Faith Reason Justice SPIRIT
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Spring/Summer 2014 faith reason justice SPIRIT The Magazine of EASTERN UNIVERSITY Spring/Summer 2014 Spirit is published by the Communications Office Eastern University 1300 Eagle Road St. Davids, PA 19087 610.341.5930 — Linda A. Olson ’96 M.Ed. Executive Director Patti Singleton Inside This Issue Art Director Staff Photographer Jason James THE INAUGURATION AND INSTALLATION Graphic Designer and Public Relations Assistant OF ROBERT G. DUFFETT......................................................1 Elyse Garner ’13 Writer/Social Media Coordinator ACADEMICS...................................................................................6 — FAITH AND PRACTICE..............................................................17 Article suggestions should be sent to: Linda A. Olson 610.341.5930 COMMUNITY NEWS..................................................................21 e-mail: [email protected] Alumni news should be sent to: 1.800.600.8057 ATHLETIC NEWS........................................................................25 www.alumni.eastern.edu ALUMNI NEWS MISSION STATEMENT Alumna of the Year ..............................................................................26 Spirit supports the mission of Eastern University to provide a Christian higher Young Alumnus of the Year..................................................................27 education for those who will make a difference in the world through careers and Class Notes ..........................................................................................28 personal service rooted in faith applied to academic disciplines. The magazine serves as a connection between the Eastern University campus community of students, faculty, staff and administration and its alumni, trustees, friends, donors, parents and neighbors. © Copyright. Eastern University June 2014. All rights reserved eastern @The E-News Connecting The Schools Of Eastern University www.eastern.edu Connects Eastern with our Community Don't miss out on important events, programs, student jobs, offers from merchants and more. Check @eastern online news on a regular basis and keep up with all that's going on at Eastern. Eastern EasternU This online news is a community service that connects our Eastern folks at all locations with University neighbors, churches, and businesses. Students find jobs with neighbors and business owners who tell us they have had great experience with Eastern students. Merchants offer our community special discounts. Churches and organizations invite us to their events. Go to eastern.edu and click the "Read All News" link under News and Events. You'll see @eastern News on the left. Or type eastern.edu/ateastern into your browser. When you have news to share, send it directly to Linda Olson, editor of @eastern: [email protected] r Printed on recycled paper. Inauguration and Installation of Robert G. Duffett faith • reason • justice www.eastern.edu 1 Inauguration and Installation of Robert G. Duffett 1 2 4 6 7 2 SPIRIT The Magazine of EASTERN UNIVERSITY Spring/Summer 2014 Inauguration and Installation of Robert G. Duffett Robert G. Duffett was inaugurated as the ninth president of Eastern University on April 4, 2014 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Board members, students, alumni, faculty, staff, family, friends and delegates from over thirty institutions were present. Inaugural events also took place at St. Davids, Palmer Seminary and Esperanza College. 1 Deans John Pauley, College of Arts and Sciences; Jonathan Yonan, Templeton Honors College; Debra Heath-Thornton, Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies; and Elizabeth Conde-Frazier MDiv ‘92, Esperanza College of Eastern University 3 2 Dr. Kamalesh Stephen EC/EBTS ’95, Adjunct Professor of Homiletics, spoke at Palmer's International Chapel. 3 Eastern Dance Ministry performed at the Inaugural Chapel service. 4 Hispanic clergy anointed and prayed for President Duffett at Esperanza College. 5 Faculty and students performed at the Music Gala. 6 Former President David Black and Robert Duffett. 7 Board of Trustees members Ron Evans and Donald Gough ’67; Diane Chen, Interim Dean of Palmer Seminary; and The Honorable Senator Anthony H. Williams 8 David Kim, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Artist in Residence at Eastern University, performed at the Inauguration. 5 9 Dillon Goodell (left), with Allison, Bob, Connie and David Duffett. 78 9 faith • reason • justice www.eastern.edu 3 Inauguration and Installation of Robert G. Duffett Awakening to Destiny Excerpt from the Inaugural Address by Robert G. Duffett OUR TASK TODAY IS TO LIFT UP THOSE ENDURING their presence which challenges and supports our students to better love THEOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL VALUES THAT God and humanity. GAVE RISE TO EASTERN’S FOUNDING, SUSTAIN US We Awaken Our Destiny to Better Love TODAY AND AWAKEN US TO NEW DESTINY. God and Humanity by Recapturing a Sense of Vocation The best way to the brightest future begins effective leaders with a “vital message” Vocation is the Latin translation of the with an understanding and appreciation for our Baptist churches. Greek word for “call.” Both words have of the past. What came before informs The liberal arts tradition traces back a theological hue, shaped in the West by the present and illumines our future. From to the classical Greek period as a small set Hebrew and Christian scripture. The the beginning, Eastern Baptist Theological of intellectual skills that later became terms “call,” “calling,” or “called” are used Seminary was a confessional seminary as academic disciplines. Some of these skills over 140 times in the New Testament. was the college it later founded-Eastern are grammar, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, In its most basic form, call or vocation, is Baptist College, now Eastern University. astronomy and music. The term “liberal” the promise of Emmanuel; God with us This means we are intentional and clear means freedom. Those who earnestly in all aspects of life, including our work. about our Christian identity. Our faith is study these subjects will acquire insight I see two primary elements of vocation. sustained through debate, discussion, read- and habit of mind that frees them to First, all human beings have gifts, talents ings, lectures, disagreements and analysis. better become the person they were and strengths which are foundational Before we are learners, we are human created to be. Math and science develop to excellent performance and vocation. beings with desires, affections and seeking analytical skills; history, understanding Second, our experiences are signposts to love. Our meta-purpose, the end of all of how past events influence the present; vocation, especially yearnings, burdens, our teaching, learning, service, faith, reason sociology, how social systems shape us and passions and interests about something - and justice, is in the service of love. Perhaps our values; psychology, human develop- human need, a deeply felt cause, wanting we ought to say that well informed faith, ment, personality and who we are and will to lead, fixing something. Vocation is the reason and justice are a practice or applica- become; ethics and philosophy, how we blending of talent, passion and insight tion of love. How then do we awaken to shall live; and the arts develop our creative to some role. Vocation is talent fueled our destiny as a learning community of capabilities. Add courses in speech and by the heart’s cry. Pay attention to both. love? I think there are three ways. writing and a student is well on the way God may be drawing near. to establishing an intellectual and inter- Focusing on vocation may have a We Awaken to the Importance of personal foundation to acquire a first job, positive and unintended consequence for Teaching Well the Liberal Arts life, and become a free person. Eastern University. Perhaps we ought to If love is our goal, as Jesus taught, To my teaching colleagues, let me aspire to a national role in mitigating teaching the liberal arts is our missional affirm the importance of your role, the increasing cynicism among college means to that end. The liberal arts, within encourage your efforts, and strengthen students, university faculty and business theological education, were viewed by your spirit for the transforming task of leaders regarding the significant disparity our founders and first professors as the teaching. Eastern University faculty of perspectives on the outcomes of higher best way to form Baptist students into keeps alive faith, reason and justice by education. Education for vocation is 4 SPIRIT The Magazine of EASTERN UNIVERSITY Spring/Summer 2014 Inauguration and Installation of Robert G. Duffett not a “ticket” to a better job with more affirmation of hope and commitment to as those who graduated with majors in compensation. Rather, grades, education the future. All Eastern University students, business, finance and accounting. and, most importantly, one's learning, are whether in the College of Arts and Sciences, Additionally, a Pew Research Study indispensable foundations for successfully Campolo College of Graduate and analyzing the most recent Census Bureau accomplishing calling, vocation and fulfill- Professional Studies, Esperanza College data on income, vividly demonstrates the ing one's awakened destiny. or Palmer Theological Seminary, look to growing income accruing to college edu- My call for Eastern University faculty their future hopefully, anticipating mean- cated households. College grads earn nearly to focus