Where Are They Now? Former LFP participant Diana Hodges-Batzka and DLI participant Beau Underwood

Diana Hodges-Batzka

HELM’s Leadership Fellows Program (LFP) is a leadership training initiative for undergraduate students, seeking to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership through intentional focus on Christian community, societal transformation, global awareness, and leadership engagement. This month we are highlighting former LFP participant Diana Hodges-Batzka to learn how participating in the program impacted her life and calling.

On her current work:

I currently serve as the Associate Minister at Florence Christian Church in Florence, Kentucky.  I lead faith formation ministries for all ages and provide the pastoral supervision for the Discover Zone Preschool and Childcare Center, IT & Communications Ministries, and our Scout Troops and Pack. In my spare time, I am working towards a Doctor of Ministry at Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

On memories from participating:

I remember the unconditional support and encouragement of the HELM staff as well as other fellows. We were all trying to figure out how God was working in our lives. Having a group of people also committed to their faith and to the church journeying with you in the time of discovery was so formational.

On important learnings:

Through the Leadership Fellows Program, I was able to get a broader sense of the church beyond local congregations as well as understand how deeply we are all connected. Meeting young leaders from across the country and with a wide variety of experiences helped me see that the ministry of the church is bigger and filled with more possibilities than I could ever dream. It also enabled me to see that there was a place for my own leadership gifts and strengths, which helped open me up to a call into ordained ministry during my participating in the LFP. I believe that I would have eventually listened for God’s call and said, “Yes.” However, I know that my experiences with the Leadership Fellows helped me be ready to receive that call sooner in my journey.

On how participating shaped her sense of calling and understanding of leadership:

By being in the Leadership Fellows Program, I learned that people can and are leaders at any age. In turn, it has helped me be attentive to others and encourage them in finding their calling and leadership abilities.

Beau Underwood

The Disciples Leadership Institute (DLI) brings together emerging Disciples leaders (clergy and lay), seeking to deepen their understanding and develop their relationships across perceived boundaries of race, culture, and language. This month we highlight past participant Beau Underwood as he shares how his experience in the DLI program continues to shape his understanding of life and ministry.

On his current work:

Since early 2015, I’ve had the joy of serving as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Jefferson City, Missouri. The church is located two blocks from the State Capitol. Many of my members work in government or politics so shepherding this community connects very practically with my interests in how faith and politics intersect. Beyond my local congregation, I have the privilege of being a trustee of my undergraduate alma mater, Eureka College, and a member of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

On memories from participating:

DLI was an amazing experience for me. I made connections with leaders from across the denomination that have carried through to this day. Our gathering was in Salt Lake City, Utah. My strongest memories are of walking around downtown and talking about life’s biggest questions with folks I had just met. Those sort of instant relationships are so rare and DLI was an embarrassment of riches in that respect.

On important learnings:

This will sound obvious but the greatest gain for me from the DLI experience was encountering people and perspectives far different from my own. As the program intended, our cohort gathered a diverse group that was united not by ideological or theological agreement but through our common confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and a trust built around the shared experience of the communion table. This gift of unity, despite the lack of uniformity, allowed us to share our stories and convictions, be challenged by others in ways that led to spiritual growth, and gain an appreciation of the unique ways each of us carries the Image of God.

On how participating shaped her sense of calling and understanding of leadership:

Our cultural struggles with the ability to listen and empathize. We lack the imagination to consider the perspectives and experiences of others that are radically different – and perhaps even in conflict – with our own. Leaders, especially those in ministry, cannot afford to lack this skill set; it is necessary given the changing religious dynamics of society and its increasing pluralism. DLI nurtures these critical abilities and demands participants begin to practice them.

Disciples Scholars Gather in San Diego

During the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature (AAR/SBL), held in San Diego November 23-26, CPB/Chalice Press and HELM hosted a reception for over sixty Disciples scholars and graduate students. Speaking about the event, Chris Dorsey, President of HELM, noted that “For the second year in a row, HELM and Chalice Press have held the reception as an early evening event. Attendance continues to be robust, and the energy and excitement around the reception have been great.” Those in attendance shared where they are teaching or studying. In addition, Dorsey and Brad Lyons, CBP President and Publisher, also gave updates on the work of HELM and Chalice Press, respectively.

Discussing the importance of being present with Disciples scholars at the meeting, Lyons said, “It’s always good to see the teachers and educational mentors of our faith at events like AAR/SBL. It helps us understand how higher education is changing, how Chalice Press can prepare to serve the church of the next ten years, and what additional resources are needed in our classrooms that Chalice Press can develop. We’re grateful for the fellowship and the deep conversations that take place at those kinds of events, creating a sacred space in the midst of an ordinary convention hall.”

The meeting of the AAR/SBL is the largest global gathering of academics in the field of religion, with attendance usually exceeding 10,000 participants.  Over 1,200 events are offered during the four-day conference, including academic sessions, receptions, workshops, and tours.

Where are they now: Former DLI participants Yvonne Gilmore and Wilson Dickinson

The Disciples Leadership Institute (DLI) brings together emerging Disciples leaders (clergy and lay), seeking to deepen understanding and develop relationships across perceived boundaries of race, culture and language. This month we highlight two past DLI participants, Yvonne Gilmore and Wilson Dickinson, as they share what they gained from the DLI program and how it continues to influence their lives and ministries.

Yvonne Gilmore

On her current ministry:

I am currently serving Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago as Associate Dean. The Disciples Divinity House offers an exceptional residential scholarship program in conjunction with the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. It is one of the seven theological education institutions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Scholars of the Disciples Divinity House are also students of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, where they pursue MDiv, MA, or Ph.D. degrees.

On memories from participating:

I fondly and gratefully remember DLI as a space of theological innovation, bold vision, and space to re-discover church-wide leadership. I experienced the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in a different way than I experienced it at the General Assembly or at a Regional Assembly, which are also spaces where the whole church gathers. Sharing in participant-led programming over 5 days with 40 people from different places with varied vocational commitments, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and theological commitments provided a new entrance for understanding possibilities in the church and in my own ministry. I met peers, colleagues, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors that I didn’t know I had, that lived and served in different places. They became sources of support, collaboration, and challenge over the years.

On important learnings:

The Christian Church is a deeply rooted, widely imaginative, theologically capacious, and diverse church. Practicing modes of dialogue and curiosity, worship planning and practice, table practices, and shared inquiry that made space for everyone was a gift. We did not always agree with one another, but we valued each other and remained present with integrity throughout the program. I’ve continued to cultivate ways of practicing and re-purposing “Witness and Response,” a way of bearing witness to faith and making space for an unfiltered response to four “witnesses,” developed by Joe Blosser at the first DLI.

On how it shaped her sense of call:

Leadership is not a solitary commitment. It is always a shared interpretive project. DLI was built on the supposition that models of leadership abound across the life of our church, and that making space to discover and learn from a variety of “images of God” and ways of leading and serving God is essential for leadership development. Adaptive leadership growth is often activated in the vineyard with other leaders and by a deepening relationship with one’s own leadership model. Earnest translation and conversation about faith across lines of practice, party, place, and space help me hear, map and understand myself as well as my neighbor.

Wilson Dickinson

On his current ministry:

I am a Disciples writer, teacher, and pastor serving in central Kentucky. I teach theology and am the Director of the Doctor of Ministry and Continuing Education Programs at Lexington Theological Seminary. I also serve as the Director of the Green Good News, an organization that educates, cultivates, and organizes at the crossroads of discipleship, justice, and sustainability. My second book, environmental justice and agrarian reading of the Gospels written for a popular audience, entitled The Green Good News: Christ’s Path to Sustainable and Joyful Life, is coming out this November.

On memories from participating:

I mostly remember friends, and by this, I mean friendship in the highest sense, of the bonds that are created by shared life and common calling. These brief retreats were marked as much by laughter as by uncomfortable truths. I would leave feeling both renewed and deeply challenged.

On important learnings:

DLI underlined for me the power of relationships that are held together by shared stories, study, and worship. So often in ministry and in organizing, we focus so much on the message that we lose the power of the medium. DLI did an excellent job of creating the space that held people together around challenging and personal issues, but it did so in such a way that the content did not emerge through a concluding document or action. Instead, it was woven into our relationships, and this has subsequently shaped my own life and call.

On how it shaped his sense of call:

My roots run deep in white establishment churches and DLI expanded my idea of what ministry is. It was at DLI that I first became friends with church planters and they were part of a number of groups that planted seeds that led my wife and myself to start a dinner church a few years ago. Furthermore, the friendships that I made with some folks in DLI have played an integral role in shifting from being a person who had hopes of a pro-reconciling church to now coming to understand that the path of discipleship requires the work of anti-racism, racial justice, and reparation.

2019 Leadership Fellows Retreat

The 2019 HELM Leadership Fellows represent more than 20 colleges and universities from across the United States. Comprised of 32 university students, the HELM Leadership Fellows attended their annual retreat in Oakland and San Francisco, California on October 31 to November 3. Given the opportunity to explore the housing crisis of the greater Bay Area from several vantage points, this year’s Leadership Fellows were transformed and challenged by the systematic injustice taking place in the Bay Area. Woven into the difficult topics of displacement, systematic racism, and violent capitalism were opportunities for the 2019 cohort to fellowship and grow together through such challenging themes. Below are some photos from the retreat.

2019 HELM Leadership Fellows, Board Members, HELM Staff, and Starr Watkins during walking tour of Downtown Berkeley. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

Rev. Vy Nguyen answers questions about the ministry and impact that Week of Compassion makes around the world. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

Rev. Jha has HELM Fellows discuss in small groups during her plenary session, prompting them to think of ways to be advocates for racial justice reform in their respective communities. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

HELM Board Member and NBA Mission Specialist, Ben Bohren, gives a presentation to the HELM Leadership Fellows. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

A small group of the Leadership Fellows take a quick visit to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Chris Dorsey.

HELM Leadership Fellows snap a quick selfie as they transition between activities (from left to right: Paulina Garcia, Iris Jang, Emily Swett, Gracie Wagnon, Clay York, William Matherly, and Hamin Yang). Photo by Emily Sweet.

Rev. Sandhya Jha gives an interactive plenary at the Oakland Peace Center to explore the intersection of systematic racism and capitalism, as well as historic organizing efforts to dismantle them. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

Local community organizer, Starr Watkins, guides us through Downtown Berkley to discuss recent displacements of Berkeley’s houseless citizens, as well as newly implemented policies that sometimes further harm these same citizens. Photo by Abraham Arthur.

HELM Fellows enjoy First Fridays in Oakland, a locally organized and lead art event that is free to the public and features live music, local artisans, and delicious food from around the world (from left to right: Jordan White, Emma Faye Crider, Hobbs, Colten Johnson, Yejin Lim, and Patrick McCarthy). Photo by a member of the Oakland community.

Presidents of Two Disciples Schools Retiring

Presidents of two Disciples-related colleges and universities will retire at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.  Dr. Kenneth Garren will be retiring after nineteen years at the University of Lynchburg (VA) and Dr. Kelly Thompson after six years at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri. They have both made significant contributions to their respective institutions and, under their leadership, both schools have seen significant growth in student enrollment, programs and degrees offered, and the expansion of their campuses.

Dr. Garren came to serve as the 10thpresident of what was then Lynchburg College in the fall of 2001.  Prior to this, he worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer, working on the Apollo and Gemini projects at NASA’s Langley Research Center.  He then taught mathematics and served as dean at Roanoke College, his alma mater.  During his term as President, the school grew its undergraduate enrollment by 32% and graduate programs by 169%, including doctoral degrees in physical therapy, educational leadership, and medical science.  Under Dr. Garren’s leadership, the school has invested in facilities such as Schewel Hall, the Drysdale Student Center, and the education building and Belk Observatory at the Clay Nature Center. In the fall of 2018, Lynchburg College, which was founded in 1903, became the University of Lynchburg, a recognition of how much the school has transformed and grown over the years. In addition to the above-mentioned growth, the school has also become much more diverse, an intentional focus of Dr. Garren’s for many years. In the past, Dr. Garren has also served as the chair of the Council of Presidents for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Dr. Kelly Thompson became the 26thpresident of Culver-Stockton College, the first woman to serve in this position, in the fall of 2014. Before arriving in Canton, Missouri, Dr. Thompson served another Disciples related institution, Barton College in North Carolina, as Vice President of External Relations and, prior to that, as Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During her tenure as president, Culver-Stockton has seen a 30% increase in enrollment, the building of a new residence hall and renovations on other residence halls and academic buildings, the addition of master’s programs in education and athletic training, and the addition of women’s lacrosse and esports.  In addition, the school has raised nearly $20 million as part of its comprehensive capital campaign.  In addition, she has also recently served as the chair of the Council of Presidents for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from 2016 to 2019.

Higher education has been a priority for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since its beginning. Both Dr. Garren and Dr. Thompson have served their schools well and HELM gives thanks for their visionary leadership and their commitment to continuing the educational legacy of their schools.

Back-to-School Digest

A new academic year has begun and, for Disciples related colleges and universities, there is much to celebrate and share! New buildings opening, record incoming classes, changes in leadership, and much more:

Barton College welcomed 325 first-year students, the largest incoming class since 1982. President Scott Searcy noted that “Last year at this time, it was 277. It is a significant increase in the numbers of students and that does not include transfers.” Barton College also opened a new athletic field, Electric Supply Company Field, which is now the home of Barton’s lacrosse and soccer teams and will serve Barton’s new football team, which begins competition in the fall of 2020.

Bethany College received reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission for the next ten years.  The process to earn reaccreditation is intense and requires a substantial investment of time from the administration, faculty, and staff. Bethany’s President, Rev. Dr. Tamara Rodenberg, said, “This latest news reaffirms HLC’s confidence in our vision, teaching, academic program, and future planning as expressed in our strategic plan, Bethany Connect.”

Chapman University opened a new dorm.  The 400-bed housing facility, named The K, cost an estimated $47.4 million and includes two-bedroom suites. Chapman is also launching the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering.  The school opens a year ahead of schedule and will eventually be housed in the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.

Columbia College opened a new residence hall, the first housing structure built on the campus in 50 years. The building, called New Hall, will house 150 students.  It will also be the home of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, which will include a large conference room and six classrooms.

Culver-Stockton College has been ranked as the top school in the state of Missouri for job placement ratings. The College’s 94.39 rating was given by Zippia, Inc., a California-based national resource website with career information for job seekers, and places it among the top 20 schools in the nation.

Eureka College has partnered with Midstate College, providing transfer opportunities. Midstate College ceased operations in August and Eureka will provide substantial scholarship packages, including The Uniquely Eureka Promise, for Midstate students needing to finish their studies in Business Administration, Accounting, Criminal Justice/Sociology, and History/Political Science.

Drury University opened its new “Compass Center” this fall.  The Center will help students with academic advising, career planning, and learning support. Mike Brothers, representing the University Relations Office, noted, “We want to be very intentional in giving students a mentoring squad, a whole team of people, that are going to approach this with them.” For now, the Center is located in the Career Planning Office; however, plans are in place to build a new facility to house the Center.

The University of Lynchburg has a new swim team that begins competition this fall. The last time the University offered swimming as an intercollegiate sport was 1971. A new dorm is also opening this fall with the capacity to house 270 students. The dorm is located next to the athletic fields and students will be able to watch sporting events from their rooms or a rooftop terrace. The facility will also house the University’s Westover Honors College

Hiram College has announced a new tuition model that will take effect at the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year.  The new program, called “Learn More, Earn More, Spend Less,” includes cutting the College’s published tuition price by 35%, dropping from $37,710 this year to $24,500 next fall.  The school will also be offering free summer classes and assistance in connecting students with paid internships.

Jarvis Christian College is raising funds through the 5,000 Jarvis Strong Campaign. The drive seeks to raise funds from alumni as well as friends of the university to support need-based scholarships, academic programs and renovations for the physical plant.

Midway University announced record enrollment for the fourth consecutive year. This fall the College welcomed an incoming class of 274 undergraduate students, which exceeds last year’s record of 267. The school has also added two new concentrations, Leadership and Human Resource Management, to its Business Administration Majors to go along with the existing Accounting concentration.

The Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center’s School of Medicine in Fort Worth welcomed its first class. The new medical school, which has been in the making since 2015, has an initial enrollment of 60 students. The school puts an emphasis on training doctors who, in addition to caring for the physical needs of patients, are also compassionate and empathetic.

At Transylvania University, construction continues on a new, $30 million campus center.  Completion is scheduled for fall of 2020 and, when completed, the 97,710 square foot facility will include event spaces, a fitness center, and dining areas.

Tougaloo College welcomed a new president, Dr. Carmen Walters. Dr. Walters is the 14thPresident of Tougaloo and she succeeds Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan, who had led the College since 2002. Dr. Walters has more than 24 years of experience in higher education, including most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management, Student Success and Institutional Relations at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

William Woods University continues to see an upward trend in enrollment. The University welcomed 958 new evening students and online students, up 5% from last year. With the addition of 256 incoming freshmen, the total student population now stands at 2,168.  In the past three decades, William Woods has seen a 300% increase in enrollment.

HELM gives thanks for the administrators, faculty, staff, and students at Disciples related schools as well as the many alumni/alumnae who maintain connections and support.  To learn more about the colleges and universities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), click here!

2019 Leadership Fellows Named

An incoming class 8 students has been selected to join the Leadership Fellows Program in the Fall of 2019. These students were selected from an expansive pool of extremely qualified applicants. Through their mindful involvement in their schools and churches, the 8 new Fellows have successfully established themselves as leaders within their own communities. Through the Leadership Fellows Program, HELM hopes to nurture and support each Fellow’s undergraduate career to further expand on their already impressive accomplishments towards positive impact in our communities.

The 2019-2020 Cohort, listed in alphabetical order, includes:

 

Emma Drake, Chapman University

Emma Drake is a born and raised Midwesterner and is very excited to be going to Chapman University, a West Coast school. She will be majoring in Spanish. Her dream is to go on pilgrimages to as many Central and South American countries as she can because she has become very passionate about the struggles that many people in those countries face. She loves to play piano and sing in choir as stress relievers and will be pursuing those hobbies in college as well. She is a member of First Christian Church in Smithfield, Missouri.

 

 

William Matherly, Kansas State University

Will Matherly was born in Kentucky but has been raised in the Midwest. He wrestled in high school and was elected team captain by his teammates.  A member of First Christian Church in Topeka, Kansas, he has been a church camp counselor for the last four years. He was in the International Baccalaureate program in high school has attended five mission trips with his church. He will be attending Kansas State University in the fall and will be pursuing a degree in architectural engineering.

 

Patrick McCarthy, Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Patrick McCarthy is from Clayton, North Carolina and attends St. Paul’s Christian Church in Raleigh. He has been a Disciple for about 5 years and throughout that time, he has been blessed with the opportunities of serving on the Regional Cabinet for Youth Work (RCYW) of North Carolina and the General Youth Council (GYC) where he currently serves as the moderator. Some of his hobbies include running, watching and going to sports games, and listening to music. Many of his fondest memories have been due to the church and the opportunities he has been able to have. In the fall he will be attending Mid-Atlantic Christian University.

Ehret Nottingham, Colorado State University

Ehret Nottingham is a musician, student, and community organizer. He has been involved in politics for the last three years, leading his school and town in several student demonstrations which resulted in two bills passing in the state legislature. He has played trombone for 7 years, performing in Loveland High School’s Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, and Pit Orchestra. Ehret has been the principal trombone at LHS for the past two years while maintaining a high GPA for National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. A member of Heart of the Rockies Christian Church and the Central Rocky Mountain Region Executive Council, Ehret enjoys exploring God’s creation in the mountains and foothills around Colorado. In the fall he will attend Colorado State University.

 

Sophia Patchin, University of Northern Iowa

Sophia Patchin is a graduate of Southeast Polk High School and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa with a double major in music education and bassoon performance. During high school, Sophia was a member of National Honors Society, National Council of Youth Leadership, and Mentors in Violence Prevention. In addition, she was section leader within many musical ensembles and a leader within the Runnells Rockets 4-H Club. As a member of the Altoona Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Sophia is rooted in growing her faith, giving back to her community and meeting the needs of those around her. As a Vacation Bible School song leader, youth group member, and face painting leader for the joint church and community National Night Out event, Sophia is involved with many dimensions of youth within the congregation and community. In addition, she collects food for the food pantry, makes casseroles for the Salvation Army Mobile food truck and engages in as many volunteer efforts as she can. Looking towards her future, Sophia intends to incorporate music, leadership, and her faith in an inclusive God whose love knows no bounds to help others by being a compassionate and positive role model in each of her interactions.

 

Sarah Grace Wagnon, George Washington University

Sarah Grace Wagnon, who also goes by Grace or Gracie (no preference between the two) is a life-long Disciple. In her church, Central Christian Church in Indianapolis, she has been involved in serving communion, leading worship and being a delegate to the Regional and National Assembly. Through her congregation, she helped found the Youth on Race program. Outside of church, she is involved in her community and school, serving on the Indianapolis Mayor's Youth Leadership Council, captain of the Women's Varsity Soccer Team and president of the Latin Club. When she is not sleeping or dying from exhaustion, she is reading, hanging out with friends or spending time in nature. She is passionate about history, the environment and building community.  These loves, shaped by her local church, have given her a passion for social justice.  She will be attending George Washington University.

 

 

Sam Wilkinson, Taylor University

Sam Wilkinson is from Thorntown, Indiana and graduated from Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School where he was a member of a Kiwanis Leadership Academy.  He was also on the track & field and football teams where he was a 3-time Varsity Letter Winner and a team captain for the undefeated state champion team this past season (2018).He is currently a member at Central Christian Church in Lebanon, Indiana and has been attending a Disciples church since he was an infant. His father was previously a Disciples youth minister which allowed Sam the opportunity to go on twelve different mission experiences, including to Guatemala. In the fall he will be attending Taylor University in Upland, IN where he will be double majoring in Business Management and Christian Ministries as well minoring in Sports Management.

 

 

Hamin Yang, UC Irvine

Hamin Yang, a graduate of Claremont (CA) High School, was part of his school's swim team for three years and school orchestra from elementary school all the way to his senior year of high school, playing the violin. In the fall he will be attending UC Irvine to study Biomedical Engineering. He is currently living at home with his parents, two older sisters, a cat and tortoise. He loves to swim and hike at Loch Leven Camp and Conference Center, where he works. This year he will be graduating from Youth Immersion Ministry (a ministry comprised of high school students to enhance cultural awareness around the world). Through YIM he has had the privilege to travel to Puerto Rico, South Korea, and experience the hospitality of the South in Virginia. He is a member of First Christian Church of North Hollywood.

 

2019-2020 PhD Scholarship Awards

HELM is pleased to announce the names of the 5 Disciple students who have been awarded PhD scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year.  Three students were awarded the Ann E. Dickerson scholarship and two students received the William Gilbert and Florence Jones scholarship. Both the Ann E. Dickerson and William Gilbert & Florence Jones scholarships fund members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who are working towards a PhD in the field of religion.  The Ann E. Dickerson scholarship specifically supports female PhD students.

The 2019-2020 Ann E. Dickerson Scholarship Recipients

Miseon Choi is a Ph.D. student in Practical Theology with an emphasis on Religious Education at Claremont School of Theology. She studied Christian Education at Hanshin University in South Korea and completed a Master of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Her vocational goal is to practice ‘living together’ with the identity of Christ and the daughter of God, whether she becomes an ordained pastor or an educator in the future.  She currently serves at Saegil Christian Church in Burbank as Children's Minister.

 

Tomeka Jacobs is pursuing a PhD in Practical Theology at Claremont School of Theology. In the fall she will begin her term as student trustee on the Board of Trustees at CST. Currently, she works in the Financial Aid Office as a Student Assistant and maintains a Research Fellowship with Dr. Rick Hanson, researching neuroscience and contemplative practices. She attends First Christian Church-Orange (Orange, CA) and calls East Second Street Christian Church (Lexington, KY) her home. Black women's contemplative practice is an academic interest and part of her research and she is interested in understanding how Black women use contemplative practices in their lives and what those practices look like daily. She hosts a Black Women's Contemplative group, started last year.

Rev. Laura Jean Torgerson is a Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biblical Interpretation and Sociology of Culture at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Her research on biblical interpretation among Nicaraguan Pentecostals grows out of her time as a Global Ministries (DoC/UCC) mission coworker in Managua, where she worked in theological education. She is currently Director of Education and Mission for Disciples Seminary Foundation in Northern California. She is a member of Mills Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oakland, CA.

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The 2019-2020 William Gilbert and Florence Jones Scholarship Recipients

Rev. Nick Green will begin his PhD in Biblical Interpretation at Brite Divinity School this fall. He is interested in the Bible's authority for Christians today, especially taking into account how different people see the Bible in different ways. While he hopes his research, which focuses on the New Testament, will contribute to the academic community, he also hopes it will help everyday Christians better understand how to approach the Bible in a diverse, worldwide church. He first found inspiration in the Bible's teachings at his home congregation, Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pocatello, Idaho. Later experiences with diverse populations—including a Global Mission Internship in El Salvador, student ministry at a bilingual congregation in Indianapolis, and a seminary environment that encouraged intercultural dialogue—served to foster his interest in diversity and how it relates to the Bible. He received his Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies dual degree from Christian Theological Seminary in 2016. Since seminary, he has served as the Associate Minister of South Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Springfield, Missouri.

 

Aizaiah Yong has spent the last eight years working in a variety of educational, congregational, and nonprofit leadership roles. His previous roles include adjunct professor, non-profit director, an associate minister for youth and young adult ministries, spiritual retreat leader, and a scholar publishing on the intersection of spirituality and social change. He is a sought-out speaker on issues of race and religion as well as other issues of inclusion and spirituality. He has presented keynotes over one hundred times to audiences both large (over 2,000 people) and small. He currently lives in the bay area with his wife and two small children while he completes a doctoral fellowships with the Hispanic Theological Initiative and the Fetzer Institute.

 

Disciples Related Institutions Welcome Renowned Commencement Speakers

Disciples colleges and universities recently held graduation ceremonies and a number featured well-known speakers giving the commencement address.

Tougaloo College hosted New York Times bestselling author and civil and human rights advocate Stacey Abrams.  Abrams, who grew up in Mississippi and who’s parents graduated from Tougaloo, shared that “My parents were part of the civil rights movement. They would tell us stories about the safe haven they found in this magical place, with its trees and its history and its lessons learned.” Abrams told graduates that when she decided to run for governor of Georgia in 2018, there were many, even friends, who doubted her. They told her she was smart enough to do the job but said that no African American women had ever been governor of a state in US history. But Abrams persevered and encouraged graduates, saying “You cannot edit your desires.  You are not allowed to limit what you believe you can achieve. The world is waiting for you to come and we need your help to make this world right-side up.”

Chapman University hosted Matt and Ross Duffer, Chapman alumni (’07) who created the Netflix hit “Stranger Things.” The Duffer Brothers shared that while people may look at the brothers’ success now and think it was easy, it was a difficult and long road. Using examples from film, they asked, “Would Luke Skywalker have become Luke Skywalker if he wasn’t pulled into the Death Star?  Would Neo have become Neo if Morpheus wasn’t kidnapped?  There is no movie without obstacles and the same is true of your life.” They went on to tell graduates, “Don’t hide form your failures, don’t run from the obstacles. Confront them head on, learn from them and blow up the Death Star.”

The University of Lynchburg heard from Kathrine Switzer, the first women to officially run the Boston Marathon.  She attended what was then Lynchburg College 53 years ago, playing field hockey, lacrosse and basketball.  While there was not a women’s track team at the time, then men’s track coach Aubrey Moon asked her to run in a meet. After transferring to Syracuse, she went on to run full marathons and decided, with the encouragement of a coach, to officially enter the Boston Marathon: “Other women were not in the race or didn’t undertake difficult or adventurous things because they were afraid. They were afraid of all those old myths that limited them.” However, she also shared that that “I wasn’t special.  I had an opportunity.  Talent is everywhere.  It only needs an opportunity.”

At Barton College, graduates heard from the Reverend Canon Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Missioner for Racial and Economic Equity at the Cathedral of All Souls in Ashville, NC. The daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Tutu said that “Our world desperately needs changing. We live in a time when many live in fear, when many live in the margins of our society, when there seems to be more that separates us than brings us together. Therefore, we need people who dream big, who see a different world, who believe that our world can indeed be a better place.”  She noted, however, that “To do that, you must believe you have the ability to change the world. Even if not the entire world then at least the world of another person. And to do these things you must have compassion for the world and you must have compassion for yourself.”

Jarvis Christian College hosted Donna Brazile, the first African American women to lead a mainstream presidential campaign and former chair of the Democratic National Committee.  Brazile shared that in the current political and social climate, graduates must be willing to speak truth to power: “You can’t sit down and get anything. You’ve got to step up and sometimes you can’t wait for somebody to call.  You’ve just got to be there because you know you should be there.” Brazile also encouraged graduates to take responsibility as leaders because “You soon will be in charge. Whether it’s as a national leader, a small-business owner or as a neighborhood leader, the responsibility for what happens next will be yours.”

HELM congratulates all the graduates from the fifteen Disciples related colleges and universities and looks forward to seeing the gifts you bring and the changes you make in our communities and world.

The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership – A Conversation with Richie Sanchez

The Disciples Leadership Institute (DLI) brings together emerging Disciples leaders, seeking to deepen understanding and develop relationships across perceived boundaries of race, culture and language. This month a past DLI participant, Richie Sanchez, who has just recently been called to serve as the Regional Minister for the Pacific Southwest Region, shares what he gained from the DLI program and how it continues to influence his life and calling.

On his current ministry:

“I currently serve as Interim Regional Minister and President for the Christian Church in Arizona. While the region is without a settled minister and in a time of transition, I work to meet the needs of our local congregations, clergy and partners.  I’ve been able to care for several congregations in search of a new minister. I helped a congregation close it visible worship life and find a resurrection story into a new ministry center in Glendale, AZ.  Currently, we’re working to graduate a group of Spanish speaking clergy and lay leaders in the Hispanic Ministries Certificate program at Lexington Theological Seminary.  These efforts will provide more theologically trained leaders for our own future story in the state of Arizona.”

On memories from participating:

“I most cherish the memory of the holy spaces that were purposed and made priceless for our ashes and beauty.  I remember the willingness of participants to share their stories and engage in peer learning.  Participants were unafraid to be vulnerable about past or current struggles and difficulties in ministry or life.  The DLI program leaders and community gathered were creative, adaptable, supportive and caring.  The spaces were built into an environment that allowed many of the participants to embrace a reflective process in order that they might find beauty from their ashes.

I had the privilege to preach for DLI’s closing worship and will never forget that the hardest part would be before us.  We had to take with us what we learned and apply it to our lives, our near and distant circles.  To become leaders with courage that would champion the intersections of ministry, culture and life.  The call was to serve no longer only “the team” we may have represented or best identified with, but to be daring enough to change our team colors for one of unity and welcome for all.”

On important learnings: 

“This program offered me a non-judgmental space to reflect, be amongst peers and unmask some wounding perceptions.  I developed better listening skills and ways to make time for someone else’s story or journey.  I enjoyed being amongst Disciples who I had only known in passing or had never met.  We were graced with time to meet, break bread, worship together, learn from each other, finding and celebrating commonalities from our journeys.  I gained admiration for HELM’s participation in processes and programs such as these to help Disciples discover the depth, breadth, heights and width of our common faith.”

 On how it shaped his sense of call:

 “From this experience, it is my sense that those who desire to pursue ministry as a calling or vocation should do so from a place of deep authenticity.  An important aspect of being a leader is the ability to encourage honest and authentic relationships across several human imposed and perceived boundaries.  This is made possible when ministers have experienced honest and authentic relationships themselves.  Ministers should search for and find spaces or communities that engage in struggles and difficulties in non-judgmental ways.  If these spaces cannot be found, then purposely help create them.

DLI helped me to further clarify my calling in ministry as a unifier, a bridge builder between cultures and a bridge from time to time (even, though bridges can be trampled). I have embraced the idea that authenticity in leadership helps unmask perceptions and allows us to extend an openness so that matters of difference in yourself and others might dissipate.  This approach provides others with reasons to share time for dialogue and help discover unseen intersections, changing our current context and church climates. It is authenticity that will allow ourselves to be known and be loved.”