pra xis

News from Hartford Seminary • April 2008 • Vol. XX • No. 1

Macdonald Center Faculty

NEWAyoub Appointed as MIchot Named Faculty Associate Senior Professor Mahmoud Ayoub, a pre-eminent The Board of Trustees of Hartford scholar in Islam and interfaith Seminary and President Heidi Hadsell dialogue in the United States and have named Yahya M. Michot, an around the world, has been named internationally known scholar in Faculty Associate in Shi‘ite Islam Islamic theological and philosophical and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary, starting July 1. thought, to the faculty at Hartford Seminary. Dr. Ayoub comes to Hartford Seminary from Temple University Michot will be Professor of Islamic in Philadelphia where he was a Studies and Christian-Muslim professor and Director of Islamic Relations, effective September 1. He Studies in the Department of will join the Seminary’s Macdonald Religion. Heidi Hadsell, President Center for the Study of Islam and of Hartford Seminary, announced Christian-Muslim Relations and co- the appointment. edit the Muslim World journal. “It will be a pleasure and a privilege “I am delighted that Yahya Michot to welcome Mahmoud Ayoub, Continued on page 9 Continued on page 15 Agosto Named Academic Dean of Hartford Seminary Heidi Hadsell, President of Hartford Seminary, has named Efrain Agosto, Professor of New Testament and noted Pauline scholar, as Academic Dean of the Seminary. The appointment was ratified by the Board of Trustees at a meeting in March. “We are very pleased that Efrain has assumed this new position at Hartford Seminary,” Hadsell said. “Efrain is creative, he loves Hartford Seminary, he understands the issues of theological education, and he enjoys the collaborative atmosphere at the Seminary.” Continued on page 5

Efrain Agosto

Abu-Rabi’ Leaving Seminary Faculty: Page 7 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 1 The World and Change: News&Notes Through the Window of Christian- Muslim Dialogue in Southeast Asia A Request – Please Send Us Your Email Address A Traveling Educational Seminar Stay informed on a timely basis by Including Singapore and Ache, Bali, sharing your email address with us. and Yogyakarta, Indonesia Here at Hartford Seminary, we want to communicate better with January 5-17, 2009 you. Approximate cost: $3,500 We would like to send out updates on what is happening at Hartford Please contact Karen Miller Seminary as well as information (860-509-9521 or on our events and courses by email [email protected]) to those people for whom we have to express your interest. email addresses. Presented by Hartford Seminary in partnership Right now we do not have any Space is limited to 20 with Plowshares Institute email address for many of you, our participants, so interested alumni/ae and friends. parties are encouraged to Please send your email address to contact the Seminary early. us to help in this effort. We do not intend to discontinue publishing Praxis by the way; it will continue to arrive in your mail in spring, fall and winter. Understanding Christian/Muslim Dialogue Please send your email to me at for Congregations and Communities [email protected] or call me at (860) 509-9519. August 4-10, 2008 By the way, Hartford Seminary has This course – at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico - will equip pastors and a strict privacy policy. We do not lay leaders from congregations, presbyteries and other faith groups to share or sell e-mail addresses to a be resources to their communities in generating new understanding third party. and to celebrate the diversity in faith present in our world and nation. Thank you. In an interactive course of case studies, role plays and interfaith exercises, the instructors will draw on their extensive national and David S. Barrett international experience in inter-faith and multi-cultural settings and Director of Public and Institutional Affairs conflict transformation training to provide an exciting class encounter. Editor, Praxis Participants will receive workshop designs to take home to equip their own congregations and presbyteries. Plan now to nominate a team from your church or community to Corrections be a part of this course. The way the Church responds to this crisis Our apologies for two errors of understanding will shape the future of our nation and mission that were made in the 2007 philosophy as we seek to build a more peaceful and sustainable world. Annual Report, which appeared in the December 2007 issue of Instructors Praxis. Margaret Patricelli was Robert and Alice Evans, Simsbury, CT, are Directors of the erroneously omitted from the list Plowshares Institute; former Senior Fellows of the Center for Conflict of President’s Council members. Resolution at the University of Cape Town, South Africa; and adjunct A gift received from Ms. Lois faculty at Hartford Seminary. Ann Pike, which was listed under Heidi Hadsell, Hartford, CT, is President of Hartford Seminary, the “Partner” level of giving, also Professor of Social Ethics, an expert in interfaith dialogue, and should have been listed under former Director of the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Memorial Gifts. Her gift was Churches in Bossey, Switzerland. given in memory of the Rev. Sarah “Sally” A. Edwards. Alwi Shihab, Jakarta, Indonesia, is Indonesia’s Presidential Envoy to the Middle East, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Indonesia, and a professor and Islamic scholar. For an application or more information about the facilities, please look at the Ghost Ranch website: http://www.ghostranch.org/ . For more information on Plowshares Institute and its work world-wide, please look at the Plowshares website: www.plowsharesinstitute.org. Information on Hartford Seminary is available at www.hartsem.edu.

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2 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Grant Received to Expand week. It was devoted to of God’s Oneness. A people’s experiences in discussion about the Building Abrahamic interfaith worship. Since by dangers of “spiritual Partnerships Program then the participants had plagiarism” ensued. At been together intensively another point, Jews 11, 2001, amazes me. If you had spent one for a whole week, they had honestly shared their fears By now it should be Friday last July in developed sufficient rapport and negative reactions abundantly clear that all Hartford Seminary’s and trust to share honest when encountering a our faith communities Chapel, you could have feelings and questions. cross or other symbols in a need help to overcome shared in Christian, church. We also addressed mutual ignorance and Prayer is a very personal Muslim, and Jewish the sense of self-negation estrangement.” act of faith, even when prayers. This special or inauthenticity that done in a communal experience was part of a Christians can feel when The BAP II course, setting; so talking about it new advanced Building giving up Christological taught by Landau, The can easily raise sensitive Abrahamic Partnerships language in order to Rev. Karen Nell Smith issues that are often not course. accommodate Jews and and Imam Abdullah addressed in interfaith Muslims in common Now Hartford Seminary Antepli, was offered encounters can expand the Building for the first time in July worship. Participants later Abrahamic Partnerships 2007. The opening One Christian, for said (and I agree) that this (BAP) program, through dinner featured an example, asked the Jews was the most forthcoming a $53,700 grant from exercise in which how they feel when some and fruitful conversation on the Alan B. Slifka everyone shared an Christians adopt Jewish these issues that any of us Foundation. object that had some prayers like the “Sh’ma had ever experienced. personal symbolic Yisrael” affirmation Continued on page 11 The grant is for two meaning, as a means years. It will support of self-introduction. the BAP II course, These objects were then development of BAP placed on a table in the communications center of the room used Wabash Grant: Latinos in Hartford technology, and outreach throughout the week, to other seminaries as a kind of altar. A Efrain Agosto, Academic Dean and Professor of New for BAP replication or candle in the middle Testament, has received a grant of $5,000 from the adaptation. Also planned of this table was lit at Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology is an evaluation of BAP. the beginning of every and Religion to explore Latino/a theology and religion in the greater Hartford area. The Building Abrahamic morning and afternoon Partnerships program is session. The grant, entitled “Latinos in Hartford: A Seminar for Hartford Seminary Faculty,” will engage several faculty an innovative program These and other ritual designed as a resource members of the Seminary’s Center for Faith in Practice elements lent the course in lectures, conversations and an immersion experience for Jews, Christians, and a sacramental dimension Muslims who seek a solid around issues in Latino theology, community and faith that helped make it during the spring of 2008. foundation in interfaith more than a strictly ministry. The basic academic program. They The goal is to incorporate Latino/a faith and theology course is an eight-day also provided some in future course development of the Center and the intensive immersion in spiritual coherence to theological curriculum of Hartford Seminary. interfaith dialogue and the disparate experiences understanding. throughout the week. Lilly Grant: Studying Congregations The BAP advanced The final day was Hartford Seminary has been chosen to house a course is designed to devoted to the $507,672 grant awarded by the Lilly Endowment develop practical skills practicalities of designing Inc. to the Congregational Studies Project Team to for interfaith leadership, interfaith worship. The enlarge the conversation of engaged scholars studying including: facilitating whole group participated congregations. interreligious encounters; in Christian morning James Nieman, Professor of Practical Theology at the compassionate listening prayer at 9 a.m., Muslim and nonbelligerent Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research, is juma’a prayer at 1 p.m., project director. communication; joint and Jewish prayers to study of sacred texts; welcome Shabbat before The project builds from and expands upon an earlier designing interreligious the closing dinner. The project that enabled academic fellows to be mentored worship; and spiritual Seminary Chapel was by scholars experienced in congregational studies in resources for conflict used for all the worship order to refine their abilities in responsible research that transformation. experiences that day. appreciates and engages the faith life of congregations. Faculty Associate Landau described, in a The new project not only will continue to develop Yehezkel Landau, director report, the activities – a growing pool of mentoring relationships, but also of the program, says, “To and impact – of the day: reach beyond that circle to other scholars and clergy my knowledge there is no who would benefit from wider networks of support in Jewish-Christian-Muslim After the Christian liturgy, trying to face the challenges and garner the insights of training program similar we convened in our regular congregations. to BAP at any other space for our morning During the next three years, the project team will seminary or religious session, which was divided develop forms of mutual conversation, to further the into two segments. studies department. study of congregations in the next generation, and to The first part was the The lack of other such elicit partnerships among those likely to benefit from initiatives, more than most enriching elicitive this shared interest. six years after September discussion of the whole

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 3 It amazes me that the Reflections government paid such high attention to the tourism areas where the money was, such as the A Trip casinos, hotels, and big restaurants, and a longer to Biloxi and better beach area, while they forgot about b y t h e R e v . J a c k y the people, the “victims,” Manuputty who were living in squalor. How does this The Rev. Jacky abomination occur? Manuputty from Indonesia is a student at Hartford I was very surprised to Seminary, studying Islam see for myself the U.S. and Christian-Muslim government’s response Relations. He is one of to Biloxi’s poor and three Congregational unsanitary conditions Relations Program and then compare the students at the Seminary government’s quick this year. In February, response to Indonesia in he accompanied members the time of the tsunamis. of the First Church of I cannot forget what a Christ, Congregational, in huge effort was made by Simsbury on a mission trip the U.S. government in to Biloxi, Mississippi. This sending a U.S. Naval is his account of the trip. medical ship with people, medics, medical supplies, My journey as a and other needs for the volunteer with the tsunami victims; this was UCC Simsbury team available to the people to Biloxi., Mississippi, in Indonesia for four from February 3 through months, and acted as a The Rev. Jacky Manuputty works on a home in Biloxi, 10 gave me a very hospital! Also, Former during a mission trip in February. rich experience. I was President Bill Clinton not merely exposed came to Indonesia as an to another side of the ambassador for the U.S. religious beliefs in order schedule. At least I American people, but to offer his hand. to survive. I don’t care, know when I learn also to the people who if others will say this about interreligious were the victims of Although I was surprised phenomenon of faith relations or interfaith the terrible hurricane by all of this, I was still is just considered as a dialogue formally, it did disaster. I found out how so taken aback by the “neurosis.” not happen in an empty they coped with their strength of these victims space. trauma. and their strong faith Anyway, if their faith ingrained in them in can make them strong Our interreligious My trip there, to help order to face all of these enough to face such relations and interfaith repair homes damaged horrible situations. tough situations, why dialogue must develop by the hurricane, As bad as it was, they not let them have their in order to recover provided me with still held tight to their faith. We cannot offer man’s dignity. We all information regarding faith, and did not give anything else that would did dialogue based on how the United States up. I guess this is what even compare with their our consciousness, of Government took on the impressed me the most. faith, which keeps them the degeneration of responsibility to assist so strong. It is only man’s dignity. This these people and others The strength of these because of their strong consciousness will enrich when a natural disaster people’s faith is similar to faith that they are able and guide our dialogue in occurs. I was shocked the Karen refugees that to survive and stay well. the right and meaningful to learn the number I met, who are “forced On the other side, I direction. of people who are, for to live” or be encamped believe that this faith almost four years, still in a region along the does not only belong This, I truly believe: living in trailers with border of Thailand and to the victims, but to That our consciousness limited supplies of basic Myanmar. They have the common volunteers of God must be necessities. been forced to live this from all walks of life, intertwined with way for at least 10 years. who come to assist them. our caring for all of The people I spoke to They admitted that mankind regardless of In the same way, I indicated that they too they are called by their race, ethnicity, faith, or saw the refugees of Sri were surprised at the own faith and recognize class. I believe when Lanka become victims minimal help that was a sense of need and we develop interfaith of the ethnic conflict; offered in the way of belonging together. dialogue from the “assistance,” which I find however, they too are perspective of the victim, quite hard to believe. held and bound together My journey to Biloxi then our interreligious Their calls for help by their beliefs and equipped me when I relations will be more went unanswered by the faith. Similarly, the returned to Hartford fruitful and prosper. government; this was victims of the tsunami Seminary for my very not considered to be a disaster had to draw upon rigorous academic “disaster,” as such. their own strength and

4 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s New Dean continued from page 1 New York City public Agosto has taught schools and received courses in Paul and Agosto came to Hartford that those students who his B.A. from Columbia His Urban Churches, in July 1995 after serving come to us from all over University in 1977. New Testament on the staff of the Center the world and from all Agosto was nurtured Introduction, Readings for Urban Ministerial walks of life are given the in New York Hispanic in Pauline Theology Education in Boston best possible theological Pentecostal churches and Ministry, and with for 12 years, the last education.” and was a licensed Professor Carl Dudley five years as director of preacher for the Hispanic of Hartford Seminary’s this inner-city urban “Diversity, dialogue Assemblies of God in the Hartford Institute for theological education and faith commitments 1980s. Religion Research, New are the most important Testament Tensions and program, a campus He has served on the of Gordon-Conwell aspects of our reality,” Contemporary Issues. Agosto said. “These in pastoral staffs of Hispanic His most recent interests Theological Seminary. Pentecostal, Baptist and At Hartford Seminary, turn motivate our work include teaching and as teachers, researchers, Congregational churches writing in the area he also has directed El in New York, Boston, Programa de Ministerios writers and practitioners of Latino biblical of theology and faith, and East Hartford, CT. hermeneutics, and a Hispanos (Hispanic He was interim pastor Ministries Program). whether we are students, course entitled Reading faculty, administrators at Boston’s Hispanic the New Testament Agosto has a Master of or stewards of Hartford Community Church through the Eyes of the Divinity from Gordon- Seminary.” (United Church of Oppressed. Conwell and completed Christ) in 1994, and his Ph.D. in New Agosto said, “For me part of an interim Agosto’s wider service Testament Studies at the strongest points of pastoral team at the has included the Final Boston University. the seminary include Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Selection Committee our presence in a capitol Esperanza (UCC) in East and Mentor for the Asked about his city - the city of Hartford Hartford in 1999, where Hispanic Theological priorities as academic - from which we can do he continues to worship Initiative, a scholarship dean for Hartford so much more in terms as an active lay member. and mentoring Seminary, Agosto of interfaith exploration, organization which said, “As a Christian interracial dialogue, In his work in New seeks to develop Latino and New Testament and international Testament studies, and Latina doctoral scholar, I would like to connections. In other Agosto teaches, candidates in religion immerse myself more in words, Hartford is a great researches and writes and theology. He the interfaith realities example of thinking on the Pauline Epistles, also served on the of Hartford Seminary. and acting ‘local’ so that especially the leadership Executive Committee I have always been a we can think and act and ministry of Paul of the Association of strong supporter and globally. Our interfaith and others in these Theological Schools, have learned much and international communities. He has Committee for from the exchanges commitments and our published several articles Underrepresented Racial that we as faculty have long-time tradition as and book chapters on and Ethnic Minorities undertaken with our a Christian ecumenical these topics. in the Profession of students and faculty from seminary in an urban His book, Servant the Society for Biblical other faiths, especially center of Southern Leadership: Jesus and Paul Literature and was Islam. Now as dean, I New England, that is (Chalice Press), was formerly a faculty would like to learn and essentially one-third published in November representative to the understand even more Latino, one-third African 2005. It studies issues of Board of Trustees of this vital aspect of our American and one- social status, leadership Hartford Seminary. life together. I also third white and other practice and theology Currently he serves as want to be sure that I communities, makes for in the Jesus movement chair of the Seminary’s understand more fully a great confluence of and Pauline Christianity, Center for Faith in all of our curricular resources for high quality with implications for Practice. programs, where all our theological education the practice of religious Agosto succeeds Dr. Ian faculty colleagues fit and reflection.” leadership today. He into delivering what we Markham, who resigned Agosto was born and has a forthcoming a year ago to become promise in our programs commentary, in Spanish, and courses, and how raised in New York City; dean and president of his parents came to New on Paul’s Corinthian Virginia Theological we can continue to correspondence. invigorate our faculty York from Puerto Rico in Seminary in Alexandria, research and teaching so the 1950s. He attended VA.

InterActive Faith Chief Development Officer Bud Heckman has edited a new book on interfaith dialogue, which is available now through the Hartford Seminary bookstore (www.hartsem.edu or 860-509-9527) or SkyLight Paths Press (www.skylightpaths.com or 800-962-4544). Enjoying a wealth of contributions from some of the best in the interfaith field,InterActive Faith: The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook is a comprehensive resource for fostering local interfaith work.

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 5 Destruction and theological education, “Luminous Spirits” of violence, injustice but even so, this morning coupled with deceit I’d like to recall, or Hartford Seminary seem to the prophet maybe introduce you to, a reflection of God’s a few lives we don’t often By The Rev. Dr. Ralph Ahlberg callous indifference to think of or even know the human situation. about, but lives we in Bill Zito and I graduated Granted Israel’s the Hartford Seminary from this institution with sinfulness, but why, community can look to our bachelor of divinity argues the prophet, with appreciation, and degrees. allow an even more in them maybe even find sinful oppression? God’s So, a part of me who inspiration. response to Habakkuk often sits with many of points to the need for One whose life you at these Monday people who are confident impressed me was a morning chapel services “that God has certain kind of maverick pastor does so with the purposes in human life or minister whose perspective of an “old and that those purposes name is William H. H. grad.” Occasionally, as are full of love and grace Murray, better known Heidi Hadsell knows, – even if God’s people during his time as I glance out of that don’t always understand “Adirondack” Murray. window and nostalgically in detail what God’s After his theological peer at the buildings up to.” Those who training at Hartford that used to be the do understand and act Seminary, he served Seminary’s shelter. And on that understanding several congregations, on this very spot – what become heroes of the developed a reputation used to be 99 Sherman spirit, luminaries. It’s not for kindness, and was The testimony of all Street – stood Tyler Hall, difficult to understand pastor of the Second the prophets (Peace be a residential apartment why this passage was Congregational Church upon them), who among building named after chosen for “All Saints in Greenwich at the time humankind possessed the first president of the Sunday.” of the American Civil luminous spirits…and the Seminary, a building that War. He was there when testimony of all the saints, provided the housing for And the lesson we Abraham Lincoln was who with their luminous my bride and me at the read from Luke’s assassinated. He stayed hearts are the spiritual beginning of my Middler gospel has the same up all night on Saturday, poles of humankind, and or second year. kind of message. The April 15, 1865 draping testimony of all the purified commentaries tell us It’s with these feelings the sanctuary of the scholars, who possess that Zacchaeus is the of nostalgia for the church with black cloth. luminous minds, relying perfect antitype to Jesus’ Seminary and affection It was a time of shock on their researches and story of the rich young for former teachers and national mourning. verifications; the testimony ruler. He was the one, like Bill Bradley who On the following day, of all these to the necessary who, when instructed died a few months Sunday, he preached a existence, unity, and by Jesus to care for ago and others like sermon that so moved perfect dominicality of the the poor, becomes Alexander Purdy, Harvey the congregation that its Single One of Unity,… sad and turns away McArthur, Chalmers members published it. the Creator of All Things, from what could have Coe, Rockwell Harmon The sermon was widely forms a truly vast and been a compassionate Potter -- teachers only distributed and became light-filled window.” life. Zacchaeus, on remembered for the one source of healing for Bediuzzaman Said Nursi the other hand, is also most part by people like many at a difficult time (From the Risale-I Nur) rich and also unhappy. Bill and myself – that in our nation’s history. But his response to 1959 was a notable I offered to lead this Jesus’ challenge is to But Murray received a year in the history of chapel service on a day welcome him into his national reputation in Hartford Seminary. that falls not only when own home. Then, he 1869 after he published a Quite incidentally, it was our Board of Trustees distances himself from book entitled, Adventures the year that Karl Barth meet, but also very near overvaluing his wealth in the Wilderness. The published his Dogmatics the time celebrated by and uses it in ways that book documents his in Outline and Teilhard de much of the Christian both humanize him and forays into the wilds of Chardin his Phenomenon Church as All Saints add to the humanization New York’s Adirondack of Man. I liked the year or All Soul’s Sunday. of his community. Bud Mountains. He extolled because as a Swedish It’s a time when we Heckman must love this the therapeutic benefits American I could Christians recall some guy for his transformed of being in nature; and identify with Ingemar of those who’ve made generosity! he did it so effectively Johansson who won strong contributions to that thousands headed the world heavyweight the life of the spirit. In Our lessons this morning for those mountains – boxing championship his descriptions of this have prompted me whether prepared or not! from Floyd Patterson. gift, Nursi uses the word, to remember a few Earning the nickname, Dwight Eisenhower was “luminous.” graduates of Hartford “Adirondack,” he’s still our President that Seminary who’ve become In the lessons we credited with opening year and had one to go personal “luminous read this morning the area up to the public. while Charles De Gaulle spirits”; they’re people from Habakkuk and He’s also remembered was just beginning his who not only talked the Luke -- actually as an early American role as President of the spirit talk but walked they’re the lectionary environmentalist who Fifth Republic in France. the spirit walk. Our readings for yesterday insisted that “there are It was also notable in witness as a Seminary -- the opening lines on the earth certain Hartford Seminary’s more is doubtless modest of Habakkuk are sadly creations too precious intimate history because in the whole realm of Continued on next page in May of 1959 both all too contemporary.

6 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page Abu-Rabi’ Leaving helped the Seminary increase the number of to humankind, too essential to human welfare Seminary Faculty international students who to pass under private ownership.” Words of study at the Seminary. wisdom that remain very timely! He’s one of Currently three dozen our Seminary’s “luminous” spirits! international students from Another one of the great spirits, who earned 11 countries are enrolled in his bachelor of divinity degree at Hartford Seminary degree programs. Seminary in 1917, was a man named Douglas Abu-Rabi spent the early Horton, who was probably the finest student part of his life in Palestine. ever to matriculate here. Not many probably He has degrees from Birzeit will recognize his name, but for many of us University (in Birzeit, from the older life of the Seminary, Horton West Bank, Palestine), the is truly a hero. He introduced Americans to University of Cincinnati, the work of Swiss theologian, Karl Barth. He’s and Temple University, credited with being the chief architect of the Philadelphia. His Ph.D. is in denominational merger in 1957 that formed Islamic Studies from Temple. the United Church of Christ. He was the key leader in transforming Harvard Divinity In explaining his teaching School in the late 1950’s and of orchestrating philosophy for his Seminary the Protestant presence at the Second Vatican web page, Abu-Rabi’ wrote, Council in the early 1960’s. And his spiritual Seventeen years ago “Benedict Anderson’s formation, in large part, happened here at Hartford Seminary Imagined Communities: Hartford Seminary where, as I said, he was appointed Ibrahim Abu- Reflections on the Origin a brilliant student. One of his biographers, Rabi’ as the first Muslim and Spread of Nationalism Theodore Louis Trost, tells us that he spent core faculty member at an has enabled me to an average of 18 hours a week in class taking Association of Theological understand the complexity subjects in history, homiletics, theology and Schools-accredited seminary of the interaction between biblical studies. He also determined to study in North America. At the nationalism and religion in Arabic. His father questioned him about that, end of June, Abu-Rabi’ the modern world. In my to which he responded -- “the finest modern is departing to become search to understand the literature in the world” next to English is in the first holder of the position of Christianity and that language. He wrote that “Arabic is good Edmonton Council of Islam in modern industrial solid earth: not water, like apologetics; not fire, Muslim Communities Chair societies, I try to combine like philosophy; not gas, like homiletics.” To in Islamic Studies at the the philosophical/theological which we preachers say, Ouch! University of Alberta, the dimensions of religion with first teaching and research the social and political. In In any event, I’m sure Douglas Horton chair of its kind in Canada. modern Islamic intellectual would approve of our Seminary’s direction history, it is quite impossible in appreciating the contributions of Islam In between these two to understand the position and fostering interfaith understandings and precedent-setting of Islam without having teaching Arabic. He’s one of our “luminous” appointments, Abu-Rabi’ a clear understanding of spirits. has been a prolific author, such terms as nationalism, popular professor, and My third such “luminary” is one who produced secularism, industrialization tireless recruiter on behalf and modernity. Modern one of the great books of devotion written by of Hartford Seminary. He an American. He earned both his bachelor Islamic ideas and forces has served as Co-Director have been the product of of divinity degree and his Ph.D at Hartford of the Macdonald Center Seminary. I picked out some words of his I not just the past tradition, for the Study of Islam and but the intellectual, social, especially value which, I believe, could have Christian-Muslim Relations, been written by the likes of Abraham Heschel, political, and economic Professor of Islamic Studies transformations of the Brother Lawrence or Said Nursi. He writes: and Christian-Muslim “Walk and talk and work and laugh with your modern world as well. Relations, and co-editor of Once we understand these friends. But behind the scenes, keep up the life The Muslim World journal. of simple prayer and inward worship. Keep it important facts, we will be up throughout the day. Let inward prayer be “Ibrahim has been a valued able to conduct interreligious your last act before you fall asleep and the first member of the Hartford dialogue on the basis of both act when you awake.” And also these words; Seminary faculty and theology and modern facts.” “I have in mind something deeper than the community,” President Heidi Abu-Rabi’ has written simplification of our external programs, our Hadsell said. “We will miss numerous books. The most absurdly crowded calendars of appointments him, as a scholar and as a recent include “The Blackwell through which so many pantingly and colleague. He has played a Companion to Contemporary frantically gasp. These do become simplified key role in bringing Hartford Islamic Thought,” editor; in holy obedience, and the poise and peace Seminary to its current “Challenges and Responses we’ve been missing can really be found. But status of a preeminent school of Contemporary Islamic there is a deeper, an internal simplification of for the study of Islam and Thought: The Contributions of the whole of one’s personality, stilled, tranquil, Christian-Muslim Relations M. Fethullah Gulen,” editor; in childlike trust listening ever to Eternity’s and has helped make us well- and “Contemporary Arab whisper, (and I especially like this) walking known in the Muslim world. Thought: Studies in Post-1967 with a smile into the dark.” The words are I wish him well in his new Arab Intellectual History.” from A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. position.” Kelly, one of several outstanding Quakers who Abu-Rabi’ starts his new studied and taught here. His mentor was A.L. Through his international position at the University of Gillett after whom one of the buildings on the contacts, Abu-Rabi’ has Alberta on July 1. old campus is named. Kelly’s life was filled with a desire for academic excellence and a longing Continued on page 8

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 7 “Luminous Spirits” continued from page 7

for spiritual community. United States Congress of its kind to include Singapore with a natural He really should be from Georgia, and as women and it’s been enthusiasm and energy marked as one of our a two-term mayor of doing that for well more and with insights that Seminary’s “luminous” Atlanta. He’s written than a century. So that will doubtless make a spirits. a couple of books that I could just as easily huge contribution to describe his life. In have identified people interfaith dialogue in Let me come close one of them, An Easy like Dosia Carlson, a that country. It would to closing with two Burden, he tells about classmate of Bill’s and be difficult to turn away African American becoming involved mine, whose disability from someone with the graduates. The first is with an ecumenical necessitated her whizzing spirit of Guat! J. Deotis Roberts. In organization known as around the Seminary the third volume of the United Christian campus in a wheelchair What the scripture Gary Dorrien’s recently Youth Movement that and whose ministry in lessons we read this published, The Making eventually led him to Arizona following her morning point to is of American Theology, work as a youth organizer graduation included that valuing extraordinary he tells us that Roberts in Connecticut and of hymn writing – she lives of the spirit. “represents the stream Rhode Island. He was is credited with three of Thankfully, Hartford of the black-theology assigned to live in a them in the hymnbook Seminary has these in movement that retained dormitory at Hartford we’re using this morning. significant numbers a strong component of Seminary. He writes: “I among students, faculty, social-gospel theology liked the atmosphere Or another faculty trustees, alumni; all and an explicit at Hartford and I was member during the those various searchers identification with the intrigued by the students. same period in the late for meaning with liberal tradition.” He I decided to enroll in 1950’s was Dr. Helen strong flavorings of earned a bachelor of two courses for the fall Khoobyar, a professor reconciliation and peace- divinity degree here in semester: Philosophy of Christian Education. seeking – all living and 1951, and then went of Religion and New She was born in Iran dead --- all are heroes on to a doctorate in Testament. The classes and died after being hit and luminaries of the philosophical theology at Hartford were small by a truck in California spirit. at the University of and intimate, and at the age of 81. When Edinburgh. In the late I was a new pastor on So long live Hartford professors led discussions Seminary in its purpose 1960’s and early 1970’s, instead of lecturing Long Island, she was the he developed a black first Hartford Seminary as Heidi puts it, “to from a distant podium. provide an education theology that resisted It was intellectually faculty member I invited the extremes of righteous to speak, and she was that enables graduates electrifying. Although I both to understand anger that followed was working as a youth terrific. She published the assassination of Dr. at least one book, Facing themselves and their organizer, I woke early to faith traditions better, Martin Luther King study and came to every Difficult Problems in Adult Jr. He also argued for Education. For me, she’s and to be able to class prepared. I read the contribute more fully a greater confidence assigned materials and always been a “luminous” and self-esteem within spirit. to a culture of dialogue asked for more reading. and creative leadership the African American I sat in the dining hall theological community. Or Dr. Jane Smith, one in our civic and faith with other students of the most outstanding communities.” He wrote: “We’ve been and argued over the lured away by our white of our alumni: If you religious concepts. . . It haven’t read her latest Therefore fellow trustees, teachers to seek religious was …exhilarating… faculty, students and insights from the Euro- just published book, Later in the semester, Muslims, Christians, friends, when the tough American tradition, I approached Dean and frustrating times which has never given and the Challenge of Tertius Van Dyke about Interfaith Dialogue, you come – as I’m sure they birth to a great religion. enrolling as a full-time will – let’s remember that Our black fathers had a should. Our Seminary student.” has a perspective of Hartford Seminary is rich religious heritage worth the struggle. in Africa when the When Andy Young was theological pluralism Norsemen (my ancestors) accepted as a student that’s not accidental and Let the people say, were living in caves.” here, he said all he yet it’s so important, so Amen! What he’s teaching is wanted to do was “to run critical in our time. That the quality of self-esteem around the campus and perspective has come The Rev. Dr. Ralph that’s so essential for hug all the trees…” through the courageous Ahlberg, a member of human development and faith and intellectual the Board of Trustees, growth. Well, I want to hug the acumen of scholars offered this sermon trees as well when I like Jane. They’re during Chapel at The second African recognize the direction people who’ve opposed Hartford Seminary on American is probably and the contributions of exclusivist religion and November 5, 2007. our best known living Hartford Seminary. who’ve said, in effect, to Dr. Ahlberg is Minister graduate. Our world all those who are willing, Emeritus of Round Hill remembers him as one of Now, I’m almost finished. “let’s talk, let’s attempt to Community Church, Dr. Martin Luther King But I want to add that understand one another.” Greenwich, CT. Jr.’s close aides, as Jimmy while my illustrations Carter’s Ambassador to this morning have Or one of her recent the United Nations, as all been male, this students, Guat Kwee a representative to the institution was the first See, who returned to

8 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Ayoub continued from page 1

relations, Islamic an opportunity to serve Malaysia. In the Spring- theology, interpretation the Macdonald Center Summer of 2000, he of the Qur’an, and and its students and undertook a research understanding sectarian to realize my hope of project on Christian- distinctions. A Lebanese using my free time to Muslim relations in Shi‘ite educated in complete the research Egypt and Lebanon, Quaker schools, Ayoub projects I already am also on a Fulbright has been involved in engaged in and embark scholarship. interfaith dialogue, on new ones.” Ayoub is the author what he calls ‘the He remembered that of a number of books dialogue of life,’ since his association with the including Redemptive early childhood. He has Macdonald Center goes Suffering in Islam and written poignantly on back to the 1970s, when The Qur’an and Its the concept of suffering he was a beginning Interpreters (vol. 1 & 2). in Shi‘ite Islam, helping scholar. He served The summer of 2000 explain the doctrines with his dedication as an adjunct faculty, saw the release of his that characterize and skill in classroom and remains a member two-volume publication, this important teaching and interfaith of the editorial board Dirasat fi al-‘Alaqat al- school of thought programming,” said of the Muslim World Masihiyyah al-Islamiyyah, from both historical Professor Jane Smith, journal, which is edited in Arabic (Studies and theological co-director of Hartford by Seminary faculty. in Christian-Muslim perspectives,” Smith Seminary’s Macdonald Relations). Islam: Faith said. Center for the Study Ayoub was born in and History appeared South Lebanon. He of Islam and Christian- At the Seminary’s in 2004. Currently he received his education Muslim Relations. “A Macdonald Center, is working on the third at the American long-time participant Ayoub will teach, volume of The Qur’an University of Beirut in Abrahamic dialogue advise students in the and Its Interpreters. (BA, Philosophy, in the United States international Ph.D. 1964), the University In addition, his articles as well as in interfaith program, and continue of Pennsylvania (M.A., have appeared in books Religious Thought, and journals such as 1966), and Harvard The Muslim World, University (Ph.D., Journal of the American Ayoub is the author of a number History of Religions, Oriental Society, of books including Redemptive Suf- 1975). Bulletin of the Institute of Middle Eastern fering in Islam and The Qur’an and Its Since 1988, he has Studies (Tokyo, Japan) Interpreters (vol. 1 & 2). The summer taught at Temple and Islamochristiana University. That (Rome, Italy). of 2000 saw the release of his two- year, Ayoub helped volume publication, Dirasat fi al-‘Alaqat devise and launch a Ayoub’s authority in al-Masihiyyah al-Islamiyyah, in Arabic graduate M.A. level both the scholarship program in Christian- and comparative (Studies in Christian-Muslim Muslim relations and study of Islam and Relations). Islam: Faith and History comparative religion Christian-Muslim for the Centre for relations, as well as appeared in 2004. Currently he is Christian-Muslim interreligious dialogue, working on the third volume of Studies, University of is demonstrated The Qur’an and Its Interpreters. Balamand, Lebanon, by the national and, since the spring and international of 1999, has been its recognition he visiting professor. has received. This is reflected by his his research projects. In Throughout his numerous local and conversations in many the fall semester, he will academic career, overseas scholarly parts of the world, Dr. teach a course on Shi‘ite Ayoub has received engagements. Since Ayoub brings experience Islam. distinguished awards 1999, Ayoub has and understanding and scholarships, for participated in the U.S. consonant with the Ayoub said that he his achievements and Department of State’s work done at the regards his appointment his research. Among program, serving as Macdonald Center and at Hartford Seminary others, he was a one of its ambassadors at Hartford Seminary.” “as a wonderful recipient of the Kent to various parts of the reward for me after my Doctoral Fellowship “Mahmoud Ayoub has Middle East and S.E. retirement from fulltime and the Canada researched, written Asia, commenting academic work. I will Council Fellowship. and spoken on a wide on American society do my best to honor In 1994-1995, he range of subjects related and institutions, this association and will participated in the to the faith, including interreligious dialogue do all that I can to live Fulbright Exchange of Christian-Muslim and Islam in America. up to the challenge of Scholars program for

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 9 sound (which in Arabic means “dark”), not Muslim, with an /s/ sound (someone who submits himself/ herself to God). The painful truth is that throughout its history, the United States has unlearned its stereotypes about African-Americans, Jews, Native Americans, the Irish, the Chinese, etc. How long will it take Americans to unlearn groundless misconceptions and stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims? Nobody knows. Fulbright Program The first of its kind in the history of Fulbright, the “Interfaith Community Action Program” brought together eight scholars: four Muslims (Palestinian, Turkish, Nigerian and Egyptian), three Christians (Russian, Pakistani and Indonesian), and one Baha’i (Scottish). I was taken to places I never thought I would visit, Around America talked to people I never believed I would meet, asked questions I believed I would never be asked, and in 113 Days introduced to new things I never imagined I would experience. I was appalled by Hollywood Bowl’s Reflections of an Egyptian Visiting fireworks and awed by Buddhist generosity at a Los Angeles temple, Muslim spirituality and warmth the U.S. for the First Time in Clemson, SC, and the beauty and grandeur of Washington D.C. and its fabulous architecture. I’m By Mustafa Khattab speechless and spellbound. I now understand why people in demonstrations in the Middle East shout Man is the enemy of the unknown, says an Arab “Death to America” and whisper in the same breath proverb. As a student of English, I am a big fan of “Give Me Visa.” Nobody hates America; they don’t Hollywood movies. Those movies have, for the most like its foreign policy. part, shaped my perceptions of America. I believed, as many Arabs still believe, that all American men are Egypt violent, drunk, immoral, irreligious, and promiscuous Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country: 90% and all American women are loose. The American Muslim and the majority of the rest is Coptic. Every government and the American people are one and time I traveled to other Arab countries (such as Saudi the same. It was not before I came here through Arabia, Tunisia, Syria, or Libya), I was surrounded by Fulbright’s semester-long interfaith program that many Muslims. The U.S. is a land of religious diversity and facts unfolded, many stereotypes vanished, and many pluralism. Even within Christianity, there are many horizons opened. denominations and sub-denominations. It was here The first lesson I learned here was: it is unfair to that I toured cathedrals, synagogues, and Buddhist and generalize about an entire culture, faith, or region just Hindu temples. This is the first time in my life that I because of the actions or sayings of a few individuals. was a part of a religious minority in a country. Since America houses about 300 million people from religion is very central in people’s lives in the Middle almost every corner of the earth; hundreds of religious East, issues such as conversion and interreligious denominations, races, and cultures. It is a land of marriages are not easily tolerated. diversity and opportunity. As a farmer (who grew up on a farm in the Delta, 55 What I saw in South Carolina was different from miles to the north of Cairo), I loved Santa Barbara, my experiences in California, Pennsylvania, CA, Clemson, SC, and Hartford, CT, for their trees, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Georgia, peace, and quietness. I felt like an orphan in New Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. Clemson, York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles (because of SC, and Los Angeles looked like two different their noise, crowdedness, and fast pace of life). I have countries on two different continents. to admit, though, that the food I liked the most in America was un-American (Mexican, Indian, Chinese Accompanied by The Rev. Dean Ahlberg, after giving and Egyptian foods). The only exception was Dunkin’ a lecture at his First Church of Christ, Congregational, Donuts. I visited a farm in Redding, CT. I was so impressed by the “honor system” followed in some local farms. The first interfaith lesson I actually got was from my You go to a room, take whatever fruits, vegetables, or late father (who couldn’t read or write). He was a dairy products you want, and put the money in a box farmer and a trader. I remember when Coptic traders and leave. Nobody is watching you. I told Dr. Ahlberg came from another village to buy something from that this system humanizes man and promotes him to my father (a cow, for example) and it happened to the level of God’s trustee on earth. “Did you really put be during the month of Ramadan (all Muslims are money in that box?” I said teasingly as we were getting fasting), my father would ask my mother to prepare into his car. nice food for the non-Muslim guests. Upon completing the transaction, both parties (my father and the Coptic Generalizations about America are as evil and sinister buyer) would recite the first chapter of the Qur’an to as generalizations about Arabs and Muslims as well as express good will and truthfulness as to the actual price any other faith or ethnicity on earth. Before I came to of the cattle and to call upon God to witness. That was the U.S., I believed that Americans had hundreds of amazing. misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. But when I came here, I discovered that I was wrong: Americans Hartford have millions of misconceptions about me and my My host institution, Hartford Seminary, kept me busy faith. Many of them even call me mozlem, with a /z/ all the time. I gave lectures frequently. My Muslim Continued on next page

10 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page brothers created their own schedule for me. Every on Christian-Muslim relations) to discuss a paper I Friday they took me to a mosque or a chapel to give submitted regarding my PhD at their collegial sharing Khutbah (Friday sermon) and lead the prayer. During session in November. Their comments, feedback, and Ramadan, I led the diverse Muslim community in insights were invaluable. I also benefited from the tips Clemson, SC, and gave more than 70 speeches on and advice of Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Rabi’, Dr. Yehezkel different Islamic topics. Every Muslim family was Landau, Abdullah Antepli, and Rev. Bud Heckman responsible for feeding the entire community a day in (whom I teasingly called Sabir Muhammad Aal- Ramadan, so every day we had a special food from an Heckman). entirely different country. Mmmmm! • My speaking abilities, communication skills, and The Qur’an (30:22) says, “And among God’s Signs is . . English have improved so much. . the variation in your languages and your colors: verily in that are Signs for those endowed with sound knowledge.” • I had a firsthand exposure to the American culture Diversity is a blessing from God. “Imagine if we all and way of life. speak the same language, have the same skin color, eat the same food every day, etc. Would it not be boring? • I experienced for the first time how it feels to be a Plus, some businesses would run out of business - like part of the Muslim minority in a non-Muslim country tourism, translation, money-exchange, and travel - with all the expectations and challenges. It made agencies. Go where? See what?” as Fadel Soliman, me reflect on how non-Muslim minorities feel in the Director of the Bridges Foundation, puts it. I never Muslim world. understood that Qur’anic verse until I came to the United States. • My host institution opened my eyes to the idea of Through the many lectures I gave at churches, chapels, “Muslim Chaplaincy.” I acted as a chaplain a couple and educational institutions, I tried my best (in my of times in Hartford: once at Hartford Hospital and power point presentations) to advocate a better another at the seminary itself. understanding between world faith traditions through Once in Egypt, I’ll share my experiences in America interfaith dialogue, present the true message of Islam with the students I teach at al-Azhar University, (as conveyed in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Cairo, and the people I preach to at mosques. Prophet), and clarify some misconceptions about Islam, Muslims, and Arabs in America as well as Like Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream that all misconceptions about Americans in the Middle East. nations, irrespective of race, religion, or color, will be able to co-exist peacefully. I have a dream that all humans will be united as one brotherhood under God. • I learned immensely from those Americans who And I have a dream that the future will be much better champion interfaith dialogue, peace, tolerance, and and safer for my daughter and all future generations. understanding between world faiths. I discovered that there are so many people in our world today who work If we can’t live together like brothers, are we not diligently for peace and justice. These people never supposed to love our enemies and forgive those who make headlines simply because the media focuses curse us? on controversy. We have the same problem in the Middle East. On Fox News, for example, we only saw The words will be long remembered after the speaker Palestinians rejoicing and burning the American flag is gone. on September 11, but not those millions of Muslims who denounced the heinous crime. Mustafa Khattab was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at Hartford Seminary in the fall. He also was the imam of • I was able to formulate better ideas for my PhD on the Clemson Mosque in South Carolina. An Assistant “the image of Islam and Muslims in American media.” Lecturer of Islamic Studies in the English Department at Hartford Seminary was generous enough to invite Al-Azhar University in Cairo, he received an M.A. with its faculty (including Prof. Jane I. Smith, an expert Distinction on the “Nation of Islam.” Khattab currently is working on his Ph.D. on the image of Arabs and Muslims in the American media.

Abrahamic Partnerships Program continued from page 3 After a break, the second part of Friday morning focused on Besides allowing continuation of the advanced course, personal religious practices. Several students volunteered to the Slifka Foundation grant will enable the Seminary share with the group spiritual disciplines that connected them to improve the BAP website. The site will present ideas with the Sacred. The most inspiring moment came when two and experiences from projects that participants are Muslims chanted a long series of couplets in Turkish based implementing and facilitate a discussion about current on Divine names in Islam. For all of us, it was an uplifting events. experience of genuine devotion. Landau also plans to develop relationships with These discussions and devotional offerings were a prelude to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim institutions, and with the “main course” of spiritual nourishment on that Friday: individual communities such as the Alabama Faith interfaith worship services in the Chapel that afternoon, Council (which sent participants to the BAP program), which were prepared by two mixed subgroups of students in order to help them start their own interfaith who had worked on the liturgies since the previous day. I programs based on the BAP model. am sorry we did not tape these worship experiences, for no “If we can be helped to see our own limitations and words can adequately convey their beauty and depth. They moral lapses through the eyes of our Abrahamic were extraordinary, both with regard to their spiritual content siblings, we have a chance to truly experience and the inclusive, participatory process by which they were the Kingdom of God on earth. The beginning of conceived and led. redemption is the humble recognition that we need These worship services demonstrated how closely connected one another to be redeemed. BAP is one modest effort the participants were by the end of the course, and how this to foster that recognition among Jews, Christians, and kind of creative undertaking can be a genuine blessing for all. Muslims and to develop a praxis of partnership in that spirit,” Landau said.

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 11 House of Fatwas¹ and to teach Islamic Studies Experiences in Libya, the Al-Azhar University. and Dialogue in English. At the Dar al-Iftaa, we He offered to cooper- Egypt and Damascus met the Mufti of Cairo, ate with the students Ali Jum’a, on January of Hartford Seminary 7. At Al-Azhar Univer- by having us come to By Tubanur Yesilhark I experienced the differ- sity, which has 430.000 Al-Azhar to teach and, ence it makes to have students, male and in reverse, be taught Tripoli, Libya dialogue with Christians female from 102 foreign Arabic. I attended the second who take their scripture countries, we had the meeting of the opportunity to talk with Two of the highlights in as seriously as Muslims Egypt were the visit to Evangelical Christian- take their Qur’an as the the director, Ahmad Muslim Dialogue held at-Tayyib. the Ibn-Tulun Mosque word of God. Secondly, and later the visit to in Tripoli, Libya from I saw how important it is January 3 through Although Al-Azhar Imam Ar-Rifai Mosque, not to compare the ideal claimed to be very open where students of the January 6, organized by of Islam with the reality the World Islamic Call to interreligious dia- four schools of thought² of Christianity and vice logue, I was surprised to within Sunni Islam stud- Society. The aim of this versa. The two ideals conference was to have hear that they did not ied together. have much in common, accept any non-Muslim conversations around whereas it is unfair to Damascus and the topic of “Human students into the institu- establish the norma- tion. To my question, Aleppo, Syria Nature and the Divine tive of one religion on Once one has visited Presence.” “how it was possible to the same level with the strengthen the students’ Damascus and Aleppo, Professor Ibrahim Abu realities and practice of consciousness toward one cannot escape Rabi’, Tom Verdi, a Mas- the other. ter of Arts student, and The general outcome of I represented Hartford this conference was that Seminary among many everybody agreed that it I saw how important it is others coming from all is important to carry this not to compare the ideal of Islam kinds of places such kind of dialogue further. as Fuller Theological Toronto, Canada, and Is- with the reality of Christianity Seminary, North Park tanbul, Turkey, were sug- and vice versa. The two ideals University, Temple gested as possible sites. University, Lake Forest (The first conference have much in common College, the University was held in Chicago.) of Western Ontario, whereas it is unfair American Islamic Col- Cairo, Egypt to establish the normative lege, Loyola University, Never have I seen a Wheaton College, and more chaotic city than of one religion on the same the Arab Baptist Semi- Cairo. Once there, I level with the realities nary in Beirut, Lebanon. appreciated the traffic Also attending were of Istanbul and cleanli- and practice of the other. representatives from na- ness of Damascus, which tional and international I will talk about later. I organizations such as did not see one car that Open Doors, Sojourners, was not scratched on World Vision Interna- both sides. Neverthe- tional, Evangelicals for less, people seemed to Middle East Understand- be happy and seemed to people of different faith ing and Venture Interna- have their very special traditions without the the beautiful spiritual tional. rules of driving. possibility of direct atmosphere that fills engagement?”, I was the air with their long The conference was In Cairo, the rest of our told that the institu- history of Christianity co-facilitated by Dr. group from Hartford tion would send their and Islam. Here, Donald Wagner (North Seminary met and we students to the Anglican dialogue is deeply rooted Park University) and Dr. were a delegation of 13 Church located there within people’s history Mahmoud Ayoub (Tem- people in total. to have dialogue. They and, whether consciously ple University). Both do not offer any courses or not, dialogue is just faiths agreed on having Our guide explained to lived. us the components of on Christian Theology; an honest conversation however, comparative with each other, express- Al-Azhar: the first being Diverse religious groups the religious office, the religion courses are and nationalities have ing their own creeds and taught. beliefs freely and frankly. second the university, lived here together for It was interesting for me the third the Ministry of Lastly, we had the op- centuries and share the to see how both sides Endowments, the fourth portunity to meet Dr. same base: Arabs, Kurds, were challenged in dif- the Dar al-Iftaa and the Ali Shaban, who is the Armenians, Turkmens, ferent ways but never- fifth the Islamic Re- head of the Faculty of Druze, Christians, Sun- theless the atmosphere search Academy. We vis- Language and Transla- nis and Shiites, just to remained always warm ited two of the modules, tion. He explained to us name a few. They are and courteous. the Dar al-Iftaa (the their need for professors neighbors, friends and work partners. While wandering through Da- 1. Fatwa: non-binding religious advice on any issue in religion. mascus and Aleppo, one 2. The four schools of thought are the Hanbeli, Shafii, Hanefi and Maliki. Continued on next page

12 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page can admire churches as man Family,” which well as mosques stand- was held under the ing side by side. patronage of Professor Mohammad Abdulsat- Because of its important tar Alsayed, Minister of geographical status, Endowments, on January Syria is a country that 13, we again had the opened its doors to impression that dialogue others. Thousands of is not a strange terrain refugees from Iraq, for Syria. Lebanon and Palestine found asylum. The per- Among the 50 speakers centage of the Christian was the Mufti of Da- population increased mascus, Shaykh Abdul to 10 percent after the Fattah Al-Bizem and arrival of the Christian the representative of the Iraqi refugees. Like their patriarchic Church of Armenian brothers in Antioch, Mar Ignatius Seated at left is Ibrahim Abu-Rabi’, co-director of faith, who fled from the Zakka I. Both of them the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Ottomans, the Iraqis disagreed with the im- Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary, and a were granted asylum. pression that the Arab participant in the conference “The Mutual Knowledge World does not seek of Civilizations and Messages – Under the Shadow of The Armenian priest interreligious dialogue. One Human Family,” held in Damascus, Syria. Bishara from Aleppo, who is a third genera- We had the opportunity tion Syrian, explained to meet with political as Muhammed (peace be level, we should never that Syria is his home well as religious leaders, upon him), as well as forget that the majority and that he never had among them the Vice our visit to Ma’lula and of the people in those the feeling of being President of Syria, the Sydnaya, two entirely countries sincerely care a foreigner there. He Minister of Culture, Christian cities where about world peace, is deeply hurt when Information and Endow- the population still about the future of other Armenians call ments, the grand Mufti, speaks Aramaic. humanity and about Syria the ‘Diaspora’ the Mufti of Aleppo and mutual understanding. and breaks into tears Damascus, the President Once more I experi- And those who do not when he says:”I am of the Al-Fath Insti- enced how crucial it is really think about those still deeply hurt when I tute, where our Syrian to travel, if one wants to issues – they just want think of my history and students at Hartford become a peacemaker. to live in peace and earn what happened to my Seminary come from, as It is not enough to talk their daily bread, just ancestors. But we have well as many Christian about peace and to real- like everywhere in this to forgive. Syria is my leaders. ly feel for other people, world. home and I do not see it before seeing them and as Diaspora.” Besides having interest- building up relationships Tubanur Yesilhark is a ing conversations, the with them. Now I am Master of Arts student at At the conference “The highlight of our visit able to relate to people Hartford Seminary, study- Mutual Knowledge was to see the Umayyad when somebody talks ing Islam and Christian- of Civilizations and Mosque, to visit so many about Libya, Egypt or Muslim Relations, and a Messages – Under the tombs of the compan- Syria. Other than what’s member of the Communi- Shadow of One Hu- ions of the Prophet going on at a political cations Office.

New Staff

Kim Weiner DeMichele of West Hartford is the new Congregations Relations Assistant and Events Coordinator, working with Chief Development Officer Bud Heckman. Prior to a several year hiatus to stay home with her children, Kim worked in social services and behavioral heath care management and consulting. A student in the Women’s Leadership Institute, she hopes to further her studies at the Seminary to vitalize her participation in interfaith and bridge building activities. Kim holds Masters’ degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in both Clinical Psychology and Business Administration. She enjoys reading, biking and just hanging out with her husband, Gary, and kids, Julia (9), Nicholas (7), TJ (5) and Emma (3).

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 13 From the Development Office •T hird of three parts Retirement Planning: Adding Charitable Giving to the Mix

In retirement, you want to take care of yourself and retirement benefits for his or her life,then the your family, of course. But what about the causes and institution would receive payments of those purposes you care about in this world? How can you benefits, but with the surviving spouse free to adequately plan for your own retirement needs and change the secondary beneficiary). effectively seek to make a difference or leave a legacy at the same time? ♦  • As contingent beneficiary (meaning that the institution would receive the benefits if the As listed in the previous issues of Praxis, there are employee’s spouse predeceases him or her). several options. ♦ • Hartford Seminary could be named as beneficiary Among the ideas that combine retirement savings for full benefits, for a fraction of the account or with charitable giving intentions are the deferred for a stated cash amount. payment gift annuity, the charitable remainder unitrust, and the bequest of all or part of your ♦ • If the person is survived by descendants, the retirement plan to a non-profit organization. designation could be to the surviving spouse first for his or her life and thereafter the balance in the We will cover the third below. account is divided between Hartford Seminary and those descendants, as well as any other Give or Bequeath Retirement Plans to Charity charities the participant desires. For retired persons with the bulk of their assets  B. There are distinct tax savings in making in individual retirement accounts, corporate or testamentary charitable gifts using retirement assets partnership pension plans, or profit-sharing plan compared to probate assets. Unlike other assets, accounts, there are other options. Significant retirement funds are subject to income tax when advantages exist in giving or bequeathing funds to distributed, unless the funds are paid to tax-exempt charitable institutions such as Hartford Seminary from charities. Accordingly, the best way to fund a your retirement assets. This may be accomplished charitable bequest at your death is by means of your using two strategies – either an IRA rollover or retirement plan. Pursuant to a recent and very designating a beneficiary. helpful change in the tax laws, even if you are 70½ Beneficiary Designation or older, naming a charity as the beneficiary of your retirement plan will no longer accelerate the required Charitable bequests can be funded with retirement minimum yearly distributions to you during your life. funds by naming Hartford Seminary as a beneficiary. At death, if persons other than the surviving spouse or tax-exempt charities are beneficiaries of your A. The disposition of IRA’s, pension, and profit- retirement funds, these funds are also subject to estate sharing plans is not governed by a person’s will, but taxes. Total taxes on retirement plan assets could rather by beneficiary designation forms provided by reduce the net value of the account to as little as 36 the plan itself. The participant designates on the cents on the dollar. beneficiary form whom he or she wishes to receive the retirement benefits which remain after death. C. Most of an individual’s other assets, such as real In the absence of a designation, the participant’s estate, taxable investments, and business ownership, surviving spouse is the primary beneficiary. A non- are not subject to income tax and may pass to profit organization such as Hartford Seminary can children or other heirs for, at most, an estate tax of 45 also be named, with the non-participant spouse’s cents on each dollar, depending on the size of one’s consent. (Spousal consent is not required for an estate. IRA.) The designation could take several forms: D. Thus, charitable bequests funded with retirement ♦ • As secondary beneficiary (for example, one’s accounts minimize taxes and enable you to pass spouse is named primary beneficiary to receive assets to Hartford Seminary without a prohibitive cost to your heirs relative to the after-tax assets they otherwise would receive. E. If you have an IRA, pension and/or profit-sharing plan account balance and you are considering naming Hartford Seminary as a beneficiary, be sure to consult a lawyer or other tax advisor to properly execute that designation. Retirement should be a time in our lives when we can do things such as travel, spend time with our friends and family, and work on behalf of non-profit organizations that perpetuate our values. If we prepare well for retirement, we can indeed find that it is the best time of our lives. A representative from Hartford Seminary would be happy to speak with you about your options. Contact: Rev. Bud Heckman Chief Development Officer Hartford Seminary [email protected] Tel.: 860-509-9556

14 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Michot continued from page 1 Michot was interviewed to give some attention in February at the to the development Seminary and, he said, of a contemporary he noted “the team spirit Islamic theological manifestly uniting the thought which would Seminary’s faculty.” be both well rooted in the classical tradition Ingrid Mattson, chair and able to meet the of the Seminary Search requirements of this age Committee for the of religious plurality.” position and Professor of Islamic Studies and As he begins his work Christian-Muslim at Hartford Seminary, Relations, noted that Michot said, “I “the search committee intend to maintain an had a delightful dilemma interfaith perspective, in in choosing from an interaction with my new extraordinarily talented colleagues, students, pool of applicants.” and the wider public. President William “Professor Michot is Mackenzie once spoke a wonderful fit for the of honoring the fathers Macdonald Center: by ‘re-expressing their he is an outstanding spirit and following scholar of international their method, doing repute and a brilliant for our time what they teacher with a warm and did for theirs through engaging personality. a creed which is as I eagerly anticipate contemporary for us as welcoming Professor theirs was for them.’ will be joining the reputation in the field Michot as a colleague,” For a Muslim academic, faculty at Hartford of Islamic studies, Mattson said. this remains a totally Seminary,” Hadsell said. “as illustrated by the relevant challenge.” “Yahya is an innovative international circulation Michot has research interests in Islamic thinker who has shown and high quality Since 2000, Michot has thought, particularly great skill as a professor of the journal The participated in more classical Islamic and researcher. Our Muslim World.” He also than 40 international theology and philosophy, students will benefit found attractive “the conferences. Recently Islamic history, Muslim from his scholarship interdenominational he spoke on “Islam and societies, compared and his fresh approach nature of the Seminary modernity” at a course religion, interfaith to Islamic studies and and its long commitment on strategic issues for dialogue, and the Abrahamic dialogue. to the improvement senior Defense officers Arabic language. He has A colleague of his of Christian-Muslim of the United Kingdom written extensively on described Yahya as one relations, not just and participated in the the Persian philosopher of the leading Islamic through interfaith 5th Doha Conference on Avicenna (d. 1037) and scholars in the world academic dialogue, but Interreligious Dialogue the Syrian theologian today.” with a readiness to get in Doha, Qatar. involved in specific Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328), Since 1998, Michot has issues of public life and their sources, their times Outside work, Michot been Islamic Centre the will to contribute to and their influence on said, “My family and Lecturer in the Faculty their effective solution.” later Islamic societies. community are of of Theology at Oxford paramount importance “During the coming University in Great Michot described for me. I also love years,” Michot said, Britain and a fellow as strengths of the art -- particularly “my research will most of the Oxford Centre Seminary, “The teaching Islamic, medieval and probably continue to for Islamic Studies. of, and research in, impressionist, classical be devoted to Islamic Previously he was theologies beneficial music -- European, thought, both classical director of research and for our time, sourced in Arabic, Turkish, and modern, as well as lecturer at the Institut the Abrahamic legacy Iranian…, manuscripts to interfaith relations. Supérieur de Philosophie but respectful of the and old books with As my understanding at Catholic University of diversity of Christian, engravings, photography, of the religion of Islam Louvain, Belgium. Muslim, and Jewish and traveling. For years, thought.” The Muslim has now matured and When asked why he I have done a lot of do- Chaplaincy Program “is benefited from years of is coming to Hartford it-yourself plumbing and a fascinating project,” teaching and discussions Seminary, Michot carpentry work.” he said. with students, peers, said the Macdonald co-religionists and non- Center has an excellent Muslims, I would like

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 15 Interfaith Worship Increasing, Congregations Concerned About Growth

-- The increased attention given by communities of than purpose-driven or adapting to the rapidity of faith to interfaith engagements since September 11, social change characteristic of today’s world. 2001 continues to be dramatic. Theological as well as political stereotypes tend to -- Strong beliefs exist among members of identity social justice with liberal. Theologically congregations at both ends of the theological this relates to liberalism’s priority for equality and spectrum, whether conservative or liberal. “this worldly” concerns. The survey found that there is considerable truth in the stereotype, at -- Membership growth and increasing or maintaining least in regard to the predispositions of American the activity level and participation of existing congregations. members are the most important issues facing faith communities today. The survey confirmed that a congregation’s propensity for strong belief is linked to the These are among the findings of the most recent strictness of its theology. The more conservative survey of congregations by the Cooperative a congregation, the greater is its propensity for Congregational Studies Partnership. strongly held beliefs, according to the survey. At the same time, however, the most liberal congregations The survey findings are available in a newly released also have a propensity for strongly held beliefs. report, “American Congregations 2005,” based on a survey of 884 randomly sampled congregations of Issues and Challenges all faith traditions in the United States. The survey The survey asked, “What is the most important issue updates results from a survey taken in 2000, and is or challenge currently facing your congregation?” the latest in CCSP’s series of trend-tracking national surveys of U.S. congregations. More than 90 percent responded. The top five answers were: David A. Roozen, Director of the Cooperative . Membership growth Congregational Studies Partnership and Professor . Increasing or maintaining the activity level of Religion and Society at Hartford Seminary, said and participation of existing members that, “If you are at all interested in research on faith . Finances and the need to raise more money communities, this report is must reading. It provides or reallocate funds both an overview of faith communities, broken . Changing demographics down by denomination, and also details on worship, . Buildings and the need for more or spiritual practices, interfaith involvement, conflict, renovated space leadership, finances, electronic communication, identity and vitality, growth, and challenges. Other findings in the survey were:

Interfaith Involvement Congregational conflict is a near fact of life. A One unanticipated consequence in the immediate majority of congregations reported either minor aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 or major conflict. There is more conflict and more was an upturn in interfaith awareness and interfaith severe conflict within Old-line Protestantism than engagements. And beyond the traditionally within other Protestant denominations. Also, presumed melting pot of Protestant, Catholic and persons of faith tend to view conflict through a Jew, America’s religious consciousness now included negative lens, and it frequently does have negative Islam. consequences. Another cost of conflict is its A comparison of data from this latest survey to the diminishing effect on congregational vitality. original survey found that interfaith activity among faith communities had more than tripled – from Congregations are increasingly feeling financial 7 percent to 22 percent participating in interfaith strain. With a steady half century of membership worship and from 8 percent to 38 percent joining in losses, the financial pinch has been especially sharp interfaith community service activities. within Old-line Protestantism: Less than half report good or excellent financial health. Identity and Vitality The report was written by Roozen, director of the The theological and political outlooks of Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research. congregations tilt decidedly toward the conservative side. Even a majority of Old-line Protestant A link to view the report is available at: http://fact. congregations indicate that their members fall to the hartsem.edu/products/index.html, where it may be somewhat conservative side of the scale. purchased online. For special orders and questions, contact Mary Jane Ross, at Hartford Seminary’s Old-line Protestant congregations also appear more Hartford Institute for Religion Research, (860) invested in communal bonds (close-knit family) 509-9543 or [email protected]. Continued on next page

16 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page

Faith Communities Today surveys and publications are are useful across faith traditions, believing that all products of the Cooperative Congregational Studies communities of faith encounter common issues Partnership, a collaborative, multifaith coalition and benefit from one another’s experiences. It of American faith communities affiliated with also informs the public about the contributions Hartford Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion of congregations to American society and about Research. Researchers, consultants and program the changes affecting and emanating from one of staff representing 39 denominations and faith groups America’s major sources of voluntary association – contributed to the American Congregations survey. local congregations. For more information on CCSP, visit fact.hartsem.edu. FACT/CCSP strives to offer research-based resources for congregational development that

Southern India Study Tour Heidi Hadsell, President of Hartford Seminary, led a group of Seminary alumni/ae and friends on an educational and cultural tour of southern India in January. The Indus Valley culture of India has given seed to several major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Migrations and mission work have brought both Christianity and Islam as well, making India a unique place to study the interface of world religions. The group visited a number of religious and cultural sites and educational institutions, and had the opportunity to explore cultural and interreligious understanding. In this photograph, the group is standing in front of the open air chapel at the Henri Martin Institute an organization that works as a resource center for mediation and conflict prevention, located in Hyderabad. (Photo by Stephen Roberts)

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 17 Seminary to write and for graduate studies in grandchildren; a brother; a serve as a GTU board Berlin and Tubingen, cousin; and several nieces member. In 1997, he was Germany, 1937-1938. and nephews. persuaded to become the He then obtained a acting librarian, heading Master’s Degree in Sacred Muriel Jones Cashdollar In Memoriam the reorganization of the Theology and Ph.D. at has informed us that her library and refurbishment Hartford Seminary and mother, Fannie M. Jones, of the structure. And in was ordained a minister ‘36 BRE, passed away on 1999, the president of in the Congregational January 19. She was 94 The Hartford Seminary the GTU resigned, and Church in 1942. For years old. Muriel writes community has lost two the Board of Trustees three years McArthur was that her mom spent a year former presidents and asked Dillenberger to pastor of the Federated with Hartford Seminary. the following beloved serve again as president Church of Blackstone, “Her year there was special members. Our thoughts for one year. Earlier in MA. He enlisted in the to her.” and prayers go out to their his career, Dillenberger U.S. Army in 1944 and friends and families. taught at Princeton served as a chaplain in the We were recently notified University (1948 to 1949), 75th Infantry Division in that Dr. Wolfgang F. John Dillenberger, Columbia University Europe where his service Kollert, ‘53 KSM, passed Hartford Seminary (1949 to 1954), Harvard included the Ardennes, away last year. He was President from 1978 College (1954 to 1958) Rhineland and Central living in Germany. to 1983, died of and Drew University Europe campaigns. On complications from (1958 to 1962). During his return from the war, The Rev. Lyman G. Parkinson’s Disease on his years of studying and McArthur taught at Potter, ‘47 B.D., passed February 12, at his El teaching, Dillenberger Wellesley College in the away at the age of 85 Cerrito, CA, home. He wrote several books on Department of Biblical on February 11, 2008 at was 89. Dillinberger’s the history of religious Studies and then at the McLean Home in tenure at Hartford art and other theological Hartford Seminary. He Simsbury, CT. Potter was Seminary included the subjects. His best-known was a recognized scholar born in Vellore, India, construction of the current works include “Martin in the field of New and grew up in Norfolk, building designed by Luther: Selections from Testament studies and CT. He was a veteran famed architect Richard his Writings”; “Theology known for collaborating of World War II, having Meier. Among other of Artistic Sensibilities”; with scholars of different served in the U.S. Navy notable achievements Images and Relics”; “John religious faiths. He was the V12 Program. Potter while he was President was Calvin: Selections from author of several books was ordained at the bringing the Christian- his Writings”; and “Visual including “Understanding First Church of Christ, Muslim Relations faculty Arts and Christianity in the Sermon on the Norfolk, in 1947 and was and program back to America.” Dillenberger Mount and The Quest Pastor of First Church of Hartford after five years also published an Through the Centuries.” Christ, Simsbury, from at McGill University and autobiography in 2004, In 1961, he received an 1963 to 1986. Upon his then institutionalizing titled “From Fallow Fields American Association retirement he was elected it into the Duncan to Hallowed Halls: A of Theological Schools Pastor Emeritus. Between Black Macdonald Theologian’s Journey.” Fellowship for research Norfolk and Simsbury, Center for the Study Dillenberger is survived at Heidelberg University, he served churches in of Islam and Christian- by his wife, Jean; two sons Germany; in 1967, he Detroit, MI, Putnam, Muslim Relations; from a previous marriage; received an American CT, and Wetlake, OH. institutionalizing the one step-daughter; five Association of Theological He retired to Saratoga research program into the grandchildren; and one Schools Fellowship for Springs, NY, and served as then Center for Social great-grandchild. research at Cambridge Interim Minister at several and Religious Research; University, England. He churches in that area. He and the re-introduction The Rev. Dr. Harvey was a visiting scholar at is survived by his wife of 62 of Degree programs -- first King McArthur, ‘40 the Tantur Ecumenical years, Amy Lang Potter. the Doctor of Ministry and STM and ‘41 Ph.D., Institute, Israel in 1976. then a dual track Master died January 12 at age McArthur was president Marjorie F. Reed, ‘38 B.D. of Arts in Lay Ministry 95 at Loomis House in of the board of the and School of Religious and Christian-Muslim Holyoke, MA. He taught Connecticut Institute for Education graduate, passed Relations. Dillenberger at Hartford Seminary, the Blind and Disabled for away on December 18, also was instrumental in where he held the Hosmer many years. After retiring 2006 after a brief illness. founding the Graduate Chair of New Testament in 1978, he preached She was 93 years old. Theological Union Studies, from 1948 to widely in Vermont and (GTU) in Berkeley, CA, 1978, and was Acting Massachusetts. He was a Winifred Hemingway which is now the largest President from 1976 to guest lecturer at Mount Thomforde, M.A., died partnership of seminaries 1978. McArthur graduated Holyoke College for one on November 14, 2007, and graduate schools of from Wheaton College in year. He was a member at the age of 91 as the theology in the country. Illinois, where he received of the South Hadley result of renal failure. She Dillenberger served as a Ph.B., in 1933; and Community Chorale for lived in Pleasant Hill, TN. the GTU’s first president from the Westminster many years and member of Described as a “brave” from 1963 to 1971, and Theological Seminary the First Congregational missionary, Winifred continued as a professor of in Chestnut Hill, PA, Church in South Hadley. traveled the world from historical theology there where he received a He is survived by his wife China to Iran to Italy for another seven years. Th.B. in 1937. From of 66 years, Elizabeth as a missionary, teacher, He returned to Berkeley Westminster, he received Dimock McArthur, ‘45 librarian and translator. after five years at Hartford a one-year scholarship BRE; three children; two She was born in Taigu, Continued on next page

18 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s A l u m n i /a e Notes Continued from preceding page month, he offers reflections on a morning Shanxi Province, prayer radio program. A member of the China, where her Elizabeth “Betty” Wirth Avery, ‘47 Worcester Ecumenical Council and past father, a Congregational M.A., writes, “The Praxis is great! Many president of the International Council of Church missionary, thanks to all writers.” Community Churches, he received the was a founder of the Pope John XXIII Award from the Diocese Taigu Hosptial, which is Richard A. Hasler, ‘64 Ph.D., recently of Worcester for his work in ecumenism. still in operation. Her shared that his new book on walking mother was also born titled “Surprises Around the Bend: 50 Canon Richard T. Nolan, ‘63 M.Div. in China of missionary Adventurous Walkers,” was released and former faculty member, recently parents and was active by Augsburg-Fortress Publishers in shared that he and his life partner, Robert in Christian education January. “In my reading of biographies C. Pingpank, received a Certificate of and social work there. through the years I noticed that many Apprecation from The Palm Beach Thomforde studied at of the most creative men and women County Chapter of the ACLU of Florida Oberlin College and in history have been ardent walkers. for “Exceptional Leadership and Devoted graduated in 1938 with Community Service.” The award was a degree in elementary Further, they claim that their walking given at the ACLU’s Annual Freedom education. She received positively influenced their creativity. her Master’s Degree Still further, not a few of them have Award Luncheon on February 24, 2008. in Chinese studies cited a particular walk that proved to Nolan and Pingpank have “served as from the Hartford be a serendipitous experience leading to powerful witnesses to the dignity of Theological Seminary. personal tranformation. I have written GLBT persons for over 50 years. They She worked with her the book with the expectation that actively and publicly support the ACLU’s mother and sister at these companions of the way will inspire GLBT project, fighting discrimination the Taigu Hospital, the reader to be a diligent walker too.” and shaping popular opinion through the even under Japanese courts, legislatures and education. As an occpation during World Donald Cairn Helm, ‘62 M.Div., writes Episcopal priest, Canon Nolan led many War II. She later that he is glad to read of Alumni/ae within the Episcopal Church USA to taught kindergarten in News in Praxis. He is looking forward Washington, DC, and support the ordination of gay and lesbian to retiring in June ‘08 from teaching at clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions. was the supervising Morgan State University in Baltimore kindergarten teacher at Locally, he is a Founding Board Member and plans to write full time. Donald the Japanese relocation of the Pride Chamber of Commerce of camp in Poston, sends his best wishes to alumni/ae, the Palm Beaches and an advisor to The AZ. Growing up in faculty past and present, and staff, and Hemlock Society of Florida.” China, she spoke the he says that his “memories of Hartford North China dialect Seminary are precious.” Alton H. Ridgway, ‘48 KSM, writes, of Taigu and later “From the Seminary (under the Methodist learned Mandarin and The Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Mission Board) we went to Antwerp, Italian. As World War ’93 D.Min., was installed as a Six Belgium for the Tropical Medical Institute, II came to a close, Preacher at Canterbury Cathedral in thence to the Piper Hospital at Musumba she was hired by the Great Britain last July by Archbishop at Kapanga in the Katanga Province. United Nations Relief of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Idowu- Then because of medical necessity had and Rehabilitation Fearon previously was Archbishop of to return to the USA in 1952. Medical Administration as the Province of Kaduna in Nigeria. problems prevented us from returning to an English-Chinese The appointment is for five years and Africa so from 1953 to 1983 worked in translator. It was about may be renewed. The Six Preachers of this time that she a medical practice to support the family. Canterbury Cathedral were originally met her husband, also Now retirement is a reality as service employed by UNRRA, the idea of Archbishop Thomas to our Lord Jesus Christ is the full time and they had five Cranmer, forming part of his plans occupation at 90 years.” Alton’s wife is children. In 1955 the for a new foundation to replace the Lucy D. Ridgway, KSM and SRE. family moved to Iran, dissolved Canterbury Cathedral and in 1959 to Rome. Priory. Canterbury was unique in that In the December 11, 2007, issue of Thomforde volunteered no other cathedral had a group of Christian Century, “Bonhoeffer and King: at the Overseas School preaching priests and is a reflection of Speaking Truth to Power,” written by The of Rome, attended by Cranmer’s determination to give greater Rev. Dr. James Deotis Roberts, ‘51 B.D. her five children, and prominence to preaching. and ‘52 S.T.M., was reviewed by Willis subsequently worked as Jenkins, who teaches social ethics at Yale a lower-school librarian. Robert M. Johnston, ‘77 Ph.D., writes Divinity School. “In his comparative She and her husband that he retired in 2002, but he continues study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin retired in 1982 and to teach half a year and he lectured in Luther King, Jr., Deotis Roberts presents moved to Tennessee. Russia this past summer. In retirement, she striking parallels in the biographies and inspired many children In December, The Rev. Ralph theolgoical commitments of the two to appreciate literature E. Marsden, ’53 B.D., was named activist-theologians,” writes Jenkins. by reading to them Minister Emeritus of the Greendale and she recorded more David C. Williams, ‘64 M.Div., writes People’s Church in Worcester, MA, that he is still ministering part time as than 90 books on tape for his lifetime commitment to others. for the benefit of her Stewardship and Planned Giving Associate Marsen stepped down as pastor of grandchildren. at the New Hampshire Conference of the church in 1998 but he still assists the UCC and doing Capital Campaign area churches, officiating at funerals consulting at age 68. and other services. About once a

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 19 Faculty Notes Nafi Donat, wife of Interfaith Dialogue grant. included: A talk at the the Seminary’s former Jewish Community Archivist who served Uriah Kim is on the Center in West Hartford In December, Efrain in the Case Memorial Editorial Board of a new on “Jewish-Christian- Agosto, as interim dean, Library during the 1960’s journal called Society of Muslim Relations attended the Annual and 1970’s. Blackburn Asian North American Today”; a sermon on Meeting of the New led a Collegial Sharing Christian Studies. He Christian-Jewish relations England Association for session for the faculty spoke at a Seminary and an adult forum on Schools and Colleges on continuing work in program, “Interpreting peacebuilding in Israel/ (NEASC), the regional the Seminary Archives, the Scriptural Story Palestine at Trinity accrediting body. He including a few recent of Joseph from Three Episcopal Church in also moderated a panel “rediscoveries” of Faith Traditions,” at Southport, CT; the discussion on Sikhism unconventional materials the Jewish Community keynote address at the and Judaism at the gathered by past professors Center of Greater New first public forum of the Connecticut Council on subjects such as Haven in December. Alabama Faith Council for Interreligious extra-terrestrials, psychic The first issue ofReviews in Birmingham, AL, Understanding phenomena, and Missouri in Religion and Theology where he met with Jewish, conference held Synod Lutheran clergy under Kim’s editorship Christian, and Muslim at Asylum Hill active in Democratic came out in January. Also, community leaders there; Congregational Church. Party circles in the 1940’s. he presented a paper a “Faith and Justice” In January, Agosto was As an outcome of the entitled “Reading the lecture at the First the keynote speaker for 2007 Pastors’ Institute Story of David for Our Congregational Church the annual Martin Luther on Muslim-Christian Time” at Chatlos Bible of Woodbury, CT; and King, Jr. service of the concerns, Blackburn was Conference: “One Bible, a lecture on “Religious Interdenominational invited to St. Francis Many Milieux,” sponsored Peacebuilding among Ministerial Alliance of Episcopal Church in by New York Theological Israelis and Palestinians” Hartford, held at House Stamford to speak on Seminary, in February. at Marymount Manhattan of Restoration Church “What’s in – and not College in Manhattan In in Hartford. He also in – the Qur’an.” He In November, Yehezkel March, Landau spoke on preached at the opening also continues to fill in Landau was the Jewish “Jewish-Christian-Muslim of a new sanctuary occasionally in local Scholar-in-Residence Relations after 9/11” for Grace Fellowship Congregational-Christian at a religious educators’ at Temple Emanuel in Church in East Haven, pulpits. colloquium on the Worcester, MA. He also Connecticut. Agosto “Scandal of Particularity” joined Imam Yahya Hendi has been elected to the Kelton Cobb has been in Richmond, VA, for an Israeli-Palestinian Board of the Universal teaching a series on St. sponsored by the Institute dialogue at Holy Cross Healthcare Foundation Augustine’s Confessions at for Christian and Jewish College in Worcester, of Connecticut and Immanuel Congregational Studies in Baltimore; MA, and delivered a attended his first board Church in Hartford, and lectured on “What in paper on “The Religious meeting in February. continuing to edit the God’s Name is Happening Dimension of Israeli- Also in February, he gave journal Conversations in in the Holy Land? Palestinian Peacemaking” a workshop on Pauline Religion and Theology. -- The The Spiritual at a conference on the leadership at the Fountain Requirements for Israeli- Middle East at Central of Salvation Church in Heidi Hadsell led a study Palestinian Peacebuilding” Connecticut State Mount Kisko, New York. tour to India in January. at the Holy Family University. In March, he was part of Participants engaged Passionist Retreat Center an accreditation team for in cultural and inter- in West Hartford; and In December, Ingrid the Massachusetts Board religious understanding spoke on “Jews, Christians, Mattson had the honor of Higher Education for while visiting a number and Muslims: The of addressing attendees a new theological school of religious and cultural Challenge of Interreligious of the biennial of the in Massachusetts and sites and educational Peacebuilding” at First Union for Reform Judaism preached for the First institutions in southern Baptist Church in West in San Diego. Mattson Congregational Church India. She spoke at Hartford. In December, he spoke on behalf of the of Redding, CT. He also the Northeast Synod gave a Jewish perspective Islamic Society of North spoke on the Apostle (Presbyterians) on on “The Story of Joseph” America about the Paul’s interpretation of “Theology & Ethics in the as part of a Hartford need for American Jews Abraham as part of an Context of Globalization” Seminary outreach event and Christians to work interfaith presentation at Stony Point, NY. In at the Jewish Community together for peace and on Abraham at the February, she chaired a Center of Greater New justice and announced her Seminary. panel on “Theory and Haven and participated support for the ISNA-URJ Practice: Ideas in Action” at on a public panel on “The partnership to educate Steven Blackburn led a Forum on Religion and Holy Land in Jewish, their communities about a book discussion at Ecology Conference at Muslim, and Christian each other’s faiths. In Hartford Public Library Yale University and, with Perspectives” at the February and March, in December on Orhan David Roozen, hosted the Pontifical Gregorian Mattson participated in Pamuk’s Istanbul, during case writing team for the University in Rome. a number of Seminary which he met Mrs. seminary’s Pedagogies for Activities in February sponsored events, including a discussion of Continued on next page

20 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page day meeting of the to the Farmington Valley Annual Fund 2008 Interdenominational Association Committee Securing the Future her book, The Story of the Executives’ Group, a on Ministry and the Qur’an, a panel response peer support and learning parishioners of St. Francis First and foremost, a heartfelt to Reuven Firestone’s community of chief Episcopal Church, thanks to those who have already supported the lecture on Abraham, executive officers from Stamford CT. In March, 2007-2008 Annual Fund with and a discussion with ecumenically oriented Smith presented a talk visitors from Kosovo and a pledge or gift… members of North American on “Christian Responses our leadership, alumni/ae and Macedonia. Mattson denominations. Upon to Pluralism” at South friends, faculty and staff, faith also chaired the search his return to Hartford, he Church, Granby CT. communities, businesses, and for a new Macdonald contributed a now regular foundations. As of early March, Center faculty. During segment on different Scott Thumma is on with approximately 60% of our the winter season, models of engaging the sabbatical until June fiscal year completed, we had met approximately 60% of our Mattson participated religiously other for and is engaged in several goal for the year. in a number of events Yehezkel Landau’s week- research and writing related to the release long, Building Abrahamic efforts during this time. of the document “A In our most recent Appeal Partnerships. Toward Along with colleagues letter to alumni/ae and friends Common Word Between the end of the month he from Leadership of the Seminary, President Us and You,” a historic hosted and chaired the Network, he is engaged Heidi Hadsell spoke of her pride outreach on the part of two day, Cooperative in another national and thanks for the direction Muslim leaders worldwide Congregational Studies study of megachurches the Seminary is heading… enrollment and programs to the Christian world. Partnership, winter in North America. In are flourishing, and we have Mattson, one of the steering committee addition to this, he is original signatories of continued to grow in many meeting. In early doing field studies of 12 ways. the document, spoke February he and Heidi megachurches around about it on the WNPR Hadsell hosted the case the country. These visits Dr. Hadsell’s letter reminded our program, “Where we writing team for the include over 50 interviews constituents that, while we do live” and discussed it seminary’s Pedagogies for per church, full staff receive generous funding toward with the Christian- Interfaith Dialogue grant. surveys, and a survey of our programs, grant funding and student tuitions do not cover Muslim Dialogue Group In late February the long all the attendees at the of Connecticut. She the expenses it takes to run this awaited report on the churches. He is working great institution. In fact, they also participated in an Faith Communities Today on a book about what event organized around make up less than half of our 2005 national survey churches of all sizes can operating budget. Hence the the document at The of congregations was learn from large church need for Annual Fund support Franciscan Center published, and is available success. each year. for Urban Ministry in online for viewing or Hartford. Mattson gave in paper for purchase Miriam Therese Winter If you have not yet contributed to the 2007-2008 Annual Fund, lectures at a number of at fact.hartsem.edu. joined Marcus Borg and venues in Connecticut, please consider sending your The report’s circuitous John Dominic Crossan pledge or gift today. And please including the West route to publication as keynote presenters at Haven mosque, the give as generously as you are notwithstanding, there Epiphany Explorations able to. If you have already Woodbury People of is any number of bits of 2008 in Victoria, British contributed, please consider a Faith, the Muslim good news attached to Columbia, in January. second gift this year. Help us Students Association its arrival. One is that The Jesus Seminar to secure the future of this great of the University of the report is the first scholars shared their institution and the important work we do. The current Hartford, and the Town installment on one of the latest collaborative work Annual Fund runs through the and County Club. FACT survey series’ major related to the lives of Nationally, Mattson gave close of our fiscal year, June 30, purposes, specifically Jesus and Paul. Winter 2008. lectures or participated the regular tracking of spoke on the relevance of in panels at the following trends in the character biblical women, offering Finally, plans are underway places: the annual and vitality of American an opportunity for the for an Appreciation Event, meeting of the Muslim congregations. Of special assembly to reconsider honoring all $500+ donors Public Affairs Council note in FACT2005 are this rich resource through to the 2006-2007 and/or in Los Angeles, a Martin changes in congregations’ a quantum lens. Sunday 2007-2008 Annual Funds as Luther King Day program well as Annual Fund volunteers. interfaith activity since morning worship featured The event will take place on at the Museum of Jewish 9/11. A second bit of her songs, hymns, and Heritage in NYC, the Thursday evening, October good news is that the prayers. She also preached 23, 2008, during our week long University of Wisconsin report did arrive before the sermon. On her 175th Anniversary Celebration. Eau-Claire, and Alaska the FACT2008 survey return to Hartford, she Pacific University. went into the field the went back to writing If you have any questions about Internationally, Mattson week after Easter. her book on quantum Hartford Seminary’s Annual gave a number of talks spirituality, which is due Fund or the Appreciation at the World Economic Event, please contact Mary In February, Jane Smith, to be published by Orbis Kalencik, Associate Director of Forum in Davos, presented a lecture Books in the spring of Switerland. Institutional Advancement, at titled “Who Are Today’s 2009. Three of her earlier [email protected] or at (860) Muslim Women?” at the books are scheduled for 509-9520. In early January David Monday Reading Club republication with a fresh Roozen traveled to in Bloomfield and spoke new look later this year. Phoenix for a three-

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 21 Summer Session 2008 Introduction to Arabic Morphology and Syntax Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 27, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Hartford Seminary’s Summer Session will begin and 2 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 and continue through Friday, June Vernacular Arabic will be the focus of this course, 27. The Seminary’s courses are open to members with an accent on all four linguistic areas of language of the public and carry three graduate level credits. learning: oral, aural, reading, and listening. Basic Individuals who do not wish to take courses for credit sentence and phrase structures will be highlighted may apply to take courses as an auditor. Many classes while a vocabulary of several hundred words will fill up quickly, so participants are urged to register be built. Assumes a prior knowledge of the Arabic early to ensure a place in their courses of choice. For phonology and script. Prerequisite: LG-580, or those enrolled in a three-credit course, the cost is permission of the instructor. Steven Blackburn, Faculty $1,550. The non-credit audit fee is $575. A special Associate in Semitic Scriptures audit fee of $385 is available for those who are age 62 and older, graduates of Hartford Seminary degree Week of June 2 – June 6 programs or the Certificate of Professional Ministry 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (cooperative M.Div.), donors of $250 a year or more, Building Abrahamic Partnerships Hartford Seminary Adjunct Faculty; and pastors (Sunday, June 1 through Sunday, June 8 - intensive whose churches participate in the Congregational schedule, includes all days and some evenings) Relations Program of the Seminary. This intensive training program offers a practical foundation for mutual understanding and cooperation To register, please contact the Registrar’s Office at among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Participants (860) 509-9511. Her e-mail is [email protected]. learn about the tenets and practices of the three To see specific course syllabi prior to the semester or faiths, study texts from their respective scriptures learn more about Hartford Seminary and its faculty, together, attend worship at a mosque, synagogue, and visit our website: www.hartsem.edu. For information church, and acquire pastoral skills useful in interfaith about accommodations, please contact the Student ministry. Building on the Seminary’s strengths as an Support Office at (860) 509-9552 or vaw@hartsem. interfaith, dialogical school of practical theology, this edu. team-taught program is a resource for religious leaders who are grounded in their own traditions while open SPECIAL SCHEDULE to the faith orientations of other communities. Due to Major Islamic Thinkers: Jalal Eddine ar- the interfaith nature of this course, we aim for equal Rumi (NEW) representation among each of the three Abrahamic ONLINE – May 26 through June 27 traditions in admitting students to this course. Yehezkel Rumi is one of the most renowned Sophists in Islamic Landau, Faculty Associate in Interfaith Relations and Co- thought. His horizons and writings on the knowledge Founder, Open House, Ramle, Israel and love of Allah are well known. This course will focus on presenting Rumi’s view of the universe and Matthew, Mark and Luke: human activity within the created order through a The Synoptic Gospels Sufi perspective that highlights the overwhelming This course is an in-depth study of the Jesus of history love of Allah for humanity and creation. Besides the and the Christ of faith in light of current biblical reading of Qur’anic texts and Islamic theology, the scholarship with special attention to the theological course engages the fields of spirituality, worship, and perspectives of Matthew, Mark and Luke as reflected human understanding of God, nature and creation. in their varying presentations of the Good News Imam Mahmud Abul-Huda Al-Husaini, Adjunct in these three “synoptic” Gospels. Wayne Rollins, Professor of Theology and Dr. Munzer Absi, Adjunct Adjunct Professor of Scripture Professor of Religion and Literature and Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Aleppo Week of June 9 – June 13 (Syria) 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Church Challenges: Ecclesiology and Marriage, Family, Sexuality: Leadership Today (NEW) The Theology and Ethics of Relationship Understanding the nature of the church and its Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 27 through June 26, emerging challenges is essential for effective ministry. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This course examines both classic insights and new The changing nature of marriage and family life directions in ecclesiology, including their implications reflects the need for a thoughtful understanding for leadership in churches today. During the week of the complexity of these relationships and their of the course, students will participate in a two- theological base. This course will explore classic, day conference that includes leading ecclesiology modern, and contemporary views of marriage and scholars reflecting on their own writings, and regional family, including the spiritual, social, and sexual denominational leaders addressing significant aspects of family relations. Readings will be from challenges in their traditions. Students also will be Augustine and Luther on up to current feminist and invited to think of the church as a sign, considering gay/lesbian views of marriage and family life and exactly what the church signifies in and for the world. contemporary socio-cultural analyses of American James Nieman, Professor of Practical Theology family life. These explorations will fund our answers to questions such as whether marriage is a sacrament Contemporary Islamic Ethics or a contract, whether marriage is between one man For Muslims committed to living Islam as a way of and one woman, and what can be done to support life, contemporary society offers many challenges. A families in contemporary American culture. Heidi commitment to the common good exists in tension Gehman, Adjunct Professor of Theology and Ethics with the need to protect individual rights. The desire to uphold family values may conflict with the need Continued on next page

22 Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Continued from preceding page compassionate listening and nonbelligerent to defend pluralism and civil liberties. In a world communication; joint study of sacred texts; designing threatened with violence from many sources, self- interreligious worship; and spiritual resources for defense and security take on new meaning. In this conflict transformation. Some evenings will be class, we will examine these tensions and the Islamic devoted to informal socializing and networking. principles that can help Muslims live ethically and Prerequisite: DI-650 Building Abrahamic Partnerships with integrity in American society. Case studies or permission of the instructor. Yehezkel Landau, will include debates about abortion, gay marriage, Faculty Associate in Interfaith Relations and Co-Founder, militarism and minimum wage. Ingrid Mattson, Open House, Ramle, Israel Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations U.S. Christianities: Difference, Diversity, and Borders (NEW) Week of June 16 – June 20 The story of Christianity in the United States is one 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. about diversity of belief, dissent, myth and history, insiders and outsiders. It is a history about a people America’s Most Popular Theologian: who sought to understand God, as a new nation was Exploring the World of C.S. Lewis (NEW) being forged. This class will examine the major trends This course explores the theology of C. S. Lewis as and religious movements that have helped to shape seen in both his fiction and non-fiction works. Placing the Christianities of today. Issues such as gender, race, his writing in the context of his life, we explore ethnicity, language, immigration and the varieties his Anglican orthodox theology, his apologetics, as of religious experience will inform our discussion of well as his distinctive positions. We will look at the American religious history. Readings will include growing secondary literature on Lewis and discuss primary documents as well as secondary literature, together the reasons for his popularity. Christy Lohr, with extensive classroom discussion of these, as Adjunct Instructor of Theology and The Rev. Dr. Bennett well as lectures and media presentations. Daisy L. Brockman, Adjunct Professor of Theology and Rector, Machado, Adjunct Professor of History and Professor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield, CT. Previously Church History, Union Theological Seminary, New York Dr. Brockman was associate professor of English at the University of Connecticut, with special competence in Growing Healthy Congregations religion and literature and children’s literature. Everybody thinks that “bigger is better” and a growing church is “blessed by god” -- but is that really The Business of Being the Church (NEW) true? Numeric church growth as an end in itself is This course is a five-day intensive course on at unhealthy. This course will explore both current least some of the things “they never taught us in theories of church growth and recent sociological seminary” in the areas of parish administration and information about the characteristics of growing personal finance. The five subjects covered include churches. Students will be encouraged to wrestle Creating a Mission Driven Budget, Funding Ministry, with an individualized and appropriate theory of Human Resources Management, Stewardship of the congregational development that rests in a multi- Physical Plant, and Personal Clergy Finances. The dimensional understanding of the total health of a instruction will take the form over the course of each faith group and the unique vision and context of each day of lectures, interactive seminars, case studies, and congregation. Students will undertake a practical partnered projects. Each student will receive a binder health and growth assessment of their own or another with resources for when it comes time to put theory congregation within the course. Scott Thumma, into practice. The Rev. Ian Montgomery, Rector, All Professor of Sociology of Religion and Web and Distance Saints’ Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, CA, and The Rev. Education David Sellery, Priest-in-Charge, St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Bay Shore, NY. Revs. Montgomery Travel seminar (Ts) and Sellery combine experience in parish ministry with professional experience in financial and endowment Mainland China and Hong Kong: Transition, management, planning and fund raising. Development, and The Role of the Church Monday, May 26 – Monday, June 9 Islamic Congregations (NEW) This travel seminar is offered by Hartford Seminary This course will explore the diverse world of Islamic in cooperation with the Plowshares Institute. The congregations. Having looked at the data, which seminar will use the church as a window examining describes the number and size of Islamic congregations, Chinese society, especially as it pertains to issues students will be given the opportunity to look at the of transition and development. Through personal different cultures found in these congregations. The dialogue with church, government, and academic challenge of sometimes being immigrant communities, leaders, participants will wrestle with the issues which are adjusting to life in the United States, will facing China including environmental degradation, be discussed. At the end of the course, students will poverty, and human rights and reflect upon what understand what makes for a healthy and effective these challenges mean in light of increasing global Islamic congregation. Faculty interdependence. Through visits with Chinese government representatives, exposure to China’s Week of June 23 – June 27 rural areas, conversations with economic leaders, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and dialogue with church and academic leaders, participants will have the opportunity to experience Building Abrahamic Partnerships II China in a way that extends far beyond the beaten (includes some evenings) path. The seminar will conclude with several days in This course is designed primarily for students who Hong Kong. For more information and an application have taken the basic Building Abrahamic Partnerships for the seminar please contact the Plowshares course. It presumes a familiarity with the beliefs and Institute directly at (860) 651-4304. For information practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and some about taking the seminar for credit please contact experience in interfaith dialogue. The focus is on the Hartford Seminary Registrar at (860) 509-9511. developing practical skills for interfaith leadership, There are additional fees for this travel seminar. including: facilitating interreligious encounters;

Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s Hartford Seminary • Pr a x i s 23 Pr e p a r i n g Pe a c e m a k e r s f o r 175 Ye a r s : Tr a d i t i o n s i n Di a l o g u e For 175 years, Hartford Seminary has been preparing peacemakers to meet new challenges posed by society. It started in 1833 with a group of Congregationalist pastors who formed an association and created a library. A year later in East Windsor Hill, Celebrating Connecticut, they formally formed what was one of America’s first seminaries, known today as Hartford the History Seminary. Early work focused on training clergy for parish work, then later educating missionaries and Christian of Hartford educators for the field, and some years later yet, enabling exceptional sociological research and urban leadership development in faith communities. Seminary Hartford Seminary is still evolving and pioneering today. In a world filled with interreligious strife, Hartford Seminary is unique among schools in the world for its programs, faculty, and focus on interreligious dialogue.

In a time when its expertise is needed most, Hartford Seminary is educating Christians, Muslims, and Jews to work and learn together side by side, to become thoughtful and faithful peacemakers in a world divided by differences. With its rich history of visionary leaders as a foundation, Hartford Seminary will continue to adapt and innovate to meet the needs of the world in which it serves.

A week of celebrations and special events will kick- off the anniversary year, 2008-9. Special bus trips, tours, unveilings, displays, films, worship services, speakers, and gatherings are planned. These events from Saturday, October 18, 2008 to Sunday, October 26, 2008 will engage the alumni/ae, friends, and the public in the rich history and promising future of the Oc t o b e r 18-26, 2008 Seminary. 175th Anniversary week Alumni are encouraged to save three days - Oc t o b e r 23-25, 2008 Thursday, October 23 to Saturday, October 25 - for Alumni Weekend a concentrated series of special events designed especially for them. Please save the dates for this Alumni Weekend. A postcard reminder and more Oc t o b e r 25, 2008 details are forthcoming. Gala Dinner and Celebration At the prestigious ON20 Got questions or ideas? Please call 860-509-9521 or (formerly the Polytechnic Club) in Hartford write to [email protected].

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