November Interim Iterations

The Fall chill has arrived here in the Midwest. The high temperature today will be only 38 degrees. The leaves have
turned their yellow and crimson colors, detached from their branches, and are swirling about on the roadways and
fields. The Higher Education and Leadership Ministries Board of Directors has met, selected a Search Committee to
identify the next President of HELM, and charted our course forward for the next year.

Two weeks ago, thirty-one college and university students from across the United States and Canada gathered
together in Washington, D.C. for the annual Leadership Fellows Retreat. We explored our Nation’s Capitol, toured the
National Museum of African American History and Culture, participated in two plenary sessions on climate change
and public policy with Bob Perkowitz, founder and President of ecoAmerica, and the Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston,
Executive Director of the Disciples Center for Public Witness. We also focused our attention on four books: Dietrich
Bonhoeffer’s, Life Together; Martin Luther King Jr’s, Why We Can’t Wait; Jamaica Kincaid’s, A Small Place; and
Parker Palmer’s, Let Your Life Speak. Theologians, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly and the Rev. Dr. Delores Carpenter,
guided us on the journey. Mentors Christian Watkins, Joshua Mata, Lonora Graves, and Colton Lott each led one of
the student cohorts, along with Chaplain Michelle Scott Huffman. Kudos to Katy Sundararajan, HELM’s Program
Coordinator, for pulling all this together.

Last week Assistant to the President, Luke Soderstrom, and I hosted a reception at the American Academy of
Religion and Society for Biblical Literature, gathering in Denver, Colorado. We did this in partnership with the
Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont, California. HELM supports the work of our Disciples scholars and
emerging scholars as they participate with academic colleagues and explore cutting edge research in the field of
religion and sacred texts. Both the AAR and SBL were staples to me in my early academic pursuits and remain
strong and viable organizations for the academic study of religion.

HELM’s Annual Fund appeal launched on November 16 and will continue through November 26. During these ten
days we invite you to financially support the work we do with colleges, universities, seminaries, divinity schools, and
graduate schools of theology. In past years, our Annual Appeal raised approximately 35,000 to provide scholarships
to undergraduate and PhD students and raise up leaders for both church and society. Your gifts make a difference in
the lives of students who are preparing for their life journeys. You can contribute by going to: helmdisciples.org,
clicking the menu button, and then donate. Or, mail your gift to: HELM, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
On our donate page you will read: “HELM offers immersion and formational experiences and programs that help
young leaders explore the changing relationships between the Christian gospel and the world, acquire tools for
understanding the mission and witness of Christian communities and gain experience in creating and renewing those
communities.” Please join us as we reach out to our church’s youth and work to strengthen the relationship between
them and the church. Both church and society need educated, literate, and faithful leaders to guide the world toward
a better future. You can be part of their formation and the creation of a better world for all God’s people.

Fund Raising-ly yours,
Ron

Rev. Ronald J. Degges to serve as Interim President!

The Board of Directors of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries is excited to announce that the HELM Executive Committee has extended a call to the Rev. Ronald J. Degges to serve as Interim President!

In his role as Interim President, Rev. Degges will have operational responsibility for HELM’s staff and programs and will work with the Board of Directors to carry out our mission to work with wider church and higher education partners to develop and nurture Christian leaders who are transforming church, society, and the world.

Rev. Degges began his ministry with HELM on August 15, 2022.

Rev. Ronald J. Degges is gifted with a deep, joyous, articulate and always respectful-of-others faith that has been a constant inspiration to his parishioners, colleagues in ministry, and ecumenical and interfaith partners. Ron motivates and inspires people. He sees the qualities of others and taps into them, inviting and guiding them to contribute. He then helps them be successful. Through his nearly five decades in ministry serving churches in Maryland, Iowa, Delaware, Virginia, Indiana, and California, Ron has seen and experienced the Disciples from coast to coast.

Through his work with the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, he has developed and hosted a series of interfaith discussions throughout Southern California and produced an interfaith film, “Putting Faith Into Action.” He has recently traveled to Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine to meet with Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders. He participated in a seminar on Contemporary Muslim Thought held at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and represented the Disciples at the Inaugural Institute on Religion and Civic Values event entitled, “Educating for Religious Freedom and Mutual Respect,” held at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

In his work with churches and interfaith groups, Ron articulates his vision, inspires the group to form a plan, encourages members to reach out of their comfort zones to participate in leadership and team roles. He encourages people to never settle for anything less than the best in their life, in their world, and in their universe.

Retiring after a productive decade as President of Disciples Home Missions in 2017, Ron re-entered active ministry in 2020-2021 to serve as Interim Senior Minister at Speedway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Speedway, IN.

Rev. Degges is a graduate of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee and Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. His most recent publication is, “Fifty-four Years, Four Months, Seventeen Days: Relationships That Enhance Our Living.”

He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife of thirty-six years, Deniese Ruth Degges, and is father of five children: Joshua, Randall, Joey, Hope and Michele. Joshua is married to wife, Brandy, with grandchildren, Wyatt and Dylan, and live in Houston, Texas. Randall and his wife, Samantha, and dog, Dandelion, live in Concord, California. Joey and his partner, Tiffany, live in Fairfield, California. Hope lives with husband, Paul, in Fairfax, Virginia. Youngest daughter, Michele, lives with her two dogs, Pumpkin and Goldilocks, in Sacramento, California.

Phillips Theological Seminary – New Position Hiring

Phillips Theological Seminary invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track or tenured position in History of Global Christianities or History of Christian Imperialism and Postcolony to begin July 1, 2021. We are especially interested in historical methodology that engages interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to religious identity, religion and violence, and genocidal studies. Scholars whose historical inquiries consider racial, ethnic, gender, and queer categories for reflection are particularly desired.

PhD/ABD considered, PhD or ThD preferred. Competency in online teaching and learning is also required. Knowledge of ministerial praxis and commitment to emerging ministries are desirable. Applications from scholars committed to history and cultural expressions of Christianity within Africana, Latinx, and/or Indigenous American communities are encouraged. The successful candidate will teach in all Master degree programs (MTS, MA(SJ), MAMC, and MDiv) and the Doctor of Ministry degree program. A scholarly trajectory that leads to the development of a professional profile that includes publications is essential.

Persons within the Wesleyan tradition (e.g., UMC, AME, AMEZ, CME), women, persons of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants please submit a cover letter detailing relevant academic and professional experience, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of at least three references to tammye.jurena@ptstulsa.edu. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2021.

Phillips is an Equal Opportunity, ecumenical seminary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We are approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. See www.ptstulsa.edu/employment for position description, employment policies, and more information.

Lynchburg College Seeking Associate Chaplain

HELM has received the following job announcement from Lynchburg College. Please, direct all inquiries and questions to the contact information at Lynchburg College indicated below.

Lynchburg College is seeking an Associate Chaplain who will work with the Spiritual Life team to provide pastoral care to the college community and serve as the primary program director for LC’s diverse faith community. The Associate Chaplain will work to promote student engagement, social justice, spiritual growth and leadership development by developing programs and staffing small groups.

Selected candidates should be ordained members of the clergy or have comparable pastoral credentials with appropriate certification for ministry by a recognized denominational authority. Candidates should have experience with the various interfaith communities and religious denominations in addition to their own. Successful experience in congregational ministry, campus ministry, or other ministerial leadership roles with young adults is required. Master of Divinity and one basic unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) is strongly preferred. Selected candidate must successfully pass a background check.

To apply, please submit a Lynchburg College employment application, cover letter and resume with three business references to: Lynchburg College, Attn: Human Resources, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501, fax 434-544-8658, or email: HumanResources@lynchburg.edu.

A Passion for Higher Education and the Development of Leaders

One never knows how responding with a “yes” can change the course of one’s life. Eli Rolón Jeong, currently a PhD student in Ethics and Cultural Studies at Claremont School of Theology and the new Associate Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults for the Christian Church in Illinois-Wisconsin, was invited in 2006 to participate in the inaugural Disciples Leadership Institute (DLI) gathering. He says that at the time he had a good job and was involved with his local church, Iglesia Del Pueblo Christian Church in Hammond, Indiana. However, after accepting the invitation to DLI, the relationships formed and experiences gained served to redirect his life and calling: “At DLI, I encountered a diverse group of young adults who were passionate about the work of the church. Encouraged by their contagious excitement, I began exploring the possibility of ministerial work as my vocation. In the fall of 2008, after attending my third DLI gathering earlier that summer, I notified my boss that I would soon leave my position to prepare for studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School.”

After earning a Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt, Rev. Rolón Jeong received a Master of Arts in Ethics from Iliff School of Theology in Denver. An ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he has served in positions with NAPAD and HELM, has served as a director of Chalice Press and on the Disciples’ General Board, and engages in intentional theological dialogue through the Constructive Theologies Project. In reflecting on Eli’s time serving HELM, Rev. Chris Dorsey, President of HELM, says that “Eli is a remarkably gifted person. He played a pivotal role in HELM’s recent transition toward greater financial stability. His leadership of DLI and his work in coordinating the Leadership Fellows program has contributed significantly to HELM’s success.”

His current PhD studies in Ethics and Cultural Studies have great importance in both the academy and wider church. Rev. Rolón Jeong says “My academic focus is on the formation of identity, an endeavor that requires careful exploration of historical and oftentimes contingent conditions through which those identities are formed. My goal is to curiously uncover what is often taken for granted in order to hopefully produce new and innovative ways of knowing, doing, and being.”

His recent call as Associate Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults for the Christian Church in Illinois-Wisconsin will provide new opportunities to bring together his passion for higher education and the development of leaders in the church. Rev. Rolón Jeong notes that “this position affords me a responsibility in the development of young folks. Here, my training as a theological educator in ethics and cultural studies could have significant impact.” He also expresses thanks for the previous opportunities and experiences offered through the church that have led him to serve on the Regional level: “I am grateful for Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, and especially for the DLI program, which served as the catalyst I needed to explore a call to ministry.”

Council on Theological Education Meets in Indianapolis

The Council on Theological Education (CTE) is comprised of the presidents and deans of the four Disciples seminaries, two divinity houses and the Disciples Seminary Foundation. Other members of the council include a representative from the College of Regional Ministers as well as the President of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries. The Council recently met in Indianapolis on March 21-22 and had the opportunity to engage in conversations with representatives from the Association of Theological Schools. Chris Meinzer, Senior Director of Administration and CFO of ATS, shared information on ATS enrollment with a focus on Disciples students while Dr. Frank Yamada, Executive Director of ATS, presented information on the status of denominationally affiliated theological education. Both presentations offered the opportunity for members of CTE to engage in conversations concerning the challenges and opportunities facing Disciples theological institutions today.

In addition, representatives from each school shared news and current changes taking place on their respective campuses. Here are a few highlights from each school:

Brite Divinity School
A search is currently in process to find an instructor to teach Methodist studies. In the fall a search will begin for a scholar to teach classes on the Black Church in America.

Christian Theological Seminary
Rev. Yolanda Norton will join the CTS faculty in July as Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible. CTS anticipates making an appointment for the coming academic year in New Testament as well.

CTS continues its re-accreditation process this spring, having received a positive recommendation from the Association of Theological Schools in March and is anticipating the accreditation review visit from the Higher Learning Commission in April.

The completion of reconfiguring and updating classrooms and offices as part of the CTS/Butler University shared space arrangement is nearing completion.

Disciples Divinity House at the University of Chicago
The Divinity House will celebrate its 125^th year of training students in 2019, with celebrations scheduled throughout the year and special events taking place on Memorial Day weekend.

The Divinity House has just completed a search for a professor of the History of Religions, with a focus on Africa. Two other searches are currently underway.

Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University
The Divinity House is in the midst of a planned leadership transition, as Mark Miller-McLemore steps down after 23 years as dean. The House will engage an interim leader for a year as it makes careful transitions to a new leader and model.

The House’s partner, Vanderbilt Divinity School, is implementing a new curriculum in the fall of 2018. A major part of this transition is a reduction in the hours for the MDiv from 84 to 72. In addition, interdisciplinary “concentrations” will be introduced in areas such as Prophetic and Pastoral Congregational Leadership, Chaplaincy, Prison Studies, and Spirituality and Social Activism.

Finally, the Divinity School is renovating, adding to its building better teaching and gathering spaces, including a chapel, and places where the community can discover, question and create change.

Disciples Seminary Foundation
DSF currently serves the largest number of students in its history, with 118 Disciples enrolled in the four partner campuses in Seattle, San Anselmo, Berkeley, Claremont and San Diego as well as online programs across the United States, and 39 students enrolled in the certificate programs in Spanish. DSF’s interests and growing edges include new church planting, Disciples and ecumenical formation, and multiculturalism.

Lexington Theological Seminary
Dr. Richard Weis retired as Dean after the 2017 spring semester. After a thorough search process, Dr. Loida Martell was called to serve as Dean at the beginning of the 2017 fall semester. Dr. Martell also serves as Professor of Constructive Theology.

LTS also received a grant from the Lilly Foundation to do research on bi-vocational ministers, a growing segment within those called into ministry. This process includes surveying ministers in Kentucky who self-identify as bi-vocational with the goal of identifying the types of theological education that offer the best preparation for ministry.

Phillips Theological Seminary
In addition to serving as Dean, Dr. Nancy Pittman will become Interim President May 1.

Four searches for new faculty members are nearing completion with new hires in the areas of Disciples History, New Testament, Diaspora Studies and Practical Theology.

PTS has taken the Ministry Training Program (formerly the MidAmerica Center for Ministry) under its wing, relaunching it on January 1, 2018. This program will continue the work of training persons for local church ministry, providing continuing education and making ministry training available to a broad audience, including laity.

President of Midway University Wins Award

In 2013, Dr. John Marsden became president of Midway University. In the years since, the school has seen exciting changes and dramatic growth in enrollment. In July 2015, the college changed its name to Midway University. At the beginning of the 2016 fall semester, enrollment in the day college was opened to men and the largest class in the school’s history was welcomed to campus. In 2018-19, 3 additional sports will be added to the athletic program, bringing the total number of sports to 20. In recognition of his leadership, President Marsden recently received an Excellence in Education Vision Award. To read more about this award and the exciting changes taking place at Midway, click here!

2018 Commencement Celebrations

Barton College – Saturday, May 12, 1:30 pm EST
Bethany College – Saturday, May 19, 10 am EST
Chapman University – Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20. See full schedule here.
Columbia College – Saturday, April 28, 11:30 am and 4 pm CST
Culver-Stockton College – Saturday, May 12, 9:30 am CST
Drury University – Saturday, May 12, 11 am CST
Eureka College – Saturday, May 5
Hiram College – Saturday, May 12, 2 pm EST
Jarvis Christian College – Saturday, May 5, 8 am CST
Lynchburg College – Saturday, May 12, 9 am EST
Midway University – Saturday, May 12, 11 am EST
Texas Christian University – Saturday, May 12. See full schedule here.
Transylvania University – Saturday, May 26, 9 am EST
William Woods University – Saturday, April 28. See full schedule here.

Brite Divinity School – Saturday, May 12, 5 pm CST
Christian Theological Seminary – May 19
Disciples Divinity House at the University of Chicago – Saturday, June 9, 9:15 am CST
Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University – Friday, May 11, 9 am CST
Disciples Seminary Foundation –
Claremont School of Theology – Tuesday, May 22, 9 am PST
Pacific School of Religion – Sunday, May 20
San Francisco Theological Seminary – Saturday, May 19
Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry – Sunday, June 17, 3 pm PST
Lexington Theological Seminary – Friday, June 22
Phillips Theological Seminary – Tuesday, May 22

Women in Leadership in Theological Education

Theological education has always been an important aspect of leadership development in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Part of ensuring that seminaries and divinity schools can prepare leaders who are able to meet the needs of the present age means that schools must have qualified, visionary and diverse leadership to oversee their academic missions. Part of the shift that is taking place across theological education is the increasing number of women in key leadership positions. Today, women serve in key leadership positions at all of our theological institutions, with two of them in particular having women in the top leadership position. Dr. Kristine Culp has served as Dean of the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago for more than twenty-five years and Dr. Charisse Gillet has served as president of Lexington Theological Seminary for over seven years.

Throughout the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), women have taken on roles as leaders. In the 1800s, women spurred the church to action both domestically and abroad, leading to the creation of the Christian Women’s Board of Mission and the National Benevolent Association. In 2005, the Disciples elected Sharon Watkins as the first woman as head of a mainline protestant denomination in the US. As demographic shifts lead to more women students in seminary and more women in church leadership, it is certainly important that more of that diversity be reflected in the leadership of theological education.

In the coming weeks we plan to highlight some of the key accomplishments and the critical presence of women in leadership in Disciples theological education.

HELM’s Board Chair to serve as Eureka College’s Founders Day Speaker

Photo Credit: FCC Jefferson City, MO