Panorama Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Vol. L No. 1 Spring 2011 Building Community in Christ Speaking the Truth in Love Building Joyful Communities The Simple Answer is Jesus vision statement Wise leaders who demonstrate with On a dynamic and challenging global stage integrity how to build joyful Pittsburgh Theological Seminary plays its part in communities by creating with God’s God’s redemption of the world through Jesus Christ help positive, happy and healthy cultures where people “speak the By preparing leaders who proclaim with great joy truth in love” and understand that real God’s message of good news in both word and deed! friendship in Christ means having the right to disagree knowing that mutual respect and affection are not at stake To view the full mission and vision statements, visit www.pts.edu/aboutus. letter from the president On a dynamic and challenging global stage Pittsburgh Theological Seminary plays its part in God’s redemption of the world through Jesus Christ By preparing leaders who proclaim with great joy Hear the word of the Lord: that “acknowledging” disagreement as a “right” implies maintaining God’s message of good news in both word and deed! mutual respect. For disagreeing Christians, it also implies maintaining “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” mutual affection as equally beloved members of God’s family. (Mt 2:10). Respectful disagreement that does not diminish Christian affection leads “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that to living in joyful community, which in turn makes the gospel attractive your joy may be made full” (Jn 15:11). to those who do not yet know Christ. In Acts 2:46-47 we read of the fledgling church: “. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to “. the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, house, they were taking their meals together with goodness,. .” (Gal 2:22). gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your was adding to their number day by day those who master’” (Mt 25:21). were being saved. Judging from these references and some 177 other occurrences of Who doesn’t want to be part of a community characterized by true joy the word “joy” in the Old and New Testaments, joy is a major part of and genuine friendship undergirded by the unshakable love of God? God’s will for humanity. What better reason could there be for including the work of building joyful communities as a goal for graduates of a Happiness comes and goes. The joy of Christ is enduring—and seminary centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ? he intends this gift for all humanity. Because he does, part of our educational task involves preparing Christian leaders whose intellectual At his birth, Jesus brought joy to us. growth results in their ever-deepening joy in Christ, their respect and He intends that we be full of His joy. affection for disagreeing brothers and sisters, and their able building The kingdom of God consists in joy. of communities characterized by these same qualities. Authentic The Holy Spirit evidences God’s presence in us participation in Christ’s redemptive work in the world requires no less of through joy. us at Pittsburgh Seminary. And we are ultimately destined for joy. May the joy of the Lord be with you. At Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, we focus on serving Christ with our minds. As students of the Word, we make becoming like Christ the ultimate goal of our academic study and intellectual growth. And likeness to Christ involves, in large part, embodying his joy. Part of building joyful Christian community—in the academy and in the the rev. dr. William J. Carl iii Church—involves acknowledging each others’ right to disagree. Note President and Professor of Homiletics CELEBRATION Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Spring 2011 OF GIVING Volume L No. 1 CORRECTION ISBN 8755-0954 PANORAMA In our most recent Celebration of Giving, Panorama is published twice yearly by Pittsburgh Theological Pittsburgh Theological Seminary said thank Seminary. It is intended to address timely issues related to the you to our donors—friends, alumnae/i, Seminary and to inform alumnae/i and friends about the school’s churches, organizations, and Seminary activities. The Alumnae/i Notes give current information about employees—for their generous donations graduates. from June 1, 2009-May 31, 2010. In that publication, we failed to recognize Jeanette Managing Editor Rapp, who gave in memory of her late Melissa S. Logan ([email protected]) husband, Richard J. Rapp ’58. Please accept our apologies and thanks for your continued Designer support. Lisa V. Hanington ([email protected]) Editorial Board The Rev. Carolyn Cranston ‘99 The Rev. Byron H. Jackson, Ed.D. Thomas J. Pappalardo Connie Gundry Tappy For changes of address call 412-924-1388 or e-mail [email protected]. For class notes, photo submission, or notice of births and deaths call 412-924-1375 or e-mail [email protected]. For other editorial matters call 412-924-1373 or e-mail [email protected]. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate professional institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Founded in 1794, Throughout this issue of Panorama you’ll the Seminary is located in Pittsburgh, Pa., and annually enrolls notice the arrow symbol at the end of various approximately 320 students in its degree programs. The articles. This symbol indicates that more Seminary prepares pastors and Christian leaders who proclaim information is available online regarding the with great joy God’s message of good news in both word and topic. Please visit the Seminary’s website at deed. PTS is scripturally grounded, broadly Reformed, www.pts.edu to learn more. ecumenically minded, and culturally relevant. President The Rev. William J. Carl III, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty The Rev. Byron H. Jackson, Ed.D. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Vice President for Student Service and Dean of Students 616 North Highland Avenue The Rev. John C. Welch ’02 Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Phone 412-362-5610 Vice President for Strategic Advancement and Marketing Fax 412-363-3260 Thomas J. Pappalardo www.pts.edu PANORAMA Spring 2011 2 Table of Contents 2 BUILDING JOYFUL COMMUNITIES 2 Speaking the Truth in Love 4 Building Joyful Communities 4 The Embodiment of JOY 6 Practice Compassion 4 8 The Simple Answer is Jesus 9 The Most Diverse Gathering . Ever? 10 Two Churches Merge 11 Student Group Recognizes Staff 12 Faculty Colloquia Encourage Reciprocal Communication 13 Inter-Religious Dialogue at Pittsburgh Seminary 6 14 Agreeing and Disagreeing in the Online Public Square 15 Archaeologists Find Common Ground 16 In a Word, It is Love 18 Singing New Songs 20 PTS NEWS 20 PTS Elects New Members to Board of Directors 27 22 Faculty/Staff News 24 Following New Calls 25 Faculty Publications 26 PTS Welcomes New Class 27 Come on In - The Door’s Open! 28 Students Gain Resources for Urban Ministry 15 28 Online Journal Access for Alums and Clergypersons 29 World Christian Discipleship Program Takes First Place 16 29 Seminary Offers New M.Div. Emphasis: Church Planting 30 Remembering PTS Friends 32 UPCOMING PTS EVENTS 34 ALUMNAE/I NOTES 41 In Memory PANORAMA 1 BUILDING JOYFUL COMMUNITIES SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE e threw up his hands as he chuckled and said, “You’re so strange. How can I have such deep respect for someone with whom I disagree about so much?” She smiled as she thought for a moment. Then she responded, “We’ve been at this discussion a long time. HIt used to be an argument. Now it feels more like a family squabble over dinner.” This quieted him a moment before he tenderly said, “Yes. You’re the sister I love and don’t understand.” He meant both things sincerely. They had been carefully debating a very important theological issue. It was not the first class I taught that included these two students, and it was not their first disagreement. When they arrived at the Seminary, they found each other’s ideas not only strange, but also threatening. Now they are about to graduate as two future pastors who still disagree about important issues, but they are no longer strangers. These days, the “You’re so strange” comment is spoken the same way siblings tease each other. They are both very bright, dedicated, and deeply spiritual; and they are both going to make terrific pastors. Clearly, they’re not headed for the same type of congregation, but during their time at our seminary they learned how to “speak the truth in love.” More importantly, they discovered that there is more truth than either of them knew. Their loving friendship opened their souls to receive echoes of the Holy Spirit from each other. One of the great gifts of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to its students is that the faculty insists on creating this community of respectful, even loving conversation about important issues over which faithful Christians debate. We refuse to sweep our sincerely held disagreements about the truth under the rug for the sake of a sentimental notion of civility. But we also refuse to allow any disagreement to tear apart our unity in Jesus Christ. 2 PANORAMA Building Joyful Communities We believe that one of the central tenets of the family of God is the Enlightenment, and even about administrative matters concerning offering hospitality to the stranger in our midst.