Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

FALL/WINTER ’10 | VOL.38 NO.2

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 1 contents FALL/WINTER ’10 VOL.38 NO.2 The Ministry Magazine of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

ON THE FRONT LINES 3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ministering to a Pre-Christian Community Mr. Joel B. Aarsvold Dr. Claude R. Alexander, Jr. in Massachusetts Mrs. Linda Schultz Anderson Anne B. Doll Dr. George F. Bennett Rev. Dr. Garth T. Bolinder Rev. Dr. Richard P. Camp, Jr. Mr. Thomas J. Colatosti, Chair What Is Ethics All About? Mr. Charles W. Colson 6 Mrs. Joyce A. Godwin Esther Byle Bruland Dr. William F. Graham Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes Mr. Herbert P. Hess, Treasurer Mr. Ivan C. Hinrichs 10 Wonderfully Made–Terribly Fallen Rev. Dr. John A. Huffman, Jr. Dennis P. Hollinger Mr. Caleb Loring III Rev. Dr. Christopher A. Lyons Mrs. Joanna S. Mockler Fred L. Potter, Esq. Shirley A. Redd, M.D. Ethics in the Workplace Mr. Timothy B. Robertson 14 Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr. David W. Gill Mr. John Schoenherr Mrs. Virginia M. Snoddy Joseph W. Viola, M.D., Secretary J. Christy Wilson III, Esq. 17 To Live in Justice Rev. Dr. John H. Womack Eldin Villafañe William C. Wood, M.D. EMERITI MEMBERS Dr. Richard A. Armstrong Dr. Robert E. Cooley, How to Make Ethical Decisions President Emeritus 22 Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford in a Complex World Mr. Roland S. Hinz Patrick T. Smith Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. President Emeritus Rev. Dr. Robert J. Lamont Mr. Richard D. Phippen John G. Talcott, Jr. 28 FACULTY PROFILE Rev. Dr. Paul E. Toms Garth Rosell President Ruth Hawk Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger Vice President of Advancement Mr. Kurt W. Drescher SEMINARY NEWS Director of Communications 29 and Marketing Mr. Michael L. Colaneri

FOCUS ON ALUMNI 34 Senior Communications Chris Castaldo Advisor and Editor of Contact Mrs. Anne B. Doll OPENING THE WORD Graphic Designer 39 Ms. Nicole S. Rim Catherine Clark Kroeger Assistant Editor of Contact Mrs. Ruth Hawk

Photography Inquiries regarding CONTACT may be addressed to: Mr. Tom Kates Editor, CONTACT Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Ms. Nicole S. Rim 130 Essex Street, S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Tel: 978.468.7111 or email: [email protected] www.gordonconwell.edu

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, GENDER, NATIONAL OR ETHNIC ORIGIN, AGE, HANDICAP OR VETERAN STATUS.

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ministering to a pre-christiancommunity in massachusetts anne b. doll astor PoSan Ung often talks about “persevering” as mostly Buddhist, but Buddhism is very nominal for them. he describes his church’s ministry of evangelism and discipleship in Lynn, Massachusetts. Six years ago, the gambling, etc. So we need to gather as a Christian community native of Cambodia and survivor of the Cambodian amongstThey are them, more trying driven to bybe salt materialism, and light.” instant gratification, holocaustP planted Living Fields Church in this northern Boston Today, his congregation is mostly Cambodian, with community. It is a city “trying to develop, to gentrify itself,” he a sprinkling of Korean American, Caucasian American, says, but a “struggling city” plagued by “gang activity, violence Vietnamese and Pan Asian members. Assisted by a few volunteer and poverty.” staff members, he is reaching out to children, youth and adults, Lynn is also home to part of the nation’s second largest beginning with corporate worship where non-believers “can hear Cambodian population, yet less than 0.5 percent are Christian. the Gospel and learn from the worship of God.” In 2004, Pastor PoSan, who attended Gordon-Conwell and The church then connects visitors through fellowship, has taught evangelism at the Boston campus, rented space in relational evangelism activities, and ministry and discipleship groups that meet nearly every evening of the week. These people group he characterizes as pre-Christian. opportunities can range from community dinners to outreach an office“This meansbuilding that and there set out simply to advance aren’t many the gospel Christians among and a music lessons, one-on-one discipleship and Bible studies in that they see Christ as a foreign god,” he explains. “They’re both English and Khmer, their native language.

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“lynn is also home to part of the nation’s second largest cambodian population, yet less than 0.5percent are christian.”

Outreach also extends to children, who PoSan says “need the happen to it? If it didn’t die, it would simply be unhealthy.’ blessing as well.” Each summer, the church stages a Vacation “I realized that with all our effort in the community, people Bible School for about 100 children—an effort he describes as spend one or two hours a week in the ministry our church is “huge…because this is a pre-Christian community. It’s not like offering. In those few hours of Sunday worship or outreaches, we have parents who sign them up…and drive them to the event about 10 minutes is spent in God’s Word. And in that 10 minutes, itself. We need to go door-to-door to invite them and register them. Then we go door-to-door to pick them up, bring them to Five minutes? Maybe not. So it’s no wonder that these babies our VBS and take them back home. It demands quite a bit.” arehow actually much time sickly is orspent dying reflecting because onthey God’s are notWord getting and prayer?enough The annual VBS, which he views as both evangelism and nutrients. They’re not living in a context where after they attend outreach, has drawn a number of children to the church on Sunday mornings. Here, he says, “they can gather in a safe their family. Rather, they receive discouragement and hostility environment to have fun” and participate in activities that help forchurch, their they faith. get They’re to go home the only to find Christians their identity in their as family, Christians and it’s in them “learn God’s Word, praise God and pray.” But this, too, is extremely lonesome.”

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1. PoSan with Living Fields youth 2. Pastor PoSan evangelizes to Buddhist He points to one new believer who is often accused by his monk from Lynn 3. Lynn, MA’s Buddhist temple was formerly a Baptist church 4. Morning devotions at Dormitory Ministry 5. Shop catering to the many poor grandfather of bringing shame to the family name by attending in Lynn 6. Ministering at evangelism outreach in local park a Christian church. His grandfather leads a Buddhist temple. And when another member became a Christian and started challenging “because little children require transportation.” attending Bible study, his mother told him, “You’re being stupid.” Their participation is sometimes determined by the number of Given this reality, Pastor PoSan realized that Lynn’s new drivers available to pick them up. In a pre-Christian community, Christians needed to “be nurtured and experience God’s love in it is quite a challenge since “‘the workers are few,’ yet God has a tangible way.” He wanted to have a discipleship community been stretching us to do what we can.” where these young adults “could live and experience what In 2007, Pastor PoSan embarked upon yet another major Christian living looks like: how we pray regularly, how we ministry, purchasing a house in which young adults who are respond to life’s challenges, how we search the Scriptures for new believers could live and be discipled. wisdom...how we have reverent training in God’s Word—and “I was just wracking my brain and heart before the Lord, and wondering why I wasn’t seeing more mature disciples among the this learning community for two or three years, they will grow, Cambodian people,” he recalls. “I have attended to that question befor equippedmore than and five ready minutes! to return My prayer to their is that homes by experiencingto become a through every stage of ministry that God has allowed me to do. I different kind of neighbor, a different kind of son/daughter, or wanted to preach the true gospel, helping people to see God for future husband/wife. That they would, in turn, know how to who He is, and to know that our only true hope is in Christ…But make disciples among their own friends and families.” still, over the years I do not see true disciples maturing.” Since purchasing the discipleship house, Pastor PoSan has The pastor says that one day, as he wrestled with this

pool of sewage water in the gutter. “I felt the Lord asking me, ‘If nearly single-handedly renovated the facility, retrofitting the first youdilemma, had an he infant was walkinglying in thatout ofpool the of church sewage office water, and what spotted would a floor apartment as a men’s dormitory and the third as a dorm for women, with the middle floor for living and ministry space. But the renovation is still a significant work in progress, sandwiched 4 FALL/WINTER ‘10

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in among the pastor’s myriad ministry responsibilities. Pastor PoSan Ung In addition to the ongoing task of making the facility functional, currently a key need is to renovate the basement as a place for on Discipleship Sunday worship/gathering space. The congregation is rapidly outgrowing its rented quarters. “This is completely a walk of faith, Rev. PoSan Ung grew up in Brooklyn, because it takes a lot to do this,” he admits. “I don’t know how God NY, as a Cambodian refugee. He is going to provide, but I trust He will in His timing.” earned a Bachelor of Science from Through the church’s ministries of outreach and discipleship, Brown University before attending Gordon-Conwell. As a missionary he adds, “God is allowing us to persevere, and it is bearing fruit.” with Boston’s Emmanuel Gospel He points to the response of an international student from an elite Center (EGC), he was examined and family in Cambodia. “The young man met us as he was earning an approved by EGC and the Christian MBA in Boston after studying economics and law in his homeland, Cambodian American Fellowship (CCAF). In addition to pastoring and pursuing additional study in Taiwan on a fellowship. PoSan, left, mentors pastors in Cambodia Living Fields Church in Lynn, MA, he is the Minister-at-Large for CCAF PoSan recounts. “But an opportunity came for the gospel to and is the Cambodian Resource Coordinator for Asian Access, be “Atpresented first, he to was him, just and interested his response in getting was, to‘I knowdon’t care.’us,” Pastor That through which he trains and mentors pastors in his homeland of Cambodia. ([email protected]) was quite a moment of formation for all of us…With such great effort, how was it that the gospel seemed to fall on deaf ears? You can imagine the dynamic in our hearts. But knowing God was “ omething happens when you do discipleship in an ministering in that moment, I realized that He was calling me to intentional and in-depth way. We can talk about Stransformation superficially, something that we kind of obedient to Him.” desire and wish for. But I think that in the path of discipleship, trust that salvation belongs to the Lord and to find our joy in being transformation happens as we obey what the Lord commands. 4 5 6 We don’t normally obey what he commands, as our inclination is towards sin. Thus, we need disciplers, people who would teach us what we need to know and then call us to do that.

“Many times, we just leave it at people are saved. They make a certain profession and they say ‘yes’ to a set of questions and that’s it. I don’t think so. God has given us a greater privilege to greater things. And that is to witness transformation...to be disciple-makers through the power of God who works through the Word, works through the Church, sending us out. And that comes through calling people to obey God’s commands, while trusting in the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. The ministry team, therefore, continued to invite the young man to church, but he didn’t show up until a month later. “I was serving “Speaking into people’s lives is not only sharing a prayer need, communion, and he wanted to receive it,” Pastor PoSan remembers. but saying, ‘How are you doing with that specific struggle, and “I asked him how he was doing, and he said that he needed Jesus. At what do the Scriptures say regarding it?’—excavating the issue. the end of worship, he told me that he had always been the master Learning that takes a real understanding of the reality of mercy of his own life, and he realized he couldn’t save himself from his sin and righteousness. God loved us and saved us in his mercy, but and that only Jesus could.” he saved us for his glory, so that’s righteousness in our lives. As the pastor prepared the man for baptism, he expressed He doesn’t merely save us from hell and leave us where we are. He the desire to grow, even asking PoSan to teach him how to better saves us though we were a stench to his nostrils. But his plan for us is hope and a future that is His glory. We need to call people to this understand the Bible and to disciple him. After the new Christian righteousness while showing great endurance, mercy and gentleness. completes his degree, he wants to attend seminary, then return to Cambodia as a professor where he desires to make disciples. “The challenge of a discipler is that when you walk with a disciple, “He told me, ‘Pastor, I’m going to have thousands of students, there is great need for wisdom and vigilance in calling them to obey. and I’d like to know how to disciple,’” PoSan notes, “so God is using Sometimes we miss those opportunities or we shy away from them, this little church in this faraway place to do a work halfway around afraid that it might offend. But we need to care more about them the globe—maybe not today, not this year, but maybe in 10 or 20 than ourselves. The following steps are examples of what to consider years. Who would have thought that God would do that kind of when calling a disciple towards obedience: ministry…in a place like Lynn? 1 Make sure that you present God’s wisdom, grounded in His “Doing all this is quite a task when you don’t have many Word, as opposed to wordly wisdom. resources,” he says, “but God has been gracious to bring us a great 2 Once you have godly wisdom, seek the Spirit for leading and discernment, whether it’s the time/place to present God’s Truth. that’s located in our own backyard.” 3 Refrain from correcting/rebuking if a judgmental or harvest, and He is allowing us to persevere in this mission field condemning spirit is at play. 4 Assess their hidden depth of sickness and offer the medicine of God’s Love and Truth. www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 5 Esther Byle Bruland, Ph.D., MATS (’81)

6 FALL/WINTER ‘10 Unlike other professionals, pastors relate to their members in a multitude of contexts. We are with our people in church, but also in their homes, at barbecues or softball games, or numerous other social settings, and our interactions with them (which are required and expected) relate to a wide range of interests and concerns. Our members also sometimes serve on boards or committees in the church that have authority regarding our salary, job performance and other matters that affect us personally and professionally. These waters can be very difficult to negotiate at times, especially when it comes to questions of honoring confidentiality and maintaining proper boundaries.

Gordon-Conwell alumnus shared these thoughts in response to the question, resolve provides: “What seems to be the most recurrent lie.” He reflected on the protection this high ethical ethical concern that you have faced in Over 25 years ago, at my first church, I learned the your ministry?” I asked several alumni “hard way” that careless words spoken in jest could thisA question and, under promise of anonymity, come back to haunt you. I found that my words received a wide range of responses. Let’s hear a few could easily be twisted and used against me out of more. context. After that ministry of five wonderful years, “The struggle to wisely apply God’s life guidelines I had a group of individuals, looking to take over versus lapsing into behavior that Jesus deems foolish control of the church, attack me. They went back over demands constant attention,” voiced one. A similar four years of ministry and brought up conversations commitment to high personal ethical standards and comments I had supposedly made (in many cases, shone through most responses. I couldn’t even remember the conversation) and used One alumnus focused on the intersection of them to impugn my integrity. Since then, I have always these standards with the challenges of the pastoral been ultra-vigilant to make sure I am truthful and role, noting, “It is so crucial for the pastor to honest in my ministry in everything I say and write. constantly strive to be totally honest and truthful at It is a blessing to know that I have done everything I all times. People almost assume, based on living in a can to make sure I speak the truth, even though there will always be times when others try to interpret my comments differently or take them out of context. culture filled with people in authority who lie, from politicians to preachers, that all authority figures

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 7 thers echoed this theme of the need for ethical work sheds helpful light on the interplay of convictions, vigilance. A 30-year senior pastor focused on settings, choices and consequences. administrative vigilance: This descriptive mapping reveals that Christians have taken various routes in deriving norms they would label Shepherding church staff brings its share of as Christian. In his benchmark Survey of Christian Ethics, ethicalO challenges. I have found that most are Christ-centered Edward L. Long, Jr. characterized three major routes: and dedicated to serving others. On occasion, though, even the deliberative (drawing especially upon reason and with agreed-upon personnel guidelines, some will stray. For philosophy), the prescriptive (drawing especially upon instance, my current office manager is a dedicated disciple prescriptive codes, including biblical revelation), and the

Ethics helps us map out this territory and pursue the good, the right, the true, the just, the virtuous, on paths characterized by these same qualities.

of Jesus. By contrast, the office manager who was here when relational (drawing especially upon a relationship with God I came was discovered to have spent hours each day using as a primary source of norms).4 church technology to pursue her personal sales on eBay…It is Long similarly looked at how Christians have applied a delicate task to call for accountability when a staff member’s norms, once derived. Again, he discerned three major attitudes or activities are in conflict with biblical directives historical approaches to this task: the institutional (including and with a church’s purpose and mission. Catholic, Protestant and other expressions), the operational

s these comments reveal, ethics has a broad the intentional (including separatism and special groups).5 scope, ranging from personal and interpersonal (includingLong updated various and applicationsexpanded his of influenceoriginal survey, and power) including and to corporate accountability and beyond. Add new attention given to virtue and character ethics.6 denominational challenges, and the mix gets even Not every route from ethical challenge to norm derivation stickier. One pastor asked, “How do I reconcile to norm application is equally desirable, just as not all routes myA sense of call to work for renewal in [my denomination] from points A to B on a map are optimal. My family learned with the apostate nature of that denomination on the this the hard way some years ago, when our well-meaning national, conference and seminary levels?” AAA agent in Michigan prescribed what looked like the best Perhaps it surprises some Contact readers that the top connector route between Gettysburg and the Pennsylvania ethical concerns of these respondents have little to do with Turnpike at Breezewood. As we drove Route 30 on a dark, the headlines of the day. Much of ethics is like that. Hanna rainy November night, though, we white-knuckled and Arendt wrote strikingly of “the banality of evil.”1 A great prayed our way through twists and turns that became iced deal of the work of ethics lies in untangling evil and good in with freezing rain in the higher elevations of the mountains everyday situations. we were crossing. In fact, I would like to suggest that much of ethics, as a No, not all ethical routes are equally sound or desirable, and not all can deliver the destination they promise. Christians holding to the authority of the Bible seek routes asdiscipline, the “already involves but not helping yet of usthe find parousia our way.” 2 More through recently, the rooted, as Dennis Hollinger puts it, “in the very nature tension-filledCornelius Plantinga, territory Jr. Georgehas reminded Eldon Laddus that characterized what we and actions of God and in [a biblical] worldview . . . [and experience daily is Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be.3 Ethics emerging] out of a personal relationship with God through helps us map out this territory and pursue the good, the Christ . . . nurtured and sustained in the context of the body right, the true, the just, the virtuous, on paths characterized of believers, the Church.”7 by these same qualities. Sometimes, even given this sound basis, the way seems Some of this territory is well-mapped. Limiting ourselves uncharted. My son was given a GPS device, the kind that does not receive automatic updates. He installed it in the family history of Christian ethics describing ever more thoroughly theto specificallytopography Christian of ethical ethics, challenges we find, forencountered example, theby in a newly-developed plaza, I seem to go right off the map Christians across time, culture, ecclesiology and so on. This intocar, and a grayg I find area. it intriguingThis device that depicts en route what to it’s the like grocery to confront store

8 FALL/WINTER ‘10 new ethical challenges, such as those presented by the latest Reinhold Niebuhr famously said, “Man’s capacity for biotechnologies. We can traverse clearly demarcated routes justice makes democracy possible; but man’s inclination to a point, but then we have to forge our way through new to injustice makes democracy necessary.”9 So with the developments. Several articles in this issue of Contact model continuing work of ethics. Our capacity for justice enables us how Christian ethicists go about this task. to do it, and our inclination to injustice requires that we As ethical agents, we rarely have to think long and hard do it. All the while, we anticipate the day of God’s shalom, about the ethical decisions we make. Ideally, ethical decisions when this work will find its completion in “the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, of virtue—these being formed based on God’s revealed fulfillment, and delight . . . .”10 Word,and actions carefully flow frominterpreted characters and formed applied. by lifelongBut as habitsfallen people, even biblically-formed people, we don’t know or do it is supposed to be, may we do so with humility...but also the right thing without fail. The discipline of ethics helps withAs conviction we traverse and this hope, tension-filled because in territory, the already-but-not- not the way us work systematically through the values, stakeholders, yet world in which we make our ethical deliberations and responsibilities, accountability systems, sources of norms, decisions, the in-breaking of the Reign of God has begun. Ethics helps us map out this territory and pursue consequences and so on, in our ethical decision-making. 1 Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (New York, NY: Viking, 1963). the good, the right, the true, the just, the virtuous, denominational executive alumnus spotlights 2 George Eldon Ladd, The Presence of the Future (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, our need for this discipline: 1974). on paths characterized by these same qualities. 3 Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin (Grand In serving over 16 years in regional ministry, Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995). time and time again I have watched pastors 4 Edward L. Long, Jr., A Survey of Christian Ethics (New York, NY: Oxford University breacha a boundary that has brought untold pain and confusion Press, 1967). to congregations large and small. No, it’s not the “common” 5 Ibid. boundary and ethical issues that often seem to rise to the 6 Edward L. Long, Jr., A Survey of Recent Christian Ethics (New York, NY: Oxford surface in our thinking: sexual or financial misconduct. Those University Press, 1982). are destructive ethical breaches for sure, but the one that came 7 Dennis Hollinger, Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex World (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2002), pp. 20-21. first to my mind is the boundary breach of failing to disengage from a congregation when God has called them away, either 8 Ibid., See, for example, pp. 20ff. to a new ministry or into ‘‘retirement.” Often, under the guise 9 Reinhold Niebuhr, Children of Light, Children of Darkness (New York, NY: of “pastoral concern for the flock,” these leaders confuse the Scribner’s, 1972), p. xiii. congregations where they have served and frustrate the new 10 Plantinga, p.10. shepherd...[who ends up constantly] tripping over the not-so- distant “memory” of the previous pastor.

Ethics performs this work of clarifying and discern- ing at every level, from personal ethical decisions... all the way up to matters large and complex in scope...

t can seem good to extend pastoral presence to Dr. Esther Byle Bruland earned an MATS degree from former church members. However, as Dennis Gordon-Conwell, and a Ph.D. from Drew University. She is the author of two books, A Passion for Jesus, Hollinger helpfully warns, the pastoral inclination A Passion for Justice, co-authored with Stephen C. and the ethical are not always the same.8 For this Mott, and Regathering: The Church from They to reason, professional codes of ethics guide caring We. She has also written many articles, including pastors to clarify and keep healthy boundaries, lest harm be the widely read “A Time to Die,” originally published I in Today’s Christian Woman, 2006, March/April, done in the intent to do good. Vol. 28, Issue 2, and still available online at http:// Ethics performs this work of clarifying and discerning www.kyria.com/topics/missionallife/service/11.34. at every level, from personal ethical decisions (e.g., being html. Dr. Bruland teaches and writes in Pennsylvania. She can be reached truthful) all the way up to matters large and complex in scope at [email protected] (e.g., should I support my nation’s involvement in this war?).

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 9 Wonderfully Made terribly fallen a framework for bioethics

Dennis P. Hollinger, Ph.D.

10 FALL/WINTER ‘10 The contemporary world of medicine and biotechnology has brought incredible gains to the human race. Through these advances, people who a century ago would have died are today alive. An infertile couple can share in the biblical mandate to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Gen. 1:28). A dying patient can experience less pain and suffering. In a tragic accident, organs can be transplanted to a person in need. A person with neurological and nerve impairment can have functions restored. Thus, we can view medicine and biotechnology as a gift of God’s common grace for which we give thanks.

t the very same time, these gifts raise some of With unprecedented control over life and death, we need an ethical framework to guide us and bring wisdom to faces in the 21st century. Medical/technological these complex issues. That is a great challenge in a secular, Abreakthroughsthe most difficult mean ethicalthat we questionshave unprecedented humanity pluralistic culture where there are few agreements on potential control over life and death. Humans in the modern moral frameworks and assumptions. But as Christians, we forces of nature, including one’s personal life, destiny and the bioethics discussion. Above all, we bring a broad basic offspring.(and postmodern) world have fixated on control over the frameworkbring some significantfrom the biblicalparadigms, story, principles namely, and that virtues we are to Leon Kass, a former chair of the President’s Commission wonderfully made, but terribly fallen. This is not the whole on Bioethics, notes that the new technologies tend to blind of a Christian contribution to bioethical discussions, but it is us to the negative side of their utopian dreams. “Nearly all an essential paradigm that contributes much. Moreover, it is are wedded to the modern technological project; all march framework that can, in part, be understood by even a secularist. of modern science; all sing loudly the Baconian anthem, ‘Conquereagerly to nature, the drums relieve of progress man’s estate.’” and fly1 proudly the banner Wonderfully Made As a result, we now have the capacity to terminate a life when pain becomes burdensome or one’s life is no longer In the biblical story, humans are made as a special deemed “worth living.” We can control life at its beginning, creation, set apart from the rest of the created world. The determining whether an embryo will live when it seems Genesis account of creation provides two fundamental inconvenient or unplanned. We can control, to some degree, understandings that are essential to bioethics: the goodness the outcome of our offspring by selecting embryos that of creation, and humans formed in the image of God. The physical and biological world is a good creation of our Maker. need. We can transplant an organ from a dying patient to After each day of creation in the Genesis narrative, God afit needy with patient, a preconceived but can, desirein the orabsence predetermined of guidelines, medical also proclaims the material creation to be good. After creating hasten death to procure the organ. And invariably, we face humans in his image, there is the grand summary, “God saw the challenge of who gets the organs when there are not everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” nearly enough available. We are on the verge of being able (Gen. 1:31). Though the world is now fallen in every facet, to transplant a chip into the human brain that will allow a there is still an essential goodness to the world that God has quadriplegic some movement and bodily control. But with made and continues to sustain. the technology, we face the prospect of actually changing The goodness of the physical/biological world means human nature as we now know it. that Christians can work with this world to meet human

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 11 need. The cultural mandate to have dominion over the world treating persons as things rather than as precious beings (Gen.1:28) and “take care of it” (Gen. 2:15) is a mandate made in God’s image. Thus, the call for physician assisted to work with God’s creation as trustees or stewards. Thus, suicide (i.e. a form of euthanasia) is typically rooted in a Christians need not hesitate to enter the world of medicine functional dignity determined by a person’s own sense and biotechnology in which we develop mechanisms of care of worth, or the value others place upon her. The drive to and healing from God’s created world. Understanding and clone a human being overlooks the inherent dignity of the caring for God’s world can, of course, be misused, especially human person in its attempt to duplicate a living being for when we venture from stewardship to self-centered control the value it might bring to science. The same can be said for over his creation. But the goodness of creation and the cloning to produce embryonic stem cells, or cloning to bring related cultural mandate are invitations to work with a child into the world totally outside of the loving intimacy the biological world for the glory of God and the good of of husband and wife. humanity. As the Psalmist put it, “What are mere mortals While the new reproductive technologies have the potential that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for to address the anguishing infertility of a couple, some of these them? You have made them a little lower than the heavenly technologies have the capacity to turn reproduction into beings and crowned them with glory and honor. You have manufacturing. Christians can judiciously utilize many of these made them rulers over the works of your hands, and put technologies, but great care should be given to preserve the everything under their feet” (8:4-6). dignity of our offspring in the way they are utilized. Similarly, A second essential understanding from creation is that the gift of cadaver organs for transplants is a marvelous way humans are made in the image of God. Biblical scholars and to extend the life of another, even in the midst of tragic loss. theologians have long debated the meaning of the imago dei, But in deciding who gets the organs amid excessive shortages, but clearly, in part, it means that humans are set apart in a we must ensure fairness and justice, protecting the dignity of special way from the rest of creation, and thus are endowed every human being. Thus, organs should never be distributed with dignity and intrinsic worth. While Christ is the ultimate on the basis of social status. image of God (Col. 1:15; 2 Cor. 4:4), and believers are made Humans are wonderfully made. Their dignity and anew in the likeness of Christ, there is a creational image worth should be preserved in every facet of medicine and that extends to all humanity. Thus, James could appeal to the biotechnology.

But as Christians we bring some significant paradigms, principles and virtues to the bioethics discussion. Above all, we bring a broad basic framework from the biblical story, namely, that we are wonderfully made, but terribly fallen.

imago dei and its implied dignity in discussing the misuse of the tongue to slander a person: “With it we bless the Lord and Father, with it we curse those who are made in the Terribly Fallen likeness of God” (3:9). We understand that “human dignity… is not tied to a claim that human beings are divine or inherently worthy The Christian worldview not only posits a good creation apart from God, nor is it a function of human autonomy with humans made in the image of God. It also portrays independent of God whereby people assume the authority to another side of human nature: We are terribly fallen. Though declare their own worth. Instead, human dignity is grounded God gave humans the ability and task of caring for the world, in humanity’s unique connection with God, by God’s own we have frequently turned that stewardship into a pillaging creative initiative.”2 of the earth, acts of injustice for our own self-centered gain, The intrinsic dignity of human beings is a major principle and, at times, even moral malice while seeking to do good. for bioethics. From conception to the grave, a human being Thus, in bioethics we must constantly be aware of the human should be treated with a value that is not dependent on proclivity to distort God’s designs and misuse his good physical or cognitive capacity. Today, there is a tendency natural resources and the artifacts and technologies made in our culture to replace intrinsic dignity with functional from them. dignity, meaning that a person’s worth depends on the In Genesis 3, the story of the Fall depicts distortions in degree of functionality with which he or she can perform, the multiple spheres of life: with God, self, others and nature. or a value that is determined by others. This easily leads to Thus, like Adam and Eve, we attempt to take life into our

12 FALL/WINTER ‘10 own hands on our own terms, and we deceive ourselves in resource for therapy, healing and human good. But the midst of our dominion and care for God’s creation. Self- simultaneously, because the gifts and their “masters” are deception is one of the major marks of fallen humanity, and fallen, they can be used to defy God’s designs for life, and deface the most precious of God’s creation: Humans made in including bioethics. the image of God. it canSeveral play ayears significant ago while role in teaching distortions in inKiev, the Ukraine,moral life, I visited the Great War Museum. In one section of the museum depicting the atrocities of the Nazi regime throughout Conclusion Europe, I noticed a glass case containing a rather strange- looking white glove. I asked the interpreter accompanying Wonderfully made, but terribly fallen. This paradigm me to read the statement beside the case. He soberly read, does not solve all the ethical quandaries we face in the world of medicine and biotechnology. But it is a basic framework in this so heinous was the involvement and even leadership of which to carry out the related vocations, and through which leading“This glove scientists was made and from doctors human of that flesh.” time. Part Men of whatand women makes we all will make some of the hardest decisions in life. No trained in the top medical and science schools of Europe other worldview paints the human self in quite the same way acquiesced to unspeakable evil under the guise of science as God’s Word. Nevertheless, it is a paradigm that resonates and medicine. with the way human beings universally experience life and

...in bioethics we must constantly be aware of the human proclivity to distort God’s designs and misuse his good natural resources, and the artifacts and technologies made from them.

Being terribly fallen, humans have the capacity not only the world. And it is a paradigm that can guide believers into for great acts of heroism and seeking good for the human the exciting new world of medicine and biotechnology with race, but also the capacity to do evil, even in the name of both hope and realism. therapy, science or alleviating human suffering. Scientists and physicians are, of course, not alone in this tendency 1 Leon Kass, Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics (San to take the good world with its potential for technological Francisco: Encounter Books, 2002), 4. advancement and desecrate it with actions that deface 2 C. Ben Mitchell, Edmund D. Pellegrino, Jean Bethke Elshatain, John F. Kilner and Scott human dignity and ignore even the most obvious ethical B. Rae, Biotechnology and the Human Good (Washington, DC: Georgetown University obligations or virtues. It is evident in all domains of society Press, 2007), 71. and among all the professions. 3 Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 99. that subverts even our natural moral sensibilities. As CorneliusAt times, Plantinga, unethical practicesJr. puts it,fall “Vices…masqueradeprey to re-classification as Dr. Dennis Hollinger is President and Colman M. virtues—lust as love, thinly veiled sadism as military Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics discipline, envy as righteous indignation….Deceivers learn at Gordon-Conwell. He was previously President how to present something falsely, and they exert themselves and Professor of Christian Ethics at Evangelical to make the presentation credible.”3 This is evident, for Theological Seminary, Myerstown, PA; has held example, in the use of autonomy as one of the cherished administrative and teaching positions at Messiah principles of biomedicine. College and Alliance Theological Seminary; and served as adjunct or visiting professor at seminaries Unfortunately, autonomy has been used to undermine in Russia, India and Ukraine. He has also pastored several churches, human dignity and defend the right to snuff out a human life including Washington Community Fellowship on Capitol Hill. Dr. Hollinger when it is burdensome or unwanted. Cloning is sometimes has written four books, and co-edited the Eerdmans book series, Critical Issues in Bioethics. He is a Distinguished Fellow with the Center for soften the moral blow of the act. Human enhancements Bioethics and Human Dignity and on the board of reference for the C.S. throughcalled by biotechnology its scientific procedure,that threaten somatic to change cell transfer, the basic to Lewis Institute. He pursued his M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity contours of human nature are at times simply labeled “acts School, his M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees at Drew University and postdoctoral of compassion.” studies at Oxford University. Being terribly fallen, we must be cautious even in the most laudable efforts to apply medicine and biotechnologies to the human race. As good gifts of God, they are a wonderful

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 13 in the EthicsWorkplace

David W. Gill, Ph.D.

t doesn’t take an academic survey or blue ribbon government commission to proveI the point that we have an ethics problem in the workplace and business world. Every day, the media run stories of executive misbehavior, improperly-tested products, worker mistreatment, dreadful customer service, employee theft, environmental pollution and so on. Think about the recent subprime lending debacle, the Bernie Madoff scandal, the BP oil spill, and Toyota’s cover-up. It often feels like an epidemic from top to bottom of the business world. Most of us have been negatively affected one way or another by these problems; these are not just news stories about others.

14 FALL/WINTER ‘10 “We are being trained to react to rare circumstances in our rearview mirror. We become experts in allocating blame Workplace but not much else.”

Before we get hysterical, though, this perception needs we work positively and constructively on how to build to be balanced a bit. The reality is that most business respectful relationships and communication on our team? managers and employees actually do spend their days A much more effective approach is what I call “mission trying to do the right thing by each other and by their control” ethics. In this approach, we start by clarifying customers. The bad apples and big scandals are the the purpose of our organization. What is our mission and exceptions, not the rule. It is almost certainly the case also vision? If our mission is simply and narrowly to “move that today’s media and communications environment money from your pockets to mine,” we are going to have has given much wider exposure to problems that in the trouble. The love of money or the mission to tear down our past went unreported. It is just harder to hide today. barns and build bigger ones—by itself—isn’t going to get Still, we do have serious ethical problems in business and it done, ethically speaking. Creating and delivering good the workplace. One of the ironies of this situation is that of our world, healing the hurting and wounded…those study in business school and as a management practice and areand beautifulthemes that products get people and services, out of fixingbed in the the brokenness morning concern—hasover the past 30received years, greaterbusiness and ethics—both greater emphasis, as a field but of eager to bring their best, most ethical self to work. with no apparent impact on the way people and organizations In this mission control approach, “ethics” becomes actually behave. Over the past 30 years, almost all Fortune something positive: a description of “how we need to 1000 companies have adopted codes of ethics and training treat one another (and all of our stakeholders) in order to programs, and the majority of business schools now have excel and succeed in our mission.” This is where Christians required courses in business ethics and social responsibility. can contribute a great deal of insight and truly “salt” the But how effective have all of these been? Maybe we’re not marketplace. Those uplifting mission and vision themes doing it the right way. come straight out of the Bible. Our God is Creator and Redeemer. We, and all people, have been made in the image

Damage Control or Mission Control? when given a chance to express those aspects of our One problem with “business ethics as usual” is that it humanity.and likeness of a Creator and Redeemer, and we flourish is too often an affair of crisis management and “damage control.” The ethics program (or ethics course) focuses almost exclusively on discussion of serious problem Rules or Character? cases: the wreck of the Exxon Valdez, the Union Carbide A second problem with much of the business and plant explosion in Bhopal, exploited workers in Kathy Lee workplace ethics out there is its overemphasis on getting Gifford’s clothing supply chain, Ford’s Pinto safety scandal. the rules straight—to the neglect of individual character No doubt we can learn something by analyzing these cases. and corporate culture. Much of today’s ethics training reacts But let’s face it: These are rare and extreme circumstances to crisis cases and ethical dilemmas by appeal to a set of for most of us. Even more important, we are reacting to rules and some kind of decision-making formula (borrowed situations after they occur. Result? We are being trained from the secular moral philosophy rooted in the European to react to rare circumstances in our rearview mirror. We Enlightenment) for analysis and response. become experts in allocating blame but not much else. Christians, of course, can share the best set of moral Consider sexual harassment training, often the most rules on earth: the Ten Commandments. The Decalogue is a powerful template for ethical guidance that leads to justice, It takes place primarily out of fear of lawsuits and brand fairness, freedom and care for others. But, by contrast, scandals.significant It ethicsfocuses training on what program not to do, in anwhat organization. not to say. Christians emphasize that the transformation of character The tone is threatening. The style is legalistic. Why don’t is more fundamental and important than possessing even

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 15 the best set of rules. The Law, by itself, fails to result in partnership and community context for ethics is a constant, consistently righteous and ethical behavior. This means that inescapable theme throughout Scripture. In our organizations we must be born again by God’s Spirit as new people with a issues, we Christians should exemplify and promote this focus onand team workplaces, and collaboration. and in our personal wrestling with difficult truth,new nature a person’s before character the Law can is bealways fulfilled more in usimportant (Romans than 8:3- the4). Inrules a modest or principles but significant they espouse. way Hence,that echoes even inthis business, cosmic Salting and Lighting the Workplace it is more crucial to hire for character and work at building To be sure, the Bible has a great deal to say about healthy, value-embedded organizational cultures than it is to workplace topics like leadership, service, money, property, get our code of ethics written and distributed. wealth and poverty, honesty, fairness, integrity, care of As Christians, our agenda is to cooperate with God’s creation, diligence and justice. There is a great deal in Scripture about law and justice as well as how to relate to strong, ethical, God-honoring character that we take to our Caesar, how to do business in Babylon and how to treat workplace.work of sanctification And as Christians, in us sowe that can wepromote personally an emphasis have a migrant labor—all very current topics. Jesus had more to say

“As Christians, our agenda is to cooperate with God’s work of sanctification in us so that we personally have a strong, ethical, God-honoring character that we take to our workplace.”

on ethical character and culture in our organizations (over about money, property and wealth than he did about heaven against a narrow focus on ethical rules and codes). One step and hell, homosexuality or praise music. We Christians are deeper, we can immerse ourselves in the Beatitudes and vastly undereducated on these work and business themes in other biblical accounts of character so that we can promote Scripture, and that prevents us from being the kind of salt of the earth and light of the world Jesus intended. Are we going reward ethical decisions and actions. to wake up and get serious about it? the specific virtues and values most likely to empower and And as we have seen, it is not just that Christians hold and Individualism or Collaboration? topics. Rather, it is the whole, overall structure, the shape and workplace ethics is its individualism. In health care and processadvocate of particularethics that ethicalneeds some positions Christian on specificsalt and light. business Get manyA other final arenas, weakness “autonomy” of contemporary is king of all businessethical values. and the mission and vision straight and in a central place. Hire “Self-determination” and our personal “informed consent” for character, not just skills and credentials. Build a value- trump everything else. In the ethics training typical of embedded culture and team—don’t just write a nice code of today’s corporations, workers are required to go sit alone in ethics. And emphasize team and collaboration in the quest front of computer screens to work their way through a series for wise ethics. Don’t yield to the individualism of our era. of cases and multiple choice responses. Working for better business and workplace ethics is not In this case, the “medium is the message.” “It’s ethics an option in the Christian life. It is a mandate for a 24/7 discipleship. And attached to the call to biblical discipleship But that is exactly the wrong message. Ethics is a “team and ethics is the promise that we ourselves will be “blessed,” time,sport” people.not a “solo Go sport.” sit alone The Enlightenment in front of your ethics computer!” tradition our neighbors and colleagues will be loved, salted and of Kant and others is radically wrong. Dispassionate, rational individuals reasoning their way to and from abstract universal maxims is an approach that leads directly to the postmodern illuminated, and GodDr. Davidwill be Gill glorified. joined the Gordon-Conwell faculty despair and nihilism we often see in today’s culture. More in 2010 as its first Mockler-Phillips Professor of and more business and thought leaders have woken up to Workplace Theology and Business Ethics. He is the “wisdom of teams” and the essential role and power of also Director of the Mockler Center for Faith and collaboration. Nowhere is this team and collaboration more Ethics in the Workplace. David has been a professor important than in ethics. Wisdom comes in the process of in the fields of Christian ethics and business ethics listening, conversation, debate and the search for consensus. for more than 30 years, teaching at New College Berkeley, North Park University, St. Mary’s College of California, Fuller Seminary, Regent College and “not good for man to dwell alone.” Jesus sent his followers elsewhere. Among his seven books are It’s About Excellence: Building Christians know this! They know from the Bible that it is out “two by two,” not one by one. The Ten Commandments, Ethically Healthy Organizations (2008), and Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Sermon on the Mount and indeed, all biblical ethical guidance, Principles (2004). He earned an MA from San Francisco State University is given to a people, a community, not to an isolated pilgrim. and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and has served as a What two or three bind on earth is bound in heaven. The corporate consultant. He can be reached at [email protected]

16 FALL/WINTER ‘10 “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” Amos 5: 24

tolivein justice the message of amos for today A Sermonic Essay on Social Ethics and Justice

eldin villafañe, ph.d.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 17 EDITOR’S NOTE Dr. Villafañe’s article is based on a chapter from his book, Beyond Cheap Grace: A Call to Radical Discipleship, Incarnation, and Justice (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2006).

f there is a word that describes our times, it is the word “crisis.” A crisis describes a situation that is unstable, decisive or crucial in the personal or social life of a nation. It is interesting to note that the word “crisis” Ihas its linguistic roots in the Greek word Krisis (and the verb Krino), and can mean “to select,” “decide” or “judge”— and can also mean “justice!”1 All crises are, in essence, moments of judgment—moments of searching for justice.

Furthermore, Scripture presents us a rich and nuanced The Concept of Justice understanding of justice. At heart, it speaks of a concept of the demands of a relationship.”6 justiceThe thatpicture I want that to underline—thatScripture paints is, is justice that of as the “fidelity human to ustice is a complex concept easier to sense than person created in and for communion—created to live in to community. In the Old Testament, above all, one sees the to the many existing schools of thought. Justice, importance of living in relationship with God and with each as define.Karen Lebacqz It has multiple reminds definitionsus, is “a bit according like the other. Individuals were in relationship with God through proverbial elephant examined by blindfolded the covenant that existed between God and his people. “As explorers.J Each feels a different part—the foot, the ears, a member of this covenant community, each person was in the tusks—and consequently each describes the beast relationship with every other person, including the poor and differently—gnarled and tough, thin and supple, smooth needy, one’s family and even with strangers and aliens. Out and hard. The elephant itself [in this case justice] is not of these relationships arose responsibilities and demands. encompassed by any of the individual descriptions.”2 The just person was faithful to these responsibilities and According to my “touch of the elephant,” beyond demands.”7 As Gerhard Von Rad wrote, “There is absolutely

receiving what one is due or what one has a right to—and for all relationships of human life as that of tsedek [justice].”8 beyondAristotle’s the definitionvaluable contributions of justice as theof John virtue Rawls of giving or Robert and no conceptThe Word in theof God Old presentsTestament justice with soultimately central a assignificance rooted in Nozick, among others,3 there stands the richness of the the righteousness of God.9 It is grounded in God’s holiness biblical concept of justice.4 The Scriptures use various words and moral character—in God’s very being. Our God is just to speak of justice, but mainly the words tsedek and mishpat and righteous in God’s self and therefore faithful to God’s in Hebrew and dikaiosyne in Greek. We can translate these self (as a triune God), and faithful to the demands of God’s words as “righteousness,” “judgment” or “justice.” Justice relationship with all creation. As the psalmist reminds as tsedek speaks about a general living in right relationship us, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your with someone, while justice as mishpat is somewhat more throne” (Ps. 89: 14), and “For the Lord is righteous, he loves particular. We can speak of mishpat as deciding what is “just” justice” (Ps. 11: 7). Our God is a just God, a faithful God who when two people differ or disagree or when one has injured keeps God’s promises. Our God is a God who loves justice—a the other.5 Dikaiosyne can have both of these meanings.

18 FALL/WINTER ‘10 God who demands justice of all! It is important to note that the injustices committed by Justice in the Book of Amos these nations are similar to the injustices that we tragically see today among the nations. Let me underline a few:

f there is one book in the Bible that speaks 5 Damascus (Syria) is accused of cruelty, violence, insightfully and relevantly to the issue of justice and atrocities because she has “threshed Gilead for our time, it is the book of Amos.10 At the heart with threshing sledges of iron” (1:3). of Amos’ message is the call to live in justice. Amos had a passion for justice. He was a prophet “par 5 Gaza (Philistia) is accused of slave trading “because Iexcellence” of social justice. she took captive whole communities and sold them” The message of the book of Amos can be presented under (1: 6). namely: (1) justice among the nations; (2) justice in the 5 Tyre (Phoenicia) is accused of breaking a covenant nation;three basic and themes(3) justice or theologicaland piety of motifs a nation. defined We will by justice,look at or treaty “because she…disregarded a treaty of each in turn. brotherhood” (1:9).

1. Justice among the Nations. Amos begins by indicting 5 Ammon is accused of imperialism and atrocities various nations for their wickedness and injustice, “because he ripped open the pregnant women of beginning with the nation to the north of Israel (Syria), Gilead in order to extend his borders” (1:13). then moving on to the nations to the west (Philistia and Phoenicia), the south (Edom and Ammon), and the east Lamentably, each one of these injustices can be seen in our day and contributes to the reason why we live in times and Israel. of global crisis: In(Moab), these early and chapters finally indicting and throughout the sister the nations,book of Amos, Judah we are confronted by the fact that God calls all people, all 5 Cruelty and violence among nations have been nations to account for their behavior. God’s standards institutionalized and commercialized by the modern of justice are universal, for they are rooted in God’s “threshing sledges of iron” that represent the righteousness, God’s holiness, yes, God’s character. Walter lucrative market of weapons or armaments of war. C. Kaiser, Jr. puts it this way: “There was no monopoly held by any people, race or religion on righteousness; justice, 5 The slave trade is the cruel experience of the Sudan goodness and truth were the standards for all mortals on in Africa, where entire ethnic groups are sold in the planet earth or they would have to explain any deviations to market. In other cases, just as cruel, young girls and 11 boys are sold into slavery and prostitution by the Asiatic market and others. Yahweh himself!”

The Word of God presents justice ultimately as rooted in the righteousness of God. It is grounded in God’s holiness and moral character— in God’s very being.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 19 5 The breaking of treaties is seen clearly in many the oppressed members of society. God demands justice in nations whose loyalty is dictated, not by covenant or treaty among sovereigns, but by the sovereign and universal globalization of the market. Modern the nation!3. Justice and Piety of a Nation. The Israelites had treaties are not worth the paper on which they are forsaken the needy and oppressed. They pretended to worship the true God by the multitude of their offerings and gifts. They even excelled in the composing of music Soonerwritten or later, if thewhat “god” the nationsMammon sow, reigns! that they shall reap. for temple worship (6: 5). There was a form of revival— God is still sovereign—over creation (5:8), over history (9:7), yes, the temples were crowded yet it was an abomination over the nations (1:3 – 2:6). God demands justice among the to God. Listen to God’s words:

I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your nations!2. Justice in the Nation. As often happens in the history assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and of nations, political stability and economic prosperity grain offerings I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the Israelites. But God placed a “plumb line” in Israel, the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your withbrought equal about implications self-sufficiency for Judah and and indifference for the nations. among harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a The “plumb line” revealed a society inclined toward never-failing stream. Amos 5:21-24 idolatry, oppression, exploitation and violence—indeed, to injustice. Judgment would come on Israel, for about worship that relate authentic worship to our behavior They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair towardThroughout the poor Scripture and oppressed. we can The find words important of Amos truths are of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon echoed by the prophet Isaiah when he says: the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Amos 2:6-7 Is such the fast that I choose a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and It is critically important for us today to understand ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is that the standard of justice placed before the king and the not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice…to let dominant class (the governor, landowners, business people, the oppressed go free…? Is it not to share your bread with the judges and military), as well as all the people, is that of justice hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; When toward the poor. We will all be judged by how we treat the you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from weakest members—this is the heart of Amos’s message. Why your own kin? Isa. 58: 5-7 is this so? I believe that the teaching of Scripture is clear (in Amos as in the other prophets) that beyond God’s intrinsic The fast or worship that pleases our God is accompanied love and championing for the stranger, widow, poor and by acts of mercy and justice toward the poor, the broken and needy lies also the reality of idolatry. As the commandments the oppressed. Furthermore, such true worship has the great teach us: “I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other promises of God’s blessings. The prophet Isaiah continues: gods before me… for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exod. 20: 1-5). Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your While many of the Israelites may not have worshiped healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before idols of wood or rock (as many may not today), yet they you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you rendered “worship” to the god of wealth (Mammon). The shall call, and the Lord will answer…The Lord will guide you desire and anxiety for riches (greed), an obsessive note in continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make the lives of the dominant class, led to their oppression of the your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like poor and needy and the corruption of the courts, the market, a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Isa. 58: 8-9, 11 the religious system and the society at large. Washington Padilla reminds us that a central note of Amos was of “social There is a seamless relationship between ethical behavior and true worship, between justice and piety. Who we are and in society.12 The lesson is clear: idolatry is at the heart of how we behave are intimately related in our giving worth to socialinjustice injustice as the andspecific the eventualform that downfall the sin of of idolatry a nation. assumes our God. For true worship, whether expressed in our daily walk or in a building called a temple or church, must be But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never- “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). In the New Testament, for falling stream. Amos 5: 24 Matthew 25:42-45: A central concern in the book of Amos, and in all the example, we find these profound and disturbing words in biblical teaching about society, is that God has a passionate For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty concern for justice for all—especially the poor, the weak and and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did

20 FALL/WINTER ‘10 There is a seamless relationship between ethical behavior and true worship, between justice and piety. Who we are and how we behave are intimately related in our giving worth to our God.

not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, 7 Bread for the World Educational Fund, “Biblical Basics on Justice,” pamphlet (New York: Bread for the World, n.d.), p.2. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” They 8 Gerhard Von Rad, Old Testament Theology (New York: Harper and Bros., 1962), will also answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty Part I, p. 370; see also, Stephen C. Mott, Biblical Ethics and Social Change (New York: or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did Oxford University Press, 1982), pp. 59-81. not help you?” He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you 9 E. Clinton Gardner, “The Righteousness of God and Human Justice,” Justice and did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Christian Ethics (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995), pp. 29 – 53. 10 Among the many and excellent texts on the book of Amos, see Mark Daniel There is a great mystery here, for as we serve with justice Carroll, Contexts for Amos: Prophetic Poetics in Latin American Perspective Amos: A Commentary (Philadelphia: the poor and needy in our midst, we are in a deep yet spiritually Westminster, 1969); and Douglas Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, Word Biblical Commentary(Sheffield: 31 profound sense doing it to the Lord. We are ascribing worth to (Waco:Sheffield Word, Academic 1987). Press, 1992); James L. Mays, our Lord. We are worshiping him. May our worship be in spirit 11 Walter C. Kaiser Jr. Toward Old Testament Ethics (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1983), pp. 12-13.

12 Washington Padilla, Amós-Abdías, Comentario Biblico Hispanoamericano (Miami: 1 F. Büchsel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume, and in truth. May we in our worship live in justice! Editorial Caribe, 1989), p. 14; see also, Brian S. Rosner, Greed as Idolatry: The Origin by Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1985), p. 469. and Meaning of a Pauline Metaphor (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007). 2 Karen Lebacqz, Six Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical and Theological Ethics (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1986), p. 9.

3 John Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971); Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (New York: Basic Books, 1974). Eldin Villafañe, Ph.D., Professor of Christian Social 4 Among the many excellent texts on Biblical justice see, Chris Marshall, The Ethics, was Founding Director of Gordon-Conwell’s Little Book of Biblical Justice: A Fresh Approach to the Bible’s Teaching on Justice Boston campus, the Center for Urban Ministerial (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2005); Enrique Nardoni, Rise Up, O Judge: A Study Education (CUME) and also Associate Dean for of Justice in the Biblical World (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004); and Nicholas Wolterstorff, Justice: Rights and Wrongs (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Urban and Multicultural Affairs. He has served as Press, 2008). a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School, held leadership positions with his denomination and in 5 Lois Barrett, Doing What is Right: What the Bible Says About Covenant and Justice (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1989), p. 21; see also, Bruce C. Birch, Let Justice Hispanic theological associations, and ministered in Roll Down: The Old Testament, Ethics, and Christian Life (Louisville, Kentucky: the urban setting as Minister of Education at the Iglesia Cristiano Juan Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991), pp. 153-156. 3:16 in the Bronx in New York City, then the nation’s largest Hispanic 6 John R. Donahue, S.J., “Biblical Perspective on Justice” in John Haughey, ed. The church. He holds an M.A. from Wheaton Graduate School of Theology and Faith That Does Justice (New York: Paulist Press, 1977), p. 68. a Ph.D. from Boston University.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 21 HOW TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS IN A COMPLEX PATRICK T. SMITH, WORLDPh.D. (cand.)

22 FALL/WINTER ‘10 A WELL-KNOWN AND WELL-WORN JOKE shared regularly when I was in grade school goes: “How do you clean Dracula’s teeth?” The response: “Very carefully.” When I think about the question, “How do we make ethical decisions in a complex world?” the response of the childhood joke somehow seems appropriate.

o be sure, there are many moral questions whose Scripture, nor to misuse the Bible in ethical decision-making. answers are very clear. For instance, we must not We must not think of the Bible as simply a book of moral torture innocent people just for the fun of it. The precepts to be mined for making ethical decisions. If we do Timmorality of this activity ought to be beyond dispute. so, I think we miss its point. Yet, we face many pressing ethical questions in our Further, this approach increases the likelihood that we will err or misuse the Bible in ethics. The moral prescriptions of the Bible are authoritative for the Christian community wherecontemporary many important context thatethical are discussions difficult, and are defynot thought simple when they are properly interpreted and appropriately throughand unreflective carefully responses. and too often Unfortunately, are reduced we to clichés.live in an When age applied in our contemporary setting. this happens in the Christian community, we are woefully Even with the high view of Scripture held by most evangelical unprepared to help ourselves and equip others to make good Christians, many matters are not nearly so straightforward that ethical decisions in a complex world. what to do in a given situation. Take, for example, the medical treatmentone can find of a terminallyverse or passage ill or imminentlycontaining direct dying instruction patients. Onon THE BIBLE IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS one hand, Christian theology recognizes that human life is valuable and a tremendous good of which we are to be faithful stewards. On the other hand, it also recognizes that our human and foremost, as the inspired narrative of God’s loving plan existence this side of the new heavens and new earth is not the of redemptionMany orthodox for ChristiansHis creation. correctly Does affirmthe Bible the Bible,also helpfirst highest good and that there is a time to die. Hence, it is often with ethical decision-making? Certainly. Divine revelation complicated to determine on purely biblical or theological through Scripture has a primary role in Christian ethics. We grounds exactly when someone should forego various kinds of must, however, take care not to misunderstand the nature of therapeutic treatment at the end of life.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 23 “THE MORAL PRESCRIPTIONS OF THE BIBLE ARE AUTHORITATIVE FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY INTERPRETED AND APPROPRIATELY APPLIED IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SETTING.”

Further, “there are no direct discussions about war, empirical facts are crucial in assessing the morality of organ genetic engineering, environmental pollution” and a number donation in a particular case. of other contemporary issues.1 So there is a deliberative process that must take place to discern how prescriptive CRITERIA FOR MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS biblical principles may be applied in complex situations. This is why the discipline of hermeneutics is so important in In the midst of such complexity, the real, perhaps all facets of Christian discipleship. Regardless, Scripture has inevitable, possibility exists that ethical dilemmas will arise.

6 a prime place in Christian ethical reflection. two or more value- or virtue-driven interests.” In such COMPLEXITY OF DOING ETHICS Ancircumstances, ethical dilemma it is can important be understood to have as some “a conflict tools betweenthat can assist us in making sound ethical decisions. The following Ethics is complex for several reasons. First, we are fallen model represents just one such framework.7 creatures living in a fallen world (Gen. 3). As Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. notes, “sin distorts our character, a central feature of our very humanity. Sin corrupts powerful human 1. GATHER THE FACTS. In many cases, issues are capacities—thought, emotion, speech and act—so that resolved by becoming clear on the details of the they become centers of attack on others or of defection or case. We need to ask, “What is the context of the 2 neglect.” This certainly in no small way affects how we live ethical deliberation?” Given that we make ethical and the ethical decisions we make. A second factor is that “we sometimes encounter have the facts, moral assessment is not possible. competing ethical claims”3 (more on this below). Third, decisions in specific circumstances, if we don’t our individual decisions are often affected by a “plurality 2. DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES. Sometimes of publics.”4 In other words, a number of people or groups have a legitimate stake in ethical decisions. To whom is we face situations that present personal and one primarily responsible in making decisions? Last, the empirical facts may not be easy to discern or ascertain. It ethical dilemma. Here, it is important to identify professional difficulty, but may not constitute an is widely recognized that in applied ethics many moral judgments hinge on non-moral facts. moral interests that stand in need of resolution. To illustrate this last point, consider the ethics of organ as specifically as possible what are the competing transplantation. Of course, many take it to be morally 3. DETERMINE WHAT VIRTUES AND PRINCIPLES unacceptable to harvest the vital organs of people who HAVE A BEARING ON THE CASE. are not yet dead for the sake of saving others’ lives. Since are addressing actually is an ethical dilemma, then, “successful transplantation requires that organs be removed of course, there are competing valuesIf the or conflict principles we from cadavers shortly after death to avoid organ damage due that underlie it. After identifying these principles, to loss of oxygen, there has been keen interest in knowing the task is to determine which ought to be afforded precisely when people are dead so that organs can be more weight in the context where unavoidable removed.”5 And determining this is an empirical matter once the theoretical criteria have been established. Therefore, the moral conflicts emerge. 24 FALL/WINTER ‘10 This approach, sometimes known as graded To consider how these steps can be applied in a concrete absolutism or ethical hierarchialism, sees moral rules situation, take the example of a man hiding Jews during World and principles as prima facie. This simply means that War II. The facts are that soldiers are tracking down people

carry moral obligations in most situations, but may The man is asked in a very forthright manner if he knows beat firstoverridden glance orby all other things ethical being equal,considerations these rules in theirof Jewish whereabouts. background That and individual unjustifiably has the executing opportunity them. to situations where there are genuine moral dilemmas. protect human lives by concealing the location of Jews on “Clearly,” for a Christian ethic “biblical principles are his property. The ethical issue here is that there is a moral to be weighted more heavily.” 8 in one’s power and ability to do so. 4. LIST THE ALTERNATIVES. A very important part conflictIn determining between telling what the virtues truth and and principles saving a life bear when on itthis is of this model is to ask: “What are the courses of case action that may be taken?” When this is done, we’ll God is a God of truth. He expects His people to be truthful see that some decisions eliminate themselves. We and ,lying it is lipsimportant are an toabomination reflect on theto God biblical (Proverbs teaching 12:22). that should always strive to be as creative as possible to Also, God places a high value on human life and expects get around a moral dilemma. The more alternatives us to do the same (Matthew 22:37-39). When we have an that can be generated, the better likelihood we opportunity to save the life of another or to prevent evil from have of discovering an option that minimizes the coming upon others, we have a responsibility to do so. potential negative consequences of our decisions. What are the alternatives for a person in this situation? To tell the truth or deceive in order to protect human life, it 5. COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE would seem. (For the example employed here to illustrate how the criteria may be used, let’s assume no other VIRTUES AND PRINCIPLES EMPLOYED. It may alternatives are available.) When comparing the alternatives, well be the case that most, if not all but one or

two alternatives, can be ruled out when we apply question now becomes, “Which of the moral principles, both the relevant principles and values to them. “In deeplyit seems ingrained that therein Christian is an ethics, unavoidable ought to conflict. be afforded The order to make a clear decision, [we] must weight more weight?” one or more virtues/values more heavily than When one considers the consequences, it is almost certain others.”9 One worry with the graded absolutist approach or ethical hierarchialism is that some location of the Jews. Some may decide that while lying is may simply “use the notion of prima facie rules notthat ideal, human the life principle will be of lost saving unjustifiably a life through by revealing some form the as a smokescreen for picking and choosing which of deception is morally permissible, given the situation. rules [they] wish to adhere to in any situation.”10 However, these same individuals should also stress that it

is morally imperative not to make this a common practice In order to avoid this scenario, certain conditions for the sake of mere convenience. Deception should only must be met when overriding a prima facie rule: (1) Justifiable public reasons must be offered in favor consequences in the balance. of the overriding principle; (2) It should be done be chosen when there is an unavoidable conflict with grave as a last resort; (3) “We should seek the action that least violates the principle being overridden;” and CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY COUNT (4) The overridden principle should leave “moral traces,” which is an awareness of the moral weight It is important to know that ethical decision-making 11 concerning the decision being made. cannot be reduced simply to identifying and applying rules and principles. A crucial part of Christian ethics 6. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES. If one has not is about determining what we ought to do in this way. been able to completely rule out possible alternatives Applying guidelines, while important, is only part of a when applying the rules, then the positive and negative consequences of the decision should be on, and development of, the kind of persons we are to determined and assessed as well as can be done. be.proper Christians Christian must response. strike a Just balance as important between iswhat reflection some have labeled decisionist ethics and virtue ethics.12 The 7. MAKE A DECISION CONSISTENT WITH A former category provides answers to the question, “What CHRISTIAN ETHIC. We must avoid the “paralysis ought I to do?” whereas the latter addresses the question, of analysis” and make a decision. Sometimes this “What kind of person should I be?” Most certainly, character means choosing the best available alternative even if counts. not ideal. Whatever decision is to be made, it should Moreover, ethics is a profoundly communal exercise. be as consistent with a Christian ethic as humanly We are created as social beings. Certain shared moral possible given the unique features of the scenario. responsibilities and moral bonds are moral requisites of

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 25

“TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO BE SHAPED BY THE VALUES, COMMITMENTS, AND WORLDVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT ONE BEGINS TO INTERNALIZE CERTAIN VIRTUES AND DISPOSITIONS…”

1 Dennis P. Hollinger, Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex World (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002) 18. interdependence with one another. Therefore, we most 2 Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin (Grand oftengenuine do community.not make ethical It is difficult,decisions indeed, in isolation. to overstate Nor do our we Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995) 2. grow in character apart from the community that helps 3 Hollinger, Choosing the Good, 18. form and shape it. Kyle Fedler describes these points nicely 4 Richard A. McCormick, “Ethics Committees: Promise or Peril?” Law, Medicine, and when he writes: Healthcare, September 1984, 150-155. “[T]he development of Christian character is absolutely 5 Ana Smith Iltis and Mark J. Cherry, “Death Revisited: Rethinking Death and the Dead central to the Christian life. To be a Christian is to be shaped Donor Rule,” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, Volume 35, Issue 3, June 2010: 223. by the values, commitments, and worldview of the community 6 Scott B. Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, Third Edition (Grand Rapids: of faith to such a degree that one begins to internalize certain Zondervan, 2009) 107. virtues and dispositions….While belief and action are vital to 7 Ibid., 106-108. being a Christian, one must also allow oneself to be shaped 8 Ibid., 107. and molded into a particular kind of person, to develop a set 9 Rae, Moral Choices, 107. of virtues that reflect what we as Christians claim to believe 10 Kyle D. Fedler, Exploring Christian Ethics: Biblical Foundations for Morality about the world.”13 (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006), 25. This is why being a member of a local church body is so 11 Ibid. important for followers of Christ. In the context of the Christian 12 Ibid., 6-7. community, we can see the transforming power of the Holy 13 Ibid., 41. Spirit at work in the lives of God’s people. Making ethical decisions in a complex world is not merely a deliberative process, though it is certainly no less. We make ethical decisions Prof. Patrick T. Smith, Assistant Professor of in the midst of complexity in a holistic way that includes with Theology and Philosophy, has served on the faculty of Michigan Theological Seminary and the adjunct our mental deliberation the appropriate kind of character that faculties of William Tyndale College and Gordon- Conwell’s Boston campus. He held academic and the community of believers (Romans 12:1-2). administrative positions at Wayne State University is developed by reflecting on God’s Word and His world amidst and provided theological education to pastors and leaders in Africa. He is Ethics Coordinator for a hospice center in Michigan, and a member of the state Board of Directors for the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. He often speaks at professional meetings; at conferences, health care organizations and churches; on radio; and on college and university campuses. He is on the steering committee for the Bioethics Consultation Group of the Evangelical Theological Society. He holds an M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Wayne State University.

26 FALL/WINTER ‘10 For Further Reading: A Select Bibliography of Books on Christian Ethics

Davis, John Jefferson. Life. Grand Rapids: Baker Downers Grove, IL: Evangelical Ethics: Issues Academic Books, 2009. InterVarsity Press, 2003. Facing the Church Today. ______Revised and Expanded. New Jersey: P & R Publishing, 2004. Kaiser, Walter C. Toward Villafañe, Eldin. Beyond ______Old Testament Ethics. Grand Cheap Grace: A Call to Radical Rapids: Zondervan, 1983. Discipleship, Incarnation, Fedler, Kyle. Exploring ______and Justice. Grand Rapids, Christian Ethics: Biblical Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Foundations for Morality. Meilaender, Gilbert. Bioethics: Publishing Company, 2006. Louisville, KY: Westminster A Primer for Christians, ______John Knox Press, 2006. Revised Edition. Grand Rapids: ______Eerdmans, 2004. Witherington, Ben. Th e ______Indelible Image: The Gill, David W. Becoming Theological and Ethical Thought Good: Building Moral Mott, Stephen C. Biblical World of the New Testament, Character. Downers Grove, IL: Ethics and Social Change. New Volume 1: The Individual InterVarsity Press, 2000. York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1982. Witnesses. Downers Grove: ______InterVarsity Press, 2009. ______. Doing Right: Plantinga, Jr., Cornelius. Not Practicing Ethical Principles. the Way It’s Supposed to Be; A ______. The Indelible Downers Grove, IL: Breviary of Sin. Grand Rapids, Image: The Theological and InterVarsity Press, 2004. MI: Eerdmans, 1995. Ethical Thought World of the ______New Testament, Volume 2: The Collective Witness. Downers Hays, Richard B. The Moral Rae, Scott and Paul M. Cox. Grove: InterVarsity Press, Vision of the New Testament: Bioethics: A Christian Approach 2009. A Contemporary Introduction in a Pluralistic Age. Grand ______to New Testament Ethics. New Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999. York: HarperCollins Publishers, ______Wright, Christopher J. H. Old 1996. Testament Ethics for the People ______Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: of God. Downers Grove: An Introduction to Ethics, InterVarsity Press, 2004. Hollinger, Dennis P. Choosing Third Edition. Grand Rapids: ______the Good: Christian Ethics in a Zondervan, 2009. Complex World. Grand Rapids: ______Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Justice: Baker Books, 2002. Rights and Wrongs. Princeton, ______Stassen, Glen H. and NJ: Princeton University David P. Gushee. Kingdom Press, 2008. ______. The Meaning of Sex: Ethics: Following Jesus in Christian Ethics and the Moral Contemporary Context.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 27 FACULTY PROFILE

Garth Rosell, Ph.D. Professor of Church History

Ruth E. Hawk

Dr. Garth Rosell, Professor of “They [the founders of Gordon-Conwell] had a deep Church History at Gordon- commitment to educate a whole new generation of men Conwell, is passionate about and women who were theologically grounded, biblically God’s work. The son of centered, passionate for the spread of the gospel, deeply Mervin (“Merv”) Rosell, one committed to the church and the renewal of the church,” he of the well-known evangelists says. “That’s what’s kept me here all these years.” of the 1940s and ‘50s, he learned early the truth by Since then, he has served under all six of Gordon-Conwell’s which those men lived: That presidents, taught at all four campuses and served in a it was God’s power that made variety of administrative and faculty positions, including their ministries possible. helping to found and direct the school’s Ockenga Institute and chairing the faculty’s Division of Christian Thought for “We need to be reminded of a 17 years. spiritual truth that these mid- 20th-century evangelists Despite his administrative accomplishments, however, his knew very well,” Dr. Rosell explains, “namely, that our real passion is his students. In recent years, he has gradually ministry is actually God’s gracious work through us, and it stepped down from all his administrative roles, in order to is enabled entirely and solely through the power of the Holy focus on his teaching and writing. His greatest satisfaction Spirit.” comes from seeing the work God does through his students.

Dr. Rosell sees God at work not only in his own life but also “To watch students who have sat in my classrooms go out in the lives of his students and at Gordon-Conwell, where and serve God faithfully, that is the greatest joy,” he says. he has served for more than 30 years. As a child, he grew “This is just a little part of God’s working out of that vision up witnessing the faith of his parents and their famous [of Gordon-Conwell].”

he says, made it easy for him to accept Christ at the age of In addition to teaching, Dr. seven,evangelist after friends, one of his such father’s as Billy evangelistic Graham. services. Their influence, Rosell has recently published The Surprising Work of God, a “It built something into me that made it natural to fall in study of America’s 20th century love with Christ,” he says. “It was a winsome, loving wooing spiritual awakening, and he is into the family of faith.” currently working on a history of Gordon-Conwell for its 50th He went on to earn an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Princeton anniversary celebration in 2019. Theological Seminary, where he became interested in 19th He also loves spending time with century American religious history and earned a Ph.D. on Jane, his wife of 45 years, and his that topic from the University of Minnesota. son and daughter and two small grandchildren. His desire for the His long and fruitful career at Gordon-Conwell began in seminary remains steadfast: to 1978. After teaching for eight years at Bethel Theological see God continue His work in and through the school and Seminary, he was called to serve as Gordon-Conwell’s its students.

“My prayer for the future,” he says, “is that God’s hand of RosellProfessor responded of Church because History he and was Chief drawn Academic by the seminary’s Officer by blessing would remain on our beloved seminary, and that visionthe seminary’s of equipping first president,men and womenDr. Harold through John Ockenga. whom God Dr. the mission and vision of our founders would remain vital could work to renew the church and society. and alive throughout the coming years.”

28 FALL/WINTER ‘10 SEMINARY NEWS

Gordon-Conwell Introduces New Degree in Ethics and Society

health care or biomedical technology and research in their postgraduate studies and vocations.

The MAET program will train students to understand the Christian’s ethical responsibilities in family, church and society, and will equip them to think and live ethically. The program is also designed to foster spiritual maturity and provide participants with a sound grasp of Scripture and theology.

The degree will consist of eight core courses in ethics along with 12 other courses, including biblical studies, theology, language and electives. Students will have the opportunity to take up to four courses of their concentration at member schools of the Boston Theological Institute (BTI), a consortium of nine theological schools in the Boston area. Gordon-Conwell students can soon pursue a new Master of Arts “We are excited to give our students the opportunity to wrestle degree in ethics and society. with the important ethical and social issues of our day,” says

Provost Frank James. “Our highly experienced faculty, along This 60-credit degree program, to be launched in the Fall 2011 with the resources of the BTI, will equip students to approach semester, will provide graduate level training in Christian ethics ethics, and social and justice issues, from a thoughtful Christian across the ethics spectrum, including theological, philosophical, perspective. We anticipate that students will leave this degree social, sexual and workplace ethics, and bioethics. The degree is program ethically competent and spiritually mature.” especially suitable for those who plan to deal with the subjects of peace, justice, poverty, the environment, the marketplace, For more information, contact Admissions at 1.800.428.7329 or [email protected].

Board Names Two New Trustees Tim Robertson is Chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, LLC, an investment holding The Gordon-Conwell Board of Trustees has welcomed two company. new members in the past 18 months. Mr. Robertson previously served as Dr. Claude R. Alexander, Jr. is Senior President and CEO of International Family Pastor of The Park Ministries in Charlotte, Entertainment, best known for The Family NC. Channel. He is also a founder and owner of Major League Lacrosse, a professional, six-team outdoor lacrosse league The Park Ministries (previously University launched in 2001. Park Baptist Church) has grown from fewer than 500 members to more than 8,000 since Dr. Alexander became pastor in 1990. The church has also boards, such as the board of Regent University of Virginia expanded to three campuses and more than 80 ministries and BeachHe has and served the board on many of the cable, Children’s educational Health and Foundation nonprofit developed a television and a radio ministry during his tenure. of Norfolk, VA. He has also been a member of the Council for Virginia’s Future and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Dr. Alexander is a frequent speaker and has served on a Commission for Higher Education for Virginia. number of boards, including the Board of Directors of the United Way. Charlotte Magazine has ranked him among the Mr. Robertson holds an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Charlotte and completed the Executive Program in Business Business Journal named him as one of Charlotte’s top 40 Administration at the Graduate School of Business, 75leaders most underinfluential 40. personsHe holds in Charlotte,an M.Div. andfrom the Pittsburgh Columbia University. He is an active member and leader at Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell. Galilee Episcopal Church of Virginia Beach, VA, and lives in He and his wife, Kimberly, have two daughters.

Virginia Beach with his wife, Lisa, and their five children. www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 29 SEMINARY NEWS

Patristics Scholar Appointed to New Cooley Jacksonville Campus Names New Assistant Chair in Early Christianity to the Dean

Donald M. Fairbairn, Ph.D., has been Ryan M. Reeves, Ph.D. (cand.), has been appointed the Robert E. Cooley Professor named Assistant to the Dean of the of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell. Jacksonville campus of Gordon-Conwell Dr. Fairbairn previously taught at Theological Seminary and Instructor Erskine Theological Seminary in Due in Historical Theology. He replaces the West, SC, as Professor of Historical previous Assistant to the Dean, Kent Theology. He has also taught at several Gilbert, who accepted a position at First North American and European seminaries Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville. and Bible schools. He has authored books in Russian and From 2003 to 2006, Prof. Reeves served as Research English, most recently, Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Fellow and Editor at Teleios Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers. He has written organization in Orlando, FL, where he created numerous articles on patristics, Eastern Orthodoxy and Christology. teaching curricula for use Research in churches Institute, and aseminaries non-profit He holds an M.Div. from Denver Seminary and a Ph.D. from worldwide. From 2007-2009, he participated in course the University of Cambridge. planning and department management as the graduate The Cooley Chair, an endowed faculty chair based at representative to the Church History Subject Committee at the seminary’s Charlotte, NC, campus, provides Gordon- Cambridge University. Conwell and the wider Southeast community with a senior He has guest lectured at Cambridge University and scholar in patristics and historical theology. This chair Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) and has presented allows the seminary to contribute careful scholarship to the papers at overseas conferences. growing interest in the early church. Prof. Reeves is completing a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. He received M.A. and M.Div. degrees from RTS.

Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell to Celebrate 175th Birthday of A. J. Gordon Dr. Davis Wins Biblical Exposition Award

Gordon-Conwell Dr. John Jefferson Davis, Professor of is partnering with Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Gordon College in a yearlong Association (EPA) Higher Goals Award in celebration of the therecently category won aof first biblical place exposition Evangelical for Press his 175th birthday of article, “2 Timothy 2:12, the Ordination A. J. Gordon. of Women, and Paul’s Use of Creation Rev. Gordon, who pastored Clarendon Street Baptist Narratives.” Church in Boston for more than 25 years, founded the Boston Dr. Davis’ article argues that Paul’s use of creation Missionary Training Institute in 1889 to prepare men and texts indicates that 1 Tim. 2:11-15 does not prohibit the women for Christian service. This institute would later ordination of women. It appeared in the Spring 2009 issue become Gordon College and the Gordon Divinity School. of the Priscilla Papers, the Christians for Biblical Equality’s In 1969, the divinity school merged with the Conwell scholarly journal. His article is the 9th in that journal to win School of Theology to become Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Rev. Gordon died in 1895. The 175th birthday celebration will consist of a series of an awardThe journal, from the which EPA, anddiscusses the first biblical by a Gordon-Conwell equality, was events held at the college and at the seminary, culminating foundedprofessor into win1987 first by place. Gordon-Conwell Ranked Adjunct in a celebration on April 19, 2011. Events include a chapel Associate Professor of Classical and Ministry Studies, led by Gordon-Conwell professors Dr. Haddon Robinson, Dr. Catherine Clark Kroeger, and her husband, Richard. Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching; Gordon-Conwell Ranked Adjunct Professor of Theology and and Dr. Scott Gibson, Haddon W. Robinson Professor the Arts, William David Spencer, is Editor. Dr. Aida Besançon of Preaching; and student and leadership symposiums Spencer, Gordon-Conwell Professor of New Testament, is its involving the seminary community. editorial consultant. For more information, visit www.gordonconwell.edu/ The Papers have an international subscription of more Gordon175. than 2,000 individuals and college and seminary libraries.

30 FALL/WINTER ‘10 SEMINARY NEWS

Matt says Cliftondale will always be his home church, even Mentored Ministry in a Kayak after he goes on active duty in January. Bob explains that the April Seipp church will continue to pray for him, as they would a missionary overseas. As he transitions from seminary life to full-time When Matt Drayton began ministry, Matt sees his time spent with Bob as invaluable. his Mentored Ministry “I would not be getting a job as a Navy chaplain without this position with Pastor Bob Mentored Ministry experience,” he asserts. “It set my course for Leroe, his new mentor the next 20 years.” considered Matt’s previous Mentored Ministry is required for all students receiving an experience as a kayaking M.Div. or M.A. in Educational Ministries, though the program instructor and gave him two design differs among campuses. In Boston, most students at options: “We can talk in my CUME are already engaged in a ministry context, so the program primarily seeks to bring mentors alongside them. The mentors Ipswich River.” office,Matt or wechose can talkthe onriver. the growth objectives. Over the course of the next two and a half years, as part of can then help students be more intentional about setting specific Gordon-Conwell’s Mentored Ministry Program, they kayaked who will invest in the students for two or three years within a a dozen rivers around the North Shore as they discussed life in particularSimilarly, ministry Charlotte context. focuses on finding long-term mentors ministry and how to prepare for it. “To get the most out of your seminary experience, you have Bob is the pastor of Cliftondale Congregational Church in to do ministry,” Matt says. “You can think theory all you want, Saugus, MA, but served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army for 25 years. but you’re not going to be a better minister until you get in Matt was pursuing his M.Div. degree at Gordon-Conwell in order there. Everyone should have the opportunity to be mentored to become a chaplain with the Navy. by someone like Bob, who is willing to invest in the ministers of tomorrow.” perfect mix of pastoral and chaplain expertise.” “I was so blessed to find Bob Leroe,” Matt says. “He had the Bob for Gordon-Conwell’s new Outstanding Mentor Award, which wasThe presented experience at Matt’s was soordination beneficial in for May Matt 2010. that he nominated Bob has mentored seven GCTS students over the past 10 years, Mentored Ministry Fast Facts More than 200 students participated in Hamilton’s Mentored candidates to him. Not all of his former students have gone into • Ministry during the past year, with nearly 150 mentors theand chaplaincy, asks the Mentored but he still Ministry keeps inoffice touch to withrefer eachpossible one. chaplain volunteering their time to the program. The Saugus pastor was motivated to get involved with the program because of a disappointing experience when he was a • The total number of students and mentors at the three other seminary campuses included 29 at CUME, 70 in Charlotte another chaplain to mentor him, and the man turned him down. and 12 in Jacksonville. brand-new“I went chaplainto a seminary on active (not duty GCTS) for thatthe firsttrained time. me He to asked be a theologian, not a minister,” Bob recalls. “So often practical skills • Students have the opportunity to learn in various contexts including overseas missions, inner city ministries and local one he conducted as a chaplain. No one told him how to do it. church parishes. Mentors must have at least five years of full- are Asleft he out gained in seminary.” experience The in first the funeral Army, hehe madeever attended sure to passwas time ministry experience and be approved by the seminary. on his knowledge to other chaplains he supervised. He found • The mentor application is available online and the seminary with the Mentored Ministry program helps. “I feel like I am still offers a mentor orientation for those new to the program. it difficult to retire from the chaplaincy, but his involvement Students can find a position on their own and then complete Bob emphasizes practical skills in his mentoring approach. the approval process. Hisinfluencing students the participate military indirectly,”in a variety he of ministrysays. settings including funerals, board meetings and pre-marital counseling sessions. • Ministers can also apply and post an available ministry position through the Mentored Ministry office in order to They meet together afterward to discuss the experience. connect with a student. The hands-on training gives students the opportunity to test their leadership under the supervision of a seasoned minister, For more information, please contact the following: sometimes with humorous results. Matt’s favorite story from Mentored Ministry happened while he was assisting Bob in HAMILTON leading a Sunday service. When the choir came up to the front, Katherine Horvath [email protected] an altar candle. A woman in the choir began hitting him with a BOSTON CUME BibleMatt steppedin an attempt aside toto putmake it out. room and his shirt caught fire from Frank Tully [email protected] “It took a little while for the congregation to realize what was happening,” Matt laughs. The woman succeeded, but not before a CHARLOTTE/JACKSONVILLE four-inch hole was burned in his shirt. Dr. Steve Klipowicz [email protected]

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 31 DEVELOPMENT NEWS

What if #2. Recently, one of our preaching professors spoke at a local church involved in a capital campaign. Dr. Jeff Ar- thurs preached one of the best sermons I have ever heard on stewardship. Jeff challenged this church to consider se- rious questions like: “Who is God?” “Who are we?” “What character qualities make for a good steward?” “What are the What If? implications for everyday life?” It got me thinking. What if our churches taught sounds biblical principles of steward- Kurt W. Drescher ship regularly, not just when they had emergency budget Vice President for Advancement needs or were in the midst of a capital campaign?

What if #3. As I was making my “What if” list, one of my fa- vorite passages of Scripture came to mind: Ephesians 3:20- 23. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

I hear in this Scripture the freedom to ask and dream big, tothroughout plan beyond all generations, our abilities, for to ever trust and God ever! for theAmen” outcomes (NIV). and to give our Heavenly Father all the glory. I have prob- ably read these verses dozens of times. How is it that every

“C” Church really took profound promises like this to heart? Wouldtime I readthe spiritual it, I get landscapea little more change? fired up? What if the big

This is just a handful of the “What ifs” that have been run- ning through my mind lately. The exercise has prompted all kinds of other questions for me personally and profession- ally, such as: “What if our family watched less TV?” “What if we prayed more or read the Bible more or gave more or invited more people over to our home?” “What if” is a great question. I challenge you to make a list of your own. Once

n a recent Saturday, I spent the evening rise to the surface: “Then what?” or “Now what?” It is sim- plyyou not have enough started to make this list, the you’lllist. We find are thatcalled other to act questions on what Owatching the current popular movie, we have learned. We are reminded in James 1:22, --- “Do not Letters to Juliet, with our younger daughter. merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” There is not a lot of wiggle room in that verse. This is not an endorsement, but the movie raised an important question—“What if?”— At Gordon-Conwell we are blessed to have many partners who have dared to asked the “What if” question and won- that got me thinking. dered what God might do if they invested in the ministry of the seminary. We are immensely grateful that they have I have asked myself this question a number of times, but I’m wrestled with this question and have trusted God to multi- not sure I’ve ever made a list of “What if’s” until now. ply their Kingdom investment. We absolutely could not do what we are called to do without these many partnerships. What if #1. Some weeks ago, one of our partners at Gordon- We take no credit for the way the seminary has been used Conwell described the joy she experiences by giving from for these many years. It all goes to our great God. what God has given her. Her extended family owns a vaca- tion home, and during the summer they divide up weeks What if more of us asked the “What if” question? Then what? I will leave you to wonder what God might do through you. some in her family do not want to share their home with peoplewhen various outside members the family. will I usesaw it. the My grief friend on confided her face, that be- Kurt W. Drescher is the Vice President for Advancement and controlling this gift from God, but rather, from sharing at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is an itcause liberally I know with she others. receives What significant if more joypeople not werefrom owninglike my active member of Grace Chapel, and lives with his friend, sharing openly and generously the gifts that God has wife and two daughters in Reading, Massachusetts. entrusted to them?

32 FALL/WINTER ‘10 SEMINARY NEWS

much more. The books, which will remain at the Center, will Generous Donation Funds Major be incorporated into the Gordon-Conwell library collection Book Collection for eventual check-out. According to Dr. Todd Johnson, Director of the Center for the Gordon-Conwell has acquired a substantial book collection Study of Global Christianity, “The books complement well through a generous gift by Randall and Alice Mathews in memory of their son, R. Kent Mathews. Kent was a world students and the entire seminary community, as well as traveler, a lover of books and a compassionate follower of scholarsthe library’s from existing other academic collection institutions.” and will significantly benefit Jesus Christ. He was killed by a drunk driver in France while working with profoundly disabled adults at the L’Arche Randall Mathews served in stateside pastoral ministries, ministry in Trosly-Breuil north of Paris. and with his wife and family in overseas ministries in France and Austria. Alice Mathews, the Lois W. Bennett Professor The collection, which has been housed at the seminary’s Emerita of Educational Ministries and Women’s Ministries, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, includes more served as Academic Dean of the Hamilton Campus from 2007 than 10,000 books and over a million documents on topics to 2009. She is widely known for her participation with Dr. such as Christianity and other world religions, church history, Haddon Robinson and Mart DeHaan in the daily Bible-teaching missions, linguistics, Christianity in different countries and radio program, Discover the Word.

Seminary Offers Financial Charlotte Counseling Students Aid to Military Veterans Earn High Marks on

Gordon-Conwell Seminary National Exam

aid available to military Students earning degrees in Counseling at the Charlotte has increased the financial veterans by joining the campus recently scored 26 percent higher than the national Yellow Ribbon Program, average on the National Counselor Exam and 10 percent a government initiative to higher than students at schools accredited by the Council assist veterans pursuing for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational higher education. Programs (CACREP).

of the students’ favorable performance by the National The program, open to qualified veterans who receive the Officials of the Charlotte counseling program were notified Conwellmaximum will benefits pay up underto 50 percent the Post-9/11 of the eligible GI Bill, remaining provides tuition,payment which for tuition will then not coveredbe matched by those by the benefits. Department Gordon- of BoardThe Charlotte for Certified campus’ Counselors. counseling program this year also Veterans Affairs (VA). Exam. According to Dr. Maria L. Boccia, Director of Graduate Funds are available to all students at the South Hamilton Programsbecame an in official Counseling testing at site Charlotte for the Nationaland Professor Counselor of campus who meet VA requirements, including individuals Pastoral Counseling and Psychology, “This allows our who have served at least 36 months on active duty or have students to take the exam in their last semester, and been honorably discharged from active duty for a service- therefore accelerates their ability to secure their Licensed connected disability. Dependents may also be eligible. Professional Counselor Associate license and begin their post-graduate practice sooner.” Interested students should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine their eligibility and then notify Commending students on their test results, she noted, “They have worked very hard and have reaped the rewards if they qualify. of their efforts.” Gordon-Conwell Student Financial Services at [email protected] More information is also available at http://www.gibill. va.gov/school_info/yellow_ribbon.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 33 FOCUS ON ALUMNI

mean to suggest that Catholics are categorically outside the pale Equipping Former Catholics of faith. Some appear to know Jesus, others don’t and there are Chris Castaldo, M.Div.’99 many about whom we’re not sure (just as in Protestantism). Regardless, as a matter of our evangelical identity—called to pursue God’s mission of making disciples of all nations, indeed, needing to preach the good news to ourselves each day—we are committed to evangelism and discipleship. The challenge we face in relating to Catholics is threefold: theological, sociological and rhetorical. In terms of theology, several questions are in need of attention: Where do the lines of continuity and disagreement fall between Catholics and Protestants? How do we give an answer for our canonical hope? What constitutes our authority? Because the borders of our religious past and our evangelical present are often blurry, we need you to walk beside us with personalized insight and direction. Ave Maria Another skill that we often lack is the ability to navigate within three notes and likely have rosary beads through complex cultural differences. For instance, Catholics Wsomewheree have free floating in the attic.guilt, Wecan alsoidentify own the at least one study Bible, listen to sermons in the car, and know that a “quiet that emerge from one’s ethnic, institutional and liturgical time” is different from a nap. experience.often define These their religiousare activities identity such by as thefeasts, catena crossing of traditions oneself, We are followers of Christ who grew up Catholic and are ashes on the forehead, eating certain foods (or abstaining from now Evangelical Protestants. According to The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, in the name of a deceased relative. We need help navigating more than 15 million of us former Catholics in America now throughthem), genuflecting, such traditions, lighting in ways votive that candles serve or the having gospel Mass instead said attend Protestant churches.1 We are among your elders, and of subverting it. nursery workers, and often comprise a sizable portion of your The rhetorical challenge concerns common terminology that congregation. has a different meaning for Catholics and Protestants. Consider, Some of us have walked with Jesus as Catholics before for instance, the phrase “faith alone.” When we Protestants moving in a Protestant direction. Others of us were converted as we made the move. Either way, our ambition is simple—to is a gift from God. We no longer have to observe Holy Days of know Christ more deeply and share him with Catholic friends. Obligation,use these words, clerical our confession, hearts rejoice or abstain in the fromfact that eating justification meat on And this is precisely where the challenge begins. Fridays during Lent to remain in good stead with God.2 If we were to describe our experience of discussing religion But how do Catholics typically hear these words? To them, with Catholic family, it would be with words like “contention,” “faith alone” is more likely to mean cheap grace, walking an “fear” and “exasperation.” We pray like mad for weeks leading aisle, saying a sinner’s prayer without concern for obedience. up to the family reunion, and apply everything you’ve taught us Instead of being a glorious truth of salvation in which one’s in our personal evangelism class. But, for some reason, it still heart rejoices, it is, from a Catholic point of view, a travesty, a results in a train wreck. In using the word “evangelism,” I don’t compromise, an affront to the holy character of God. The opportunity for fruitful ministry among Catholics is enormous. Our communities are rife with Catholic families, and, given our relationships to these friends and loves ones, we former Gordon-Conwell Alumnus to Catholics are especially poised to serve them. What we need Speak at Spring Pastors’ Forum from you, our beloved pastors, is a compelling vision for gospel outreach which is theologically attentive, contextually informed Pastor and author Chris Castaldo will be speaking at the and winsomely communicated. Would you please help us? Hamilton campus on February 15, 2011, as part of the Spring - Pastors’ Forum. During this one-day seminar, Chris will discuss tion in the U.S. (Executive Summary, April 2009),” Pew Research Center, http://pewforum. his book, Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic. 1org/Faith-in-Flux.aspx. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, “Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affilia 2 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Par. 2041-43, Ed. 2 (Citta del Vatticano: Libreria Edi- trice Vaticana, 1997). Rev. Castaldo received his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell and is now Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton, IL. Rev. Chris Castaldo serves as Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton,

The forum is open to anyone. For more information, Illinois, and is the author of Holy Ground: Walking please contact the Ockenga Institute either by phone at with Jesus as a Former Catholic (Zondervan, 2009). 1.800.294.2774 or by email at [email protected]. He received an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell in 1999. He is married to Angela and they have four children. 34 FALL/WINTER ‘10 FOCUS ON ALUMNI

Rhonda Gibson Named Director of Alumni Relations

Rhonda Gibson (‘10, MAR) is the seminary’s new Director of Alumni Relations. Rhonda previously served as the Doctor of Ministry Student Accounts Assistant. Her husband, Scott Gibson (‘83, M.Div.), is the Haddon Alumni Participate in the 2010 Robinson Professor of Preaching. Lausanne Congress in Cape Town

During the week of October 16- 25, 4,000 Christian leaders from “RecentlyIn reflecting an on electrician her new role, came Rhonda to our had home the tofollowing install ato light say: around the world converged in over the kitchen sink. For the past eight years, I’ve wondered Cape Town, South Africa for the (and complained) how the builder and we overlooked such Third Lausanne Congress on World a standard convenience. When the electrician checked the Evangelization, Cape Town 2010. ceiling area before cutting a hole, he discovered a canister light These delegates, hand chosen by that had been there all along, but it was never exposed. In a national committees, gathered to similar way, our graduates have been there all along, but we’ve Rev. Doug Birdsall, engage and pray for some of the only recently put more resources toward uncovering how Executive Chair most challenging issues facing they’ve been serving the Church. of the Lausanne Committee the global Church today—issues like HIV/AIDS, seismic shifts in global Christianity, the reality of Islam, poverty, the hope not only to discover more about what our alumni do, brokenness of the world, reconciliation and others. but“The also alumni to communicate office wants to how uncover Gordon-Conwell Gordon-Conwell, continues too. We to Gordon-Conwell alumni participated in this historic prepare men and women to serve in vocations ranging from event on a variety of levels. missionaries and ministers to professions in the marketplace.

Many were onsite at the Congress, including Doug “It’s been a pleasure for me to be part of the Gordon-Conwell Birdsall (’79, M.Div.), Executive Chair of the Lausanne community for the past 10 years. From the perspective of being Committee for World Evangelization, the organization married to a faculty member, I’ve been able to get to know responsible for the Congress, and plenary speakers students, participate in events and study for a degree. Now it’s Tim Keller (’75, M.Div.) and Ramez Atallah (’72, my privilege to be involved at a new level. I’m looking forward M.Div.). Keller is the founding pastor of New York’s to helping uncover what’s been there all along.” Redeemer Presbyterian Church, while Atallah is the General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt. The seminary appreciates the vision and energy Rhonda brings A special alumni gathering for Gordon-Conwell to her position. She replaces Daryl Olson (‘05, M.Div.), who has alumni was also held during the Congress, hosted by served in a similar capacity since 2007. Daryl continues to President Hollinger. work for Gordon-Conwell as an IT Business Analyst. Back on the Hamilton campus, many alumni came with members of their congregations to participate remotely in the Congress through a GlobaLink Alumni Gathered in Pittsburgh This Fall Conference on October 22-23. During this two- day event, attendees were able to listen to plenary Gordon-Conwell continued its efforts to host speakers at Cape Town, as well as participate in small alumni events in major metropolitan areas group discussions with other local pastors, church with a gathering of alumni in the Pittsburgh leaders and missions representatives. area. The event took place on November 12th, at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Gordon-Conwell continues the conversations that Church in Pittsburgh. We were delighteded began at Lausanne’s Cape Town 2010 Congress, that alumnus Rev. Tim Janiszewski (’86, meeting one Friday evening per month throughout M.Div.) opened his church for this event, which was hosted by the remainder of the academic year at the Hamilton President Hollinger. campus. This continuing conversation, to further explore the six major themes addressed in Cape Town, If you would like to keep updated on upcoming alumni events, is open to alumni. Learn more at www.gordonconwell. subscribe to the e-newsletter InCommunity by emailing edu/missions. [email protected]. www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 35 ALUMNI NOTES

Charles Sutton, MTS, ‘76, retired from active ministry in the Episcopal In Memoriam Church in October 2009, and was received into the Anglican Church in North America a few days later. Harry Boehmke, M.Div., ‘53, passed away peacefully July 20, 2010, surrounded by family. Rev. Boehmke was an ordained minister for more than 40 years. John Currid, MTS, ‘77, is featured in a Times-Herald article for his work on the excavation of Bethsaida near the Sea of Galilee. Elwood Bannister, B.D., ’54, passed away January 2009 after more than 50 years of active ministry. His ministry included four pastorates in eastern Jack Wald, M.Div., ‘77, is quoted in WORLD Magazine in an article on the Canada, service on the faculty and in administration at Atlantic Baptist expulsion of Christian workers from Morocco. University (now Crandall University) and serving with Canadian Baptist Ministries. James Arthur Clark, M.Div., ‘56, passed away May 29, 2010, in Sebring, FL. 1980s G. Thomas Hobson, M.Div., ‘83, received a Doctor of Philosophy degree Allen Guenther, M.Div., ‘69, passed away December 23, 2009. He is in Biblical Exegesis from Concordia Seminary, St Louis, MO, on May 21. Rev survived by his wife, Anne, and sons, Ron, Barry and Michael. Hobson’s dissertation is entitled “Cut Off From (One’s) People: Punitive Expulsion in the Torah.” He has also published “Aselgeia in Mark 7:22” Jeffrey Woodyard, MATS, ‘83, passed away June 3, 2010, in his hometown (Filologia Neotestamentaria 21:65–74) and “Historicity: Does It Matter?” of York, PA. (Presbyterian Outlook, 7/6, 7/13, 8/3/2009).

Kenny Ye, M.Div., ‘01, passed away July 3, 2010, as a result of a serious Bard-Alan Finlan, MATS, ‘84, completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree bus accident in South Korea. He served as an associate pastor at Highrock in Sacred Music this past spring at the University of Southern California. Covenant Church in Arlington, MA. James Proctor, M.Div., ‘87, has been appointed Pastor of the Corinth United Leon Jeanty, MAUM, ‘07, passed away unexpectedly May 31, 2010. He is Methodist Church in Corinth, Maine. survived by his wife, Mariana, and his three children, Verola, Lee and Nathan. He pastored two local congregations in Boston: Bethesda Baptist Church in Lee Spitzer, D.Min., ‘89, M.Div., ‘81, has published his new book, Making Hyde Park and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Friends, Making Disciples (Judson Press, 2010).

1950s 1990s

Gordon Danielson, M.Div., ‘59, and his wife, Martha Lee Danielson, of Elsie Mokoban, MATS, ‘90, is grateful for her education at Gordon-Conwell Penney Retirement Community in Florida, celebrated their 55th wedding and the scholarship that helped fund that education, because it helped anniversary in June 2010. To celebrate, they traveled to Austria and prepare her for her ministry. She has been working for Intervarsity Christian Switzerland, and attended a performance of the Passion in Oberamagau, Fellowship for the past 20 years and is featured on the InterVarsity website for her ministry at Indian River State College. son of their daughter, Molly, and her husband, Matthew. Gordon observed theGermany. 50th anniversary They also welcomed of his ordination their first in grandchild,September 2009.Weston Champe Slack, Bruce Fawcett, M.Div., ‘91, has been appointed Academic Dean at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, where he also serves as Director of Doctoral Studies and Associate Professor of Leadership.

1960s Lewis Klatt, M.Div., ‘91, won the 2010 Iowa Poetry Prize, awarded by the

University of Iowa Press for his manuscript, Cloud of Ink. The annual Iowa Reg Dunlap, B.D., ‘60, after being Senior Pastor for 17 years at the Poetry Prize is one of the leading national poetry awards. historic Second Baptist Church in North Stonington, CT, is returning to the evangelism and Bible conference ministry in which he was previously Rachel Stahle, MA, ‘94, The Great Work of involved for 30 years. He will travel with Bob Thompson, internationally Providence: Jonathan Edwards for Life Today (Wipf & Stock, 2009). known gospel singer, throughout the country. This church-centered published her first book, ministry will specialize in meeting the needs of churches in the areas of Lorne Bean, M.Div., ‘95, and his wife, Rochelle, along with their daughters Bible teaching, deeper-life conferences and teaching seminars. Reg may be Brianna and Tionae, were assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, in Bermuda, reached through sermonseeker.com and preachtheword.net. after nine years at their previous church. Frederick Gregory, B.D., ‘68, has lectures available at The Teaching David Colburn, MACO, ‘95, Company website for courses on the Darwinian Revolution and the History studies through the Gospels published on Bible.org. The studies are daily, of Science. Visit www.teach12.com. chronological and devotional. has He had hopes the tofirst publish five of studies his 12 on week-long the entire New Testament and Old Testament by December 2011.

1970s Catherine Beckerleg, MAOT, ‘96, MAR, ‘97, completed her Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard in 2009 and is now Assistant Arthur Gerald, MTS, ‘72, is featured in an article in the Boston Herald. Rev. Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College (IL). Gerald was recently named the 13th pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA. Eric Bennett, M.Div., ‘96, continues to serve with Jews for Jesus. He did several Christ in the Passover presentations in Memphis last March. This Ronald E. Peters, M.Div., ‘70, has been named the eighth president of the summer, he traveled to Israel with the ministry for an evangelistic campaign Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, GA. He began in for 2 ½ weeks. He and his wife, Kathy, have one small daughter, Erica. September.

36 FALL/WINTER ‘10 ALUMNI NOTES

Jo Ann Deasy, M.Div., ‘97, graduated in May 2010 with her Ph.D. in Neal Pearson, D.Min., ‘05, MAUM, ‘96, was inducted into the Warren High Congregational Studies from Garrett Theological Seminary. She is currently School Hall of Fame (Warren, OH) on May 1, 2010. He was one of 10 to be serving as interim pastor at Sojourner Covenant Church in Evanston, IL. inducted this year.

Alan Keiran, D.Min., ‘97, is featured in an article on ThePilot.com. Dr. Keiran Patrick Ware, M.Div., ‘05, is highlighted in a Frederick County Observer article on the Winchester Anglican Church where he serves as pastor.

Peteris chief Sprigg, of staff M.Div., for the ‘97,Office is aof public the U.S. policy Senate analyst Chaplain. for the Family Research Karl Dahlfred, M.Div., ‘06, and his wife, Sun, are serving as church planting Council and often appears on television, especially to discuss issues of human missionaries in Thailand. You can read Karl’s blog at dahlfred.com. sexuality. His most recent interview was on CNN. Misty Mowrey, M.Div., ‘06, has recently completed eight years as Pastor of David Swanson, D.Min., ‘98, Vital Signs: Discovering Rocky Fork Christian Church in Sanford, NC. She is teaching Language Arts the Keys to Abundant Christian Living (Conversant Life, 2010). It can be at a public middle school while she waits for God’s leading to a full time purchased at drinkfromthewell.com published and his Amazon. first book, pastorate.

Susan Gleason, M.Div., ‘99, has accepted a call to pastor the First Stephen Nyakairu, Th.M., M.Div., ‘06, is featured in an article on Presbyterian Church in Haverhill, MA. She is grateful to those who have NashobaPublishing.com about baptisms at United Church of Shirley, MA, prayed for her daughter, Rachel, as she recovers from brain surgery to correct where he serves as pastor. a seizure disorder. Rachel has been seizure-free for 13 weeks. Charles Tieszen, Th.M., ‘06, M.Div., ‘05, completed his Ph.D. in Islam and Prosperly Lyngdoh, MAME, ‘99, has been appointed Associate Professor Christian-Muslim relations at the University of Birmingham, U.K. of Missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a missions professor at Barclay College and as a missionary pastor in Brian Barry, M.Div., ‘09, is quoted in a WBUR.org article on the New England Mumbai, India. Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. Rev. Barry serves as rector at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Danvers, MA. 2000s Chris Blackey, M.Div., ‘09, and Kathleen Blackey, M.Div., ‘09, request prayer for First Baptist Church of South Londonderry, VT, where they serve as Gary Rodriguez, D.Min., ‘00, recently wrote a book entitled, Purpose Driven Public Speaking, which is designed to help aspiring and active speakers “develop and deliver purposeful talks with less fear and more confidence.” Theyco-pastors. ask for The prayer church as the was community completely mourns destroyed this by building fire. They that are has thankful stood onthat the no hill one for was almost injured 180 in years, the fire and and they that ask no for other prayers buildings as they were seek involved. God’s James Skillen, MATH, ‘00, guidance. An article about First Baptist appeared in the Brattleboro Reformer. Calvin College website. Dr. Skillen teaches in the geology, geography and environmental studies department is highlighted there. in a faculty profile article on the Bimini Cohen, MAUM, ‘09, and her Israeli husband, Oded, moved from Newton, MA, to serve the Lord with the Jews for Jesus Israel branch in Tel Julena Doudt, MAME, ‘02, has recently been hired as a Charlotte, NC, region Aviv in April 2010. “The Lord is our Helper every moment of every day. We Area Director for CARES by Apartment Life (www.caresteam.org), a faith- Messiah. Please pray for me to learn Hebrew so I can be more effective and communities. fruitful.are finding My ayears great at curiosity GCTS are here very about precious Jesus to and me—I His wasclaims deeply of being impacted the for based non-profit based out of Dallas, TX, that ministers among apartment God and His Kingdom. We will be returning to New England in the spring of Dean Abbott, MATH, ‘03, and his wife, Rebecca Abbott, MAR, ‘03, recently 2011 for a three-week Christ in the Passover tour/teaching.” welcomed their second child, Lucy Rose. She joins older sister, Daisy. Dean has accepted a position as Professor of Communication at Mt. Vernon Cristina Richie, M.Div., ‘09, Nazarene University in Mt. Vernon, OH. Rebecca received her doctorate in Instructor of World Religions and Ethics at Newbury College in Brookline, Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. is completing her first semesterBlack as Adjunct Theology: An Intentional Journal, entitled “The Racial and Economic Theories of James Jim McConnell, M.Div., ‘04, completed his Ph.D. in New Testament from ConeMA. In and April Martin 2010, Luther her first King published Jr., Illuminated article bywas the printed Sermon in on the Mount.” In Baylor University in December 2009. Since fall 2009, he has been a member May 2010, she traveled to Victoria, BC, to present a paper for the AAR/ SBL/ of the faculty of the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling ASOR entitled “Symbolism of Buddha Statues in Asian Art.” Springs, NC. John Bryson, D.Min., ‘10, has co-authored a video series called College Felix Orji, D.Min., ‘04, has been appointed a Canon by St. Francis on the Hill Ready

it well., which is designed to empower high school seniors or first semester RobAnglican Rienow, Church D.Min., in El ‘04,Paso, and TX, his where wife, he Amy, began have in published2005 as an a associatenew book, rector. college freshmen with a clear direction for starting college right and finishing Visionary Marriage (Randall House, 2010). It is a companion to their Nathan Creitz, M.Div., ‘10, is starting a church in Swampscott, MA, called earlier book, Visionary Parenting, and seeks to equip married couples Red Rock Community Church. For more information, visit redrockcc.org, and with a compelling, Bible-driven mission for their life together. There ChurchETHOS.com. is also a corresponding DVD series. More information is available at VisionaryMarriage.com. Danny Roman-Gloro, D.Min., ‘10, has begun the Ph.D. in Communications program at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. He was also recently Mark Debowski, Th.M., M.Div., ‘05, and Kendra Debowski, MACO, ‘04, awarded a Graduate Homiletics Scholarship from the Center for Excellence in along with their son, Thatcher (4 years old), welcomed Adele Amadea Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary in Michigan. (meaning “noble, serene; loves God”) into their family February 7, 2010. Mark is Lead Pastor at Bella Vista Church in Rockford, MI.

John Lin, Th.M., ‘05, M.Div., ‘98 has been appointed Lead Pastor of a Redeemer congregation in the southern part of Manhattan.

www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 37 IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam Gordon-Conwell mourns the recent deaths of four very special individuals whose lives were spent in service to God.

Practices section, as well as an organizer and Chairman of the Dr. Allan C. Emery, Jr. Board for Greer (SC) State Bank, and an adjunct professor at North Greenville (SC) College. rustee Emeritus Dr. Allan Comstock Emery, Since 2000, David had served as president of Joshua’s Way, a TJr., an esteemed leader, longstanding board member and great friend of Gordon- Conwell, provide foundational Christian teaching. The organization also died at his home in Weymouth Heights, MA, Christian, non-profit organization that partners with churches to September 26. of each year. He and his wife, Louise, started the organization in Dr. Emery served the board from 1969 until memorydoes significant of their workson, Joshua, in Ethiopia who wheredied in David 1982. typically spent part 2001, was Vice Chairman from 1975 to 1993, David Rogers is survived by Louise and their two children, succeeded Rev. Billy Graham as Chairman and Caleb and Kate. served in that capacity until 1995. President Emeritus Dr. Robert E. Cooley, who worked closely with Dr. Emery, remembers him as “passionate about Gordon- Dr. Tom Little Conwell and about his service on the board, a man who dedicated a great deal of personal time to the seminary and supported it lumnus Dr. Tom Little (MTS, ‘77), and nine generously…Allan was very strong in his commitment to Christ and Aother members of a medical team were maintained the highest integrity in his leadership.” attacked and killed in Afghanistan in August One of Dr. Emery’s greatest joys was the Weymouth (MA) Bible Club for high school students that he and his late wife, Marian, held An optometrist, Tom was leading the in their home weekly for 33 years. He was also instrumental in Nuristanin a suspected Eye Camp ambush Team by non-localfrom International fighters. bringing Billy Graham crusades to Boston in 1950 and 1964. Assistance Mission (IAM), an organization he Dr. Emery worked in the woolen industry, and was President of had served for more than 30 years. Boston Wool Trade and National Wool Trade Association. He was According to IAM, “the team had just trekked 100 miles through subsequently President of ServiceMaster Hospital Corp. of Boston, the Hindu Kush Mountains, giving eye care to some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan.” Evangelistic Association. andA Presidenttrustee of andGordon Chief and Operating Wheaton Officer Colleges, of thehe also Billy served Graham as much of what has been achieved in eye care in Afghanistan. He is President of the Evangelistic Association of New England (now irreplaceable.”Mission officials As a describedmanager of Dr. the Little organization’s as “a driving Noor force eye behind care Vision New England) and Boston Industrial Home-Union Rescue services, he provided optometry care, established clinics and Mission, and was a Life Deacon at Park Street Church, Boston. He ophthalmic workshops, and had led eye camps for many years. was awarded an LL.D degree from Wheaton. In addition to these camps, Noor’s eye care includes hospitals, clinics, Dr. Emery is survived by two sons and their spouses, Allan a training center for ophthalmology and ophthalmic professionals, and Comstock Emery III and Lynn; Arthur Hancock Emery and Karen; daughter Annetta Emery Thurber and Richard; six grandchildren an estimated 5 million Afghans since 1966. and six great-grandchildren. numerous“As a seminary outreach services. community, The work our ofhearts the organization go out to hasthe benefited families and friends of the 10 victims killed in Afghanistan,” says President Dennis Hollinger. “We particularly grieve the loss of Dr. Tom Little, David M. Rogers, Esq. who, as a Gordon-Conwell alumnus, had been inspired by the work and passion of Dr. J Christy Wilson, Jr. Before becoming a rustee and Alumnus David Rogers (MTS professor at Gordon-Conwell, Dr. Wilson spent 22 years serving in T’96) passed away suddenly on July 25 Afghanistan. Dr. Little was carrying on a great legacy.” while vacationing with his family at the beach Tom is survived by his wife, Libby, and three adult daughters, in Isle of Palms, SC. “All of us at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary are shocked and grieving,” Molly, Nelly and Kattie. Their first grandchild will be born this fall. President Dennis P. Hollinger commented at Jean Kalland

graduating class of our Charlotte Campus and has served on our rs. Jean Kallan, wife of the late Dr. Lloyd board since 2001. Hethe was time. also “David, the chair an ofattorney, the Strategic was in Planning the first MKalland, a long-time professor and Task Force, the vice chair of our board, and until recently the chair administrator at the seminary, passed away April 8, 2010, after a three-week battle with his energy and his considerable wisdom to our seminary, and he cancer. Mrs. Kalland will be remembered for willof the be Charlotte greatly missed.” Board of Advisors. He gave sacrificially of his time, a life of service to Christ, gracious hospitality David practiced law for more than 20 years in the area of to others and considerable work with the Women’s Council at Gordon-Conwell. She is Merriam, Rogers and Traxler. He was a member of the South survived by her daughter, DJ; son-in-law, Paul; two grandchildren Carolinacivil litigation, Bar Associationserving with and the chairSouth ofCarolina its Torts firm and Carter, Insurance Smith, and three great-grandchildren.

38 FALL/WINTER ‘10 Opening Isaiah 42-44

CATHERINE CLARK KROEGER, Ph.D. the Ranked Adjunct Associate Professor of Word Classical and Ministry Studies The Potential of the New

hen I was a little girl, I would watch from the Into the confusion of crumbling cultures came the window for the horse-drawn wagons that voices of the prophets. The people of God had failed Wdelivered our milk and groceries and ice for wretchedly, and yet there was a promise of a meaningful the old-fashioned ice box. Our favorite beast toured future. Indeed, Isaiah had declared that Israel’s very the neighborhood pulling the organ grinder’s magical mishaps would be used to declare God’s faithfulness, that instrument on a cart. How sad to see such wonderful they would indeed be His witnesses.

How many changes have engulfed our world, and Have no fear, do not be afraid horses replaced by trucks! Have I not told you and revealed it long ago? graduate school some years after studying Greek in You are my witnesses, is there any other highhow swiftlyschool theyand college, have come! I discovered When I belatedlythat the enteredancient God beside me? Greek language had not changed much. Then I received There is no Rock, I know of none. (Isa. 44:8) a distress call: the graduate student who was to teach Out of the old, God was bringing something new. Would I attempt the innovation on such short notice? Though the Lord’s people were blind and deaf, “Who so Ibiblical had never Greek touched with the a computer use of a computer in my life, had but fled. I saw that blind as my servant, so deaf as the messenger I send?” (Isa. 42:19: 43:8), yet they were His witnesses (43:10, I was introduced to the computer, and at noon I met 12). Throughout all the bewildering upheaval—military, theit might class. be There a way were to help many students bugs instay the afloat. new Atprogram, 8 a.m., political, ideological, cultural and spiritual—there was a but also great potential. Students who would otherwise divine guidance to further the purposes of God.

were learning. How many times that old dinosaur of a No need to recall the past, have dropped the course after the first two weeks No need to think about what was done before Increasingly, the familiar is swept away, and so many See, I am doing a new deed bewilderingcomputer has changes been replaced swirl around since then! us in every aspect of Even now it comes to light, can you not see it? our lives. To paraphrase the Psalmist, how do we sing the Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness Lord’s song in the strange new world of technological Paths in the wilds (Isa. 43:18-19, Jerusalem). contraptions, communications and circumstances? The mainline denominations that seemed so very solid are Though often fumbling and stumbling as we traverse eroding more rapidly than our receding shore lines. the wilderness, God’s witnesses can be sure that the road is there, lighted by the One who makes all things new. we have depended for our security, while moral and ethicalRadically issues altered draw are us the into financial uncharted institutions waters. on which Catherine Clark Kroeger earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She is considerations of whole worlds that fell apart, as they President of Peace and Safety in the Christian wereFrequently, addressed by I findthe prophets. myself The turning temple to had ancient fallen, Home, a coalition of Christians providing polluted by idolatrous and obscene practices, ridden resources and education to eliminate domestic with actual idol shrines. Jerusalem, the Lord’s delight, violence in the Christian home. She is also lay in ruins, its inhabitants deported to a far-off land. founding president of Christians for Biblical Equality, a coalition of Christians united around the belief that Scripture supports the equality of Babylonian, Median and Persian empires. men and women. They struggled to find meaning under the successive

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“We live in an era of bumper-sticker morality. It’s unfortunate Gordon-Conwell that many important ethical questions are reduced to sound- plans to offer a new bites and clichés,” states Patrick T. Smith, Assistant Professor of degree, the Master Philosophy and Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Semi- of Arts in Ethics nary. “When this is the case, we can really miss the serious- and Society for the ness and difficulty of ethical questions, and how we should be Fall of 2011.* discussing them. It is the aim of this program to equip God’s people to engage in moral reasoning about many of the complex ethical issues that affect all of us, Christian or not.”

We want to train students, pastors, chaplains, business and medical professionals, parachurch workers, and others who *Pending ATS approval are interested in the intersection of ethics, Christian faith, and society. Gordon-Conwell’s new Master of Arts in Ethics and Find out more about the Society brings together Biblical studies, theology, ethical theo- new Master of Arts in Ethics ry, philosophy and our cultural context to help students think and Society by calling clearly about difficult ethical issues and apply what they’ve 40 FALL/WINTER ‘10 1.800.428.7329 or visit us at learned in the real world. www.gordonconwell.edu/ethics