COLUMBIA 
THEOLOGICAL 
SEMINARY 



Vantage 



SUMMER 2000 



Oldenburg retires after 
14-year presidency 



ALTHOUGH it is as tempting to read too 
much into a picture as it is into a text 
of scripture, I cannot help noticing 
that the new portrait of Douglas 
Oldenburg hanging in the Presidents 
Room in Campbell Hall is the only one 
of the eight whose subject is smiling. 
To be sure, Davison Philips is sporting 
a Mona Lisa-like hint of his habitually 
gracious smile, and Dr. Richards' pose 
is benignly avuncular, but the rest  
even Ben Kline's, perhaps because he 
was so young  are solemn. While that 
of course reflects the fashions of presi- 
dential portraiture in years past, it is 
nevertheless worth noting that Doug 
has a great deal to smile about as he 
concludes his presidency. He leaves 
Columbia in remarkably healthy 
shape and with indelible marks of 
his leadership. 

As a young minister recently 
embarked on college chaplaincy in 
the late 1970s, I worshipped with the 
congregation that Doug served for 
15 years before he was called to 
Columbia. At Covenant Presbyterian 
Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, 
Doug was a pastor and mentor to me 
at a critical moment in my own min- 




Brian Wren is internationally hiown for 

Ins work in hymnody. Trinity Presbyterian 
Church of Atlanta created Columbia's 
nezu Conant Chair of Worship to enable 
the seminary to expand its offerings in the 
areas of worship, arts, and music, 



istry, helping me shape my response 
to God's call, tutoring me in the ways 
of the church's life and witness, and 
modeling faithfulness that was both 
winsome and powerful. His preaching 
taught me the impact of the Word pro- 
claimed with eloquence and passion. 
His love of learning and attention to 
his own continuing education showed 
me that scholarship could  and 
should  have a vital role in the life 
of the church. 

In a city struggling to match its 
burgeoning economic growth with 
moral responsibility, Doug spoke to 
movers and shakers as well as to street 
people and enabled them to stay in 
conversation with each other, frequently 
with surprising, long-term results. In 
large and complex congregations like 
Covenant, ministers frequently 
become managers, but Doug showed 
me they can instead exhibit the charism 
of administration and call forth from 
members and officers alike the gifts 
the Spirit gives the church for ministry 
in the world. 

The gifts Doug demonstrated for 
that kind of work had been honed for 
years. In the providence of God, he was 




Douglas W. Oldenburg, president from 1987 to 2000, stands in front of the addition to 
the John Bulow Campbell Library, built during his administration. 



born into a family that promised to 
tell him the stories of Jesus. His faith 
was nurtured as a child in the rich soil 
of the Reformed Church in America 
and as a teenager in the even richer 
soil of Mecklenburg Presbyterianism. 
Doug wrestled as a young person with 



the Christian faith as Jacob wrestled 
with the stranger at the Jabbok 
(Gen. 32:22-32), insisting that the 
church speak to an increasingly milita- 
rized and economically unjust world. 
Wise hands steered him to 

Continued on page 5 



Brian Wren named first holder 
of the Conant Chair of Worship 



At its spring meeting, the Board of 
Trustees of Columbia Theological 
Seminary voted to receive Brian Wren 
as the inaugural holder of the Miriam 
H. and John A. Conant Chair of 
Worship. 

Joanna Adams '79, chair of 
Columbia's Board of Trustees and 
pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church 
in Atlanta, which created this chair, 
speaks enthusiastically of Wren's 
appointment. "Our hearts are singing 
at Trinity Presbyterian Church! Who 
would have thought that the Conant 
Chair, which we are pleased to give in 
honor of two great Trinitarians, John 
and Miriam Conant, would be filled 
with a person of such international 
stature and depth of experience? 
Worship lies at the heart of the 
Christian enterprise, and we expect 
great things for Christ's church 



through Dr. Wren's teaching ministry 
at Columbia." 

A graduate of Oxford University, 
Wren received a Final Honours (B.A.) 
in modern languages, a Final Honours 
(B.A.) in theology, and a D.Phil, for a 
thesis on the Old Testament prophets. 
He is an ordained pastor in the United 
Reformed Church in England, and he 
has served in parish ministry and a 
not-for-profit educational campaign. 
Wren has also served as an adult 
education consultant and has been 
working most recently in freelance 
ministry as a poet, theologian, and 
hymn writer. 

Wren's publications include 
Contemporary Prayers for Public 
Worship; Finding Faith for Today; 
Education for Justice: Praying Twice; 
Wliat Language Shall I Borrow?, and 
Piece Together Praise. 



Wren is not a newcomer to 
Columbia Seminary or to the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In 1993, 
he delivered the Smyth Lectures at 
Columbia, with musical help from his 
marriage-partner, the Rev. Susdn 
Heafield. In addition, the 1990 edition 
of The Presbyterian Hymnal contains 
11 entries by Wren. 

Douglas W. Oldenburg, president 
of Columbia, says, "We are profoundly 
grateful that Trinity Presbyterian 
Church has established the Conant 
Chair of Worship and that Dr. Brian 
Wren has accepted our call to that 
position. Dr. Wren is widely esteemed 
throughout our country and around 
the world for his skills in music and 
worship. He both cherishes the 
Reformed liturgical tradition and is 
opening new ways of worshiping 
God."  Katie Ricks '02 



Reflections on retirement 



Douglas W. Oldenburg, President 



As READERS OF Vantage know, I will 
vacate the office of president on June 
30, and after a six-month sabbatical, 
retire on December 31, 2000. My wife, 
Claudia, and I are moving to Davidson, 
North Carolina, where we have a 
home on the lake. 

Obviously, these are times of tran- 
sition, both for the seminary and for 
the Oldenburgs. They are also times 
for reflection. A number of people 
have asked me how it feels to be just 
a few months from retirement. In one 
way, I still find it hard to believe, and 
perhaps there lurks within me a tinge 
of fear because I have never done this 
before. I have dearly loved my work 
as a pastor for 26 years and as a 
seminary president for 14 years, and 
I am afraid my self-identity is largely 
wrapped up in those two roles. I am 
a son of the Protestant work ethic, 



and even though I plan to stay busy 
following wherever the Spirit may 
lead, it may be hard to come to grips 
with no longer having a congregation 
or a seminary to serve on a daily basis. 
1 lowever, I am also a son of the Gospel, 
which reminds me that my value and 
identity are not dependent on what I 
do, but on God's amazing grace. 

Certainly, the most powerful feel- 
ing within me is profound gratitude. 
C l.uidia and I have asked throughout 
our lives the question, "Why have we 
been so richly blessed?" Blessed with 
good health, blessed with a great mar- 
riage and family, blessed with serving 
three wonderful congregations and a 
superb seminary, blessed with so 
many terrific colleagues, blessed with 
countless friends who have supported 
us, and the list goes on. We have 
never found a satisfying answer to 



that question, for certainly we don't 
deserve those blessings any more than 
anyone else, but we have received them 
.is undeserved gifts, and have sought 
to express our gratitude by being 
responsible stewards of those gifts. 
I have served Columbia during 
what must be one of the most fortu- 
nate periods of its history. Receiving 
the McPheeters and Campbell trusts 
during my tenure is ample evidence 
that "we build on foundations we did 
not lay." The strong stock market dur- 
ing the past 10 years has dramatically 
increased our endowment. Of course, I 
had nothing to do with either of those 
developments. The success of our 
capital campaign in the early nineties 
was due largely to the commitment of 
our board and the strong relationships 
that our predecessors at Columbia 
had built with our constituencies. The 



long-range strategic plan, Vision 2020, 
is the result of much hard work by 
board members and many others. Yes, 
Columbia and its president have been 
blessed in many ways, and my cup of 
gratitude "runneth over." 

I invite you to join me in giving 
thanks to God for the ways Columbia 
has been blessed over these years. I 
invite you to pray with me for the 
Search Committee as they continue 
their important task and for the whole 
seminary as it lives through this time 
of change. I also invite you to commit 
yourself to give the seminary and its 
new president the same generous 
support you have given me over these 
wonderful years. 

Transitions are never easy, but 
they can be times of rich growth and 
moving to higher levels of service. I 
pray that it will be so for Columbia. D 




Jenny ami Robert Alexander 



D.Miti. graduate Ella Bush/ is surrounded by well-wishers. 



Ok-Kee Kirn '99 congratulates Tommy Smith. 



Commencement marks farewell of president and graduates 



A reception at President Douglas 
Oldenburg's house, a final meal in the 
refectory, and an ice cream social on 
the quadrangle at sunset kicked off 
Columbia's commencement weekend, 
May 13 and 14. 

Sunday morning's baccalaureate 
service was held at Atlanta's Central 
Presbyterian Church. To a standing 
room only crowd, Oldenburg preached 
a sermon that served as his farewell 
address to the seminary. 

In Oldenburg's sermon, "By the 
Renewal of Your Mind," he urged the 
graduates to consider community over 
self-interest. Oldenburg exhorted the 
graduates to let their hearts be "not 
conformed to the world  but trans- 
formed through grace," so the church 
may be the model of community for 
the world. 

At the commencement service that 
afternoon at Peachrree Presbyterian 
Church, families and friends of the 
graduates and the staff and faculty of 
Columbia gathered to honor the class 
of 2000. Bagpipes, played by Kyle 



Henderson '97, a brass ensemble, and 
a selection from Handel's Messiah, 
sung by M.Div. recipient David Rice, 
heralded the occasion. 

The conferring of 107 degrees was 
conducted by Joanna Adams '79, chair 
of Columbia's Board of Trustees and 
pastor of Atlanta's Trinity Presbyterian 
Church. President Oldenberg, Executive 
Vice President and Dean of Faculty 
James Hudnut-Buemler, Vice President 
and Dean of Students Philip Gehman 
'68, and Director of Advanced Studies 
and Associate Professor of Theology 
Charles Raynal assisted. Fifty-one 
candidates received the Doctor of 
Ministry degree, and eight candidates 
received the Master of Theology 
degree. Forty-six students received the 
Master of Divinity degree and two the 
Master of Arts in Theological Studies. 

Dean Hudnut-Buemler then 
presided over the recognition of students 
for awards, honors, and fellowships. 

The Wilds Book Prize, for the 
highest distinction in academic 
achievement throughout the entire 



M.Div. program, was awarded to Amy 
Erickson. Erickson arose twice more to 
receive the Harvard A. Anderson 
Fellowship, honoring the graduate 
who has demonstrated the greatest 
academic promise for further graduate 
study, and the Presbytery of St. Andrew 
Presbyterian Women Preaching Award 
for the year's best sermon delivered 
by an M.Div. student. 

Robert Alexander received the 
Columbia Leadership Award, given 
to the senior showing outstanding 
skills in church leadership, as well as 
spiritual depth and integrity. 

The George and Sally Telford 
Award, given to a D.Min. student for 
congregational leadership in the areas 
of social justice and vision for the 
church, was presented to Gus Succopp. 

Connie Weaver was awarded 
the Paul T. Fuhrmann Book Prize in 
Church History. 

The William Dudley Evangelism 
Award was jointly awarded to Rob 
Laukoter and Chan Willis for their 
demonstration of commitment to 



evangelism and church growth. 

Annette Rogers received the Harold 
J. Riddle Memorial Book Award for 
showing the highest distinction in the 
field of pastoral care, with special 
focus on terminally ill patients. 

The James T. and Celeste M. Boyd 
Book Award, honoring those graduates 
who will be good stewards of a theo- 
logical library, was shared by Keith 
Morrison, Jeanerte Pinkston, and 
Christine Tiller. 

Cynthia Montgomery received the 
Columbia Friendship Circle Graduate 
Fellowship to aid further studies in 
recognition of superior achievements, 
and Jonathan Carroll was awarded a 
Columbia Graduate Fellowship to 
assist in further study as well. 

A reception, hosted by Peachrree 
Church, followed the service. This is 
the twelfth year that Peachtree has 
hosted Columbia's commencement. 

A list of graduates' dissertation 
topics and placements will appear in 
the next issue of Vantage . D 

David Dault (MATS '01) 



VANTAGE 




Ben C. Johnson on pilgrimage in Israel 



Ben Johnson after 19 years 



Ben Johnson arrived at Columbia in 
1981. It would be fair to say that he 
did not "fit" into a faculty that at that 
time was exceedingly Presbyterian 
and relatively homogeneous in per- 
spective. By that time in his ministry, 
he was an ordained minister in the 
Presbyterian Church (US), but he had 
come to that vocational identity and 
standing by a route highly unconven- 
tional at Columbia. He had been, as 
he terms it, a "boy preacher" who 
had moved through the chairs of 
Methodism. More than that, from 
early on, he had been a risk-taker 
willing to try fresh arenas of faith and 
ministry. Given his unquenchable 
entrepreneurial capacity, he had 
launched a "church renewal" center 
that produced programs and literature 
for church use that fell outside 
"regular channels" and appealed 
particularly to church laity. From that 
beginning, every ministerial and 
educational task Ben has undertaken 
has been marked by daring and a 
sensitivity to what is possible because 
of the capacity of God's spirit to move 
in conventional church forms but also 
beyond them. 

He joined the faculty as the 
Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and 
Church Growth, a new position fund- 
ed by Atlanta's Peachtree Presbyterian 
Church, an appointment that matched 
that congregation's passionate com- 
mitment to church growth. When Ben 
joined the faculty, it was still the case 
in the PCUS  as in every "mainline" 
denomination  that evangelism was 
not exactly a high priority. In part, 
there was a great ignorance about how 
to do "it"; in part, it was an awkward- 
ness that staid, established people did 



not engage in such aggressive or emo- 
tive enterprises. With characteristic 
resolve, Ben approached the task of 
evangelism and church growth with 
vigor and imagination, making him- 
self and his program in evangelism a 
great force in the church. 

But a funny thing happened to 
Ben on the way to church growth. 
He came to the conclusion that the 
"external" task of evangelism and 
church growth could not be effectively 
undertaken by church leaders when 
the "internal" disposition of faith was 
unsettled or unhealthy. He came to the 
conclusion that effective evangelism 
depended upon healthy, vital spiritu- 
ality. Through a careful transition, Ben 
convinced his faculty colleagues to 
support his move to a faculty position 
in spirituality. The rest, as they say, is 
history, very recent history, right up 
until this very moment. Ben mobili/ed 
not only his own energies but that of 
faculty colleagues as well as a host of 
others in churches and seminaries, and 
established a spirituality center with a 
certificate program. It has become a 
place of gathering, transformation, 
and consequent joy for a host of 
respondents. Ben has attended to the 
necessary matters of administration 
and budgets to make it work. But the 
tone of the program is characteristically 
one of friendship. In implementing 
this dream, Ben has fashioned friend- 
ships with faculty colleagues and is 
surely regarded as a special friend by 
those who have moved through the 
program. And for Ben, the program is 
a peculiar vehicle for friendship with 
Jesus. Ben  and those who share in 
the program  have identified some of 
the deepest needs of our society and 



Hudnut-Beumler 
going to Vanderbilt 

I \\ii s l Iudnut-Bhumi ik, ( lolumbia s 

utive vice president, dean ol 
faculty and professoi of it tnd 

culture, has been named dean ol 
Vanderbilt Universit) I fa init) 
School, effective August i Dean 
Hudnut-Beumler came to Columbia In 
1993 from the l illy i rtdow men! w here 
he was program a soi iate In the 

ion Division. Before thai he had 
served as administrative director ol 
the undergraduate program and le. 
harer in Public and International 
Allans, The Wood row Wilson School, 
Princeton University. 

In announcing Dean I liulnul 
Beumler's resignation at Columbia, 
President Douglas Oldenburg said, 
'The administrative staff and I have 
the highest regard for lini I l> has 
served in an exemplary way, and we 
hate to lose him. He senses, however 
the call of God to this position V\ hit h in 
the university system is the equivalent 
Ol the presidency in a live i.m.li 
seminary. Our dee] i soi row and 
regret over his leaving Columbia are 
in. itched by our gratitude tor his good 

work and friendship Oui prayers and 

best wishes go with him." 

During his seven year tenure at 
( olumbia, Hudnut-Beumler oversaw 
the strengthening ot Columbia 
emic life, the expansion of the library 
and the I lamngton ( entei and their 
greatly enhanced usefulness for the 
work of the seminary, and the devel- 
opment of a wide array of programs 
in service to the church. In the midsl 
of Columbia's growing administrative 
and programmatic complexity he 
guided the faculty toward an emphasi 
on the mission of the church in the 
twenty-first century. He made major 
contributions to Columbia's Vision 
2020: hong-Range Plan 1998-2020, which 
provides direction and coherence li- 
the varied work of the seminary 




fames ihuinut Beumler 



I ludnul Beumlei i< holarship 
ha i if used or the matei lal history ol 

the dim, h in North America ami 

m< irerei ently on the question ol Bte^ 
ardship In the i hurch's life taiong his 
publii ationa while at ( olumbia an 
Looking foi God in the Suburbs Tfa 
Religion oj the American Dream 'in, I n 
i nth  and < \enerous Saints 

i luring this pat I veai I teen 
i ludnul Beumlei a w Ife the Re^ I leii li 
i ludnul Beumlej sei \ ed as chapel 
i oordinatoi and unoffii lal pastoi to 
mam itudents She ha  nol onlj 
made a signifi< an! i ontribution to thi 
seminai j  worship life but als< ' man) 
h lends w ithin the student body 

I liulni.it Beumler said, "< olumbia 
Mm. ii \ e ' els a! foi mine people 
foi ministry. It also foi ms those ol us 
who teai ii and sei ve here, araj 1 1 ounl 
m\ sell blessed to ha\ e ministered 
with so man) tine i olleagues. All the 
i [udnut-Beumlers will remembei oui 
i let arm years with greal fondne 

i olumbi.i sends |nn ami I leuli, 
l< <;,-.< f 1 1 .- 1 w iih llicii . hildren, |ulia .iml 
M OUT thanks for their lile among 
ii I I atUT and our prayers and 

besl wishes as the) ai sume new 

responsibilities in Nashville.  

/ rskine I larke 66 
Acting Dean oj the I tn ulty 



have responded with skill, sensitivity, 
and generosity in a way that brings 
missional energy among us. 

Ben, however, is endlessly foi lisei I 
on "the big picture," so much BO thai 
details do not much claim In S attentii >n 
Indeed, I was at a session where Ben 
made three announcements: a) when 
lunch would be served, b) how to 
to lunch, and c) when to return to the 
meeting. On all three counts Cami 
voice from the back of the room, 
"That's not right, Ben " I he voii e 
that of Nan Johnson, Ben attenti 

i-'tary, constant companion and 
adored spouse. She is the glue that 
keeps Ben's professional life together 
and makes things work. 

And now we ponder the retirement 
of Ben and Nan and their departure 
from the collegium. The evangelism 
and church growth program has 
passed to others; the spirituality 
program is being passed to others. 
Both will prosper, but it required Ben 
to begin. The programs will miss Ben's 



and entrepreneui lal 
m i.i i n hi More ih. in that i ""' ' 

will miss lien's avuncular presem I 

and his hallmarks of generosity and 
hi ispitalit) By his largeness ol spirit, 
Ben has attrei ted to the seminary nol 

only a supportive constituency, bul 8 
large number of supports, edi 'liars, 
bei ause he has understood well the 

onne Hon between "te and 

hi art" (Matt 6:21). 

I know of no way to write this 
without if half sounding like an obitu- 
ary. Well, Ben "ain't even hall dead 

1 1 ill v alive with energy and 
imagination intact. Ben and Nan ! 

the seminary with good wishes from 
i olleagues and with deep thanks. Ben 
did not quite fit in at the beginnin 
even at the end fa his "not fitting," he 
hi lound endless, grace-filled ways to 
lead us where we had not thought to 
go. Well done, indeed!  

Walter Brueggt "hum 
Mi Pheetei  Professor of old Te \tamenl 



SUMMER 2000 



Continuing Education 
and Lay Institute 
Calendar 



For further information or to register for courses, call or write: 
Rebecca S. Parker, Director of Continuing Education, or 
Richard S. Dietrich, Director of the Lay Institute of Faith and Life 
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA 30031/404-378-8821. 



September 18, 25, October 2, 9 Fall Evening I ay & hool, Session One: 
GALATIANS; I VBYRINTH: PRAYEK IN MoiioN; and ( iikimiw APPROACHES TO 
R] i K.ioi s Pi i RA1 rn (starts September ID Leaders: Charlie Cousar, Julie 
[ohnson, and Thomas Thangaraj Cosl $45 

September 21, 28, October 5, 12 I .ill Morning Lay School, Session One: 
C. S. I i wis Leader: ( harlie Raynal. Cost: $35. 

October 23, 30, November 6, 13 Fall Evening Lay School, Session Two: Wisdom; 
Si v in mi- Churc h; and 1 1 H Gospi i A< < ording ro Ri mbrandt (and others) 
i eaders: Christine Yoder, Mark Douglas, and Kick Dietrich. Cost: $45. 

October 25, November 1, 8, 15 Fall Morning Lay School, Session Two: 
An Avvaki \i\(. Faith Leader: Marshall Jenkins. Cost: $35. 

October 30 Spikiiuai in and Aoino: Part Two of the Aging Series Leader: 
Herb Anderson. Cost: $25. 

November6-8 WiiinThi HONEYMOON Is OVER EIGHTEEN MONTHS INTO THE 

First Call Leaders: TASTE, Transition and Survival Skills Training Experience. 
< ost: $175 Spouse: $50. 

November 6-10 Guti irii Si i u )] ARS 

November 11 Arts WBEK WORKSHOPS Leaders: Melva Costen, Ann Bryan, 
Martha Jane Petersen, Fred Whitehurst. Cost: $15 per workshop. 



Study women 
in John's Gospel 

'Tin (iosn-i oi |ohn is remarkable for 
its intentional presentation of women 
as models of faith," says Frances Taylor 
Gench, professor of New Testament 
at Union Theological Seminary and 
Presbyterian School of Christian 
Education. "One of the most intriguing 
aspects of John is its utterly egalitarian 
view of the community of faith." 

Gench is author of Women and 
The Word: Studies in the Gospel o) John, 
the 2000-2001 Bible study that will be 
used in Presbyterian Women's circles 
in the coming year. This study gives 
special attention to the women who 
appear in John's Gospel and Jesus' 
relationship to them. 

The course is offered four times 
this summer by the Lay Institute, 
weekday mornings: June 26-30, with 
Frances Taylor Gench, author of the 
study book; August 7-11 with Rebecca 
Parker, an ordained Presbyterian 
minister and director of continuing 
education at Columbia; or Friday 
evening/Saturday morning, August 
11-12 and August 18-19, with 
Morningstar, who holds a master's 
degree in theological studies and is 
associate director of Columbia's Lay 
Institute of Faith and Life. 

Tuition is $45 for the weekday 
courses, $30 for the weekend courses 
plus meals. To request a brochure, 
call 404/687-4577.  



Summer Lay 
Scholars meet 
August 7-11 

"Wi i a i i x ) \vi say about Jesus? Christ 
for the New Millennium" is the theme 
of this year's Summer Lay Scholars 
Program, August 7-11. 

Summer Lay Scholars is an 
opportunity for lay people to spend a 
week on campus, studying a biblical 
or theological issue in depth. The 
week will be led by Douglas F. Ottati, 
Pemberton Professor of Theology 
at Union Theological Seminary/ 
Presbyterian School of Christian 
Education, assisted by Columbia 
faculty members. 

At the center of this summer's 
study are the issues of what theologians 
call "Christology" and "soteriology"  
how we understand Jesus to be Christ 
and savior. Students will explore 
questions about Jesus' life, death, 
and resurrection. Who was Jesus of 
Nazareth? What did it mean for him 
to die on the cross? How do we know 
Jesus was raised? 

Participants are encouraged to stay 
in on-campus housing. Tuition, room 
and board are $300; tuition only is 
$175. Registration deadline is July 23. 

For a brochure or more informa- 
tion about the week, call the Lay 
Institute at 404/687-4577, or email 
LayInstitute@CTSnet.edu. D 




Colloquium 2000 focused on worship and music in the twenty-first century. It featured 
worship services and workshops with special attention paid to questions of contemporary 
and traditional music and liturgies and was led by distinguished professors, theolo- 
gians, and authors from across the nation. More than 250 pastors, lay leaders, faculty 
members, and students attended the April event. 

Thomas Troeger, above with homiletics professor Anna Carter Florence, led 
opening and closing worship services, weaving his sermons together with musical 

tions designed to evoke the sorrow, tenor, and joy which beset those who witnessed 
the first Easter 

Don Saliers, professor at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and 
Marva Dawn, theologian, author, and educator, delivered keynote lectures. Their 
complementary addresses, "The Travail of Worship in a Culture of Hype" and "The Hope 
of Worship in a Culture of Travail," each raised critical issues facing congregations at 
the crossroads of the new millennium. 

Next year's Colloquium 2001, April 23-25, will focus on the church's critical role 
in communities of faith in contemporary American culture. 



Missional church 
conversation held 

Since its publicauon in 1998, the 
research volume, Missional Church: A 
Vision for the Sending of the Church in 
North America, has stimulated a broad 
and intense conversation about the 
present and future calling of the 
church in our country. The authors, 
all of whom work within the Gospel 
and Our Culture Network, call for a 
reorientation of the church as we 
encounter the new and strange mission 
field which North America has become. 
Under the auspices of the network, 
five studies have appeared which 
address these issues. 

A continuing education workshop 
invites pastors to engage the authors 
of these studies in a series of informal 
conversations, based upon the reading 
of the books. Five such conversations 
will take place on campus over the 
next two years. Darrell Guder, 
Columbia's Peachtree Professor of 
Evangelism and Church Growth, will 
host the conversations. 

The first conversation will take 
place September 25-26. Dr. George 
Hunsberger, professor of missiology 
at Western Theological Seminary and 
coordinator of the Gospel and Our 
Culture Network, will join Guder in 
a discussion on "The Emergence 
and Agenda of the Missional Church 
Conversation." Hunsberger edited The 
Church Between Gospel and Our Culture. 

Cost of the event is $160. For more 
information, call 404/687-4562. Q 



Congregations 
in transition 
workshop set 

How is the meaning of being a 
Christian changing in a post-Christian 
society? How are the role and function 
of congregations changing? What does 
it mean to become an "equipping" or 
"empowering" community? These are 
questions that will be addressed in Dr. 
Ed White's workshop, "Transforming 
Congregations for the Future: How 
Mainline Congregations Can Adapt 
to be Faithful and Fruitful in a Post- 
Christian Society." In this workshop 
there will be practical suggestions as 
well as lecture and conversation 
designed to understand better the 
dynamics of changes occurring and 
the place of the church within them. 

Edward A. White is a senior 
consultant for the Alban Institute. A 
parish pastor for eight years, he served 
for nearly 20 years in judicatory posi- 
tions. He is a member of National 
Capital Presbytery. Since joining the 
institute in 1980, he has shared his 
expertise in such areas as strategic 
planning, team building, board devel- 
opment, and leadership training in a 
variety of settings. 

The workshop is scheduled 
October 23 through October 26. Cost 
of the event is $250. For more informa- 
tion, contact the Office of Continuing 
Education at 404/687-4562.  



VANTAGE 




Pete Petersen '58 



Distinguished Service Awards 
given to two alumni 



At its annual Alumni /ae Association 
meeting in April, Columbia Seminary 
presented its Distinguished Service 
Award to Harry F. Petersen III '58 and 
John N. Somerville '53. These awards 
are presented annually to two 
Columbia graduates who have shown 
outstanding Christian service in 
ministry throughout their lives. 

On three continents for more than 
40 years, "Pete" Petersen has been a 
faithful and creative witness to Christ's 
love. After preparing for ministry at 
Columbia, Princeton Theological 
Seminary, and the University of 
Edinburgh, Petersen served as minis- 
ter to students at the University of 
South Carolina. As an associate pastor 
at First Presbyterian Church in 
Huntington, West Virginia, he created 
Christmas International House, which 
still provides places of welcome for 
college students from overseas. 

He served as a missionary in 
Taiwan and taught at the University 
of Nigeria. While serving as chaplain 
at the University of Cape Coast, teach- 
ing New Testament studies, and pas- 
toring two churches, he developed the 



C ampus Christian Council of Ghana. 

Noted for providing hospitality 
throughout his life, Petersen founded 
and, for most of its history, operated 
Villa International, which provides 
housing and a place of welcome for 
hundreds of overseas guests in the 
United States and Atlanta. 

John Somerville has served as a 
missionary in Korea for 41 years. After 
graduating from Columbia, he earned 
an MA. and Ph.D. from Harvard 
University in East Asia history and 
languages, and an M.A. in Oriental 
philosophy at Sung Kyun-Kwan 
University in Seoul, Korea. 

Somerville was a member of the 
faculty of Hannam University, Taejon, 
Korea, for 26 years and a participant 
in that school's founding and develop- 
ment. He has also taught at Korean 
Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 
In retirement, Somerville continues 
to campaign for the liberation of pris- 
oners of conscience and the quest for 
peace and reunification of the Korean 
Peninsula, and to take food and 
medical supplies to the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea.  




Columbia's John Bulmv Campbell Library has purchased the 4,000-volumc collection of 
Norman Wliybray, who, at the time of his death, was professor emeritus of Hebrew and 
Old Testament at the University of Hull, England, and a leading Wisdom Literature 
scholar. His widow, Mary Whybray, offered the collection to Columbia in order to keep 
it together and to honor Columbia Old Testament Professor Walter Brueggemann and 
his wife, Mary. Mrs. Wliybray also gave the library her husband's papers, notes, work- 
ing files, and' a portrait. With Mrs. Whybray are Tim Browning, library director, and 
Professor Brueggemann. 



DarrellGudei was inaugurated as the Peachtree P oj Evangelism and Church 

Growth in March during the spring meeting of Columbia's Hoard oj Trustees His 
address was "Risking Beginnin ion and I Christendom 

Catherine Gonzalez, professo) oj i hurt h history, took pint in the sei 

President Oldenburg retires, continued from page I 



Davidson C ollcgc, Union I heolov.n .il 
Seminary in Virginia, and Yale 
University, where he tested and found 
reliable the tradition he inherited 
Congregations in Flkins, West Virginia 
and Lynchburg, Virginia, i onfil Died 
his call anc\ polished his skills .is a 
pastor. They also taught him tin- 
urgency of telling the truth ol the 
gospel and doing the work of ministry 
in the world God loves. Surely it was 
that, as much as his proven track ie. Old 
at raising money and influencing the 

church, that attracted the Presidential 

Search Committee from Columbia 

There are some immediately 
obvious gifts Doug leaves us as he 
retires. First is the i hara< tei ol the 
faculty itself, over two-thirds of which 
is directly shaped by his leadership. 
Of the 34 of us in active service, only 
nine were here to welcome Doug in 
1987. We are by no means a hand- 
picked crowd; I have served on Bean h 
committees with Doug and I know he 
trusts the committee process here 
much as he did in the parish I le has 
nevertheless been deeply, personal! 
engaged in building the Columbia 
faculty, urging us to seek not only 

the finest teachers and scholars, but 

specifically those whose love for the 
people of God and devotion to! hrisfs 

church are at least as clear as his own 

Columbia has grown markedly 
during Doug's tenure, inevitably 
changing the character ol the institll 
tion, as have new academic progi 
in spirituality and new churl h devel 
opment, the flourishing of the Lay 
Institute of Faith and Life, and the 
development of the Southern Institute 
for Business and Professional I ti 
As Columbia has grown from a 
seminary best known for its service 
to southeastern Presbyterians into an 
internationally recognized leader in 
theological education, Doug has never 
lost sight of Columbia's central V0< a 
tion to serve the church by preparing 
its pastors. We owe the missional 
focus of the seminary's work in the 
twenty-first century to many thought- 



ful and i reati\ e minds bul II would 

nevei have he. nine so . leai had I h>u- 

not consistently pressed us to 

ourselves ami oui l.iUu in Ihe sei  n e 
of the whole  hm. h 

To pre i this mm h - hanj 

requires an uni ommon measure ol 
grai e, sini e fa< ultiea an notoi lously 
re< ali Itranl bodies I >oug has won 
ome battles with the fai ultj and lo il 
some ovei the years, and il Is to his 
. redil thai the fundamental admiration 
and respe< I between us has nol been 

i ompromisiil I oug i an disagree with 

us  sometimes \ ehemently  and 
remain n lends I Ium e tie^ h ^ nown 
anothei a< ademii president to do that 

so consistently 

ditions to the fohn Uulow 
( ampbell I ii>r.u\ and the I brrington 
Center, multiple building renovations/ 
and the beautiii. ation "i the i ampu 
 whose quadrangli rightly 

named In I Doug's honor are i h i ma 
nent reminders oJ I Doug's Bei vii e to 
the Beminary. 

I will remember him ftfl one who 

believes passionately that we all shan 
stewardship ol ( lod's i reation and 
who therefore never simply asks 

people to gh rte) bul rather 

invites them Into ( olumbia's mi i lion. 

i, v. iii ii the Im teased visibility 
of the leminarj prompted critii i im 
from some i oi ners <>f the i hun h, 
Dougnevi i compromised ( olumbia's 

tuiul.inirnl.il i ommitinent lo being .1 

theology al re loun e for the whole 

church of Jesus Christ. 

I toug and Claudia Oldenburg 
e been treasured friends tor many 

years, and I am grateful that then 

I ions Will draw them from Lake 
Norman, North Carolina, to tin- 
Atlanta area foi frequent visits in thi 
future They will continue to grace 
our life at Columbia for a long time 
in the memory of faithful and loving 
service they have given us, Columbia, 
and the church. 

We have as much to smile about 
as Doug does.  Beth Johnson, 

J. Davison Philips Professor 
of New Testament 



SUMMER 2000 



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. 



Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, associate 
professor of World Christianity, was 
awarded a Lilly Theological Research 
grant for 2000-2001 from the 
Association of Theological Schools 
and named a Lilly Faculty Fellow. The 
grant will help support his research 
project, "Latin America for Christ, 
Discerning Mission with the Cultural 
Other: Intercultural Theory and a 
History of Protestant Christianity in 
Latin America, 1916-1960," while on 
sabbatical Douglas Hix '53, profes- 
sor emeritus, is the new president of 
St. Andrews Presbyterian College At 
St. Andrews, Hix served as chair ol 
the Christianity and culture program 
from 1969-1974 and as associate pro- 
fessor of Christian thought from 1968- 

1976 Darrell Guder, professor of 

evangelism and church growth, 
preached at the Crossroads church, 
Stone Mountain, GA; the North 
Decatur, GA, church for witness sea 
son; and at joint services at First and 
Westminster churches, Baytown, TX. 
He gave the "lost lectures at Lutheran 
Theological Southern Seminary in 
Columbia, SC, and Jacksonville, FL. 
His recent book, The Continuing 
Conversion of the Church, has been pub- 
lished by Eerdmans. He participated 
in and was a respondent to a consulta- 
tion on the catechumenal process at 
Grand Rapids, MI, and another on 
new church development at the offices 
of the General Assembly, Louisville, 
KY. He participated in a research 
team, Missional Church Models, for 
Gospel and Our Culture Network in 
Chicago, and a board meeting at 
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, 
Pasadena, CA. He taught a class at 
First church, Atlanta, led a congrega- 
tional workshop at Faith church, 
Canton, GA; a presbytery workshop 
on missional church at New Covenant 
Presbytery; evangelism workshops at 
the Druid Hills church, Atlanta, and 
Coastal Carolina Presbytery; and 
preached at a leadership retreat at 
Northminster church, Cincinnati. 
John Cook '99 and Susannah 
Hager '99 are associate pastors at the 

Shandon church, Columbia, SC Joan 

Gray '76 is interim pastor at Hemphill 

Memorial church, Stockbridge, GA 

Hubert Taylor '47, professor emeritus, 
led for Trinity church, Atlanta, the 
annual women's retreat at Red Top 
Mountain State Park, Cartersville, 

GA Peggy Owens '94 is associate 

general presbyter for education and 
mission for the Presbytery of Mid- 
Kentucky..... Jack Daniels (MATS '90) 
is teaching biblical studies as adjunct 
instructor in religion at Flagler 
College. He continues work toward a 
DTh. in New Testament from the 

University of South Africa Robert 

Frost '95 is pastor of First church, 

Apopka, FL Ben Johnson, professor 

of spirituality, led a spirituality /evan- 
gelism workshop for Charlotte 



Presbytery, was keynote speaker of a 
spirituality workshop for Denver 
Presbytery and Marble Collegiate 
church, New York City, preached .it 
Arvada church, Denver, CO, and lor 
an Faster sunrise ser\ k e on the Red 
spring training baseball field for 
,\n ecumenical venture of downtown 
Ft. Myers, FL, churches 

Rusty Freeman '84 is pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church of Johnstown, 
OH Mr has had 30 articles published 
and his first book, Journey into Day: 
Meditations t<>r New Cancer Patients, 
has been printed by Judson Press. 
...Bob Montgomery '53 wrote 
Introdlli Hon to the Sociology of Mis>ion^. 
published last year by ( .nenwood 

Publishing Group Ernestine Cole, 

associate dean of students, attended 
the Health Ministries Coordinators 
Conference in San Juan, Puerto Ri< < 
for Presbyterian seminaries. She was a 
member of a team representing the 
Presbyterian Church (USA) Women's 
Ministries Program in Accra, Ghana, 
visiting the Institute of Women in 
Religion and Culture. She was co- 
leader of a workshop, "Racism," at the 
Executive Council of the Presbyterian 
Women meeting of the Synod of 
South Atlantic. She preached at Belle 
Terrace church, Augusta, GA, for their 
Women's Day celebration, and at /ion 
Missionary Baptist church, Jackson, 

GA Jennifer McGee '98 is chaplain 

at Grady Hospital, Atlanta Cheryl 

Gosa '79 is vice president for business 
development of Atlanta Interfaith 
Broadcasters, Inc., a religious cable 
channel in Atlanta. She hosts a new 
series on spirituality as it is affected 
by the new technology, primarily the 
internet. She is president of Ideas and 
Images, Inc., a non-profit educational 
media company 

Carolyn Robinson Hart '89 is a 
member oi the staff of East Tennessee 



BIRTHS 

To Marvin '94 and Laura Lindsay, 
a son, Andrew Carswell, April 25,2000. 
To Michael I loyt (DMin '02), and 
Mary Ellen, a son, James Vernon, 
Feb. 6, 2000. 

To Stan Saunders, associate professor 
of New Testament, and Brenda Smith, 
a daughter, Aja Lois, Mar. 9, 2000. 



DEATHS 

John P. Simmons '29, Feb. 4, 2000. 
Chester Keller '40, Jan. 2, 2000. 
Cecil Brearley '47, Feb. 7, 2000. 
Max Milligan '50 (ThM '58), 
Mar. 4, 2000. 

L. Samuel Magbee '53, Dec. 3, 1999. 
Drennon Cottingham '61, Mar. 1, 2000. 
J. Samuel Peters '70, Jan. 31, 2000. 
Columbus Hartwell (MATS '01), 
Jan. 30, 2000. 



Presbytery... Caroline Kelly '99 is 
associate pastor of Central church, 

Atlanta, GA Christine Roy Yoder, 

assistant professor of Old Testament, 
successfully defended her dissertation, 
Wisdom as a Woman of Substance: A 
Socioeconomic Reading of Proverbs 1-9 
ami 31:10-31, at Princeton Seminary; 
attended the regional meeting of 
the Society for Biblical Literature/ 
American Academy of Religion in 
Atlanta; taught Wednesday night sup- 
per programs at the North Decatur, 
GA, church and Rock Spring church, 
Atlanta; and spoke at an alumni/ae 
gathering at the Riverside church, 

Chattanooga, TN Chris Carson '96 

is associate pastor of the Alpharetta, 
GA, church Rodger Nishioka, asso- 
ciate professor of Christian education, 
led a Bible study, "Connections of the 
Heart," for the National United 
Methodist Youth Workers Convention 
in San Diego. He was keynote speaker 
for the Presbytery of South Dakota 
meeting, the annual gathering of 
Presbyterian Women of South Carolina 
in Abbeville and of Greater Atlanta 
Presbytery, the California-Pacific 
Conference of Youth Ministry Leaders 
in Los Angeles, and Presbytery of the 
Cascades Pastors Conference in Bend, 
OR. He preached at the Northwoods 
church, Houston TX, and the Lake 
Hills church, Knoxville, TN. 

Wade Huie '46, professor emeritus, 
is Theological Education Fund repre- 
sentative for the Synod of South 
Atlantic, promoted the fund through 
the presbyteries, and attended the 
national meeting at Princeton Seminary. 
He led a D.Min. course, represented 
Columbia by presenting joint D.Min. 
degrees at the graduation exercises of 
United Theological College of West 
Indies in Jamaica in May, and preached 
a prayer series for Festival of Faith at 

First church, Hartsville, SC Timothy 

Simpson '94 ('95 ThM) is pastor of 

the Middleburg, FL, church David 

Cameron '82 is co-pastor of the 
Rockfish church, Nellysford, 
VA Mark Douglas, assistant profes- 
sor of Christian ethics, successfully 
defended his dissertation at the 
University of Virginia in March. He 
taught a series of adult education 
classes at the Oglethorpe church, 
Atlanta; presented a paper at the 
regional American Academy of 
Religion meeting; met with Columbia 
alumni/ae at Presbyterian College; 
and co-led an ecumenical Ash 
Wednesday service at Brookhaven 
Christian Church, Atlanta. He began 
work on a new manuscript about the 
politics of confessing Christ in a twen- 
ty-first century liberal democracy. His 
article, "Agreeing to Disagree," was 
published in journal for Preachers. 

Joe Hinds '99 and Kazy Blocher '00 
were married July 3, 1999, in Decatur, 

GA Tommie Malone '71 is pastor of 

Rocky Springs church, Laurens, SC. 
...Ben Kline, president emeritus and 
adjunct professor, was baccalaureate 
preacher at Agnes Scott College in 
May and preached on "Calling and 
Responding: Women for the World." 
He was presented a resolution by the 
college's Board of Trustees, naming 
him Dean of the Faculty Emeritus. 



From 1957 to 1968, he served as the 
college's dean and taught philosophy 
and Bible and religion from 1951 to 
1983. Kline taught an adult class at 

Trinity church, Atlanta Jimmy 

Cazin '95 is at First church, Tampa, as 
campus minister to the University of 
Tampa and leads worship for their 
contemporary service. He and his 
wife, Amy, were remarried Dec. 11, 

1999 Laura Aull Johnston '90 is 

campus minister at the University 
of Illinois. 

Beth Johnson, professor of New 
Testament, taught two adult education 
series at Central church, Atlanta, 
and an adult education series at St. 
Andrews church, Tucker, GA. She 
presented a paper at the annual meet- 
ing of the Biblical Theologians in 
Princeton, NJ. She was elected to the 
General Assembly's Presbyteries 
Cooperative Committee, which 

oversees ordination exams Martha 

Clinkscales '85 received a 1999 
Hometown Hero award, which recog- 
nizes those who work behind the 
scenes to make the community life of 
Decatur, GA, better. Through her work 
with the juvenile courts and Decatur 
Cooperative Ministry, she has acted as 
an advocate for young people and the 
homeless. She also has a leadership 
role in the DeKalb Historical 
Society.. ...Charles Cook '59 is parish 
associate for Central church, Athens, 

GA Mark Clark '91 is development 

officer of Presbyterian Children's 

Homes, Austin, TX Walter 

Brueggemann, professor of Old 
Testament, lectured at Notre Dame 
University, the Clergy Conference of 
Providence Presbytery, the University 
of Winnipeg, Georgetown University, 
Union Theological Seminary in New 
York, and the North American 
Conference on Christian Philanthropy. 
He preached at Fellowship 
Congregational Church, United 
Church of Christ, Tulsa, OK; Young 
Memorial Associate Reformed 
Presbyterian Church, Anderson, SC; 
the Church of God seminary, 
Cleveland, TN; and Zion United 

Continued on page 7 




Vantage 

Volume 92, No. 1, Summer 2000 
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, G A 30031-0520 

VANTAGE 



For the Record 

continued from page 6 



Church of Christ, Louisville, KY. He 
addressed the Episcopal Diocese of 
Alabama; First church, Dalton, GA; 
and preached and gave an address at 
the annual Lectionary Homiletics 
meeting at First church, Atlanta. His 
book, Texts That Linger, Words Tliat 
Explode, has been printed by Fortress 
Press. His recent articles are published 
in Tlie Other Side, Word and World, and 
Perspectives in Religious Studies. His 
articles in books have been published 
by Sheffield Press, Eisenbrauns, and 
Trinity Press International. He was 
elected editor at large for The Christian 
Century, where his article, "The 
Liturgy of Abundance," was printed. 
For that article, he was given by 
Associated Church Press the "Award 
of Excellence" in Theological 
Reflection. His book, Genesis, has 
been translated into Korean. 
Brueggemann is a member of the 
American Theological Society. 

Clayton Bell '58 was honorably 
retired from the Highland Park church, 
Dallas Paul Bonham ('92 DMin), 



is pastor of Indiantown church, 

Hemingway, SC Alex Feliberty- 

Ruberte '99 is director of the religious 

life office of the Ponce campus, Inter- 
American University of Puerto Rico. 
He is an ethical advisor of the chancel- 
lor's executive staff and chaplain and 
spiritual director of the university 
community. He is preaching at the 
Presbyterian church, Ensenada 
...Todd Shumpert '97 is associate 
pastor of First church, Northport, 
NY. ...Kathleen O'Connor, professor 
of Old Testament, served on the 
Selection Committee for the Hispanic 
Theological Initiative and Pew 
Charitable Trust Award, held at 

Princeton Seminary in April Jon 

Wallace '91 is pastor of First church, 

Kinston, NC Doug Hood '87 is 

pastor of Lenape Valley church, New 

Britain, PA Kathryn Thoresen '84 is 

interim at the Grosse Pointe Woods, 

MI, church Margit Ernst, instructor 

in theology, preached twice at the 
Dorchester church, Summerville, SC, 
and taught Sunday school there. She 
also held a workshop for pastors and 
Christian educators of Charleston- 
Atlantic Presbytery on "Confessing 
the Faith in the Twentieth Century: 



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The Jesus Story 

by Ben Campbell Johnson and Brant D. Baker 

The Word on the Street: Performing the 

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Reformed Confessions Wbrldwid 

Chip Blankinship '95 ted worship 
and preached twice at St Mary 
Magdalen Catholic Church, Maitl.ind 
FL, as part of an interfaith evening 
prayer series John Leith '43, pastOl 
emeritus of First church, Auburn, AL, 
preached tor its 150th anniversar) In 
June. Frank Covington ('92 DMin) is 
pastor ot the church. McCoy Franklin 
'64, former pastor, preached in February. 
....Ron Cram, associate protessoi of 

Christian education conducted two 

weekly programs about adolescents 
and religious development on an 
Atlanta radio station, attended a 
curriculum division meeting ot the 
National i ouncil of Churches, K.I .i 
week-long retreat with Mary Anne 
Fowlkes in Williamsburg on the spin 
tuality of children, ami .> course about 
bullies for parents of adolesi ents .it 
the Roswell, GA, church. 1 le attended 
a leadership planning seminar ot the 
Association of Theological School-. 

in Pittsburgh and the annual board 

meeting of the Religious I Jim ation 
Association in Chicago. Cram 
reviewed The Sacrament oj Teaching 
(volume one) in Religious Education, 
and, with his family, served at a men's 

shelter in downtown Atlanta 

Charles Cousar, professor of New 
Testament, preached at First church, 
Oxford, MS, and led a retreat for 
ministers of St. Andiew liesbytery 
on the lectionary texts for Eai 
He preached the installation sermon 
tor Lynn Gifford '98 and Jones 
Doughton '93 at First church, 
Columbus, GA. Cousar taught an 
introduction to the New Testament 
class for new members <>! the I > SCUT, 

GA, church Bonnie Habbersett '95 

is pastor of the Kingsville, OH, < hun l> 

Anna Carter Florence, assistant 
professor of preaching and worship, 
successfully defended her dissertation 
at Princeton Theological Seminary in 
April and graduated in May. She wa 
a leader at the Montre.it Preaching 

Conference in May Polly Deppen 

'92 is the first associate pastor for 
family ministries at the Presbyterian 
Church of Stanley, Overland Park, KS. 
....Chuck Campbell, associate professor 
of homiletics, preached ,il Mir < >pen 
Door Community and the Festival ol 
Homiletics. He attended the Urban 
Roundtable Conference on Urban 
Ministry, and co-authored a book, 
The Word on the Street: Performing the 
Scriptures in the Urban Context, with 
Stan Saunders, associate professor 

of New Testament Tim Read '98, 

Mclntire School of Commerce faculty 
advisor at University of Virginia, led a 
student team which won top honors ,it 
a major intercollegiate business ethics 
case competition in Los Angeles. 
Ann Clay Adams, director of 
admissions, spoke at St. Thomas 
Aquinas Catholic Church, Alpharetta, 
GA, and the Mt Vernon church, Sandy 
Springs, GA. She, George Stroup, pro 
fessor of theology, Steve Rhodes '75, 
and Tom Groome '98 participated in 
the installation of John Cole '98 at 
First church, Somerset, KY.  




Gift planning 
officer named 

Mil II \l I t AREY 

1 1 v. joined the 
i v\ elopment 

I Mh.r.it 

( olumbia as 

dun toi ot gilt 
m planning I le 

A I . omes From the 

ft ** I \m.'i u .in I leart 

A I Association, 

 I when 1 he was 

^^^^*-  ^^ southeastern 
Ah, Hael i any regional director 

ot planned gifts 

I le .uld-. .in important dimension to 

our gifts program bringing his i onsid- 
erable skills to bear on planned gifts 
and estate planni] 

Mike's role '! * olumbia r. ome- 

thing i thought ot on May 14, on 

the i" i asion "i I olumbia grai luation 

for the class ot !000 .it IV. u htiee 
Presb\ tei lan < hun h I lie event blend 
i'd i rlebration, tradition, honor, and 

hip i w as reminded "i the many 
blessings l !od has bestowed upon tins 
. ommunity bi Ighl students, an oul 
standing fa< ulty, and a wealth of ways 
to sei v e the mission ol theologi< al 

education lot the church oi k IU 

Christ. The faithful devotion and i i 
v u < oi many people tro e brought us 

tO this point. 

i >oug ( ftdenburg has often said 

that we .ii lb'' seminai \ -ii Inl from 
wells we did rtol dig and hai v est from 
vineyards we did not plan! I <>< well 
o\ ci ,i . entury, i ountless Indh [duals 
ui\ ested not in Hun ..w n i  v eg but in 
i Jod guidani e to < ome to ( olumbia 

1 1 m.i i j to studj i" tea* h b 
so thai today we are rii lib ble  d 

poised i"i a i using future 

i , h tl ing ahead, ii Is the seminary's 
challenge and responsibility to main- 
i.iin its relevant e to the i hun ii a a 

oun  foi its leadership, foi Bolution 
to ii problems, and as  > lively setting 

for theological study an. I dlSCOUTSe 

We must i onrinue t<> i ifrei i ibranf 

progr.ims Spirituality, the I .i\ 
institute, the < entei foi New Church 
Development  which serve the I Inn. I. 
.Hid its members in me.uunejul ways. 

It is our community i halli n 
and the < hun h\ i h.illenge, having 

inherited and hai nested bom the 

"vineyards we did nol plant/' to 
build on the past, to ensure thai the 
Columbia Seminars ol the future 
is as relevant to ordained and lay 
' I iristians seeking to lead faithful 
lives as it is fcod 

1 am delighted that Michael Carey 
has joined OUl Staff. Mike will provide 

his expertise to local congregation 
and Columbia suppor te rs alike, 
enabling them to make significant 
gifts  significant in their importance 
to donors and their families, to the 
seminary, and to the future of the 
church. D Richard DuBose, 

I f. e President for Development 
and Seminary Relations 



Prices subject to change as determined by publishers. 

Please send this completed order form to: CTS Bookstore, P.O. Box 520, 

Decatur, GA 30031; 404/687-4550. 



SUMMER 2000 




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With more than 47 years of service among them, Suanne SauerBrun, Linda Lehfeldt, and Nan Johnson retire this 
summer. (L-r): Suanne SauerBrun, who joined the Columbia staff in 1979 as secretary to the dean of students, is retir- 
ing as manager of Columbia's bookstore, a position she has held since 1985. Linda Lehfeldt retires after seven years as 
administrative assistant to the director of advanced studies. Nan Johnson, joins her husband, Ben, in retirement. (See 
article on page 3.) She came to Columbia with him in 1981 as his assistant. 



Date new address effective 



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Vantage 



P.O. Box 520  Decatur, Georgia 30031 

404/378-8821 

www.CTSnet.edu 

CONTENTS 

Tribute to retiring President Oldenburg 1 

Brian Wren joins Columbia faculty 1 

Reflections on retirement 2 

Commencement 2000 2 

Ben Johnson, spirituality professor, retires 3 

Thanks to Dean Hudnut-Beumler 3 

Continuing Education, Lay Institute calendar 4 

Continuing Education, Lay Institute offerings 4 

Distinguished Service Awards presented 5 

For the Record 6 

From the Bookstore 7 

Gift Planning Officer named 7 

Forty-seven years of service 8 



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Publication No. 124160 



COLUMBIA 
THEOLOGICAL 
SEMINARY