This weekend is a special weekend. On Sunday, we will have the traditional Lessons and Carols and the conferral of the Dean’s Cross on Ms. Ellen Hawkins. We are anticipating many guests on the campus. The music will be sublime; the story of salvation history from Scripture will be moving; and the conferral of the […]
Yesterday was the last service of the semester. It was a Wednesday community Eucharist. And our two professors of liturgy were prominent in the service. The Rev. Dr. Shawn Strout preached a thoughtful sermon about “pondering” and “living with the unknowable questions” in a place of thoughtful deliberation before God. And then the Rev. Dr. […]
Sometimes the life of the professor can look very easy. Teaching some classes and writing some books are the most visible outcomes of a professor’s work life. However, in truth, professors are a little like icebergs. There is more going on under the surface than others realize. Please allow me to use myself as an […]
Yesterday was an all-day Faculty meeting. The conversation was serious and thoughtful. Significant disagreements were aired. Different faculty took different positions. But all accepted the results of a vote. It was a good working Faculty meeting. At 4.30pm, we gathered in Scott Lounge. Led by our director of research, Dr. John Knight, we were recognizing […]
We have two Assyrian Reliefs situated in Bicentennial Hall. The room honors these remarkable treasures. One is a replica, and the other is original. Plaques around the wall explain their significance. Over the years, there has been some limited work done about the Reliefs. Dr. James Ross wrote an important article back in the 1980s, […]
Perhaps one of my significant initiatives that the Seminary embarked upon in preparation for the Historic Bicentenary was the program around reparations. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Downing Thompson Jr., our Associate Dean of Multicultural Ministries, is responsible for this program. Joe has now written two essays on the program; the first was co-written with me […]
We are all keeping Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in our prayers. He is such a gift to the Church and such a good friend to the Seminary. We pray for his rapid recovery. One’s health must always be the priority; and we are grateful that he is taking a complete rest from all engagements for the month […]
When I prepare a sermon, more often than not, I will pick up The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, which was published by Abingdon Press in 2003. The surrounding scholarly commentary is often helpful as I reflect and pray on possible themes for the sermon. It is a privilege to be a scholar who is invited […]
Today we celebrate the achievement of our very own Dr. Marty Wheeler Burnett, Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of Chapel Music. She has four titles in Resounding Voices, which is a new ecumenical hymnal supplement with hymns and service music by women. It is compiled by the Women’s Sacred Music Project and you […]
The Church calendar is back at the beginning. Advent one has arrived. The marking of time is important. Time is precious and it passes all too quickly. We all have different calendars. We have the secular calendar that goes from January to December; we have our own personal and domestic calendar, where the important events […]