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 10^thpresident 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 26^thpresident 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.

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 14^thPresident 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!

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.”

The HELM Leadership Fellows Program is for undergraduate students who are part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  The Program aims to develop leaders through an intentional focus on four major areas.  The first year of the program focuses on Community and students reflect on what it means to be Christian community. The them for the second year is Transformation and it gives students a chance to reflect on how Christian communities engage in transforming church, society, and world. In the third year, students focus on Global Awareness and the interconnectedness of Christian communities around the world. The fourth and final year focuses on mentoring and spiritual vocational discernment.

In the third year, HELM partners with the Division of Overseas Missions/Global Ministries to take the students on an international trip to see how we engage in ministries of accompaniment in a particular part of the world. This year, the students traveled to Colombia where they learned about the Colombian peace accords and the successes and struggles in realizing peace in the country; heard from partner organizations working on issues of human rights and reconciliation; visited locations where Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) have fled to find safety; and had a first-hand experience of the rich culture and history of Colombia.

Click on the name of each student to read their reflections on what they experienced during their time in Colombia!

(Ainsley Anderson)

(Courtney Sells)

(Jordan White)

(Lydia Yang)

One of the principal aims of the Leadership Fellows Program (LFP) is to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership. According to Krista Johnson Weicksel, her participation in the LFP did that and more. Below are some of her reflections on what she learned from the program and how it helped form her.

On Confidence:

“I think what I gained most was confidence. I don’t remember all the topics of the workshops, but I do remember feeling challenged. I don’t remember all the church leaders we met, but I do remember feeling heard and respected as a young person in the life of the church. I remember being encouraged to take a leap and volunteer as a Global Mission Intern in Israel/Palestine with Global Ministries, and I continue to be so grateful for that experience.”

On being mentored as part of a cohort:

“What I remember most is the people. I remember HELM staff who supported and challenged us. I continue to be grateful to mentors I was connected with who continue to be important people in my life. I remember my Leadership Fellows cohort and even today we continue to cheer each other on virtually.”

On how it shaped her sense of call:

“Being a part of the Leadership Fellows Program helped me to articulate a call to lay ministry through peacebuilding. At a time when it felt like there was a choice between working through the church by pursuing ordained ministry or studying Peace Studies and pursuing a career in a more secular realm, the HELM Leadership Fellows Program helped me to understand and articulate a calling to work with conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and advocacy as a ministry and to confidently pursue leadership within the church.”

On the experience of consistency during a time of transitions:

“The Leadership Fellows Program was really helpful as I pursued a somewhat disjointed ‘tapas platter’ of undergraduate studies, starting off at Ball State University, joining a Washington Semester at American University and in Northern Ireland, transferring to Chapman University to further pursue Peace Studies and spending my final semester studying in South Africa. The HELM Leadership Fellows program was one of the only constants in my undergraduate education and helped to connect a young student with wonderful mentors in these different places. I am very grateful for that!”

After eight years working as Peacebuilding Coordinator in with the Mennonite Central Committee’s Planning, Learning and Disaster Response Department, Johnson Weicksel currently serves as a Global Advocacy and Education Consultant for Global Ministries. She says of her current work: “After working in the Anabaptist world, I’m really excited to have a chance to do this work within my own tradition.”

The HELM Leadership Fellows Program is for undergraduate students who are part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Click here for more information.

2019 Retreat to be held in Oakland / San Francisco Bay area and will focus on Homelessness

In the almost two decades of the HELM Leadership Fellows Program, the annual fall retreat has been held in many different places throughout the US. For the first time, the retreat will be held in California. From October 31 – November 3, 2019, the HELM leadership fellows will be in the Oakland/San Francisco Bay area for three days and one of the primary topics to be explored will be chronic homelessness.

The participants will visit the Oakland Peace Center and will participate in a plenary workshop facilitated by noted Disciples author and activist, Rev. Sandhya Jha. Week of Compassion Executive Director, Vy Nguyen, will also address the group and share his perspective on the way the ministry works with partners throughout the world to alleviate suffering and promote compassion. As Regional Minister in the host region of Northern California-Nevada, Rev. LaTaunya Bynum had this to say: “We are pleased to welcome HELM scholars to the Bay area where they will be able to see the beauty and the opportunities for service in our region.” Students from Disciples Seminary Foundation will also play a role in helping with the retreat and engaging the HELM scholars.

The Leadership Fellows Program is the signature leadership development program of HELM and seeks to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership in the church and society. During each of their four years of participation in the program, the students focus on a different theme:

Year One: Community – Students learn about Christian community and the centrality of Christ who invites Christians to serve and be in solidarity with the least of these.

Year Two: Transformation – This year focuses on what it means for Christians to engage in work that promotes peace, justice, and social transformation.

Year Three: Global Awareness – Students gain an understanding of the increasing interconnectedness of the world and how the church engages in mission with partners throughout the world.

Year Four: Mentoring – Students engage in facilitated discernment around what it means to be an emerging adult, seeking to integrate one’s faith into all facets of life.

If you are interested in supporting the work of HELM and the Leadership Fellows program, in particular, we invite you to visit our donations page to see how you can make a contribution.