March 2000
Back Issues

Contents

• Three more courts underway in the Emmanuel Village
• Celebrate 35 years of Emmanuel
• Leah Moshier to bring Graduation message
• From the President: A sense of Christian community
• Middle East travel seminar participants selected
• Professor brings church planting expertise to Emmanuel
• New Scholarships Announced
• Kershner Lectures set for March
• In Memory: Mrs. Betty Alber
• Summer School 2000
• Lincolns called to ministry in Austria
• Emmanuel Breakfast at the World Convention of Churches of Christ

Three more courts underway in the Emmanuel Village

Progress on The Emmanuel Village is overwhelming! Due to such positive donor response to the Heritage of Excellence

The foundations of the Schnelle Court and the Nutter-Bradley Court are started.

campaign, we now hope to have as many as 26 cottages ready for dedication this fall.

Three courts (complexes) containing 12 cottages (apartments) are now under roof, and work has begun on three additional courts containing 10 cottages. One additional court is now planned for this phase of construction.

All of the cottages will have two or three bedrooms along with a kitchen, dining area, and living room. Some cottages will also have a study nook. The roofs will be covered with a gray shingle that looks very much like slate. While the architectural design will be English in style, all of the courts will feature stonework that matches our main campus building. This common stonework will bring uniformity to the entire campus.

A student family renting any cottage will pay $295 monthly. As of March 1, we have a waiting list of 26 student families desiring to live in the Village this fall. Many more families will be added to this list as new students make plans to arrive in the fall.

We are grateful for the financial commitments we have received thus far. We have commitments for the 26 cottages currently underway, but we need immediate gifts to continue the construction process.

We are in need of immediate undesignated gifts to underwrite the cost of site preparation. We are in need of additional financial commitments for what will ultimately be 40 cottages. And, we are in need of financial commitments for the childcare center and some of the fellowship rooms in the Thompson Community Center. Thus far all construction costs have been paid for in cash with no short-term loans necessary.

Emmanuel School of Religion celebrates its 35th year of preparing men and women for ministry in 2000!

Help celebrate by joining Emmanuel faculty, students, alumni, and staff at the special 35th Anniversary Breakfast, Wednesday, July 12, in Louisville during the North American Christian Convention.

This special event will feature faculty members sharing their thoughts on Emmanuel’s past, present, and future.

In addition, a special multimedia presentation about the Emmanuel Village will give those who have not visited the campus a tour of this exciting new housing development for students.

Come renew acquaintances with faculty members Dr. Robert Hull, Dr. Bruce Shields, and Dr. Robert Owens, and meet our two newest faculty members, Dr. Tom Jones and Dr. Jack Holland. Other faculty members may also attend.

Also representing the seminary will be President C. Robert Wetzel, Chancellor Calvin Phillips, Dean Eleanor Daniel, Director of Admissions David Fulks, and Executive Director of Development Dan Lawson.

The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Louisville Radisson East Hotel at exit 15 off I-64. Tickets are $15 each. Advance reservations are required.

For more information, call the Office of Development at (423) 461-1530.

Missionary Leah Mosier will bring the address at Emmanuel’s 34th commencement on Sunday, May 21. Mosier has worked with the Kulphar Kids Home and Christian School in India since 1946. A native Californian and a graduate of Pacific Christian College, she is closely associated with the Lincoln Heights Christian Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

From the President
A sense of Christian community

The name Fleenor is well known in mission circles. When Debbie Fleenor enrolled in Emmanuel School of Religion, we were well aware that both her parents and grandparents were missionaries in Japan. Having grown up in Japan, Debbie returned to the States and entered the University of Oregon. After she had graduated and worked for awhile, Jerry Rudberg talked to her about coming to Emmanuel.

As a Christian with a love for ministry she felt that God must have some kind of plan for her, but she had her fears about Emmanuel. She was concerned that Emmanuel would be “an exclusive men’s club where women would not be welcome.” She describes her arrival at Emmanuel as “a surprising and welcome shock.” She said, “The school provided housing, job opportunities, and even my furniture. I was overwhelmed. I wanted to ask, ‘Why are you helping me?’”

The answer to Debbie’s question is simply “Emmanuel School of Religion is a Christian community that welcomes students as brothers and sisters in Christ those who have dedicated themselves to Christian service.” We are acutely aware that life in the Christian community is as much a part of preparation for ministry as is the classroom experience. A Christian teacher’s lectures are significant only to the degree that what is being taught is modeled in his or her life. Furthermore, students minister to each other in numerous ways. Recently Emmanuel students raised the money that enabled an international student to return home to see his sister who was dying of cancer. They also provided the money for her burial expense.

Over the past year some dramatic steps have been taken to enrich the sense of community we enjoy here at Emmanuel. At their October 1999 meeting, the Trustees approved a program that enables the spouses of all full-time students to enter degree programs or simply enroll in classes with a full tuition scholarship. Since 75% of our graduates are serving local congregations, our concern is that both husband and wife be equipped to serve where they can be most effective.

During the first semester, two husband-and-wife teams were enrolled. With the inauguration of the spouses tuition scholarship program at the beginning of the second semester, six more women joined their husbands in the classroom. I am hopeful that this number will grow during the next school year. Let me hasten to add that we have a good number of single women, like Debbie Fleenor, who are enrolled in degree programs. At Emmanuel we take seriously Paul’s words that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

The second significant development to enhance our sense of Christian community is the Emmanuel Village. Families and single students will be able to live in proximity, walk to classes, and join each other for activities in the Thompson Community Center. Children will be able to play together on the Village green or in the playground area. At the present rate of construction, the first group of cottages will be ready for students by summer.

There is a place at Emmanuel School of Religion for women, both single and married. Debbie Fleenor summarized her experience by writing:

I hope that this letter and my testimony will be an encouragement to other Christian women who also feel that God is calling them to use and develop their gifts. Emmanuel has been an instrumental place in helping me to be a better servant yet also helping me see how much Christ can live within me and bring me into relationships with others. I can only hope that more women will likewise be encouraged to enter into the ministry.

— Dr. C. Robert Wetzel, President

For the ninth year students from Emmanuel School of Religion have been selected for participation in the Middle East Travel Seminar, sponsored by the Parker and Pittulloch Foundations of Atlanta.

Students chosen for the 2000 trip are Brady Augustine of Black River Falls, Wis., Michael Claar of Ulysses, Kan., Cal Hultgren from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Tabitha Travis from West Lafayette, Ind.

Under the guidance of Dr. Gerald Mattingly, Professor of Old Testament at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn., and Dr. Max Miller of Fernbank Planetarium in Atlanta, the students will join other seminary students from Duke University Divinity School, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mercer University, Candler School of Theology, and Columbia Theological Seminary for a three-week tour of Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and Greece in early June.

Candidates for the tour were nominated by the Emmanuel faculty and chosen by an interviewing committee from the foundation on the basis of their potential for leadership and their promise of contributing to the overall experience of everyone on the tour.

Congratulations to the participants of the 2000 Middle East Travel Seminar!

Professor brings church planting expertise to Emmanuel

Dr. Tom Jones, in his first year as Emmanuel’s Director of Supervised Ministerial Experience, is also an expert in establishing new churches. This expertise is adding a new dimension to Emmanuel’s objective of preparing men and women for ministry by giving students the opportunity to study under a veteran church planter.

Participants in the January Church Planting Seminar make their class presentation.

“Emmanuel attracts the kind of students that make outstanding church planters,” Jones said. “They are well-educated, independent thinkers who aren’t afraid to think outside the box when it comes to fulfilling the mission of the church. I’m looking forward to mentoring Emmanuel students who will make a significant impact on the Kingdom of God in the 21st century through their successful church plants.”

Jones recently taught a comprehensive seminar during Emmanuel’s January Intersession that gave an overview of the church planting process. He has also coordinated two Church Planting Assessment Centers at Emmanuel to assess the talents of over 30 new church planting candidates.

The January church planting seminar brought current Emmanuel students together with students from Mexico, India, New York, Louisiana, and California for one week to learn about the process of establishing a new congregation. In addition to learning about church planting and its relationship to the mission of the church, evangelism, and the theology of the church, students also learned about marketing and advertising their new congregations.

Students formed teams to plan hypothetical church plants in Mexico City, South Carolina, Texas, Johnson City, Tenn., and other sites. The class was observed by the South Carolina Evangelizing Association in order to recruit potential church planters for South Carolina.

Dr. Jones will teach the seminar again at Alberta Bible College in Canada June 5–9.

The Church Planting Assessment Centers (CPACs) are designed to test each candidate’s readiness to establish new churches. Led by Dr. Jones, other church planters, and a psychologist, CPACs involve psychological testing, personality profiles, interviews, and other activities. These intense seminars typically last three and a half days from early morning to late at night.

CPAC attendees are chosen by churches and organizations that are in the process of establishing new congregations. The seminars are offered at Emmanuel in conjunction with Church Planting Leadership Networks (formerly Double Vision). Future CPACs will be held at Emmanuel on June 14–17 and October 5–8.

Emmanuel alumni have been instrumental in the planting of over 50 churches in the United States. With the help of Dr. Jones, Emmanuel will continue to emphasize the importance of establishing new congregations for Christ.

New Scholarships Announced

Norwood's Campbell Scholarship
Mr. and Mrs. Winfred F. Norwood of Houston, Texas, have long been strong advocates of the Restoration Movement’s ideals and its leaders. This is one reason for the strong support the Norwoods have given to Emmanuel School of Religion through the years. The mission statement of Emmanuel says in part that the seminary is committed to the vision of the unity of world Christianity arising from the work of such thinkers as Thomas and Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone. A few years ago Emmanuel instituted the “Alexander Campbell Scholarship” program to serve as an encouragement for prospective students with outstanding potential for ministerial leadership. It is the Norwoods’ desire to help underwrite the Campbell scholarship program at Emmanuel. This is the second scholarship they have underwritten for that purpose. The Norwood’s Campbell Scholarship will be awarded each year to a student who has been selected by a special committee.

Stowers Family Mission Scholarship
Long time friends of the school Larry and Patsy Stowers of Indianapolis, Ind., have a desire to help worthy students obtain a graduate-level theological education at Emmanuel. They chose to establish an endowed scholarship fund, which provides scholarship assistance every year through the fund’s earnings. The name chosen for the scholarship, the Stowers Family Mission Scholarship, reflects the family’s interest. The scholarship shall be given each year to a student preparing for the mission field. If no suitable candidate preparing for missions can be found, the scholarship may then be awarded to any worthy student at Emmanuel. Larry and Patsy Stowers have been active members of the Mission Outreach program of the Post Road Christian Church in Indianapolis.

Mrs. Betty Alber
wife of former Director of Development Ray Alber
August 9, 1913 – December 31, 1999
Obituary and tribute online at http://www.esr.edu/news.htm.

Summer School 2000

Seminar in Preaching
May 30–June 9 • Dr. Myron Taylor

A basic course in the principles and practice of preaching, considering the focus and function of the sermon, the form the sermon may take, and how to plan your preaching with special attention to style and delivery. A practical course for beginners or those who need a refresher course. Individual evaluation.

Campus Ministry
June 13–23 • Miriam Perkins & Rich Teske

Institutions of higher education are among the most powerful and influential of modern society. Ministry among undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and administration, is essential to the church. This course is introduction, instruction, and preparation for collegiate ministry.

Exegesis of Colossians
June 27–July 7 • Dr. Robert F. Hull

A study of the Letter to the Colossians in its historical and religious context with attention to its continuing message to the church. Students will work from the Greek text with appropriate helps. Students will need to have had an introduction to NT Greek grammar.

The Western Church in the Age of Reform
July 18–28 • Dr. Craig Farmer

A study of the religious and theological reform movements of the early sixteenth century, the class will devote attention to the Wittenberg movement, the Reformed tradition, the Radical Reformation, reading 16th century theologians, and contributions of Catholic/Humanist reformers.

Dan and Misti Lincoln never thought they would be moving to Austria. The Lord, however, had other plans for them.

At the end of May, these two Emmanuel alumni will join the staff of TCM, a graduate-level school located near Vienna, Austria, that teaches and equips Eastern and Central European Christians to reach the people of their home countries for Christ.

Dan and Misti currently minister with the Heaton Christian Church in Elk Park, N.C. They were recommended to TCM by Emmanuel President C. Robert Wetzel and Dean Eleanor Daniel, who frequently teach at TCM’s Haus Edelweiss in Heiligenkreuz, Austria.

Misti, an M.Div. student at Emmanuel who plans to receive her degree in 2001, will coordinate short-term workers who come to TCM. These volunteers come from North America to assist at Haus Edelweiss. They cook meals for students, work on the grounds and maintenance crews, and provide office assistance. Misti will also provide computer training for students, many of whom have never used a computer before.

Dan, who received the M.Div. from Emmanuel in 1999, will help students adjust to the cultural and academic life at Haus Edelweiss. He will counsel students, guide them through the academic program, and keep academic records.

“We are thrilled about this opportunity,” said Misti. “Our jobs will be taking care of people. We’ll be introduced to many new cultures and be able to talk about the work of God in different countries.”

TCM carefully selects the students brought to learn at Haus Edelweiss, most of whom are poor and cannot pay for courses. They come from countries such as Belarus, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.

TCM International has worked throughout Central and Eastern Europe since 1963. TCM has been formally Training Christians for Ministry in Europe since 1982. Their president, Tony Twist, is a 1981 M.Div. graduate of Emmanuel. For more information about TCM, visit their web site at www.tcmi.org.

World Convention of Churches of Christ
August 2–6, 2000 • Brisbane, Australia

Join Emmanuel President C. Robert Wetzel during the World Convention for a special Emmanuel get-acquainted breakfast. It will be held at the Brisbane Convention Center on Friday, August 4. Cost is $15 per person, and tickets may be purchased by sending a check to Emmanuel School of Religion. For more information, call (423) 461-1510.