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Fuller Theological Seminary Digital Commons @ Fuller The SEMI (1991-2000) Fuller Seminary Publications 6-1-1998 The Semi (06-01-1998) Fuller Theological Seminary Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-semi-5 Recommended Citation Fuller Theological Seminary, "The Semi (06-01-1998)" (1998). The SEMI (1991-2000). 250. https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-semi-5/250 This Periodical is brought to you for free and open access by the Fuller Seminary Publications at Digital Commons @ Fuller. It has been accepted for inclusion in The SEMI (1991-2000) by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Fuller. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Çf'a/'tifty tS lh o t» jü^j page o, o A Publication for the Fuller Theological Seminary Community June I- Spring Quarter Week 10 Keeping the Vision by Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary n an article published in the Jesuit magazine still aren’t always clear about how to set our course in America several years ago, Archbishop Rembert shaping our public witness. We need to think more / Weakland observed that upwardly mobile Roman clearly about these things, and that is an importa Catholic laity in North America often operate with a part of theological education. Ronald Thiemann, the genuine ignorance of the church’s social teachings, dean of Harvard Divinity School, has argued m his But we mustn’t blame the laity for these deficiencies, writings on public theology that Christian commurn- j Dates to Know: the Archbishop insisted; rather, we must keep in mind ties ought to function as ‘ schools of public virtue (This week: “the all-absorbing concern of our forebears, as a mi- places “that seek to form the kind of character neces- If you forgot to nority group in a predominantly Protestant culture, to sary for public life. Obviously he doesn think register for summer preserve the integrity of their faith. They did not fore- good Lutheran that he is—that this is the only role quarter, who knows see the need to prepare themselves for leadership in Christian communities ought to cultivate. But he does what fate awaits you? the larger societal structures.” insist that it is one of our functions, and an important We don’t... Similar things can be said about North American one at that. T ,, evangelicals. There is a persistent thread in our evan- I agree with Thiemann. And, like him, w [ June 11 gelical Protestant tradition that depicts us as a belea- want to emphasize that this is one of he functions of Graduation banquets: guered minority—a cognitive remnant—who must a theological school. We ought to be cultivating public check your school’s devote all of our energies to preserving the integrity virtue.” For many of our students—especially those who will be returning to cultures that are presently bulletin boards for of our faith. Our favorite theological formulations undergoing serious social, political, and economic cri- information. seem to reinforce and legitimize this sense that we ses—the call to leadership on important issues of pub­ are destined to be a people who are on the margins of lic life is an especially urgent one. We have a wonder­ | June 13 @ 10 a.m. cultural life. Unfortunately these themes, shaped by ful opportunity in the Fuller community to “school” Commencement at our pietist sensitivities, often gravitate toward “world- each other in how best to pursue our public responsi­ Lake Avenue flight” motifs, and leave us devoid of a sense of the bilities in the cultural contexts in which the Lord places Congregational role we are called to play in our larger societies. Church. When Fuller Seminary was established in 1947, us. To be sure, our commitment to our own best un­ our founding leaders placed a strong emphasis on the derstanding of “public virtue” may on occasion be so need for evangelicals to leave the margins and take responsibility for what is happening in the larger hu­ out of line with the visions of public life being bandied man community. Harold John Ockenga, Fuller s first about by our contemporaries that the most we can hope president, put the case boldly. In their passivity, he for is a holding action for the time being. Because we look ‘Tor a city that has foundations” (Hebrews 11:10), argued, evangelicals have been “on the wrong side of social problems such as war, race, class, labor, liquor, it is part of our calling to await the coming transforma­ imperialism, etc. It is time to get over the fence to the tion by engaging in modest and civil efforts in the pub­ right side. The church needs a progressive Fundamen­ lic arena as it is presently constituted, for we do antici­ talism with a social message.” Similarly, Professor pate something that is far better. Even so, it is also part of our calling to seize the opportunities available to us Inside... Carl Henry, in a book published in the same year that as public agents during this time when the Lord tarries. Fuller opened its doors, insisted maithat methe timetune uuuhad come ; -------<=>------- . • SEMI staff’s for evangelicals to stop thinking of themselves as “en- Passivity is never an appropriate strategy. At the very “parting shots” lightened spectators” of the larger culture, and to heed least we must continue to offer up our supplications pg. 3, 8 God’s call to function as “empowered ambassadors” prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings.. .for longs and of the Kingdom all who ^ in high P°sltions’ so i$®g|we may lead a • Student Awards Fifty years later, evangelicals do have a social quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity (1 recipients r message of sorts. We have left the margins to become Timothy 2:1-2). Prayer itself is a form of active public pg. 5 ,6 quite visible these days in “the culture wars.” But we continued on page 8 • Looking back on 50th anniversary Advertisements FYI Monday Meetings Pg- 8 Chattel Info Financial Aid Info. 2 the SEMI June 1-5, 1998 From the officM Director OSS: Ruth Vuong TO ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR STAFFORD LOANS: Managing Editor: Carmen Valdés Please be sure that we in the Office of Financial Aid have a correct address and phone number for you. If you need to update information, please go to the REGISTAR’S Editor: Laura K. Sim m ons office and make all of the necessary changes. Production Editor: Chris Low The SEMI is published weekly as a service to the Fuller community by the LINDBERGH FOUNDATION THE SPENCER FOUNDATION Office of Student Services, FullerTheo- There will be nine grants awarded in DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP logical Seminary, Pasadena, California 91182. For more information, contact amounts up to $10,580 each for projects The dissertation topic for this fellowship the SEM I office at (626) 584-5430. addressing the issue of balance in various must concern education; however, gradu­ fields. The applications will be reviewed ate study may be in any academic disci­ Articles and commentaries do not for technical merit and for potential con­ pline. Applicants must be candidates for necessarily reflect the views of the Fuller administration or the SEMI. Final tribution to the Lindbergh vision of bal­ the doctoral degree. Applications can be editorial responsibility rests with the ance. This application needs some serious downloaded from www.spencer.org or by Director of Student Services. thought and some research, so please do writing to: not wait till the last minute to pick one up Spencer Dissertation The Mission of the SEMI: Staffed from the Office of Financial Aid. The dead­ Fellowships Program by students and sponsored by the Office of Student Services, the SEMI line for all materials is June 16. Read the 900 North Michigan Avenue, Ste. 2800 serves as a connecting point for the application for information on where to Chicago, IL 60611-1542 entire Fuller community. It is a forum send the materials. The deadline for this scholarship is Octo­ and a voice for issues, information, and ber 21,1998. events of interest to the community. THE SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND COMMITTEE THE UNITED STATES Announcement Information: Notices may be submitted to the This scholarship provides financial support INSTITUTION OF PEACE Editor (Kreyssler Hall, 2nd Floor) by to seminarians preparing for full-time These fellowships are intended to support noon ( 12 p.m.) on Tuesday, ten days Christian ministry among the Chinese. For the research and writing of dissertations prior to the date of publication. N o application information please write to: addressing the sources and nature of in­ late notices can be accepted. TSSFC ternational conflict and the full range of In-house users will be charged for 108 Fieldstone Way ways to prevent or end conflict and to sus­ notices from their departments which Lansdale, PA 19446 tain peace. Dissertations from all disci­ exceed 50 words in length or which plines are welcome. The Institute expects run longer than two weeks. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL to award at least 10 Peace Scholar fellow­ Advertisement Information: AMBASSADORIAL ships for 1999-2000. Applicants must be Notices from individuals or churches SCHOLARSHIPS doctoral students who will complete all re­ for events not directly sponsored by a While scholarships available and applica­ quirements for the doctoral degree except Fuller office o r organization will be tion deadlines vary according to specific the dissertation by September 1999. Citi­ printed in the “Ads” section and Rotary clubs, many scholarships cover zens of any country welcome; however, charged per word. complete funding for travel, study, and you must be enrolled in a U.S.

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