SPRING 2001 A NEWS JOURNAL FOR CHURCHES OF CHRIST ON THE WEST COAST . PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY OFFERS WS&^^BF yjff-™™_ ^^ffl jSMjll U* S^l NEWS Pepperdine's Calvin Bowers Authors a History of Black Churches of Christ in Los Angeles Volume XVII Number 2 Dr. Calvin Bowers, the equal opportunity of- ficer and a professor of Communication at The PACIFIC CHURCH NEWS is Pepperdine University, has recently published a published periodically by the Department of book entitled, Realizing the California Dream: The Church Relations at Pepperdine University. Story of Black Churches of Christ in Los Angeles. Send all correspondence to: Pacific Church As the successor to R.N. Hogan in the pulpit of News, Department of Church Relations, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast the historic Figueroa Church of Christ, Dr. Bowers Highway, Malibu, CA 90263-4270. was perfectly positioned to assemble all the neces- sary data and interview the remaining pioneers. He has drawn on his comprehensive knowledge of black Churches of Christ around Los Angeles to tell a EDITOR heartwarming story that is full of faith and encour- Jerry Rushford agement. The story Dr. Bovvers weaves is the tale of a pio- ASSOCIATE EDITORS neering generation of tenacious dreamers who laid Bill Henegar a solid foundation on which succeeding generations continued to build. This fascinating story deserves to be told and no one was more Agnes Gibson qualified to assume the task than Dr. Bowers. He knew most of the first Los Angeles preachers intimately, and he has been actively involved at the center of the saga for more than 40 years. CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS Garth Black, Bakersfield, CA Larry Cain, Yuba City, CA Kelly Carter, Victoria, BC Murrieta Church of Christ Builds for the Future Kelly Deatherage, Portland, OR Walt Fennel, Sacramento, CA Members Break Ground at a Ceremony Earlier This Year Rich Griffin, San Diego, CA Milton Jones, Seattle, WA Members of the Emily Lemley, Westlake Village, CA Murrieta Church of Billie Silvey, Los Angeles, CA Christ celebrated as they Mel Weldon, Longview, WA broke ground for their Edwin White, Phoenix, AZ Bud Worsham, Long Beach, CA first building. The John York, Roseburg, OR Murrieta Church began meeting 15 years ago in a home. As the church DESIGN & PRODUCTION grew over the years, they Agnes Gibson have used six different rented facilities. One of the early Murrieta Church of Christ breaks ground on its long-awaited build- COVER visions of the group was ing. The group has worshipped together for the past 15 years. Pepperdine University's Religion to plant a church in this Pictured left to right: Doug Cole, Tom Begin, Gregg Berge, Larry Tarrant, Ruth Husband, Kevin McCowan, Will Travis, Dick Hus- Division has been offering their off- newly developing, band, and Doug Keup. campus Master's degree for nearly growing area of River- 30 years. Beginning in August side County. From the 2001, it will bring its degree pro- beginning, members have had the desire to build a church building to help evange- gram to the state of Idaho for the lize the area. When completed in the summer of 2001, the new facility will include first time. The program will be held a 450-seat auditorium, fellowship hall, kitchen, nursery, offices and 15 classrooms. in Boise. Future phases of the building plan include a preschool and elementary school. PCN2 LEADERSHIP Continuing a Heritage of Christian Academic Leadership I by Bill Henegar respectively). He has done post-doctoral studies at Yale Univer- Beginning in January 2001, Dr. sity, the University Darryl L. Tippens took the academic reins College of Wales UK, of Pepperdine as provost of the Univer- University of Kansas, sity. He replaces Dr. Steven S. Lemley, University of Chicago, who, after many faithful and effective and Johns Hopkins years as provost, resigned to return to the University. classroom following a well-earned sabbati- Dr. Tippens is a cal leave. prolific writer and Dr. Tippens most recently served as speaker for both schol- professor of English at Abilene Christian arly and popular fo- University, from 1987 through Decem- rums and publications. ber 2000, a very productive 13 years. For He has authored or co- the last four years at ACU, he served as authored a number of the James W. Gulp Distinguished Profes- books and articles, in- sor of English. Before moving to Abilene cluding The Gospel Ac- he was, in order, an instructor, assistant cording to Generation X professor, associate professor, and full pro- and Shadow dr Light: fessor for Oklahoma Christian University Literature and the Life from 1972 to 1987. During his last eight of Faith. Darryl and Anne Tippens joined Pepperdine in January 2001 when years at OCU, he also served as the chair Darryl Tippens Darryl was appointed as the university's provost. of the Department of English. grew up in the Although he has broad interests, Dr. Weatherford Church of Christ in Okla- Bentley. Though she studied music and Tippens has focused his study and teach- homa, where he was baptized as a teen- elementary education, Anne spent most ing on medieval and 17[ll-century British ager. He has served as associate minister of her professional years as office man- literature, and more specifically, or education minister for several churches, ager and bookkeeper for Christian Vil- Shakespeare, John Milton, and Walt including the Memorial Road church and lage, a Church of Christ retirement facil- McDonald. As a result, he is well con- the North MacArthur church in Okla- ity adjacent to ACU. Coincidentally, her nected with scholars across America and homa City. He also worked with churches father, Virgil Bentley, was probably the Britain who specialize in British literature. in Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas. He first person within Churches of Christ to Dr. Tippens has served with distinc- was an elder for a total of 13 years, first receive a doctorate in gerontology, so tion on numerous national and regional with the Dayspring church in Edmond, working with seniors ran in the family. committees, commissions, and confer- Oklahoma (at which he was instrumen- Anne's great grandfather was the legend- ences within his academic specialties, as tal in its founding), and then with the ary missionary J.W Shepherd. well as within the universities at which Highland church in Abilene, Texas. He Darryl and Anne have two sons, Kyle he taught. He has served as a visiting pro- enjoys writing for Christian publications and Jeffrey, and one granddaughter, fessor for Baylor University and such as the Christian Chronicle (where he Emily, who was born while Kyle was Pepperdine University, and has served as was media editor), UpReach (where he was working in New Zealand. a distinguished lecturer on several schol- associate editor), 21" Century Christian, The Pepperdine community is arly programs. and Wineskins Magazine. He is a frequent pleased to have this distinguished and Darryl Tippens earned his bachelors speaker on university lectureships. faithful Christian family join us in such a degree from Oklahoma Christian in In the fall of 1967, Darryl married crucial role. Darryl and Anne live in 1968. He then went on to receive both Anne Bentley while the two were under- Mallmann House, the provost's residence the masters and Ph.D. degrees from Loui- graduate students at OCU. Anne is the on the Malibu campus. siana State University (1971 and 1974 daughter of well-known preacher Virgil PCN3 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Pepperdine Offers Graduate Program in Boise, Idaho by Jerry Rushford 1972 when Pepperdine University opened This degree prepares students for its new campus in Malibu, California. various ministries. The curriculum des- It is perhaps true that never in his- Since that time the off-campus program ignates specific courses, yet is broad tory has so much been asked of those who has been offered in a wide variety of lo- enough to provide the basic insights nec- offer themselves to serve in the church. cations including: Seattle, Washington; essary for full participation in both the Almost every Christian teacher feels the Portland, Oregon; Phoenix, Arizona, Al- thought and life of the church. The M.S. need for additional training. Unfortu- buquerque, New Mexico; Sacramento, in Ministry is suitable for those who have nately, many cannot afford to leave their California; Campbell, California; Fresno, a limited time for graduate study or for work to study further, and they find no California; and San Diego, California. persons who have another profession but place locally where appropriate education Beginning August 24-25, 2001, wish to receive basic training for minis- is offered. Pepperdine will offer its M.S. in Minis- try. The M.S. in Ministry may serve as a try program in Boise, Idaho. preliminary degree to the Master of Di- This non-thesis program re- vinity degree. quires 36 units (nine courses) of In the early years of the off-campus graduate work taken over a two- program, classes were almost always held year period. Each course meets in a church building that was conve- on four weekends. The last niently located for all of the students who course will be completed in the were travelling from a distance. How- Spring of 2003. Comprehen- ever, during the past six years the pro- sive written examinations will gram has been held on college campuses. be administered in Boise in the Two of the programs were hosted by summer of 2003, and success- Puget Sound Christian College in ful M.S. candidates will gradu- Edmonds, Washington, a suburb of Se- ate in December 2003. Classes attle. The most recent program was will meet on an average of four hosted by Cascade College in Portland, weekends every two months and Oregon.