DECATUR, Ga. ― Columbia Theological Seminary has announced two major appointments to its faculty.
Israel Galindo is the new associate dean for Lifelong Learning. Galindo, currently dean of the faculty and a professor at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., is expected to join the staff in August 2013.
Columbia president Steve Hayner stated, “Dr. Galindo is a vital addition to our team because Lifelong Learning is becoming even more central to our work of taking the resources of the seminary to churches and to adult learners everywhere. This is a strategic part of fulfilling our desire for ‘educating imaginative and resilient leaders for God's changing world.’”
Galindo has received multiple degrees culminating in a Doctor of Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has an extensive history of experience with both lifelong learning and seminary administration. Galindo has written numerous books, as well as articles for magazines, journals and blogs. His book The Hidden Lives of Congregations (Alban Institute, 2004) was named one of the “Ten Best Books of 2005” by the Academy of Parish Clergy.
Kelly D. Campbell is the new associate dean and director of the John Bulow Campbell Library. Campbell is currently the director of library services and assistant professor of theological research at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., where she oversees general operations of five campus libraries in four different states.
Campbell’s graduate degrees include a Masters degree in library science from Texas Women’s University and Master of Arts in theological studies from Golden Gate Seminary. She is currently completing a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University.
LOUISVILLE ― Greg Clark has been named director of seminary relations at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
"Greg brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Institutional Advancement department,” said Linda Medley, vice-president for institutional advancement “We are thrilled to bring him on board, and I have every confidence he will quickly become an essential part of the team.”
Clark has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, government relations and fundraising. Previous positions have included leading lobbying and communication efforts for public sector funding at the state and local levels for the Kentucky Center for the Arts. He also served as finance director to five political candidates over an eight-year period and managed and supervised a program and teaching staff who taught English as a second language in Saudi Arabia.
“I am honored to join Louisville Seminary. I personally appreciate and embrace the importance of spirituality in the lives of individuals,” said Clark. “The seminary not only acts as a catalyst to provide spirituality for people through the Christian faith but indentifies and empowers uniquely qualified students to become deliverers of this message. To be part of this organization and its mission is truly humbling for me.”
SAN ANSELMO, Calif. ― The Rev. Jana Childers has been named dean and vice-president for academic affairs at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
She succeeds Elizabeth Liebert, the first Roman Catholic sister named as dean of a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminary, who is stepping down to go on sabbatical leave to complete the writing of her next book. Liebert served as Dean for 4 years and has been a member of the SFTS faculty for 26 years. She plans to return to teaching at SFTS after completion of her sabbatical.
Childers previously held the post from 2002–2009. “This is an exciting and challenging time to be stepping back into the role of dean. I am very much looking forward to working with President McDonald and the faculty in this period of great innovation and growth,” she said.
Childers, a professor of homiletics and speech communications at SFTS, is also a popular conference speaker. She has been featured on the Chicago PBS show “Thirty Good Minutes” and on the “Great Preachers” television series. An internationally respected preacher and lecturer, Childers has written, edited and contributed to many books and articles on the art of preaching, including the award-winning Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on Creative Process.
PRINCETON, N.J. ― Princeton Theological Seminary’s weeklong summer Institutes of Theology and Worship offers two free community concerts. Michael Bauer, professor of church history and organ at the University of Kansas, will perform Petr Eben’s dramatic eight-movement organ cycle, “Job,” on Sunday, July 21 at 4:00 p.m. The concert will be held in Miller Chapel on Princeton Theological Seminary’s main campus.
The performance is based on an interpretation of the character of Job in the Hebrew scriptures, and begins the weeklong Institutes of Theology and Worship. Bauer is the author of the forthcoming book Arts Ministry: Nurturing the Creative Life of God’s People (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).
On Wednesday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m., Mary Louise Bringle, professor of philosophy and religious studies and chair of the Humanities Division at Brevard College, will lead a hymn sing, “Singing of Wisdom,” in Miller Chapel.
Bringle began writing hymns in 1999. Since that time, she has won numerous international hymn-writing competitions and has been featured as an “emerging text writer” by The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. She currently serves as president of The Hymn Society and chair of the committee to create Glory to God, the new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church USA.
Both the organ concert and the hymn sing are free and open to the public. For more information about The Institutes of Theology and Worship, July 21-26, visit www.ptsem.edu/scvm/ or call 609-497-7990.
CHICAGO ― The Rev. Wayne G. Boulton (M. Div., ’67) ― who has served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a pastor, missionary, teacher and theological school president ― has been named distinguished alumnus by McCormick Theological Seminary.
After graduating from McCormick, Boulton served as a missionary in Thailand, teaching ethics at Thailand Theological Seminary. Following his missionary work, he earned a Th.M. in theological ethics and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University. He ultimately became a professor and chair of the Religion Department at Hope College in Holland, Mich., and then president of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Va.
From 1998 to 2007, Boulton served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, Md., Roland Park Presbyterian Church of Baltimore and First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, N.J. He combined service as pastor with service as an educator, teaching at the Reformed Institute of Greater Washington. Boulton has also served interim pastor of four United Church of Christ congregations.
PITTSBURGH ― Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has been recognized for its commitment to continuing education in a recent study of the best places for baby boomers to retire.
“It’s no surprise that Pittsburgh ranks high on our list,” said Divya Raghavan, analyst for NerdWallet, which conducted the study. “The area is very adult-friendly and institutions such as Pittsburgh Theological Seminary provide the resources needed for lifelong learning opportunities.”
The study specifically highlighted the seminary’s Certificate in Spiritual Formation. For almost two decades, this cooperative program with Columbia Theology Seminary in Decatur, Ga., has offered more than 600 laypersons and pastors the opportunity to enter more deeply into the life of the spirit.
Designed for both clergy and laity, the seminary’s continuing education program offers a basic core of events complemented by contemporary topics. For men and women engaged in professional ministry, updating their skills and knowledge under the leadership of seminary faculty members and visiting professors can provide extremely important life lessons.
DUBUQUE, Iowa ― The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s next “Exploring a Call” conference is scheduled for Oct. 2-4, 2013. The semi-annual event will be led by seminary faculty and staff.
During this conference, prospective students will have the opportunity to meet with faculty and students, attend classes and worship, visit the campus, and explore many aspects of the seminary’s exceptional community life.
ATLANTA ― The Rev. Floretta Watkins, a 1993 graduate of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, was recently elected moderator of Charlotte Presbytery, one of the largest mid-councils in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Watkins, known by most as “Flo,” is pastor of Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C.
AUSTIN, Texas ― David F. White, professor of Christian education at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, has published Dreamcare: A Theology of Youth, Spirit, and Vocation (Cascade Books). This book provides suggestions for how families and Christian communities might engage young people to discover their sense of purpose in life.
White writes, “Framing theologically the concerns and gifts of young people is essential for creating meaning capable of supporting young people in discerning how to craft lives that matter to themselves, to others, and to God.” Dreamcare includes narrative resources combined with research findings from Emory’s Youth Theological Institute, which identifies four pathways — desire, joy, compassion, and responsibility — by which young people discover a sense of purpose.
White has also published Awakening Youth Discipleship in a Consumer Culture (2007) and Practicing Discernment with Youth (2007). His research has focused primarily on youth and spiritual discernment. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church and has served churches in California, Alaska, and Mississippi.