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September 2001
Back Issues
Contents
Library
Renovation Continues
By
Tom Stokes, Librarian
This summer
the Library completed the third phase of our renovation. In 1999 we
remodeled the School’s attic as the Library’s third floor. Last
summer we renovated the Library’s second floor.
On
the Library’s first floor, we replaced the static periodical
shelving with compact, moveable shelving. The old shelving was
either relocated to other places in the Library or placed in storage
for future use. The Library furniture was returned to its designated
areas by August 15—all ahead of schedule. God has blessed us with
a dedicated staff of student assistants this summer.
This
phase of our renovation increased our shelving capacity in the
periodicals section by more than 100% and extends the life of the
Library’s facilities by an estimated 10-15 years. In addition to
this, an electronic reference office was created in the circulation
area of the Library.
The
fourth phase of the Library’s renovation, scheduled for the summer
of 2002, will include replacing the lighting and carpeting,
repainting the walls, etc., of the Library’s entire first floor.
n
Foster
to lecture at Emmanuel
Douglas A.
Foster of Abilene Christian University will present Emmanuel School
of Religion’s Robert O. Fife Lectures in Christian Reformation on
Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2001, on the seminary’s campus. There will be
two lectures each day at 10:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Dr.
Foster is Associate Professor of Church History and the Director of
the Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene Christian University
in Texas. Since 1997 he has been associate editor of the
Stone-Campbell Journal, and is one of three co-editors of the
Encyclopedia of the Stone Campbell Movement (Dr. Paul Blowers of
Emmanuel is another co-editor).
The
lectures, which will be held in Emmanuel’s Mildred Welshimer
Phillips Memorial Chapel, are free and the public is invited to
attend. n
Meditation:
Life
that’s insane
by
Mike Decker, MDiv ’01
Several
months ago my son Ben learned a new song in Sunday School based on
John 20:30–31, which reads, “Jesus did many other miraculous
signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in
this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life
in his name.” My son really likes the song, but as my wife and I
discovered, he didn’t learn the song exactly as it was written.
My wife, Kathleen, and Ben were headed to preschool
one morning when my son said, “Mom, I need to tell you
something.” Once he was sure he had Kathleen’s attention he
said, “Mom, we believe in Jesus, and we have life that’s
insane.” After regaining her composure Kathleen tried to correct
Ben and explain to him that the song says that we believe in Jesus
and have life in His name. Ben, however, would not be persuaded. He
kept insisting that as Christians we have life that’s insane.
When Kathleen told me the story, I laughed too, but
as we talked about it and as we considered the move that we were
making back into church planting, we decided that Ben was actually
more correct than he knew. We were uprooting our family and leaving
friends, neighbors and stable careers to move to a new place and
start over. Ben’s was right – life was a little insane and it
was all because we believed, and still believe, in Jesus. We believe
He loves us and gave His life for us so that we could be in an
eternal relationship with God. We believe that there is no greater
calling than to serve Him. And we believe He has called us to be a
part of leading a new church.
From
the world’s point of view we probably looked a little insane back
then, and now, just months before the new church is to start, we
still do. To be honest we feel a little insane, but we couldn’t be
happier or more excited. Why? Because as Christians, as people who
have experienced an insane love and have what the world might
consider an insane hope, we believe that sometimes God calls us to
make an insane commitment to follow Him wherever He is leading.
That’s what we’re doing right now and it’s an awesome, scary,
humbling, wonderful experience that we wouldn’t trade for
anything.
Church
planting is our insane commitment, and it is our sincere prayer that
at some point in each of your lives you will make the kind of
commitment that causes you to remember and agree with the wise
observation of my favorite four-year-old. Because when you do, when
you take that step of faith and get out on that limb that only God
can support, not only will you experience a little insanity, you
will also discover joy, peace, growth, and intimacy with God like
never before. Yep, believing in Jesus really can lead to life
that’s insane and as far as Ben is concerned, that’s a pretty
great thing! n
Clipnotes
PALMA L. BENNETT
(MAR ’71) recently began his second
year of ministry with Elk Park Christian Church, N.C. Palma and his
wife, Helen, reside in Fall Branch, Tenn.
RICK BLAKENEY
(MDiv ’83) recently began his 14th year
of ministry with Parkway Christian Church in Allentown, Penn. Rick
and his wife, Reba, currently reside in Kutztown, Penn.
TIM BROKAW (MDiv ’97) serves at Midlands Christian
Church, Lexington, S.C., which recently purchased its first
permanent facility on May 1. Since the purchase, Midlands set a
record attendance of 106. Tim and his wife, Terri, live in
Lexington.
TOM AND JAN BRADSHAW
(MDiv ’92, MDiv ’92) recently
celebrated ten years of ministry with First Christian Church in
Chehalis, Wash., where Tom serves as senior minister. Jan teaches
sixth grade at Centralia Christian School. Tom and Jan both continue
to serve as part-time chaplains with the Providence Centralia
Hospital as well. They reside in Chehalis.
BOB CAMPBELL
(MAR ’95) recently published a meditation
for the July 8 Christian Standard titled, “Recognizing Family.”
Bob and his wife, Emma, live in Culver, Ore.
DAVE DRULLINGER
(MDiv ’83) has been appointed a
Trustee for Puget Sound Christian College. Dave serves as senior
minister with Twin Falls Christian Church in Idaho. He and his wife,
Betty, live in Twin Falls.
PHIL EDWARDS
(MDiv ’74) preached for the 38th
anniversary of Community Christian Church of Morristown, Tenn. Phil
was minister of the church 1969–73. Currently, Phil and his wife,
Maggie, serve as Asia coordinators for CMF out of Singapore.
DON GREEN (MDiv ’92) was recently appointed Trustee of
Puget Sound Christian College. Don serves as minister with Church of
Christ in Grants Pass, Ore., where he and his wife, Shirleen, live.
CLINTON J. HOLLOWAY
(MAR ’98) announces his engagement
to Adele M. Adinolfi. They plan to wed on Sept. 29 in Bluffton, Ind.
Clint began serving as Minister of Discipleship with First Christian
Church of Nashville, Tenn., in July. He continues his work with the
Disciples of Christ Historical Society in Nashville, where he and
Adele will reside.
MIKE A. HYDER
(1994–97) received his Master of
Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in
January 1998, and then received a Master of Arts in Counseling in
May 2001. Mike now serves as minister with First Baptist Church in
Hampton, Tenn., where he and his wife, Robin, reside.
RUSS ISOM (MDiv ’74) has been appointed a Trustee of
Puget Sound Christian College. Russ serves as senior minister of
Milwaukie Christian Church in Milwaukie, Ore., where he and his
wife, Judy, live.
DAVID LADD (MDiv ’84) was appointed a Trustee of Puget
Sound Christian College. David serves as associate minister with New
Hope Christian Church in Bothell, Wash., where he and his wife,
Beth, make their home.
TRACY W. MARX
(MDiv ’01) recently concluded a
five-year ministry with Rose Hill and Hubbard Springs Christian
Churches in Virginia. He has accepted a new ministry with Loyall
Christian Church in Loyall, Ky., where he and his wife, Angela now
reside.
JOHN NUGENT
(MDiv ’00) wrote a meditation piece for
the August 12, 2001, issue of Christian Standard. John and his wife,
Beth, live in Clinton Township, Mich.
TOM PFAFF (MDiv ’82) recently celebrated his 17th
anniversary of active duty with the U.S. Air Force. He serves as
Senior Flightline and Operations Chaplain under the rank of Major.
He and his wife, Janice, live at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
MARK PIKE (MAR ’90) and his wife, Lynn, celebrated the
birth of a son, Jaron Edmund, July 15. Mark and his family reside in
Anderson, Ind. Mark serves as Campus Minister with Ball State
University in Muncie, Ind.
JOHN RUMPLE
(MDiv ’95) has begun a Ph.D. with the
Faculty of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. John
will research New Testament language, literature, and theology. He
will reside in Edinburgh.
DENNIS A. STECKLEY
(MDiv ’79) recently concluded a
7-year ministry with Howard Park Christian Church in Clarksville,
Ind. Dennis now serves as minister of First Christian Church in
Casey, Ill., where he will reside.
JOHN E. WASEM
(MDiv ’87) was recognized by the
SunCrest Christian Church of St. John, Ind., on the occasion of the
25th anniversary of his ordination. He is the founding minister of
that congregation. John and his wife, Leslie, make their home in
Munster, Ind.
DAVID WHITE
(MDiv ’92) recently began his second year
of ministry with Emmanuel Church of Pittsburgh, Penn. David and his
wife, Connie, live in Pittsburgh.
EULENE WITHAM
(1995–96) recently spent two months in
Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, with a team from Wycliffe Bible
Translators. They provided VBS and childcare during a national
branch conference for missionaries. Eulene, a registered nurse, also
spent time volunteering in the medical clinic. Eulene currently
lives in Sumner, Wash. n
Book
Review:
Retrieving
the Tradition and Renewing Evangelism: A Primer for Suspicious
Protestants
By
Daniel H. Williams
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999
Reviewed
by Dr. Paul M. Blowers
Professor of Church History
I’ve
never published a review of a book I’ve assigned to students as a
textbook, but I’ll break my own rule and give you my assessment of
this fine work which, while touching a few raw evangelical nerves
here and there, nevertheless makes a marvelous case for contemporary
conservative Protestant Christians to rediscover the rootedness of
their faith in the historical period between the apostolic churches
and the emergence of the Protestant Reformation.
Whether
we want to admit it or not, our own Stone-Campbell Movement
inherited a fair share of the “Free Church” allergic reaction to
the notion of a universal Christian “Tradition,” which, in the
Protestant reconstruction of things, was supposedly fully displaced
by sola scriptura. Positively, this protest aimed at freedom in
relation to ecclesiastical autocracies or slavish dependence on an
ecclesiastically authorized body of doctrine (whether Roman Catholic
or Protestant). But the negative consequence was the tendency to
forget the time-tested wisdom of centuries of Christian biblical
interpretation and doctrinal formulation. Inevitably, all churches
are affected by “tradition” of one sort or another, some kind of
guidance provided by time-tested authorities. Protestantism itself
often showed its dependence on the teachings of the Church Fathers
and the ancient Ecumenical Councils.
In
Williams’s appeal, the consensus of the ancient Church is a wisdom
still worth tapping. “Tradition” need not intrinsically mean
encrustation. In its simplest form it bespeaks the ways in which
Christian understanding and practice is shaped and reshaped through
transmission across generations. Tradition is a dynamic thing, aimed
at preserving consistency while also encouraging adaptability.
Christian understanding has always had to be shaped by guiding
authorities: Scripture of course, but also the Church, with its Rule
of Faith (its core confessional principles and criterion of truth)
and its worship. The broad tradition of the writings of the Church
Fathers and the work of the Ecumenical Councils should command our
attention because of the weight of the theological issues they
addressed (e.g. the oneness and “threeness” of God, the identity
of the person of Jesus Christ, etc.) and because of the example the
early Church set of disciplined theological exegesis of Scripture.
Williams’s
book is a powerful challenge to those churches who would embrace an
unrealistic or mechanical restorationism, a belief that the
first-century churches got it all right, the post-apostolic church
fell from this pure state, and that all we need do today is
reinstate that primitive paradise of the apostolic age. In fact,
however, normative Christianity was worked out through the struggles
of time, and through the formation of a tradition of teaching and
practice sufficiently strong to lend the Church integrity and
viability.
Williams’s
message is crucial for our churches, which, like so many American
Protestant churches, remain threatened by the forces of
denominational fragmentation and must be constantly reminded of the
need to rediscover a vital center of Christian faith and practice.
At Emmanuel we speak often of the need to honor the enduring
consensus fidelium and Williams’s book provides timely wisdom on
how we might do that.
n
DMin
Quote of the Month
By
Randy Rodgers, MDiv ’01
“I am new
to the D.Min. program, and although I’ve only participated in two
classes so far, each experience was completely unique. The first one
consisted of ten men of different ages, from different places of the
country, and in different kinds of ministry. The class discussions
were lively, stimulating, and educational. My second was Dr.
Ferguson’s class of Effective Church Structures. In preparing for
the class, I looked forward to discussing the various ramifications
of our readings in each of the participant’s ministries and how
those conclusions would play into my thinking. However, when I
walked into the class I was the only American student and this
altered the class experience in an unexpected manner. I was not
prepared for the wonderful way in which my view of the subject was
stretched from a narrow understanding towards a truly global
worldview. I was humbled to be sitting with these men of faith. They
had come a great distance and sacrificed much to learn to be more
effective leaders for the glory of God. Both classes were completely
different yet equally enriching experiences (oh yeah, the teachers
were great, too).”
For
information about Emmanuel’s Doctor of Ministry degree program
contact Melissa Noble at 1-800-933-3771.
n
Faculty
News
ELEANOR
A. DANIEL attended the Missions Service Board
meeting September 14, and led a workshop at the Tri-Cities
Children’s Ministries Conference at First Christian Church,
Johnson City, Tenn. She will be the Emmanuel Representative for the
Educational Study at Cherokee Methodist Church, in Johnson City on
September 30. Dr. Daniel will also lead a Teacher Seminar at First
Christian Church in Maryville, Tenn., November 3, and attend the TCM
Board Meeting November 10–13.
JACK
B. HOLLAND will speak on The Difference the Love
of God Makes in Your Marriage, at Harrison Christian Church on
October 12. Dr. Holland will attend the meeting of the National
Association of Christian Social Workers October 18–21, where he
will present a paper titled, “Schools, Families, and Communities
in Texas: Progress and Potential for Partnership.”
THOMAS
F. JONES JR. preached at First Christian Church,
Johnson City, Tenn., on September 2, and at Westside Christian
Church, Elizabethton, Tenn., on September 16. Dr. Jones also
continues to teach Sunday School at First Christian Church in
Johnson City as well as consult with the South Carolina Evangelizing
Association and the Louisiana Evangelizing Association.
ROLLIN
A. RAMSARAN is teaching lessons on the Sermon on
the Mount this quarter for the Koinonia Class at Grandview Christian
Church in Johnson City, Tenn. Dr. Ramsaran will also attend the
annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and Society of
Biblical Literature in Denver, Colo., November 17–20.
CHRIS
A. ROLLSTON will conclude an eight-year ministry
with English Consul Christian Church in Baltimore, Md., on September
30. Dr. Rollston will attend the Association of Theological Schools
Seminar for Newly Appointed Faculty in Theological Education October
26–28.
BRUCE
E. SHIELDS will preside at the Executive Committee
Meeting of the European Evangelistic Society November 1–3. Dr
Shields will also attend the annual meeting of the Academy of
Homiletics in St. Louis November 29–December 1.
CHARLES
R. TABER is a Contributing Editor of the
International Bulletin of Missionary Research and a former editor of
Practical Anthropology and Gospel in Context. n
Development
& Recruitment on the Road
DAN
LAWSON to the National Missionary Convention in
Tulsa, Okla., and to Northern California in October; to Texas and
Nevada in November.
JEFF
McNABB to preach at First Christian Church in
Mountain City, Tenn., October 7– 10; to Pennington Gap, Va.,
October 15; to South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in
November.
JERRY
RUDBERG to Eugene, Ore., and to Lewiston, Idaho,
in September
C.
ROBERT WETZEL to Poland September 21–30; to the
North American Christian Convention Committee Meeting in Columbus,
Ohio, October 2–3; in Chapel at Dallas Christian College October
4; to the Valley View Christian Church Missions Fair in Dallas,
Texas, October 5-7. n
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