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At Meadville Lombard Theological School
we educate students
in the Unitarian Universalist
tradition to embody
liberal religious
ministry in
Unitarian Universalist congregations and wherever else they
are called to serve.
We do this in order
to take into the
world our
Unitarian Universalist
vision of justice,
equity and
compassion.
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Winter 2007 |
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Meadville Welcomes New Students to our
Modified Residency Program |
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Incoming MRP Class of 2007, from left, front row: Jan Taddeo, John Czachurski, Nicoline Guerrier, Tera Little, John Daken. Middle (seated): Kathryn Rickey, Jan Hosey, and Cassandra Hartley. Back: Rebecca Crystal, Brock Leach, Kevin Tarsa, Karen Stevenson, Jeff Liebmann, Linda Thomson, Christina Branum-Martin, and Jim Jaeger.
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Meadville Lombard welcomed 16 new students (and one infant) into our Modified Residency Program in January. Cassandra Hartley came to orientation during the first week of January, bringing her baby who had been born only two weeks before--now that’s a testament to conviction to a calling. (View photos of the baby and other January events here.) We’re so excited to have these students here. All but one will be pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Let us introduce them to you:
Christina Barnum-Martin from Houston Texas. Christina is a seventh generation Unitarian who grew up at Emerson Unitarian Church and is now a member of First Unitarian Universalist of Houston. Christina has run a family business, catering healthy foods to private schools, and has been active in YRUU, OWL, and many other local, district, and continental wide UU activities. (full story)
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From Lee |
Lee Barker, DMin ’78 DD ’01
President,
Meadville Lombard Theological School |
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I’m starting to understand the meaning of the word “buzz.” On January 8, 2007, Meadville Lombard announced Dr. Sharon Welch had been appointed Provost of our School. That day, our website received 1,028 hits. Compare that to the daily average of 192 in January 2006, and 597 for the rest of January 2007.
That’s “buzz.”
The buzz began last November when our Board of Trustees drafted a Declaration demonstrating the determination to build from our foundations an institution whose intellectual and vocational influence will reach well beyond our own walls, beyond even individual congregations and national boundaries. With the hiring of Dr. Welch, the “buzz” is that our school is serious about bringing that vision to life. (full column) back to top |
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Looking Forward: Graduation Ceremonies are June 3, 2007 |
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If you will be in the Chicago area in early June, we would love to have you join us for one of our most exciting times of the year, Commencement. Join us as we confer degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry on our students, and as we present honorary degrees to:
For more information, call 773.256.3000 x222.
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| Library Notes |
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McGee Collection donated to Meadville Lombard
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Liz Harris, the granddaughter of the Rev. Lewis Allen McGee, has donated the collection of her grandfather's papers to Meadville Lombard. The Rev. Dr. Neil Gerdes, Library Director at Meadville Lombard, notes that the collection will be housed with the Sankofa Project in the People of Color Archives at the school. Gerdes says the collection will be available to serious researchers and scholars, as well as any descendant of the Rev. McGee. |
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Dr. Anthony Heacock, ACLIP, Associate Librarian received a UUMA Certificate of Appreciation for his work in assisting with the Berry Street Essay project.
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Learning for Life |
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New Opportunities for Distance Learning for Ministers,
Seminarians and Lay Leaders
Join us for one (or more) of our summer intensive courses. These courses are designed for seminary students and for ministers seeking continuing education credits, but they are also intended for lay congregational leaders seeking a deeper understanding or connection to Unitarian Universalism.
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July 9 - 13 |
Chicago |
Advanced Preaching with David Bumbaugh |
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July 9 - 13 |
Dallas, Texas |
The Large Church: Praxis, Problems, and Promise with Lee Barker, Laurel Hallman and others (special tuition discounts for congregational groups of up to 5 members) |
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July 16 – 20
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Chicago |
Evangelizing Unitarian Universalism Across the Metropolis with Anthony P. Johnson |
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July 23 – 27 |
Chicago |
Postcolonial Comparative Religious Ethics with Sharon Welch |
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August 6 – 10 |
Ferry Beach, Maine |
We Would Be One with Thandeka |
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August 18 – 26 |
Adelphi, Maryland |
Creating Quality Worship in Congregations, with Barbara ten Hove |
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August 27 – 31 |
Ferry Beach, Maine |
Unitarian Universalist Hymnody, David P. Johnson |
Coming in Spring 2008
Southern Civil Rights Bus Tour, March 22 – 30, 2008: Visit the sites significant to the Civil Rights Movement, and meet with the people who were part of the struggle; offered by the Rev. Gordon Gibson and Judy Gibson. The bus tour will include movies, readings and commentary to enrich the experience. This course will be offered for credit for seminary students but enrollment is open until filled (only 30 spots available). (Read about the last time this course was offered here.) Contact the Academic Office for more information: 773.256.3000 x228.
Conflict Management, March 24 - 28, 2008: a week-long intensive course offered by Lyn Oglesby, MDiv '05.
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| Join us at General Assembly in Portland, Oregon June 20-24 |
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Coming to Portland in June? Be sure to set aside time to attend our two workshops:
 Changing Lives to Change the World: The Difficult Dialogues Project
Dr. Sharon Welch
In a world fraught with religious tension, how do people create a collective future? Dr. Sharon Welch, new Meadville Lombard Provost, will describe her work with the Difficult Dialogues project, an initiative that brings together people with disparate religious and political commitments to discover their shared hopes and values.
 Faithful Formation: Struggles and
Surprises of Religious Growth
Rev. Nan Hobart and Rev. Dr. John Tolley
This workshop is for anyone interested in exploring the vocation of living religiously. Theological education is a comprehensive experience of religious learning, spiritual development, and professional growth. In drama and story, Meadville Lombard students will offer a personal, provocative, profound and sometimes humorous view of the process. |
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Alumni/ae Alert!
Please, do let us know that you will be coming to General Assembly. We will be sending invitations for the Alumni/ae Dinner in the very near future, but in the meantime...
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 22, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
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| Meadville Lombard Community News |
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Faculty and Staff
Michael Hogue, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology, announces that his first book, The Tangled Bank: Towards an Ecotheological Ethics of Responsible Participation, will be published in the Princeton Theological Monograph Series of Pickwick Press, an imprint of the Wipf & Stock. Mike has also had an article, "Theological Ethics and Technological Culture" published in the March issue (42:1) of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science and a version of a public lecture on religious responses to global warming is going to be published in the spring issue of Cross Currents as "Global Warming and Religious Stick Fighting."
 Debrha McConnell, Development Associate for Institutional Advancement, joined Meadville Lombard in November 2006 with 20 years experience in higher education fundraising. She most recently served as Director of Prospect Development at The John Marshall Law School where she oversaw prospect research, moves management, and annual fund duties including the phonathon. She has also held development positions at Roosevelt University and Valparaiso University and was 2000-2001 State President of the Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women. Debrha holds a bachelors degree in education and brings a wide variety of knowledge and experience to her position at Meadville Lombard.
 Bradley Sterrenberg received his BA in Psychology from Wabash College and his MBA in International Management – Finance from Thunderbird. He spent one year of under-grad studying and traveling in West and North Africa where he concentrated on African politics, history, religion and literature. Bradley traveled to Catholic Relief Services’ projects in Ethiopia and Tanzania in 1986 to witness first-hand the effects of the massive famine there. After a tenure as a financial manager with a Fortune 250 corporation he has worked with non-profits as controller and consultant.
Students
Ellen Cooper-Davis, fourth year Meadville Lombard student and intern at the UU church of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, is pleased to announce that she and her husband Andy are expecting their first child in July of 2007.
Kathleen Green, a fourth-year student at Meadville Lombard is currently serving Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church in Hartland, WI as their Consulting Student Minister, through the district's MOD program. She was ordained by the Unitarian Church of Evanston on Jan. 13, 2007.
India McCanse, a student in our Modified Residency Program and President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, shares a column recently published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.
From Allison Farnum, a third-year student away on internship at First Unitarian Church in Baltimore, Maryland: "An event I organized within the church I am serving got some press. I am having a great time on internship. It always means a lot to be able to work on issues near and dear to my heart."
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| Alumni/ae Notes |
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Link Us Up
We would love it if you would provide a link from your congregation's website or your personal or professional blog to our home page: www.meadville.edu. Help us spread the word about your alma mater with the people who know the value of a Unitarian Universalist theological education best--your congregants. |
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Penny Allderdice, MDiv '01 reports that she is now an Associate Teaching Supervisor for supervised pastoral education and "on the lookout for a basic unit to supervise anywhere (almost) in Canada or the US. Any leads will be welcome. Home is still St.John's Newfoundland."
Millie Rochester, MDiv '03 has been called as the Associate Minister for the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater in Clearwater, Florida.
Chip Roush, MDiv '05 received press for incorporating the message in Grateful Dead music in his sermons.
Kent Saleska, MDiv '05 and Heidi Saleska announce the birth of Parker Charles Hemmen Saleska, October 22, 2006.
Matt Tittle, MDiv '04 reports "in October 2006, I began my public blog, Keep the Faith, hosted by the Houston Chronicle. I hope you'll take a look at my regular posts about liberal religion and participate in the conversation. Mine is one of only three religion blogs hosted by the Chronicle, serving a local population of nearly 5 million people! For the next several weeks I'll be blogging exclusively about my spiritual practice running (and swimming and biking) as I prepare for the Ironman Arizona triathlon in April." |
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Alumni/ae: Share your news with us so we can share it with our readers. Send an email.
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In Memoriam |
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 The Reverend Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, 1949 - 2006. Rev. Bowens-Wheatley was a mentor to many Meadville Lombard students. She was asked by former President William Murry to interview all of the students of color who had passed through Meadville Lombard and created a reference that was later used in the school's Catalyst for Change workshops on anti-oppression and anti-racisim work within the school. For a more complete biography of Rev. Bowens-Wheatley, please click here.
 Lois Fahs Timmins, Ed.D., 1914 - 2006. A prolific author, Dr. Timmins wrote a college text, "Understanding Through Communication" and a series of lectures, and a book, "Finding Words for Your Feelings." She lived much of her adult life in Dallas, Texas where she worked for Timberlawn Psychiatic Hospital and after retirement was active in the AARP Tax Aide Program. She continued her volunteer work when she moved to Omaha in 2004 to be near her daughters. She was the daughter of Sophia Lyons Fahs and she and her family have been generous supporters of the school, specifically around Religious Education issues.
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