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Holy Week resources and reflections

News briefs from the PC(USA) seminaries

Screen Shot 2015-09-16 at 1.59.40 PMEditorial note: For this issue, in lieu of our regular news briefs section, the Outlook invited all PC(USA)-affiliated seminaries to submit news from their schools this year.

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Austin, Texas

Austin Seminary is thrilled to announce the appointment of four new faculty members for the fall 2015 semester: Margaret Aymer, associate professor of New Testament; Philip Wingeier-Rayo, associate professor of evangelism, mission and Methodist studies; Carolyn Browning Helsel, assistant professor of homiletics; and Eric Wall will become assistant professor of sacred music and dean of the chapel (in January 2016). Austin Seminary has joined forces with Westminster John Knox Press to publish an ambitious new commentary series, “Connections;” professor Cynthia L. Rigby is a general editor.

Columbia Theological Seminary
Decatur, Georgia

Columbia Theological Seminary will host a conference titled “Bible, Empire, and Reception History” on November 18-19, 2015. Scholars from around the world will explore the production and use of the Bible in various geographical or historical contexts: Ancient Near Eastern, Greek and Roman empires; the Americas of 16th century – Mesoamerica and the Spanish Empire; South and East Asia; and Southern Africa in the 19th-21st centuries under Dutch and British imperial influence. Columbia Seminary will live stream the conference and post videos for later viewing. For more information, please visit bibleempireandreceptionhistory.net.

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

This fall marks the first major milestone in Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s “Covenant for the Future” strategic plan. For the first time, all master’s level students at Louisville Seminary will receive at least 100 percent free support for their tuition costs. By 2021, Louisville Seminary will provide a stipend to all master’s level students to cover cost-of-living expenses. The idea is to provide those who show great promise for ministry with the opportunity to gain relevant expertise and develop their creativity and abilities to lead others in spiritual growth – and do so without incurring the burden of seminary debt. Find out more at promiseforministry.org.

McCormick Theological Seminary
Chicago

McCormick offers faithful responses to urban violence. Masking tape, taped to the floor of McCormick’s Ender Lobby, formed outlines of human bodies. People who realized what the outlines represented walked around the sacred sketches. “People tend to walk over tragedies without taking time to know the story of the life slain,” says D’Angelo Smith, one the mural’s student creators. “The exhibit was disruptive, as it was meant to be.” At April’s NEXT Church conference, McCormick offered a workshop that provided time to lament the violence. “Violence exists in every community,” says Rev. Veronica Johnson (M.Div ’13), workshop facilitator. “One participant remarked, ‘no one had ever asked me how violence had impacted me.’”

Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton Seminary is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its doctoral program through May 2016. “Our graduates represent the next generation of thinkers whose ideas are vital for the flourishing of the church and society,” says Chip Dobbs-Allsopp, professor of Old Testament. “The chief ambition of our anniversary celebration is to pay tribute to our graduates and their accomplishments.” The first class of doctoral students began their studies in 1940. Today, more than 800 men and women have joined the “company of scholars” as Princeton Seminary Th.D. or Ph.D. graduates. For more information, visit ptsem.edu.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Seminary offers free Advent and Lenten devotionals each year. Visit pts.edu/Devotional to read and listen to the daily messages, download the app (search Devotions – Advent and Lent on your Android or Apple device), check out social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, and Google+), get an email, read the PDF, or request a printed copy. Follow along daily, be deepened in your faith through the words of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and prepare your heart to celebrate the season. Be sure to share this great resource with your church friends and family!

San Francisco Theological Seminary
San Anselmo, California

San Francisco Theological Seminary is excited about 2015-2016! Newly constructed student housing opens in August and in the fall, the course “Systemic Issues of Trauma” utilizes arts, theology and history to reflect upon and heal from racism and its traumatizing effects; new online courses will be offered; and the successful Interdisciplinary Lectures will continue. Presented by a different professor each week, these lectures examine a common theme throughout the semester. In January, SFTS begins the 23rd cohort of the diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction, a three-week intensive blending of academics, retreat and worship; applications due September 15. Visit sfts.edu.

Union Presbyterian Seminary
Richmond, Virginia

The seminary welcomes two new faces on campus. John W. Vest is the new visiting assistant professor of evangelism. Christopher Richardson is the new director for both Union libraries — William Smith Morton Library on the Richmond campus and the Charlotte campus library. He will also serve as the director for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. On Saturday, September 26, Union Presbyterian Seminary will host Seminary for A Day. The annual event will include keynote speakers, a variety of morning and afternoon workshops by seminary professors, and a taste of contemporary theological education.

University of Dubuque Theological Seminary,
Dubuque, Iowa

The University of Dubuque has announced a new Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree to strengthen Christians for service in their chosen vocation. This completely online, 30-credit degree is taught primarily by the faculty of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and is fully accredited. The program requires six credits in Christian Scriptures, six credits in the history of Christianity/Christian doctrine, three credits in Christian mission, six credits in Christian leadership, and nine credits of electives. The first class matriculates September 2015. For more information contact Kimberly Burnett-Hackbarth at KHackbarth@dbq.edu.

 

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