Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 79, number 1, Spring 1987

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

SPRING 1987

President Oldenburg
takes the reins

"Columbia is riding the wave. I
believe I have come at a time when
Columbia is stronger than ever before
in its long and distinguished history," '
asserts Columbia's new president, Dr.
Douglas Oldenburg. Citing his initial
impressions of the seminary, he
emphasizes the strong sense of
community he has experienced and
the enthusiastic support Columbia
enjoys among its many constituencies.
He says, "Its alumni/ae, supporting
synods, the Atlanta community, and
even those clergy who have graduated
from other seminaries have a strong
sense that Columbia has become one
of the finest seminaries in the
country."

He gives the seminary's faculty
high praise, saying, "Columbia has a
strong faculty strong in academic
credentials and ability, strong in their
love for teaching, strong in their
commitment to the church, and strong
in their concern for our students. I
believe that we now have one of the
strongest faculties of any theological
seminary."

Since accepting the position of
president. Dr. Oldenburg has taken
several months to explore his new job.
He says, "The past few months have
been a time of intensive learning
learning from visiting other seminaries
and colleges and listening to their

presidents talk about their
adminstrative structure and
management style." President
Oldenburg has visited Louisville and
Union seminaries, the Presbyterian
School of Christian Education, and
Presbyterian College. He has also
talked with J. Randolph Taylor,
president of San Francisco Seminary,
and with Columbia alumnus Neely
McCarter, president of Pacific School
of Religion.

In addition to these visits, Dr.
Oldenburg has read several books and
is soaking up information about
Columbia and its history and
traditions. He states, "As in every
new venture, I am keenly aware of
how much I don't know and how
much I need to know. This will be a
year of listening and learning."

Dr. Oldenburg is particulary
interested in building relationships in
this first year of his presidency. He
wants to spend time getting to know
Columbia's board members, the staffs
of its three supporting synods and
presbyteries, and the pastors of local
churches. He would also like to visit
with lay women and men who have a
special interest in theological education
and Columbia in particular. "Needless
to say, I want to begin building solid
relationships with all those who are
part of the Columbia family, from the

Dr. Doug/as W. Oldenburg

Douglas and Claudia Oldenburg, left, greet students Laurie Wallace, Tom
Walker, and Sandra Edwards at a reception during Forum week.

custodial staff" to the faculty.
Relationships are important to me. It
is quite obvious that Davison Philips
did that well, and I want very much
to follow in his footsteps."

During his first few years as
president, Dr. Oldenburg hopes to
concentrate on strenthening the
financial base of the seminary. In his
experience as chairman of the Board
of Trustees at St. Andrews
Presbyterian College and as a member
of the Board of Trustees at Union
Seminary in Richmond, he has learned
that a balanced budget and a healthy
endowment are critical to the strength
of any educational institution. He
says, "I have discovered what happens
to an institution when it is
underfinanced and have seen the
tremendous burden this places on
virtually everything."

"Instead of beginning my tenure
with proposals for new programs, I
want to solidify what we have and
then move on to new ventures and
visions," President Oldenburg states.
He would like to concentrate on
raising funds for the Harrington
Continuing Education Center,
something he considers "critically
needed. It is obvious that to build it

for maximum utility will cost more
than was originally estimated.
Columbia has an exciting continuing
education program as part of its
mission, and we need to provide
adequate space for it to continue
growing."

Another area of concentration will
be the Lay Institute of Faith and Life.
He says, "It is one of the most
exciting new ventures that Columbia
has undertaken in several years, and I
am thrilled at the potential it has for
helping lay people relate their faith to
all dimensions of their lives. It is
critical that we get the right person to
be its first director."

"Finally," Dr. Oldenburg says, "I
want to concentrate on completing the
Toward 2000 Campaign. We are well
on the way to achieving its goal of six
million dollars, and I want to do
whatever I can to facilitate that
effort."

Looking at the theological world
in which the seminary operates, Dr.
Oldenburg sees a great deal of
pluralism. He says, "We need to
adopt a posture of critical openness to
the many voices clammering for our
attention. They all need to be tested

Continued on page 2

From the President

Douglas W. Oldenburg

THE FIRST FEW MONTHS as president of
Columbia Seminary have been an
energizing and gratifying experience
Transitions are always a bit unsettling
and exhausting the first few months,
but ours has also been exciting.
Becoming acquainted with new friends
and colleagues, feeling the pulsebeat of
the seminary's daily life, sensing the
critical importance of the enterprise,
visiting other seminaries and colleges
and learning from their experiences
all of it has been stimulating and
rewarding. And I have enjoyed it! My
wife, Claudia, joins me in thanking all
who have so warmly welcomed us
into the Columbia community and
made us feel "at home "

Although much of my time has
been spent away from the campus
preparing for my new vocation, I have
also spent considerable time meeting
with four active search committees.

I am pleased to announce that the
Search Committee for a Professor of
New Testament has completed its
work, and I will recommend at the
Board of Directors meeting in April a
person who is a distinguished scholar,

a master teacher, and is deeply
committed to the church. All of us on
the search committee are excited
about this appointment, and we are
confident her presence among us will
bring additional honor and
effectiveness to the work of the
seminary.

The Search Committee for a
Director of the Lay Institute of Faith
and Life has interviewed several
candidates, but no decision has been
made. Since the institute is a new
venture with tremendous potential for
Columbia, it is critically important
that we find the right person for that
position.

At my request, the Search
Committee for a new Dean of
Students is reconsidering the role and
responsibilities of that office, and we
hope to make a decision regarding
that position in the spring.

The Search Committee for a new
Professor of Church and Society has
narrowed the list of candidates, and
they have recently started interviewing.

I have been impressed with the
care with which each search

committee goes about its task. It is
also gratifying to know the large
numbers of persons who have applied
for each of these positions. It indicates
to me that many people see Columbia
Seminary as an exciting place to be.
They're right!

With warm personal wishes,

Erskine Love

Erskine Love,
director, dies

J ERSKINE Love, friend and benefactor
of Columbia Seminary, died February
21 at his home in Atlanta. He was
58. Mr. Love was a former chairman
of Columbia's Board of Directors and
was a member of the board when he
died. He was an ex-ofncio member of
the Search Committee which
nominated Dr. Davison Philips as
president in 1975 and a member of
the most recent Presidential Search
Committee, which nominated Dr.
Douglas Oldenburg. Mr. Love also
chaired the Business Management
Committee of the board

Erskine Love was founder and
president of Printpack, a manufacturer
of flexible packaging. He was named
Entrepreneur of the Year by Business

Atlanta in 1985. Mr. Love, who was
born in Gastonia, NC, received a
mechanical engineering degree from
the Georgia Institute of Technology in
1949 and remained a loyal alumnus.
He received the Outstanding Young
Alumnus Award in 1963 and the
Alumni Distinguished Service Award,
the school's highest alumni honor, in
1986, when he delivered the
commencement address. A trustee and
past president of the Georgia Tech
Foundation, he chaired Techs
centennial campaign, which has raised
more than Si 30 million.

Mr. Love held directorships on
the boards of the Citizens and
Southern Georgia Corporation, the
John H. Harland Company, and
National Data Corporation. He was a
trustee of the Westminster Schools,
Agnes Scott College, and the Atlanta
Arts Alliance.

Also active in civic affairs, Erskine
Love served as director, president, and
campaign chairman of the 1981
United Way fund-raising campaign,
as president of the Atlanta Area
Council of the Boy Scouts of America,
and as president of the Rotary Club
of Atlanta.

Raised in a family of Presby-
terians, Mr. Love, whose father was
the only one of four brothers who was
not an ordained minister, was an
active member of Trinity Presbyterian
Church for over 30 years. He served
in virtually every capacity in the
church, from clerk of the session and
chairman of the Board of Trustees to
leading several successful building
drives.

Erskine Love is survived by his
wife, Gay McLawhorn Love, five sons,
a daughter, and three grandchildren.
He will be greatly missed by
Columbia Seminary.

President Oldenburg

Continued from page 1

against the witness of Scripture in its
witness to Jesus."

Dr. Oldenburg also detects a new
hunger to relate the faith to the work
place and to the great issues which
confront the human community. He
affirms, "I want our churches to be
places where people can dig more
deeply into the issues confronting us
and relate God's word to those issues
in a more substantial way.'' The
church must face issues from
economic justice to increasing
militarism; from substance abuse to
environmental abuse; from medical
ethics to business ethics.

Dr. Oldenburg also sees a
renewed quest for authentic spirituality
in the church. He says, "People
believe that our social action needs to
be balanced with an inner piety that
is genuine and authentic for Christians
today. Just as we need to develop our
capacity and commitment to love
those in need, so we also need to
cultivate our inner life of the spirit."

With a strong vision for the
church and an equally strong
commitment to the education of her
leaders, Dr. Douglas Oldenburg has
taken hold of the leadership of
Columbia Seminary. He affirms,
"There is an excitement about this
place and what we are doing and
planning to do. My predecessors here
have done a great job. Columbia is
built on solid theological foundations.
I am singularly fortunate to be the
heir of their outstanding
leadership."

Admissions
weekend

"Electrifying!" That's how one
conferee described Columbia's largest
ever Conference on Ministry. The
annual conference introduces Columbia
to people who are involved in other
careers and are considering the
ministry. This year's conference was
held during the last weekend of
February and attracted 61 prospective
students from 10 states.

Phil Gehman, Director of
Admissions and Vocations, is excited
by the size of the conference. He says,
"This conference showed a significant
increase compared to last year. Our
applicant pool is now twice as large as
it was at the beginning of the fall.
This means we will have a qualified
and equipped entering class."

About half of the students in the
present first-year class are second career
students. The popularity of this year's
conference seems to indicate that next
year's entering class may have even
more students who enter seminary
later in lift

Those who attended the
conference had the opportunity to
explore Columbia and find answers to
questions about Columbia and the
ministry. They attended classes,
interacted with students and
professors, and learned about the
practical aspects of financial aid and
curriculum. President Oldenburg met
with the group and shared his own
faith pilgrimage and his enthusiasm
for the pastoral ministry.

Cousar awarded

Dr Charles B Cousar. Professor of
New Testament at Columbia, has
received a full grant from the
Association of Theological Schools in
the United States and Canada. This
grant is the third and largest Professor
Cousar has been awarded by the
association.

Dr. Cousar will use the
Theological Scholarship and Research
Award during his upcoming sabbatical
at Westminster College, Cambridge
University, where he will work on
Pauline theology. He will study the
relationship between Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection in the
letters of Paul and their relationship to
the church.

A graduate of Columbia, Professor
Cousar has taught New Testament at
the seminary since I960 and served as
dean of academic affairs from 1971
until 1978. Dr. Cousar received the
B.A. from Davidson College and took
his PhD in New Testament at the
University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He
has done special study at the
University of Tubingen, West
Germany, and at Cambridge
University.

Among his publications, Professor
Cousar has written a commentary on
Galatians for the Interpretation series,
printed by John Knox Press in 1982.
He has served as a member of several
church committees. His professional
memberships include the Studiorum
Novi Testamenti Societas and the
Society of Biblical Literature.

VANTAGE

Still cooking

after all these years

The seminary refectory was
overflowing with alumni, alumnae,
and seminarians as Jim Dickenson,
Vice President for Development/
Seminary Relations, waded through a
long list of introductions: the head
table, the faculty emeriti, the present
faculty, the senior class. And then, the
final introduction was made, and it
brought the whole crowd of more
than 300 people to its feet, clapping
and cheering for the senior member of
Columbia's community.

He walked in through the back
door and stood waving and smiling
his trademark smile for the several
minutes of applause, and then
returned to his work of 50 years at
Columbia. He returned not to a
faculty office, but to the kitchen. And
as he left, student Woody Brown
remarked, "Claude is the best
minister Columbia has turned out."

Claude Clopton began working in
the seminary cafeteria in 1937, while
he was still in high school. No one
knows how old Claude is, except
possibly his wife. When asked about
his age, Claude simply replies, "Well,
I'm two years older than my sister in
California and two years younger than
my sister that lives here (in Atlanta)."
Claude must be around 65, but he
could easily pass for 45.

If you successfully trap Claude
into giving you a straight answer, be
prepared not to believe it. Unless you
know Claude well, it is difficult to
discern whether he is telling the truth
or spinning fiction. His present
employer, Bill Humble, of Shamrock
Services, seems to know Claude fairly
well and claims that you can catch
Claude teasing you by watching his
mouth. Bill says, "Claude smiles a

in military service, Claude has seen
many changes at Columbia. When he
began working at Columbia, Claude
cooked with coal-burning stoves. It
was not until 1947 that the school
acquired gas stoves.

The refectory was in the basement
of Campbell Hall until the Richards
Center was built in 1960. The
administrative officers consisted of the
president and Miss C. Virginia
Harrison, whose offices were located
on the first floor of Campbell Hall.
The classrooms were also on the first
floor, and the library and chapel were
on the second floor. The third floor
was dormitory space.

In the refectory, meals were served
family style. The same six students sat
at each table for every meal, which
began only after the blessing was
recited. The students all male,
back then dressed for dinner in
shirt and tie. Mrs. J. Holmes Smith,
the dietician who followed Mrs.
Phinizy, "didn't allow sloppy clothes,"
according to Claude. He added that
the students today wear anything and
everything to meals.

Claude has seen the construction
of the library, the Richards Center,
Florida Hall dormitory, and the
Village, where students with children
live. He remembers when students
had to live in quonset huts after
World War II and before the
completion of Florida Hall.

There are two loves in Claude's
life: Louise Johnson Clopton and
Holsey Temple Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church in northwest
Atlanta. The former he has loved for
45 years, the latter for 38.

Claude has been a tenor in the
Holsey Temple choir for 35 years and

"Love is the most important thing in a marriage,
but cooking is important, too."

dimple smile when he's playing with
you."

Claude's mother used to wash
clothes for Dr. Richard Thomas
Gillespie, who was president when the
seminary was moved to Decatur in
1927. In 1940, Claude dropped out
of school to work full-time for the
seminary under Mrs. Edna M.
Phinizy, who was "matron in charge
of refectory," according to the catolog.

His career was short-lived. "Uncle
Sam called me in 1942," Claude said.
He served in the Navy as an officer
cook on a transport in the South
Pacific. Claude visited "all the islands
down there," including Hawaii,
Australia, the Fiji Islands and the
Philippines.

Claude was discharged on March
11, 1946, in Charleston, SC, and
made his way back to Decatur. Dr. J.
McDowell Richards, then president of
Columbia, gave Claude his job back.
"Dr. Richards was the best man
anybody could work -under," Claude
said.

Having worked at the seminary
over a 50-year" span, less his four years

a church steward for 20 years.
Appropriately enough, he also serves
on the church's Kitchen Committee,
"but," he says, "I'm going to get off
(the committee)."

His first love, Louise, married
Claude in December of 1942.
Between the two of them, the
Cloptons have four children, three of
them daughters: Alice Bond, Mary
Ann Jackson, and Barbara Even.
Barbara is the only child who lives
outside of Atlanta. Alice is married to
Atlanta area politician Julian Bond.
Claude says, "We don't act like a
political family. We don't talk about
it; we just work when it's time to
work."

The Cloptons also have a son,
Claude Jr. The four children have
produced nine grandchildren for
Claude and Louise. Home life for
Claude consists of sleeping and
watching television. He also helps out
around the house, "but I don't like to
get in Louise's way," he explains.

And, of course, Claude does most
of the cooking at home. He does the
"hard stuff, like cooking greens and

Claude Clopton

frying chicken," he says, adding,
"Louise thinks cooking greens is
hard."

For a moment, Claude waxes
philosophical, nearly reaching the
plane of seriousness. "Louise is real
happy. Love is the most important
thing in a marriage," Claude states,
"but cooking is important, too."

Although the rumor is that
Claude will retire in the next two
weeks that has been the rumor for

'87 graduation

Columbia Seminary will hold it
1987 Commencement exercises at
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church on
Sunday, May 31, at 4 p.m. The
seminary expects to grant degrees to
over 100 students. This will be the
largest group of graduates in the
seminary's history. The majority of
students will receive the first
professional degree: Doctor of Ministry
in Sequence, the Master of Divinity,
the M.A. in Youth Ministry, or the
MA. in Theological Studies. The
remainder of the graduates will receive
the Master of Theology or the Doctor
of Ministry in Ministry degrees.

Speakers for this year's exercises
are both devoted servants of Columbia
Seminary. Dr. J. Davison Philips,
President Emeritus, will preach the
Baccalaureate sermon at Decatur
Presbyterian Church on May 3 1 at 11
a.m. Dr. Philips served as pastor of
Decatur Presbyterian Church for 2 1
years before becoming Columbia's
president in 1976. He was recently
honored upon his retirement at the
end of 1986.

Dr. C. Benton Kline, President
Emeritus and Adjunct Professor of
Theology, will deliver the
Commencement address at Druid
Hills Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m.
Dr, Kline taught for many years at
Agnes Scott College before coming to
Columbia where he has served as
Professor of Theology, Dean of the
Faculty, and President.

the last two years alumni and
alumnae stand a good chance of
seeing one of the seminary's oldest
and best-loved institutions. Claude
plans to cook until he dies. "I'm just
37 and not ready to retire," Claude
deadpans. "When I get old enough, I
might retire." And he smiles his
dimple smile. D

Writer Butch Miranda '85 is associate
minister for education at First (Scots)
Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC.

Saturday, May 30, is filled with
activities in preparation for graduation.
At 2:30 p.m. the faculty will hold a
reception in the Richards Center
honoring the graduates and their
guests. Next, the Columbia Choir and
Dancers will present "Song of
Thanksgiving" in the seminary chapel
at 4:30. Saturday's highlight will be a
dinner for graduates, their families
and friends, and the faculty at 6 p.m.
in the Richards Center.

Vantage

Vol. 79, No. 1, Spring 1987
Published quarterly by
Columbia Theological Seminary

The Department of Development/
Seminary Relations

Editor: Juliette Harper
Associate Director
of Seminary Relations

Postmaster: Send address

changes to Vantage

Columbia Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, GA 30031-0520

SPRING 1987

Continuing

Education

Calendar

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

May 3-8 A Week with the Trappists and Dominicans A
contemplative week for reformation, relaxation, and spiritual discipline.
Cost $100.

May 11-13 Faith Discovery Weekend See article on this page for more
information.

June 15-26 At Montreat, NC. Credit courses* Offered jointly by
Columbia and Union seminaries.

1. Contemporary Christology and the Life of the Church Taught
by George W. Stroup, Columbia professor.

2. Family and Marriage Taught by William V. Arnold, Union
professor.

July 6-10 On the seminary campus.

1. How to Teach Good News Women, the Women's Study Book for
1987-88. Taught by Eunice Blanchard Peothig, the author, Executive
Presbyter, Presbytery of Western New York. Cost $25.

2. The Letter of James and the Practice of Christianity Taught by
Luke T. Johnson, Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian
Origins, Indiana University. Cost $50.

3. Youth Ministry in the Eighties and Beyond Taught by Edward
Trimmer, Columbia professor. Cost $50.

4. Personal Issues in the Parish Taught by Robert Ramey, Columbia
professor. Cost $50.

5. Worship throughout the Church Year Taught by Lucy Rose,
Columbia professor. Cost $50.

6. MUSIC IN THE CHURCH Taught by Barry Davies, Columbia professor.
Cost $50.

7. Seventh Annual School of Evangelism Directed by Ben Johnson,
Columbia professor. Cost $50.

July 6-17 On the seminary campus. Credit courses*

1. Preaching and Teaching the Miracle Stories Taught by F. Harry
Daniel, Pastor, Decatur Presbyterian Church.

2. Ministry with Older Adults in the Church Taught by Albert E.
Dimmock, founding director of the Center on Aging at Presbyterian
School of Christian Education.

July 13-17 On the seminary campus.

1. Teaching the Bible to Adults Taught by John C Purdy, Director
of Education Resources for the Program Agency, PC(USA). Cost $50.

2. Ministry to Singles The New Gentiles Taught by Richard L.
Morgan, Pastor, Fairview Presbyterian Church, Lenoir, NC. Cost $50.

3. How TO TEACH Good News Women, THE WOMEN'S Study BOOK FOR
1987-88. Taught by Sara C. Juengst, Associate Director of Advanced
Studies at Columbia. Cost $25.

4. Preparing to Preach in Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Taught by
Wade Huie, Columbia professor. Cost $50.

5. Theological and Ethical Issues in the Church Taught by C.
Benton Kline, Columbia professor. Cost $50.

6. Using Video in the Local Church Taught by Jeffry Kellam, Director
of Video Education, Presbyterian School of Christian Education. Cost $50.

7. Pastoral Spirituality Taught by Ben Johnson, Columbia professor.
Cost $50.

July 20-31 On the seminary campus. Credit courses*

1. Systems of Family Pastoral Counseling Taught by Brian Childs, Co-
lumbia professor.

2. Principles of Vital Church Leadership Taught by Robert Ramey,
Columbia professor.

August 26-September 7 In the Steps of the Huguenots For more
information, see article on this page.

September 8-9 Church Officer Training Seminar Leaders: Joan Gray
and Joyce Tucker. Cost $25.

September 25-26 Korean Church Conference Leader: In Ha Lee,
Princeton Seminary.

Two-week credit courses: prerequisite M.Div. or equivalent degree
You may take ONE of the credit offerings in each two-week period and
thus earn three semester hours credit in each two- week period. Cost per
course $351.

Faith Discovery
Weekend set

Columbia Seminary will hold this
year's Faith Discovery Weekend
leadership training event on its
campus May 11-13. The training
event, led by Dr. Ben Johnson,
Professor of Evangelism at Columbia,
will begin at 2 p.m. on May 1 1 and
conclude by 12:30 p.m. on May 13-

This training period prepares
clergy to lead a Faith Discovery
Weekend, the goal of which is to
renew a congregation's faith life and
focus its energies on outreach. The
weekend also seeks to create within a
congregation a renewal of fellowship,
to provide a positive model of faith
sharing, and to offer the
congregation's Evangelism Committee
guidance in organizing itself for
outreach.

The seminary provides tuition,
room, and board for this training
weekend at no cost to the
participants. Participants are
responsible only for their travel
expenses. For more information or to
register, contact Dr. Ben Johnson,
Columbia Seminary, P.O. Box 520,
Decatur, GA 30031; 404/378-
8821.

Make plans for
Huguenot trip

Columbia Seminary is providing a
unique opportunity for Presbyterians
(and others!) to learn about a very
special part of our Reformed history:
our Huguenot heritage. A travel study
tour will be conducted by Associate
Director of Advanced Studies Sara
Covin Juengst from August 27
through September 7, 1987, to sites
in Switzerland and France.

The goal of the trip is to learn as
much as possible about Huguenot
history and the present day Reformed
church in France. Visits will be paid
to the Reformation Monument and
the Old City in Geneva, to the
Protestant monastic community of
Taize, to the Reformed Seminary at
Montpelier, to a Huguenot museum
at Mas Soubeyron as well as to other
sites of interest in the two countries.

These will include Roman rums,
historical and scenic castles, the Palace
of the Popes, and historic churches.

The piece de resistance will be an
opportunity to celebrate communion
in an outdoor service with 20,000
Huguenot descendents.

The cost of the trip is $1,939.
For further information, contact Sara
C. Juengst at Columbia Seminary.

President Emeritus Davison Philips gets a hug from his granddaughter, Anna
Philips, after a retirement dinner m his honor at the Rttz-Carlton Buckhead m
January.

Columbia's Instructor in Music Barry Davies, left, and Shirley Guthrie, Professor
of Systematic Theology, with Alan Sell, right. Mr. Sell, who visited the seminary
in February, is co-secretary of the Geneva-based World Alliance of Reformed
Churches.

VANTAGE

Forum 1987

Paolo Ricca, Professor of Church History at the Waldensian Vacuity of Theology in
Rome, was the Alumni I ae Lecturer. Dr. Ricca spoke on the Waldensian movement.

The Alumni/ae Association Council met February 2. Council members pictured are
(front row, l-r): Anna Case Winters '18, President Oldenburg, Hugh Hamilton
'80, Harrison Taylor '54, Clyce Hurst '62. Second row, Jamu Thompson '58, Roy
Watkins '58, Alice Johnson '11, Steve Vance '81, Tyler Downing '84, Grady
Perryman '82. Third row: Billy Wade '80, Theophi/us King '15. Jim Lowry '66
Tino Ballesteros '68, Bill Barron '61. Fourth row: Joan Gray 76, David Bailn
'82, Doug Blair '68, Hugh Eichelberger '62, G. Daniel McCall '60, lit
McGregor Simmons '19, Cathy Mason '82, Bob Pettit '62. Other council membm
are Joanna Adams '18, Ralph Aker '15, Lane Alderman '80, Herb Barks '59,
Clayton Bell '58, Burwell Bennett '14, Charles Cook '59, Winona Jones DuCille
'16, Ernie Gilmore '53, Tom Hagood '82, G.W.Johnson '11, Bill Johnston '66,
Bill Lancaster '13, John Mabray '82, Bill Markley '62, Ralph McCaskill '59,
Jim McNaull '12. Ernest Mellor '54, James Peacock '63, Turn Rear* '64, John
Sharp '11, David Snellgrove '13, George Telford '58, Dana Waters '58, Larry
Wood '64, Fred Woodward '49.

Dr. Joseph L. Roberts, Jr., left, was the Forum Preacher. He is pastor of Atlanta's
Ebenezer Baptist Church. With him are Charles Heyward '88, a liturgtst during
one of the work sip services, and his wife Carolyn.

President Oldenburg gets some advice from Alva Gregg '32. who returned to the
campus for his 55th reunion.

Tom Long, who taught at Columbia from 1918 until 1983. was the Smyth
Lecturer. Dr. Long teaches preaching and worship at Princeton Seminary.

SPRING 1987

For the Record

Jul uUtifaiiii

ajLiumnU-Al

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

G. Dana Waters '58 has been called
from the First Church in Selma, AL,
to South Highland Church in

Birmingham Robert Ramey,

Professor of Ministry at Columbia,
gave the third annual Jane Robbins
Ramey Memorial Lectures at Selwyn
Avenue Church in Charlotte in

March Paul Mixon '61 has been

called as stated supply to the

Shalimar, FL, church Barry Davies

'82, Instructor in Music at Columbia,
lectured on music in worship at the
United Theological College of the
West Indies in January He continues
to hold handbell and choir workshops
and was at the Pleasant Hill Church
near Athens, GA, in February
introducing the congregation to the
use of handbells in worship.

G. Thompson Brown, Associate
Professor of World Christianity at
Columbia, has led mission conferences
in Thomasville, GA, Columbia, SC,
Decatur, AL, and Erwin, TN. For the
General Assembly Mission Board he is
writing on the 1 50th anniversary of
the beginning of the world mission
enterprise of the Presbyterian

Church Charles Ligon Evans 78

was installed on March 1 as pastor of
the Society Hill and Patrick
Presbyterian churches in South

Carolina Wade Huie '46, Professor

of Homiletics at Columbia, has
preached on international mission and
shared his recent experiences on
sabbatical in Asia at Myers Park
Presbyterian in Charlotte, First
Presbyterian in Orangeburg, SC, South
Highland in Birmingham, and at First
Presbyterian in Rockmart, GA. He
was the keynote speaker at mission
conferences at Decatur Presbyterian
and at Augusta and Macon area
churches for Augusta-Macon
Presbytery.

In February Sara C. Juengst '83,
Associate Director of Advanced
Studies at Columbia, spoke at the
Greater Augusta World Mission
Conference luncheon and gave the
keynote speech and led a workshop at
Atlanta Presbytery Educator's retreat
on "Developing a Ministry of
Volunteers. " In March she gave
keynote speeches to the Women of
Southwest Georgia Presbytery and the
Women of Harmony Presbytery. Ms.
Juengst led a workshop on the new
PC(USA) curriculum in Highlands,
NC, and gave a speech on "The New
Curriculum," at the First Church in

Dalton, GA., in April Richard T.

Gillespie IV '80 has resigned from
the Florence Moore Memorial Church
in Wellford, SC, to pursue graduate

study C.K.. Little '60 is pastor of

the First Church in Alexander City,
AL.

David Turner '75 has been
called to the Okeechobee, FL,

Church David Moessner, Associate

Professor of New Testament at
Columbia, was ordained on February
15 in the seminary chapel. The Rev.
Dr. James I. McCord, chairman of
the Center of Theological Inquiry in

Princeton and former president of
Princeton Seminary, gave the
ordination sermon on "The Finality of
Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:8). Dr.
Moessner had an article, " The Christ
Must Suffer': New Light on the Jesus-
Peter, Stephen, Paul Parrallels in
Luke/ Acts," published in Novum
Testamentum, Vol. 28/3 (1986). H.s
name and curriculum vitae appear in
the first edition of Who's Who in
Biblical Studies and Archaeology

(1986-87) Sidney Leak '83 is

pastor of the Ensley Highland Church
in Birmingham.

Jasper N. Keith (STD 79),
Acting Dean of Students and Professor
of Pastoral Care and Counseling at
Columbia, presented four lectures on
"Caring Effectively for Persons" for
the Lay Academy at the Eastminster
Presbyterian Church in Stone
Mountain. He led a retreat for
ministers of the North Alabama
Presbytery on "Good Grief
Work". ...Dechard Guess '82 is
pastor of First Church in Oakland,

FL Robert Inman '85 is stated

supply of the Gulf Breeze, FL,

church Christine Wenderoth,

Associate Librarian at Columbia,
taught a five-week course on faith
development at John Knox Church in
Marietta and was an invited
respondent to James Fowler at
Georgia State University in

February Grover Sewell '49, who

is honorably retired, is stated supply
at St. Johns Church in Orlando, FL.
David Gunn, Professor of Old
Testament at Columbia, presented
papers on Ruth to the Faith Seminar
at Candler School of Theology, on
David to the Atlanta Bible Studies
Forum at Columbia, on Boaz, with
Danna Nolan Fewell, Instructor in
Old Testament at Columbia, to the
Southeast Regional Meeting of the
Society of Biblical Literature in
Atlanta. Dr. Gunn was Visiting
Research Fellow at the University of
Calgary, Canada, in March. He
presented papers on the Book of Ruth

BIRTHS

To Carl (D.Min. 83) and Donna

Crawford, a son, Stephen Stixrud,

Nov. 11, 1986.

To Carol '86 and Joey '87 Byrd, a

daughter, Sarah Jayne, Feb. 18, 1987.

To Randy '87 and Suzanne Clegg, a

daughter, Kathleen Mane, Jan. 31,

1987.

To Jon '88 and Debbie Faroane, a

daughter, Elena Sherea, Dec. 7, 1986.

DEATHS

MA. DuRant '25, Jan. 8, 1987.

Marcus Prince, Jr. '29, Aug. 24,

1986.

William C. Sistar '29 (Th.M. '42),

Jan. 10, 1987.

Wallace M. Alston '31, Jan. 14,

1987.

Frank Soules (Th.M. '68), Sept. 28,

1986.

Cathy Carlson, left, has been named assistant librarian for circulation, replacing
Rachael Glass, center, who retired in December after six years as the library's
circulation assistant. Don Bailey, right, also retired in December, having worked
as a field representative in the Development Office for eight years.

at the University of Calgary; on Moses
and Miriam at the University of
Alberta, Edmonton, and on literary
criticism in Biblical studies at St.

Andrews College, Saskatoon Steve

Rhodes '82 has been called as
associate pastor of the Forest Lake
Church in Columbia, SC.

Donald Hendrix '65 is pastor of
the Eatonton, GA, Church. He and
Cheryl Caldwell were married in

Macon recently Ben Johnson,

Professor of Evangelism at Columbia,
led a ministers' retreat tor Pee Dee
Presbytery and a retreat for Conyers,
GA, Presbyterian Church in January.
In February he led an evangelism
workshop for Grace Presbytery in
Arlington, TX, and spoke at the
meeting of Concord Presbytery in
Morganton, NC. In March he led a
Faith Discovery Weekend training
event for Mecklenburg Presbytery and
an evangelism workshop for Chicago
Presbytery. He preached and led a
workshop for the Conference on
Christian Renewal and Outreach for
the Synod of the Trinity in Pittsburgh

in April Lee Carroll '68, Director

of Supervised Ministry at Columbia,
led a planning retreat for the session
of First Church, Lynn Haven, FL, in
February and partipated in the
biennial meeting of the Association for
Theological Field Education in January
in Louisville

C. Benton Kline, Adjunct
Professor of Theology at Columbia,
led a retreat for the General Assembly
Council on "The Theology of
Compensation" in January. Dr. Kline
delivered two addresses to the
Southeastern Meeting of the
Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education and taught an adult class at
Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta
on "Issues of Today and the Church"

in March Thomas D. Warters '67

is pastor of Second Church in

Newport News Charles Taylor 77

has been installed as pastor of the

Effingham, SC, Church Benjamin

Bass '59 has been installed as pastor
of the Kentyre and First, McColl, SC,
Churches.

Walter Brueggemann, Professor
of Old Testament at Columbia, gave

the Sprunt Lectures at Union
Seminary in Richmond in February
and was featured speaker at the
Anniversary Symposium on Scripture
at Union Seminary in New York in
April. Dr. Brueggemann is spending
his sabbatic leave at Cambridge

University Joanna Adams 79, is

pastor of the North Decatur

Church Vic Varkonyi 76 has

been called to head the pastoral staff"
of First Presbyterian in Moline,

IL Ludwig Dewitz, Professor

Emeritus of Old Testament at
Columbia, taught a class on the
prophets at Trinity Presbyterian in
Atlanta and did a five-day series at
Trinity Church in Meridian, MS, in

March Philo L. McKinnon '56

retired June 30 and lives in

Carrollton, GA Thomas B.

Warren '57 was honorably retired by
Shenandoah Presbytery September 30.
For the past 14 years he had served
as chaplain of Sunnyside Presbyterian
Home, Harrisonburg, VA. He
continues to live in the Harrisonburg
area.

Janice Blissit '86 was elected
president of the Union Point (GA)
Area Ministerial Association and vice
presdient of the Greene County

Hospital Chaplains Association Jane

Guthrie Rhodes 74 was honorably
retired in July at a meeting of Orange

Presbytery John Carothers 75 has

been called as assocaite pastor of

Ladue Chapel in St. Louis Edwin

Langham '54 is organizing pastor of

the Ooltewah, TN, Church Daniel

McMillan '84 is pastor of First
Church in Lenoir City and Chota

Church in Knoxville, TN Keith

Hill '50 married Linda Wise in
November at the First Church in
WiUiston, FL, where he has been

pastor since 1979 James H.

Bumgardner 70 has been called as
associate pastor to the First Church in
Lumberton, NC.

John Patton, Adjunct Professor
of Pastoral Theology at Columbia, was
principal speaker at the fifteenth
Northern European Seminar for
Pastoral Counselors, Ministers,
Doctors, and Therapists at the

Continued on page 7

VANTAGE

Development I Seminary Relations

By James F. Dickenson

Vice President, Development Seminar] Relations

Dr. James I. McCord, left, preached the sermon during Professor David Moessner's
ordination in the seminary chapel. Last year Dr. McCord received the Temple ton
Prize for Progress in Religion for persons who have pioneered new ways of
understanding God. He is former president of the World Reformed Alliance and the
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Dr. Moessner,
right, is Associate Professor of New Testament at Columbia and was a student at
Princeton Seminary when Dr. McCord was president there.

For the Record
Continued from page 6

Evangelical Academy, Bad Segeberg,
West Germany, and at a conference
on therapy pastoral care for
Norwegian chaplains at Fredrikstad,
Norway, in January. Dr. Patton was
consultant for the Pastoral
Psychotherapy Institute at Park Ridge,

IL J. Davison Philips '43,

President Emeritus of Columbia,
received the Mr. DeKaib Award from
the DeKaib County Unit of the
American Heart Association. The
award was given on the basis of

service to the community Cheves

Ligon '48 retired October 14 as
pastor of the Trinity Church in Myrtle
Beach, SC.

In January Shirley Guthrie,
Professor of Systematic Theology at
Columbia, participated in the
Dialogue between Roman Catholic
and Reformed Churches in Geneva,
delivered the mid-winter lectures for
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
McKenzie, TN, and taught the young
adults at Highlands ARP Church in
Stone Mountain and Sunday school at
Decatur Presbyterian. He taught at a
lay school in Charlotte for
Mecklenburg Presbytery in February
and preached and taught for the First
Presbyterian churches in Monticello,
AR, and Bowling Green, KY, in
March. In April Professor Guthrie
preached and lectured on the theology
of the family for the conference of the
Mid-Atlantic Region, Association for
Clinical Pastoral Education.

Theophilus C. King '75 is
stated supply of the St. Luke's Church

in Jackson, MS Brian Childs,

Associate Professor of Pastoral
Theology and Counseling at
Columbia, wrote The Southeast Region
of the Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education: A Twenty Year History and
the Twenty Years in the Making,
published by the Association of
Clinical Pastoral Education in Decatur.
He delivered a a lecture, 'A
Theological Anthropology of Care and
Its Usefulness for Care through

Separation and Divorce,*' at the third
annual lectureship at Carraway
Methodist Medical Center in
Birmingham in February. He gave a
presentation, "The Twenty Years of
the Southeast Region of ACPE" at
the twentieth annual conference of the
Southeast Region, ACPE, in

Columbia, SC, in March J.

Douglas Blair '68 has been called to

the Henderson, KY, Church Cecil

Thompson '31 is completing an
interim at Bay Minette, AL. He
continues as pastor in residence at the
Government Street Church in

Mobile George Stroup, Professor

of Theology at Columbia, and Will
Ormond, Professor of Biblical
Exposition at Columbia, taught in a
lay school for Charleston Presbytery at
Harbor View Church in February.

Mary Bettis Love 75 is interim
pastor of the St. Johns Church in

Jacksonville J. Frank Alexander

'44 retired from the South Highland
Church in Birmingham on December

31 Robert L. Carroll '81 has

been called as associate pastor of

Decatur Presbyterian Church Hyung

Kyu Park 77 is pastor of the
Korean Presbyterian Church in

Decatur Scott McNair Poole

(D.Min. '84) retired from the Altama

Church in Brunswick, GA Norman

Hibbard '82 was featured in an
article in the Tuscaloosa News in
February. Mr. Hibbard has completed
an interim term as pastor of the
Utkeagvik Church in Barrow,

AK Patrick Willson 71 is pastor

of the Shades Valley Church in

Birmingham, AL John LeHeup

(D.Min. '86) has been called as
associate pastor of the Central Church

in Anderson, SC C. Edward Davis

'42, honorably retired, has completed
his interim at Fairview Church in

Lawrenceville, GA Harry Peterson

'58 was one of four individuals
recognized by the DeKaib Community
Relations Commission at its awards
banquet on March 2 1 . Mr. Petersen is
executive director and founding
director of Villa International
Atlanta. D

Let the world know!

FOR THE past three years we have
worked hard to improve the
institutional relations arena for
Columbia Seminary. We have
improved our primary news outlet.
Vantage, we have sent out more press
releases, we have utilized the services
of a public relations firm, and we
have made excellent progress in our
various publications. Those are the
highlights of a busy program here at
the seminary.

There are a variety of views
regarding public relations. A couple of
years ago, I read an article which
basically said there are three reasons to
use public relations and two reasons
for not doing so. The positive reasons
were to get people to do something,
to get people not to do something,
and to get people to let us do
something. The two negative reasons
were to make people love us and to
create an image.

Well, we are not interested in
creating an image at Columbia
Seminary. What we are interested in
is to tell the true story of what is
taking place at this institution. The
facts must be truthful and complete.
We want people to do something.
We want the church to send us its
best students, we want the church's
loyalty, support, and interest. We also
want you to let us do something. We
want to do the best job possible of
preparing leaders for the church,
giving them sound theology, extensive
training, and a genuine love for the
pastoral concerns of people. We also
want to provide good continuing
education programs for both clergy
and lay people who are already on the
job. We serve together and each other
as the seminary, the church, clergy,
and lay people all work for the
enhancement of our Father's kingdom.
This leads to another area which

needs attention, public relations in the
church, We are not talking about
each church having a p.r. person or
the like Nor are we talking about
listing the weekly series of church
meetings in the local newspaper. We
are not even talking about the
electronic media being used by a
multitude i>t evangelists.

What we are saying is that a
church is, or should be, doing
significant work for Jesus Christ. This
should be communicated to the
congregation and to the community
Regardless of the size oi a church,
and whether we realize it of not, in
every community churches have
reputations. Atlanta has many notabli
churches which do certain things very
well, Cities, towns, and rural areas are
filled with active congregations which
do work faithful to the gospel of OUl
Lord.

However, the information does
not always filter into the community
as it should. Ministers should be
encouraged to give thought (and a
little time) to the subject of good p.r.
as it applies to local congregations.
Begin by taking a look at your
newsletter with the possiblity of
having it redesigned. Some newsletters
invite reading; others invite the trash
basket. Think through what you
release to the media. Ask them what
kinds of news they will use. You may
be surprised.

A word of caution. Do not be
concerned with creating an image for
your church or yourself. Have as your
objective letting people know what
you're thinking and doing. After all,
it is the Lord's business. We are to
"go ye into the world'" and "make
Him known.'' One of the ways to do
this is to demonstrate what his
followers are thinking and doing
How about giving it some thought.-' D

Students enjoyed Columbia 's January snow.

SPRING 1987

Dr. Oldenburg
receives MLK
Award

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Community Relations Committee
recently presented their annual Martin
Luther King Award to Dr Douglas
W. Oldenburg, Columbia's new
president. President Oldenburg
received the award at a Martin Luther
King Memorial service at Charlotte's
Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church on
January 19. One thousand people
were in attendance.

The award is presented each year
to one resident of Mecklenburg
County who is actively involved in
civil rights and who upholds the
ideals of peace and justice. Specifically,
the award honors those who promote
non-violent means of pursuing equal
rights, who work to build a
community of love and acceptance,
and who believe in and support
individuals as they pursue their
dreams of excellence.

The inscription to President
Oldenburg reads, "Charlotte-
Mecklenburg honors Douglas W.
Oldenburg for his dedication and
sacrifice in pioneering and persevering
in the ongoing struggle for justice and
equality for all. "D

The inauguration
of

Douglas W.
Oldenburg

as the

seventh president

of

Columbia

Theological

Seminary

October 11,

1987
7:30 p.m.

Claudia and Douglas Oldenburg

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

Second Class
Postage
Paid at
Decatur, GA
Publication No. 124160

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, Georgia 30031

CONTENTS

President Oldenburg begins 1

From the President 2

Tribute to Erskine Love 2

Admissions conference success 2

Professor Cousar receives grant 2

Still cooking after all these years 3

Graduation '87 3

Continuing education 4

Forum 1987 5

For the Record 6

Let the world know! 7

Dr. Oldenburg receives award 8