Author Archives: Luke Soderstrom

Meet Graduating Leadership Fellow Rachel Cheyney

What college/university will you be graduating from?

Texas Christian University

 

Majoring in…

Geography

 

What was your motivation for deciding your major(s)?

I started as a computer science major because that is the direction my family pushed me towards, but I soon found out that it wasn’t something I was passionate about. I began pursuing geography in the second semester of my freshman year because it felt like such an open field. The way one of my mentors, Dr. Jeff Roett, described it was “geography is a field that lets you study the spatial aspect of whatever you want.” While I am now on the path to study the urban geography and mobility of disabled populations, I wasn’t sure where I would go when I chose that major. But I felt like I needed to pick something, and there was a certain allure to geography. I have never once regretted my decision.

 

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

In five years, I see myself finishing my Ph.D. and continuing my research into blind urban mobility, as well as working closely with the blind community and aiding them in whatever ways are appropriate.

 

What advice would you give the Freshman year version of yourself?

I would tell the freshman version of myself to be herself, but not stress out about coming out as transgender. It has been an amazing decision that I feel was made at just the right time in my life.

 

If you had a talk show, who would your first three guests be?

My first three guests would be my best friends Jordan, Trevor, and Souli. The three of them have never met and I want to have a conversation with all of them. I think they’d have good chemistry.

 

How has your vision of the future been enhanced by your time in the Leadership Fellows Program?

The Leadership Fellows Program has provided me the confidence to do things I never thought possible. If you had told me my freshman year of college that by senior year, I would be leading a devotional and sharing some of my deepest thoughts with my HELM community, I wouldn’t have believed you. But HELM has taught me that if I want to do something, I can and should do it.

 

 

Meet Graduating Leadership Fellow Maya Herb

What college/university will you be graduating from?

Western Oregon University

Majoring in….

Gerontology and Spanish

What was your motivation for deciding your major(s)?

I chose a Spanish major because I grew up going to a dual immersion Spanish program K-12 and wanted to keep speaking Spanish. This course of study has provided me with a broad appreciation of Spanish-speaking cultures, from art and literature to linguistics and politics. Because of the many Spanish medium classes I have taken, I am constantly fascinated by it.

Gerontology was the major I chose when I started thinking about what I wanted to do after college. My Gerontology major has set me up to think holistically about the needs of older adults and how I can best work with and on the behalf of older adults. The older people in my community, and especially my church, have always been an important part of my life and they are absolutely part of what called me in this direction.

 

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Five years from now I see myself as an engaged member of my community. I hope to be enjoying the work that I do and finding meaningful pursuits outside of vocation as well.

What advice would you give the Freshman year version of yourself?

It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Ask questions and talk to people. Things will work out.

If you had a talk show, who would your first three guests be?

My first three guests on my talk show would be AOC, Bob Dylan, and Hannah Gadsby.

How has your vision of the future been enhanced by your time in the Leadership Fellowship?

HELM has given me the chance to go places and do things I never would have done on my own and it has reinforced what I believe is important about the church. My vision of what is important to me now and in my future has been shaped by the values HELM has given me. HELM made a point to emphasize the local and the universal issues of every place we traveled to, highlighting injustice and the work that was being done to combat it. That frame of looking at the world is something that I will carry with me.

 

Meet Graduating Leadership Fellow Zaemelys Ramos-Rodriguez

What college/university will you be graduating from?
Biola University this past December.

Majoring in…
Psychology with a minor in Art.

What was your motivation for deciding your major(s)?
I am a strong advocate for mental health care, especially in underserved communities,
and I knew I could help add to that field of work as a clinical psychologist. I desire to continue my education by studying in a Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology and hope to work with ethnic minority children through research and clinical work.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I hope to be graduating, if not almost graduating, from a clinical psychology program,
and hopefully, accomplish some of the projects I’ve set myself to do.

What advice would you give the Freshman year version of yourself?
I would say to be true to what you stand for and not be afraid to share your perspective
on life. Your opinions and viewpoints matter and they may help others navigate life.

If you had a talk show, who would your first three guests be?
It would probably just be an excuse to meet people I greatly admire (as well as my
celebrity crushes), so I would for sure love to have Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and
Pedro Pascal. I also really value these people because of how they carry themselves
and what they stand for and believe.

How has your vision of the future been enhanced by your time in the Leadership Fellowship?
The Leadership Fellows Program has helped me gain more confidence in myself and
helped strengthen my values and beliefs. It has helped me grow in ways that I needed
and equipped me as a leader as I step forward in a new journey in my life.

Leadership Fellows Gather in Georgia!

The HELM Leadership Fellows gathered from November 4-7 at Historic Banning Mills, located outside of Atlanta, for their annual retreat. After not being able to meet in-person last year due to the pandemic, this year students were able to be together to renew friendships, meet with their peer groups, engage with Dr. Elizabeth Corrie from Candler School of Theology, and visit the MLK Center in Atlanta.

To read reflections from four of the participating students on the weekend’s events and how it impacted them, click the images below!

Katie Madole

Patrick McCarthy

Marci Mazza-Fredley

Sara Wilson

Disciples Colleges and Universities Move Up National Rankings!

The newest college and university rankings have been released by US News and World Report.  Over 1,800 schools are ranked and Disciples-related schools are moving up! Here are some of the highlights:

 

  • Tougaloo College is ranked #2 in Top Performers on Social Mobility and #15 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
  • Chapman University moved up to #122 in National Universities and the Dodge Film School is ranked #4 nationally.
  • Texas Christian University is #83 in National Universities.
  • Drury University is #2 in Best Value Schools and #12 in Regional Universities in the Midwest.
  • Barton College is #14 in Regional Colleges in the South, #6 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #8 in Best Value Schools.
  • Hiram College is #3 in Best Value Schools, #15 in Regional Colleges Midwest, and #12 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
  • Transylvania University is ranked #92 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.
  • The University of Lynchburg is #21 in Regional Universities in the South and #23 in Best Value Schools.
  • Jarvis Christian College is #37 in Regional Colleges in the West and #37 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
  • Culver-Stockton College is #16 in Best Value Schools and #17 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
  • Eureka College is #25 in Regional Colleges Midwest and #13 in Best Value Schools.
  • Midway University is #25 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
  • Bethany College is #98 in Top Performers in Social Mobility.

 

There is much to celebrate as the future of Disciples-related colleges and universities is bright! For more information about the colleges and universities affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), visit HELM’s website.

2021-2022 HELM PhD Scholarship Recipients

HELM is pleased to announce the names of the four Disciple students who have been awarded Ph.D. scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year.   Three students were awarded the Ann E. Dickerson Scholarship and one student 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 Ph.D. in the field of religion. The Ann E. Dickerson scholarship specifically supports female Ph.D. students.  Read the bio of each student below.

Miseon Choi

Miseon Choi is a Ph.D. candidate in Practical Theology with a concentration in Religious Education at Claremont School of Theology. She previously studied Christian Education at Hanshin University in South Korea and completed her Master of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She is interested in the practical life of faith and her dissertation uses a postcolonial perspective to recognize and compare social ideologies and structures to Jesus’ Table Theology.

Larry J. Morris

Rev. Larry J. Morris III is an apostle, digital marketer, and scholar based in Henderson, Nevada. He was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2019 and is planting Communion Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Henderson. Communion Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is the implementation of his Master of Theological Studies thesis, “Ministry Gifts in

Ephesians 4:11 as a Model for a New Church Plant in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).” The mission of Communion Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is to cultivate disciples of Christ, co-create community, and collectively work towards liberation. Larry is also a spiritual director who provides spiritual accompaniment to those dancing and wrestling with the Divine.

As a digital marketer, Larry is more of a generalist but enjoys leading individuals and organizations through processes that help give clarity on their brand identity and strategy, as well as ways to effectively engage their clients. He has a passion for startups and those making major transitions. As a scholar, Larry is currently a Ph.D. student in the African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric Program at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. His academic interests are at the intersections of blackness, queerness, and sacred rhetoric. Larry currently serves as the Student Representative for Arizona/Nevada for the American Academy of Religion Western Region. He also serves on the boards for Interfaith Voices of Reproductive Justice and the Christian Board of Publication.

Vanessa Rodriguez

Vanessa Rodriguez was born in La Paz, Bolivia, and migrated to the United States with her family at the age of three and was raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. After a few years of practicing immigration law in the area of deportation defense within the Latino community, Vanessa was baptized and born again at Springfield Christian Church which propelled her studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. At Wesley, Vanessa interned as a hospital chaplain and there discovered her passion. After completing her internship, she enrolled in one unit of CPE, which allows her to continue serving as an on-call chaplain while maintaining her legal practice. Vanessa graduated with a Master of Divinity in May 2021 and will be attending Drew University in New Jersey in Fall 2021 to pursue a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics. As a mujerista theologian, Vanessa has a passion to empower and affirm the Latina and her community in and out of church so that God’s work of liberation and transformation can be witnessed. Vanessa is a candidate for ordination within the Disciples of Christ and continues to serve as a Sunday School teacher, church board member, and occasional preacher, as teaching at all levels is her call.

Laura Jean Torgerson

Laura Jean Torgerson is an ordained minister who has served the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a congregational pastor, overseas mission coworker, camp counselor, theological educator, and mentor of seminary students. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies of Biblical Interpretation and Culture at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Her dissertation, “Crossing Contexts: Pentecostal Biblical Interpretation in Church and Seminary,” examines the experience of Nicaraguan Pentecostal students who have learned one set of ways to interpret the Bible in their congregations and confront new norms and expectations when they enter seminary. The dynamics of this particular context shed light on two much broader phenomena: the ways that congregations form their members as readers of the Bible and the conflicts that emerge when students enter seminary, especially courses in Biblical Studies. Her interest in learning more about Latin American Pentecostal biblical interpretation and her commitment to theological education was inspired by her service as a mission coworker in Nicaragua with Global Ministries, which included teaching in congregations and in an ecumenical seminary. She is a member of Mills Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oakland, California, where she lives with her family.

Disciples Bereavement Notice

HELM is saddened to learn about the recent deaths of two prominent Disciple academics and administrators, Rev. Dr. Don Pittman and Rev. Dr. Clark Williamson, at the end of June. Read more about their lives and work below:

The Rev. Dr. Don Pittman

Rev. Dr. Don Pittman, the William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions Emeritus at Phillips Theological Seminary and husband to current Phillips Theological Seminary President, Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman, died on Saturday, July 26, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Pittman’s degrees included a BA from Texas Christian University, MDiv and MA from Vanderbilt University, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and post-doctoral studies at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan. He served as a professor and administrator at a number of institutions, including the Disciples Divinity House at the University of Chicago, Brite Divinity School, Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan, and Phillips Theological Seminary. Dr. Pittman was an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and was a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Association of Asian Studies, the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, and the Association of Disciples for Theological Discussion. His research interests included interfaith studies, Buddhist Studies, Chinese Studies, and global Christianity.

A memorial service was held at Harvard Avenue Christian Church on Friday, July 2, at 2 p.m.  In addition, a graveside service took place at Greenwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 6. To read Dr. Pittman’s obituary, click here.

The Rev. Dr. Clark Williamson

Rev. Dr. Clark Williamson, the Indiana Professor of Christian Thought Emeritus at Christian Theological Seminary, died on Saturday, July 26, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Williamson’s degrees included a BA from Transylvania College (now University) and BD, MA, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago. He served as a professor and administrator at Christian Theological Seminary, including the position of Executive Vice President and Academic Dean, and was a visiting professor at Claremont Theology School and the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Williamson was an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a member of the American Academy of Religion, the American Theological Society, and the Association of Disciples for Theological Discussion. His research included formative work on post-Holocaust theology, including writing and speaking against anti-Jewishness in Christian theology.

A memorial service has be scheduled for Saturday, September 25th at 2 p.m. at Central Christian Church in Indianapolis. To read Dr. Williamson’s obituary, click here.

2021 Leadership Fellows Global Engagement Trip

This year's Global Engagement trip was different from previous years. Typically, HELM takes the rising seniors on an international trip to visit one of the Disciples’ global partners. Due to the travel restrictions and the impact that COVID-19 has had on many of our partners, leaving the country wasn't a possibility for the second year in a row. Luckily for us, the Disciples consist of congregations that stretch far and wide across the United States and Canada, and we were presented with an incredible opportunity to take two classes of HELM Fellows (the senior class who missed their Global Engagement trip last year because of COVID, and this year's junior class) to visit First Christian Church of Anchorage and the beautiful state of Alaska. We were accompanied by Paul Boling, the Head Pastor of FCC Anchorage, Associate Pastor Dave Boling, Elder Helen McNeill, and two of Pastor Paul Boling's sons. Their presence and generosity were easily the largest blessings we received on this trip. We enjoyed nearly 24 hours of sunlight each day as well as seeing some of the exciting wildlife that draws people to Alaska every year. More importantly, however, students were able to engage with and learn from leaders who are working with communities on issues of justice and healing related to indigenous land, culture, and history. To read reflections from a few of the students who participated in this year's Global Engagement Trip, click on the photos below!

Kaylie Allen

Olivia Adams

Yeijin Lim

Zach Cheyney

Clay York

2021 Leadership Fellows Named

An incoming class of eight students has been selected to join the Leadership Fellows Program in the Fall of 2021. These students were selected from a large pool of extremely qualified applicants. Through their involvement in their schools and churches, the eight 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.

Annika Fuller

Annika Fuller is a member of Palm Lake Christian Church in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. She has been involved with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since she was born, and both of her grandfathers served as pastors within the DoC. She has been a member of the Florida Regional Youth Ministry Council as well as the General Youth Council for more than two years. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and canoeing. She is also a professional musician and singer-songwriter and plans to someday try to sell her songs to a producer or an artist. While she is not entirely sure which career path she would like to follow, she does know whatever she chooses will relate to helping others. In the fall she will be attending New College of Florida and majoring in either Neuroscience or Biopsychology.

Ella Gordon

Ella Gordon is from Corvallis, Oregon. She loves to read and write and has been writing fiction stories for as long as she can remember. She also enjoys other forms of art, including drawing and painting. For exercise, Ella runs whenever she has the time. At her church, First Christian Church of Corvallis, she is involved in Sunday School activities with her peers and adult teachers and plays the violin in the folk band. In the fall she will attend the University of Oregon and plans to major in English.

Hayden Skaggs

Hayden Skaggs is from Mansfield, Texas, and will be pursuing a degree in Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Religion & Philosophy at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois. While in high school, Hayden was a part of the National Honor Society, a leader in the school’s marching band, and ran cross country. At his home congregation, The Welcome Table Christian Church, he has been the youth representative in the hiring and ordination process of two student ministers. While attending The Welcome Table, he has seen it become an open and affirming congregation, which he believes is an important step into the inclusion of all. His time as a Disciple has propelled him to serve his community and helped it to become a place of inclusion today.

Ruthie Weeks

Ruthie Weeks is from Mechanicsville, Virginia, and is a member of Slash Christian Church in Ashland. She says that growing up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) helped her develop a strong love for God and the community of her denomination. Her passion lies in journalism and videography, and she enjoys using these gifts in and out of the church. She served Hanover County Public Schools as a TV99 Intern, creating video content, along with serving as the Editor-In-Chief of Atlee High School’s newspaper. These opportunities allowed Ruthie to develop her skill set and she notes that taking her interest in writing and video production and channeling them into life as a Christian is extremely important. She has done this in a variety of ways over the years, including the creation of a video highlighting her youth group’s volunteer experiences for a Youth Sunday worship service and documenting Vacation Bible School each year through photography, including the creation of slideshows detailing each day’s Bible story. During the COVID pandemic, she videoed and edited communion, music, and the sermon. Ruthie is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, and Girl Scouts, where she earned the Gold Award by working to make her home congregation Green Chalice Certified. In the fall she will attend Chapman University to pursue a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Documentary.

Virginia Fullerton

Virginia Fullerton is from Kansas City, Missouri.  She loves creating, reading, chatting, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends. This fall she will be attending Kansas State University and pursuing a degree in Fashion Studies with a concentration in Business. She hopes to blaze a path in the fashion industry and create inclusive, accessible, and sustainable fashion. She works for Pro Athlete Inc. and has had the opportunity to take part in the Community and Charitable Outreach team, creating innovative projects to touch the community including donating stuffed animals to local children’s hospitals and providing goodie boxes for healthcare workers. Virginia has served as Moderator to the Regional Youth Cabinet of the Greater Kansas City Region from 2019-2021. She is excited to be a part of the Leadership Fellows Program and can’t wait to experience all the future holds.

Katie Madole

Katie Madole is from Nashville, Tennessee, and will be attending Birmingham Southern College, pursuing a double major in Biology and Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Justice. She served as president of her high school’s environmental club, Livable Schools, and was an active member of the National Honor Society. Katie also enjoyed performing with her school’s theatre and choral departments. For the past four years, Katie has attended the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV) one day a week where she engaged in interdisciplinary scientific research. Katie loves hiking, exploring nature, traveling, trying any and all coffee shops, performing theatre, singing, and playing with kids. Katie regularly performs theatre with the Theater Bug, a youth arts group in Nashville which performs original works about social issues facing today’s youth and kids. She is a member of Eastwood Christian Church, where she has enjoyed engaging with the youth group, helping out with the children’s ministries, and deepening her faith through the rich, thought-provoking, and diverse community that Eastwood provides. Additionally, Katie has loved serving as Chaplain for the Christian Church of Tennessee’s regional camp, Bethany Hills. Both Eastwood and Bethany Hills have helped Katie gain a deeper understanding of the unconditional love of God and sparked a desire to make the Church more equitable, inclusive, anti-racist, and loving. Through HELM, Katie is excited to see how this passion further blossoms.

Julia Vasquez

Julia Vasquez is from Arlington, Texas, and is a member of Rush Creek Christian Church. Some of her interests include watching movies, reading, crocheting, and hanging out with friends. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Youth Ministry Council, and she is excited to join new clubs once her university studies begin.  In the fall she will be attending Texas Christian University and plans to major in Environmental Science

Anna Whittle

Anna Whittle is from Louisville, Kentucky, and is a member of Beargrass Christian Church. She loves reading cool books, hiking with friends, and traveling. She served as a three-year member of the Louisville Youth Philanthropy Council, which led to her involvement with various nonprofits in her community. Through volunteering and working at both TreesLouisville, a local environmental organization, and Just Creations, a fair-trade marketplace, Anna has developed her passion for environmental and economic justice. At her school, Anna was captain of the Future Problem-Solving team and competed at state and international competitions during her senior year. Anna is a youth elder at her church and has loved attending Camp WaKonDaHo, Kentucky’s Disciples camp, during the summers. In the fall, she will be attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and plans to double major in Environmental Studies and Spanish.

HELM and Global Ministries Partner to Facilitate Student Connections

Fellows in Columbia

HELM’s Leadership Development Program aims to develop leaders through an intentional focus on four major areas during an undergraduate’s years of study. In their first year, Fellows focus on the nature and purpose of Christian community, including what it means to build and sustain authentic community. During the second year of the program, they learn about social transformation and reflect on the way faith compels us to work for justice. The third-year focus is on global awareness and involves an international trip to visit Disciples’ partners who are working on grassroots issues related to justice, peace, equality, and human rights. Finally, Fellows in their fourth year learn about mentoring and the lifelong practices of spiritual and vocational discernment. 

The year three focus on Global Awareness has allowed HELM to partner with Global Ministries, a common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, in connecting with international partners. Thus far, different cohorts of Fellows have visited Disciples’ partner organizations in Cuba, Morocco, and Colombia. In 2020, plans were in place to visit partners in Cuba again; however, the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented this trip from taking place. Chris Dorsey, President of HELM, says that when the global awareness theme was added as part of the Leadership Development Program, “We did it as a way of ensuring that participants in the program would have a chance to connect with people and places around the world, and understand the principles of solidarity and accompaniment as a key approach to mission.”

 

Fellows in Morocco

The work of partnering together has been facilitated by Global Ministries’ People-to-People Program, which assists in planning and preparing those who are engaging in cross-cultural pilgrimages. Lorna Hernandez, the Director of the program, believes deeply in the importance of these encounters: “When people from different backgrounds and cultures seek to listen and learn from each other, it is a sacred space. Whether by sharing a meal, worshipping, or exploring challenging issues, listening to each other’s stories changes the hearts, minds, and attitudes of those willing to come out of themselves into the world.” 

Reflecting on the connection between HELM and Global Ministries, Hernandez notes that “The ongoing collaboration has created intentional spaces of transformation for college students at a time of academic, leadership, and ministry development. The knowledge, experience, and connections shared with international partners will increase intercultural awareness in students, understanding of their own contexts through a global lens, and willingness to take action on social issues to promote peace with justice.” Dorsey echoed the importance of this connection, sharing that “We are grateful that the global awareness trips we take the students on each year give us a chance to work closely with Global Ministries to make it a successful part of the curriculum.” 

 

Fellows in Cuba

While HELM anticipates providing international connections and experiences for Fellows in the future, the many travel restrictions currently in place make international travel difficult. As a result, this year’s trip involves connecting with Disciples serving in Alaska. During this experience, Fellows will learn about the legacy of colonialism, the struggle for indigenous rights, and the effects of climate change and ongoing conservation efforts, as well as meet Disciples who are on the front lines of addressing these challenges. 

 

To learn more about the Leadership Fellows Program, visit helmdisciples.org/leadership-programs/leadership-fellows/.