Rev. Dr. Denise Bell will join the faculty as the Don and Lillian Nunnelly Chair for Pastoral Leadership. Dr. Bell is the Regional Minister of the Christian Church in Georgia. For 35 years, she has served as pastor, associate, senior associate, satellite pastor, interim pastor, executive pastor, and regional minister. Dr. Bell received her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University, where she studied the practices of flourishing African American pastors and challenged research regarding clergy well-being. She was awarded the 2022 Dissertation of the Year Award. As an educator and regional pastor, Dr. Bell helps pastors and congregations increase their capacity to be healthy communities of faith. Dr. Bell will join the Seminary on Sept. 1, 2023.
Dr. Esther Parajuli, joined the faculty as assistant professor of Christian Theologies in August 2022. Dr. Parajuli (she/her), a theologian, a third-generation migrant and a Naga-Nepali hybrid, completed her PhD in Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary (UTS) in New York City in May 2022. Her current research work integrates apophatic theology with liberation theology as well as postcolonial theory to contemplate the question of selfhood and its relationship with “the Other.” She is the author of “Concept of Virginity: A Patriarchal Hegemony” in Bangalore Theological Forum (2017).
Dr. Wilson Dickinson envisioned and served as chair of the Christ Seminar, a collaborative project on Christologies of the People through the Westar Institute. He presented on his current book project on the Psalms, parenting, and climate change at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting.
Dr. Loida I. Martell, Vice President and Dean and Professor of Constructive Theology, delivered the Antoinette Brown Lecture at Vanderbilt Divinity School on April 11, 2022. The lecture was titled “The God Who Is.” She delivered the plenary address for the Society of Pentecostal Studies at their annual meeting held March 24-26, 2022. The presentation was titled, “Emergent Diseases, Climate Change, and the Viral Nature of Racism: The Spirit’s Call to Breathe.” She presented a paper titled “Emergent Diseases in a Globalized World: The Viral Nature of Racism” during the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion for La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars of Religion in 2020.
Dr. Leah Schade, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship, and Dr. Richard Voelz, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, have secured a grant from The Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion to study diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Academy of Homiletics. In June 2020 Dr. Schade co-founded the Clergy Emergency League, which has grown into a network of 2,500 pastors across the United States, providing support, accountability, resources, and networking for clergy to prophetically minister in their congregations and in the public square.
Dr. Jerry Sumney, Professor of Biblical Studies, co-authored with Dr. Schade Apocalypse When? A Guide to Interpreting and Preaching Apocalyptic Texts. He wrote the Foreword for a forthcoming book of essays on the General Epistles and Revelation, all written from an Afro-Centric perspective. Dr. Sumney celebrates 25 years on the faculty at LTS.
Ms. Dolores Yilibuw, Library Director, continues to contribute to the intellectual life of the Seminary by actively participating in professional organizations such as the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). She recently reviewed a book, Making Peace with the Earth: Action and Advocacy for Climate Justice for the Journal of the Association of Christian Librarians.
Dr. Charisse L. Gillett, President and Executive Director of the Office of Lilly Projects at LTS, concluded her reflections on leadership with an essay titled “Reflections on Leadership in the Era of COVID-19 and In the Midst of a Reckoning on Racial Injustice,” published by the Journal of Higher Education Management (2021).
Rev. Dr. Jon Barnes serves as project director for the Lilly Endowment (LEI) supported Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative and Rev. Dr. Doris Garcia Rivera serves as the Academic Coordinator. The Pathways Initiative seeks to provide potential students from underserved populations with options for pursuing theological education, and it gives attention to sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
Thriving Congregations Initiative
Rev. Dr. Erin Miller Cash serves as the project director for the Thriving Congregations Initiative. She has identified contextual hallmarks of thriving congregations for greater ecclesial effectiveness in their faith communities.
Thriving In Ministry Initiative
Rev. Dr. Kris Bentley, Director and Senior Researcher of the Bi-vocational Ministry Research Project contributed a chapter in the recently published book, Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry. Her chapter, “Pitching Our Tent with Bivocational Ministry,” shares insights from the research at LTS concerning bi-vocational ministry and highlights some stories of bi-vocational pastors and the congregations they serve. The book, published by Books @Atla Open Press, is available via open access at https://doi.org/10.31046/atlaopenpress.82.
Dr. Charisse L. Gillett celebrates 12 years of ministry as president of Lexington Theological Seminary. She began her service as President September 2011 and has led the seminary during a period of intense transition, crisis, and growth. Dr. Loida Martell celebrates 6 years as Vice-President and Academic Dean. Dr. Martell and Dr. Gillett were identified as women of influence in a 2023 video presentation by the Association of Theological Schools.
Dr. Emily Askew was named Professor Emerita of Systematic Theology upon the recommendation of the faculty and action of the Board. This action was taken in recognition of her teaching, service, and scholarship as a faculty member at LTS. Dr. Askew was an early adopter of the green movement and was instrumental in starting the LTS recycling program 15 years ago. She was a founding member of the Green Task Force, and has taught, mentored and nurtured students into their vocations. She was a committed advocate for a community that reflects the rights and humanity of LGBTQA+ students. She joined the faculty in 2007 and retired in July 2022.
LTS was approved as the first Green Chalice Seminary in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the Green Chalice Ministry. The letter of approval said: “The work that you all do has ripple effects, the impact of which we will never fully know. You are a model in your community, for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and for seminaries and churches everywhere. We give great thanks for your witness to the Gospel by living your faith in action by walking more gently on the earth and by inviting others to do the same.”