The OPEN DOOR Spring 2013

Inside this Issue: 2 Message from the President 6 BTS Memories and Tributes 11 Theology Matters: Engaging in Dialogue 18 Mentored Practice

www.bts.edu MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

he Spring issue as the final custodian of these records. Tof the Open Door typically focuses on the •_Location – we will be locating our new office in the January Convocation. Portland area in the fall as we depart Husson Uni- What you will also see versity by August 1, and State Street Congregational in this issue are signs Church, UCC, by September 30. We are grateful to of the life and legacy of both Husson and State Street for our long relation- the Seminary as it has ships and their support over the years. been since 1814. The content of this Open This issue of the Open Door also includes information Door reflects the gifts about the evolving plans for The BTS Center. and graces for minis- try of our students and graduates, the unflag- ging integrity of the teaching and formation provided by our faculty, the dedicated support of our staff, and the overall quality of life for the BTS community in this “An Historic Threshold” year of significant transition and change.

The concurrent processes of winding down degree pro- t our Opening Convocation and Presidential In- grams and creating a new non-degree educational en- Astallation on September 15, 2012, our speaker, tity involves many important details. Here is an update President Nick Carter of Andover Newton Theologi- on some of the major priorities for this transition, all of cal School, offered these words: which are still in process: This is an historic threshold in the life of Bangor •_Teach Out – about 16 students plan to complete de- Seminary. One hundred ninety-eight years ago, grees at another seminary. Most will complete their when Maine was still a province of Massachusetts, course work at Andover Newton Theological School, and the boundaries of the state had not even been with about half of them graduating in 2014. settled, the founders of this school petitioned and received a charter ‘for the promotion of piety and •_Scholarships – the Board of Trustees created a gener- literature,’ under the name of The Maine Charity ous fund for Legacy Scholarships for students transfer- School. It was a broad charter; so broad, in fact, that ring to other seminaries. the word ‘theological’ never appears in the original document. The founders could have created a col- •_Library – the BTS collection will be donated to Colby lege or any other educational institution, but it was College, and will be available through MaineCat and in- this Seminary they designed. Now ten generations terlibrary loan. Transfer of the collection is scheduled later, amid tectonic shifts in the plates that lay be- to begin in July. neath theological education, you are re-examining the breadth of that charter and the dreams of your •_Archives – the historical archives of the Seminary will intrepid founders are being probed for new inspira- become part of the Maine Historical Society collection. tion. Processing of the material is planned to begin this sum- … mer. I think it is wonderful that as Bangor Theological Seminary faces its last year it has called for an in- •_Transcripts – 70 years of transcripts will be digitized stallation. It reminds me of those profound words of and entrusted to Andover Newton Theological School TS Eliot at the end of his Four Quartets:

2 Bangor Theological Seminary “May God grant us the wisdom, agility, resources, and resolve to preserve and renew our historic legacy...”

What we call the beginning is often the end. With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this And to make an end is to make a beginning. Calling The end is where we start from. We shall not cease from exploration …. And the end of all our exploring We shall not cease from exploring Will be to arrive where we started And the end of our exploring And know the place for the first time. Will be to arrive where we started. In the post-Easter stories of the community of Jesus’ Bangor: from founders to founders! From endings disciples and friends, we see a familiar struggle with to installations! grief, sadness, and fear. Something ended on Good Friday. Something new began on Easter morning. It Commencement 2013 will be a time of ending and took time, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, for the beginning. There will be both tears and great laugh- disciples to make sense of it all. Pentecost was the ter on June 22, as at most graduations. Familiar and watershed experience, clarifying and galvanizing the meaningful patterns of learning and relating will end, community for its future mission. The community of even as Commencement begins a joyful journey into disciples did not disappear. Neither will BTS disap- a future with new possibili- pear. A mantle is being passed on to The BTS Center. ties. A sense of loss and sad- As Nick Carter observed, we are probing the dreams ness, even grief, will be with a mantle of our founders for new inspiration. us at this final conferring of degrees, but so will God’s May God grant us the wisdom, agility, resources, and Spirit: to give courage and is being resolve to preserve and renew our historic legacy: strength, to wipe away every equipping and supporting clergy and laity for theo- tear, and to restore joy—as passed logically grounded and effective leadership for this BTS begins a new leg of its present time of change and challenge in the life of continuing journey, with a on the Church. new name and a renewed mission. I pray for your continuing companionship and sup- port on the ongoing journey of discovery that will be Robert Wood Lynn has described an aspect of our a part of the mission of The BTS Center. “beginning” that we seek to embody into the future: Spirit, come transform us. Come be our breath, be Even in the first generation, your pioneering found- our life. ers wanted to do it differently. These people looked for something new and distinctive to do in the field of theological education. Peace be with you, - from A Brief History [of BTS]

Like Nick Carter, I found the words of Eliot instruc- tive and inspiring. I heard in this verse an apt expres- sion of our resolve to preserve our forebears’ sense of The Reverend Dr. Robert Grove-Markwood calling and purpose, for this new time: President

The Open Door - Spring 2013 3 Alumni/ae News by Rev. Dr. Ken Dale ’82 and ’94 “I had all but given up on the idea that there was some t the annual meeting of the unique ministry meant for me when I got a call...” ABTS Alumni/ae Association families in their time of need: as Kate received her Master of Di- this year, two Distinguished Alum- they wait for their missing to be vinity degree from BTS in 2004 ni Awards were presented for spe- brought out of the Maine woods or and was ordained by the Unitar- cialized ministry. One was given to to bring comfort to those who have ian Universalist Fellowship that The Rev. Dr. Kate Braestrup both received a death notification. Kate same year. In 2010, she was pre- in recognition of her ministry as provides spiritual support both to sented with an honorary doctorate Chaplain for the Maine Warden the many families in crisis and to degree from Unity College. Cur- Service and as a noted author, the the game wardens with whom she rently, she resides in Lincolnville, other to The Rev. Dr. Richard Small works. Recently, she led a response Maine with her husband Simon. for his service as Director of the team from the Maine Warden Ser- Together they have six children. Good Shepherd Food Bank and as a vice to help game wardens cope pastor to UCC Churches in Maine. with the shootings in Newtown, CT. She shares her story as a chap- Kate Braestrup originally came lain in her bestselling book, Here If to BTS pursuing her late husband You Need Me, which is written with Drew’s dream of becoming a min- her wonderful mix of passion, hu- ister. Drew, a Maine state trooper, mility, humor, and grace. tragically lost his life in an automo- bile accident. It was his hope to be- Other works include a novel, On- come a Unitarian Universalist min- ion, and more recently, Marriage ister who would serve a church, as and Other Acts of Charity, and Be- well as work with law enforcement ginner’s Grace. Her essays have ap- Rick Small accepting his award as a chaplain. Ironically, Kate an- peared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, O: The Oprah Maga- The Rev. Dr. Richard Small, reflect- zine, Mademoiselle, More, Ms., Law ing on his sense of call and his early and Order, and Good Housekeeping. years at BTS, told a story which I She has been a featured speaker now share with you: at several venues, including the American College of Surgeons, I was in the fifth year of the Ban- the University of Virginia Medi- gor Plan. While crossing the BTS cal School, the FBI Academy, the campus in a January snowstorm, New York State Police Benevolent Walter Cook, the Field Director, Dinner, the New York State Police caught up with me. He’d been 9/11 Commemorative Dinner, and hounding me for years to take many hospital chaplain groups. She a student church. Many times, I Kate Braestrup also spoke at the Downeast Spiri- had told him that I was going to tual Life Conference last year in do some specialized kind of min- swered God’s call in 2001. Now, Bar Harbor and preached at BTS istry, not parish ministry. Trying she’s one of the first chaplains ever Convocation in 2010. Her awards to keep the snow off his face, Wal- appointed to the Maine Warden include the 2011 “Heart of Gold ter said, “Rick, there’s a church in Service. Award” from Community Coun- Springfield (Maine) that needs seling Center of Maine, and the someone to fill in for the month As a chaplain, Kate provides a pas- Barnes & Noble “Discover New of February and I told them you’d toral presence to individuals and Writers Award.” 4 Bangor Theological Seminary COMMENCEMENT 2013 SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 | GRACIE THEATRE | BANGOR, MAINE

his year’s commencement will mark the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. Daniel Aleshire, the Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States Tand Canada, will be our graduation speaker and The Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, will also take part.

Due to the finite capacity of Gracie Theatre and the size of our graduating class, seating may be limited to those with tickets and participants in the service. Graduates will be given first priority for family and guests. Overflow seating in the Gracie lobby (if needed) will offer closed circuit TV viewing. We’re also making plans for live Internet streaming of the event. Schedule of Events Friday, June 21 5:00pm Pre-dinner social hour, Spectacular Event Center 6:00pm Senior Dinner, Spectacular Event Center

Saturday, June 22 10:30am Baccalaureate, Gracie Theatre 12pm Graduates Luncheon, G. Peirce Webber Campus Center 2:00pm Commencement Ceremonies, Gracie Theatre (reception to follow) 7:00pm “Service of Recognition, Release, & Blessing,” All Souls Congregational Church be there.” the new Executive Director. God ham, Gorham, and North Gorham, must have known it would take as interim in Cumberland, Yar- “What? You know I...” a lot of years to prepare me, and mouth, and Fryeburg. He is cur- an enormous amount of patient rently retired and living in North “Okay,” he said, “if you don’t want guidance to sustain me, for such a Windham with his wife Deb, who to do it, you call them and tell great ministry as Good Shepherd. has three children and three grand- them you’re not coming.” I was only there for five and half children. years, but Good Shepherd now I went to Springfield. Stayed three annually provides well over 8 mil- Kate and Rick were very pleased years, and stayed in parish minis- lion meals for hungry Mainers in and grateful to receive the Distin- tries for twenty-nine years. Loved a population of 1.3 million peo- guished Alumni Award and have it. I had all but given up on the ple. When needed, God can make a great love and appreciation for idea that there was some unique a mountain out of a molehill—in their time with Bangor Theologi- ministry meant for me when I this case, a mountain of donors cal Seminary, and we are a stronger got a call asking if I knew Good who built a mountain of food. I community for their good works. Shepherd Food Bank needed an am humbly thankful that God al- Executive Director. I’d never run lowed me to witness it. a statewide business, raised mil- Rev. Dr. Ken Dale is Pastor of the lions of dollars, or knew anything Rick is a three-time graduate of Second Congregational Church in about food acquisition or dis- BTS, receiving his diploma in ’77, Newcastle, ME. He received his tribution, but I knew instantly M.Div. in ’82, and D.Min. in ’94. He Master of Divinity and Doctor of that this was the job for me and has served Maine UCC churches in Ministry degrees from BTS in 1982 that I would, somehow, become Springfield, Milford, North Wind- and 1994, respectively. The Open Door - Spring 2013 5 BTS Memories & Tributes

was a graduate of Bangor Seminary in 1956. I also received the honor of Alumnus of the Year in “I1988. I wish to pay tribute to three of my professors: Dr. Charles Gordon Cumming, Dr. Marion Bradshaw, and Dr. Andrew Banning. They were responsible for shaping my theological and spiritual direction. The following paragraphs are from my book Someday Yonkers: An Armenian-American Odyssey which will be published next year.” –Tom L. Torosian ’56

Dr. Charles Gordon Cumming did. We not only wrote the paper to- aries: “According to my Funk and When I arrived at Bangor in Sep- gether, but I got to know the man. Wagnalls...” and “According to my tember 1954, Dr. Charles Gordon It was a wonderful opportunity to Webster’s...” The Congregationalist, Cumming had just become emeri- learn from that grand old teacher, Evangelical, and Reformed church- tus professor. Dr. Cumming’s life who gave me the courage to be a es did form a new denomination and mine connected around the Old student. in 1957. We learned that education Testament. As an emeritus, he was can and does happen outside the available to teach. In my third year, classroom. the Seminary, still in the process of Dr. Marion Bradshaw finding his replacement, let me seek Dr. Marion Bradshaw, professor of out Dr. Cumming’s counsel for my ethics, was formidable. He stood Dr. Andrew Banning graduate thesis on ‘The Composi- six-feet-four and had huge hands, Slight of build, with a rasping voice, tion of the Book of Genesis.’ hair like Brillo, and a five-o-clock Bradshaw’s debating partner Dr. shadow at 10 a.m. The saying Andrew Banning sucked lozenges Dr. Cumming summoned me to his around the seminary was, “When to soothe his vocal cords. He had apartment. He greeted me gracious- you leave this place, you will always a way of slipping one lozenge out ly, in his kind and reserved New remember Dr. Bradshaw.” of the box and carefully placing it England manner. The room felt on his tongue. He always lectured friendly, like a comfortable chair. Bradshaw was a strong-willed man from his desk. I never saw him Pictures were everywhere, mostly of who engaged in a long-running de- leave it to write notes on the black- family. Dr. Cumming, wearing a red bate with his colleague, Dr. Andrew board; they were there before we smoking jacket, told me to come in Banning, on the finer points of arrived in class. While lecturing, he and have a seat. In his middle sev- whether the denomination should would turn his head and announce, enties, he was tall, with a straight, remain within the Congregational “Gentlemen, we will now proceed ramrod bearing and clear, icy blue Church structure or merge with the to point B.” eyes that looked out under unruly Evangelical and Reformed church- eyebrows. He had a shock of white es to create a new denomination: hair that wouldn’t stay down and a Banning taught systematic theol- the United Church of Christ. Every laugh that was unpretentious and ogy. It was never systematic, and day we would gather around the straightforward. at times I felt completely lost in bulletin board where Bradshaw and the verbiage of theology. Our proj- Banning had posted their latest po- He looked at me with those pierc- ect was to write a position paper sitions. It was as if we were back in ing eyes and said, “Tom, this is not on God, life, death, resurrection, 1584 with Martin Luther challeng- good enough.” “What are you going and Jesus Christ. We plunged in ing Rome. Or, like a tennis match, to do about it?” I asked, “Do I have and survived. Banning was always an alternative?” He paused, tilted the two players making their points pushing and questioning, always his head. “Yes, if you are willing to with care and love. Eventually, the caring, always encouraging us to work hard, I will help you.” And he battle came down to one of diction- find our own voices.

6 Bangor Theological Seminary Faculty & Staff Appreciation by Rev. Dr. Ken Dale ’82 and ’94

ollowing the expedient comple- Ftion of alumni/ae business at the BTS Alumni/ae Annual Meeting & Banquet at Convocation this Janu- ary, over 120 of us gathered for near- ly two hours at the Student Campus Center on the Husson University campus to celebrate the wonderful faculty and staff of BTS.

Our community has indeed been blessed in so many ways by the dedi- cation and commitment of these gifted people. One by one, speakers took the podium to deliver words of appreciation, woven with humor, sincerity, memories, stories, gifts, BTS Professor Marvin Ellison honors longtime staff member Bonnie Wright and even song, that honored each of the current members of faculty and ministers, varied gifts shared with BTS, scholarship, staff. teaching, and engagement with the Holy.”

Warm laughter and long applause filled the room. BTS The litany continued, affirming a mixture of sadness staff members from both the Bangor and Portland cam- and hopefulness with an awareness of the grace with puses were affectionately praised for their outstanding which the faculty navigate this time of disruption work this past year, and the celebration culminated and transition. The litany closed with hope, calling with a litany of recognition of the faculty created by upon “God of open doors and open hearts, who lets Dr. Sharon Fennema, who loose the winds of the teaches liturgy as adjunct “...we thank you for your Spirit,” giving thanks faculty at Harvard. for the past, and seeking wisdom, openness, insight blessings for the present The litany began: “God of and wisdom for the fu- the open door, who unlocks and passion...” ture. our capacity for justice and love with your grace, we thank you for the wisdom, All present were then invited to write a “blessing” openness, insight, and passion that the faculty of Ban- on heart-shaped pieces of paper that were later pre- gor Theological Seminary have given throughout the sented to members of the faculty and staff as an ex- y e ar s .” pression of love and appreciation for all they have shared. Sharon Fennema sang a beautiful solo of All those present “opened the doors of [their] hearts “Open Wide the Doors of Our Hearts” by Anne Ma- with praise, thanksgiving, admiration, gratitude, hu- rie David, accompanied by Susan Grove-Markwood mility, and celebration to the faculty for their creat- on piano, which was then followed by a benediction ing the spirit of community, dedication in preparing offered by Rev. Ken Brookes.

The Open Door - Spring 2013 7 Belden Lane: Metaphors of Nature by Linette George, M.Div. student n the vast, sparse stage of Gracie their apophatic approach to their in his own day. For example, Cal- OTheatre, Belden Lane engaged understanding of God. He de- vin saw that the restraining hand Convocation attendees from behind scribed the metaphors of nature of God was what kept the water in the podium, filling our minds and in phrases such as “lovers of wil- place and the hand could be lifted spirits with vibrant, natural images derness,” “divine grandeur of high to release the waters at any time. For of the fierce and peaceful landscapes alpine lakes,” “God is wildly reck- John Calvin, everything in the natu- of our Creator, through the lens of less in love,” and “transcendence ral world sings in a performance on the Protestant Reformed Theolo- and eminence in landscape.” He the stage of the Theater of Creation. gians. Professor Lane redirected discussed the apophatic under- The Church is in the orchestra pit, the focus of the “frozen accompanying the grand chosen’s” misinformation song of the natural world. that Reformed Theology This grand performance has nothing to do with of praise preserves Cre- Creation and only to do ation. Calvin believed that with Predestination. He God sustains what God instead focused on John creates by taking joy in the Calvin’s interpretation of Creation. John Locke and Creation as God’s grand Jonathan Edwards suggest Theater of Creation where that we need to utilize our all creatures are able to act own senses to take delight as witnesses and messen- in the world and thus to gers of God. experience God. We can- not know God in our in- Professor Lane further tellect: knowing God is explained John Calvin’s more sensuously and as- theory that humans’ hope tonishingly beautiful than and desire for a mysti- anything we can imagine. cal union with Christ is The world is a great the- a core of Christian faith. Belden Lane speaking at Convocation 2013, “Theology Matters” ater of God’s glory. God speaks to us in and through Creation, enticing us to de- standing that none of our human sire God. There is a balance in these images or words is adequate to de- Belden Lane is Professor of Theo- fierce landscapes between ferocious scribe God. logical Studies at Saint Louis Uni- hurricanes and sunny, still beach versity. Also an author, his most days. Both experiences stress God’s There is an intimate connection recent work is Ravished by Beauty: grandeur, inciting both terror and between what we fear most and The Surprising Legacy of Reformed fear of the Lord and awe of God’s what we desire most. Professor Spirituality. beauty and splendor. God’s power Lane discussed Jonathan Edward’s and loveliness should work together School of Desire and the sensu- as Calvin purports that these two ous tasting and enjoying of God strains coexist. through Creation. He explained Linette George is a M.Div. student that the preaching of the Puritans at BTS. She is grateful for the op- Professor Lane also went on to de- included sexual images, conclud- portunity at Convocation to speak scribe how the Desert Fathers used ing that believers should lust af- with Professor Lane after his lecture limited language to attempt to talk ter Christ. According to Susan and for his gracious, encouraging re- about God, using familiar land- Schreiner, John Calvin was con- sponses. scapes or natural metaphors due to cerned about ecological tragedy 8 Bangor Theological Seminary Cheryl Townsend Gilkes: The Music Still Matters by Susie Maxwell, M.Div. student

“I know my robe is gonna fit me well, I tried it on at the gates of hell.” (African-American Spiritual) sive culture while giving strength for archiving apocalyptic scripture. t Convocation this past Janu- to the oppressed. Specific elements She pointed out that post-modern ary, featured speaker Rev. Dr. A within the compositions, such as culture and mainline church tradi- Cheryl Townsend Gilkes treated mournful tonalities, aided com- tion underemphasized the apoca- attendees to two enthusiastic, the- munities to share their deepest of lyptic elements of the Old and New matically-linked presentations. The griefs. And the element of shouting Testaments. Yet, in the black church first highlighted the use of Negro unified cries, for instance, served as community, by way of the Holiness spirituals—first by slaves and then a means for solidarity among the movement, much of the imagery by Civil Rights activists—and the community. from both has been maintained in second, how spirituals are a reposi- the songs. In this way, the spirituals tory for apocalyptic and prophetic Gilkes underscored the fact that became the medium where apoca- biblical inferences. the musical heritage of the spiri- lyptic images and allusions from tuals, in their phraseology, had its the bible could be accessed for In her Movement and Voice for Jus- roots in the intonations of the Is- strength and expression. tice presentation, Gilkes discussed lamic muezzin’s call to prayer. This the restorative power of Negro was demonstrated when she played Along with apocalyptic images, spirituals, how they were the songs a recording of an Islamic call to Gilkes said, prophetic elements in slaves shared among themselves prayer followed by an old record- the spirituals fueled momentum for comfort and affirmation. They ing of the spirituals; their connec- toward social justice. Interestingly, were also a means for expressing tion was clear and illuminating, if the King James Version of the bible sorrow and releasing other pent-up not downright astounding. (which, ironically, was the same emotions. Eventually, those songs, bible of their oppressors) was the with their inspirational lyr- source of these prophetic ics and memorable melo- and apocalyptic images. dies, became a significant Sometimes within the same element in the Civil Rights song (Got a Home Within Movement of the 1960s. That Rock), imagery can ap- The spirituals became a pear from both the New Tes- communal force within tament and the Old: black social and church communities. The songs Well-a poor Lazarus poor themselves, when sung in as I/ When he died he had community, created physi- a home on high/ He had a cal movement. It is this home in that rock don’t you physical movement, Gilkes see? affirmed, that led to the movement for Civil Rights. The rich man died and lived so well/ When he died he had In addition to fueling Cheryl Townsend Gilkes a home in Hell/ He had no the Civil Rights Move- During her next presentation, The home in that rock, well, don’t you see? ment, the songs became a healing Gift of the Prophetic-Apocalyptic, balm for the black community. Gilkes impressed upon attendees Another element Gilkes stressed Their frequent use of double en- how the spirituals became a place was how the spirituals affirmed a tendre lyrics mocked the oppres- (cont. on page 10) The Open Door - Spring 2013 9 The Music Still Matters (cont. from page 9) strong role for women in the song but also this skill was tradition. For example, women passed on throughout Root Notes A Reflection on the Origins of Spirituals are visible in the song Mary Don’t the community. The use A poem by Jim Mello, M.A. student You Weep. Here, women are cited of scripture and spiritu- as strong examples of nurturance, als strengthened literacy it was a stunning revelation faith, and communal strength, as well as souls. Armed that made all the sense in the world thus lifting up the voices of the op- with literacy, slave com- pressed: munities discovered and how the ancient sub-Saharan shared knowledge. intonations of the muezzin’s call to prayer When I get to Heaven goin’ to put on my shoes/ Run about glory and The Negro spirituals gave birth to the mournful Negro spirituals tell all the news/ Pharaoh’s army got offered a mighty cry, born of the slave trade drowned/ O Mary don’t you weep providing a profound baptized by Providential default source of strength for by way of the Ghost of Christ The story of the exodus liberation the black community— became a central over-arching met- during both slavery and in spite of aphorical touchstone for scripture the Civil Rights Move- and the Civil Rights Movement. ment—to find a commu- the teacher’s ebony face The figure of Moses, in the exodus nal voice deeply rooted lit up African Queen radiant motif, is often an element of the in scripture and Islamic as she connected the dots for us spiritual tradition as in the song Go prayer to overcome op- Down, Moses: pression. We could take from the Muslim root notes a mighty lesson from dipped in the honey of sacred longing “Thus saith the Lord,” bold Moses this same voice: even to- to the blazing fires said,/ let my people go;/ “if not, I’ll day, it holds the power of polyphonic Black Church voices bending smite your first-born dead,”/ let my to deeply resonate with blending people go. all those who feel the weight of oppression. rocking the biblical metaphors As previously mentioned, the That voice should be all into prophetic shouts mournfulness and shouting com- of ours, united, as long forging their Anglo masters’ hymns ponents were both means for re- as oppression, injustice, into cries for liberation leasing repression and expressing and inequality fuel pow- sorrow. er and control, from the into the movement of body, voice, and heart privileged to the mar- that demands Justice Gilkes also pointed out that un- ginalized. and silences those who would muzzle beknownst to slave owners, it was the captive’s souls. especially through the medium of Professor Gilkes is the unsupervised slave worship where John D. and Catherine much coded information was T. MacArthur Professor of Sociol- Susie Maxwell transferred. Not only were wor- ogy and African-American Stud- will complete her ship gatherings places of devotion, ies at Colby College. For further M.Div. degree at they also served as ways to sur- illumination, join Gilkes over the ANTS. She is plan- reptitiously exchange information air waves as she hosts her weekly ning to become about black culture. For example, it gospel music program titled, “The a Chaplain and was often assumed that slaves were Uncloudy Day” on WMHB, Wa- hopes to write the- illiterate, yet through many clever terville, Colby College’s radio sta- ology for children. ways not only did they learn to read tion.

10 Bangor Theological Seminary Theology Matters: Engaging in Dialogue

by Allison C. Gammons, M.A. student he father-son duo of Rev. Dr. TWallace Alston Jr. and Macky Alston, in their Convocation pre- sentation “Theology Matters: Two Generations in Dialogue,” empha- sized how important it is to have a good grounding in theology and an ability and willingness to speak that theology to others. Both see a vital need for faith leaders to speak out on the important issues of our day in ways that are grounded in theol- ogy.

For Wallace, the duty of a minister The Rev. Dr. Wallace Alston Jr. speaking with BTS Professor Marvin Ellison is to serve as theologians for our thought. A minister who falls into religion in mainstream media and congregations—helping them to a place where they don’t engage in this lack is something they are understand the ways that our theo- deeper theological inquiry will of- working to counterbalance. Macky, logical convictions can support so- ten end up not having anything of as director at Auburn Media, an cial change and action. Sometimes real depth to share with the congre- organization dedicated to help- this change can be of a highly per- gations that look to them for min- ing faith leaders use media in their sonal nature. “The only way revo- istry. congregations, has helped train lution happens in a person is from over 2,000 religious leaders, teach- the inside,” he said, adding that Instead, churches end up with mes- ing them how to better share their solid grounding in Christian theol- sages full of “sugary fluff” and the theological understandings with ogy is “a way to give people a radi- members of the congregations find the world. If we, as faith leaders and cal perspective on life that... frees a themselves with no true grounding ministers, can provide a theological person for perspectival change and in theology. Through this process, framework for those we work with, for radical behavior in the world.” as Wallace sees it, church becomes we can give them a firmer ground- boring and distant from those ing in their values when entering Too often these days, Wallace said, things that really matter to us in into discussions about the issues he sees ministers disengaged from life. We, as faith leaders, need to that matter to them most. their theology yet longing for a strive to include deep theological connection that will allow them exploration, struggle, and under- The core message of this dialogue to deeply engage with tough theo- standing in our vocational paths if between father and son—the call logical questions. This perspec- we want to have hope that anyone for us to deeply engage with our tive helped drive him to work on else will find anything worth hold- own theology, to engage others in organizing the Pastor Theologian ing onto within our religious un- their theology, and to take our the- program which brought pastors to- derstandings. ology outside of the confines and gether to connect with their peers safety of our church walls—is a about substantive issues of Chris- Christian theology, both Alstons powerful one many of us may need tian faith. Pastors need to refuse to noted, has gained something of a reminding of. be theologically dull, he said. They “bad name” in recent history. Wal- need to continue to develop their lace and his son Macky pointed to Part of the power of the Alstons’ own theological reflection and the lack of progressive models of (cont. on page 14)

The Open Door - Spring 2013 11 “We shall not cease from exploration...” T.S. Eliot by Robert Grove-Markwood, BTS President age. Her current research focuses on the prayer prac- tices of religious “nones” and will contribute to her up- coming book, Choosing Our Religion: The Spiritual Lives of American Nones. (www.elizabethdrescher.com)

As The BTS Center begins its first year of programming, Elizabeth is an ideal partner and guide. She will be a valuable coach and companion as we seek to re-imag- ine, expand, and diversify our community of learning while extending and deepening relationships. Eliza- beth’s insights will help our new center carry out its mis- sion more effectively, supporting theological education, formation and pastoral skills development for clergy fter July 1, 2013, Bangor Theological Seminary and laity in what is, increasingly, a religiously diverse (BTS) will become The BTS Center, continuing to A and digitally-integrated culture. operate as a non-profit charitable organization in the State of Maine, and functioning within the Seminary’s The following activities and events are designed to pre- original, historic, chartered educational mission. While pare the ground for future programming: The BTS Center will not offer graduate theological de- grees, the mission remains an educational venture as we • Consultation (Online, Spring – Fall 2013) with Dr. seek “to equip and support clergy and laity for theologi- Elizabeth Drescher and The BTS Center leadership. cally grounded and effective 21st Century ministries.” Desired outcome: to develop greater fluency with con- temporary modes of communication in the landscape The BTS Center will explore new educational models and practices of digitally-integrated culture, beyond and methods of teaching and learning that are best suit- the more conventional “tools and skills” approach. This ed for adult learners in a digitally-integrated culture. includes a pilot project with a small group of “guiding We will offer innovative opportunities for professional stakeholders” in northern New England to assess cur- development for clergy, as well as robust non-degree rent social media practices and offer coaching for en- programs responsive to the needs of lay persons called hanced practices for digitally-integrated ministry. to leadership roles in ministry—particularly those who wish to serve in smaller, rural settings. • Sponsorship of Dr. Elizabeth Drescher as a speaker at The Downeast Spiritual Life Conference (August 23-24 A New Beginning in Bar Harbor, ME ). “Spirituality in Our Times: Em- A Starting Place bracing Diversity, Creating Community” explores mul- tifaith perspectives on the life of the Spirit. As we begin this new journey, we have invited Dr. Eliza- Desired outcome: to connect and engage others in a wid- beth Drescher to be a part of our initial offerings. Eliza- er community of spiritual interest, and to demonstrate beth is an educator, scholar, writer, and public speaker our capacity for supporting theological education and on the topic of spirituality in everyday life. formation for ministry through strategic partnerships.

Dr. Drescher teaches at Santa Clara University. With • Convocation 2014 (January 20-21 in Portland, ME). Keith Anderson she is most recently the author of Click “Heads, Hands, Hearts, and Smartphones” will include 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible(2012). In 2011 she lecture, workshop, and worship. Presenters will be Eliz- published Tweet if You ♥ Jesus to help guide mainline abeth Drescher, Keith Anderson, a Lutheran pastor and Christian churches and communities into the digital blogger, and Cameron Trimble, Executive Director of

12 Bangor Theological Seminary the Center for Progressive Renewal. tainability. We will be evolutionary as we learn by do- Desired outcome: to help develop both a richer under- ing, adapting to the changing religious and spiritual standing of digitally-integrated cultural practices, and landscapes we inhabit. We will be revolutionary as we provide an opportunity for hands-on experience with listen for the Spirit, exploring the future landscape of digitally-integrated ministry practices. theological education with companion-constituents.

• We are working with the Ministerial Excellence, Sup- The BTS Centerwill work to be at the forefront of change port, and Authorization (MESA) team, of the national for theologically grounded, effective, and faithful 21st setting of the United Church of Christ, to co-sponsor Century ministries—in northern New England and be- an October 2013 gathering for directors of regional yond. theological education programs and lay academies, to consider covenantal expectations and standards for re- gional education programs. Desired outcome: to explore an opportunity for The BTS Center to create and/or support ecumenical, non-de- gree programs preparing individuals for non-ordained authorized ministry.

Evolutionary & Revolutionary

Why this emphasis on digitally-integrated ministry, as we prepare the ground for our future programming?

Elizabeth Drescher observes: “Leading the church In November 2012 the BTS Board of Trustees named through what I’ve described as a ‘Digital Reformation’ Robert Grove-Markwood as the first Executive Director requires, on the one hand, reconnecting to that heritage, of The BTS Center, to facilitate a smooth transition and but, on the other, doing so within the modes of social focus the mission of the new center. Bob will serve at least practice that make sense to people today. The remark- through September 2014. able thing about what The BTS Center is up to is that it is boldly seeking to equip ministry leaders for exactly this both/and engagement with the Church and the world today.” She adds, “[you are] gathering as would- be digital disciples who will carry the blessing of God’s enduring love into the world in new ways... with The BTS Center as a vital, ongoing resource in that process.”

To that end, The BTS Center will become a flexible hub, a resource and learning center for the kind of digitally- integrated, networked, relational, incarnational com- munities of ministry and practice that Drescher and Anderson describe in Click 2 Save. Information about The BTS Center, office location, As Bangor Theological Seminary evolves intoThe BTS future programming details, and more will be Center, the new organization will be smaller and more available before July 1, online and by postal mail. agile. Networking, partnerships, and collaboration with other organizations will be critical for success and sus- Exploring the future landscape of theological education

The Open Door - Spring 2013 13 Save the Date: CONVOCATION 2014, January 20-21 Next year, The BTS Center will celebrate Convocation in Southern Maine at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks and will feature lecture, workshop, and worship with Dr. Elizabeth Drescher, Rev. Keith Anderson, and Rev. Cameron Trimble.

Dr. Elizabeth Rev. Keith Anderson Rev. Cameron Trimble Drescher Lutheran pastor, blogger, co-author Executive Director of the Center for Ph.D. in Christian with Elizabeth Drescher (Click 2 Progressive Renewal. Spirituality, teaches Save: The Digital Cameron has developed a “national at Santa Clara Ministry Bible, strategy for birthing new churches.” University, author 2012). She offers “a unique perspective on of Tweet if You ♥ Keith “employs the challenges of Jesus. a wide range of cultivating leaders Elizabeth’s most recent work focuses social media to equipped to meet on “nones”: individuals who answer minister on and the needs of the “none” when they are asked to offline” and speaks about “digital future of mainline identify their religious affiliation. ministry and the impact of digital Protestantism.” culture on face-to-face ministry.”

Save the Date: Second Annual Downeast Spiritual Life Conference Dr. Elizabeth Drescher will be one and Community in the Land be- but can be built of three primary speakers at the tween Religions. and maintained Second Annual Downeast Spiritual via modern tech- Life Conference to be held in Bar The theme of this summer’s nology. Harbor August 23-24. Her appear- Downeast Spiritual Life Confer- ance will be underwritten by The ence—Spirituality in Our Times: Dr. Drescher BTS Center. Embracing Diversity, Building will be joined Community—dovetails nicely by Eboo Patel, Drescher’s Saturday morning with Drescher’s research: how American Muslim talk, Pilgrims in the Land between American nones build community and founder of the Interfaith Youth Religions: The Spiritual Lives of in our digital age. Her expertise in Corps; Rabbi Or N. Rose, director ‘Nones’ will be followed by her this area is extremely relevant at of the Center for Global Judaism at afternoon workshop, Distributed a time when community is no lon- Hebrew College, inter-faith writer Spirits: Compassion, Connection ger defined strictly by geography, and educator Mirabai Starr.

Theology Matters: Engaging in Dialogue (cont. from page 11) message lies in the fact that it is immensely important. It is an facing in the 21st century. spanned two generations. “Imagine,” issue that transcends generations, Macky said, “if you all were given the and one we need to take seriously. For more information about the chance to be on a stage like this with With so many voices in the media Alstons, visit www.mackyalston. your parents or children, getting to echo chamber, why is it that people com. talk about that which matters to you are so surprised when a faith leader most?” Indeed, a compelling idea, presents a message grounded in stage or no stage. love? Our theology matters, and we Allison Gammons is pursuing an must do what we can to engage with M.A. degree at the Portland campus The engagement of faith leaders with it deeply and to show society that of BTS and plans to graduate in June. their theology, and the bringing of there is more than one “Christian When not buried in thesis work, she that theology to the world at large, perspective” on the issues we are enjoys taking pictures of the sky.

14 Bangor Theological Seminary The Cycle of Life: The Privilege of Learning from the Elderly by Joe Dressler, M.Div. student

he elderly are a precious trea- hands in meditation for a few mo- living room window, I wasn’t sure Tsure and a terribly, perhaps dis- ments and then we gave thanks to whether Margaret was sharing this gracefully, underused resource in our Creator. with me or having a conversation today’s society. It is not often that with God. Perhaps I just happened I would suggest anyone put down I left the nursing home that day to be there, in the home she now a book for the sake of learning, but moved and feeling a reflective qui- shared with her widowed brother, there are no greater teachers than etude that spoke to the richness of as a privileged visitor. those who truly lived through his- this hero’s journey. But Ed would tory in the generations before us. If never call himself “hero.” If you “This isn’t the way that I want to you really want to learn about life, were moved by the way Band of live,” she added, her eyes and mes- about the whole cycle of life, if you Brothers depicted the ugliness of sage now unmistakably directed really want to gain a feel for the war, then listen quietly to someone at me. Margaret was tired of being emotions of life’s varied journeys, who saw enemy fire pass by their tired. visit with an elderly person. plane’s wing, or whose feet touched those explosive European forests There was a precious peace in Mar- These lessons will require not a visit some six-plus decades ago. Each garet’s presence that spoke to me of to the library or classroom, but to time I have the honor of sitting and the cycle of a life well lived: a pre- the nursing homes or to the homes talking with a veteran, I am awed cious peace that only comes from of shut-ins. These incomparable life by the unimaginable courage dem- knowing God. Her wisdom, shared teachers are the elderly. Our elders, onstrated by these ordinary people with me in her final weeks and they who are too often lonely and who answered the call to defend days, acknowledged her future in neglected, have much to share if our liberty. Thank you, God, for God’s eternal kingdom. Most price- only we reach out to sit with them. these heroes. less were the hugs and Margaret’s kiss on my cheek. Where else, but Who else can tell you, firsthand, Then there was my time with Mar- from God, can so much love come? with trembling hands, what it was garet, 83. She’d survived ten years like to drop bombs on Germany in of chemotherapy and was reaching Upon other visits with the elderly, February of 1945? the end of this life’s journey. I sus- I hear stories of lives much more pected this “end” wasn’t necessarily mundane. More frequently, but “And I looked over to the bomber resulting from medicine’s limita- absolutely just as important. These off my wing, when it was hit by en- tions so much as a change in qual- less colorful stories may more emy fire.” Ed, 88, recipient of the ity of life that made each morning closely reflect ours, and their les- Distinguished Flying Cross and more difficult to face than the last. sons are likewise enriching. nursing home resident, paused as if She spoke so very softly, and with to contain some decades-old inner such confident calmness, that I had If you want to learn about life, put anguish before he continued, “We to sit on the edge of her well-worn down that book today and visit were flying too low.” living room chair and lean forward someone who would love to enrich to hear her words. your life with their story. There isn’t Then with a voice still burdened by a class, lecture, or self-help guru memories of lost friends he almost “I’m ready. I want to look into those that could ever impart the spiritual whispered, “It went down and I beautiful, welcoming eyes of Jesus. profundity my time with Margaret never saw those men again.” I want to go home.” and Ed privileged me. They were Ed asked for a prayer. We held With her gaze looking toward her (cont. on page 19)

The Open Door - Spring 2013 15 Performing a New Beginning by Beth Hoffman, D.Min. candidate We also wrestled with the power the sanctuary during one scene, as of Pentecost in the book of Acts an earthquake rumbled through re- when we found ourselves asking hearsal night. Again, the irony was he hopeful performers literally aloud, “Okay, now what?” We are not lost on us. At First Church El- had to negotiate around a cas- T indeed disciples of Christ but now iot, we were shaking things up. Re- ket. Auditions for our production of membering the wounds and recog- Godspell: The Musical were taking what happens? The Ascension of nizing the wonders, we were raising place in the sanctuary at noon and Jesus was lifted up as a scary event the curtain and revealing both our sadly, the funeral of a young man because now the work was about hurts and our hopes. We wanted to was set to begin an hour later. As we to begin. One site team member begin anew, build a beloved com- gave voice to lines inspired from the remarked, “Jesus was lifted up but munity, to embrace an incarnation Gospel of St. Matthew and gestured now we have to do the heavy lifting.” that is worth an audience, worth gently around condolence flowers, Another followed up with, “Yeah, telling about, and worthy of the irony was not lost on our role as followers of Je- any of us. We were trying sus. to embody and perform a new beginning for our We had been hiding behind congregation after some a torn and decimated cur- had written us off as dead. tain of Good Friday for too long. “Suddenly the curtain Leadership from the Min- in the sanctuary was torn in istry Site Team at First two from top to bottom, the Congregational Church earth shook, rocks were split of Eliot, United Church of open (Matt. 27:51).” Now in Christ, formed to support the shake of the earthquake my D. Min work at BTS, we practiced God’s story, and had led us to take on a made it our own, and raised project of healing and res- Beth Hoffman a new curtain—reclaiming toration through storytell- with our hair on fire, too!” The book our original blessing as children of ing and intergenerational theatre. of Acts, it seemed, was reminding God. Together we formed Act II Produc- tions. After 30 years of the same us that the story was not over. There Through the incarnation of scrip- solo pastor a new act, a new action, was another chapter, another act. ture, we performed our faith into was called for. Through our time to- action of evangelism and invitation gether, we had many conversations The Second Act Players were of inclusion. “Christ’s body is not and performed many exercises in formed from those auditions pre- a static body but a living, per- discernment and discov- Behold, I am doing a new thing; forming body… religion con- ery as we tried to hear what tinues to ‘live’ so long as it is God was calling us to do in now it springs forth performed (from Christly Ges- this particular congregation. tures).” As Christians, we worship a We strained to hear where renewal ceding a funeral and for the next performing God, an eternally per- was most needed. Words from Isa- three months we rehearsed, prac- forming God who has invited us to iah 43:7-19 prompted a call for a ticed, and performed our disciple- join in that performance of creating new beginning. “Behold, I am doing ship as we prepared Godspell: The and redeeming. a new thing; now it springs forth, Musical. We weathered the burdens do you not perceive it? I will make a of doubt and strained under the ef- Stanley Hawerwas, American theo- way in the wilderness and the rivers fort of embodying a new story along logian, ethicist, and public intellec- in the desert.” side the old one. We literally shook 16 Bangor Theological Seminary tual, has said that Christ is God’s most precious and defining perfor- mance, and as Christians we be- Spirit of the Falls come holy and precious performers A poem by Allison C. Gammons, M.A. student through Jesus Christ. I think that to be human is to perform and in that we understand both our God and A spirit once dwelt here, manifest in the rock that guides the water. ourselves better by acting through A spirit dwelt here once, alive in the trees and plants, our lives. We are called to perform holding back the dirt, keeping the mountain from sliding to the river. Christly gestures, “in God and with God’s Spirit working through us.” A spirit dwelt here once, In the divine–human relationship I felt it as a child, visiting this place and playing there is dramatic tension that sparks in the spray of the falls. possibility and promise as we work I felt the spirit in that mist, playing with me, to perform in the world as disciples dancing and laughing as I danced and laughed. called to play a role in bringing It walked the hidden trails, following me about the Kingdom of God here on as I made my way in search of hidden treasures: earth. a growth of moss in an artful space, a purple flower at the base of the hill, Lines were memorized, songs taken the crooked branches of a tree, reaching to heart, and new steps were cho- for a space in the sun. reographed for First Church El- iot. In November, the sets were all A spirit dwelt here, once. constructed and the sanctuary was I search for it now, along the paved trails, completely transformed. Perhaps amid the people and noise. the congregation was, too. I strain to find it in the mist of the falls. I seek it in the hidden treasures, As we shared the story of Jesus I look for it in the air, through the scenes in Godspell, sit and wait we shared our story as a renewed for all else to disappear. congregation. For three nights, we played to a sold out house of com- A spirit still dwells here, somewhere munity and congregation. The lights beyond the many feet moving quickly on established trails. went down, the curtain came up, A spirit dwells here still, past the barricade at the water’s edge, and the story began again. Condo- laughing and dancing, at a distance. lence flowers had been transformed A spirit dwells here, still among the purple flowers, into affirmation flowers. We were sprouting in sheltered silence beyond the weatherworn logs. not Broadway. We were church and A spirit dwells here still, in the million shades of green, we had found a broad way to per- growing on branches forever searching form a new beginning. for the sun.

Rev. Beth Hoffman is a D.Min. A spirit dwells here, still, candidate and the solo pastor of and longs for a time First Congregational Church of El- long before the time iot Maine, UCC. She loves to spend when I found comfort in its essence. time with her husband Mark and their children Gabe and Lydia, and is Published in the Mediation Manual “Falling into the Sky” available looking forward to finally completing now from Skinner House Books. her degree.

The Open Door - Spring 2013 17 Mentored Practice by Rev. Grace Bartlett ow do you describe the Men- crucial to the student’s formation may even discover that without re- Htored Practice Seminar in a and growth. The mentor encour- alizing it you have grown through thousand words? Wow! Now that’s ages, challenges, and theologically your years of ministry and have a challenge. Do you describe how reflects with the student as the stu- something to share. students, unsure that parish min- dent develops in many ways. It is istry is their calling, discover with like watching a young sprout grow For the church or other commu- joy it is where God is calling them? and blossom. nity site, it is also a growing, shar- Do you tell of the one who discov- ing opportunity. The people in the ers chaplaincy is where she or he is Variety is a mark of mentored prac- congregation or at the hospital or called? Do you recount how lives tice. Some students choose to do nursing home get to know the stu- are being shaped through the men- their mentored practice in a lo- dents. They, too, help shape the fu- toring process? cal church, while others engage in ture minister, who is at their church chaplaincy in hospitals, nursing or agency. Most congregations love The Mentored Practice Seminar homes, and jails. Still other stu- having a student. Ideally, mentored brings academic learning together dents choose to do one semester at practice is a win-win situation for with practical, on-site all involved. experience. It is a year- The mentor encourages, challenges, and long class that is re- Some students have quired of each student theologically reflectswith the student as suggested that with enrolled in the Master the student develops... the amount of work of Divinity program. required in the course, The Seminar provides a magnifi- a homeless shelter, street ministry, it should be a four-credit course. cent opportunity for the student to or other ministry, such as H.O.M.E. At one time it was. Not only do the grow spiritually, reflect theologi- in Orland, Maine. Some students students have their site work, they cally, participate in a community are already serving as student local also gather once a week for three of one’s peers, and to learn salient pastors when they enter the course. hours in the classroom with an skills from seasoned ministers at Unlike their colleagues who work instructor. Currently, on both the specific ministry sites. with a pastor in the pastor’s parish, Bangor and Portland campuses the these students work with off-site instructors are seasoned pastors, The program embraces the ap- mentors. Diversity is the common Rev. Lin Arnold in Portland and prenticeship model in which an denominator. myself in Bangor, with the Rev. Dr. experienced leader works closely Steven Lewis as the Director of the with a student as his or her mentor. It is like watching a program. Each student establishes a learn- young sprout GROW ing covenant with her or his men- Confidentiality is practiced in the tor in which at least two goals are and blossom. classroom: what is said there, stays named. The student commits to at there. Each class session begins least ten hours per week at the cho- For mentors, it is a wonderful op- with devotions with everyone tak- sen location, not including travel. portunity to share and reflect. As ing a turn at leadership. There is One of those hours is time set aside someone who has been a mentor time for checking in and discuss- for discussion and reflection with for over ten years, mentoring in- ing issues that may have come up at the mentor. I cannot emphasize volves a lot of work. It is, however, the mentored practice site. During enough how important the mentor exhilarating to observe a student the three hours in the classroom as- is in this process. The interaction growing and to engage in theologi- signed readings are discussed, case between the student and mentor is cal reflection week after week. You studies presented, and self-care

18 Bangor Theological Seminary emphasized, which sounds a little ironic given the work for this one O Come, O Come Emmanuel class. by Jim Mello, M.A. student

During the second semester, the The camera pans the ancient stone sand covered steps of what could be the Holy Land Bangor students are required to the pianist and the cellist center stage* do something at their location that in the unidentified courtyard pertains to justice. There is also an expectation that students will the ancient wind blowing create a multimedia presentation divining fingers poised on key and string touchstones about their setting. This fall in Ban- ready to coax the most human sounds from sympathetic instruments gor, we went on a field trip to a local to herald the melody of the bittersweet Coming. funeral home and crematory. As an instructor, it is energizing and in- Oh, that the Triune One spiring to watch the students de- includes enough room velop, grow into the role, and claim in the Inn of Incarnation to allow ongoing breathings to bless the waiting dark world their pastoral authority. through the frailties of mankind No question about it, for the stu- through artistic empathies dents there is significant work, but through the stunning arrangement it is well worth the effort. It can be of this sacred hymn a life changer and a win-win all around. mournful in its appreciation of our naked infant condition which summons our Magi souls to bring gifts to far away mangers. in the next world Grace Bartlett holds a M.Div. from in my next life Boston University School of Theol- the cello will be my instrument ogy and a M.F.A. from University of to be held like a lover Georgia. to be embraced like an only child who could save a weary world

The Cycle of Life: Elderly sensing only the whispering of eternity passing (cont. from page 15) in only holy moments two very special people, among producing strains so beautiful that even those unable to believe many, who shared with me rich life can taste the nectar of grace lessons I was blessed to receive. the water of satisfaction through the bowed strings (The names and some of the details like the oil these musicians were changed to reflect the need balm our souls with for confidentiality incumbent upon each of us in our ministries.) in the song of the God who comes to us especially when we cannot come to him when we are unable to hear the angel voices Joe Dressler will be graduating this whispering salvation has been born into our hard Time June with a M.Div. degree. He has [*YouTube video “O Come Emmanuel” by The Piano Guys] been approved for ordination by the Jim Mello is working on his M.A. in Theology. He works in the addiction field Kennebec Valley Conference of the by day and follows the muses of poetry and music by night. UCC, pending a call.

The Open Door - Spring 2013 19 Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison’s Farewell Lecture n the evening of February Before launching into his lecture, Marvin expressed his O12 at the Portland campus own “gratitude to students and alumni, to my colleagues on Professor Marvin Ellison the faculty, staff, and trustees, and to the many community marked the end of his 32 years colleagues and friends, who—over the past 32, now going of teaching at the Seminary by on 33 years—have gladly shared in, and supported, this giving a farewell public lecture adventure called theological education for ministry and entitled “Is It Still Adultery if the justice-making. The miracle I see in you, day in and day Spouse Has Alzheimer’s?” Some out, is this: With savvy, courage, and remarkable tenacity, 125 people in attendance stayed afterwards for a reception you find ways to keep insisting that a transformed world and book signing of Marvin’s latest publication Making Love and a transformed church are possible. Because of you, Just: Sexual Ethics for Perplexing Times (Fortress Press). because of us together, I feel enormously blessed—and also confident that the best is yet to come.” Marvin’s longtime colleague in the field of Christian Ethics, Mary Hobgood, professor at the College of the Holy Cross, Marvin will be honored at the Maine Initiative’s 2013 began the evening with an introduction in which she said, “I Watering Can Awards Celebration June 19 in Portland for draw on Marvin’s analyses in my own research and writing his longtime efforts in the fight for social justice for LGBTQ as do many other colleagues in the field. His published work Mainers. From the Maine Initiative’s website: “Educator, is central to bibliographies and course syllabi in Christian writer, organizer, advocate, and founder of Religious Coalition Ethics today. My students are always excited by what they Against Discrimination, Marvin is an inspirational leader in learn from Professor Ellison. He opens up their perceptual the movement for gay rights and equality.” Visit http://www. field, expands their ethical thinking, and challenges them maineinitiatives.org/ for more details, including how you with moral options they have not previously considered.” can register to attend the ceremonies. Congratulations, Marvin!

The following is a closing prayer given by Robert Grove-Markwood at Marvin’s lecture:

O God, our grateful hearts have felt your presence among us in the affection, appreciation, and admiration we feel and have expressed for the person and the professor, Marvin M. Ellison:

For the ways he has blessed us, head and heart. For the questioning that has helped us move our thinking, feeling, and acting to places where justice and faith, love and life are all companions on the way. For what we have experienced here this evening, for those “different conclusions” that have encouraged us to grow and mature as people of faith. For his capacity for not just provocation, but for reframing what seems so familiar and so obvious, for the sake of imagining just relationships and communities, and a whole world that reflects that Love which passes all human understanding.

So hear again, O God, our profound gratitude for the reach of his intellect, his insights, his intimate, inspiring teaching and writing that has blessed far beyond this place, Bangor Theological Seminary, which he has loved and served so well.

Thank you, O God, for the Grace we have met this night, even as we pray for future encounters, and would seek to extract promises of encore events like this. For the teaching ministry of Marvin M. Ellison, which continues among us-- not yet ended--and for all those companions with him in theological education, we rejoice and give you praise. And as a thankful people, we say together, Amen.

20 Bangor Theological Seminary January Convocation 2013 – Postscript from the President heology Matters” underscored close to the edges or margins, which “Ta core value which Bangor Theology Matters affirms the imperfect life with various Theological Seminary has embraced Convocation 2013 forms of fantasy... nostalgia, machis- for the entirety of its nearly 200 years, mo, escapism, superstition, and ro- our musicians, Bill Friederich, Gin- and which we will carry with us mantic love... as well as with instincts tare McCurdy, Wells Gordon, and Su- through The BTS Center. and intuitions formed by an intimate san Grove-Markwood, whose artistry exposure to the Bible and the Chris- helped us move with and beyond the I am deeply grateful to our present- tian church.” He took his theological words that blessed us. ers Belden Lane, Cheryl Townsend reflection to another level at “Convo- Gilkes, Wallace Alston, Jr., and Macky cation After Hours” by performing As there is no article about Wal- Alston, for exploring our theme. I some of the music, with Bah Hero lace Alston, Jr.’s presentation, I want want to thank all our staff for their and other musicians. This experience to add an extra “thank you” for his time making it all run smoothly, es- of practical theology was revelatory theologically grounded talk, Country pecially Trish and Danielle who took and enriching. Music As Affirmation of the Imper- care of much of the logistical planning fect Life. “Country music,” he noted, and set up. We are also grateful to our Finally, I thank my friend and col- “like Picasso’s Guernica, represents a patrons for their generosity and sup- league, Ken Dale, for the Alumni/ae radically realistic perspective on the port. Association’s touching celebration of ironies, tragedies, and absurdities of our faculty and staff. Grace abounded life as they are experienced in home Kudos to Ken Dale and Sharon in the words of appreciation shared by and family, religion, love and mar- Fennema, who led our opening wor- the presenters, and in the presence of riage, humor and frolic, politics and ship, our faculty for the depth of their so many who came to give affection national identity, suffering and hope. brief scriptural reflections on selected and blessing. It is the language of people who live psalms in the closing worship, and Robert Grove-Markwood In Memoriam The Reverend Betty L. Higgins ’88 a gifted musician and enjoyed playing from the University of Washington in The Rev. Betty L. Higgins, 75, of Elkhart, music for many years. In addition to be- 1980 and BTS in 1984. She received a passed away November 21, 2012, at ing a published author, she enjoyed read- church fellowship and studied for one Golden Living Center in Elkhart. She was ing and spending time with family and academic year at United Theological born April 23, 1937 in Dover-Foxcroft, friends. College in Bangalore, South India. ME to Clinton and Thelma (Murch) She was ordained in 1984 and served Higgins. Survivors include a son, Frank The Rev. Jennifer Lynn Russell ’84 churches in ME, NH, and WA. She (Sandy) McKusick of Cambridge, MN; The Rev. Jennifer Lynn Russell, 61, served as Chaplain at Horton Cen- two daughters, Pam (Jim) Wood of of Seattle, died peacefully at home ter Church Camp in NH and helped Elkhart and Kathleen (Ivan Sam) Mar- on November 29, 2012, surrounded sponsor several refugee families to tin of Waterville ME; five grandchildren; by her daughters and husband. She the US from Cambodia, Ethiopia, and five great-grandchildren. was born in Seattle on July 14, 1951, and Bosnia. She served on the United of Marjorie (Yates) and Russell Jones. Church Board for Betty was a 1988 grad- She graduated from Garfield High World Ministries uate of BTS where School as a voluntary transfer student from 1989-1995, she received a Master in 1969. That same year she married and led several of Divinity degree. Richard Russell. Jennifer worked in mission trips to She was a member of real estate at the family firm, Russell India, Bosnia, Grace United Meth- Jones Realtors, and at home raising and China. odist Church in Ban- three daughters until receiving a call gor. Betty also was to ministry in 1979. She graduated Jennifer had a

The Open Door - Spring 2013 21 In Memoriam liver transplant in 2008, graduated mental in commissioning the Bath author of the book Rekindle the Fire! from hospice in 2009, and worked City Fountain, “Spirit of the Sea,” by Antidote to Burnout. courageously with the fine staff at William Zorach, 1962, and while liv- the UWMC and Transplant Servic- ing in Paris, France, she was a prima- Rev. Webster is survived by his wife, es to carry on these past four years. ry organizer of the sympathy dem- Phyllis Smith Webster; daughter, She is survived by her husband, Rick onstration in France and throughout Deborah Caimi; son-in-law, Paul Russell, also a 1984 graduate of BTS; Europe for the March on Washing- Caimi; and two grandsons, Matthew three daughters; two sisters and two ton, 1963. and Anthony John Caimi, all of Cha- brothers; her mother, Marjorie; eight grin Falls, OH. Another daughter, nieces and seven nephews; eight On her return to the US, Barbara was Joan Elizabeth, died in 1965. grandchildren; five sisters-in-law and employed as Director of Develop- four brothers-in-law. ment at Union Theological Seminary, A memorial service will take place NYC; at Hartford Seminary, CT; and 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at Center Barbara Sargent at BTS. Barbara retired to Bath, ME Church, South Hadley, MA. Online Barbara left us during a blizzard, where she served as Chair of the tributes may be made at www.Forev- February 8, 2013. Born January 14, Board of Directors for the Center for erMissed.com/john-peters-webster. 1921 in New York City, Barbara mar- the Arts and as a Board member of the ried the Reverend Martin Van Buren Zorach Fountain Committee. Dona- Rev. George Bullens Sargent, a congregational minister tions may be made in Barbara’s name Reverend George Eugene Malloch in 1944 at The Riverside Church in to the “Friends of the Zorach Foun- Bullens, 92, of Falmouth died peace- Manhattan. Barbara is preceded in tain,” POB 846, Bath, ME, 04530. fully on May 2, 2013 in Falmouth, death by her husband and survived ME. He was a pastor for over 50 years by her children: Merritt, Paul, Job, The Reverend Dr. John Peters Web- in the Maine (New England) Annual and Lilie. ster ’44 Conference of the United Methodist The Rev. Dr. John P. Webster, born Church. He served in Greenville Jct, A passionate advocate for justice July 20, 1921, in Bangor, died Jan. 27, Saco, Bangor, (First), Auburn, Rum- and human rights, Barbara tirelessly 2013, at his home. He was ordained a ford, Gorham, South Paris, and South worked for a world where openness, congregational minister in 1946 and Portland, ME. inclusion, tolerance, and love are the served as pastor of churches of Unit- foundations of community life. She ed Church of Christ, Williamsburg, George is survived by his wife of 65 attended Ethical Culture Schools in MA, Wilton, and West Hartford, CT, years, Barbara of Falmouth; his three New York City and graduated Rad- throughout a span of 30 years. Rev. children, Ralph of Fort Myers, FL, cliffe College in 1943 with a BA in Webster was a graduate of Amherst Charles and his wife Patricia of Boon- Fine Arts and Philosophy. Prior to College, BTS, Hartford Theological ton, NJ, and Elizabeth Smith and her her married life, she worked for the Seminary, Andover Newton Theolog- husband Stuart of Williston, VT; Fine Arts Department, Wheaton Col- ical School, and Institutes of Religion five grandchildren, William Bullens lege, MA, for Putnam Publishers, and and Health, New York City, where he of Nashville, TN, Seth Bullens and as a nighttime reader of manuscripts completed a three-year residency in wife Amy of Portland, Alex Bullens for Putnam and Coward McCann, pastoral psychotherapy in 1976. Rev. of Saco, Justin Bartinoski of Boston, NYC. Webster served on United Church and Meghan Hatin of Marlborough, of Christ Board of World Ministries, MA; and four great-grandchildren, As a minister’s wife, painter and the trustees of Hartford Seminary Jacob, Sam, Jaelynn, and Jeffrey. writer, she placed paintings in juried Foundation, BTS, shows and wrote articles about the and Blanton-Peale A funeral service and celebration relationship of the Church and the Graduate Institute, of George’s life will be held at the Arts which were published in Motive, and as the moderator Cressey Road United Methodist Pulpit Digest, Christian Century and of the Connecticut Church in Gorham on Monday, May Christianity and Crisis magazines, Conference of United 6, 2013 at 11 a.m. For online condo- and many newspaper articles. While Church of Christ. He lences, please visit www.dolbyfuner- living in Bath, Maine, she was instru- was a poet and the alchapels.com.

22 Bangor Theological Seminary Contribute to the BTS Community News

BTS Legacy Canvas! The next Alumni Executive Committee Meeting is set for Wednesday Students, faculty, and staff May 15th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in are invited to contribute to “The Lounge” at Woodfords Congregational, UCC on Woodford a collaborative art piece Street in Portland. It is hoped this will be more “central” for the group commemorating BTS. with some members coming up from southern New England.

Participants will be given the George R. Castillo ’66 was honored with a lifetime achievement opportunity to express what award at the New Jersey Folk Festival on Saturday, April 27 in New BTS means to them and how Brunswick, NJ. “Because of the excellent teachers and training I they feel about the closing of received at BTS,” George writes, “I was able to serve others in pastoral the Seminary. Once finished, ministry in various churches and retire as a Chaplain from the Federal the individual pieces will be Bureau of Prisons.” compiled and arranged for display on a larger panel, to Melissa Marquis ’11 was ordained at Acton Congregational church compose a whole much richer in Acton, Maine on April 7 at 4 pm. She has been called there as the than the sum of its parts. Minister of Christian Nurture. The completed Legacy Canvas will be exhibited in both Bangor Patricia Marsden, who will graduate from BTS this June, was recently and Portland for an informal officially approved for Ecclesiastical Council in the Rockingham “memorial” or closure service. Association of the UCC. Participants on each campus can determine what this service Barbara Chodkowski Brakey ’11 has been called to serve the United should entail. Finally, the canvas Church of Christ in Devon (Milford, CT). Her service of ordination will be presented to The BTS was in January. Former BTS President Bill Imes and current President Center for display at its ultimate Bob Grove-Markwood participated in the service. location. Amanda Wagner ’11 has been called to serve the West Congregational Please email Susie Maxwell Church, UCC in Concord, NH. Her service of ordination was in ([email protected]) with December in Island Falls at the Whittier Congregational Church, any questions. UCC.

Alice Lester ’09 was installed October 28 at the Springfield Congregational Church, UCC in Springfield, ME. The Springfield ON THE COVER: Congregational Church is part of the Penobscot-Piscataquis (left to right, top to bottom) Association of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. Laurie McQuarrie & John MacDuffie, Macky Alston, Jim Haddix & Belden Lane, Ron Baard, Wallace Alston Rev. Dr. Steve Burt ’83 recently retired after 33 years of ministry. His Jr. & Bah Hero, Steve Lewis, latest young adult novel, FreeK Show, is a mystery set in Bridgton, Bob Sherman & Pat Shannon, ME. He is the only ordained minister to win the Bram Stoker Award, Bonnie Wright & Marvin Ellison, Bill the world’s top award for horror writers, for which his old Bangor Friederich & Gintarė McCurdy & Wells Gordon, Dr. Julien L. Olivier & neighbor Stephen King has nine. His book is available for purchase Mrs. Jane Olivier, Priscilla Hoarse & through Amazon or www.SteveBurtBooks.com. Elaine Hewes, Bob & Susan Grove- Markwood, Pam Shellberg, Linette Larry R. Kalajainen has published a book based on the manuscript that George, & Ken Dale. formed the basis of the course he taught at BTS in 2008, entitled “The Bible Says...: How Good Is the Good Book?” Available on Amazon.

The Open Door - Spring 2013 23

Bangor Theological Seminary Commencement 2013 June 22, 2013 | Gracie Theatre – Bangor, Maine

This June will mark an historic occasion for Bangor Theological Seminary, the end of one era and the beginning of a new one, as it celebrates its final graduating class as a degree-granting institution.

Daniel Aleshire, the Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, will be our graduation speaker and The Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, will also take part in the Commencement service. Congratulations, Class of 2013!

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