FALL 2018 DUKE VOL. 18 • NO. 1 DIVINITY
/ A VISION FOR VITALITY / KNOWING YOUR LIMITS / RE-IGNITING MINISTRY LEADERS / Justice and transformation Crossing ethnic and denominational boundaries. Challenging poverty and inequity. Creating vibrant communities. Gifts to Duke Divinity School support the people, places, and programs that enable us to follow Christ’s calling to serve others with wisdom and faithfulness. Made possible by you.
Edgardo Colón-Emeric M.Div’97, Ph.D.’07 is the Irene and William McCutchen Associate Professor of Christian Theology. Here, he teaches lessons of healing and harmony to Duke Divinity students and graduate students visiting from Central America.
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Divinity Version_Edgardo_F.indd 1 9/19/18 9:10 AM CONTRIBUTORS
DUKE DIVINITY
/ CONTRIBUTORS / YONAT SHIMRON is a national BRIDGETTE A. LACY is an award- reporter and editor at winning journalist who Religion News Service. writes about faith, food, She was the religion and family. She was a reporter for The News staff writer for The News & Observer (Raleigh, & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) for more than a decade, and her N.C.) for 16 years, and her work has work has appeared in many publications, appeared in Newsweek, The Washington including The Washington Post, USA Post, and Faith & Leadership. She also Today, The Christian Century, and Faith published Sunday Dinner, a Savor the & Leadership. She lives in Durham, N.C. South cookbook from UNC Press.
MILTON GILDER is the director PHILIP PORTER is a doctoral of the Duke Youth student in theology at Academy. He earned Duke Divinity School, a bachelor’s degree having previously in public policy and completed an M.T.S. international studies at Loyola University and completed studies in secondary Maryland. His primary research areas education at Duke University. He are philosophical theology, contemporary previously served at Urban Hope, a Catholic thought, Latin patristics, and neighborhood-based youth ministry in the theology of death and martyrdom. Durham, N.C., where he re-launched a Before beginning his theological studies, high school youth leadership program. he served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps for six years.
/ PUBLISHER / Office of the Dean L. GREGORY JONES, Dean and Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Distinguished Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry
/ EDITOR / HEATHER MOFFITT, Associate Director of Communications
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FALL 2018 | 1 FALL 2018 / CONTENTS/ VOL. 18 • NO. 1
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A VISION FOR BE EVER KNOWING VITALITY THANKFUL YOUR LIMITS In his return to service Each summer, Duke Youth A doctoral student who as dean, Greg Jones Academy welcomes dozens serves as a tutor in the discusses the context of of high school students for Center for Theological and opportunities for an immersive experience in Writing shares thoughts on theological education exploring Christian identity writing as a Christian
By Yonat Shimron and theology By Philip Porter LEFT: PHOTO BY CHRIS HILDRETH PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT: LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY By Milton Gilder ABOVE: PHOTO BY MEGAN HOFFMAN; BELOW: COURTESY OF MYERS PARK UMC
2 | DIVINITY 36 FALL 2018 VOL. 18 • NO. 1 NEWS & EVENTS
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FACULTY & STAFF NOTES
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THE M.DIV. IN THE RE-IGNITING FACULTY BOOKS 21ST CENTURY MINISTRY LEADERS Duke Divinity examines Experienced ministry the landscape of theological leaders sharpen their education to see what skills and enhance their 44 is changing for the M.Div.— leadership through Duke’s CLASS NOTES and what remains the same D.Min. program By Yonat Shimron By Bridgette A. Lacy
ABOVE: PHOTO BY MEGAN HOFFMAN; BELOW: COURTESY OF MYERS PARK UMC 45
SNAPSHOT
ON THE COVER:
A sunrise over Duke Chapel and the Gray Building of the Divinity School on Duke University’s West Campus. Photo by Bill Snead, Duke University Photography
FALL 2018 | 3 Study Leave for Ministry Professionals
Find the time to read, reflect, research, or just relax with Study Leave for Ministry PROGRAM DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE Jan. 28–Feb. 1, 2019 Dec. 17, 2018 Professionals. Over the span of five to Feb. 11–15, 2019 Dec. 28, 2018 seven days, participants can immerse Feb. 25–March 1, 2019 Jan. 14, 2019 themselves in learning and renewal through March 18–22, 2019 Feb. 4, 2019 April 8–12, 2019 Feb. 25, 2019 self-directed study, worship, and prayer PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY on the Duke University campus.
For more information, visit http://divinity.duke.edu/events/study-leave-ministry-professionals.
4 | DIVINITY / PEOPLE/
A community of faithful scholarship and passion for the reign of God
PROGRAM DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE Jan. 28–Feb. 1, 2019 Dec. 17, 2018 Feb. 11–15, 2019 Dec. 28, 2018 Feb. 25–March 1, 2019 Jan. 14, 2019 March 18–22, 2019 Feb. 4, 2019 April 8–12, 2019 Feb. 25, 2019 PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY
FALL 2018 | 5 A VISION for VITALITY
A conversation with Dean Greg Jones about the future of theological education
BY YONAT SHIMRON
L. GREGORY JONES is no stranger to Duke or Duke
Divinity School. His connections to the school stretch back PHOTO BY CHRIS HILDRETH PHOTOGRAPHY more than 35 years; his father, Jameson Jones, was dean of Duke Divinity for a year until a heart attack took his life in the summer of 1982. The following semester, Greg, as he is commonly known, enrolled as a student, graduating with a master of divinity degree and later earning a Ph.D. from Duke’s graduate program in religion.
6 | DIVINITY FALL 2018 | 7 Dean Greg Jones, Chaplain Meghan Benson, and Vice Dean Sujin Pak participate in the blessing for new faculty member Professor Patrick Smith during Opening Convocation in August 2018.
ith the exception time. If he’s got a gap between flights, Jones to discuss his vision and plans of a few years he he’s reading.” for the future direction of the school. spent teaching at Under Jones’ previous tenure as The interview was edited for length Loyola University dean, the school built the 53,000- and clarity. Maryland and a square-foot Hugh A. Westbrook year as provost at Building, including Goodson Chapel, DIVINITY: You wrote to students that WBaylor University in Waco, Texas, Greg for which he secured $24 million the request to step into the role of Jones’ entire career has been in service before construction began. dean came as a complete surprise. to Duke, including the 13 years he spent Jones also founded Leadership Was it a pleasant surprise? as dean of the Divinity School from Education at Duke Divinity, a non- 1997 to 2010. degree initiative funded by the Lilly JONES: Initially it was a bewildering Still, when Duke Provost Sally Endowment Inc., to shed light on chal- surprise. Now it feels like a very happy Kornbluth tapped him to once lenges, trends, and strategies pertaining and hopeful surprise. I hadn’t had any again steer the Divinity School for a to churches and church-related forewarning or anticipation. It was just transition period after the deanship of institutions. The initiative is part of one of those “Oh!” kind of surprises. Elaine Heath, he was stunned. his academic interest in leadership, But it quickly began to seem to be a “If you are surprised to be reading innovation, and entrepreneurship. calling and invitation to serve a school this message from me as your dean, rest Jones stepped down as dean in I love and to bring a lot of things I’ve assured you are no more surprised than 2010 to direct the university’s global been learning over the past eight years I am to be writing it,” he wrote in an engagement as Duke’s chief interna- to bear on the faculty, staff, students, email to the Duke Divinity community. tional strategist. For the past few years, alumni, and everybody I care deeply he’s been teaching and overseeing the about. So yes, it’s now quite happy PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, Leadership Education initiative. and hopeful. FUTURE DIRECTION Duke Divinity School has changed Jones is known as a deep thinker, much since he left. Many of the school’s How long do you anticipate you’ll be strategist, collaborator, fundraiser, and headliners—professors such as Stanley in the role? compulsive workhorse. Hauerwas, Richard Hays, and Grant Probably two or three years. I told the
“He is one of the most fecund Wacker—have retired. And fewer provost I wanted to be in the role long PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY intellects I know,” said J. Warren students are applying for the flagship enough to be sure we had a healthy Smith, associate professor of historical master of divinity degree, mirroring a trajectory going forward, but not any theology at Duke Divinity. “He’s nationwide decline in the number of longer than was necessary for that. I reading all the time. I’ve traveled with students preparing for ministry. don’t know if that’s two or three years, Greg and it’s true: there’s no down DIVINITY magazine sat down with but something in that neighborhood.
8 | DIVINITY You’ve had some health issues in the challenges were the reasons they are problems where if you roll up past. How’s your health now? concluded a transition was necessary; your sleeves and work hard enough Great. It’s very stable and good, and I and, I would add from my perspective, you can fix them in isolation. They’re wouldn’t take this on if I were worried ecclesial, in terms of connections to intersecting. about it. I had a physical yesterday and church and ministry. My goal is to cultivate and nurture a
PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY got a clean bill of health. In each of those areas I want to really strong faculty, staff, student body, help the school advance and develop and external stakeholders to see the What do you want to accomplish a strong vision so that we can not only possibilities for a vision, direction, and during this second stint as dean? address all of those challenges but set of activities that encourage the kind The provost said in her letter that also create virtuous spirals. None of of vitality that church and ministry is academic, financial, and cultural the challenges that were identified going to need in the 21st century.
FALL 2018 | 9 The school has changed a lot since What are your thoughts about over a very long time, going back at you were dean. Some of the star declining enrollment, especially in least to the 1950s and 1960s, is that we faculty have retired. It looks like a the M.Div. program? It’s a problem have had a really strong commitment different school. Does it feel that way affecting all theological schools. to the church and ordained ministry to you? Do you think it can be reversed? as well as to intellectual excellence. Roughly half the faculty now has been It’s been a longstanding trend. In fact, That’s what has made Duke distinctive appointed since I left the deanship. when I became dean in 1997, people for a very long time. We’ve got to look
I think there’s a remarkable set of were concerned about enrollment. at our curriculum, look at our delivery PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY younger people emerging who are Some schools have decided to down- system, as well as build these relation- extraordinarily talented. We need to play the significance of the master ships with judicatories and with build on them and develop a renewed of divinity degree in order to attract the feeder schools—undergraduate and enhanced profile for what we’re more people into M.A. programs. I institutions—and the ways we’re able to accomplish with this faculty. think part of the hallmark of Duke visible on those campuses.
10 | DIVINITY Professor Kate Bowler takes a photo of Dean Greg Jones, Vice Dean Sujin Pak, and Dr. Farr Curlin before the Opening Convocation procession into Duke Chapel. Part of the hallmark of Duke over a very long period of time, going back at least to the 1950s and 1960s, is that we have had a really strong commitment to the church and ordained ministry as well as to intellectual excellence.
My own sense is that there is not pastors, who can be really catalytic in a class that includes an online a shortage of young people who are leaders in these communities, whether component than just a purely interested in the kinds of vocations in North Carolina, across the country, face-to-face interaction. That’s my that would lead to ordained ministry. or around the world. experience. We will need to study They became disenchanted with the and experiment with a variety of ways in which various denominations Do you envision courses on leader- ways in which digital technology can have gotten preoccupied with internal ship and entrepreneurship? enhance learning and teaching. politics rather than looking at the I’ll be appointing a task force to look roles of congregations and the roles at the range of our degree programs Some of the stories people have of pastors at their best in revitalizing and how we need to adapt to changing read about Duke Divinity in the and cultivating thriving communities. circumstances and do what we do past few years have been about a I think if we can articulate that kind better. But the kind of vision I’m lack of inclusion—in some cases of difference, there will actually be an pointing to isn’t only about leadership; it’s racial inclusion, in some cases increase of interest in the M.Div. and it’s also about how courses in Bible it’s LGBTQ inclusion. Students perhaps some other programs. What and history and preaching and worship want more diversity on the faculty we need to do is articulate a vision contribute to a vision of thriving and in the student body. How will of the vibrant role that churches and communities and the roles that pastors you address that? clergy can play in cultivating thriving play in that. The Black church, for It’s an issue we’ll need to address on communities. They can be catalysts example, has a long tradition of that multiple fronts. It’s also something and conveners and curators—and kind of work and leadership in the we need to be working together on that’s extraordinarily promising. way that congregations affect the to cultivate a greater sense of trust James and Deborah Fallows wrote larger communities around them. and some understanding of the a book that came out a couple of There’s a lot to be learned from that. constraints that also exist. These are months ago called Our Towns, and issues that are extremely important David Brooks and his wife, Anne Some schools have been able to and also complicated. We’ve got to Snyder Brooks, are doing something succeed financially by offering strengthen lines of communications. similar with the Aspen Institute. What online programs. Do you see Duke If we have healthy discussion and you see are really important new signs heading in that direction as well? engagement, we can find ways to of vitality and efforts to reweave the I don’t think the future is going to cultivate trust, even as we’re working social fabric in communities across be only online, but I think what our at addressing the issues, whether it’s the country. Both projects suggest hybrid programs—our D.Min. and faculty or students. that what you need are really strong M.A.C.P.—offer are excellent. I Some of the issues are peculiar to leaders in these towns—mayors, teach in the D.Min. program regu- Duke Divinity School. Others are business leaders, educators, and larly, and I love the hybrid model. broader issues in higher education NGOs. The environment of Duke I think you actually have better and professional schools. Some of Divinity School and our relations faculty-student communications, and them are signs of the times in broader across the university offer a huge some people from underrepresented American culture and around the opportunity to form people, especially groups often communicate more world. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen
FALL 2018 | 11 I’m hopeful and excited that we’ll be able to achieve those best days the more we’re able to work with diverse groups of people and help re-weave our social fabric as we bear witness to God.
in events like Brexit and our recent Methodist commitment to be a global and is likely to remain that way for election, we’re at a time when fear church in its governance is threatened United Methodists. Over the next nine and hatred can easily lead to fractured by these divisions. months, I’ll be looking at different relationships. The church ought to be We are paying close attention to scenarios of what might happen at a place to cultivate trust and what I the decisions made by the church. the 2019 General Conference and call meaningful disagreements that At this point, it’s hard to read the tea how that might affect the finances of nonetheless bind people together. leaves. I wouldn’t predict anything Duke Divinity, how it might affect the for sure about what will happen relationships with judicatories and our Some students have described their next February [at a special session recruitment and placement of students. frustration over the departure of of the United Methodist Church’s If I had a pretty good sense of what several African American faculty. Is General Conference]. The United was going to happen in February, that something you’ll address? Methodist Church is a global church. I’d be working toward that, but I Yes, and I’ve been reaching out Its governance is global. That’s think anyone who’s confident of the to some of our alumni, African one of the complexities we have to outcome is likely to be just guessing. American clergy, and faculty. We navigate. About 40 percent of the have a wonderful new director of the voting delegates next February will One thing people say about your Office of Black Church Studies, David be international. [What the delegates first term as dean is how good you Emmanuel Goatley, who has been a decide will have] financial implications were at fundraising. Do you see that friend of mine for more than 25 years. for us as a school and implications for continuing, and how are the school’s I didn’t have anything to do with his where graduates would go to serve. I’m finances? coming to Duke, but I’m delighted he’s mindful of how in recent decades that There’s a huge need, and I hope to here. I’ve already begun working on has affected students in other tradi- develop and redevelop relationships. these issues, and it’s going to be a very tions that have had, if not formal splits, That’s a high priority for me. It’s not important priority moving forward. then complicated arrangements. only raising money. It’s interpreting I point to the success we’ve had at the value of theological education and The United Methodist Church may Duke with the Anglican Episcopal developing relationships with people be headed for a schism over LGBTQ House of Studies. Over the last 10 who become invested in thinking ordination and marriage. That must to 12 years, we’ve managed to serve through what the new programs should be of concern to you and to leaders of both the Episcopal Church U.S.A., be and what new ideas we need to other schools affiliated with the UMC. which is open and affirming of wrestle with. How do you walk that tightrope? same-sex marriage and ordination, The finances of Duke Divinity The United Methodist Church is at a and to prepare people for various are challenging. That’s one of the particularly difficult moment because Anglican Communion traditions with three things the provost wrote about. Christians on different continents, and different views. We’ve managed to That’s an issue that has particular within regions, view human sexuality walk that line. It’s one we need to ramifications at Duke, and it has in conflicting ways. The United recognize is challenging and difficult broader ramifications for theological
12 | DIVINITY education. It’s also an issue other really important in helping me see “How do we do that in fresh ways professional schools are wrestling and think about the ways we need to going forward?” with, whether it’s because of work across sectors. The work I’ve If you think of improvisational jazz technology or globalization or the done on the virtues and character groups, they’re always drawing on the changing character of the profession and practical wisdom has been past in rehearsals and performances. or the problematic character of important in shaping my imagination. Then they can come together and some core business models in higher There’s a book by Christian Miller do dramatically new things as they education. Thinking creatively called The Character Gap that was listen to and learn from each other about fundraising and other kinds significant and interesting. A recent as they improvise. of revenue streams while managing excellent book that weaves leadership expenses is the responsibility of any and the virtues together is by Is there anything you want to say to dean of any professional school. Nancy Koehn, Forged in Crisis: ecclesiastical leaders and pastors in The Power of Courageous Leadership the United Methodist Church about What are you reading nowadays? in Turbulent Times. I hope that much the vision you may have for the I try to keep several books going of what I read is informing my education of future pastors? at any one time. In theology and imagination and the questions We are committed to partnership faith-based social entrepreneurship, I’m bringing to my leadership. and learning and growing together I’m reading the work of Greg Boyle, Probably the central image with both judicatories and churches his books Tattoos on the Heart and I’ve been working with goes back and schools and others. We want to Barking to the Choir. I also try to Sam Wells’ book, Improvisation: be good partners in that process. to keep something going around The Drama of Christian Ethics. We care deeply about vital churches education. I’ve been reading a book How do we find creative ways and strong clergy working together called Robot-Proof Higher Education forward by digging into the best to help cultivate thriving, healthy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and most life-giving traditions and communities. We know that means by Joseph Aoun, the president of character of the past? Improvisation we have to be prepared to listen and Northeastern University. I also try is key. That’s something I hope to learn as we lean into the future. We to read on the dynamics of cultural do. I think Duke Divinity School had also care deeply about helping to change in America. I also read a wonderful set of traditions. Even form people with embodied wisdom histories and biographies. I’ve been as there are problems and things we and to nurture creative institutions. fascinated by some of the work on need to repent of and cast off, there The challenges that need to be Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, who are also things for us to draw from, addressed are real and daunting. My were engaged in political leadership going back decades, that help us bewilderment about being asked to in a challenging period of time in know who we are and chart creative serve in this role isn’t isolated; I think American history. I read books on ways forward. we’re living in a time of bewilderment, leadership and organization as well. We have a long tradition of not only in the churches but also in the developing new degree programs and broader culture and the world. There’s Is there anything you’re reading on new initiatives every 10 to 15 years so much tumult. Yet I believe very leadership that inspires you to be a to address changing circumstances. firmly that Duke Divinity School’s better leader? We’re not just doing this to try to best days are still in the future. And I would say the work of Roger Martin find new revenues; it’s actually part I’m extraordinarily hopeful and and Jennifer Riel at the University of the ongoing identity of the school excited that we’ll be able to achieve of Toronto has been really valuable. to re-evaluate and re-assess. I’ll be those best days the more we’re able They have a new book called encouraging a task force of faculty to work with diverse groups of people Creating Great Choices that’s about and administrators to work together to find common ground and to help finding both / and solutions rather in imagining how we take that step re-weave our social fabric as we bear than either / or. I hope that’s going to into the future yet again. It’s leaning witness to the God who promises to inform the way I lead going forward. into things that have been part of our bring us, and the created order, to The Fallowses’ book, Our Towns, was DNA for a long time and then saying, fulfillment in the new creation.
FALL 2018 | 13 / PHOTO ESSAY /
BE EVER THANKFUL Duke Youth Academy welcomes students to theological formation and Christian community
BY MILTON GILDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN HOFFMAN
n the Lord I’ll be dancing through the halls of Duke ever thankful, Divinity. Our common work is the in the Lord I will rejoice! creative and intellectual re-imagining Look to God, of the church and discovering our do not be afraid. calling in the church. This work Lift up your voices, happens in rigorous conversation Ithe Lord is near; lift up your voices, with academic scholars and biblical the Lord is near. texts. We learn to ask new questions, Participants and leaders in the see Scripture anew, and find our voices Duke Youth Academy for Christian to participate in God’s work both at Formation (DYA) sing this refrain DYA and in our local churches. Our when they ascend the staircase to common prayer is our rhythm of daily the York Room for morning prayer. prayer and worship. Prayer saturates Now in its 17th year, DYA invites high our day in the rising of the sun, in our school youth from around the country meals, in our worship, and in our small to an immersive week of Christian groups. This dedicated time allows community centered on common our community to taste the diverse celebration, common work, and breadth of Christian worship tradi- common prayer. Following this week tions, from Negro spirituals to Spanish of residency, students develop year- praise music to traditional hymns. long projects in which they creatively Each summer our community respond to their theological interests begins anew by singing the anthem and their local communities. “In the Lord I’ll Be Ever thankful”— Our common celebration is thankful for another week together at daily Eucharist. This celebration DYA and for the Spirit forming us all of Eucharist spills out into our into new ways of being and imagining laughter-filled meals and spontaneous the church.
14 | DIVINITY FALL 2018 | 15 ABOVE: Students study Christian history and theology with Duke Divinity faculty and receive communion during the evening worship services. RIGHT: Colton Arends, DYA student, plays a mini trumpet during an evening worship service.
16 | DIVINITY ABOVE: Students serve as acolytes for the procession before the Episcopal worship service. LEFT: Students experience worship in a variety of ecclesial traditions.
FALL 2018 | 17 ABOVE: The DYA community waves ribbons in the closing benediction to celebrate their baptismal waters. RIGHT: Hanna Stamey, a first- year Duke Divinity student and DYA leader, gathers phones from DYA participants. For many DYA students, this is their first opportunity to address questions about theology.
18 | DIVINITY ABOVE: Alaina Kleinbeck is the director of youth ministry initiatives at Duke, and Milton Gilder is the director of Duke Youth Academy. LEFT: Diversity in worship includes services in both Spanish and English, and students gain experience as worship leaders.
FALL 2018 | 19 KNOWING your LIMITS How I learned to write like a Christian BY PHILIP PORTER
20 | DIVINITY earning to write well is hard. I often wonder if I write well. Sometimes I wonder what writing well has to do with Jesus. I never used to wonder that.
LThat’s because I wasn’t raised a Christian. My mother is a lapsed Methodist, —or Lutheran, depending on who you ask. My father has no religion to speak of, —lapsed or otherwise. But I’m a Christian now, so I wonder what writing How I learned to write like a Christian —what writing well—has to do with Jesus. Six years ago, I was an atheist. I couldn’t have told you that Jesus was God, or who the Holy Spirit was. There’s something about three persons, right? Are Christians polytheists? —No, they insist. Well, all right.
The point is, I started from nowhere. But the Lord changed something in me. Then I wanted to know where to go next. I knew I had to seek, ask, and knock. But I didn’t know how to seek, ask, and knock.
When I realized I was a Christian, I realized I’d have to be a theologian. This isn’t the case for everyone, but it is for me. Now I’m a Christian, who is a theologian.
But I wasn’t always. I went to community college. Then I transferred to a university. I got my degree and joined the Marine Corps. You don’t do a lot of writing in the Marine Corps. You do a lot of writing in grad school.
When I started my master’s in theology, PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY I hadn’t written an academic paper in seven years. More importantly, I didn’t know anything. At least, nothing worth writing about. That’s what I was going to school to learn.
FALL 2018 | 21 That’s what you’re here to learn. You’ve been given a great gift: You’re here to learn what’s worth writing, the time and space to get it wrong. saying, announcing, about Jesus. So that you can get it right, when it matters. I didn’t know who Jesus was. At convocation, my first year, Professor Ellen Davis said Maybe some of you don’t know who Jesus is. something important. That’s OK. She said that being here is about sanctifying your intellect. That’s what you’re here to learn. I think she’s right. And if your intellect needs sanctifying, it means it ain’t yet. When I started writing theology, I didn’t know there was such a thing Getting it wrong is the only way to start getting it right. as pneumatology, That’s as true about writing as it is about anything. as hamartiology, You’re here to learn what’s worth writing about, as eschatology. what’s worth saying about, Jesus Christ. Maybe you all know what these mean. To do that, to learn, you’ll have to say it wrong first. I didn’t. There are no shortcuts in writing. You don’t need to know what all those words mean, Just as there are no shortcuts in the Christian life. to learn to write well about Jesus. The preacher’s, the pastor’s, the theologian’s crosses to bear At least not yet. are words. You’re here to learn what they mean. You’re here to learn how to bear them. You’re going to make mistakes. To carry them for the people who need them. That’s OK. You have to say it wrong, There’s something I didn’t learn until so someone can teach you to say it right. I was a doctoral student. I didn’t know where to begin, I’ll tell you what it is. when I started to learn what it meant to write about Jesus. It’s OK to be wrong. But you’re going to learn the language by being here. This is the place to be wrong. Not to make mistakes—but to be wrong. Because that’s what you’re doing, learning a language—learning to write, to speak, Mistakes are caused by carelessness, to act like a Christian. misreading, or mishearing, or misremembering. You’re learning a form of life. By being wrong I mean looking carefully, And it takes training. at a book, at a sermon, at a liturgy, We get it wrong, we have to know we’re going to get it wrong. and thinking something is true when it’s not. Because we want so badly to get it right.
Being wrong is worthwhile. Here. You’re going to ask me Because when you get it wrong, —everyone asks me— there’s someone to tell you. Are there any books that can help me to be a better writer? There’s someone to tell you you’ve said it wrong, You’re going to be disappointed and to show you how to say it right. —everyone is disappointed— When I tell you no and yes. PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY
22 | DIVINITY No, reading books about writing won’t make you a better writer. Yes, reading books will make you a better writer. Which books? Take your pick. The books that will make you a better writer are the books that are written well. This doesn’t (only) mean theology, —or sermons, or church history.
There’s a lot of bad writing out there. You know this already. Maybe you’ve written some. I have.
You need to read good Christian writing to learn to write like a Christian. You also need to read good non-Christian (or not explicitly Christian) writing, to learn to write like a Christian. Those were the only words I had when I started. Now I have more.
Reading good writing can make you a better writer. But only if you write, too. Because—and this is important— you only get better at writing by writing. Strunk & White can’t save you from this.
Reading good writing can make you a better writer, when you’re willing to try on what you learn from reading. You try it on by writing. It probably won’t work. Not at first. But you have to try. When you try to write like the books you read, you learn something. It’s not necessarily what you expected to learn. But keep at it. You’ll learn more. PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY
FALL 2018 | 23 But you have to write. They know what good writing looks like. And people have to read what you write. They know how to write well about Jesus Christ. This is the great gift of graduate school. You probably don’t. The people here are paid to read what you write! I didn’t. They have to—it’s their job! That’s why you’re at school. Anyway, that’s why I’m at school. And it’s not just one person. It’s lots of people. I want to learn how to say true things about the Lord. Almost everyone here is paid to read stuff other I want to learn how to say those things well. people write, and to tell you what they think about it. We’re here to help you do that. That’s most of their job. Let us help you do that.
Because that’s most of their job, ED. NOTE: This is adapted from remarks Porter shared with first- they’re good at it. year students during the RISE pre-orientation workshop in August. They know what good writing sounds like.
TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO READ AND WRITE THEOLOGY RISE and the Center for Writing and Academic Support
NOT EVERYONE arrives at learning to write theology. The center and write about them through a seminary with a background in also organizes events to promote the theological lens. religious studies, theology, or even role of writing within the church and “As someone returning to school the humanities. Some new divinity the academy. after 25 years, RISE was helpful in students last wrote an academic The center also offers Refresher acclimating my mind and heart back paper decades ago; others have and Intensive for Scholarly into school,” said Arlene Hudson, experience in business or finance or Enrichment (RISE), an optional M.Div.’20. “It gave me a good idea the military, but not in reading church pre-orientation academic workshop of what to expect in terms of course history texts or theology textbooks. for incoming students. The workshop expectations and help organizing the Duke Divinity School is committed teaches some of the skills needed course load. In addition, the writing to helping students have the tools to analyze and write theologically. sample was very helpful in giving me and skills needed to read and write Over the course of two days, students an idea of my strengths and weak- theology well. Writing is a central work with brief theological texts and nesses.” part of ministry, and words are learn effective ways to read, analyze, fundamental for conveying beliefs. It allows pastors and scholars to discern DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR WRITING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT and clarify their ideas and to transmit Judith Heyhoe has taught and practiced writing for over 40 years. She began her them to others. career as a newspaper journalist in England and then worked as an The Center for Writing and editor. In America, she taught for five years in the Freshman Writing
Academic Support helps students at Program at the University of Notre Dame and then worked as a high PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY Duke Divinity School write theology school teacher of English for Chicago Public Schools. For the last 10 well. It offers tutoring services, often years at Duke Divinity School, she has served as editor to the faculty with doctoral students in the Th.D. and directed the writing center. She is overseeing the growth of the center as it offers program who know the process of students not only writing assistance but also academic support.
24 | DIVINITY / PROGRAMS/
A commitment to form leaders who serve the people of God PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY
FALL 2018 | 25 AN M.DIV. FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Revisiting theological education in a time of change
BY YONAT SHIMRON
etting a master DECLINING INTEREST allow them to work in lay church of divinity IN THE M.DIV. positions as Christian educators, youth degree at Duke Last year, 28,400 students were ministers, or worship leaders. Still Divinity School enrolled in M.Div. programs in U.S. others want to work in community used to be and Canadian theological schools, a organizing or in the nonprofit world. simpler. gradual decline from a high of 35,000 “People are being called into Students in 2006, according to the Association ministry in a variety of different Ggrew up in and were formed by local of Theological Schools (ATS), which ways that aren’t always as pastor of churches. Their congregations—and accredits 270 institutions in the U.S. a church, and they’re longing for sometimes their denominations— and Canada. theological grounding,” said Jerusha encouraged them in their call to Duke, too, has seen a decline in the Neal, a professor of homiletics at ministry. They studied hard, prayed number of students applying for the Duke Divinity School who also has even harder, and earned a degree. master of divinity degree. This past experience in theological education Things aren’t that simple anymore. school year, it had 372 students in the in Fiji. Over the past 50 years, the share of three-year program, down nearly 80 Partly in response to these trends, Americans who identify as mainline students from 10 years ago. ATS voted in June to begin a compre- Protestants has been shrinking as The reasons are multifaceted. Some hensive re-evaluation of its accrediting younger millennials leave church and students expect to work in nondenom- standards, which is expected to take the ranks of the religiously unaffili- inational churches that don’t require a two years. ated grow. Today’s students are less master of divinity degree, as mainline In the meantime, many theological likely to have grown up in church and Protestant denominations and the schools are suffering from both slip- PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY more likely to consider a calling to a Roman Catholic Church do. For ping enrollment and growing financial less traditional Christian ministry. others, the prospect of paying tuition pressures, and they are struggling That’s having a direct impact on for three years and then receiving a to survive. the number of students pursuing the modest salary at a small church leads Just last year, Andover Newton gold standard for church leaders—the them to forgo the M.Div. in favor of Theological School, the nation’s oldest master of divinity degree. a two-year master’s degree that will theological graduate institution, sold
26 | DIVINITY Bethany Schmall and Carla Green display the crosses they received during the Senior Cross service in April 2017.
its field education requirements, launched online learning opportuni- ties, and added to its list of certificate programs in specialized areas such as theology and health care, gender and sexuality, theology and the arts, and missional innovation. Even as enrollment for the M.Div. has fallen, Duke’s total headcount has increased modestly to about 600 students as it has expanded its other master’s and doctoral programs. In addition to the M.Div., Duke Divinity offers five degrees.
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.): Designed for those inter- ested in rigorous academic study, its 20-acre campus and 23 buildings in Evangelism and Christian Formation sometimes in preparation for Newton Centre, Mass., and affiliated who also serves as director of the a doctoral degree program with Yale Divinity School in New Methodist House of Studies and the • Master of Arts in Christian Practice Haven, Conn. It’s perhaps the highest- master of arts in Christian practice (M.A.C.P.): A professional degree profile example of the kinds of mergers, (M.A.C.P.) program. “There’s now an for those intending to work in church consolidations, and contractions dotting opportunity to think carefully about lay ministries or in Christian service the theological schools landscape. the way we do our work, pedagogically organizations Many of those dire scenarios are and formatively, keeping the commit- • Master of Theology (Th.M.): unlikely to impact Duke. Its strong ment to academic rigor that we want to A one-year degree program beyond academic reputation and top-notch continue to embody and the commit- the master of divinity intended for faculty, known for their scholarship ment to the practices of the church that clergy or chaplains who want to dive in biblical studies and theological we believe we’re here to serve. How do deeper into theological study or interpretation, make it a prized we continue to do what we’ve done so those preparing for doctoral work destination for aspiring church well under a new set of conditions?” • Doctor of Theology (Th.D.): A leaders. As a school embedded within research doctorate for people who a university, it is also insulated from TEACHING STUDENTS want to teach in seminaries or other many of the financial pressures of IN CLASS AND ONLINE higher education institutions stand-alone theological schools. Among the ways many schools have • Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.): A But that doesn’t mean the Duke tried to appeal to today’s students is professional doctorate intended Divinity is not trying to innovate and by adding online degree programs, for clergy in leadership positions adapt to better meet the needs of trimming the number of hours who want a terminal degree but are tomorrow’s students. required for a master of divinity working full-time “There’s a tremendous disruption degree, and reshaping the curricula that’s happening in the universe of with a more practical emphasis on Two of those newer degrees—the theological education,” said Jeffrey leadership formation. M.A.C.P. and the D.Min—are hybrid Conklin-Miller, the E. Stanley Jones Duke too has made some revisions programs, combining both in-person and Assistant Professor of the Practice of to its degree programs. It expanded online learning. They are specifically
FALL 2018 | 27 L. TO R.: Han Sol Sim, Maria (“Mia”) Hutchins-Cabibi, Bernadine Anthony, Christopher Bozwell, and Tamario Howze, all M.Div. graduates in 2018.
designed for students who are already working in ministry. In many cases, those students don’t live in the Durham area but would like to further their Christian education. “Students desire flexible arrange- ments,” said Conklin-Miller. “They’re balancing many commitments while pursuing theological education.” 74% In the hybrid model, for every eight weeks of online study, students spend one week on campus taking multiple classes. Not only the students benefit from the hybrid programs. The faculty is better meet the needs of emerging Increasingly, that shared life also challenged by the practical issues Christian lay leaders. includes not only students from students bring to the classroom, both Changes in the curriculum can be the Methodist tradition (nearly 40 in person and through the online viewed as opportunities. percent) but also students from learning component. “One of the things that excites me Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, “That dynamic changes what goes about Duke is that we’re asking, ‘How Episcopalian, and nondenominational on in the classroom,” Conklin-Miller can we make the treasures of Duke’s church backgrounds. Four percent of added. “The questions are very academic program accessible to what students are Roman Catholic. real and very live. The students are God is doing among the laity?” said Duke Divinity students are nearly hungry for theological reflection Neal. “This question speaks not just evenly divided by gender, and in on the experiences they’ve had and to the ecclesial relevance of what addition to Caucasians, last year’s questions they’re facing. It brings we do but to our social relevance, student body included African an immediate reality into the work because many of the laity who want Americans (16 percent), Asians (6 of theological education that’s this training want to make a differ- percent), and Hispanics (4 percent). enlivening.” ence in the world.” The school requires all students Beginning this fall, the faculty will to take a course in Black Church discuss ways revise the M.A.C.P. to IMPORTANCE AND studies to foster an appreciation make it more attractive. The program, RELEVANCE OF THE M.DIV. for the distinctiveness of the Black which drew 23 students last year, has But even as Duke expands its online religious experience and a course in not grown as quickly as expected. learning options, its core degree, the world Christianity, which explores One reason may be that people don’t master of divinity, remains intention- the global South as well as Asian- understand what the degree is about. ally residential. inflected Christian cultures. “The master of arts in Christian “The beauty of the residential Duke is proud of its rigorous field practice is a new degree that doesn’t model is that it’s embodied,” said education program intended to help have immediate name recognition,” Conklin-Miller. “We have a life students build practical skills in said Sujin Pak, associate professor of that is bound by the chapel where ministry. M.Div. students are required the history of Christianity and vice we worship and by a library and to complete two field education dean of academic programs. “We classrooms where we study. It’s in placements. The school helps students need to explore offering specialized our shared life together that we find the placements in church settings,
tracks that are more recognizable.” learn something of what it means many of which pay students a $9,100 PHOTO BY YESENIA BOCANEGRA One idea is to repackage the to be church. That’s a significant stipend for each placement. degree with specific concentrations, component of forming a theological The stipend, funded by the Rural such as pastoral care, reconciliation, imagination for those called to do Church Division of The Duke prison ministry, chaplaincy, etc., to ministry in the church and the world.” Endowment, can help defray the
28 | DIVINITY yearly cost of tuition ($23,350, not with the university around social name just a few—its commitment to counting potential scholarships). and political issues related to truth, scholarship remains. The younger and Last year, 57 percent of students community, justice, and mercy is newer hires in Bible, theology, and undertook field placements in critically needed, said Neal. church history continue the tradition churches, 23 percent in nonprofit “There’s an urgency to the question of academic excellence while also settings, and 16 percent in clinical now,” Neal said. “What is required of bringing such research interests as the pastoral education. me now, given the struggles our nation prosperity gospel, bioethics, nonprofit But for many students, the school’s is facing?” management, and pastoral counseling greatest attraction is its location in the Duke Divinity offers concrete ways for trauma. heart of a large research university. to do that. It offers several dual-degree Warren Smith, a professor of Unlike other university-based master of divinity programs, including historical theology, said a jarring divinity schools, often located at the one in public policy and one in social moment crystalized the changing edge of campus, Duke Divinity School work. Students must be accepted to theological landscape for him. lies at the epicenter of West Campus. both schools to gain admission. Once He was talking with a group of other That proximity to other academic they do, they split their time between seminary faculty at a Midwestern departments allows students to engage the two schools. center for teaching and learning when with the larger university in real In addition, the school has partner- a comment from one of the partici- interdisciplinary learning. ships with the schools of law and the pants reminded him of something “You can go to almost any sector of environment for students interested in Ambrose, the fourth-century bishop the university and find that people are pursuing joint degree programs. of Milan, had said. But when Smith willing to engage you as a theologian,” “That’s one of the blessings at Duke,” mentioned the saint’s name, one of his said Norman Wirzba, the Gilbert T. said Conklin-Miller. “We’re a part of interlocutors let loose a loud guffaw. Rowe Distinguished Professor of a great university—and not just as an It wasn’t that Smith’s reference to Theology. “That’s not to be taken appendage. Some of the most wonderful Ambrose was funny; it was that he for granted, especially at a major things happening here are right at the had invited a long-dead white guy into research university. It’s much harder intersection of the theological school, a conversation about contemporary to do at places like Harvard or Yale or the church, and the university.” theological education. Vanderbilt, for instance.” For Smith, the moment perfectly Wirzba is himself engaged in such ENGAGING WITH ST. AMBROSE captured the Duke Divinity faculty’s study. In addition to teaching at the Unlike some schools, Duke is not cherished ethos. At a time of rapid Divinity School, he is a research giving up its historic strengths. change in the world of theological professor at the Nicholas School “Duke Divinity is committed to a education, Duke is trying to preserve for the Environment and a senior traditional form of education, with the an intellectual rigor that welcomes fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics. classics of theology, history, and Bible,” a living and ongoing dialogue with There he partners with other Ethics at said Pak. “That’s still needed. The ancient and contemporary Christian Duke faculty on a project called Facing students coming to us are less formed giants, whether St. Augustine, Thomas the Anthropocene, which examines in their churches and have not neces- Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, Martin the ways in which human activity has sarily majored in theology or Bible in Luther, John Wesley, Karl Barth, become the dominant influence on their undergraduate degree. We don’t Dietrich Bonhoeffer, James Cone, or Earth’s geology and ecosystems. want to give up that core good we Dorothy Day. Duke may also be one of the only have. At the same time, we need to “Most people at Duke would divinity schools in the country to have explore ways to better bring this gift in say, ‘Oh, Ambrose is a perfectly three full-time physicians with joint a changing landscape.” legitimate conversation partner appointments in the medical and While Duke has seen a large for modern theology,’” said Smith. divinity schools who are exploring the turnover as senior faculty have “That’s characteristic of what Duke intersection of theology and health. retired in recent years—many of them Divinity is.” At a particularly divisive time in headliners such as Stanley Hauerwas, U.S. and world history, an engagement Richard Hays, Grant Wacker, to
FALL 2018 | 29 Will Willimon, director of the D.Min. program, teaches a cohort during one of their on-campus sessions. RE-IGNITING MINISTRY LEADERS Doctor of ministry program sharpens leadership skills with a theological focus
BY BRIDGETTE A. LACY
s Uiyeon tools and resources to pastor a current ministerial roles. The program Kim faced his congregation facing such social and combines short on-campus residential 10th year as a economic problems. seminars with distance learning. pastor, he felt In search of resources, Kim decided Will Willimon, the faculty director the need to to return to Duke Divinity School for the degree program, has been be challenged. for his doctor of ministry (D.Min.) teaching D.Min. courses almost A“From the very beginning of my degree. “As we continue to minister to since the program launched in 2011. ministry, most of my mentors shared God’s people, we are in the midst of a Willimon, a professor of the practice of with me that the key to a sustainable world that is changing at a faster pace Christian Ministry, is the former dean ministry is continuous spiritual forma- than most of us can even observe, let of Duke Chapel and a bishop for the tion and education,” Kim said. alone digest,” he said. “In many ways, Alabama Conference of the United Like many seasoned ministers, Kim pastors are expected to become this Methodist Church. was struggling with the complexity new renaissance person because there “It’s quickly become the country’s of the problems facing his congrega- are so many other forces and factors premier D.Min. program,” Willimon tion. In his tenure at Trinity United that influence the people in our said. “In part because there is a lot Methodist Church in Lenoir, N.C., the church. Their needs are wider in scope of emphasis on drawing on Duke’s 37-year-old was ministering among than ever before.” distinguished faculty.” Degree courses an aging congregation in one of the are taught by Duke’s core faculty, poorest counties in the western part A STUDY IN LEADERSHIP including Greg Jones, the dean of Duke of the state. Duke Divinity School’s D.Min. Divinity and Ruth W. and A. Morris His master of divinity degree from program engages pastors and leaders of Williams Jr. Distinguished Professor Duke Divinity School prepared him other Christian institutions in rigorous of Theology and Christian Ministry, as PHOTO BY AMY SCROGGIN to minister to the flock’s spiritual and imaginative theological reflection well as Ellen F. Davis, the Amos Ragan needs, but he felt he needed more as they continue to serve in their Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical
30 | DIVINITY Theology, and Curtis Freeman, Several denominations are also pastors face, which is one reason why research professor of theology and represented, including five United our program has been successful.” Baptist studies. Methodists, five who are non- “Duke’s D.Min. is organized around denominational, three Baptists, two FINDING HER VOICE the theme of leadership,” Willimon Presbyterians, and one each from The Rev. Ellen Clark Clémot enrolled said. “We try to take the classical the African Methodist Episcopal, in the D.Min. program when she theological disciplines of church AME Zion, Church of God in Christ, was serving as the senior pastor and history, Scripture, theology, and ethics Episcopal, Lutheran Church—Missouri head of staff at the First Presbyterian and bring them to bear on thinking Synod, and Roman Catholic churches. Church of Metuchen, N.J. “I was newly about leadership. We attract clergy Most are pastors, but a few are appointed and wanted to build my who really want to grow in their nonprofit executives or leaders of leadership skills while grounding them leadership skills.” Christian institutions. Students are in the Christian theological tradition. able to learn from each other’s diver- Duke is a seminary that focuses on A DIVERSE GROUP sity of experiences and perspectives. Christian leadership.” Another strength of the program is its “These students tend to be experi- Clémot, a former attorney, wanted diversity. According to Todd Maberry, enced, more mature,” Willimon said. to re-tool. “The practical reality and the senior director of admissions, “The program is a cohort system. So challenges that ministering presents recruitment, and student finance, you began with a group and you stay are different than what we learned in the incoming 2018 D.Min. class is with your group for the two years of seminary,” she said. composed of 16 men and six women coursework. That becomes a big part “I wanted to do more work on and is racially diverse with nine African of the educational component. You get leading through times of conflict, Americans, eight Caucasians, four to know each other down deep. Most on vision, and on strategy-making Asians/Pacific Islanders, and one who of the class consists of case studies. We in a changing church environment,” decline to identify race or ethnicity. use actual cases of dilemmas that real she said.
FALL 2018 | 31 The Rev. Ellen Clark Clémot preaches during a baptismal service.
Clémot, who is 56 years old, was BUILDING CONNECTIONS forced to confront more social issues WITH OTHERS when a congregant was arrested The Rev. Dr. Edward Mulraine, pastor as an undocumented immigrant. of Unity Baptist Tabernacle in Mount She found herself advocating for Vernon, N.Y., graduated from the him by participating in rallies and D.Min. program in May 2018. The appearing with state senators asking 49-year-old Mulraine was looking for for his release. additional resources to help his church Clémot has completed her term at of 1,000 members. First Presbyterian but continues as a Mulraine, an author and a pastor trustee of the Presbytery of Elizabeth for 15 years, has long been involved for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). in social justice issues, including She’s scheduled to earn her D.Min. in serving as president of a local 2020, and she credits the program with NAACP chapter. helping her find her voice. For Mulraine, the D.Min. broadens “Having men in the cohort who are his reach. “It increases your territory with social and political issues.” more aware of women in leadership in terms of connecting with others Mulraine’s research for his thesis and see us as colleagues gives us more that share the same passion,” he said. examined the leadership of the support on the national stage. This has “It was good to meet professors who biblical figures of Moses, Joshua, led to others asking me to speak on also had a certain mindset and could and Jesus along with the leadership the Sanctuary Church movement on talk about those things and to build of Frederick Douglass and Martin the national level. I’m not viewed as connections with other students who Luther King to better understand ‘just a pastor’ in my local church. My were on the same wavelength in terms the current crisis in Black leadership. calling isn’t limited, and my gender is of social justice, political involvement, He used the fruit of that work in his not an obstacle.” and connecting the theological work book The Ten Step M.A.N.: A Practical
Guide to Peace, Power, Purpose, and PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN CLARK CLÉMOT; EDWARD MULRAINE Liberation in a World of Women, Wine, War, and Wickedness. “Writing about leadership at Duke helped me to add to the book in terms of the struggle that men go through.”
RE-IGNITING CONFIDENCE The Rev. Dr. Edward IN MINISTRY PHOTO OF UIYEON KIM COURTESY MYERS PARK UMC Mulraine has seen the D.Min. strengthen his The D.Min. program wants to ministries of writing, empower and give students more pastoring a large confidence, Willimon said. “We want congregation, and to give students all of the things community leadership. they need to know how to lead God’s people forward and apply the Christian faith to contemporary church challenges.” For Uiyeon Kim, that means
32 | DIVINITY that—and what makes Duke Divinity special—is our theological focus. It’s about God. We get people who wake up one day after 10 years in the ministry and say, ‘Gosh, I’m feeling like a director of a volunteer organization like Habitat. It’s not about God.’ “One of my classes is ‘Introduction of Leadership,’ in which we ask two questions: What about our leader- ship is Christian? Why do we lead differently than the CEO of General Motors? We agree we need to keep the church’s work theological. We study case studies of pastors at churches and learning cutting-edge pastoral leader- peers with innovative ideas. ask, Where was God in this event? ship alongside others in his cohort, “I am inspired, encouraged, and What should have been said about who are often facing the same issues pushed by my colleagues and faculty. God in this crisis that wasn’t said?” in their congregations. To know others have done the same Going through those questions At his previous church in Lenoir, can be very fruitful and vital. The together with Duke Divinity faculty N.C., there was “an increasing gap of D.Min. has pushed me beyond my and a dynamic and diverse cohort of socioeconomic provisions for people immediate boundaries to expand peers in leadership is at the heart of in our community. There was a stark my ministry and the ministry of the D.Min. program. More than just a need for education about everything. the church.” credential, it is a degree that sharpens, How can we provide food? How can “We want to re-ignite their ministry,” equips, and inspires leaders for vital, we provide education that affects Willimon said. “The way we do innovative ministry. people’s understanding of finances, health, and diet?” “There is a vast amount of need to care for the elderly,” Kim said. “What does it mean to minister in the midst of a congregation that is aging and dying? How do we do that fruitfully The Rev. Uiyeon Kim, PHOTO OF UIYEON KIM COURTESY MYERS PARK UMC and faithfully? We were without a pastor of discipleship lot of resources—so how can we be at Myers Park UMC innovative to use the resources we in Charlotte, N.C., do possess?” works with the Kim has now moved to a new hospitality team and church with new challenges. He’s new members and oversees the children’s, now an associate pastor at Myers youth, and adult Park United Methodist Church in discipleship ministries. Charlotte. But he knows that whatever he faces, he now has a network of
FALL 2018 | 33 Join other high school students in an intensive encounter with Christian life and a year of engagement and practice.
RESIDENCY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY: JUNE 23-29, 2019 YEAR OF MENTORSHIP: JUNE 2019 – JUNE 2020
“DYA showed me that I am not alone as a teenage Christian.” - Mayra Rangel, 2014 DYA participant
LEARN MORE NOW: www.duyouth.duke.edu PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTGRAPHY Priority Application Deadline: November 30, 2018 @dukeyouthacademy
34 | DIVINITY / NOTES/
News, events, and updates on the work of Duke Divinity School PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTGRAPHY
FALL 2018 | 35 / NEWS & EVENTS / Theological Engagement with Today’s Issues
TMC Faculty Work with Holy Friendship Collaborative to Address Opioid Crisis
The Holy Friendship Collaborative is a regional initiative in The Holy Friendship northeast Tennessee and southeast Virginia that promotes Collaborative was awarded a addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery by working $200,000 federal planning grant closely with local churches. In this region, the rate of from the Health Resources and neonatal abstinence syndrome (babies born with an addic- Services Administration, an agency tion to drugs) is 10 times higher than the national average. of the U.S. Department of Health Faculty of the Theology, Medicine, and Culture (TMC) and Human Services, in September. initiative at Duke Divinity School joined with 450 health Among other things, the grant will care professionals, clergy, and laity from various religious assist in funding a detailed analysis denominations and other groups in Blountville, Tenn., in of gaps in opioid addiction preven- May for the Holy Friendship Summit, which focused on tion, treatment, and recovery in the how to create resources for pastors and lay church members region and in developing plans to to help overcome the opioid crisis. At a follow-up meeting address those needs. in July, 41 churches and organizations were represented. “We are thrilled to see so many “It struck me for years that the pain that people bring to members of faith communities recognizing the impact doctors is often responded to by doctors with tools we have of opioid addiction and joining this cause,” Curlin said. in our toolbox, which is narcotics,” said Dr. Farr Curlin, “People turn to churches for support and counsel in times Josiah C. Trent Professor of Medical Humanities, TMC of challenge, and congregations can become the communi- co-director, and a member of the steering committee. “That ties in which many find healing from addiction. This grant is not restoring people to health. They aren’t getting better will go a long way toward building supportive networks as a result.” that will lead to a healthier region.”
Conflict Conversations Series for 2018–19
Conflict is a natural part of life and bound to occur, The series includes the following topics and speakers: whether in the home, school, community, church, or • “Your Brain on Conflict,” • “White Supremacy Culture,” workplace. In partnership with Conflict Transformation held Aug. 30, with presenter on Oct. 24, with presenter Ministries of the North Carolina Conference of the Len White, associate Tema Okun, Equity Fellows United Methodist Church, the Center for Reconciliation professor of neurology, Program at Duke University at Duke Divinity School is hosting a series of conversa-
associate director for • “Living in to Matthew PHOTO COURTESY OF THEOLOGY, MEDICINE, AND CULTURE INITIATIVE tions about conflict transformation throughout the integrative human 18:15–20,” on Jan. 31, 2019, academic year. The series will discuss the skills necessary biological sciences, and with presenter the Rev. to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, co-director of undergraduate Molly L. Shivers, director and other forms of group conflict. In addition to giving studies in neuroscience of Conflict Transformation a short presentation and taking participants’ questions, at Duke University Ministries in the North speakers will provide practical resources and lists of • “Understanding Implicit Carolina Conference of the materials promoting awareness and confidence in Bias,” held Sept. 26 United Methodist Church dealing with conflict. The Hispanic House of Studies, with presenter the • “Active Listening,” on Methodist House of Studies, and Thriving Rural
Rev. Chris Brady, pastor Feb. 13, with presenter the PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTGRAPHY Communities initiative are co-sponsoring the series. of Wilson Temple UMC Rev. Chris Brady, pastor in Raleigh, N.C. of Wilson Temple UMC in Raleigh, N.C. For more information, see http://divinity.duke.edu/conflict.
36 | DIVINITY Watch the 92nd Duke Divinity School Hosts Opening Convocation International Meeting of
Duke Divinity School dean and Ruth W. and Societas Homiletica held its 92nd Opening A. Morris Williams Jr. Convocation Service, the Distinguished Professor Societas Homiletica, the international academic society first worship service of the of Theology and Christian for teachers and researchers of preaching, held its 13th 2018–19 academic year Ministry who previously annual meeting at Duke Divinity School Aug. 3–8, 2018. for students, faculty, and served as dean from 1997 The theme for the conference was “Fearing God in a staff. Highlighted by an to 2010, was the preacher. Fear-Filled World: Homiletical Explorations.” Richard academic procession of The convocation service Lischer, James T. and Alice faculty and staff, the service also included a blessing of Mead Cleland Professor was held in Duke Chapel. new faculty and staff and Emeritus of Preaching at The Rev. Dr. L. Gregory a welcome to the entering Duke Divinity School, was Jones, the newly appointed class of students. the featured preacher for the opening worship session. To watch the convocation service, go to the Anathea Portier-Young, Duke Chapel YouTube channel: associate professor of Old http://divinity.duke.edu/convo2018. Testament at Duke, delivered a keynote address on “Biblical Perspectives on Preaching the Fear of God.” Donyelle McCray, who earned a Th.D. from Duke Divinity School in theology and homiletics and is currently assistant professor of homiletics at Yale Divinity School, gave a keynote address on “Pauli Murray and Black Preaching.” Conference attendees also visited Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, N.C., to hear preaching from the pastor, William C. Turner Jr., James T. and Alice Mead Cleland Professor Emeritus of the Practice of Preaching.
“Performing Faithfully: Music & Martyrdom” Event
Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA) is sponsoring a musical performance event titled “Performing Faithfully: Music & Martyrdom” on Friday, March 29, 2019. A trio from the Boston Symphony Orchestra will perform with Jeremy Begbie, Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Professor of Theology and director of DITA. The performance will feature the world premiere of a new work by Chinese composer Pei Lu. The Pei Lu composition is inspired by the story of Lin Zhao, a martyr of the Mao regime in China, which was told in the book Blood Letters by Xi Lian, professor of world Christianity at Duke Divinity School. Lian will participate in the event, along with
PHOTO BY LES TODD PHOTGRAPHY Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law at Duke, and Carlos Colón, assistant director for worship and chapel in the Office of Spiritual Life at Baylor University.
FALL 2018 | 37 / NEWS & EVENTS / Theological Engagement with Today’s Issues
Gardner C. Taylor Lectures Address #MeToo
The Gardner C. Taylor Lectures, sponsored by the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School, focused on the theme “Ministry and #MeToo: Confronting Sexual Violence from Black Church Resources.” The event on Sept. 18, 2018, featured lecturers Alison Gise-Johnson, associate professor of historical and theological studies and director of the doctor of ministry program at Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Convocation & Pastors’ School 2018 Richmond, Va.; and Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, professor of religion and director of women’s studies at Shaw Convocation & Pastors’ School, an intensive two-day University Divinity School in Raleigh, N.C. The featured conference that offers lectures, worship, and seminars preacher was Judy Fentress-Williams, professor of for Christian leaders of all traditions, was held Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary in Oct. 8–9 at Duke Divinity School. Led by scholars Alexandria, Va. and practitioners from Duke and beyond, this event is an annual cooperative endeavor with the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church. What does it mean for Christians to be a neighbor in a culture that is rapidly changing and in a space where many have little knowledge or interest in religion? Convocation & Pastors’ School explored how to practice and communicate Christian faith, spirituality, and hospitality with missional imagination, connecting with the steadfast mission of God. Featured presenters included Barbara Brown Taylor,
best-selling author, preacher, teacher, and Episcopal LEFT: PHOTO BY HANNAH ELMORE PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT: LES TODD PHOTOGRAPHY priest; Ian T. Douglas, missiologist and bishop diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut; David Goatley, research professor of theology and Black Church studies and director of the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School; and Cynthia Hale, founder and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church, who served as convocation preacher.
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38 | DIVINITY / FACULTY & STAFF NOTES /
JEREMY BEGBIE has been appointed Annual Conference of the United WARREN KINGHORN delivered the Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Methodist Church in Redlands, Calif. several talks: “From Machines to Professor of Theology. He published A He began service as the director of the Wayfarers: How Not to Be a Dualist Peculiar Orthodoxy: Reflections Methodist House of Studies in July in Health Care,” at the University of on Theology and the Arts (Baker and preached and taught a course on Chicago Medical Center, May 3; “Being Academic) and continues as co-editor, evangelism for the summer session of Human in an Age of Brain Politics,” at with Trevor Hart, of Ashgate Studies the Course of Study for Local Pastors the annual conference of the Center for in Theology, Imagination and the Arts at the Divinity School. In August, at Bioethics and Human Dignity, Trinity (Routledge), which now includes more the Fourteenth Oxford Institute of International University, Deerfield, than 15 volumes. In June he traveled to Methodist Theological Studies, he Ill., June 22; and “Mental Health Scotland, where he led the T.F. Torrance presented “Formation for (Faithful) on College Campuses: Possibilities Retreat at Loch Tay by delivering a Fresh Expressions: The Necessity of and Opportunities for Christian series of presentations on “The Place Theological Education for Methodist Study Centers,” at the Consortium of Music in a Robust Theology” and Ecclesial Innovation” to the theo- of Christian Study Centers annual served as a respondent at a day confer- logical education working group, for meeting, Chicago, Ill., July 31. He ence in St. Andrews on N.T. Wright’s which he served as invited convener. organized an interdisciplinary confer- 2018 Gifford Lectures. In July he spoke ence, “Prescribing Wisely: Psychiatric at the inaugural meeting of Duke’s SUSAN EASTMAN published “Divine Medications and the Whole Person,” Theology, Modernity, and Visual Arts Love and the Constitution of the Self” held June 8–9 at Duke University, research colloquium in London. in Journal for the Study of the New and co-presented a seminar with John Testament (40.4, 2018) and “Knowing Swinton at the 2018 Summer Institute MARK CHAVES published, with Jörg and Being Known: Interpersonal on Theology and Disability in Raleigh, Stolz, “Does Disestablishment Lead Cognition and the Knowledge of N.C., June 11. to Religious Vitality? The Case of God in Paul’s Letters” in Knowing Switzerland” in The British Journal of Creation: Perspectives from Theology, RICHARD LISCHER served as visiting Sociology (69.2, 2018) and contributed Philosophy, and Science, edited by scholar at Princeton Theological “Congregations in Europe and the Andrew B. Torrance and Thomas H. Seminary in Princeton, N.J., in the United States: Surprising Similarities McCall (Zondervan). She participated spring. He published an op-ed, and Common Priorities for Future in the 17th Building Bridges Seminar, “What Martin Luther King Jr. Would Research” to Congregations in Europe, “A World of Inequalities: Christian and Think of Black Lives Matter,” in edited by Christophe Monnot and Jörg Muslim Perspectives,” held in Sarajevo, The Washington Post (April 4) and a Stolz (Springer). Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 18–22, review of Among the Ashes by William and presented “Strengthening the Ego Abraham in The Christian Century JEFF CONKLIN-MILLER published for Service: the Pastoral Purpose of (June 14). In April he spoke, with J. “Christ, Kingdom, and Church: Romans 7:7–25,” at the Colloquium Kameron Carter, at the Martin Luther E. Stanley Jones on Ecclesiology Oecumenicum Paulinicum meeting in King Jr. service of remembrance at and New Ecclesial Community” in Rome, Sept. 11–15. First Baptist Church, Burlington, N.C. E. Stanley Jones: Sharing the Good In June he took part in a conference News in a Pluralistic Society, edited by RICHARD HAYS presented “‘The on the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Jack Jackson Redeemer of Israel’: Scriptural sponsored by the Project on Lived (Wesley’s Foundery Books). In June Reception as Key to Luke’s Theology, in Birmingham, Ala., where he presented the workshop “Working Christology” at the Society of New he also gave the talk “A Church Letter with Adjuncts” at the Chief Academic Testament Studies meeting in Athens, Goes Viral” at historic Bethel Baptist Officers Society of the Association of Greece, Aug. 9. Church. He preached the opening Theological Schools in Denver, Colo., sermon for the biannual meeting of and attended the California-Pacific the Societas Homiletica, held at Duke
FALL 2018 | 39 / FACULTY & STAFF NOTES /
Divinity School, and for a service of Year at Duke Divinity School, where MEREDITH RIEDEL published Leo VI ordination at Zion Lutheran Church, she took up the role of vice dean of and the Transformation of Byzantine Lexington, S.C. academic affairs on July 1. Christine Identity: Writings of an Unexpected Emperor (Cambridge). In RANDY MADDOX published volume ANATHEA PORTIER-YOUNG April she presented the paper “Heresies 32 of the Bicentennial Edition of published “Preaching Justice from and Heretics in Early Medieval John Wesley’s Works, entitled Medical the Old Testament” in Scripture and Byzantium: Maximos the Confessor and Health Writings (Abingdon). In Social Justice: Catholic and Ecumenical and Monotheletism” at “Inclusion and May he gave lectures in Seoul, South Essays (Lexington Press), a volume she Exclusion in the Late Antique and Korea, on “John Wesley’s Precedent co-edited with Gregory E. Sterling, and Early Medieval Mediterranean,” an for Reclaiming Wholistic Salvation” “1 Maccabees” in The Paulist Biblical international symposium at Dickinson at Seoul Theological University, Commentary (Paulist Press). She gave College in Carlisle, Pa. At the request Methodist Theological Seminary, talks or papers at several conferences: of the dean, she represented Duke and the Salvation Army Graduate “Linking Emotion, Cognition, and Divinity at the Army Chaplain University for Officer Training. Action: Old Testament Perspectives Experience at Fort Bragg, N.C., in May. on Preaching the Fear of the Lord,” JERUSHA NEAL published a keynote address at the Societas LESTER RUTH led a songwriting “Boundaries of Belonging: The Need Homiletica meeting, Duke University, workshop on developing contemporary for a Global Homiletic Conversation” Aug. 5; “Reembodying Biblical songs that reflect a Wesleyan perspec- in Homiletic: The Journal of the Prophecy: A Parable and Case Study,” tive at Trinity Church in Indianapolis, Academic of Homiletics (43.1, 2018). at the Catholic Biblical Association May 24–26. In June she presented and preached annual meeting, Regis University, at the Young Preachers Festival where she also served as panelist MCKENNON SHEA presented at Church of the Resurrection in for “What’s Catholic about Catholic “Holy Motivation: What Makes Leawood, Kan., and was keynote Biblical Scholarship?,” July 28–29; Theological School Alumni Donors preacher at the Cooperative Baptist and “‘Bless the Lord, Fire and Heat’: Unique” at the 2018 Development Fellowship’s General Assembly. Reclaiming Daniel’s Cosmic Liturgy for Officers Conference hosted by the Contemporary EcoJustice,” a plenary Association of Theological Schools G. SUJIN PAK published The address at the conference “Full of Your in Houston, Texas. Reformation of Prophecy: Early Glory: Liturgy, Cosmos, Creation,” Modern Interpretations of the Prophet Yale Institute of Sacred Music, June DANIEL STULAC was awarded a and Old Testament Prophecy (Oxford). 18. For the 2018 Engle Institute of research grant through Duke’s Josiah From May 25 to June 2, she attended Preaching, “Prophecy in the Body,” held Charles Trent Memorial Foundation the Northeast Asia Reconciliation June 10–15 at Princeton Theological Endowment Fund for a proposal titled Forum in Kyoto, Japan, where she Seminary, she delivered five convoca- “The Destroyed City as Grazing Space: co-led a workshop with EDGARDO tional addresses: “More than a Message: Interpretive Possibilities in the Book COLÓN-EMERIC on “Scholarship, Re-embodying Prophetic Experience, of Isaiah.” Teaching, and Theological Education in Action, and Word”; “Grabbed by the Service of Peace and Reconciliation.” Hair and Punched in the Jaw: Prophetic WILL WILLIMON became director of She preached at Duke Memorial Encounter with an Embodied God”; the Duke D.Min. program in June. He United Methodist Church on Pentecost “Beyond the ‘Sign-Act’ Model”; “The published the third volume of Will Sunday and attended the Florida Body of God’s People: Proclaiming Willimon’s Lectionary Sermon Resource Annual Conference in Lakeland in to Hearts that Race and Knees that (Abingdon), and his book Who June. The General Board of Higher Falter”; and “Embodied Experience Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Education and Ministry of the UMC Shapes God’s Word: Implications for Confront Racism (Abingdon) won the named her Exemplary Teacher of the Contemporary Preaching.” Evangelical Christian Press Association
40 | DIVINITY Award for the best book in ministe- rial resources for 2018. In August he gave lectures on evangelism and mission at the Vancouver School PERFORMING FAITHFULLY of Theology and taught a course on theology and preaching for the D.Min. Program at Fuller Theological Seminary. He spoke at numerous M & Mt gatherings: on preaching and racism for the Uptick Voice women clergy conference in Durham, N.C., April 20; Goodson Chapel to Duke Divinity alumni at the Texas Annual Conference in Houston, May Friday, March 29, 2019 28; on “Why Jesus?” from his book of the same title at Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria, Fla., June 24–25; and as preacher for St. Andrew’s Dune Church in Southampton, N.Y., Aug. 26. He also led various clergy and congregational a Xi Lian events: a congregational retreat for Grace Episcopal Cathedral Stanley Hauerwas (Charleston, S.C.) at Kanuga, N.C., Carlos Colón Aug. 31–Sept. 2; a three-day retreat for retired United Methodist clergy A Trio from the Boston at Fort Caswell, N.C., Sept. 26–28; and a three-day clergy conference for Symphony Orchestra Presbyterian and United Methodist with Jeremy Begbie clergy in Salt Lake City, at the end of September. In his capacity as chair of the Wofford Student Experience Committee, he led a study of student the worlda premieret of a New life at Wofford College, which he work by Chinese composer Pei Lu serves as a member of the board of trustees.
NORMAN WIRZBA has been appointed the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology, having previously served as professor of theology, ecology, and agrarian studies. He began as associate dean of faculty development on July 1.
FALL 2018 | 41 / NEW FACULTY BOOKS /
THE WORKS OF JOHN WESLEY, VOL. 32: MEDICAL AND HEALTH WRITINGS Edited by Randy Maddox, William Kellon Quick Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies, and James G. Donat Kingswood Books, 2018 724 pages, Hardcover, $39.99
FROM THE BEGINNING of his ministry, John Wesley was committed to nurturing in his own life and in the communities he served “health of body and of soul.” Far from being an amusing avocation, his interest in health and healing was a central dimension of his ministry and of the mission of early Methodism. When considered in its historical context, Wesley’s precedent provides a model of the concern for holistic health and healing that is instructive for his present ecclesial heirs. This volume provides a window into his concern for “health of body” by collecting all of his writings related to health and wellness. These range from his best-selling home guide to health care, Primitive Physick—which remained in print (and use!) into the 1880s—through his recommendation of electrical-shock therapy to his concern for nervous disorders. As a primary record of one of the founders of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s medical writings are crucial to a full understanding of the spirit of the early movement, its attitude toward the context from which it emerged, and the reasons for its lasting impact on Britain, America, and indeed the world. It also helps readers to understand the context and sensibility around issues of bodily health and Christian salvation out of which Wesleyan theology, worship, spirituality, hymnody, and conferencing emerged.
LEO VI AND THE known as the Taktika. It also examines PROTESTANT REFORMERS found TRANSFORMATION OF in depth his 113 legislative Novels, with biblical prophecy BYZANTINE CHRISTIAN particular attention to their theological to be exceptionally IDENTITY: WRITINGS OF AN introductions, showing how the em- effective for framing UNEXPECTED EMPEROR peror’s religious sensibilities influenced their reforming work By Meredith L.D. Riedel, Assistant the ways that he reshaped the legal under the authority of Professor of the History of Christianity code to bring it into closer accord with Scripture, for the true Cambridge University Press, 2018 Byzantine canon law. Riedel argues that prophet speaks the 240 pages, Hardcover, $105.00 the impact of his religious faith trans- Word of God alone formed Byzantine cultural identity and and calls the people, their worship, and THE BYZANTINE emperor Leo VI influenced his successors, establishing their beliefs and practices back to the (886–912), was not a the Macedonian dynasty as a “golden Word of God. G. Sujin Pak argues that general or a soldier, age” in Byzantium. these 16th- and 17th-century reformers like his predecessors, used prophetic concepts in order to but a scholar. The determine a theology of the priesthood religious education of all believers, a model of the pastoral he gained under THE REFORMATION OF office, a vision for the reform of the tutelage of the PROPHECY: EARLY MODERN worship, and processes for discerning patriarch Photios dis- INTERPRETATIONS OF right interpretation of Scripture. tinguished him as an unusual ruler. This THE PROPHET & OLD Protestant reformers’ understandings book analyzes Leo’s literary output, TESTAMENT PROPHECY of the figure of the prophet and biblical focusing on his deployment of ideologi- By G. Sujin Pak, Associate Professor prophecy contributed to the formation cal principles and religious obligations of the History of Christianity and of distinct confessional identities, to distinguish the ethos of the Christian Vice Dean of Academic Affairs but explicit prophetic terminology community from the Islamic caliphate, Oxford University Press, 2018 waned among the next generation primarily through his military manual 392 pages, Hardcover, $99.00 of Protestant leadership. Eventually,
42 | DIVINITY the Protestant reformers concluded Heitzenrater, William Kellon Quick America is likewise dealing with divi- that the figure of the prophet entailed Professor Emeritus of Church History, sions of various sorts. Who can preach? as many problems as it did benefits, and Frank Baker Who can celebrate Communion? though they continued to give much Kingswood Books, 2018 Who can marry whom? With this time and attention to the exegesis of 488 pages, Paperback, $54.99 commentary, Charles L. Campbell biblical prophetic writings. helps preachers understand how to AS A PRIMARY record of one of respond to those questions in their the founders of the own settings. LAUGHING AT THE DEVIL: Methodist movement, SEEING THE WORLD WITH Charles Wesley’s JULIAN OF NORWICH journal is crucial to A PECULIAR ORTHODOXY: By Amy Laura Hall, Associate an understanding of REFLECTIONS ON THEOLOGY Professor of Christian Ethics the beginnings of that AND THE ARTS Duke University Press, 2018 movement. It is an By Jeremy S. Begbie, 144 pages, Paperback, $18.95 indispensable inter- Baker Academic, 2018 pretive companion to John Wesley’s 224 pages, Hardcover, $32.00 LAUGHING AT THE DEVIL is an journal, diaries, and letters. Since it pro- invitation to see the vides essential background for Charles JEREMY BEGBIE has been at the world alongside a Wesley’s own lyrical theology expressed forefront of teaching medieval visionary in sacred poetry, it is also helpful for and writing on now known as Julian anyone who wants to understand the theology and the arts of Norwich, believed context out of which a movement that for more than 20 years. to be the first woman “sings its theology” emerged. Amid current debates to have written a book and discussions, he in English. (Her given emphasizes the role of name is unknown, because she became 1 CORINTHIANS: BELIEF: a biblically grounded known by the name of a church that A THEOLOGICAL creedal orthodoxy as he shows how became her home.) Julian of Norwich COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE Christian theology and the arts can called for courage during a time of fear, By Charles L. Campbell, enrich each other. He explains the writing that she “saw our Lord scorn Professor of Homiletics importance of critically examining key [the Devil’s] wickedness” and that Westminster John Knox Press, 2018 terms, concepts, and thought patterns “he wants us to do the same.” In this 272 pages, Hardcover, $40.00 commonly employed in discourse of impassioned, analytic, and irreverent theology and the arts today, arguing book, Amy Laura Hall describes how THE LATEST commentary in the that notions such as beauty and sacra- a courageous woman transformed a Belief series looks ment are often adopted uncritically setting of dread into hope, solidarity, at the apostle Paul’s without due attention given to how an and resistance. theological wrestling orientation to the triune God’s self- with the divisions disclosure in Christ might lead us to within the early reshape and invest these notions with THE JOURNAL LETTERS AND church in Corinth. fresh content. Throughout A Peculiar RELATED BIOGRAPHICAL These divisions arose Orthodoxy, Begbie demonstrates the ITEMS OF THE REVEREND around various issues, power of classic trinitarian faith to CHARLES WESLEY, M.A. among them the practices of baptism bring illumination, surprise, and delight Edited by Randy L. Maddox, William and the Lord’s Supper, preaching, whenever it engages with the arts. Kellon Quick Professor of Wesleyan and the exercise of spiritual gifts. and Methodist Studies, Richard P. The contemporary church in North
FALL 2018 | 43 / CLASS NOTES /
60s ALBERT MOSLEY D’98 has been BENJAMIN WHITE D’04 received WILBUR I. JACKSON D’61 published selected as Methodist Le Bonheur a 2018 National Endowment for a book of devotionals titled Thinking Healthcare’s new senior vice president the Humanities summer stipend to of God Every Day (Xulon Press). He for faith and health. Previously, he support research on his book project, currently resides in Knightdale, N.C. served as executive vice president of “Practicing Paul”, which will argue for Bethune-Cookman University. a new historiographical framework for writing Pauline biography. He currently 80s JASON BYASSEE D’99 recently resides in Greenville, S.C. STEVEN MORTON D’83 began published a book co-written with Rae an appointment as superintendent Jean Proeschold-Bell, Faithful and MATTHEW OLVER D’05 received of the North District of the Eastern Fractured: Responding to the Clergy his Ph.D. from Marquette University. Pennsylvania Conference on J Health Crisis (Baker Academic). The He is currently assistant professor uly 1. He previously served 21 years book is based on a study by the Duke of liturgics and pastoral theology as senior pastor at Hopewell UMC in University’s Clergy Health Initiative, at Nashotah House Theological the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. a major, decade-long research project. Seminary in Nashotah, Wis., the He currently resides in Vancouver, B.C. second-oldest Episcopal seminary MICHAEL KURTZ D’84 published in the United States. a book, Mentoring Pew Sitters into Servant Leaders (Plowpoint Press). 00s JOHN ANDERSON D’06 was He currently resides in Candler, N.C. RODNEY PARKER D’01, D’06 promoted to associate professor of completed a Ph.D. in counselor religious studies at Presentation MARTHA FAIRCHILD D’86 retired education and supervision with a College in Aberdeen, S.D. in March after 28 years of service concentration in pastoral counseling as a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at Loyola University Maryland. He teaching elder (minister of word and currently resides in Baltimore and 10s sacrament). For 23 years, she was serves as the director of ALANA WILLIAM JACKSON WATTS D’11 pastor of First Presbyterian Church Services at Loyola University Maryland graduated in May from Concordia in Huntsville, Tenn. She resides in and the executive pastor of Carter Seminary with a Ph.D. in theology Reidsville, N.C. Memorial Church of God in Christ. and culture. He currently resides in Pevely, Miss. STEVE BENNETT FLOWERS D’04 90s is working as a hospice chaplain for KEVIN PORTWOOD D’15 is currently LOUANN AVERITT BRACE Bon Secours Hospice in Richmond, Va. serving as associate pastor at First (MURPHY) D’95 married Billy G. He has also started his own company, UMC of Kerrville, Texas. Brace. Together they have four Chaplains’ Care of Virginia. adult children, three teenagers, and two grandchildren. They reside in Rogers, Ark. Got News? STAY IN TOUCH! You can email [email protected] or visit WWW.DIVINITY.DUKE.EDU/UPDATE to submit class notes or update your information.
/ OBITUARY /
BERNARD R. FITZGERALD D’53 of Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 22, 2018. During his more than 40 years of ministry in the United Methodist Church, he served churches in Asheville, Lincolnton, High Point, and Charlotte. He also had appointments as district superintendent for the Asheville and Charlotte districts. He is survived by his four children, six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol.
44 | DIVINITY / SNAPSHOT /
dukedivinity Duke Divinity School
118 likes “The truth we omit doesn’t go away. dukedivinity The rug gets pulled back and prophets show up. The lost get found. The unofficial story gets told. The unnamed and previously ignored get a seat at the table”– Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams, Professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary • The 2018 Gardner C. Taylor Lecture Series- Ministry and #MeToo: Confronting Sexual Violence from Black Church Resources
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A Symposium on the Future of Theology and the Arts | September 5-8, 2019 | Durham, NC DITA10 For more information visit: https://sites.duke.edu/dita
Colloquium for Dynamic Emerging Scholars Performances by in Theology and the New Caritas the Arts Orchestra Lanecia Rouse Tinsley Christian Wiman N.T. Wright
Conversations Plenary Talks with Practicing from Foremost Christian Artists Thinkers
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Workshops for Church Leaders and Artists
Kristine Blaess & St. Georgeʼs Malcolm Guite Natalie Carnes Micheal OʼSiadhail Episcopal Church