Why Theology Matters
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Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary SPRING ’11 | VOL.39 NO.1 why theology matters www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 1 the marshall hudson summer conference June 10-11, 2011 South Hamilton, MA Contents SPRING ’11 VOL.39 NO.1 The Ministry Magazine of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THE FRONT LINES Mr. Joel B. Aarsvold 4 Dr. Claude R. Alexander, Jr. Domestic Violence in the Church Mrs. Linda Schultz Anderson Dr. George F. Bennett Anne B. Doll Rev. Dr. Garth T. Bolinder Rev. Dr. Richard P. Camp, Jr. Mr. Thomas J. Colatosti, Chair Mr. Charles W. Colson 8 What Is Theology? Dr. Stan D. Gaede Peter D. Anders Mrs. Joyce A. Godwin Dr. William F. Graham Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes Mr. Herbert P. Hess, Treasurer Theology and Spiritual Formation Mr. Ivan C. Hinrichs 11 Rev. Dr. John A. Huffman, Jr. Gwenfair Walters Adams Mr. Caleb Loring III Rev. Dr. Christopher A. Lyons Mrs. Joanna S. Mockler Fred L. Potter, Esq. Shirley A. Redd, M.D. 14 The Bible and Theology Mr. Timothy B. Robertson Sean M. McDonough Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr. Mr. John Schoenherr Mrs. Virginia M. Snoddy Joseph W. Viola, M.D., Secretary The Role of Theology in the Life of the Church J. Christy Wilson III, Esq. 18 Rev. Dr. John H. Womack John Jefferson Davis William C. Wood, M.D. EMERITI MEMBERS Dr. Richard A. Armstrong Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford 22 The Wisdom of the Gospel in the Partisan Mr. Roland S. Hinz Public Square Rev. Dr. Robert J. Lamont Mr. Richard D. Phippen Richard Lints John G. Talcott, Jr. Rev. Dr. Paul E. Toms President and Trustee Emeritus Dr. Robert E. Cooley, 24 Trustee Profile: John Huffman Ruth E. Hawk President Emeritus Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. President Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger 26 Seminary News Vice President of Advancement Mr. Kurt W. Drescher Director of Communications Focus on Alumni and Marketing 32 Mr. Michael L. Colaneri Opening the Word Senior Communications 37 Advisor and Editor of Contact Donna Petter Mrs. Anne B. Doll Art Director of Contact Ms. Nicole S. Rim Inquiries regarding CONTACT may be addressed to: Assistant Editor of Contact Editor, CONTACT Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Mrs. Ruth Hawk 130 Essex Street, S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Tel: 978.468.7111 or email: rhawk@gordonconwell.edu Carol Kaminski & David Palmer Design Intern www.gordonconwell.edu Ms. Emily Gries GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON Photography Mr. Tom Kates THE BASIS OF RACE, GENDER, NATIONAL OR ETHNIC ORIGIN, AGE, HANDICAP Ms. Nicole S. Rim OR VETERAN STATUS. www.gordonconwell.edu/summer_conference 2 SPRING ’11 www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 3 on the on the front lines front lines “the spiritual wilderness in which some victims and their children must wander before finding the sanctuary they so richly deserve would daunt even the most devout of believers. if dv [domestic violence] is not stopped, it may eventually separate a victim from god. it can interfere with the victim’s faith, the victim’s belief, the victim’s worship 1 alison snow jones, ph.d., associate professor, and the victim’s prayer life.” department of social sciences & health policy, wake forest university school of medicine pproximately one in four women worldwide “I know there are abuse problems in my church,” the anne b. doll has suffered physical abuse by an intimate male senior pastor says. “I have met with families experiencing partner, such as a husband or ex-husband. 2 domestic abuse. But what really galvanized me was when A According to the Centers for Disease Control Nancy Nason-Clark came to the residency. Her web page and Prevention, in the U.S., an estimated 1300 women die (theraveproject.org) has a wonderful collection of resources each year as a result of domestic violence, nearly 5.3 million for clergy and for women who are abused. I thought, ‘Here’s domestic incidents of interpersonal violence occur and approximately one way to put my faith and care into action.’” 2 million women are injured.3 To counter the “holy hush” surrounding domestic abuse, For churches, the statistics are equally sobering. Domestic he has addressed this issue in sermons and the Sunday violence “happens within and beyond communities of faith School throughout the year, when appropriate. in approximately the same prevalence rates,” says Nancy “I really try to verbalize the word ‘abuse’ because it is such Nason-Clark, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at the University a hidden word, an unwanted word,” he says. His intent is to of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada. raise the consciousness of church members about domestic Dr. Nason-Clark is also creator of the RAVE Project, a violence, and about resources that are available locally. web-based series of resources that provides information Behind the scenes, Pastor Tim maintains connections and training for families of faith impacted by abuse. She with leaders of domestic violence shelters in the Greater has studied contemporary Christianity and violence for 20 Toledo area, and has invited representatives from several shelters to his church to “share their issues—their people we need to be positioned in the churches to do something with our people.” about,”years. “The she numbersnotes. “But tell if usone there’s woman a significant in one church problem is having that This year, his church hosted an Unveiling Ceremony, this problem, then we need to be a safe refuge for her… in the church “…There continues to be a holy hush that permeates full-size plywood silhouettes of women in Wood County who many churches, and it only takes a few people to shatter hadduring died which from officials domestic from abuse. a local “We abuse had a shelterworship displayed service, that silence.” unveiled the silhouettes and read the names and stories of In October of 2008, Pastor Timothy P. Philabaum, D.Min. each of these women with all their families there. We have (cand. ’12), awakened to the gravity of domestic violence also had people from the Cocoon Shelter come to our place when Nancy addressed his Gordon-Conwell D.Min. residency. on an annual basis. They bring…their silhouettes, tell their Returning to Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg, OH, a story, raise money and keep connection.” congregation of some 650 worshippers that he has served Members of his congregation have also stepped up to for 31 years, he resolved to shine the light on domestic the plate to help the local shelters with material support, violence and enlist his members to help address it. including money, food and clothing. One member has 4 SPRING ’11 www.gordonconwell.edu/contactmagazine 5 on the on the front lines front lines served on a shelter board. “There are people in our church when she would say, ‘What do you do with the body bags?’ who know about problems of abused women, and people That would be her response.” who have family members [with abuse issues],” Pastor Tim According to Pastor Tim, “Women [who are abused] feel explains. “Some already knew about the shelters and had powerless and unable to make a change. Or they are fearful FAQs about Domestic Violence some contact with them. I think our church has made a very of what might happen… In counseling women, my biggest caring response to this ministry.” issue is to trust the woman who has been abused. I need to In addition, Zoar Church has instituted a practical alert listen carefully to her story and provide mercy. Safety for the from the RAVE Website system for women suffering abuse. Behind the doors in each woman and the kids is paramount. stall in the women’s restrooms are small pieces of paper “A pastor also needs to know what kind of resources are in During the past 15 years, RAVE researchers have interviewed 500 church leaders and 500 designed to be unobtrusively inserted into a woman’s shoe. the community, to know who to call when someone calls you church women about domestic violence. They found that: Entitled “Do You Feel Safe?” the papers contain the name and and says, ‘I’m having problems with my husband. Where are phone number of a shelter, phone numbers of Pastor Tim the contacts for the shelter or the YWCA or the safe houses?’” and the church’s female pastor, the RAVE Project website and Dr. Nason-Clark says that “when pastors listen to women, other resources. they can respond to the questions that women are asking: 9% of pastors have counseled 5+ abused 95% of church women have never heard women per year a message on abuse preached from the pulpit ‘Why has God abandoned me?’ ‘I promised forever ‘til death six papers behind each stall, and they disappear. None show do us part. Why is this taking place?’ ‘How can I be a better up “Whatin the trashmy staff cans and or I stillare findthrown intriguing around… is that We’ve I always come put to Christian?’ …Pastors need to be in a position to listen to 83% of pastors have counseled one 58% of church women have helped the conclusion that they’re being taken, which is valuable… what the heart cry is and respond with the toolkit that is abused woman per year another abused woman at her point of need what I hope for. They’re obviously meeting a need. I have no available to them as a result of their training and knowledge idea who takes them. They’re designed to be anonymous.” of Scripture. of pastors say they have preached a of church women have sought the Pastors believe that 31% 70% Dr.