SUMMER 1988 DEDICATION OF TURNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY COMPLEX and BISHOP FREDERICK HILBORN TALBOT HALL page 12 GAMMON • MASON • MOREHOUSE • PHILLIPS • SMITH • TURNER INTERDENOMINATIONAL THEOLOGICAL CENTER An Ecumenical Professional Graduate School of Theology offering the Master of Divinity Master of Arts in Christian Education Master of Arts in Church Music Doctor of Ministry Doctor of Sacred Theology Gammon Theological Seminary United Methodist Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary Church of God in Christ Morehouse School of Religion Baptist Phillips School of Theology Christian Methodist Episcopal Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Turner Theological Seminary African Methodist Episcopal Accredited by The Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools THE LANTERN FEATURES Summer 1988 Major Campus Renovations Made Available Editor: By Lilly Endowment, Inc. Grant . ■ 3 Reta L. Bigham Contributors: Joint Boards Meet — A First .. 4 Barbara Arrington Cassandra Baker 1988 Charter Week Celebration . 5 Madelyn C. Greene Jane Jelks Hattie R. Johnson New Degree Program . 7 Christine R. Porter Photo Credits: UNCF/Lilly Research Project . 8 Office of Institutional Advancement 1988 Internal Campaign . 9 Cover Design: Earl L. Davis Seminary News . 10 Printer: ABC Printing Company The Lantern is published semiannually for alumni and supporters of the Interdenominational Theological Center (I.T.C.), 671 Beckwith Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30314. I.T.C. is an ecumenical professional graduate school of theology that is comprised of six constituent seminaries representing the following denominations: United Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Baptist, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and African Methodist Episcopal. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (A.T.S.) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (S.A.C.S.), I.T.C. is a member of the United Negro College Fund and the Atlanta University Center consortium. 1 President s message religions, continuing education and us a contribution of any amount an¬ ecumenism. Foundations have nually. Don’t wait until you can do regained confidence in us and are great things. When donors learn of supportive of our programs. Our ac¬ the high commitment of a school’s creditation has not only been reaf¬ graduates they tend to support the firmed by the Association of school more generously. Converse¬ Theological Schools, but also we are ly, when they detect minimal sup¬ now accredited by the Southern port they tailor their contributions Association of Colleges and Schools. accordingly. After all, you are the The institution has moved, major benefactors of the I.T.C. ex¬ budgetarily, from $2.1 million in perience. For your convenience, a 1983 to $3.4 million today. self-addressed, stamped envelope is I have two concerns that only you located in this issue for your con¬ can help us address. The first is the tributions. I know we can count on recruitment of more top quality you in these two areas of concern. students. We face unreal competi¬ Have a good summer, and do tion for the best Black theological plan to come to the campus students. Keep us informed when whenever you are to be in the Atlan¬ you know of the interest of such ta area. You will want to experience persons. Talk to them about I.T.C. our new atmosphere of forward The second concern is that we need movement. greater financial support from James H. Costen our alumni/ae. Write us into your James H. Costen personal and church budgets. Send President We, at I.T.C., are extremely proud of this first issue of the new I.T.C. Lantern. The Lantern, edited by our Research Assistant, Mrs. Reta L. Bigham, is our attempt to keep the alumni/ae of I.T.C. fully informed AVAILABLE POSITION about the academic and other developments here on campus. Ad¬ ditionally, as you can tell from the Coordinator of Recruitment section on “Seminary News’’, it is designed to highlight the many and Alumni/ae Relations wonderful accomplishments of our graduates. We plan to publish this The Interdenominational Theo¬ Deans’ Council and the Director of newsletter in the Spring and Fall. logical Center is seeking a Coor¬ Continuing Education in order to ac¬ With this issue of the Lantern, we dinator of Recruitment and complish the responsibilities of the pledge that we will do everything in Alumni/ae Relations, a newly position. These responsibilities are: our power to improve the quality of added staff position. The starting 1. Develop a working recruitment our communication with you. Com¬ date for this position is January 1, relationship with college munication, however, is a two-way 1989. chaplains, campus ministers and street. We need you to keep us in¬ Related directly to the Director of heads of college departments of formed as to the newsworthy things the Office of Institutional Advance¬ philosophy and religion, that are happening in your lives. We ment, this position has a two-fold especially in Southeastern need you to notify us of address function: (1) to present to prospec¬ United States. changes, both yours and others. tive students a positive image of the 2. Receive names of prospective You can be proud of the institution, thereby lending to their students from administration, academic advancements of your matriculation and (2) to solicit and administrative deans, faculty, alma mater. We are developing a encourage alumni support in order staff, students and alumni and first rate faculty that is excelling in to maintain the visibility, vitality and maintain careful files on these teaching and research. The students viability of I.T.C. persons. are increasingly mature and The Coordinator of Recruitment 3. Plan and implement a recruit¬ demonstrating real commitment to and Alumni/ae Relations will need to ment effort for the Center every phase of ministry. Program¬ work in close relationship with the through alumni meetings, matically, we have expanded into Director of the Office of Institutional such areas as music, drama;..world Advancement, the Administrative (continued on page 17) 2 Fifth Pilgrim Press Manuscript Competition The 5th Pilgrim Press subjects that include ethical perspec¬ author will also be honored in the Manuscript Competition is spon¬ tives on current personal and social media and at the 17th General sored by the Division of Education issues, biography, and studies in the Synod of the United Church of and Publication of the United arts. There is particular interest in Christ in the summer of 1989. Church Board of Homeland manuscripts dealing with issues of Authors wishing to enter the com¬ Ministries, in cooperation with the education in church and/or society petition should return an “interest to United Church of Christ Ministers in and/or dealing with the relationship submit” form by December 1, Higher Education, the Council for between faith and learning. 1988. Manuscripts in final form Higher Education of the United Technical manuscripts written for a must be received no later than April Church of Christ, and Pilgrim Press. specialized audience and drama or 1, 1989. The competition is open to faculty, fiction manuscripts will not be con¬ Further information and copies of staff and alumnae/i of academies, sidered. THE WINNING the “intent to submit” form are colleges, divinity schools and MANUSCRIPT WILL BE available from: theological seminaries of the Coun¬ PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM BY Mr. James A. Smith, Jr. cil for Higher Education of the THE PILGRIM PRESS. United Church Board for United Church of Christ and to pro¬ A Manuscript Evaluation Commit¬ Homeland Ministries fessional campus ministers of the tee will review all entries. The 132 W. 31st Street United Church of Christ’s ministry author of the winning manuscript New York, N.Y. 10001 in higher education. will receive from The Pilgrim Press a (212) 239-8700 Manuscripts are invited which are standard publishing contract and an of interest to the general reader on advance royalty. The winning I.T.C. Receives Lilly Endowment Grant The Lilly Endowment, Inc. tion/classroom building, student Remaining funds are being used awarded to I.T.C. a major grant of housing facilities and the refectory. to supplement sabbatical and 5750,000 earmarked for the Total renovations were made in stu¬ research leaves for faculty and to upgrading of physical facilities and dent housing facilities and the refec¬ provide financial assistance for the for faculty development. The funds tory received a major facelift. The completion of terminal degrees. were used to bring the physical administration/classroom building Funds from the grant have also pro¬ plant up to current government has been equipped with easy access vided research assistants to assist code requirements, providing access ramps and an elevator lift. These faculty in their research and publica¬ for the handicapped. Approximately campus improvements were com¬ tion efforts. $600,000 was allotted for renova¬ pleted during the first semester of tions in the administra¬ the academic year. 3 Joint Boards Meet at I.T.C.: A First October 6-8, 1987 are dates that rent state of I.T.C. and directions for Board. will be placed in the annals of I.T.C. its future. The wrap-up session yielded For the first time in the history of the Dr. Carl Marbury of the some valuable suggestions from the Interdenominational Theological Alabama Department of Education group as to the direction in which Center, its Board and the Boards of gave an overview of the original in¬ I.T.C. should be headed: the six constituent seminaries met to tent of I.T.C. and assessed the goals reflect and project. Approximately and challenges of the institution. • organized recruitment of students; 95 trustees in attendance shared Other participants included Dr. • financial support from alumni, their feelings about I.T.C.