary a new, fresh look. Cecil
Moore '62, Superintendent of
Buildings and Grounds, had an
integral part in the long period of
change. He said, "The only way to
appreciate what has been done is to
see it." The new facilities are being
seen and well used by the Columbia
community. D

research, probing reflection is taken
seriously as a personal responsibility of
stewardship and a mandate of loving
God with our minds. 1 long for
Columbia to be a community of those
who have a thirst to learn, a passion
for probing the mysteries of God, and
a commitment to study, not just to
pass a course, but to fulfill their
callings.

2. A Caring Community - reflecting
God's love. Our task is not only to
nurture scholars, but pastoral scholars
or scholarly pastors who care not only
about understanding God's truth but
also loving Gods hurting world. I
want us to extend our love and care
for one another to encompass the
homeless people, the hungry people,
the oppressed and the oppressors. I
long for us to be a community that
genuinely cares about peace and justice
in God's world and where the
burning issues of our day are
discussed in a "community of moral

Dean McKee,
Professor
Emeritus, dies

Dr Dean G McKee, Professor Emeri-
tus of Biblical Exposition at Columbia
Theological Seminary, died Sunday,
July 19, in Decatur. He was 82.

Dr. McKee taught at Columbia
from 1961 until his retirement in
1974. He came to Columbia from
The Biblical Seminary in New York,
where he had served as professor of
New Testament Greek and church
history, dean, and for 14 years as
president.

Dr. McKee was a graduate of
Parsons College in Iowa and received
his theological education from The
Biblical Seminary, where he earned
the degrees of Bachelor and Master of
Sacred Theology and Doctor of
Theology.

He was an ordained minister in
the Presbyterian Church, U.S., and
held memberships in a number of
professional societies.

He is survived by his wife, Adele
Dieckmann McKee, of Decatur.

The funeral service was held at
Decatur Presbyterian Church with Dr.
Harry Daniel and Dr. Wade P. Huie
officiating. Honorary escort was the
Columbia Seminary faculty.

The following is a remembrance of
Dr. McKee by Columbia Professor
Shirley Guthrie.

He was a genuine Renaissance
man. He taught Bible and church
history in such a way that he related
them to the history of Western
culture in general. He interpreted the
history of the church with reference to
developments in art, architecture, and
literature in the West, showing the
interrelationship of all disciplines. So,
for instance, he often passed around
books of art when he taught, and
fellow faculty members as well as
students found themselves buying
books with reproductions of Medieval
and Renaissance art, as well as works
on Biblical studies and church history.

He was a deeply committed
Christian and very serious about his

discourse" from the perspective of the
Christian faith.

3. A Worshipping Community -
offering thanks to God, listening for
God's Word, and interceding for
God's world. I pray that Columbia
will be a community where worship is
not incidental to our life together, but
at the very heart of it, and where we
worship not as spectators or critics (a
particular danger at seminaries!) but as
authentic participants.

That's only the beginning of a
vision, and to some extent we are
already there, but still. . . I invite
you to offer your correctives and
additions and to join in shaping the
vision and moving closer to it.

With warmest regards,

Dean McKee

commitment to the church. He
expected the same seriousness and
commitment from his students. But at
the same time he had an almost
boyish sense of humor. He went
about his work as a teacher with an
obvious delight in learning and the
discovery of new ideas and insights.
His humor and the pleasure he took
in teaching and learning were
infectious, and students found
themselves excited about learning,
taking pleasure in their work. He
understood himself not as an
"authority" (though when he pointed
at one with his famous long index
finger, one knew he or she was on the
spot), but as a co-learner who himself
was always growing and learning new
things. Faculty members and students
alike enjoyed working with him

McKee was also a devotee of fine
music. He encouraged the making of
music at Columbia. Along with
references to painting, architecture and
literature, his lectures were full of
references to the music of the church
and the way it has influenced and
been influenced by the development of
the Christian faith.

He was teacher, friend, colleague
and a joyful Christian who set an
example for us all.D

VANTAGE

Soon Son, left, received the M.Div. degree on May 31. His father, the Rev. John-Hyun
Son, right, traveled from Korea to attend the graduation service.

Ninety-one degrees awarded

"WHO IS IN CHARGE-' In your ministry
in the ministry of us all God
is in charge, calling people to see
what God is doing and to respond to
the particular ministry God sets for
each one. Who is in charge.' When
God puts you in a place, God puts
you in charge as an intentional,
purposeful, active, responsible minister
of God." Dr. C. Benton Kline,
President Emeritus and Adjunct
Professor of Theology, spoke these
words in his commencement address
on May 3 1 .

During Columbia's graduation
exercises at Druid Hills Presbyterian
Church, Dr. Kline reminded the
graduates of the tension they will face
between response to God and
intentional action in the ministry. The
afternoon exercises followed the 1 1
a.m. baccalaureate service at Decatur
Presbyterian Church. President
Emeritus Davison Philips preached the
baccalaureate sermon, "Religious
Robots or Christ's Ministers.''"

One of Columbia's largest
graduating classes took part in the
school's 155th commencement
exercises. The Board of Directors of
the seminary awarded 91 degrees.

After Dr. Kline's commencement
address, President Oldenburg
presented each graduate by name to
Board Chairman William A. Adams,
who distributed diplomas. This was
Dr. Oldenburg's first time to
participate in Columbia's
commencement ceremonies.

Acting Dean of Students and
Professor of Pastoral Care and
Counseling Jasper Keith congratulated
the students after they received
diplomas. Vice President for Academic
Affairs Oscar Hussel hooded the
graduates.

Thirty-two ministers received the
Doctor of Ministry degree as a second
professional degree. Seven others were
awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree
as their first professional degree. The
Master of Divinity degree was
awarded to 45 students, including 1 1
who received the degree with

distinction. Catherine Allsbury, Gerald
Coker, Ron Hilliard, Wayne Morrison,
Jen Parris Perkins, Diane Ragsdale,
Bob Reno, Melana Scruggs, Rhett
Talbert, George Waters, and Sharon
Youngs.

The seminary also awarded five
Master of Theology degrees and two
Master of Arts in Youth Ministry
degrees. Catherine Allsbury earned
both the M.Div. and the M.A.Y.M.
degrees with distinction. Norma
Smellie also earned the M.A.Y.M.
with distinction.

Eleven seniors were recognized for
academic excellence and received
special awards or prizes. Christopher
Zorn graduated at the top of the class
and claimed the Wilds Book Prize.
George Waters received the Samuel
A. Cartledge New Testament Exegesis
Award.

The Presbytery of St. Andrews
Women of the Church Preaching
Award was given to Robert Reno for
the best sermon preached by a student
during the academic year. Martha
Jane Petersen received the Emma
Gaillard Boyce Memorial Award for
the best paper on the creative use of
music in worship. Lee Holliday won
the Abdullah Award for the best
paper presenting a program for the
teaching of Biblical materials in the
public schools and for treating moral
and spiritual values and their
development in American education.

Olin McBride and Rhett Talbert
shared the James T. and Celeste M.
Boyd Memorial Book Fund Award,
given annually to persons who intend
to build their collections of theological
books as a resource for their ministry.

Four graduate fellowships were
granted to students who plan to
pursue degrees beyond the master's
level. Mark Bryan received the
Columbia Graduate Fellowship.
George Waters was given the Harvard
A. Anderson Fellowship, and
Columbia Friendship Circle Graduate
Fellowships were granted to Lee
Holliday and Melana Scruggs. D

1987 placements

Doctor of Ministry (In Sequence)

Sidney D. Harmon, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, MS

Lee Holliday. Pastor, l.unall Square Presbyterian Church, Macon, GA
Stuart McLean, Pastor, Kopperston Presbyterian Church, Koppersto
WV

Geraldine Montfort, in conversation

Martha Jane Petersen, Graduate Study, Columbia Iheoloeical Seminary.

Decatur, GA
Lynn Stall, Associate Pastor, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
Christopher Zorn, Pastor, Sherrill's Ford Presbyterian Church, Sherill's

Ford, NC

Master of Divinity

Catherine Allsbury, in conversation

Patrick Bailey, Pastor, East Point Presbyterian Church, East Point, c\

John Blake, Associate Pastor, New Life Prcsbucnan Chinch, I miiland

FL
William Bland, Pastor, White Hill Presbyterian Church, Sanford, NC
Harper Brady, Pastor, Alta Vista & Ford Creek Presbyterian Churches,

Sweetwater, TN
Mark Bryan, Graduate Study, University ol Sheffield, England
James Burton, Pastor, Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, Statham, GA
Joey Byrd, in conversation
Randy Clegg, Young Life Stall, First United Methodist Church, Tuckci

GA
Leon Clymore, Clinical Pastoral Education, Wesley Woods Center,

Atlanta, GA
Gerald Coker, Pastor, Glen Haven Presbytci ian Church, Decatur, GA
Curry Davis, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Guntersville, AL
Brett Ellington, Associate and Youth Ministei Mountain West Church ol

God, Stone Mountain, GA
Daniel Graham, Pastor, Jefferson Presbyterian Church, Jefferson, G \
Jeonghoon Han, Graduate Study, Columbia Theological Seminary,

Decatur, GA
Guy Helms, Graduate Study, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur.

GA
Richard Hill, Associate Pastor, Conyers Presbyterian Church, Conyers,

GA
Ronald Hilliard, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, North Palm

Beach, FL
Dale Hobbs, Pastor, Hopewell & Bethel Presbyterian Churches,

Dandridge, TN; Hebron Presbyterian Church. Jcllcison Cit\ IN,

Westminster Presbyterian Church, White Pine, TN
Douglas Hood, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus,

GA
Young Kim, Assistant to the Pastor, Korean Presbyterian Church of

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
Mark Linker, Pastor, Lafayette Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, VA
Wade Malloy, Pastor, Shearer Memorial Presbyterian Church,

Mooresville, NC
Olin McBride, Pastor, Leland Presbyterian Church, Leland, MS
William McKissack, Volunteer in Mission, General Assembly Mission

Board, Bangladesh
Wayne Morrison, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Eaton, OH
George Naze, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Albertville, AL
Steve Nelms, Pastor, Jackson Presbyterian Church, Jackson, GA
Stephen Nickle, Assistant Professor of Religion and I lhaplain, Piedmont

College, Demorest, GA
Jun Ro Park, in conversation
Gail Perkins, Associate Pastor, Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur,

GA
Jeri Parris Perkins, Religious Education Teacher, Thornwell Home &

School for Children, Clinton SC
Greg Powell, Minister to Children, Northeast Baptist Church, Doraville,

GA
Diane Ragsdale, Pastor, Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, Atlanta,

GA
Robert Reno, Executive Director, Decatur Cooperative Ministry, Decatur,

GA
Karen Rice, in conversation
Leeann Rogers, Associate Pastor, River Hills Community Church, Lake

Wylie, SC
Melana Scruggs, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Enid, OK
Ronald Smith, in conversation

Soon Son, Graduate Study, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Rhett Talbert, Associate Pastor, Pasadena Presbyterian Church, St

Petersburg, FL
Vickie Thomas, Associate Pastor, Lakewood Presbyterian Church,

Jacksonville, FL

Continued on page 4

FALL 1987

Continuing

Education

Calendar

1987 placements
Continued from page 3

For further information or to register for courses, call or write:
Douglas W. Hix, Director of Advanced Studies, or
SaraCJuengst, Associate Director of Advanced Studies
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA 3003 1 / 404-378-882 1 .

November 6-7 UNDERSTANDING THE GLOBAL CHURCH Designed for
Advocates in Mission. Ecumenical Missions and Relations chairpersons,
pastors, missionaries, chairpersons and members of local Mission and
Witness Season Committees, and anyone else with an interest in mission
to prepare for Witness Season, 1988. Cost $20 per person; $10 for each
additional person from the same church.

November 20-21 Peacemaking Forum This forum will be led by
denominational leaders and will focus on denom.nat.onal statements on
peace and their implications for ministry in education and their
significance to the field of peace studies. Cost $50.

January 5-7 January Seminar for Ministers. See article on this page for
more information.

January 5, 12, 19, 26 Lay School of Bible and Theology See article
on this page for more information

January 24-29 WEEK IN THE WINTER Woods Hiking in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. A group experience of sharing,
interdependence, leadership, self-examination, and reflection. Leader: Doug
Hix Cost: $100.

January Seminars

The January Seminars for ministers,
January 5. 6, and 7, will once again
offer expert help on "Preaching on
Lent and Easter." The leader of this
seminar will be Dr. James Wharton,
Professor of Homiletics at Perkins
Theological Seminary and former
pastor of Memorial Drive Presbyterian
Church in Houston and Professor of
Old Testament at Austin Presbyterian
Theological Seminary. Dr. Wharton
brings both academic and practical
expertise to this seminar.

Once again the seminars will offer
an update on the latest Supplementary
Worship Resource. This time the
subject is "Prayer," and the course
will be taught by the chair of the task
force which developed the resource.
Dr. Donald Stake, pastor of the
Union Presbyterian Church of
Schenectady, NY.

Dr. Keith Nickle, pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson
City, TN, and formerly Professor of
New Testament at Columbia, will
lead a study of Hebrews called "To a
Pilgrim People."

Columbia's new president, Dr.
Douglas Oldenburg, will teach a
seminar on "Multiple Staff
Relationships," drawing on his
experience as pastor of the Covenant
Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, NC.
This course will look at the tensions
and joys of working in multiple staff
situations. It will give guidance in
developing harmonious and fruitful
relationships which draw on the
strengths of colleagues.

Another seminar will be offered
by Dr. Darrel Ray, a counseling
psychologist who has specialized in
helping ministers and chaplains in

Drew Tomberlin, Pastor, Boston

Presbyterian Church, Boston,

GA
George Waters, Graduate Study,

Princeton Theological Seminary,

Princeton, NJ
Sharon Youngs, Pastor, RuiTner

Memorial Presbyterian Church,

Charleston, WV

Master of Arts
(Youth Ministry)

Catherine Allsbury, in conversation
Norma Smellie, in conversation

Doctor of Ministry
(in Ministry)

Earle Angell, Aiken, SC
Bennett Bishop, Monroe, GA
Albert Bowles, Maryville, TN
William Boyd, Summerville, SC
Thomas Cheatham, Montevallo,

AL
Gabriel Clark, Decatur, GA
William Conine, Columbus, GA
Larry Cosper, Graham, AL
James Cross, Tulsa, OK
Barry Davies, Decatur, GA
Daniel Davis, Jacksonville, FL
Richard Gates, Hurricane, WV
John Gleason, Valley Forge, PA

their preaching and counseling. This
seminar will provide help in the
construction of healing metaphors for
sermons and the use of story and
metaphor to focus and challenge
congregations and individuals.

For more information, write or
call the Office of Advanced Studies at
Columbia. D

Lay School
of Bible
and Theology

For four Tuesday evenings in
January, Columbia Seminary will offer
its annual Lay School of Bible and
Theology. The dates are January 5,
12, 19, 26, 1988. Each participant
may choose one class from the
following:

Acts Dr. David Moessner

History of the Presbyterian
Church Dr. Erskine Clarke

The Church in the USSR
the Rev. Sara Juengst

Your Ministry in the Workplace
Dr. Robert S. Smith

The registration fee for each
course is $25. To register, please call
404/378-8821, or mail your name,
address, choice of class, and $25 to
Lay School, Columbia Seminary, P.O.
Box 520, Decatur, GA 3003 l.D

Copies of Colored Light: The Story of the
Influence of Columbia Theological Semi-
nary 1828-1936 by Louis LaMotte '25
are available from the Development Of-
fice. Please send your name and address
or call the Development Office, Colum-
bia Seminary, Box 520, Decatur, GA
30031, 404/378-8821 for your book.

Gwynette Grier, Orlando, FL
Earl Hackett, Augusta, GA
Carl Hall, Atlanta, GA
Elias Hardge, St. Louis, MO
Ross Hightower, Atlanta, GA
A C. Holler, Charleston Heights,

SC
John Johnson, Decatur, GA
Mary Kuhns, Roswell, GA
Daniel McCall, Augusta, GA
Clyde McCants, Greenville, SC
Tony Moon, Franklin Springs, GA
James Moore, Langley, SC
Alan Posey, Covington, GA
Frederick Talbot, Atlanta, GA
Lewis Trotter, Sarasota, FL
Harold Vaughn, Birmingham, AL
Jennifer Whitaker, Atlanta, GA
Ronald Wilkins, Albuquerque, NM
Robert Williams, Ridgewood, NJ

Master of Theology

Jerrold Burnside, Stone Mountain,

GA
Lance Netland, Decatur, GA
Kathryn Sandifer, Tucker, GA
William Watkins, Mableton, GA
Ronald Wilson, Monroe, GA

Travel to
USSR

The year 1988 is the 1,000th
anniversary of Christianity in the
USSR. To celebrate this fact,
Columbia Theological Seminary is
offering an opportunity to visit the
Soviet Union and meet fellow
Christians whose faith is triumphant
in spite of living in a communist
state.

Traveling from May 31 through
June 16, the group will learn about
the traditions and beliefs to which
Soviet citizens are exposed in the
family, the workplace, the school, and
the church. The group will gain an
enhanced awareness of the diversity
and richness of the multinational
Soviet society.

Dr. Thomas Remington of the
Emory University faculty will lead the
group throughout its tour of the
USSR. Dr. Remington has lived in
the Soviet Union as an exchange
scholar. During the trip, he will
acquaint the group with the
significant historical, religious, and
cultural sites on the tour.

Tour hosts will be President and
Mrs. Douglas W. Oldenburg. Dr.
Oldenburg, Columbia's seventh
president, has a strong interest in
global concerns.

The cost of the trip is $3,150,
which includes air and land
transportation, all meals, services of
bilingual guide, first class hotels in the
Soviet Union and Poland, and evening
cultural performances. For more
information, write or call the Rev.
Sara Juengst, Columbia Seminary, Box
520, Decatur, GA 30031; 404/378-
882 l.D

Composites of the 1987 graduates are
available from the Seminary Relations
Office, Columbia Seminary, P.O. Box
520, Decatur, GA 30031. Composites
have been mailed to 1987 graduates.

Forum 1988

February 1-4

SMYTH LECTURER Phyllis Trible,

Baldwin Professor of Sacred Literature,

Union Theological Seminary in New

York.

ALUMNI/AE LECTURER James

Sanders, President, Ancient Biblical

Manuscript Center, Claremont,

California.

FORUM PREACHER Will Ormond,

Professor of Biblical Exposition,

Columbia Theological Seminary.

Vantage

Vol. 79, No. 2, Fall 1987
Published quarterly by
Columbia Theological Seminary

The Department 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

Left to right: Beverly Gaventa, Phil Gehman '68, Bob Smith 77

Left to right: Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Justo Gonzalez. Bill Thurston

New full-time
appointments

New part-time faculty

Columbia Theological Seminary has
filled three full-time positions,
President Douglas Oldenburg has
announced.

Dr. Beverly R. Gaventa has been
named Professor of New Testament.
She began teaching at Columbia in
September after leaving the position of
associate professor of New Testament
at Colgate Rochester Divinity School
in Rochester, NY, where she had
taught since 1976.

Professor Gaventa has received
degrees from Phillips University,
Union Theological Seminary in New
York, and Duke University. She was
awarded the honorary Doctor of
Divinity degree by Kalamazoo College

in 1983-

Author of numerous articles and
reviews, Dr. Gaventa has written the
book. From Darkness to Light: Aspects
of Conversion in the New Testament.
She serves as managing editor of the
new annual supplement, Critical
Review of Books in Religion and as
book editor of Journal for the
American Academy of Religion.

She is a member of the Society of
Biblical Literature and is chair of the
society's Search Committee to find an
executive director. Professor Gaventa is
a member of the Plenary Commission
on Faith and Order of the World
Council of Churches, the American
Academy of Religion, and was a
member of the Board of Directors of
Union Seminary in New York trom
1973 until 1985. She has recently
been elected to Studiorum Novi
Testamenti Societas.

Dr. Philip R. Gehman has been
appointed to the new position of
Dean of Students/Vice President for
Student Life. Dr. Gehman moves to
this position after serving as Director
of Admissions and Placement at
Columbia since 1985.

A graduate of Columbia, Dr.
Gehman served as associate pastor at
First Presbyterian Church in
Waynesboro, VA, and at First

FALL 1987

Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC.
He was pastor at Faith Presbyterian
Church, Greensboro, NC, before
joining Columbia's staff. While in the
pastorate, Dr. Gehman earned the
DM in. degree from Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia.

In the new position of Vice
President for Student Life, Dr.
Gehman supervises the administration
of the Office of Student Life,
including financial aid and housing
assignments, and the Office of
Admissions and Placement.

Dr. Robert S. Smith, a former
member of Columbia's Board of
Directors, has been appointed Director
of the Lay Institute of Faith and Life
at Columbia. In this newly created
position. Dr. Smith will design and
direct continuing education programs
for lay people, both on and off
campus.

He will be developing courses in
such areas as the Christian faith and
the workplace, leadership development
in the church, and others.

An honors graduate of Princeton
University, Harvard Law School, and
Columbia Seminary, Dr. Smith brings
a variety of talents and experiences to
the new position. After service in the
U.S. Navy, he was partner in a
Jacksonville law firm from 1961 until
1968. Following graduation from
Columbia in 1971, Dr. Smith served
pastorates in Georgia, Kentucky, and
Florida. D

Pictures and a report of the
inauguration of Dr. Douglas
Oldenburg as Columbia's seventh
president will be printed in the next
issue of Vantage.

Justo Luis Gonzalez. Ph.D., has
begun teaching at Columbia Seminary
as Adjunct Professor of Church
History. Dr. Gonzalez is well known
in the Columbia community and is
the husband of Dr. Catherine
Gonzalez, Professor of Church History.

Dr. Gonzalez was born and
educated in Cuba before coming to
the United States. He received the
PhD from Yale University in 1961
and has been an active member of a
number of ecumenical commissions
and task forces. He has lectured at
several institutions, including Yale
University, Union Theological
Seminary, McCormick Theological
Seminary, and Claremont School of
Theology.

Dr. Gonzalez is best known tor
his prolific writing. He has published
35 books, most of which are in
Spanish. He has also written over 250
articles for various publications.

Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner
joins the faculty this year as Adjunct
Professor of Pastoral Theology. She is
married to Dr. David Moessner,
Associate Professor of New Testament
at Columbia. She taught at Columbia
as a visiting professor in 1985-86.

Dr. Stevenson-Moessner completed
the D.Theol. at the University of
Basel, Switzerland. She received the
MA. degree from Princeton
Theological Seminary and did her
undergraduate work at Vanderbilt
University.

She has spent several years
abroad, both teaching and studying.
She held instructor positions in
England and West Germany and has
a special interest in human
- development. While in West

Germany, Dr. Stevenson-Moessner
founded, developed, and administrated
a guidance department for Black
Forest Academy

Dr. Stevenson-Moessner's
dissertation, "Theological Dimensions
of Maturation in a Missionary
Milieu,"' is forthcoming this year.

The Rev. William A. Thurston
comes to Columbia Seminary this year
as Visiting Instructor in Church and

Society. A graduate of the ' [Diversity
of Illinois, Mr. Thurston is a formei
architect and city planner. From 1975
until 1980, he served as National

Director of Operation PUSH (People

United to Serve Humanity).

Mr. Thurston then returned to
school and received the M Div. di

from Candler School ..I Ihrulugv m

1983 with an emphasis in social
ethics. He is currently in the Ph.D.
program at Emory University in the
held of ethics and society. This year
he will be teaching part-time V
Columbia while he completes the
work for his dissertation.

Admissions
conferences
planned

What is a CALL to the Christian
ministry; 1 Men and women exploring
their sense- of call to the ministry are
invited to attend two special
conferences at Columbia Seminary.
These conferences offer an opportunity
to talk with Columbia students,
faculty, and staff members about
preparation for ministry at Columbia
Theological Seminary. There will be
ample time to ask questions about
housing, financial aid, and Columbia s
curriculum, and to get a taste of life
in Atlanta.

The conference dates are-
November 13-15 and February 26-28.
College students, recent graduates,
persons considering a career change
into ministry, and spouses are invited
to attend either conference.

If you are interested or know
someone who might be interested in
attending one of the conferences
please contact Ruth Shannon, Office of
Admissions, Columbia Seminary,
Decatur, G A 30031.404/378-8821,
for further information. D

Far the Re wrd_

If you have recent news you would 1
please send it to the editor.

ike to contribute to this section,

Sherron George (D Mm '86) is a
professor in the theological seminary
in Londnna, Parana, Brazil. One of
three seminaries of the Independent
Presbyterian Church of Brazil, it has
about 100 students enrolled. Dr
George is the first ordained woman to
teach in a Presbyterian seminary in
Brazil Her main areas arc missions
and Christian education, and she also

teaches Hebrew Merritt Nickinson

'84 has been called as pastor to the
Bethel Presbyterian Church in
Wichita, KS.. Gordon Williams
77 is teaching history and English in
the Upper School of Darlington
School, Rome, GA.

Robert Ramey, Professor of
Ministry at Columbia, visited the
Parish Resource Center at Lancaster,
PA, on behalf oi Columbia and
completed a manuscript on leadership
for the church Lawrence Peebles
'83 has been called to the Cairo, GA,
church G. Thompson Brown,
Associate Professor of World
Christianity at Columbia, spent three
weeks in China as chairman ot a
small staff group from the Division of
International Missions. The group was
in Hebei Province at the invitation of
the Public Health Department, at
Yangbin Agricultural College in Jilin
Province, and at the seminary in
Nanjing

Toshiyuki Kubotera (Th.M.
75) has begun chaplaincy work in a
Christian hospital in Osaka,
Japan Benton Kline, Adjunct
Professor of Theology and President
Emeritus at Columbia, taught at the
Synod of Florida Women's Conference

in May Bonneau Dickson '33,

Field Representative at Columbia, was
a member of the Commission to
organize Calvin Covenant Presbyterian
Church in Macon, GA Bert
Swearingen '65 has been called to

the Hernando, MS, church

Rebecca Taylor '81 has been called
as associate pastor to the First
Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, NC

Charles Roberts '83 is associate
pastor of the First church in

Greenville, SC Sara C. Juengst

'83, Associate Director of Advanced
Studies at Columbia, gave the keynote
speech at First Presbyterian in Dalton,
GA, for their workers* banquet and
taught Christian education in the lay
preachers' school for Cherokee
Presbytery in April. In May she
participated in the National Council
of Churches' trip to the USSR in
order to do mission interpretation for
the PC(USA) next year. She wrote the
curriculum for the new Presbyterian
series, Bible Discovery and Celebrate!,
and served on the design team for
Celebrate!, first and second grades,
1990.

Jasper Keith (STD 79),
Professor of Pastoral Care and
Counseling at Columbia, led a
seminar on medical ethics for Army
doctors, nurses, and chaplains, in
Wuerzburg, Germany, and attended

the annual meeting of the Society lor
Pastoral Theology in Denver in June.
In July he addressed the Cobb County
(GA) Hospital Chaplains Association
on "Pastoral Care to AIDS Patients
and Their Families'' and presented an
address at the Medical Ethics
Symposium in Augusta, GA Mills
Peebles '59 has been called to the
First church in Laurel, MS Bruce
Lancaster 79 is pastor of the
Westminster church in Decatur, AL.

Peter Carruthers 73 (Th.M.
83) is associate pastor of
congregational care and commitment
at White Memorial Church in

Raleigh, NC C. Betts Huntley

(D Mm '86) is pastor of the First
church in Safety Harbor,
FL Sharon Youngs '87, a
Maryville College Board member,
preached the baccalaureate sermon

there David Waters '68 has been

assigned to the chaplain's staff of
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in

Washington, DC James Newsome

'55, Professor of Old Testament at
Columbia, contributed book reviews
to the periodicals Interpretation and
Catholic Biblical Quarterly and
devoted time to a projected book on
Second Temple Judaism He also
attended the international meeting of
the society of Biblical Literature in
Heidelburg, West Germany.

Lucy Rose, Assistant Professor of
Preaching and Worship at Columbia,
led worship at a gathering of women
faculty at Presbyterian seminaries and
Presbyterian women faculty at non-
Presbyterian seminaries in Chicago in
April She lectured at Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary at their summer

School of Religion in June Fred

Bonkovsky, Professor of Christian
Ethics at Columbia, during the past
year of his sabbatic leave has preached
and spoken in churches in West and
East Germany and in seminaries and

BIRTHS

To Ron '82 and Judy Stone, a son,

Ian Arthur, Nov. 25, 1986.

To Ken '84 and Lisa Barfield, a son,

John Russell, Feb. 1987.

To Mark '84 and Talley K. Kayser, a

daughter, Talley Virginia, Aug. 10,

1987.

To Penny '86 and Richard '87 Hill, a

son, Nicholas Griffin, May 20, 1987.

To Charles '86 and Melissa Tucker, a

daughter, Hannah Rae, Mar. 1, 1987.

To Olin '87 and Jim McBride, a

daughter, Emory Virginia, July 14,

1987.

To Kevin '89 and Kimberly Dorsett,

a daughter, Elizabeth Kimberly, July

10, 1987.

D^e^oTuoT^ghtllaTinayguratid as Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and
Church Growth on April 7. D, Frank Harrington W left. Paster of Peachtree
Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, gave the charge to the professor. Dr. Johnson s inau-
gural address was "Some Narrative Aspects of Evangelism.

DEATHS

Samuel Burney Hay '23, Aug. 8, 1987
Charles Cureton '28, June 12, 1987.
David F. Blue '36, April 9, 1987.
Eddie Craig '51, Sept. 5, 1987.
Forest Traylor "54, March 23, 1987.
Dean McKee, July 19, 1987.

evangelical academies in Germany and
Italy. He attended and studied the
German Kirchentage (church renewal
conferences) of over 100,000 persons.
Dr. Bonkovsky was visiting professor
at the Johann Goethe University in
Frankfurt, where he participated in
courses in the theology, philosophy,
and social science departments. His
writings appeared in the journals
Commonweal and Eur/NATO Review.

Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner,
Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology
at Columbia, attended a conference for
Presbyterian Women in Theological
Education in Chicago in April and led
a series of Sunday School classes at
Emory Presbyterian Church in May.
Some of her research on children of
missionaries has been published in
Missiology: An International Review,
Vol. XIV, No. 3, and her article
concerning conversation between Karl
Barth and Friedrich Gogarten in 1920
was published in the Aug. 12 issue of
Die Neue Zeitschrift fuer Systematische
Theologie und Religionsphilosophie
(Tuebingen) Charles Gibbs '56
has been honorably retired by Athens
Presbytery from stated supply of the

Tiger, GA, church Kerry Duncan

'80 is chaplain at the Wesley Woods
Geriatric Center in Atlanta.

Brian Childs, Associate Professor
of Pastoral Theology and Counseling
at Columbia, and Marilyn
Washburn '81 taught a sophomore
elective course at Emory University
Medical School on Pastoral Care for
Medical Students. In May he led a
workshop in New Orleans at the
Meeting of Presbyterian Men on
"Stress and the Christian Life'' and a
workshop on "Grief Through
Separation and Divorce" at a meeting
of the Atlanta Singles Ministry. He
and John Patton led a plenary
presentation at the annual meeting of
the Society For Pastoral Theology on
their forthcoming book, Christian
Marriage and Family: Caring for Our
Generations, in Denver. His article,
"Some Brief Reflections on Value
Training in Family Therapy

Education," appeared in the June '87
issue of Journal of Pastoral Care.

H.K. Johnston '82 has been
called to the Hartness Thornwell
Memorial Church and as chaplain at
the Thornwell Home in Clinton,

SC William Boyle (Th.M 75) has

been honorably retired by Atlanta
Presbytery from the Georgia

Association of Pastoral Care Ben

Johnson, Professor of Evangelism and
Church Growth at Columbia,
addressed Celebration '87, sponsored
by the Synod of the Covenant in
South Bend, IN, in April. In May he
led a workshop on "Faith Sharing "at
the Presbyterian Men's Convention in
New Orleans and conducted "Days of
Decision" for Government Street
Presbyterian Church in Mobile. He
has addressed Wilmington and
Holston Presbyteries, conducted a
worship service at the Lake Huron
Presbytery meeting and spoken for
Special Order of Day in Flint, MI. He
led clergy training for New Age
Dawning for Synod of the Covenant,
Detroit, Ml, and Synod of the Sun,
Dallas, TX.

George McMaster '53 has been
honorably retired as interim pastor at
East Point, GA, church John
Patton, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral
Theology, was Rail Lecturer at
Garrett-Evangelical Theological
Seminary in their Spring Lecture
Series, "Communicating a Caring
Ministry," in April. In June he
lectured at Duke University on
"Caring for Your Generations" and
"Loyalty and Commitment in
Generational Care." In August he did
a two-day workshop in Perth,
Australia, on "Pastoral Care and
Human Forgiveness" and was the
keynote speaker at the Third
International Congress on Pastoral Care
and Counseling in Melbourne on the
conference theme, "Pastoral Ministry
in a Fractured World." Also in
Melbourne he gave three lectures on
"Caring for Your Generations" at the
Tenth Joint Annual Conference of the
Continued on page 1

VANTAGE

Dr. Ersktne Clarke '66, center, was inaugurated as Professor of American Religious
History on September 23, delivering the address, "Southern Nationalism, Religion,
and Columbia Theological Seminary." Dr. Janos Pasztor, left, Professor of Practical
Theology and Dean of Reformed Theological Academy in Debrecen, Hungary, and
Visiting Professor of Practical Theology at Columbia this year, and William Arnold
'66, right, Dean of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, took part in the service.

For the Record
Continued from page 6

Australian and New Zealand
Association of Theological Schools and
Society for Theological Studies, where
he shared the morning platform with
Jurgen Moltmann.

Luke Harkey '74 has been
appointed Assistant Professor of
Religious Education at the Boston
University School of

Theology Normer Adams (D.Min.

'86) has been licensed as a marriage
and family therapist. He is the
administrator of Christian City

Children's Home in Atlanta Wade

Huie "46, Professor of Homiletics at
Columbia, preached the baccalaureate
sermon at Presbyterian College in May
and received the Doctor of Divinity

degree at graduation Clara Stuart

(M.B.E. '65) has written a book,
Latimer: Apostle to the English, about

the English Reformer Doug Hood

'87 and Grace Cameron (MATS.
'88) were married in Tampa on June
27.

Ed Trimmer, Associate Professor
of Christian Education at Columbia,
was theologian in residence for staff
training at Camp Glisson in north
Georgia in June. He was keynote
speaker and preacher during Youth
Week in July at Lake Junaluska and
was Bible study leader with David
Stone at the National Youth Ministry
Organization's meeting in
Montgomery in August. In September
he led a youth fellowship component
for an Athens Presbytery Leadership
Workshop and the youth leaders'
component at the School of Christian
Enrichment, North Georgia
Conference of the United Methodist

Church Maynard Pittendreigh

(D.Min. '86) has been called to the
Altama church in Brunswick, GA.

Gwin Pratt '82 is pastor of the
Orange Park church in
Jacksonville Mike Carey '86 and

Lynn Brockwell were married June 13

in Marietta, GA Lavern Franzen

(D.Min. '85) has been elected bishop
of the State of Florida for the newly
formed Evangelical Lutheran Church

in America Matthew McGowan

'52 is moderator of East Tennessee
Presbytery... Yale Gunn '54 gave the
invocation and benediction at the
University of Florida commencement
on May 2, when his son graduated.
Yale is minister of two rural churches
in West Virginia, the Salem and
McLean churches near

Ronceverte Lyle Peterson '46 has

retired from missionary service after
37 years in Japan.

Larry Richards '59 has been
called to the Covenant church in

Augusta, GA Roland Purdue '59

is pastor of First church in

Birmingham, MI Brad Smith '89

and Nancy Holderman were married

in Columbia, SC, on June 6 L.C

Moore '53 has returned to the

mission field in Japan John

Ellington '62 has moved from
Dakar, Senegal, to Bouake, Ivory
Coast, and is continuing to work as
Bible Translations Consultant with the
United Bible Societies in West

Africa Ken Barfield '84 is pastor

of the St. Andrew's church in Little

Rock, AR Ludwig Dewitz,

Professor Emeritus of Old Testament
at Columbia, spent two weeks in May
as resident pastor at a Christian hostel
for the elderly in Switzerland. He
spent July in Colorado Springs
teaching Young Life staff members.

Michael Winters 76 is pastor
of the Presbyterian church of Berwyn,

IL David Gunn, Professor of Old

Testament at Columbia, lectured on
new approaches to the study of
biblical narrative at the Presbyterian
Theological Hall, Dunedin, New
Zealand, and at the United Faculty of
Theology, Melbourne, Australia, in
June and July. He gave the 1987
Jean and Farquhar Gunn Lectures,

Development J Seminary Relations

By James F. Dickenson

Vice President, Development/Seminar)' Relations

A healthy institution

As 1 HAV! often said, a healthy
educational institution must be Strong
in four key areas if it is to make an
impact on society, or in mn , .ist. the
church This applies to two-year
colleges, four-year liberal arts schools,
universities, and all kinds of graduate
schools. Weakness in any one or two
of these will create untold problems
which can ^ripple institutions. Let's
review these four.

1. Admins tration, Strong, positive
administration always begins with the
president The president must deal
with all consntuenues, but he or she
is also responsible for the overall
administration of the school. The
Board of Directors (Trustees) provides
the governing oversight and must
always know its considerable
responsibilities and duties However, it
is the president, administrators, and
staff who must keep the enterprise
running.

Another part of this is to develop
and implement directions and
objectives. A good long- and short-
range plan should always be in place,
because it provides a do-able list of
accomplishments, attainable over a
period of years.

2. Faculty. The core of any good
educational institution is its faculty.
To be obvious, the purpose of an
educational institution is to educate.
To receive the best education requires
the best teaching faculty. Therefore,
scholars are needed, scholars who teach
and who appreciate what they are
attempting to do. At Columbia
Seminary we have an outstanding
faculty. There is love for the church, a
pastoral concern for the students, and

a feeling for the future health of the
kingdom.

Columbia takes steps to ensure its
faculty is properly trained, both before
assuming a teaching post and by
granting sabbaticals every seven years
for those who have served in the
classroom.

3. Students: A company is known by
its product. So is an institution. What

comes forth, what is productive, is a
measure of how well the product is
put together. But it is important that
before we get to what comes out, we
become aware of what goes in.
Students are called of God, to be his
servants. They must be capable,
intelligent, committed to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. They must also have
leadership qualities because they will
be called upon to lead congregations.
Ovet the decades too many churches
have been hurt because of poor
leadership.

4. Constituents. It is safe to say that
no institution can exist for long
without its faithful constituents and
strong supporters. Alumni/ae, friends
of the seminary, active participants,
our boards, and support groups are
extremely important to the health of
the institution. There are many who
lend emotional support as well as
financial support, and there are people
who want to see the seminary become
one of the best around the world.
Their interest, loyalty, and
commitment are treasures which
cannot be replaced.

As I have said, all four areas must
be strong to have a healthy insti-
tution. However, there is one other
vitally important ingredient which
applies to all of the above.

There must be balance. None of
these four areas should be allowed to
"get out of balance." We have heard
recently how some constituents tried
to influence the hiring of football
coaches at a major university. An
imbalance.

Sometimes faculties have made a grab
for power. An imbalance. I have
heard recently about an administration
which simply could not cut it, and
the president resigned. An imbalance.

A healthy institution will have
strength across the board and will also
strive for balance among its key areas.

Fortunately, Columbia Seminary
appears to be a very healthy institu-
tion with each of its areas strong and
in proper balance.

Reading the Old Anew: The Book
of Ruth, or Two Women in a Man's
World,'' for the Uniting Church in
Australia, Synod of Victoria, in
Melbourne and Gcelong. He
conducted a workshop on Old
Testament narrative for the Synod's
continuing education division. In
September he attended the Advisory
Council of Interpretation at Union
Seminary in Richmond. Dr. Gunn has
had a chapter on Joshua and Judges
published in Harvard University Press'
new Literary Guide to the

Bible John Pope 79. Navy

chaplain, and his family, now
stationed at the Naval Air Station,
Subic Bay, Phillipines, were presented
with the Great American Family
Community Award in January. D

PAC to meet

The President's Advisory Council

will hold its annual meeting Friday,
October 30, at Columbia Seminary.
At its meeting, the council will
discuss the seminary's programs and
activities and will hear from officers
and faculty members of the seminary.

The President's Advisory Council
is a group of leaders from throughout
the seven southeastern states which
support Columbia. These men and
women meet yearly to be brought up
to advise President Oldenburg, the
faculty, and administration.

Officers for 1987-88 are Joe
Patrick, chairman; John Chambless,
vice chairman, and Hayden Sams,
secretary. D

FALL 1987

I *

^ * * !5.

Jamaican alums with Atlanta visitors on the campus of the United Theological College
of the West Indies

Alumni/ae meeting in Jamaica

In THt SPRING of this year, the
Jamaican alumni/ae of Columbia
Seminary gathered to meet President
Douglas Oldenburg and, as at any
alumni/ae meeting, to ask about
friends and talk about their time on
the Columbia campus. The setting
was The Devon House, one of the
historic Great Houses of Jamaica, now
a museum and a splendid restaurant.
Those who gathered represented
much of the leadership of the church
in Jamaica today: the Rt. Rev.

Neville DeSouza, Bishop of Jamaica
(Anglican); President Ashley Smith of
the United Theological College of the
West Indies; the Rt. Rev. Standford
Webley, past moderator of the United
Church of Jamaica and Grand
Cayman; theology professors and
parish ministers, young pastors,
teachers, and experienced church
administrators.

The occasion was provided by a
meeting to review the cooperative
program between the schools of the

Atlanta Theological Association and
the United Theological College. Guests
from Atlanta were, in addition to Dr.
Oldenburg, President James Costen of
tht Interdenominational Theological
Center, Dean Randall Ruble of
Erskine Theological Seminary, and
Professor Erskine Clarke of Columbia.

The meeting reflected significant
changes that have taken place at
Columbia during the last eight years.
The student body now includes
numerous internationals. Distinguished
international scholars and church
leaders spend their sabbatic leave at
Columbia, and approximately 70
percent of our U.S. students preparing
for ministry now participate in one of
Columbia's international programs.
U.S. students and faculty, while
recognizing that their primary
responsibility for ministry remains in
the Southeast, have a new awareness
of the church around the world and
of the Christian ties that transcend
national and ethnic lines.

The Jamaican alumni/ae spoke at
the dinner with great appreciation for
their time at Columbia. Bishop
DeSouza said the program at
Columbia has been a help to the
church in Jamaica as it seeks to
minister to the needs of the nation
and its people.

President Oldenburg responded by
emphasizing the tremendous
contribution the church in Jamaica
has made to Columbia Seminary and
through it to the life of the church in

the U.S. He mentioned the many
programs with the church in Jamaica
that have enhanced Columbia's
preparation of persons for ministry.

President Smith spoke of a
genuinely mutual relationship between
Columbia and the United Theological
College where each seeks to support
and be of help to the other. He
presented copies of a recent history of
the Caribbean to the guests from
Atlanta.

The meal of suckling pig, curried
goat, and jerk chicken (cooked over
allspice coals) was a happy and
memorable occasion for those
Columbia alumni/ae and their friends
who gathered under the Devon House
trees. Professor Howard Gregory of
the United Theological College spoke
tor all when he gave thanks for the
time together, for the good food, and
for the ties of Christian love that bind
people together from all nations and
races.

Professor Erskine Clarke, the writer,
directs Columbia's international
program.

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, Georgia 30031

7? ^ /fft

Second Class
Postage
Paid at
Decatur, GA

Publication No. 124160

CONTENTS

Renovations 1

New class 1

From the President 2

Tribute to Professor Dean McKee 2

Graduation "87 3

Placements 3

Continuing Education 4

Full-time appointments 5

Part-time faculty 5

For the Record 6

A healthy institution 7

Jamaican alumni/ae meeting 8

Mr. Charles A. Hicks
717 Lfeke Drive 7 Ski
Lithonia, G A 30058-0000