What college/university will you be graduating from?

Northern Kentucky University

Majoring in…

Major: Political Science

Minor: Pre-Law

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

At the heart of Political Science is people. Each individual person is different and they react differently to things that happen in life. I chose to major in political science to better understand other people. It’s also a major that I knew would enhance and challenge me. I stand true to my beliefs, but also want to be equipped to understand why I believe the way that I do.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I try to stay focused on the present, looking at the steps that I’ll take today to influence my tomorrow. I would say that within the next five years I will be in my career. This may not be a direct answer, but I pray that I’ll be where God has called me.

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

The same advice that I always give:

1.  Be yourself.
2.  Get Involved.
3.  Have fun!
4.  Know your limitations.
5.  Go beyond even your own expectations.
6.  Follow your heart.

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

1. Jesus 2. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 3. My future self.

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

Being a Leadership Fellow reminded me to not always rush for the future. We often spend way too much time planning for what is next without enjoying the now. As a Leadership Fellow, I experienced a community of strangers who became friends and then became family. This is what I hope to continue in the future. Moments of honest intention that will lead to a happy, healthy, and impactful life.

Updated bio:

Jordan J.D. White was raised in Lexington, Kentucky and is a member of East Second Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington. He also holds duel membership at Independence Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Independence, Kentucky. Jordan is an Political Science major and Pre-Law Minor at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). He is an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Young Life, Student Leader of the Order of the Chalice (Disciples affiliated campus ministry), Committee Member for the Curriculum Implementation Committee for Success by Design (NKU’s Strategic Framework), and is a Student Pilot for NKU’s Enrollment and Student Success (serving as a liaison and peer counselor for students and departments).

Formerly Jordan has served in numerous capacities on and off the NKU’s campus. He is the former Secretary of Student Involvement for NKU’s Student Government Association (SGA) overseeing the allocation of over $100,000 of university organization funds. Additionally, he formerly served as a Senator for SGA and the NKU’s Association of Campus Residents (ACR), and a member of NKU’s Norse Economic Club. Off-campus, Jordan served for 2.5 years as an intern with the Kentucky Council of Churches.

Throughout his undergraduate career, his involvement leadership positions has propelled him to be the recipient of several honors. He was one of the inaugural recipients of East Second Street Christian Church’s Brown-Clark Scholarship for Persistence in 2017. Among the honors he has received are Northern Kentucky University’s Gold and White Gratitude Award,  Sophomore of the Year in 2018, Sound Body Award in 2018, and the William Lamb Leadership Award in 2019.

1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I currently serve at Light of the World Christian Church (LWCC) where I am the Servant Leader for the New Members Ministry.  I have the privilege of leading a team that walks with persons deciding for the first time or redeciding to join in a closer relationship with God, either by baptism and/or new/returning membership with LWCC.  I get to witness the manifestation of God’s love realized within a person firsthand, which is a beautiful thing indeed.

Outside of the physical church, I serve as a full-time Mental Health Counselor.  I journey with individuals, couples, families, and groups to encourage living a life that they enjoy, where healthy boundaries within self and others become accessible and even preferred.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in DLI?

I often think about my first-time joining this amazing group of leaders. It was a beautiful few days in Utah where I experienced a transformation like none other.  Keep in mind, I was entering my first DLI Conference from an immovable and unshakable embedded theology, so I thought I knew everything about how God operates.  Then, all-of-a-sudden, the person who held the responsibility for bringing the elements for communion had a delay in their flight.  Someone spoke in a loud voice, “Does anyone have some bread and a cup?”  Out of nowhere, one of my esteemed colleagues grabs a loaf of perfectly sliced wheat bread with the honey top.  Another colleague fills a cup with water from the fountain. The words of institution rang bountifully.  That day, I experienced God in a new way as my foundation was beautifully shaken.  Since then, my sermon continues to be filled with an encouragement for the person listening that God can move even in our immovable, unshakable, embedded places.

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in DLI?

I gained space within myself to be impressed by God.  I learned from training on sermon and bible study preparation, advocating for others both inside and outside of the church, and thriving in discomfort.  DLI exposed me to various ways of doing ministry and I’ve been able to bring some of these “eye-openers” back to my home church, asking some critical questions that challenge and, simultaneously, bring peace.  I am so thankful to have gained relationships with other leaders who are trailblazers inside and outside of the church.  The Revolution continues!

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

Being a part of this program has challenged everything I thought I knew.  Before DLI, and to my detriment, I thought the pastor was the most important piece on the chessboard. At DLI, I learned the gift of empowering others to not just have ideas, but to live into them, is vital.  I learned to distribute not just responsibility but authority, and not just the idea of leadership but the freedom to make mistakes.

Quinlan Pulleyking will graduate from Missouri State University in May 2020 with a degree in Communication Studies. During her undergraduate career, she also minored in Religious Studies and completed certificates in Conflict & Dispute Resolution as well as Interfaith Engagement. Throughout college, Quinlan has served on staff at an after-school ministry for at-risk youth in Springfield, Missouri area. She also currently serves as the Interim Communications and Media Minister at Emmaus, a local inter-denominational church body. During her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, riding her road bike with friends and listening to engaging podcasts. Quinlan hopes to continue to work in ministry and non-profit communications following graduation, as well as possibly pursue graduate education.

What college/university will you be graduating from?

Missouri State University

What is your Major?

Major: Communication Studies

Minor: Religious Studies

Certificate(s): Conflict & Dispute Resolution, Interfaith Engagement

What was your motivation for deciding your major?

I went in undecided (because I wanted to be honest) and landed in Communication Studies for a couple of reasons. I was passionate about Speech & Debate in high school (as well as the importance of public speaking) and I fell in love with the communication courses I was enrolled in. A lot of people overlook or don’t understand the field of communication, but a degree in communications can be beneficial in any arena! We could all do a better job at practicing effective and compassionate communication.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Continuing to work full-time in the field of communication and media for a ministry and/or non-profit!

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

Simple things, I guess.  Don’t let the advice and pressure of other people in your life dictate your decisions (even if it is good advice!) This is the time when it is okay to be figuring things out. Take your time and enjoy it! It is good to take things a little less seriously and pour out more grace.

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

I would say Jamie Tworkowski (founder of the non-profit mental health organization “To Write Love on Her Arms”), Andrea Marie Regan (lead musician in United Pursuit), and Morgan Harper Nichols (poet and author).

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

Being a part of HELM’s LFP has done an excellent job at exposing me to diverse experiences over a significant portion of time. HELM has been part of all four years of my college experience and has given me really valuable opportunities for travel to new places, engage in conversations with peers from across the country, and hearing from passionate speakers and leaders. HELM has never failed to expand my perspective and take me out of my comfort zone, which has definitely been a factor as I consider opportunities for my future.

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 past DLI participant Hollie Woodruff as she shares what she gained from the DLI program and how it continues to influence her life and ministry.

On her current ministry:

I currently serve as the lead pastor at Seventh Street Christian Church in Richmond, Virginia, though I wish to recognize the amazing team I get to work with, including MDiv student, Jayme Babczak. We’ve been working together at Seventh Street almost as long as I’ve been here, co-creating and pastoring together.

Seventh Street Christian Church is a congregation that has been around in some form for nearly 190 years!  It started as Sycamore church and, over its history, has moved and merged into what is known today as Seventh Street Christian Church. Like many of our congregations, we are navigating the landscape of changes in religious America.  How do we meet the religious needs of this generation?  How might we have failed them? Where are we most successful?  How do I navigate those questions while supporting my current congregation?  Besides the traditional pastor responsibilities like preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, I am also taking care of other responsibilities – building management, renovations and rental agreements – that makes me glad I grew up with a dad in construction and have my Bachelor of Business Administration.

On memories from participating:

My best memories are connected to the relationships I built.  Some of my closest colleagues came out of DLI and I am deeply grateful.
I remember taking walks with Amy Gopp early in the morning around the campus of Eden Seminary.  I remember struggling with challenging topics such as “what is truth.”  I remember a powerful sermon given by Earle Fisher about the power of friendship in the story of the paralytic man at Capernaum. I still draw upon the worship services that engaged all our senses.
When I think about the people I was with in DLI, I know many of them are doing so many amazing things in the church – they are congregational pastors, regional ministers, leaders of justice ministries, interim ministers, and authors!  AMAZING people!

On important learnings:

I know that I’m not alone in ministry.  We can forget that.  Congregational ministry can be so isolating, so just to know I can pick up the phone and get someone else’s perspective on an issue is always reassuring. DLI was the first time that I was a part of something in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that was intentional about the diversity of voices – people of color, different gender orientations, people who are part of the LGBTQ community, and younger voices.  This sounds crazy today as I believe we’re much better about it now, but back in 2005 and 2006, it was kind of a novelty.

On how it shaped her sense of call:

A skill I will always be working to cultivate is listening. DLI helped me hone in on that, particularly in working with a group of diverse leaders.  As a dominant straight white voice, I (we) need to be quiet and open our ears. I think part of being a good leader is always asking one or more of the following: “Do I need to talk?  Do I need to share it now?  Does it need to come from me?”

I’m grateful to DLI for its contribution to the continued shaping of my call.

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.

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.

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!