Columbia Theological Seminary Vantage, 78, number 3, Winter 1986

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

WINTER 198

Oldenburg named
seventh president

At a called MEETING on November
17, the Board of Directors of
Columbia Theological Seminary voted
unanimously to name Dr. Douglas W.
Oldenburg, who was pastor of the
Covenant Presbyterian Church in
Charlotte, NC, as the seminary's
seventh president. Commenting on the
boards decision. Dr. William Bryant,
chair of the Search Committee, said,
"In nominating Dr Doug Oldenburg
for the position of president of
Columbia Theological Seminary, the
Search Committee is confident that we
have a person who is a scholar, who
understands the importance of
theological inquiry, an administrator
who appreciates the value and
necessity of organization, and a pastor
who is committed to excellence in the
training of men and women for
ministry.'*

Dr. Oldenburg, who served as
pastor of Covenant since 1972, began
his presidency at Columbia January 1
Accepting the board's nomination, he
said, "I'm honored to be elected
president of Columbia Seminary and
tremendously excited about the
challenge and opportunity before me.
Under Davison Philips' leadership,
Columbia has become one of the great
seminaries of our denomination, and I
look forward to helping it reach its
full potential. I see this as a call of
God in my life at this time, and I'm
committed to being the very best
president I can possibly be."'

He was pastor of the Davis
Memorial Presbyterian Church in
Elkins, WV, from 1967 to 1972 and
of the Covenant Presbyterian Church
in Lynchburg, VA, from I960 until
1967.

A member of the Board of
Trustees of St. Andrews Presbyterian
College, Dr. Oldenburg has served as
its chair since 1982. He is also a
member of the Board of Trustees at
Union Theological Seminary in
Virginia.

Dr Oldenburg received the B.S.
degree from Davidson College in
1956, the B.D. from Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia in
I960, the S.T.M. from Yale Divinity
School in 1961, and was awarded the
D.D. degree from Davis and Elkins
College in 1972, He spent a
sabbatical studying Christian faith and
economics at Wesley Theological
Seminary in Washington, DC, and in
England. He has rendered outstanding
service to the PC(USA) denomination,
to Mecklenburg Presbytery, and in the
community affairs of Charlotte.

Dr. William A. Adams, who
chairs the seminary's Board of
Directors, said of the nomination,
This is a positive, good thing for
Columbia. Doug Oldenburg is a man
of commitment and ability and is
respected by all who know him. In
addition to those personal qualities, he
will bring his experience from the

Continued on page 3

Dr. Douglas W. Oldenburg

The Philips years

Dr. Davison Philips served as Columbia's president from January 1916 through
December 1986.

"Becoming a seminary president is
like jumping onto a moving train.
There was already so much
momentum at Columbia when I came
here. I am full of thanksgiving that
I've had the opportunity to build on
that strong heritage which goes all the
way back to 1828,'' said Dr. J.
Davison Philips as he reflected on his
call to the presidency of Columbia
Theological Seminary. Dr. Philips
became president in January 1976,
and his retirement was effective 1 1
years later on December 3 1 , 1986.

"I came as a pastor; I knew the
demands of the church and ministry.
I could interpret those demands to the
faculty members as they taught the
practice of ministry. I had been
involved in education and knew the
seminary well because I had been
serving Decatur Presbyterian Church,''
said Dr. Philips in speaking of the

assets he brought to his office. He
continued, "A president should be
committed to education. I believe in
the cause, the mission of Columbia
Seminary. The training and nurturing
of ministers is so essential to the
church."

In looking back over his work as
president of Columbia Seminary, Dr.
Philips claimed, "The satisfactions of
my work changed when I moved
from the parish to the presidency. At
Columbia, we have three purposes: to
train ministers, to nurture those
already serving, and to serve as a
resource for the entire church. In all
of that, one of my greatest
satisfactions has been watching
students grow and go out to serve the
church."

Dr. Philips has also been pleased
by the incredible development of the

Continued on page 2

From the President

J. Davison Philips

With thi < OMING of Columb

new president, Dr Douglas W.
Oldenburg, I will have completed my
term of servict lure on December SI,
1986 I will, of course, be giving him
all possible support during this time
of transition

This, then, is a brief and quite
inadequate word ot gratitude. I am
grateful to God for the opportunn
>>l serving as a minister and as
president of this institution. I am
grateful to the constituency for
support. I am grateful to the Board of
Directors for their confidence, I am
grateful to the members of this
i (immunity who have worked so well
together to accomplish our mission

In it all, God has been glorified,
we have been nurtured, and the
ministry of the church strengthened I
will continue to pray for God's
blessing on Columbia and for
guidance in life together here

So, to you go my special thanks

Presbyterians have prayed for us, sent
us students, given to scholarships,
endowment and operating expenses.
Without you, who make up this great
company of friends, none of this
would have been possible.

You will, I know, give the fullest
support to President Oldenburg. The
office ot the presidency is increasingly
demanding It requires strength,
vision, faith and commitment. Dr.
Oldenburg brings experience as a
pastor, administrator, preacher, and
church leader to this task. This new
chapter in lite here has great promise

I send you these thoughts with
"faith, hope, and love."

Gratefully yours.

The Philips years
Continued from page 1

continuing education programs. These
programs now enroll more students
than the M.Div. program. Dr. Philips
asserts, "Unless we continue to
nurture our ministers in the parish,
they will wither and die."

The biggest change which has
occurred in theological education
during Dr. Philips' tenure has been
the expansion of the supervised
ministry program and the clinical
pastoral education program. Columbia
now places great emphasis on this
practical training and has significantly
expanded the curriculum in the
pastoral area.

Dr. Philips expresses great
satisfaction in the growth of
Columbia's faculty and staff during
his tenure. He states, "Most of the

current staff have come since I've been
here. We've added positions in the
biblical department, evangelism,
christian education, ministry, and
other areas. " The recruitment of new
faculty members has been a great
concern for Dr. Philips, and he has
worked diligently in helping to form
Columbia's strong faculty.

Dr. Philips also cites the growing
international programs at Columbia as
a cause for great joy. "The stream of
people from all over the world going
in and out of Columbia has made a
tremendous impact, both here and in
other countries,'' Dr. Philips said

Dr. Philips has spent most of his
weekend time traveling to various
places to promote support for the
seminary. He said, "I am encouraged
by the growing confidence of the
church in the seminary.'' He claimed,
"A president keeps an exhausting

President Philips and Peggy Rowland, bis secretary, have worked together since
June 1957.

pace. However, I've found that if you
serve the church, the people will join
in partnership and serve the
institution."

Dr. Philips asserted, "I have often
said that becoming a seminary
president will tremendously improve
your prayer life. I have prayed for
campus life, for resources, and for
wisdom in my work. So many of my
prayers have been answered. We
ought to be praising God for the
ways in which he has taken a grip on
Columbia Seminary and blessed it. I
see our work at Columbia as the work
of God through people here and in
the church. As the old hymn says -
"To God be the glory.'

And from others:

According to Atlantan Erskine
Love, who is a member of the
seminary's Board of Directors,
"Davison Philips' presidency has been
marked by 1 1 years of uninterrupted
progress and accomplishment. From
the day ot his election as Columbia's
sixth president, his skills as an
administrator, educator, pastor, and
servant of the church have been
evident to all of us in the seminary
community. Every measure of the
institution's viability has been
enhanced the faculty, student
body, the endowment, physical
facilities, the quality of the educational

process, and the relationship to the
church at large."

Oscar Hussel, who has been Dean
of the Faculty since 1978, says
Davison Philips' greatest strength is
"a combination of compassion and
absolute fairness. He is an extremely
caring person. He came to Columbia
as president after almost 30 years in
the pastorate, and he brought with
him his pastoral concern for the
faculty and students with whom he
works." Professor Charles Cousar, who
was Dean of the Faculty when
President Philips arrived, agrees.
"Davison is a pastor down to his
bones. He has been a collegial
president."

Professor Cousar says, "Dr. Philips
knows how to support the faculty
members. In a personal sense, he is a
close friend to many on the faculty.
Professionally, he gives enthusiastic
endorsement to new ideas and
programs. Davison is a grand
cheerleader."

One of the significant changes
which has occurred during President
Philips' tenure has been the increase
in the number of faculty members.
Thirty-two persons currently have
faculty status at Columbia, an increase
of about 50 percent in the past 1 1
years. One woman held faculty status
in 1976; there are now five women
who do.

Continued on page 3

VANTAGE

The Philips years
Continued from page 2

Because of a number of
retirements over the past decade, the
faculty is now what Dean Hussel tails
"a relatively new faculty." Dr. Cousar
states, "President Philips has been
extremely active in the recruitment of
new faculty. He serves as an ex officio
member of every search committee
and has been personally active in
attracting new faculty members to
Columbia "

Dean Hussel adds, "More of the
faculty are writing for publication. A
revised policy on the faculty teaching
load gives more time for research,
writing and publication. One of the
things which hasn't changed and
it's good that it hasn't has been
the support within the faculty. They're
a very supportive group to each other,
despite differences in theological
stances. There is a sense of harmony
and singleness of purpose among these
professors which Davison Philips has
fostered."

Professor Cousar continues,
"Davison also has been actively
involved in the recruitment of
students. He has been available to
students and has gone out of his way
to encourage prospective students to
look at Columbia. He has given his
wholehearted support to women in
ministry. He has aggressively sought
jobs for women students both in the
parish and in the bureaucratic
structure of the church."

"Other strengths of Dr. Philips'
which have helped move the seminary
forward have been his tolerance for
change and a vision to direct that
change," Dean Hussel adds. "The
seminary has seen tremendous changes
in the curriculum and in its
programs."

During Dr. Philips' presidency,
the student body has increased from

anonymous gift of one million dollars,
the seminary will soon establish the
Lay Institute of Faith and Life, which
will greatly expand the seminary's
continuing education offerings to lay
people.

Another vision which President
Philips has supported has been the
international program at Columbia,
which is directed by Professor Erskine
Clarke. Dean Hussel says, "For a long
time small numbers of international
students had been coming to
Columbia to study. That has been
built upon, so that now we have
exchanges of students and faculty
members with schools in Europe, the
Caribbean, and Asia."

He adds, "When the new M.Div.
curriculum was redesigned, the world
was built into the curriculum. Now,
all M.Div. students are required to
have an alternative contextual
experience in the church at work."
Most M.Div. graduates will have had
an international experience enabling
them to explore a radically different
culture and observe how the church
functions in the society. They will
have studied in such places as Central
Europe, Korea, Central America, and
Jamaica. In addition, some 20
students, professors, and church
leaders from other countries come to
Columbia each year to study, adding
to the diversity of the student body.

Related to the international
program has been the establishment of
a faculty position in world
Christianity, currently held by Dr.
G.T. Brown. Professor Brown has
served as a liaison between the
Presbyterian Church and Christians in
China.

Another program which has taken
off during Dr Philips' presidency has
been the evangelism program, begun
with a grant from the Outreach
Foundation. Professor Ben Johnson
was hired to teach evangelism; his

"Davison Philips is a man who is trusted and
respected. In the eyes of the church, Columbia Seminary
is in good shape because it's been in good hands."
Dr. William A. Adams
Chair, Columbia's Board of Directors

around 200 students to 515 this year.
Dean Hussel says, "During this time
of considerable expansion, we have
attempted to maintain a balance
between the basic, or master's, degree
and the advanced, or doctorate, degree
programs." At the basic degree level,
the Master of Arts in Theological
Studies and the Master of Arts in
Youth Ministry have been added. The
M.A.T.S. is a two-year program
offered for lay people who want to
broaden their understanding of the
faith but who do not plan to prepare
for ordination. Columbia is the only
Presbyterian seminary offering an
M.A. in youth ministry.

In the advanced degree programs
the Doctor of Ministry degree has
been strengthened and expanded, and
there has been a great increase in
continuing education offerings for both
laity and clergy. Columbia has become
a center for continuing education and
for providing resources to the
denomination. With the recent

materials, both books and cassettes,
have been used throughout the
denomination.

The financial strength of the
seminary is another area which has
grown dramatically under Dr. Philips'
leadership. In 1976, the budget was
around one million dollars. President
Philips set about working on the
budget in earnest. For the past 1 1
years, the seminary has grown in both
personnel and programs for the
church. Today, in this fiscal year
1986-87, the current budget is 39
million dollars. This financial growth
in current operations reflects expansion
of programs and outreach which have
benefited the church as well as the
clergy.

When Dr. Philips took office, the
endowment stood at six million
dollars. Today, the seminary's total
endowment fund is approximately 27
million dollars. In the late seventies
the seminary planned major campaigns
in the three supporting synods,

Kay and Davison Philips

Florida, Mid-South, and Southeast.
These campaigns were conducted over
the next several years, and about 10
million dollars was added to the
endowment during that time. In the
past three years approximately eight
million dollars has been added. These
increases, plus the current rise in the
stock market, bring the endowment
fund to its current level.

Dr. Philips has recognized that, to
offset rising prices and to combat
inflation, a balanced budget and
increased endowment had to be a
priority of the seminary He realized
that to expand and grow, men
funds would be necessary to help
defray the cost.

In addition, Dr. Philips has also
overseen improvements in the
seminary's physical plant. Four
townhouses for faculty and
administration have been built, as well
as two apartment buildings for
married students with children.

Renovation work has included one
apartment building for married
students, the installation of air
conditioning and insulated windows in
Simons-Law Dormitory, two partial
renovations in Campbell Hall,
including the chapel, classrooms, and
faculty offices; and the library, which
included building a room for the
seminary's rare books collection. A
master plan for the whole campus has
been completed which projects into

the twenty-first century the needs !"i
additional space and times to build.

Dean Hussel says, "Davison
Philips has supported and encouraged
our work and our mission at
Columbia In addition to his influence
at ( olumbia, he has been a very
important force in theolognal
education in the PC(USA) during the
first years of the transition period. He
has helped establish an understanding
of funding and governance through
his experience in theological
education

Ann Cousins of Atlanta, member
ot ( olumbia's Board of Directors,
asserts, "Davison Philips, in the
tradition of all past Columbia
presidents, has been the right person
for his times. His enthusiasm,
Openness, and concern for the church
have strengthened the trust and
confidence in the seminary at the local
church level. We shall miss his
earnestness and his great love for
( olumbia, which have given us a
strong base for the future. "D

The new address for Dr. and Mrs.
Philips is 133 Ptnecrest Avenue,
Decatur, GA 30030.

WINTER 1987

Continuing

Education

Calendar

For further information or to register for courses, call or write:
Douglas W. Hix, Director of Advanced Studies, or
SaraC. Juengst, Associate Director of Advanced Studies
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA 30031 / 404-378-8821.

January 25-30 A Week in the Winter Woods Hiking in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, a group experience of sharing,
incerdependency, leadership, self-examination and reflection. Leader. Doug
Hix. Cost S100.

February 2-5 COL1 MBM FORUM Guest preacher. Joseph L. Roberts. Jr.;
Alumni/ae Lecturer. Paolo Ricca; Smyth Lecturer. Tom Long. See article
on page 8 for more information.

February 25-26 Aging Seminar A Biblical/theological basis for ministry
with older adults to acquaint participants with the physical, psychological,
and sociological aspects of aging and suggest how these relate to ministry.
Areas to be covered include sensitizing the local church, ministry with
frail elderly, adults with aging parents, intergenerational ministries,
spiritual growth in the later years, and other concerns. Leader: Albert E.
Dimmock. Cost: $25.

March 6 Book Fair A chance to learn what's hot off the press" by
meeting with representatives of major denominational presses, and having
an opportunity to buy the newest and the best. Cost: $10.

March 19-20 The Creative Word Storytelling. Poetry, and
LlTURGK Al. DRAMA A celebration of the right side of the brain! Learn
how to use these tools effectively in worship and Christian education.
Leaders: George Stroup, Lucy Rose. Loralee Cooley. Jim Newsome, Sara
Juengst, David Gunn. Cost: $2^

April 19-25 A Week in Jamaica A pilgrimage following Lent and
Easter in a Third World country where the Church is strong and vibrant.
A week spent in study of Jamaica at United Theological College in
Kingston, seeing urban and rural parish work in Ocho Rios, experiencing
life in another culture. For laity and clergy. Leader: Sara Juengst. Cost:
$700. Limited number of scholarships available.

May 3-8 A WEEK with THE TRAPPISTS AND THE DOMINH a\s A retreat
for men at the monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA. and a retreat
for women led by the Dominican sisters at Springbank Christian Center.
Kingstree, SC, for reformation, relaxation, and spiritual discipline.

J McDOWEIl RICHARDS CENTER

1971
NISTRAT0R HURCHMAN.

(CHER

On October 22 the Richards Center was dedicated in memory of Dr. J. McDowell
Richards. Two of his grandchildren. Emily Richards. 10. and Michael Richards.
3. unveiled the plaque during the service.

A wu[> "/ Russian Orthodox Church teminariam visited Columbia in November
during a nationwide tour. They attended chapel and spoke with students and
professors. Their singing in chapel and during the coffee break was a special treat
for the Columbia community.

Fall Board actions

At its fall meeting in October, the
Board of Directors of Columbia
Seminary named an endowed chair in
honor of Dr. Davison Philips, who
retired as president on December 31.
Dr. William A. Adams, chair of the
Board, said, "We have named the
professorship the J. Davison Philips
Chair of New Testament to show our
love and appreciation for Dr. Philips.
For 1 1 years he led the seminary in a
great way. The chair in New
Testament is an appropriate way to
honor him. New Testament has been
his field of concentration, and he has
taught New Testament."

The board welcomed three new
members: Thomas W. Horton. Jr.,
Tom W. Brown, and Roland Perdue.
Dr. Horton is executive presbyter of
Bethel Presbytery, Rock Hill, SC. Mr.
Brown, an attorney, lives in Lake
City, FL, and Mr. Perdue serves as
pastor of the Riverside Presbyterian
Church of Jacksonville, FL.

The directors expressed
appreciation to four members who
have rotated off the board. Dr. John
Lyles, executive presbyter of Central
Florida Presbytery, has served as
secretary of the board. Dr. Albert N.

Wells, pastor of the Troy Presbyterian
Church in North Carolina, has served
on the board since 1980. Mr.
Ludwick Clymer, past president of
Holiday Inns. Inc.. has served the
board as vice chair. Mr. William
Winter, attorney and former governor
of Mississippi, has served on the
board 12 years.

The board approved the
appointments of three new members
for the at large category. They are
William John Park, chairman of the
Park Seed Company of Greenwood,
SC; Howell Adams of the Trane
Company, Atlanta; and John
Weitnauer, former president of the
Richway Corporation, of Decatur.

The directors also heard reports
involving four search committees
which have been appointed for a
professor of biblical exposition, a
professor of Christian ethics, a dean of
students, and a director of the Lay
Institute of Faith and Life.

The board elected officers. They
are William A. Adams of Atlanta,
who was re-elected chair; John Conant
of Atlanta, vice-chair; and Edith
Atkins, Jacksonville, FL, secretary.

Sign up for Huguenot trip

Begin making plans now for the
travel/study tour. In the Footsteps of
the Huguenots." This tour of
Protestant historical sites in Geneva
and southern France is sponsored by
Columbia Seminary, The Huguenot
Society of the Founders of Manakin in
the Colony of Virginia, and the
Georgia Branch of the National
Huguenot Society. The dates for the
trip are August 26 - September 7,
1987.

The trip will include three days in
Geneva, a visit to Lausanne and the
Castle of Chillon, a visit to the Taize
Protestant Community, two nights on
the southern coast of France at Sete,
with side trips to Montpelier
Reformed Seminary, Roman ruins,
Aries, where Van Gogh did much of

his painting, and attending an outdoor
communion service with 20,000
descendents of French Huguenots at
their annual gathering at Mas
Soubeyron, commemorating the heroic
resistance after the Revocation of the
Edict of Nantes in 1685.

The purpose of the trip is to
explore the roots of our Protestant
heritage in Switzerland and France
and become better acquainted with
the richness of our Huguenot ancestry.
The tour will be led by the Rev. Sara
C. Juengst, Associate Director of
Advanced Studies at Columbia. Cost
is approximately $1,950. For more
information, call or write Ms. Juengst,
Columbia Seminary, P.O. Box 520,
Decatur, GA 30031; 404/378-
8821. D

VANTAGE

Columbia's presses: Almond Press and CTS Press

. -. . r ___ niA THh CTS PRESS was founded at Press becoming a common, atl;

Dr David Gunn. Professor of Old
Testament at Columbia and founder
of Almond Press, devotes much time
to developing "literary" approaches to
biblical texts. In fact, Dr. Gunn
started Almond Press as a means of
supporting literary criticism in
publishing.

The literary critical approach looks
at what the biblical text itself says in
its final form. The task of literary
critics differs from that of traditional
historical critics who look through the
text to recontruct history and its
shaping and forming of the text
through the centuries. Dr. Gunn has
become deeply involved in literary
criticism, and Almond Press grew out
of his efforts in that field.

Dr. Gunn first perceived a crisis
in academic publishing in the early
1970s when he was teaching at the
University of Sheffield, England. The
scholarly )ournals had become
expensive and were extremely formal
in style. In response to this problem,
Dr. Gunn and two colleagues started
the Journal for the Study of the Old
Testament.

This journal began to take
academic publishing in new directions.
It was more economical and more
relaxed in its form. More important,
JSOT supported the new types of
scholarship. Gunn and his colleagues
encouraged literary criticism,
sociological analysis, and analysis of
final form in biblical studies

Dr. Gunn says, "The journal filled
a gap. It supported alternative ways of
thinking about and reading the
biblical texts. It offered something
other than the historical-critical
approach."

The enterprise with the journal
expanded and became JSOT Press.

WINTER 1987

The press concentrates on Old
Testament biblical studies, the truly
academic research work of scholars.
Gunn comments, "The press radically
disregarded conventional standards in
publishing. It published works that
others were hesistant to take."

About 1980, Dr. Gunn began to
work independently with his wife,
Margaret Almond Gunn. Together
they started a new venture. The
Almond Press, with a series entitled
Bible and Literature. The series
focuses on literary-critical studies and
was the first of its kind in academic
publishing.

Gunn states, "This press was a
formal way of saying that it is
appropriate to do literary-critical
studies. The opportunity to publish is
vital to scholarly enterprise. A press
such as Almond Press can help to
change the direction of scholarship."

Since 1980, two more series have
been added to Almond Press. The
History of Biblical Interpretation
Series began in 1982. The books of
this series deal with historic texts and
interpreters in biblical scholarship. The
series also translates into English books
which have not been translated
previously.

The third series of the Almond
Press is the Social World of Biblical
Antiquity. This series uses social
science models and draws on the
disciplines of history, archaeology,
sociology, and anthropology.

When Dr. Gunn left the
University of Sheffield in 1984 to join
Columbia's faculty, he and his wife
brought Almond Press with them.
The Almond Press is a pioneer effort
in academic publishing and will
continue to encourage new methods and
approaches in biblical scholarship. D

Thi CTS Phiss was founded at
Columbia Seminary in 1981 under
the experienced leadership ot Dr. Ben
Johnson, Professor of Evangelism. Dr.
Johnson states, "The immediate
purpose for the press was to produce
distinctive Presbyterian resources for
evangelism. However, the press is not
limited to evangelistic materials." In
the future the press will publish
additional articles, books, and videos.
Addresses by members of Columbia's
faculty and visiting lecturers will also
become part of the publishing

venture.

The press first published Join the
Church, which describes the
Presbyterian church and what it
means to be a member. Dr. Johnson
wrote that piece as well as the second
one published by the press, The Chrtst
Bearer, an Advent/Easter piece.

To meet a growing need, CTS
Press reprinted John R Hendricks
Opening the Door of Faith. It has also
published Dr J McDowell Richards
As 1 Remember It: Columbia
Theological Seminary 1932-1971,
Columbia Professor Robert Ramey s
The Minister's Role in Evangelism.
and will soon publish a work on
missions by Columbia Professor
Tommy Brown

The CTS Press is moving into the
future with an exploration of
additional video productions as well as
written works. Dr Johnson has
already produced two videos

Presbyterian Evangelism," a four-
module, one-hour introduction to
evangelism. "Fnendmakcr for God is
a three-hour instruction course for
faith sharing. Dr Johnson asserts,
The place for greatest growth in
effective instruction is in video

Dr. Johnson envisions the CTS

Press becoming a communications
center which will ir.msl.iw acadcnui
research into practical resources fol
local churches. "We would like CO fill
a specialized role that the largei
publishing companies are nut able CO
fill. We need to be able to tUltl ideas
into living models for the local

chur ch." D

President Oldenburg
Continued from page 1

pastorate and his General Assembly
responsibilities to his work ai
Columbia."

Dr. Oldenburg is married to the

i i laudia smith, who has

worked in real estate syndication
They have three sons.D

Vantage

Vol 78, No. J, Winter 1986
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

For the Record

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

Louis LaMotte '25 received the
honorary degree of Doctor of Humane
Letters from St. Andrews Presbyterian

College in May Anna Case

Winters 78 has been named
instructor in theology and associate
director of the D.Min. program for
thesis development at McCormick
Seminary. She started Jan. 1 Jasper
Keith (STD 79). Acting Dean of
Students and Professor of Pastoral
Care and Counseling at Columbia,
serves as interim pastor of the Jackson
Presbyterian Church. He was program
coordinator of the Association for
Clinical Pastoral Education annual
conference meeting in Atlanta in earl)
October. In September he participated
in a leadership retreat for Bell South
management. He gave two lectures at
the Society of Chaplains, Georgia
Hospital Association, and two lectures
at the Florida Internship Retreat for
the Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary. He and his wife, Betty, led
a marriage enrichment retreat at the
Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church in
Columbia, SC.

Roger Gallion '62 and Bettianne
Powell were married Oct. 18 in

Columbia, SC David Moessner,

Associate Professor of New Testament
at Columbia, gave a paper, "Dual
Dismay and Double Destination: the
'Pharisees' and the Laos' of Luke's
Jerusalem Ministry," at the annual
meeting of the Society of Biblical
Literature in Atlanta in November.
He presided at the Synoptic Gospels
section and was a respondent to
papers given in the Acts group.

Lyle W. Peterson '46 retired in
June after 57 years of missionary
service in Japan. He lives in
Montreat Lib McGregor
Simmons 79 is pastor of the
Richmond Heights Church in St.

Louis Leighton Ford '55, an

evangelist with the Billy Graham
Association for 3 1 years, has left that
organization and formed Leighton
Ford Ministries, based in

Charlotte Lucy Rose, Assistant

Professor of Preaching and Worship,
led the preaching workshop in
Albemarle Presbytery's training for lay
preachers in November. She attended
the Academy of Homiletics in
Pittsburgh in December

Charles Cousar '58, Professor of
New Testament at Columbia, gave
two lectures, "Lord, Teach Us to
Pray," at the annual ministers'
conference of Concord Presbytery in
October. During October and
November he taught a series of
church school classes at the Mt.
Vernon Church in Sandy Springs, GA,
at Kirkwood Church in Smryna, and
at Trinity Church in Atlanta. He
attended the annual meeting of the
Society of Biblical Literature in

Atlanta in November William R.

Thurman '51 retired Dec. 31, 1985,
from the pastorate of the Jefferson,
GA, Presbyterian Church after 35
years of service as pastor of that
church.

Scott M. Poole '55 (D.Min. '84)
has retired from the Altama Church
in Brunswick, GA Shirley
Guthrie, Professor of Systematic
Theology at Columbia, taught at the
Presbytery of Orange school for lay
people and ^iv^ mi address at a lay
school for Birmingham Presbytery in
September In October Dr. Guthrie
taught at the lay school of theology at
Mo Ranch, Texas, and in November
he led a church officers' retreat for the
Mt. Pleasant, SC, Church and lectured
on the theology of evangelism for
ministers of Mecklenburg Presbytery
in Charlotte.

William R. Conine, Jr. '59 is
the organizing pastor of a new church
development, All Saints Presbyterian
Church, in Columbus, GA John
Bacot '68 has been called to the First
Church of Tifton, GA William
Stephens III '82 is pastor of the
Cuthbert and Edison, GA,
churches Albert R. Thompson
'80 is pastor of Trinity Church in
Sylvester and First Church in Cordele,

GA Walter Brueggemann,

Professor of Old Testament at
Columbia, has had published Hope
Within History (John Knox Press) and
articles in Sojourners and The Other
Side. He has preached at Riverside
Church in New York and lectured at
the Sacred Heart School of Theology
in Milwaukee

Erskine Love, member of
Columbia's Board of Directors,
received the 1986 Alumni
Distinguished Service Award from
Georgia Tech. He is chair of the
school's centennial campaign, which
has brought in more than $105
million, surpassing the $100 million
goal in only three years of what was
expected to be a five-year

campaign John Patton, Adjunct

Professor of Pastoral Theology, led a
workshop at Emory Pastoral
Symposium on "Estrangement in
Marriage" in September. He presented

BIRTHS

To David '80 and Marilynn

Chadwtck, a daughter, Bethany

Brame, Jan. 21, 1986.

To James '82 and Donna Richardson,

a son, Michael James, Oct. 3, 1986.

To Catherine Mason '83 and Jay

Wilkins, a daughter, Sara Anne, Oct.

24, 1986.

To Tom '85 and Jean Stixrud, a

daughter, Christina Lois, June 20,

1986.

To Ted "86 and Cantey Smith, a son,

Ian, Sept. 19, 1986.

To Clay 88 and Debbie Posey, a son,

Kenneth Clayton III, Oct. 16, 1986.

To Tommy '89 and Cindy Sikes, a

son, Tommy, Oct. 29, 1986.

DEATHS

Finley Gnssett, Jr '53, July 1986.
Wilson T. Dowhng '54, Sept. 6. 1986.
Paul Gray (Spec. '84), May 16, 1986.

On September 22 Dr. Walter Brueggemann, center, participated in a panel
discussion which included Dr. David Gunn, left, and Dr. Fred Craddock, right, of
Candler School of Theology. That evening Dr. Brueggemann was inaugurated as
Professor of Old Testament, delivering his addrtss, -Narrative as Eye-Exercise.

three lectures on "Theology and
Pastoral Counseling" at the Southeast
Region Annual Meeting of the
American Association of Pastoral

Counselors Tom Baine Anderson

'40 has been named pastor emeritus
of the First Presbyterian Church in
Burlington, NC.

Steven Souther '83 has been
called as pastor to the Union Springs

Church in Alabama Milton M.

Foust '61 is pastor emeritus of the
Jamestown Presbyterian Church in

North Carolina C. Benton Kline,

Adjunct Professor of Theology at
Columbia, led a workshop on "Tillich
and CPE" at the American
Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education annual meeting in Atlanta
in October. In September he was
consultant to the Long Range
Planning Committee at Trinity
Presbyterian Church in

Atlanta Wade Huie '46, Professor

of Homiletics at Columbia, conducted
special preaching services for four days
at his home church, First Presbyterian
Church, Elberton, GA, and led a
Festival of Faith at Emory
Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. In
December he attended the annual
meeting of the Academy of
Homiletics in Pittsburgh.

Gary Waller '59 is co-director of
Project Frontera de Cristo in Douglas,
AZ James B. Reaves '52 is
serving as interim supply pastor at
Eastminster Presbyterian Church in

Marietta, GA Susan Bryan '85 is

pastor of the Sagemont Presbyterian

Church in Houston Robert Klein

'85 and Deborah Scanlon were
married Sept. 7, 1986. He is working
toward the Ed.D. in the Harvard

Graduate School of Education After

25 years as a missionary in Korea,
Clarence Durham '56 joined the
staff of the Medical Benevolence
Foundation in Woodville,

TX Wayne Hoffmann '62 has

new responsibilities at Chapman
College in Orange, CA, as vice
president for regional eduation centers.

Eric Edwin Lynch (Th.M. "83)
is pnest-in-charge of Christ the King
Anglican Church, Anglican chaplain to
the University of the West Indies
(Cave Hill campus), and youth officer
of the Diocese of Barbados Bill

Lowe '80 received the Georgia Easter

Seal Award for 1986 Pam King

'85 and James Anderson were married

April 12, 1986 Dana Waters "58

has been made a Rotary Paul Harris

Fellow Willis H. Moore (D.Min

"85) is candidacy registrar for the
United Methodist Board of Ordained
Ministry. He writes a weekly column,
"Moore or Less," for the Kingsland,

GA, newspaper Brian Childs,

Associate Professor of Pastoral
Theology and Counseling at
Columbia, with Will Ormond "43,
Professor of Biblical Exposition at
Columbia, presented a workshop,
"The Role of Biblical Narrative in
Clinical Pastoral Education," at the
Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education annual conference Oct. 13
in Atlanta. Dr. Childs has been
named to the Editorial Advisory
Committee for the Journal of Pastoral
Care.

David Gunn, Professor of Old
Testament at Columbia, attended the
annual meeting of the Advisory
Council of Interpretation at Union
Seminary in Richmond in September,
Dr. Gunn attended the annual
meeting of the Society of Biblical
Literature in Atlanta in November
where he gave a paper, "Directions in
Biblical Literature: Old Testament
Narrative," to the Rhetorical Criticism
section, organized a panel of the
Biblical History and Archaeology
section reviewing recent histories of
ancient Israel, attended the Program
Unit Chairs meeting as incoming chair
of the Rhetorical Criticism section,
and met with the editorial board of
Biblical Archaeologist and Journal for
the Study of the Old Testament.

Sara C. Juengst '83, Associate
Director of Advanced Studies at
Columbia, led Christian education
workshops at the Westminister
Church in Snellvile, GA, and at
Southern Pines, NC. She led a
mission education workshop in
Orlando and a faith journey workshop
for Atlanta Presbytery Leadership
School. Ms. Juengst wrote the
curriculum for four- and five-year-olds
in "Bible Discovery Series,"

1988 George Stroup, Professor of

Theology at Columbia, also attended

Continued on page 7

VANTAGE

Development I Seminary Relations

By James F. Dickenson

Vice President, Development/Seminars Relations

Professor George Stroup, center, is congratulated by Dr. Brian Childs, left, and Dr.
James Newsome, right, after his inauguration as Professor of Theology. Dr. Stroup
delivered his address, "The Narrated Word: Thoughts on Narrative Christology,"
on October 21.

For the Record
Continued from page 6

the annual meeting of the Advisory
Council of Interpretation at Union
Seminary in Richmond. He taught a
class on "The New Testament in
Light of Contemporary Theology"' at
the synod school of the Synod of
Florida in Clearwater and an adult
education class on "Theology of the
City" at Central Presbyterian Church
in Atlanta in October. Dr. Stroup
spoke on the "Past and Future of
Reformed Theology" to the Mid-
South Synod meeting of Directors of
Resource Centers in Memphis and
gave five lectures on "Contemporary
Issues in Reformed Theology" at a
ministers" retreat for Fayetteville
Presbytery at Myrtle Beach, SC, also
in October.

Charles C. Williamson '84 has
been called as pastor of First
Presbyterian Church in Monroe,

NC Ed Trimmer, Associate

Professor of Christian Education at
Columbia, led an Athens Presbystery
training event in youth ministry in
September. In October he was the
main speaker for Atlanta Presbyterys
Junior High Rally and led the

Northlake Cluster of United
Methodist Churches Training Event in
Youth Ministry. He has been named
to the national planning team tor the
United Methodist Church's Youth

Rally Summer '88 Keith Hill '50

and Linda Wise were married Nov. 2
in First Presbyterian Church of
Williston, FL, where he has been
pastor since 1979.

Robert Ramey, Professor of
Ministry at Columbia, conducted a
spiritual growth retreat for First
Presbyterian Church of DeLand, FL,
and for the Lake Murray, SC,
Presbyterian Church, which was held
at Montreat. On Oct. 25 he and Gail
Barnett were married at the First
Church in Danville, VA, Dr. Ramey's
hometown. Professor Ramey conducted
an evangelism workshop for Blue
Ridge Presbytery in Lynchburg, VA,
in November and in December led an
officers' planning retreat for First

Church of Maitland, FL Caroline

Leach 72, Associate Dean ot
Students at Columbia, helped to host,
as associate pastor of Oakhurst Church
in Decatur, the 1986 Culturally Plural
Congregations Conference for the
PC(USA).D

This pasi m \k 1986 was .in eventful
year m the life of Columbia Seminar]

There have been many important
\c.irs m our history, including the
founding ot the seminary, the move
to Decatur in 1927, the long and
fruitful presidency of Dr. Richards,

However, 1986 will rank as one
of the more notable years in terms .it
both sadness and great progress. Dr.
J. McDowell Richards died ,u the age
of 83; no one needs to be reminded
of what he accomplished Dr. Ben
Kline, who followed Dr Richards as
president, suffered another major heart
attack, had surgery, and is now ba< k
in full swing as an adjunct professor
and also playing an important role in
denominational affairs

Dr. J. Davison Philips retired as
Columbia's sixth president after
leading the seminary trom 1976
through 1986. Under his leadership
the seminary developed into one of
the leading seminaries in our
denomination and, indeed, one of the
leading seminaries ot all
denominations

Dr. Douglas Oldenburg, who was
minister of the Covenant Presbyterian
Church in Charlotte, was called to be
the seventh president of Columbia
He brings to the position a variety of
skills plus a warm, genuine personality
which has characterized the presidents
of Columbia over the years. He began
his duties January 1, 1987.

New faculty appointments
brought excitement, as they usually
do. Dr. George Stroup and Dr.
Walter Brueggemann were the two

additions tor 1986 The entire faculty
has led programs and pro> id. d

services to the church too numerous to

inc iitu. n

For ili. first Mm. in us lnsiory,
th< seminary launched a quiet
campaign toi six milium dollars. The
Hoard ol I >irectors had determined
this to be the first phase in us overall

"Toward 2000 < ampaign" to raise 45
million dollars by the beginning of
the next century The restrictions on
tlu campaign were that no .lnu.li or
church groups i ould I" solii fed
During this notable v< at .
approximately four million dollars
received toward the Phase 1 goal

It became evident in 1986 that
Columbia Seminar) had mad. giant
strides. Davison Philips has lefi B
legacy which, by anj standards, is
outstanding. The following descnU
( olumbia Seminar]

an outstanding fat ultj . one ol
the best in the theological world

a current operating budget at
foul million dollars.

a strong student body, with *)15
I nrolled in six degree program.

a variety of major new
programs.

an endowment ot 27 million
dollars.

excellent relationships with the
church at Lai

a future bright with promise for
the seminary and the church.

Yes, 1986 was truly an eventful
year in the life of this 158-year-old
institution. D

John A Conant, left, was featured speaker at the Atlanta-Area Appreciation
Dinner November 20. Mr. Conant is vice-chair of the Board of Directors and
chair of the Toward 2000 Capital Campaign.

Chairman Joe Patrick, left, presided at the annual meeting of the President's
Advisory Council, held October 51.

Columbia Friendship Circle

and Columbia Seminary

invite you to

COME SEE COLUMBIA DAY

Thursday, April 9, 1987

Share a day of inspiration and Christian fellowship while enpy.ng the spring-
time beauty of the seminary campus. For more information, call or write the
CFC Office at the seminary. _ _

WINTER 1987

Make plans to attend 1987 Forum

*

ThK! I Will -KNOWN < HUR< HMEN
highlight the 1987 Columbia Forum.
The Forum, which is built around a
guest preacher and two lecturers, will
be held February 2-5, which is a
Monday through Thursday. In
addition to the lectures and worship
services, Forum is also the time for
alumni/ae activities and reunions.

This year's worship services will
be led by Dr. Joseph L. Roberts, Jr.,
who is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist
Church in Atlanta The titles of Dr.
Roberts' three sermons are
"Convenient Ignorance," "You Visited
Me," and "Familiar Excuses." The
worship services will be held at
Columbia Presbyterian Church on
February 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m.

The 1987 Smyth Lecturer is Dr.
Tom Long, Associate Professor of
Preaching and Worship at Princeton
Theological Seminary. Dr. Long taught
at Columbia from 1978 until 1983.
He will speak on the eyes, the voice,
and the ears of preaching. Professor
Long's lectures will take place
February 3 at 11 a.m. and February 4
and 5 at 11:30 a.m. at the Columbia
church.

Paolo Ricca, Professor of Church
History at the Waldensian Faculty of
Theology in Rome, is the Alumni/ae
Lecturer. Professor Ricca's topics will
be the Waldensian Movement in the

Framework of Medieval Society;
Waldensians and Reformation the
Dialogue Which Did Not Take Place;
and Waldensians Today: On Being
Protestant in an Ecumenical Age. Dr
Ricca will speak at the Columbia
church at 9 a.m. on February 3, 4,
and 5

Alumni/ae activities will run
throughout Forum On Tuesday,
February 3, Dr. James Daughdnll
'67, President of Rhodes College in
Memphis, will speak on "The Future
and the Mainstream" at the Alumni/
ae Luncheon and Association Meeting
at 12:30.

The reunion classes and their
spouses will hold their luncheon on
Wednesday, February 4, at 12:30.
The following serve as reunion
chairpersons:

1932 & earlier - Thomas H.
Grafton

1937 - Bill Talmage

1942 - Charles Davis

1947 - Hubert Taylor

1952 - Jim Stuart

1957 - Jerry Hammet

1962 - Ray Howe

1967 - Asa Meadows

1972 - Ernie Johnson

1977 - Jim Foil

1982 - Grady Perryman

1986 - Ted Smith.

The classes prior to and including

1932 are issued a special invitation by
their chairperson, Thomas H. Grafton.
We hope to have a large turnout
from this select group.

Women students and alumnae
will enjoy a special supper together on
Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Wives
of alumni are invited to a tea on
Wednesday at 3 p.m.

A reception for Dr. Douglas
Oldenburg, Columbia's new president,
will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday,
giving Forum participants an
opportunity to meet the seminary's
seventh president. The reception will
be held in the Red Room of the
Richards Center.

In addition, three times have been
set aside for informal questions and
conversation with the lecturers and the
preacher.

All alumni/ae and all friends of
the seminary, both lay and clergy, are
invited to the campus for this full
week of lectures, worship, and
reunions. For more information, call
the seminary at 404/378-882 l.D

w

Author and churchman Will Campbell
was the 1986 Alumni /ae Lecturer.

COLUMBIA SEMINARY

Vantage

P.O. Box 520

Decatur, Georgia 30031

CONTENTS

Oldenburg called as president 1

The Philips years 1

From the President 2

Continuing education 4

The Columbia presses 5

For the Record 6

A memorable year 7

Forum 1987 8

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

Forum week: February 2-5