Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 95, number 1, Summer 2003

COLUMBIA
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY

Vantage

SUMMER 2003

Columbia confers
degrees on 117 students

On the eve of Columbia's 2003 com-
mencement ceremony, Cleophus
I a Rue told graduates that the only
thing certain in ministry is that what-
ever comes, they will be able to say,
"The Lord stood by me and gave
me strength." La Rue, professor of
homiletics at Princeton Theological
Seminary, preached on 2 Timothy
4:1-18, encouraging students to follow
Paul's example in staying the course
of a life in service of the Gospel.

On Saturday, May 17, at Atlanta's
Peachtree Presbyterian Church,
Columbia recognized the completion
of an important step along that course
for its graduates: 49 Master of Divinity,

five Master of Arts (Theological Studies),
nine Master of Theology, 53 Doctor of
Ministry, and one Doctor of Theology.

As part of the ceremony, a number
of awards were presented. Mary Ann
McKibben Dana received the Wilds
Book Prize, given to the M.Div. student
graduating with highest academic
distinction. She was also awarded the
Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery
of St. Andrew Preaching Award, given
to the student who preaches the most
outstanding sermon at Columbia dur-
ing the academic year.

David Knauert was awarded the
Harvard A. Anderson Fellowship,
which recognizes the student demon-

M.Div. graduates Man/ Ann McKibben Dana, David Knauert, and Shelia Council 'trie
among those receiving special recognition at Columbia's 2003 commencement

The first graduating class of the D.Min. program in new church development celebrated
lit commencement The graduates represented the Presbyterian Church (USA), the
Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and the Church of Scotland. They are: front row (l-r)
Martin Nabor and Fred I hummond. Second row: Ti/fc Blair, director Stan Wood, Doug
Cuslung. Craig Williams Third row: David Boumgarden, Andrew Ritchie. David Fzekiel

strating the most potential for future
academic study, as well as the Dewitz
Old Testament Award for the best Old
Testament exegesis paper.

Shelia Council received the
Columbia Leadership Award, given
to a senior demonstrating uncommon
potential for outstanding leadership
in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Jeff Ross received the George and
Sally Telford Award, given to a D.Min.
student demonstrating exceptional
ability for congregational leadership
in the area of social justice.

The Toms-McGarrahan Award in
Theology was given to Michael Kirby.
The new award honors the Rev.
Russell Toms '51 and his daughter,
the Rev. Eunice McGarrahan, and
recognizes outstanding achievement
in theological studies. The Florrie
Wilkes Sanders Prize in Theology, for

the paper best demonstrating sound
theological scholarship revelant to
the needs of Christians in the contem-
porary world, went to Jim Wells

The William Dudley Award in
evangelism and church growth was
presented to Thomas Daniel and
Barnabas Sprinkle. The Fuhrmann
Prize, recognizing outstanding
achievement in church history, went
to Rebekah Close LeMon.

The Riddle Book Fund Award, given
to a student demonstrating outstand-
ing skills in pastoral care, particular! \
with the terminally ill, was awarded
to Sarah Erickson. The Boyd Bcx)k Fund
Awards, for students thought to be
good stewards of personal theological
libraries, were given to Ken Sikes,
Elizabeth Goodrich, and Scott White.

The Columbia Friendship Circle
Continued on pa

Columbia launches Partners in Ministry

On May 21 more than 400 friends of
Columbia Seminary gathered for break-
fast at the Atlanta History Center to
help launch Partners in Ministry, a new
initiative to raise awareness of the semi-
narv and to encourage multi-year gifts
for its students and programs. Shelia
Council and Thomas Daniel, both 2003
graduates, were featured speakers at
the event.

Council, the recipient of the 2003
Columbia Leadership Award, told
those gathered. It takes a whole com-

munity to prepare God's servants for
ministry." At Columbia her own faith
had "expanded to help proclaim the
mission the message of the Good
News to the rest of the world."

Daniel, who was presented with
the William Dudley Award in evange-
lism and church growth, described
the revolutionary role young pastors
can play within the overall mission of
the church. He believes the seminary
plays an important role in encouraging
new ministers to know the transforma-

tional power of the Gospel firsthand.
According to Daniel, such transforma-
tion is one way the church can contin-
ue to find "new and creative ways to
proclaim the Gospel for each new gen-
eration." He says, "I am excited by the
possibilities for tomorrow's church."

President Laura Mendenhall
reminded listeners that Columbia and
the church share in the task of prepar-
ing pastors for ministry. She called on
those present to speak personally with
individuals who may be gifted for

ministry, encouraging them to explore
the possibility of God's call to seminary.
She also spoke of the importance i >f
supporting those students financially
and encouraged those gathered to pray
for the the seminary and the church.

Fifty-eight individuals and couples
attending the event pledged to become
Partners in Ministry by making multi-
year pledges to Columbia's Annual
Fund. Their gifts will provide the
Fund with more than $135,000 per
year through 2008.

Brueggemann:
scholar and poet

When John Ci *YP( i introdui ed
Prof. Walter Brueggemann at a publii
lecture on prea< hing .it the M( ^fet
School of Theology this spring, he
said, "Walter Brueggemann can tame
the untamable I le < an explain the
inexpli( able, and he i an uns< rew the
inscrutable

Claypool's language is quintessen
tiallj Brueggemannesque three par-
allel clauses, strong verbs, wordplay,
echoing, and a surprise tv\ isl .it the
end. But as lovel) as the language is,
and as appropriate .is it is foi this
poet-preat her s* holar-teai her, it is
not full) at i urate. Rather than taming
and explaining, Prol Brueggemann
relishes wild ness I lis work points
to and insists upon the untamable,
inscrutable ( >themess that infuses the
Bible and i hara< terizes its ( lod

Walter Brueggemann is a poel ol
the wild Freedom ol ( lod. I [is words
push away from a domesticated deity
the one who preserves things as
the) are and defends our waj of life
toward the trans< endenl ( Hhei the
(mc who trees slaves from bondage
and i alls them to a life ol justii e
mutual reverence, and worship

Prof Brueggemann reflects pro-
foundly upon the untamabilt) ol ( !od
in his magnum opus, entitled theology
of the Old Testament Testimony, Dispute
\dvoi en 1/ l his ri< hi) poetic, personal
book is .1 tow do ton c It has unseated
dominant Old testament theologies of
the last centur) It is a man) -voi< ed
conversation with the I >ld restament,
with plural methods ol interpretation,
and most remarkably, also with a
\ ariety oi other dis< iplines, including
linguistics, literal \ critii ism, postmod-
ern philosophy, I Iolo< aust testimonies,
Marxist ^mi Freudian analyses, to
name only some I le first writes
about God, constant <.md sustaining,
knowableand available, faithful and
present. Hut despite the comforting
predominance ol biblical testimonj
to ( lod's fidelity, Prol Brueggemann

demands we take w ith equal serious-
ness testimony to ( lod's ambiguity,
hiddenness, silence, frightening anger,
m~\<A abusive attacks on ( lod's own
people. He requires us to see how the
ie\f itsell disputes God's charai ter and
refuses closure I le demands that we
keep this inner biblical turmoil alive
rather than silence it. so the entire
canon can be available to the chun hes
in times of need

If Prof Brueggemann does not
flatten biblical speech about God,
neither does he shrink from the
inscrutability of the human spirit
in all its sin, hurt, .md loss I [e is a
poet of the wounded world I le dives
into the thick, earthy mess of oui
humanity, and invites us to follow, to
face the dread and vulnerability of our
lives, individually and collects ely, to
express them through biblical texts
and turn them into prayer. His courage
and honesty about brokenness give his
work a daring intimacy, a fierce ten-
derness, with the power to show us

Professo) Brueggemann and Cousa) have taught tit Columbia for n combined 60 years

Funds established to honor
Brueggemann and Cousar

COU MB! \ Si \ii\aio HAS announ. ed

the establishment oi two funds m

honor ol retiring fa< Ult) members

Walter Brueggemann ^nd Charles
< ousar '58. Brueggemann joined the
faculty as professor oi ( )ld restament

in P'Nh and was named William
Marcellus McPheeteis Profess,. i ol
Old Testament in 1993. Cousar joined
the New lestament facult) m !%()
and was named Samuel A (. a it ledge
Professor of New Testament in I'

both professors have served the semi-
nal \ w ith excellence and dedication
and have been instrumental in prepar-
ing generations oi pastors foi sen. ii e
to the church

The Walter Brueggemann Fund foi
Facult) Development was established
in Professor Brueggemann's honor by
his sons, Jim and |ohn, and then fami-
lies in recognition oi his commitment
to his fa< ult) colleagues ^nd his sup-
port of quality scholarship [Tie fund
will provide resources for the contin-
ued professional development of the
current faculty .is well as enhancing
Columbia's abilit) to attract the most
highly qualified candidates tor future
positions. The fund will provide
research assistance to support the
faculty in producing cutting-edge
s^ holarship for the church while
maintaining its commitment to the
students in the classroom In the mold

of brueggemann, the fund will also
support the faculty's commitment to
ministry and teaching in local churches.

The Charles Blanton Cousar
Scholarship Fund has been established
by Deedy and Burt Cousar, Charles's
sister-in-law and oldest brother, along
w ith friends of the seminary. In recog-
nition of C ousar 's longtime commit-
ment to preparing Columbia students
for ministry, the Cousar Scholarship
I und will provide support Foi students
in the seminar) 's Master of Divinity
Program. It represents the seminary's
i ommitment to providing a quality,
affordable education to future pastors,
so they may be unencumbered by debt
in responding to God's call to sen e
the church. By supporting students as
they pursue academic excellence in
preparation for ministry, the fund will
continue Cousar's 43-year commitment
to teaching for the church well into
the future

The seminary is grateful to the
many alumni /ae and friends who
have contributed to these funds. All
w ho w ish to honor these two cher-
ished members of Columbia's faculty
by supporting the seminary's mission
to the church are invited to contribute
to one or both of these funds. For more
information or to donate to either fund,
contact Neely Young at 404 687-4671
oi voungn@CTSnet.edu. D

ourselves. This is why he is a pastor's
pastor He writes ^\^d speaks tor the
church, for those who doubt, those
\\ ho rage, ,\nd those who yearn for
healing, lake the psalmist, his work
passes through sorrow, lingers there
and begs us to lingei w ith him. eves
and hearts open to our pain and to the
pain of the world, and there in the
wounds to find humility to be made
ready for new lite, to join with the
afflicted, and ultimately to be claimed
by Christ crucified

Prof. Brueggemann's work his
writing, his teaching, his preaching-

uncovers in these essentially Jewish
texts a flow of life familiar to Christians,
from seasons when life is stable and
questions few, to times of loss, anger,
and confusion, to the surprising days
when healing, thanksgiving, and life
break m afresh -^^d tears are turned
into laughter

Prof. Brueggemann's poetry of
human hurt and of God's wild free-
dom converge and propel him toward
doxology. Walter Brueggemann is a
poet of praise, a singer of God's glory.
Praise he s,us. "is the dut) and

( on i in tied on page 3

Cousar '58: a
Columbia saint

W> Proti stants do not have a formal
process for identifying our saints. Our
informal process may be that point in
time when people cannot talk about a
communitv be it church or seminarv
without also telling stories about
particular people whose lives reflect
the grace of God. I am not certain
when it happened, but at some point
during the last 43 years Charlie Cousar
became one of the "saints," one of
that great cloud of witnesses people
think of when they say "Columbia
Theological Seminary." Like God's
grace, Cousar stories abound here.
Stories like the one about when Charlie
was spending too much time in
Betty's judgment in the library, and
she rearranged his books by color and
size. Or the one about when his son
Bill drove a golf ball through the
Tiffany window in Campbell Library.

Since he joined the faculty in I960,
Charlie has served the seminary in
many roles, including academic dean
and interim president. But throughout
his 43 years Charlie has always been
a professor a teacher and he has
taught the rest of us many things.

First, Charlie has taught us that
the New Testament is not simply a
description of the historical context
and social world of churches in the
first century. For Charlie, the New
lestament is first ^nd foremost a theo-
logical book, a book about God and
God's grace in Jesus Christ. When we
read Charlie's books, we learn a great
deal about the Apostle Paul and the
circumstances in which he wrote his
letters. For Charlie, however, the
central issue in Paul's letters is God.
"The point is that Paul interprets the
event of the cross r/jco-logically. His
Christology makes it possible to see
Jesus' action" (A Theology of the Cross,
27). The lesson Charlie has taught us
is that in the midst of all the things
that concern us at Columbia, the most
important, the pearl of great price, is
the good news in the Bible about God.

Second, Charlie has taught us that
the Bible is the church's book. We can-
not properly read and understand the
Bible apart from the life of the church.
Both in what he writes and in what he
does as a teacher, Charlie makes it
clear that the New Testament is writ-
ten by the church, for the church, and
is to be lived by the church in its mis-
sion in the world. That the Bible is the
church's book does not mean that the
New Testament is captive to either the
church or the culture that surrounds it.
In the Bible's stories about Israel and
Jesus, the church is given a memory
and, as Charlie puts it, "In the face
of domestication by its surrounding
culture, the church will never
discover who it is until it recovers
and reappropriates that memory in
its urgency and energy" (A Theology
of the Cross, 178).

Third, Charlie has taught us that
just as the Bible must not be separated
from the life of the church, so too the
Continued on page 3

VANTAGE

Brueggemann
continued from page 2

Cousar

continued from page 2

delight, the ultimate vocation of the
human community; indeed of oil cre-
ation Praise is human delight because
we have a resilient hunger to move
beyond self."

It appears to me that Walter's
work is an act of worship, a steady,
continual prayer, a beautiful doxology
grounded in his humanity. It is wor-
ship marked by fidelity to his own
brilliant, blazing giftsdespite resis-
tance, despite opposition, despite
fatigue, and always driven by radical
openness to grace. Amazingly, one
can barely find anything written toda)
in biblical studies in which Walter
Brueggemann is not cited, referenced,
quoted, challenged, or applauded.
He has not merely contributed to
biblical studies, he has fundamentally
shaped the field. Nor can one escape
his influence in other disciplines even
beyond the theological. One can be
reading along, perfectly innocently,
perusing something on poetry or
politics, and there he is lurking in the
paragraphs.

Walter has no successor no one
person can wear his mantle but he
does have a whole new generation
of colleagues and students who will
study, embrace, and extend his work.
I dare to speak on behalf of biblical
scholars, churches, pastors, our
colleagues, and our students, to say
"Thank you, Walter. Your texts will
long linger, and your words your
hauntingly beautiful words will
continue to explode in ways perhaps
even you cannot vet imagine! Thanks
be to God."

Kathleen M. O'Connot
Professor of Old Testament

church is the ver) lifeblood of what
happens at Columbia. \s i think about
Ins mmistn here, 1 cannot help but
wondei how many sermons in how
man) churches how mam Sunda)
School classes, how mam church night
suppers how mam, lectures foi pres-
byteries? What Charlie has done and
continues to do in the life of the church
has never been separate from what he

does in the classroom. I he one deepl)
informs the other, and neither has been
merely a job Both are a single calling.

i inally, c harlie has taught us what
it means to lo\ e ,)n institution. To know
Charlie and all that he has done fol
this seminar) is to understand, at least
in part, how much he loves this place
But Charlie has also taught us that to
love this institution is not to presei \ <
it as we have known it. to try to keep
it from changing Rather, to love it is
to want it to change, to grow to become
something better, to be reformed and
transformed by God's Word For
Charlie that has meant welcoming
new faculty, administrators, and staff,
valuing their new voices, placing them
on important committees, allowing the
seminary to be changed by their pies
ence, and embracing those changes

Forty-three years is ,i long time
to do anything For 43 years ( harlie
Cousar has been a teacher, not only of
students in classrooms, but of the test
of us as well. A teacher in perhaps
more ways than lie understands, and
certainly in more ways than I have
indicated here. Along with many
students, colleagues past and present,
and the rest of the church, I give thanks
to God for Charlie's long and fruitful
ministry at Columbia Seminarv.

George IV Slroufi
J.B. Green Professor of Theology

At the faculty-staff lunch in May, Columbia recognized five individuals tor milestones
m years of service Marilyn Ault of the business office and Alexander Olivei of
buildings and grounds have each served 2i) i/ear> Olivet retired in Jum
Erskine Claike '66, professor of Amei nan religious history, joined the faculty m 1973.
Bonneau Dickson '33, of the development off* e, \ting 70 years of ordination

in the PC(USA). Lee Carroll '68, associate professor of supervised ministry, joined the
faculty in 1983.

William I' Brown

William P. Brown
named professor
of Old Testament

In Ai'kh Coli mbia's Board <>i trustees
announced the appointment <>i
William r (Hill) Brown .is professoi ol
old restament An ordained Minstei
<i the Word and Sa ramenl in the
Presbyterian c hurch (1 SA) Brown
holds the Ph I) in Hebrew Bible from
i morj i rtiversit) and the Master <<i
Divinit) from Princeton rheological
Seminar) Since L991 he has taughl at
i in. u rheological Seminary and
Presbyterian % hool ol I hristian
l ducarion, where he is the tabre) I ..
Brooks Professoi ol Biblii .il I heoli

Hrown begins his teaching duties at

I olumbia in the fall of 2004

I hroughoul his i areei Brown's

s. holarship has focused on the lite of

the ( hurch and the needs >i pastors
and la) people foi sound, relevant
bibli( -il interpretation \ membei <>i
the Presb) terj de ( i isto, Brov\ n ha i

.'i\ ( 'd Mi.' i inn. h !. ,i Lis leadei

tea< hn and ministei and understands

the needs of the 1... ,il congregation
While at Union l'S( I , Brown In
prepared man) seminarians i<>i the

pastoral life oi prea< hing and teaching
as well as ..in. ating scholars in the
Ph 1 1 program 01 his move to

< olumbia Brown a) I olumbia's
focus on pastoral mmMi\ and lifelong
edui atiori foi pastors and . hun h
members nukes it an Im Igorating

em ironmenl foi scholars v\ ho
committed to the in.' ol the church I

am looking forward (< ftx used work

with pastors both i urrenl and future

Brov\ u s .i. adernii interests
include! >ld and New lestamenl theol

I parti) <ii.il K . reatior theolog)
w isdom literature and prophei j
i lis m.'-i recent hook is Seeing the
Psalms \ Vhi Metaphor He has

\\ ritten the commentaries I )badiah
Malachm in the Westminstei Bible

< ompanion series and 1 1 1 lesiastes In
the Interpretation Commentary series
i lis othei books ini tude( 'ham tei in

I I fi [pproach io the Wisdom
I iteratureo] the I )ld Testament', The I \hos
mos and I ..>././,/ //<< Imagination
\ Primei to Reading tin- Psalms in an

' Pluralism i le is i urrently work
ing on the Psalm 1 1 ommentarj foi
Hi.' ( m,i lestamenl I Ibrar) series
Brovi n Is editoi .>i the highly regarded
Interpretation: I Journal oj Bibleand
Theology, a membei ol the editorial
board ft the Old restamenl i Ibrary
in.i formei i o i haii ol the * harai tei
I thus and Biblical Interpretation
Working I iroup "i the Soi let) <<t
Bibli( .il i Iterature

Speaking <>i his appointment,
President I aura Mendenhall
"We ,ii.' eagei to well ome Bill Brown
ii"i his famll) to oui - ampus Nut
onl) i'. Bill .i highly respei ted I lid
restamenl si holar, he is also > tea* hei
committed i" the < hurch, As ,i long
time . hun h si hool teai hei himself,
Hill understands tin- needs ol la) peo
pie as wll .is oi pastors and b< holars,
and he lool forward to k riting foj
all those who stud) I .".i Word
Hill will contribute signifii antl) to
( olumbia's mission i il i >rei mi ing
pastor. .iM.i leaders foi the i hurch We
lie grateful thai we w ill re< 'i\'' the
gift .-I Bill's i<M. inn)', .'ii ..in i ampui
.iii.i we 'Ov . ommitted to "i-'M.img

that gift Io th.' . Inn. h ."

Robert Williamson l> '01

I mmauel Larti u wa inaugurated </ prof $ \oi oj pastoral theology and i are m April
naugural addn redi ommunal Healing Intercultural Reflections on

Pastoral Care and Counseling His wife, Griselda, alst I olumbia as trials and

intei library i< \ant

SUMMER 2003

Events Calendar

Fall lay offerings range from
Proverbs to Karl Barth

For further information or to register for courses, call 404/378-8821,
or email: ConEd@CTSnet.edu, LayInstitute@CTSnet.edu, or
sptyprog@CTSnet.edu.

August 4-8 Presbyterian Women's Bibli Stud\ Intro ion "The Face Is

Familiar Unnamed Women inScripture" Come learn from the stories of
women in the Bible who are no! named I eader Rebecca Parker. Mornings.
( osl $50.

August 8-9 and August 22-23 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN'S BlBLl STUD\ INTRODUCTION:
"The l a< e Is I amiliar ( nnamed Women in & ripture" Come leam from the sto-
nes of women in the Bible who are not named I eader Linda Morningstai
Fridaj evening and Saturday morning. Cost: $35.

August 11-15 S 3 Orientation Workshop Leader: Dent Davis Cost transporta-
tion to campus

September 10, 17, 24, October 1,8 MlDDA\ Kink nONS< 01 RSI "Reading
Letters" Luncheon discussion at Central Presbyterian ( lumh, Atlanta. Leader:
Linda Morningstar. I2:15-l:15p.m. Cost $50 (includes lunch).

September 21-24 and 21-26 EmBODD OHO! INESS This event examines both
the reasons tor the historical disembodiment of Christian faith and ways that
contemporary Christians are bringing spirituality down to earth Leader:
Barbara Brown Taylor. Cost Sl c '^ for three-Jay event, Continuing Education;
$300 tor five-day event, spirituality Program.

October 8-10 CONVERSATIONS ON REFORMED IiiM'i.k., Specific topics to be
addressed include Reformed theolog) and worship, stewardship, conflict,
i '\ angelism, and adrninistration I eaders in< lude: Shirley Guthrie, Cynthia
Rigby, ( ieorge Stroup, Laura Mendenhall, and Cam Murchison. Cost: $140.

October 10-17 Immi ksion Wi i k Intio.iu. toi \ course lor the Certificate in
spiritual Formation ^\ an in depth exploration ot the many dimensions of
< hristian Spirituality. Leaders: C olumbia faculty members and Julie lohnson.
Cost $400

October 30-November 2 I ahii and FILM: "Seeking Light while Sitting in the
Park" Discover how to view films as a medium that can connect the great
themes ol the Bible and theologv to the stones on the screen. Montreat
Conference Centei leader EdMcNulrj Cost: $22?

November4-6 UnRAVEUNGTH] MySTERYOI MONEY IN THE CHURCH Topics
include budgeting, stewardship, capital campaigns, and financial planning foi
churches. Leadership in. ludes \\m BuchholtZ, Robert Townes, Paul Copley,
and Cam Murchison Cost $175.

November6-9 Immersion Weekend Santa Barbara, California. Leader: Julie

Johnson Cost $300.

November 10-14 GUTHRU SCHOl IRS Cost: transportation to campus.

November 10-14 PRAYER IN MAW Forms This course oftei . an experimental
approach to various torms ot prayei Monaster) of the H0I3 Spirit, Conyers,
1 leorgia 1 eadei 1 Ireta Reed Cost $300

November 11-12 OLDER Anut 1 Minis! in A look at ways older adults can be
involved in ministry, health < on, , his, educational opportunities, planning,
caring needs, the changing face ot the church, and implu alums tot future
ministry. Leader: Miriam DuTtSOn Cost: $130

January 25-30 LlSTENlNGFOR mi GodWhoSpi \KS Daytona Beach, Florida.

Leader: Ben Johnson. Cost: $300.

Summer Lay Scholars discuss
Taith and Beauty' in August

You are invitkd to join the Lay Institute's
Summer Lay Scholars, August 4-s to
consider "Faith and Beaut\

This year's scholars will be led by
a musician, an art historian, and c\n
architect. David Vandermeer is direc-
tor of music at Central Presbyterian
Church in Atlanta. Fred Whitehurst
teaches art history at Georgia State
University; he is also a hospice chaplain.

Da\ id I [ale is an architect in Decatur
and actn e in I labitat tor I [umanitj
Institute Director Rick Dietrich will
also assist in the discussion

Cost is $350 (includes room
and board), $200, tuition only. For
more information or to register:
404 687-4577; fax 404 687-45^1; or
Laylnstitute@CTSnet edu. D

I hi Lvr Institute of Faith and Life

invites all to attend Fall Lay School
2003. The first session ot I all Evening
Lay School meets September 15, 22, 29,
and October 6 C hristme Yoder,
assistant professor of Old Testament,
will draw on the book ot Proverbs to
explore how we are to reflect on every-
day matters.

In his Psalms course, Seminary
Musician Michael Morgan will use
"both wonderful and abominable ver-
sions" ol psalms set to music. Course
participants will explore and sing
together (ordinary singing voices are
welcome) psalms written in prose,
metrical, responsoral, and antiphonal
forms.

Shirley Guthrie, emeritus professor
of theology, will lead participants in
looking at challenging questions of
theology. Guthrie's ability to express
complex theological ideas in accessible
language will make this a fruitful con-
versation for novice and expert alike.

The second session of Fall Evening
Lay School meets October 20, 27,
\( '\ ember 3 and 10. A team of teachers

will examine biblical approaches to
love and judgment, drawing on the
books of Jeremiah, Proverbs, Firs!
Thessalonians, and Jude. Course lead-
ers will be Old Testament professors
Kathleen O'Connor and Christine
Yoder, New Testament professor Beth
lohnson, and Rick Dietrich, director
of the Lay Institute

Charlie Raynal, associate professor
of theology, will introduce participants
to Karl Barth's approach to Christian
spirituality by examining Barth's
Introduction to Evangelical Theology.

Liz Forney, associate director of the
Spirituality Program, will teach in the
area of creative Christian spirituality.

During Fall Morning Lay School,
which meets October 16, 23, 30, and
November 6, Linda Morningstar
(MATS '98), associate director of the
Lay Institute, will lead a study of the
anointings in the Gospel of John.

Cost for each evening course is $50.
Cost for the morning course is $45.
For a brochure or to register, call
404 687-4577 or e-mail
LavInstitute@CTSnet.edu.

January Seminars focus on
communicating faith

Mark your calendar For the 2004
January Seminars, "Faith Conversations:
Learning and Communicating in a
Culture of Change," to be held
January 26-29.

Communication is both ^n art
and a skill foundational in pastoral
ministry and at the heart of education,
worship, and mission. Whether in
preaching, conversation, writing, or
teaching, our changing world influ-
ences both the content and method of
communication

Leaders include Tom Long, the
Bandy Professor of Preaching at
Candler School of Theologv at Emory
UniversiU ; John Westerhoff, theolo-
gian in residence at Atlanta's St. Luke's

Episcopal Church and former profes-
sor of theology at Duke Divinity
School; Barbara Brown Taylor, adjunct
professor of Christian spirituality;
Anna Carter Florence, assistant profes-
sor of preaching and worship; and
Dent Davis, director of continuing
education.

As always, the January Seminars
will be a time for inspiring worship,
stimulating conversation, good ideas
for ministry, and an opportunity to
enjoy Atlanta. Cost is $240. Because of
the nature of this event, single-day
registration will not be possible. For
more information, call 404 687-4562,
email ConEd@CTSnet.edu, and visit
www.CTSnet.edu.

Bodybuilding for ministry

Much has bi i \ w ritten about the
challenges that face seminary gradu-
ates as they enter parish ministry,
including the high dropout rates of
clergy in the early years of ministry
"Bodybuilding for Ministry" is a new
Continuing Education program sched-
uled March 15-19. The event provides
a week of intentional reflection, inspi-
ration, and learning for Columbia
graduates who are making the transi-
tion into their first parish.

Modeled on the proven structure
of the Guthrie Scholars program, the
e\ ent provides an opportunity for
Columbia graduates to return to cam-
pus during their second year after
graduation. Participation is by appli-
cation, and materials are being sent to

members of the Columbia Class of
2002 in July.

The "Bodybuilding" program
includes a high-quality structured
learning experience addressing impor-
tant issues in pastoral ministry, as well
as opportunities for rest, reflection,
worship, and recreation. Leadership
includes both Columbia faculty mem-
bers and experienced pastors in the
Presbyterian Church (USA). Participant
costs, including program, room, and
board, are underwritten through the
generous support of the Blanche
Lipscomb Foundation. The only cost
for participants is transportation.

For more information:
ConEd@CTSnet.edu; 404 687-4562,
and visit www.CTSnet.edu. D

VANTAGE

Joslyn Ogden '05 and Vernon Jones

From intern
to community
liaison

Columbia's Faith and the City Project
seeks to increase the capacity for public
as well as ministerial leadership among
clergy and clergy-in-training. As part
of the project, interns have been
placed in a variety of community set-
tings, such as the Georgia Legislature
and the United Methodist Children's
1 lome, One placement has borne
unanticipated fruit.

Joslyn Ogden, a second year
M.Div. student, started her first fall
semester as an intern in the office of
the Honorable Vernon Jones, chief
executive officer of DeKalb County.
The second largest county in Georgia,
DeKalb has almost half a million resi-
dents and is one of the most diverse
counties in the state. The county seat
is Decatur, home to Columbia.

Jones, a person of faith, wanted to
strengthen the partnership between
the faith community and the govern-
ment in efforts to meet human need in
the county. He called upon Ogden to
develop that process. While still an

intern, Ogden staffed .1 clerg) break-
fast that brought togethei tor the first
time, clerg) from across the county to
focus on potential partnerships In the
process of organizing the breakfast.
O^den built a database and develi
interfaith relationships

This spring, the networking and
relationship building paid ofl .is she
staffed a DeKalb C ountj colloquium
on faith-based and community initia-
tives More than 200 people represen

tatives from many faith groups, from

the county state, and federal human
Services infrastructures, and from

private non-profits met tor the day

at Agnes Scott College. The gathering
was a bipartisan, multiracial, interfaith
collaboration on how best to meet
human needs in the county. Presenters
included Jeremy White, the associate
outreach director tor the White 1 louse
Office of Faith-based and Community
Initiatives. Topics included "De-
mystifying Charitable Choice and
Faith-based Initiatives/" "Local Models
of Successful Collaboration," and
"Business, Community, and Faith."
Small groups discussed approaches to
meeting specific needs.

In the course of planning and
developing the event, it became
apparent that Ogden was more than
an intern. She has been hired as the
faith/community liaison for DeKalb
County, a position she holds while
continuing her studies at Columbia
I la\ ing a foot in two institutional
worlds has proven helpful to hei
She has drawn on the wisdom of
Stephen Carter, author of The Culture
of Disbelief, and the Niebuhr brothers
as she relates church and state to
one another. She says, "Attending
seminary classes feeds my hunger for
knowledge and guidance as I try to
bring together two worlds, church and
gov ernment, which are often unneces-
sarily wary of one another."

Jim Watkins 77 (DMin. 77)

Gehman '68, dean of students,
leaves Columbia after 18 years

Phil Gehman '68

In March, Phil
Gehman '68,
Columbia's
longtime dean
of students and
vice president
of student life,
resigned from
the seminary to
accept a position
with the Board
- of Pensions of
the Presbyterian Church (USA). In his
new position, Gehman will serve as
regional representative for the Board
of Pensions in the Synods of the
Trinity and the Northeast as well as
the assistant corporate executive for
the board office in Philadelphia.
Gehman joined the seminary
administration in 1985 as director of
admissions and was promoted to
dean of students by former seminary

SUMMER 2003

president Douglas Oldenburg in l l S7
An able administrator who took great
joy in guiding students along the path
to ordination, Gehman saw mam
graduates through the candidacy
process and the anxieties of accepting
a first call. Gehman served as an
administrator with three seminary
presidents and became increasingly
known as a reservoir of institutional
history and wisdom.

Of his tenure at Columbia,
President Laura Mendenhall says,
"Phil contributed not onlv much ener-
gy and wisdom to Columbia, but also
much love and affection. He and Kay
take with them the deep gratitude of
all who care about Columbia and its
mission. They leave a remarkable
record of service and dedication. We
will miss them greatly. We wish them
( ii hJ 's blessings as they embark on this
new period in their lives." D

Charles Moffati '51. Not pictured
Murphy I )avis '74 and I d I oring 66

Alums receive
distinguished
service awards

Columbia's Alumni/ai ( oi ncii has
presented I distinguished Service Aw ards
to three alums Charles Moffatt '51,
Murphy Da\ is 74, and I duard
I oring '('I- I he .in aid is given in

u\ ognition oi alumni/ae who ha\ <
made outstanding contributions to the
life of the i htiu h {\nd who represent
the seminar] 'S commitment to sharing
the light of K'sus Christ with the world
Upon graduating from I olumbia
Moffati w as pastoi i >1 <\ era] rural
North c arolina hun ties while also
serving as professoi oi Bible and
church history at King College. Upon
es lining Ins I'll i ) from the I rtiversit)

ol I dinburgh, Motlat returned to

parish ministry, servii years

aspastoi ol I Lrsl Presbyterian Church

Erickson '03
joins staff

Sarah Erickson

'03 has been
name* I assoi iate

dure tO] Ol COTI

tinuing educa-

a newly
i reated position
i i i< kson, win.
m her duties

in June, is

respi insible for

the coordination
of Columbia's new I.illv-funded
S 1 Proja t. at well as other continuing
education events and programs

Pi n ir to entering Columbia's

Master of Divinity program, Erkkson
served for 20 years with the American
Red Cross Blood Service, most recently
as the education manager for their
office in Mobile, Alabama, Krickson
brings a strong background in non-

Sarah I in I- \on '0 ;

m ( edartov n ( leorgia I or 28 yea

he wa i oi i list Presb) tei ian

( hun li Ol I ..ill.ihn lennessee w here

he wBi eta led pastoi emeritus in 1990
( ornmitted to local church ministry
throughout his life, Moffatl also served
the [argei i hun h as a membei ol the
Pei manenl [udi< ial Commission the
moderatoj ol two presb) teries, and
a foui time delegate to the * leneral
\ssembly among mam othei
i onb ibutions

Muipln Davis ^\u\ i d i oring
founding partners oi Atlanta s ( >pen
i tooi ( ommunit) tun e dedi< ated
theii li\ es to ministr) among the pooi
imprisoned and homeless ol Itlanta
i brought iii' ministr) ol the I )pen
i '""i i oring and i )k\ Is have not onlj
ei \ ed meals, offered showers, and
given i lothing to thousands ol Vtlanta
most neglected dtizenSi the) have also
been voi al advocates foi the rights ol
the pooi i '.i\ la has served aa diret toi
oi Southern Pi Ison Ministi j In * ieorgie
ministering to I ieorgi i i death row
inmates and lobb) ing foi theii rights
to fail treatment and able representa
don i oring has &d\ oi ated foi the
' ights ol iin' homeless to medi< al i are
and protested unfaii treatment oi the
i it " u b oming something ol a Fixture
in fronl oi i ity 1 1. ill i >a\ la and Loring

have wel ted i hun h groups and

seminar) .indents to ui ki- part in theii
ministr) and to reflei I on Ate t lospel
through the eyea ol the pooi

i hese three alums sei \ e as w it
nesses to the i ross ol [esua ( hi 1st and
to his resui re< Hon, theii long stru
on behali ol the < li ispel hai ing I oi ne
the fruits ol the inbreaking Kingdi im
ITie) rej iresenl * olumbia alums

an lund the w oi Id w ho are lal

foi the ( lospel and sen ing the mi
oi ( in ist i he Mniiiiii ae I ouni ii
in\ iii". .mi alums ti i mal em iminatlons
foi the 'im i i distinguished Sei * ii e
\w .mi presented at I olloquium next
April i oi more inn" i matii in i ontai I
Hi, Miiimiii ae< Iffice ,.t mi 68! I 166
i ni.nl .iiinii-."! rSnel iii. oi i.ii
www < i Snel edu I I

profit irganizationi and lignifii ant

i i ieni in profess a] edui ation

She alsi 1 1 ii ings an uni lerstan ling i >1
the seminai j and its i m igi .mis.

Speaking oi hei pla< ement,
l i mrinuing I dui ation I Hre< ti I tent

I ),n is(D Mm '

unit) i ted indivii lual with >

>.-.. ealth "i experience am La itn

I I immitment ti i the woi I ol ministi j
i in gifts will significantly enhani e
our work." D

1 omn menl I

i ontinued from page I

luate I I llovvship anil the < i .lurnln.i

' iraduate I ellowship, whi< h support
itudenta with demonstrated potential
foi furthei graduate study, were
awarded to I aurel Nelson and [ay

I Ik. mas

A listing ol dissertation topii s and
placement tor the class i vill

appear in the next issue ol Vantage. D
Robert Williamson, h 01

For the Record

If you have recent news to contribute to this section, please mail it to
the editor, or you may e-mail it to harperj@CTSnet.edu.

1950s

Roland Perdue '59 is interim aSSOi iate

pastor of Westminster < hurt h,

Spartanburg, SC George Telford '58

is dire* toi ol I he Institute <>t
Reformed Fheologyal Union-PSCE.

1970s

Caroline Leach '72 and Nibs '75
Stroupe have written ( )// Lord, Hold
< )w Hands Howa ( 'hun h Thrives in a
Multicultural World Lamar Potts '74
(DMin 'NK) is honorabb retired from
Trinity Presbytery.

1980s

John White '8b is pastor of I irsl i hun \\

Ja< kson, IN Paul Henschen '8b is

pastor of the Corhin, KY, ( hur< li

Martin Song (DMin '88) is pastor ol
Ding C Inn i hurt h in Kaohsiung, raiwan,
,iii.l assistant professor of preaching
and pastoral theology at Tainan
Theological Seminar) Carl Crawford
(DMin '83) is pastor ol ( -nod Shepard
church, I nnoln, \l Robert Lee '80
is interim pastor oi I irsl < hur< h,

Staunton, VA Thomas Cheatham

(DMin '87) is associate foi < ampus

ministry, St. Andrews Presbytery

Dean Chapman (DMin '82) resigned
as pastor oi Westminster < hun h

Casselberrv, I I . to ent- i medical
school at University ol I lorida

1990s

Keith Riddle '91 (DMin '95) is

interim pastor ot ( ommunit\ ( hui. h.

Lauderdale In the Sea, 1 1 . Wendy
Neff '99 married Brian Shelby on

Feb. 15 Mary Margaret Yearwood '97

has published In Then Heart: Inspirational
ham,-} s Stories Steve Lindsley '97
is pastor oi I irsl * hurch, Mount Airy,

NC Julie Walkup Bird '99 is a mis

sion partner in residence in India in .
partnership between ( Irace Presbyter)
.md the Church of South India I lei
primary focus is w ith women's advoca-
cy and ministry Karla Fleshman '99

published a chapter m Understanding
and Dealing with Violence, A Multi-
cultural Approach Benjamin Booth
(DMin L ^) retired as president /CEO
of the Presbyterian I lome for C hildren

in Alabama Juliann Pugh Whipple

'99 is associate pastor ol Second ( lunch,
Carlisle, PA, chaplain at the 1 louse ot
Representatives tor the Commonwealth
of Penns\ K a ma, and chaplain resen isl

in the Air I orce Sidney Burgess '90

and Kelly Allen '92 are recipients oi
the 2002 Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral
Leaders from the Louisville Institute.
....Noelle Henry Read '99 is co-assoc i
ate pastor oi South Highland church,

Birmingham, AL Lynn Gifford '98 is

pastor of the Donalsom ille, GA, church

2000s

Mary Ann McKibben Dana '03 was

one of four finalists for the David H.C
Read Preacher/Scholar Award, given
annually by the Madison Avenue

i hun k New York I he award recog-
nizes M Dh Students who demonstrate
spec ial distnu tion in both prea< hing
and biblical si holarsip and v\ ho are

, ommitted to the parish pulpit

Sung '01 and Hope '03 Lee were
keynote speakers at [rinit) Presbytery's
senioi high youth i onferem e ...David
Roquemore (I >Min (II) is senior pas-
tor .-! ( amp Hill, PA, church Guy

BIRTHS

lb Vickie I homas Bossuot '87 and
William, a daughter,, (Catherine Mane,
Feb 26,2003.

lo hit '94 and ( yndy Beebe,a
daughter, Erynnjoy, April is, 2003.
lo |oon Won l >4 and I ivo Eun I ee
a '^<n, Samuel I unwoo, Jan. 25, 2003.
To David '96 and Roberta Shelor,
., daughter, l ille Parke, Feb 6,2003
lo Mar) Katherine ( Iregory '97 and
Bill) '97 Robinson, a son, lames
Mun.oe. Mar. 2h. 2003
lo Mar) Kay Scot! ( ollins '97 and
Rob, a daughter, Maya Farmer,
Nov 30,2002.

lo I .mi le I mi '99 ^nd Jeff Vancini,
a daughter, Abigail ban, adopted April
2. 2003

Do Mark 92 and Karen Bradshaw-
Miller, a daughter, Emma, Mar. 24, 2003
lo Si ott '03 .mo\ I leather Calkins, a
daughter, Prisca ( Irace, Mar. 22,2003.
lo I ri< I' ' and Amy Dillenbeck,
a daughter, Anna Seibel, Feb 17, 2003.
To left '03 and Mimi Kackley, a daugh-
ter, I ocke I lizabeth, Feb 10,2003
To Mai \ Ann \K Kibben Dana '03 and
Robert, a daughter, (. aroline Susan,
Feb 12,2003 '

lo Martin (DMin '03) and Margaret
Nabor, a son, Jordan Banda, Mar.19,2003.
lo Iroy '04 and Kelle) Bronsink, a
daughter, Catherine Eve, Mar 7, 2003.
To Louis '04 and Debbie Imsande,
a son. I uke Ambers, Mar. 11, 2003.
To Annie Misner (MATS '04) and
lames Way, a son, I ion fames,
Mai i 2003

To Liz Peterson '04 and Greg, a daugh-
ter, I eah fayler, Feb. 19,2003.

Dl Mils

I verett II Phillips '41, May 7, 2003.
Robert Trert 52, Oct. is, 2002.
Thomas Morris '54, Feb. 17, 2003.
Thomas W. Barker 59, Nov. 9, 2002.
J.Wesley Brock '84, Jan. 3,2003
Anne I Sawyers '84, fan. 17, 2003
Henrietta Wilkinson '85, Mai -0 2003
Thomas I Rast, former Board member,
Mar. 6, 2003

Vantage sincerely apologizes for
incorrectl) reporting the death ot Ka\
Stover "t>2 in the winter 2003 issue. He
is honorably retired from First church,
Tallassee, AL.

Griffith (DMin '00) is senior pastor of

First church, Dalton, GA Stephanie

Boardman '02 is pastor oi First church,

Lincoln, NF. Betsy Flory '01 is

minister at Open Community United
Church ot ( bust (UCC) and the
Southeast ( onference of UCC, Atlanta

Wain Wesberry '00 is associate
pastor ot Fourth church, Greenville, SC.

Denny Read '02 is co-associate
pastor of South I lighland church,
Birmingham, AL Paige McRight
(DMm '02) is ex& utive presb) ter for
( entral Florida.

Faculty and Staff

Biblical area

Elizabeth Johnson, professor of New
Testament, taught church school class-
es and an adult education series at
Central church, Atlanta. She taught a
commissioned lay pastor training class
for Mississippi Presbytery; preached
and lectured on Faith and Family at
I e\\ ms\ ille church, Falls Church, VA;
participated in a panel discussion
on the Middle East; and preached

at Queens University Kathleen

O'Connor, professor of Old Testament,
taught a Lenten series on Isaiah at the
Decatur, GA, chim h

Historical Doctrinal area
Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, associate
professor of world Christianity, lec-
tured at the Iowa United Methodist
School of Ministry. He presented at
the I lispanic Lecture in Religion and
Theology at Drew University and at
the Lilly Conference on Theological
Research, Pittsburgh. He taught at the
Evangelical Seminary, Matanzas,
C uba; the Association of Professors in
Mission, Techny, IL; and the Hispanic
Summer Program, Mundelein, IL. He
has published Introduccidn a la Misidn.
Mark Douglas, assistant professor
of Christian ethics, taught at First,
Oglethorpe, Covenant, and Rock
Spring churches, Atlanta, and Pleasant
Hill church, Duluth, GA. He facilitated
a discussion on church mission for the
Outreach Committee of Greater
Atlanta Presbytery and published an

article m Journal for Preachers

Marcia Riggs, associate professor of
(. hnstian ethics, delivered the Walter
and Mary Brueggemann lectures at
Fden Theological Seminary and led
\\ orship at the Luce Consultation on
Theological Scholarship for the
\ssot iation oi Theological Schools.

Practical Theology area
Ron Cram, associate professor of
Christian education, published
Bullying: A Spiritual Crisis and led a
seminar on childhood violence with
Susan I lecker Cram at Immaculate

Heart of Mary church, Atlanta

Bill Harkins, assistant professor of
pastoral theology and care, attended
the Georgia Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy Conference,
St. Simon's Island, GA, and spoke
at Northwest church, Atlanta, GA.
...Emmanuel Lartey, professor of
pastoral theology and care, spoke at
the American Association of Pastoral
Counselors conference, Newport, RI.
...Laura Mendenhall, president,

attended a Committee on Theological
Education meeting in Louisville, KY;
spoke and preached at the General
Assembly Theology Convocation,
Pittsburgh, PA, and at First church,
Tyler, TX; preached at First church,
Charlotte, NC, Central church,
Anderson, SC, and was guest speaker
at I list church, Thomasville, GA,
Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, and the

215th General Assembly Rodger

Nishioka, associate professor of
Christian education, led workshops
and preached at the Shelby, NC,
church; Guilford Park church,
Greensboro, NC; and New Providence
church, Maryville, TN. He led a retreat
and preached at the Roswell, GA,
church and preached at Trinity church,
Atlanta He spoke at Tampa Bay
Presbytery, the racial-ethnic and immi-
grant church development consulta-
tion for Synod of Mid-Atlantic, and
at First church, Charlotte. Nishioka
spoke at the Reclaiming the Text
Conference, Montreat, and lectured at
the Princeton Seminary Institute for

Youth Ministry Forum Brian Wren,

professor of worship, lectured and
preached at Greenfield Hill, CT,
Congregational church and at First
church, Charleston, WV, and preached
at Asbury Methodist church,
Uniontown, PA. He led two workshops
at West Virginia Presbytery Festival of
Faith. Wren published articles in the
AC PE Advocate. Journal for Preachers,
and The Abingdon Worship Annual 2004.

Directors and Staff

Ernestine Cole is acting vice president
of student life/dean of students. She
was co-celebrant of the Eucharist with
Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel '74 at the
opening worship service of the 215th
General Assembly and served as rep-
resentative for the Advocacy Committee
on Women's Concerns. She preached
at Pilgrimage church, Lilburn, GA.
...Dent Davis (DMin '89), director of
continuing education, led a retreat for
the council of Flint River Presbytery,
preached at the Society for the
Advancement of Continuing Education
Continued on page 7

Vantage

Volume 95, No. 1, Summer 2003
Published quarterly by
Columbia Theological Seminary
Circulation: 27,000

The Office of Development and
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

For the Record
continued from page 6

in Ministry meeting, lectured j\k\
preached at the retreat of the SequO) ah
Hills church. Knowille, TN. He la
hired at the universities of Georgia
and lennessee and presented at the
Adult Education Research Conference
in San Francisco. He is serving on the
Educator Certification Council of the
Association of Presbyterian Church

Educators John Knapp (MATS '95),

president of the Southern Institute for
Business and Ethics, was comment e
ment speaker tor Kennesaw State
University's spring 2003 graduation.
He spoke at the annual meeting of the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the
Conference on Corporate Governance,
the Independent Counselor's Forum,
and the Carrolton, GA, Rotary Club
and facilitated ethics training tor the
Georgia Board of Education 1 le was a
panel moderator for Harvard Business
School Club, Atlanta, DeKalb County
Colloquium on Faith and Community
Initiatives, and panelist for the annual
conference of National Urban League's
Black Executive Exchange Program
Bonnie Shoemaker, administrative
assistant for the international pro-
grams office, was named volunteer of
the year by the Atlanta Convention

and Visitor's Bureau Stan Wood,

director of the Center for New Church
Development (NCD), taught an NCD
seminar for the Presbvterv of Mid-

Kentuck) an evangelism seminaj foi

the Presbvterv of North \lahama and
trained mentors for the I a\ I eader
Training Program tor I atinos for Santa
Barbara Presb) terj I le conducted an
NCD consultation tor the Church of
Scotland and preached -it Covenant

church, Hunts\,lle \|

Emeritus faculty

Oscar Hussel was presented a Red
Giraffe \\ indov\ .it Si [oseph's on the
Mountain I piscopal Church. Mentone

AL. \km\ of his sermons there have
included conversations with the red
giraffe, an inspiration from a stained
glass window in C olumbia s chapel

Shirley Guthrie lectured ^nd
preached al I irsl churches, Dallas. i\,
and Shreveport, I V Shandon chun h.
Columbia. SI , and I orest I ake chun h.
Columbia. SC Walter Brueggemann
spoke at the UCC Clerg) e onferen( <
Miami, FL; All Saints I piscopal chin, h
Atlanta; and tor the Peace ( onsultation
for Greater Atlanta Presb\ terv I le led
a retreat for Innit\ church, Atlanta,
preached at PI) mouth UCC, Coconut
Grove, FL, and Westminster chun h.
Snellville, GA; and lectured at
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Men ei
School of Theology, and at I piscopal
Cathedral, Kansas Cit) His [wed to
Heaven Rooted m I arth was published
by Fortress Press and he published
articles in A God So Nem. Biblical Th
Bulletin, and Journal fo\ Preachers
Charlie Cousar '58 is honorably
retired from Trinity Presbytery.

19.00

16.15

1100

11.05

26.00

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New titles by Columbia faculty members:

Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth

Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (hardback)

by Walter Brueggemann (paperback)

In I iving Color (second edition)
by Emmanuel Lartey

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City State.

PLSE initiative addresses
PC (USA) pastor shortage

\ new bffori is underway to address
the growing ums ot leadership within
the Presb) terian Church (I S K) \ joinl
endeavor with the I und tei I heoloj
i du< ation, Pastoral I eadership Search
i rrbrl (PI SI | works i loselj w ith the
i Iffice ot the c ieneral Vssemblj but

Functions as K m independent la\ led
initiative 1 'hi- program is funded by

the I ill) i ikIow men! and individuals'
i onb ibutions.

We are in a moment ol 1 1 isi:
I belies e. in pastoral leadership in
the church, and thai causes i on< em
says [oanna Adams 79 i o pastoi oi
c hicago's Fourth Presb) tei ian ( hun h

and former chair ol ( olumbia'9 Hoard

.I trustees "This is also a moment
that can be in< redibl) i reath e

Beginning this fall, the PI SI
initiative will work loscl\ v\ ith

congregations throughout the country
to identify talented young people
who ma) want to considei w hethei
i !od is calling them to ministi \
I ongregations will be asked to talk to
those young people, en< ouraging

them to explore ministr\ as a \ 0 ation

"1 hear rninisters and seminai ians tell
me that it someone hadn't spe< ifi< all)
challenged them to considei a careei
in the ( lospel ministry the) might
well nut be ministers today/' says
I lifton Kirkpatrit k, stated * lei k
ot the PC it SA) Vlctoi Pente, pastor
ci \tlarita 's Tea- frtree Presb) tei ian
( hun h, notes, "it e\ ei \ >i mgregation

in the Presbyterian I him h encouraged

at leasl one young person into min

isti\, th.it would mean I I HI III new
prospective Pri'sln terian pastor.

Once identified/ those young pec

pie w ho are interested will be enterei I

into PI SI s Presbyterian I eadership
i database whi< h will pn>\ ide a cen
tralized means oi communicating w ith
prosper ti\ e seminai ians I his w ill
enable P< (1 S \> ministers in theii area

i'i support ^\n\ to set \ e as men
toi s i he database v\ Ql also dto\ ide
edu. ational resources pertaining to
pastoral ministr) an online forum foi
i onversation among potential seminai

ians and a means for seminaries to

contact prosper tive students to dis< uss
seminar) edui ation.

PI ''i pai iu ui, a fo us will be on
identif) ing high school and colle
students who may be interested m
entei ing seminar) v\ ithin the first few
\ ears aftei < ollege graduation I he

PI SI inihati\ e is impOl tan! he> .uise

w e need the energj ol j oungei adults/'
says Rodger Nishioka, assoi late
professoi ol t hristian edui ation at
( olumbia W< need theii freshness
and the wa) the) \ iev\ the world and
then abilit) ! i onne< I to othei young
people in their congregatii ins

i he program s foundei fohn
Udi idge .in eldei al Peai htree
Presb) terian ( hun h and a b ustee ol
i olumbia, notes that PI SI addresses
one aspet I ol w hat is a large and
inulti faceted challenge that I
the hun h "No one initiath e and no
one program alone v\ ill pro> ide an
adequate solution/' Ba) Udi ii I
" I he good news is that the depth
and breadth ol this < i isis are beginning
to i"' ie ognized and dis< ussed espe
i iall) at the uppei levels ol the oi
ni/e.i i him h Aldridge hopes the
pi SI initiath c w ill be one fa< tor in
transforming that crisis into a
i M.iie e opportunity.

Robert Williamson h 01

"At the Hilltop" from "Holy Week in M.U hoa< dn, Mexii o'

Entries sought for 'On the Edge'

Zip.

Phone

Please send this completed order form to: CTS Bookstore, P.O. Box 520,
Decatur, GA 30031; fax 404 687-4658; e-mail: Bookstore@CTSnet.edu

(in Lay iNsrm re's interest in the arts

continues with "< >n the l dge/' a juried
exhibition scheduled foi < >< tobei I
November 15. Artists interested in
submitting work ma) i ontai I institute
director, Kick Dietrich al W4 687-4578;
e-mail: dietrichRi@C r/Snel edu.
Submission deadline is August I
Judges' decisions will be made by
September 1.

In I ebruary and March, in con-
jum Son with the Black Seminarian

Assoc i . 1 1 1 ( iii. the i a\ institute presentei I

the works of local artist, Raymond

I ody.

In April and May, Wend\ Philli]
photographs ol i loly Week observant es
in the Me ii an i illage of Michoacan
n on display. D

SUMMER 2003

Jones to deliver Smyth Lectures

The Acropolis a site on the tour.

Columbia travels
to Greece, Turkey

Columbia Seminary is planning a trip
to Greece and Turkey October 14-26
called "Cities of the New Testament."
The group will visit Istanbul, cities of
the Anatolian coast including Ephesus,
Athens, Corinth, and other sites in
Greece. The U.S. State Department
has cancelled the travel warning to
Turkey, and travel to the area is con-
sidered quite safe. Charles Cousar '58,
professor emeritus, will lead the tour.
Final payments are due July 31. We
hope you can be a part of this travel
and learning experience for friends
of Columbia.

For more information, contact
Dent Davis, director of Continuing
Education, da\ isd@CTSnet.edu, or
Neely Young, Development Office,
youngn@CTSnet.edu; 404 378-8821.

Serene Jones, associate professor of
theology at Yale Divinity School, will
present the 2003 Smyth Lectures at
Columbia, October 14-16. The title of
her lecture series will be "Jesus and
the Jones Girls

Jones, a clergywoman in the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
holds the M.Div. from Yale Divinity
School and the Ph.D. in theology from
Yale University In the course of her
graduate work, she also studied at
Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in
India. Jones has an uncommon
breadth of experience and interest,
which is reflected both in her publica-
tions and in her teaching responsibili-
ties at Yale. In addition to her appoint-
ment to the divinity school faculty,
Jones serves on the faculty of the -
African-American studies department
and has been a frequent lecturer in the
school of law.

She is interested both in the classi-
cal study of the Reformed tradition
and in the theological opportunities
and challenges presented by contem-
porary life. She has published a

number of works on the theologies
of both Calvin and Barth. as well as
theologies emerging in places such
as India and South Africa. She has a
particular interest in feminist theology
and the rethinking of traditional
theological discourse necessary to
engage the experiences and concerns
of women. She has written on topics
ranging from the theological crises
of infertility and miscarriage to the
rhetorical eloquence of John Calvin
and theological responses to the
AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa.

The Smyth Lectures were begun
at Columbia in 1911 by the bequest
of the Rev. Thomas Smyth, pastor of
the Second Presbyterian Church in
Charleston, South Carolina. The aim
of the bequest was to establish "a
course of lectures on the fundamental
principles of the Christian faith."

The public is invited to attend this
e\ ent. For more information, contact
the Office of Academic Affairs at
404 687-4521, or visit Columbia's web
site at www.CTSnet.edu.

Conferences on Ministry for prospective students
November 7-9, 2003, and February 27-29, 2004

Are you moving or receiving
duplicate copies?

I lelp us to be better stewards by letting
us know about your move ahead ol
time Please attach the mailing label
from this publication.

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Vantage, please send us the labels, and

ill update our records

New address:

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Periodicals
Postage
Paid at
Decatur, GA

Publication No. 124160

P.O. Box 520 Decatur, Georgia 30031

404 378-8821

www.CTSnet.edu

CONTENTS

Commencement 2003 1

Partners in Ministry launched I

Tributes to Professors Brueggemann and Cousar .... 2

Brown named professor of Old Testament 3

Events calendar 4

Lifelong learning offerings 4

Faith and the City intern 5

Distinguished Service Awards given 5

Dean Gehman accepts new position 5

Associate director of continuing education named . 5

For the Record 6

PLSE to address PC(USA) pastor shortage 7

Lay Institute's 'On the Edge' exhibition 7

From the Bookstore 7

2003 Smyth Lectures 8

Travel to Greece, Turkey in October 8

COLUMBIA
THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY