Brite Divinity School – In June, Brite Divinity School welcomed Dr. Michael St. A. Miller as Executive Vice President and Dean. Dr. Miller succeeded Dr. Joretta Marshall, who, after seven years of outstanding service as Executive Vice President and Dean, returned to her full-time appointment as Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care and Counseling. In August, Dr. Oluwatomisin Oredein joined Brite Divinity School as Assistant Professor in Black Religious Traditions, Constructive Theology, and Ethics.
Brite recently hosted Ministers Week 2020, which featured three days of inspiring worship, thought-provoking lectures, and enriching workshops. This year’s preacher was Rev. Grace Imanthiu. Earlier this month, Brite was honored to host a lunch and conversation with Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Ministers and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) The event was well attended by Disciples from Brite, TCU, and the Southwest Region.
Christian Theological Seminary – Coming off the ground-breaking success of the Mixed Methods Preaching conference, sponsored in part by the Oreon E. Scott Foundation and Light of the World Christian Church, Christian Theological Seminary’s Ph.D. program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric welcomed the second cohort of candidates. The Seminary added new members to its esteemed faculty: President David M. Mellott (Ph.D., Emory) in theological formation; Rev. Dr. Kimberly D. Russaw (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) in Hebrew Bible; Rev. Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) in New Testament; Rev. Dr. Courtney Buggs (Ph.D., Emory), who was awarded the prestigious Louisville Institute, postdoctoral fellowship, in Homiletics; Rev. Dr. Nicole Robinson (Ph.D., Loyola University Maryland) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. CTS is beginning a comprehensive strategic planning effort to prepare CTS for 2025 and beyond. Utilizing multiple sources—both inside and outside of the seminary—the Seminary will consider what we can become and what God is inviting us to consider. The project will begin in Winter 2020 and is expected to conclude by Spring 2021.
The Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago – DDH is marking its 125th academic year with the theme, “Grateful for what is to come,” and an eye to the future. After an anniversary celebration last May, DDH welcomed a larger than usual entering class of Disciples Divinity House Scholars this fall and awarded the first Dr. Geunhee and Mrs. Geunsoon Yu Scholarship. A $4 million campaign will undergird scholarships, create immersive learning opportunities, and enhance the accessibility and welcome of the building. A new video, Grateful, celebrates 125 years.
The Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University – The Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt provides an essential community for ministry students at Vanderbilt Divinity School as they explore both the academic opportunities and the vocational contexts of ministry. This year, we continued our Practice of Ministry series, which provides essential tools, information, and reflection for “hands-on” ministry. In the fall, we focused on Sacred Practice as we hosted alums and local clergy to learn about baptisms, child dedications, funerals, hospital and hospice visits, and pastoral care in times of crisis. This spring, we have centered our program around Community Practice as we have learned about ways that we create and sustain community in a variety of ministry settings. House activities have included monthly dinners, weekly hangouts, and gatherings at the interim dean’s house. First-year students have focused on core courses as well as making a successful transition to graduate school. Second-year students are engaged in field education in local churches, hospitals, and community nonprofits. Our third-year students have completed their capstone papers and are looking forward to graduation in May. DDH-Vanderbilt continues to provide a lively living-and-learning community for students who are discerning their path to and through ministry.
Disciples Seminary Foundation – DSF currently supports 95 students who primarily study with five partner schools: Claremont School of Theology, Iliff School of Theology, Pacific School of Religion, San Francisco Theological Seminary, and Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry. DSF is in the midst of changes in leadership and program offerings as we discern our direction for the near future. Two programs, DSF Discover as well as Mission and Peace Education, have been phased out, leading to the elimination of a few job positions. While no new DSF Discover webinars are scheduled for production, existing webinars are still available through the DSF website (www.dsf.edu). As the tuition scholarship program is being evaluated, a moratorium on new scholarships for 2020-2021 will be implemented; however, stipends for textbooks and supplies will still be available during that period. DSF will honor its commitment to current students, and they will continue to receive tuition scholarships through matriculation. There is much more going on at DSF, and we are convinced that this is the work we are called to do in this season of change. Our commitment to supporting theological education and leadership development is secure, and making hard decisions in the present will create a firm foundation to ensure a stable future.
Lexington Theological Seminary – LTS was awarded two major grants by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. The first $1 million grant, awarded in December of 2018, is to explore various aspects that support Thriving in Ministry. Through this grant, among other projects, we are seeking ways to support graduates in the first five years of ministry, to continue to examine how to support those in bi-vocational ministry through the founding of a bi-vocational institute, and to provide formal training for those who serve as mentors for graduates. A second $2 million grant was awarded in December of 2019 for the Thriving Congregations Initiative: Strengthening Pastoral and Congregational Ministry. With the awarding of this grant, the Rev. Erin Cash has resigned as Director of Admissions, effective March 2020, and will serve as the grant project director. Also, the Rev. Carol Devine began as Director of Communications in November 2019. LTS continues to grow, with enrollment for the 2018-2019 year at 145 students (up from 127 during the 2017-2018 academic year) with an 89 percent retention rate.
Phillips Theological Seminary – PTS continues to build on its commitment to educate the whole church with 209 degree-seeking students enrolled in the 2019 fall term and more than 230 student registrations in the Ministry Training Program. President Nancy Claire Pittman, who recently completed her first year in office, is looking forward to receiving the final accreditation report from the Association of Theological Schools in February following a successful accreditation site visit in the fall. She is also overseeing the selection of a new Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean. Theological School Digest