Scholars DIVIDED by GEOGRAPHY, UNITED by PRAYERS for PEACE
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Visiting PNews from Hartfordr aSeminary• xisApril 2003•Vol.XV•No.1 Scholars DIVIDED BY GEOGRAPHY, UNITED BY PRAYERS FOR PEACE By Christine Palm They’ve come from all over the globe, united by an intellectual thirst and a humanitarian passion – mixed in equal measure. Six visiting schol- ars at Hartford Seminary are currently studying, researching, debating and enlightening round-table partici- pants with their knowledge of Islam and Christianity, and their fierce desire to cre- ate a more peaceful world. “It is so important that we work in Indonesia – and throughout the globe – for peace,” says Rev. Tony Tampake, an Indonesian FROM THE STREETS TO THE SEMINARY studying at the Seminary, who has A Second Chance for Jackie Williams particular expertise in Society and By David S. Barrett Religion. “We must Director of Public and Institutional Affairs overcome commu- nal violence and ackie Williams was a 17-year-old gang human rights viola- tions, and I hope, member who had just five minutes. through my work at Convince “Colombo” that it was a case of Hartford Seminary, to analyze the mistaken identity and he had not killed a history of Islam, so that as member of Colombo’s rival gang or die. Muslims and Christians, we can work together to “It was the most scared I’ve been,” solve our problems.” Williams said. “The gun pointing at me Tampake, a pastor and didn’t make it easier.” graduate student at J Satya Wacana University Stuttering, shaking, Williams survived. He in the city of Saladega, received scholarship aid for talked his way out of an execution, although he did not his nine-month course of study leave the room without a beating. He felt that was a at Hartford Seminary through a grant by small price to pay for his life. Continued on page 4 the H.A. Vance Foundation. A second Vance student from Indonesia is N EW B OOK BY F ACULTY Rev. Ferry Nahusona. While studying at the Seminary, Tampake and Nahusona will work with Christian con- gregations to help them understand the Lively dynamics of Muslim- Christian relations abroad and here in Dialogue the United States. Faculty Launch Tampake and New Jourrnal Nahusona join Continued on page 8 Pictured from top: Page7 Muhammad Sirozi; Abdur-Rasaq Adesina; Tahir Uluc and the Rev. Ferry Nahusona Get Acquainted with Hartford Seminary Thursday, May 8th • 5:30-7:30 p.m. he doors of Hartford Seminary will open wide on May 8th to welcome members of the community for an News informal evening of information and Agreement fellowship. Briefs with Amazon This program is being sponsored by Hartford Seminary has the Alumni/ae Council to broaden the institu- T established an affiliate agree- tion’s visibility and promote greater under- ment with Amazon.com, standing of the offerings and mission of Bissell Grant which entitles the Seminary Hartford Seminary. to receive five percent of For the third consecutive “We invite members of the faith, business and every purchase made year the J. Walton Bissell academic communities, and all interested seek- through its “door” into the Foundation has awarded ers, to attend this event. It is a wonderful Amazon web site. Hartford Seminary $8,000 opportunity to get acquainted with others who for scholarships for students recognize the importance of theology, faith in If you are going to use in the Black Ministries practice and dialogue among those from vari- Amazon to buy CD’s, cam- Program and Programa de ous faith traditions”, states planning committee eras, toys, other gifts, or Ministerios Hispanos. chairperson Frank O’Gorman ’99. Other mem- books - visit them through the “door,” located at: bers of the planning committee include Janet Hartford Seminary received http://www.hartsem.edu/ Bristow ’97, Vicky Cole-Galo ’97, Fidelia Lane the award in December for bookstore/online.htm ’52, Alan McLean ’71 and Joseph Wei ’92. use by September 2003. President Heidi Hadsell, Dean Ian Markham, Of course, the bookstore A long time supporter of faculty, visiting international scholars, adminis- prefers that you order books Hartford Seminary, the J. tration, alumni/ae and members of various faith directly from them (phone Walton Bissell Foundation communities will be present to greet guests and number 860-509-9527). has contributed to Seminary answer questions. The evening’s program will events such as the Festival of include a reception, college fair for educational If you enter the Amazon site Latino Christians and the events and certificate and degree programs, and through this “search box Alumni/ae Series Seminar as informal discussions on interfaith understand- door,” five percent of your well as scholarship funds for ing, ethics, spirituality and sociology of religion. total purchases during that the Black Ministries visit to Amazon will auto- Attendance is free, and advance registration is Program, Programa de matically be credited to requested. If you know of person(s) who would Ministerios Hispanos, and Hartford Seminary’s like to learn more about Hartford Seminary, Women’s Leadership account. Any type of please encourage them to attend this special Institute. Amazon purchase, Seminary evening. For further information, or to register, related or not, that you make contact Robin Johnson in the Institutional from any computer will ben- Advancement office at (860) 509-9518 or efit the school. email inquiries/registrations to rjohnson@hart- sem.edu. Please include name, address and tele- phone/email. Editor: Christine Palm • Designer: James Baker Reprint and copy information: Articles may be reprinted if full credit is given to Hartford Seminary and the author, if bylined in Praxis. For our records, please inform us if you plan to reprint or photocopy any part of Praxis. Letters to the editor are welcomed. If you would like additional copies of this issue of Praxis or back issues, please contact Christine Palm, c/o Hartford Seminary, 77 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105. For information about Praxis, please call 860/586-8030, or by e-mail: [email protected]. For all other information concerning Hartford Seminary, call 860/509-9519. 2 P RAXIS • “There have been some remarkably good Doctor of Ministry students here. The process of teaching Seminary Bids Farewell gifted ministers who work in a variety of settings who are actively engaged in thinking about their to Nancy Ammerman ministry has been a wonderful challenge.” In the eight years Nancy • “I have enjoyed the administrative work. T. Ammerman worked Working on the institutional renewal grant was at Hartford Seminary, just a delight — bringing people to engage with she contributed greatly the faculty to understand who we are. It helped to her field of sociology the institution survive during uncertain leadership, of religion and to the building a foundation that sustains us.” institution itself. Ammerman also talked about her appreciation of Ammerman recently the atmosphere at Hartford Seminary. “It has been resigned, as of June 30, great fun to work in such an innovative and entre- to accept a position as preneurial environment where people have a can- professor of sociology of do attitude and you can get things done. People religion at Boston who have not worked elsewhere do not appreciate University’s School this. It is so relatively easy to plan and to accom- of Theology and plish things here. It is a delightful organizational Department of Sociology. She also will be environment,” Ammerman said. associated with the university’s Institute for “The people here believe in what an amazing place Religion and World Affairs. this is,” she said, “the inclusion Hartford Seminary In a recent interview, Ammerman talked about the stands for, the hospitality Hartford Seminary professional and personal impact Hartford stands for. People come from all over the world to Seminary has had on her. Ammerman arrived in study here. Boy, that’s fun.” July 1995 as professor of sociology of religion; she While at the Seminary, Ammerman led a major is on the faculty at the Seminary’s Hartford study, titled “Organizing Religious Work,” that was Institute for Religion Research. funded by the Lilly Endowment. She is nearing “The research work that I have done is a highlight completion of a book resulting from the study, of being here,” Ammerman said. “It is the reason I Pillars of Faith: American came.” She has had an opportunity “to spend time Congregations and Their and energy to develop a real understanding about Partners, Serving God how American religious organizations work.” “People come and Serving the World. from all over This book surveys the Ammerman has explored the question of how sec- panorama of American ular American society is or isn’t and, relatedly, the world religion. how we understand what it means to talk about to study here. secularization. Ammerman published Boy, that’s fun.” several other books dur- At the research institute, “I brought a very inten- ing her time in tional bridging of academic and practical commu- Hartford. Her most nities,” Ammerman said, contributing both to the recent book, field, providing an understanding of religion in Congregation and American society, and to the public, interpreting Community, tells the stories of 23 congregations findings for audiences of religious leaders. that encountered various forms of neighborhood change in communities around the country. She Personally, Ammerman said, “Being a part of this also co-edited a new edition of Studying interfaith institution has been challenging and Congregations: A New Handbook. exciting for me. Having Muslim colleagues and students, Jewish colleagues and students, has Ammerman’s husband, Jack W. Ammerman, stretched my thinking and my faith.” recently resigned as librarian and director of edu- cational technology at Hartford Seminary and now Ammerman cited other highlights: is head of the library at Boston University’s School of Theology.