THE STORY MAGAZINE and ANNUAL REPORT Volume XLVII C Winter 08/09
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Cover.qxp:Cover 12/22/08 5:45 PM Page 1 THE STORY MAGAZINE AND ANNUAL REPORT Volume XLVII C Winter 08/09 Learn how much you can matter C www.mtso.edu Methodist Theological School in Ohio 3081 Columbus Pike NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE Delaware, OH 43015 PAID DELAWARE, OH PERMIT NO. 52 Cover.qxp:Cover 12/22/08 5:45 PM Page 3 Contents FROM THE PRESIDENT STUDENTS On finances, accreditation and the dean . 1 Two students who model the beatitudes . 10 CAMPUS REPORT ALUMNI Meet Trustees Chair Maggie Jackson . 3 An award-winning book about a pastor’s dog . .12 ank you A new emergency alert system . 4 Alumnews .................................14 Board of Trustees roster . 4 FACULTY HAPPENINGS Rev. Patrick Clayborn on teaching preaching . 16 We at Methesco express our gratitude to all donors who have Mount Award recipients . 5 Dr. Yvonne Zimmerman on teaching ethics . 17 given so generously this year. Thanks to your consistent support, Fall events recap . 6 Faculty activities . 18 those in the next generation of Christian leaders are learning how Upcoming campus events . 7 REPORT TO DONORS much they can matter. COMMUNITY Financial information . 23 We invite you to visit www.mtso.edu/development Sarah Lancaster’s hard road to celebrity . 8 DonorHonorRoll ............................24 Explore our comprehensive planned-giving resources, learn about the latest tools for donors or make a gift online. THE STORY cate programs in MAGAZINE AND ANNUAL REPORT Basic Theological Ed- ucation, United Volume XLVII C Winter 08/09 Methodist Deacon Studies, and the Ad- A publication of Methodist vanced Course of Theological School in Ohio Study in the United 3081 Columbus Pike Methodist Church. Delaware, Ohio 43015 MTSO is accredited 740-363-1146 by the Association of www.mtso.edu Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the A Methesco Church Administration class meets in 1961 Higher Learning Commission of the President: Rev. Jay Rundell North Central Asso- Founded in 1958, Methodist Theological ciation of Colleges and Schools. Its de- Academic Dean: Dr. John Kampen School in Ohio is one of 13 seminaries Editor: Danny Russell gree programs are authorized by the formally affiliated with and funded in Ohio Board of Regents and approved by Design: Jeffery Smith, DesignSmith part by the United Methodist Church. Lo- Printer: e Watkins Printing Company the University Senate of The United cated on a 72-acre campus in Central Methodist Church. Ohio, MTSO offers five graduate degree On the cover: Detail of stained glass in the programs: Master of Divinity, Master of We welcome your comments and sug- south window at the entrance to the Burgett Chapel Classroom in Gault Hall Arts in Christian Education, Master of gestions. Please send them to Arts in Counseling Ministries, Master of [email protected], or Danny Russell, Printed on paper manufactured from 100 Theological Studies and Doctor of Min- MTSO, 3081 Columbus Pike, Delaware, percent post-consumer waste fiber. istry. It also offers graduate-level certifi- Ohio 43015. METHODIST THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN OHIO Story interior.qxp:Interior 12/22/08 5:29 PM Page 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT A strong ship on a turbulent sea By Rev. Jay Rundell President It is my privilege to greet you on behalf of the many members of the MTSO community and to invite you to page through this issue of e Story. You will find news of past happenings and fu- ture events, articles about stu- dents, alums, faculty and trustees, as well as our Annual Report for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. is publication comes to you amidst extraordinary times. Along with you and your fami- lies, churches and communities, we have been deeply affected by to all of you who are finding a way to sup- all-time high of $37 million in January 2008 the economic troubles of the past several port us through this difficult period. Follow- to about $26.5 million. months. Our campus is a place of keen ing are a few items I want to highlight for awareness of the myriad trials that our you. A 28.6 percent loss is hard to take, but world faces in the years to come. And like many institutions have fared much worse. the rest of the world, we have been moved Our financial position (And for what it’s worth, the Standard & by the significance of a historical election Poor’s 500 stock index has fallen by 38 per- season. MTSO has not escaped the effects of cent over this period.) We have experienced Like most educational institutions, we are struggling domestic and global economies. similar paper losses before, most recently in confronting acute financial strain and all the At a time when costs associated with higher 2002. Because these funds are the source of accompanying uncertainty and stress. And education are rising, several of our revenue revenue for such things as scholarships, fac- yet, there is a good spirit here. Our students streams are weakened. Understandably, gi ulty chairs and other general expenses, we remind us of the and tuition income are down slightly. will be challenged to find new sources of in- continuing come and additional ways to curb expenses. hunger for We will endeavor to be good stewards with learning and There is evidence of the kind of hope that the school’s resources, balancing prudent growth. Our comes from trusting that the Church has spending with the ever-important need to fund our vital mission. faculty has a something to say and do in a time like this, way of making theological edu- and from knowing that we’re preparing Self-study and cation relevant people who will lead that effort. reaccreditation even to times like these. Nearly two years of institutional self- Income from endowed funds is likely to study culminated in October with the cam- And there is evidence of the kind of hope be our greatest financial challenge in the pus visit of teams from the Association of that comes from trusting that the Church next few years. We are broadly diversified eological Schools in the United States and has something to say and do in a time like and have capable managers and superb Canada and the Higher Learning Commis- this, and from knowing that we’re preparing trustee oversight, but, like everyone else, sion of the North Central Association of people who will lead that effort. at makes we’ve lost considerable market value. As of Colleges and Schools. the turmoil worthwhile. I am deeply grateful Nov. 30, our endowment has fallen from an continues ¡ THE STORY C Winter 08/09 1 Story interior.qxp:Interior 12/22/08 5:29 PM Page 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT from previous page fessor of New Testa- ment Studies in the e teams registered a very positive reac- Van Bogard Dunn tion to our campus and what they saw oc- Chair in Biblical In- curring here. terpretation. Official action on team reports will not I wish to express take place until the boards of the associa- my deep regard for tions meet in February. But while still on John, not only as a campus, visiting team members indicated scholar and academic that they were extremely impressed with the administrator but as a strength and vision of this institution and its friend and guide as I ability to carry out its mission. In particular, have grown into the they noted: presidency at MTSO. • e collaboration in teaching and learning His experience and between an excellent faculty and an en- wisdom have pro- gaged student body. foundly influenced the shaping of the Scholar and administrator, friend and guide C Kampen • An institutional environment of egalitari- foundation for my anism and relationality. work in this place. Over the past five years, Dean John Kam- • e commendable presence of diversity as An advisory search committee has begun pen has gathered and appropriated that his- seen in the student body, faculty and cur- the process of identifying and integrating tory and, with the very best of academic riculum, with a commitment to ecumeni- our next dean into academic leadership in integrity and principles, helped us forge a cal and inter-religious understanding, as the life of our fine school. When the way has sound future in theological education. I well as other practices of inclusivity. been paved with care, a community such as simply cannot overstate John’s influence ours can travel into its future with confi- upon the maturation of our academic pro- • Notable progress in the area of educational dence and anticipation. assessment. gram and ethos. He has done e team also encouraged us to give con- what he came tinued attention to a number of things, here to do, and Visiting accreditation team members indicated ranging from institutional advancement to the institution is that they were extremely impressed with the library development to deferred mainte- in his debt. strength and vision of this institution and its nance. Dean John Kampen, a seasoned vet- eran of accreditation visits for both ATS and In addition ability to carry out its mission. HLC, said of the review, “is is as good as to his work in it gets.” I believe we have reason to feel very academic ad- ministration, good about MTSO and the work we are In concluding, let me share my deep ap- Dr. Kampen has nurtured his calling as a doing. preciation for your support of Methesco and scholar and student of the Jewish context of for all you do in extending our mission and the New Testament, with a specific focus on The Office of the ministry to the world around us.