FALL 2016 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 the Common Thread FOR MORAVIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ALUMNI The Legacy of Rev. Dr. David Schattschneider Emotion reverberated around the Moravian world when, on September 29, we learned that David Schattschneider, Dean Emeritus of the Seminary, passed away. The richness of his life was honored at a memorial service at Advent Moravian Church on October 5. Son and grandson of Moravian pastors, David grew up in Staten Island, NY, received his bachelor’s degree from Moravian College, his MDiv from Yale Divinity School, and his PhD from the University of Chicago, where theologian Martin Marty served as a dissertation reader. David joined the MTS faculty in 1968 as Professor of Historical Theology and World Christianity. He rose up the ranks until appointed Dean in 1988 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2001. Throughout his 33 years of teaching and leadership, David shaped the understanding and practice of hundreds of pastors, teachers, and church leaders on five continents. His students remember David for his quick wit, his insistence on the usage of original texts, his discernment of the difference between fact and opinion, and his personal witness to the intersection of history, theology, and faith. In the academic world, David leaves a distinctive mark in the field of Moravian history. His doctoral dissertation, “Souls for the Lamb: A Theology for the Christian Mission According to Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf and August Gottlieb Spangenberg,” remains the seminal work for Moravian missions and has been a resource for generations of historians. David was pivotal in helping to lay the groundwork for the Center for Moravian Studies at MTS. Even in At skits during Senior Banquet, David retirement, he remained the pre-eminent scholar on Moravian mission theology Schattschneider appeared as “The Count” and continued to lecture, write articles, and mentor younger scholars. At the with straight man Prof. Glenn Asquith, Seminary’s 2016 Commencement service, David received the honorary Doctor offering a comedic commentary on the of Divinity degree in recognition of his lasting contributions in the field of life and times of MTS. Moravian history and his leadership at the Seminary. Continued on page 2 Rt. Rev. James C. & Maurita C. Hughes Endowed Scholarship Celebrates A Couple’s Ministry How does one keep the commandment to “honor your father and your mother” after they have entered the more immediate presence of our Lord? The Hughes family, chose to do so by establishing a scholarship that would assist students walking a path similar to their beloved parents, Jay and Rita. Jay and Rita Hughes began their married life as a team committed to God, family, and serving the church. A Moravian pastor, Jay served congregations in the Winston-Salem, NC, area (Home, Calvary, and Mayodan) and in Lititz, PA. They welcomed into the world their daughter Ruth and son James Jr. and into their home their many friends who received the hospitality, warmth, and faith of the Hughes family. Continued on page 2 2 The Common Thread Spiritually Immersed in Real Life Hughes (cont.) “Can I have your shoes?” asked the woman who had no shoes. She directed Consecrated a Bishop in 1974, her question to Moravian Seminary Instructor Marcella Kraybill-Greggo as she Jay’s ministry extended to the walked through downtown Allentown with a small group of students taking the worldwide Moravian Church. summer intercultural immersion course, Spirituality within Diversity. The course, He was provided opportunities to presented in Wisdom School-style, was designed to expand the students’ exposure travel behind the Iron Curtain to diverse expressions of healthy spirituality. It addressed two key institutional to visit churches that had been strategic goals: intercultural competency and community engagement. sustained and also preached to congregations in the Caribbean. All week Seminary students engaged in dialogue with God, urban youth, people Known for his vivacious without homes, and local congregational leaders. Christ Lutheran Church, personality and wonderful sense Allentown, hosted the class, with John Kraybill-Greggo teaching on social justice, of humor, Jay touched the lives of Rev. Tom Lichner ’82 leading the group in chanting, Sarah Carlson integrating people wherever he went. Jay and movement, and Marcella Kraybill-Greggo providing instruction in spiritual Rita grew old together gracefully, practice, based on the Wisdom Way of Knowing work of Cynthia Bourgeault. living yet another example of a Eighteen students immersed themselves in unfamiliar cultures and experiences, faith-filled life, caring for each discovering new levels of mindfulness of the endless ways God intersects with other as helpmates. everyday life. Emerging from the class was a feeling of confidence in their ability to respond to the prophet Micah’s call and the needs of the world. “to do Daughter Ruth and her husband justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). Student Don Lambert, feeling blessed in Bertie Knisely ’16 shared her experience in the class: “Wisdom School opened family and faith, wondered how me to trust in the mystery of God to integrate and unify my own spiritual and they could pass this on to others. material needs. Wisdom School has opened the ears of my heart to hear God They approached the Hughes calling me. body prayer, chanting, and sacred movement helped dissolve the grandchildren with the idea of a feeling of ‘otherness’ among us and helped me to be open hearted.” scholarship at Jay’s beloved alma mater, Moravian Theological Seminary (class of 1947). Lindsay, Trevor (James the III), Jennifer, Rachel, and Allison all thought it Schattschneider (cont.) would be a marvelous tribute. Deeply committed to ecumenism, David was a member of the Moravian-Episcopal And so the Rt. Rev. James C. Dialogue and Coordinating Committee. He served as President of both the and Maurita C. Hughes Endowed Moravian Historical Society and the Moravian Music Foundation. A railroad and Scholarship Fund to benefit model train enthusiast, David spent many hours and trips feeding this passion and deserving students at Moravian was lovingly assisted by his young grandson, Owen, for the past 5 years. Theological Seminary was The impact of David’s life was eloquently summed up in the memoir delivered established. Jay and Rita’s impact by Betsy Miller ’85, President of the Moravian Church, North, “We are here on many people’s lives will endure today —not only because of what David taught us about Moravian history but for years to come. also because he was, in so many ways, our pastor. He listened to us, he coaxed the best out of us, and helped shape who we are by his love, his faith, his character, his wisdom, his wry humor, his gentle spirit and graceful demeanor. For generations to come, the Moravian Church—and the world—will be wiser and better because of the life and faith and witness of David Allen Schattschneider.” Thinking about your own or your family’s legacy? Contact We hold David’s family in prayer: daughter Laura and her family, and especially Director of Seminary his wife, Doris, who served a distinguished tenure at Moravian College on the Advancement, mathematics faculty. the Rev. Dr. Chris Nelson, The complete memoir given by Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller can be found in the News section at 610.625.7908 or of moravianseminary.edu. [email protected]. Moravian Theological Seminary 3 Staff Changes COLLEEN MARSH Since August 2010, Colleen Marsh has done a masterful job of putting a polished, sophisticated face on the Seminary by managing our website and print and electronic publications. She has guided the Seminary into the age of social media, managing our Facebook presence, online special giving events, and Google advertising. Last fall, Colleen was selected to be the point person when the Seminary entered a comprehensive rebranding process with a national marketing firm. Simultaneously, she was recognized for her computer skills and problem-solving ability. In late spring, she accepted an offer to serve in a new position in the Moravian College IT department. To her credit and with the gratitude of the Seminary and the IT department, Colleen continued to manage the rebranding process and marketing needs of the Seminary while ramping up her new position as Intranet Site Administrator and the search for her replacement at the Seminary got underway. The Seminary is grateful for Colleen’s work for the past six years and will continue to reap the benefit of her skills when the new Intranet for the campus rolls out. A multi-talented person, Colleen also serves as the president of the emerging Bethlehem Food Co-op, a Girl Scout Troop leader, organic gardener, and avid camper. We are grateful she will continue to work on campus! AMY SILVOY RACHEL STARMER After a search process this In early September, recent summer, Amy Silvoy was MACC graduate, Rachel selected to join the Seminary Starmer ‘16, began a 2-year, staff as the Associate 30-hour/week position as Director of Marketing and Academic Program Assistant Communications. Amy for the Seminary. In this is a 2005 graduate of the new, temporary position, she University of the Arts in will support the assessment, Philadelphia, with a BA in editorial, and evaluative Multimedia Design and a minor in Advertising. She efforts of the Seminary’s academic programs. She will has served in corporate, commercial, and non-profit also provide writing assistance to students as needed. settings developing and implementing marketing plans and designing print, electronic, and web-based materials Prior to attending MTS, Rachel worked as a freelance to reach a wide array of constituencies. Most recently editor and held an 18-year tenure as editor for Creative she served as the senior graphic designer at Minuteman Learning Press, Inc.