A Foundation for Theological Education

Christmas Conference 2007 was held at Perkins School of Theology-SMU the weekend of December 14-16. Over 60 John Wesley Fellows and invited guests attended the three-day event which featured Dr. Barbara Korner, Dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and Professor of Theatre at Penn State; Dr. Billy Abraham, Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins; Rev. Tyrone Gordon of St. Luke Community Church-Dallas, and John Wesley Fellows Ted Campbell, Rebekah Miles, Tom Albin, Steve Harper, Priscilla Pope-Levison, Elaine Heath, and Laceye Warner. Also in attendance were AFTE board members Nancy Dumas, Randy Birdwell, Tom Warner, Mike Walker, Ken Kinghorn, and Stan Copeland, pastor of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas.

Highlights included Friday night dinner at the renowned Meadows Museum on the SMU campus; Saturday morning Eucharist with co-celebrants and former John Wesley Fellows Fred Schmidt and Natalie Van Kirk; Saturday night dinner honoring the Fellows at Lovers Lane UMC; and Sunday morning worship at Highland Park UMC adjacent to the SMU campus. AFTE Scholar-in-Residence Steve Moore and Executive Director Paul Ervin recognized Fellows who will complete their funding in August with special awards.

Special thanks to Perkins faculty members Ted Campbell, Elaine Heath and Rebekah Miles for their excellent planning and wonderful hospitality during the Conference. We want to also acknowledge currently funded Fellows Mark Teasdale and Ken Loyer for their tireless van/shuttle trips between Dallas Love Field and the hotels. Their help was invaluable to us.

Preliminary plans are being made to hold Christmas Conference 2008 from December 12-14 at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. We hope that all John Wesley Fellows who are in the area and those who haven’t attended for a while will plan to come.

The 2007 Christmas Conference was a great time for AFTE friends to get together. Here are papers which were read at this year's Christmas Conference:

Albert Outler and the Wesleyan Spirit, a centennial celebration of Outler’s birth, is the theme of this year’s Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology from January 28-30. A number of the senior Fellows will be presenting. Lectures will include Les Longden on Outler as Theological General Practitioner; Ted Campbell on Outler and the Heart of the Christian Tradition; Scott Jones on Doctrine and United Methodism; and Rebekah Miles in a panel on The Legacy of the United Methodist Doctrinal Debate. Michael Cartwright will present a paper, Methodism as an Evangelical Order in the Church Catholic.

Edgardo Colon-Emeric recently defended his dissertation at Duke, and is now working as Assistant Research Professor of Theology & Hispanic Studies and Director of the Hispanic Studies Program there. Says Dean Greg Jones: “The appointment of Edgardo Colon-Emeric . . . will help us develop stronger initiatives in ministry by, for, and with Hispanic and Latino/a persons. We anticipate this program will enhance course offerings and field education for M.Div. students, while also addressing Course of Studies education and other workshops for practicing Hispanic and Latino/a pastors.”

As noted in a recent e-mail, Wendy Edwards was recently appointed Acting President of United Theological Seminary in addition to her responsibilities as Academic Dean there. Wendy requests the prayers of the Fellowship for herself and the seminary as the search committee and board of trustees seek United’s new president.

Amy Laura Hall has recently been promoted to Associate Professor of Theological Ethics with tenure at Duke Divinity School. She is the first Methodist woman to be tenured at Duke Divinity School. Amy’s second book, Conceiving Parenthood: American Protestantism and the Spirit of Reproduction, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly in December.

Steve Rankin, campus minister and professor at Southwestern College in Kansas, is an endorsed candidate for bishop. Steve is responsible for the development of the Discipleship Southwestern program, which other colleges are imitating as a way to help students strengthen their faith and witness. Fifty students have gone on to seminary from Southwestern in recent years.

In August, Beth Sheppard became the director of the United Library, the shared theological library of Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Seabury Western Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary situated across the road from Garrett. Beth is a faculty member at both schools.

Ben Witherington recently published a three-book series written for lay people with Baylor Press: Troubled Waters (baptism), Making a Meal of It (The Lord’s Supper), and The Living Word of God (understanding scripture). His other projects include Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians and Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians for InterVarsity Press.

In celebration of Charles Wesley’s 300th birthday (December 18, 2007), John Wesley Fellows Jerry Walls, Paul Chilcote, and John Tyson produced new works: Jerry Walls’ Prisoners of Hope, a new CD of Wesley hymns, was recorded by students and alumni of Asbury College and Asbury Seminary; Paul Chilcote’s Come Thou Long Expected Jesus: Advent and Christmas with Charles Wesley, is a devotional book for Advent; and John Tyson’s biography on Wesley, Assist Me to Proclaim, utilizing letters, journals, hymns and sermons, is scheduled for release soon.

Jimmy Cooper, a Denman Fellow, is in his second year of studies at Garrett. He will finish his coursework in May, and plans to write on divine suffering. Jimmy and his wife, Erin, expect their first baby in June.

Melanie Hughes is in her second year as a Th.D. student at Duke, specializing in healing and wholeness with a view toward writing on Aquinas’ habits of health. She took a group of undergraduates to Honduras last summer and leads a spiritual formation group at Duke. Melanie is looking forward to the publication of her first article, “The Holistic Way: John Wesley’s Practical Piety as a Resource for Integrated Health Care,” in The Journal of Religion and Health.

Ken Loyer is in his third year of study in systematic theology at SMU. He will take his last two field exams this month. Ken has much to celebrate – his dissertation proposal has been approved, and he will be married in April. David McCabe and family are now living in Kleipeda, Lithuania, where he is on the theology faculty at LCC, an international Christian university. David is in the revision process of his dissertation.

Luther Oconer is in Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Drew University. He is writing his dissertation on revival in the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Luther will conduct workshops with the General Commission on Archives and History for the Manila, Baguio and Mindanao episcopal areas this month. Luther and his wife, Marion are the proud parents of their first baby, Ilana, born in September.

Matthew Schlimm is now ABD in Old Testament at Duke. He has begun his job search, and continues working on his dissertation which concerns human anger in Genesis.

Stephen and Sarah Sours were accompanied to Christmas Conference by baby Theo (6 months old). Both have passed their prelims at Duke. Stephen defended his dissertation proposal on Eucharistic sacrifice in December; Sarah defends her proposal on suffering and the body this month.

Mark Teasdale is a third year Denman Fellow at SMU. Ted Campbell is his advisor and Doug Strong is on his advisory committee. Mark’s wife, Ana, is now the international division head of the Susan G. Komen Foundation which is based in Dallas and dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer.

Amy Wagner is studying Christian ethics at Loyola University-Chicago. Amy will complete her course work this spring. She and husband Robert are expecting their first baby in May. Amy also works at the Northern Illinois Conference office.

AFTE board chairman Ed Robb and his wife, Beverley, celebrated the marriage of their daughter Ashley Leanna to John Robert Ellis on December 28, 2007 at The Woodlands UMC. Ed did double-duty as father of the bride and officiant at the beautiful Christmastide wedding service. Ashley and John are now living in Chicago.

Paul Ervin has crisscrossed the country several times since joining the AFTE staff as executive director on July 1, and he may be in your area soon. In January thus far, Paul has traveled to Washington, D.C., Orlando-Gainesville-Lakeland, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and to a leadership conference in The Woodlands, making short stops at home (Lake Junaluska) for refueling! Paul’s February travels include Gainesville, Houston and Nashville. Contact Paul at paulervin@prodigy.net or on his cell phone 828.507.5346. He is always delighted to meet with the Fellows, prospective donors, or anyone you think might have an interest in AFTE.

Please send all position changes, promotions, moves and other news to Jane Jordan (jjordan@twumc.org) or call 281.297.5929.








					AFTE CELEBRATES 30TH CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE AT SMU Christmas Conference 2007 was held at Perkins School of Theology-SMU the weekend of December 14-16. Over 60 John Wesley Fellows and invited guests attended the three-day event which featured Dr. Barbara Korner, Dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and Professor of Theatre at Penn State; Dr. Billy Abraham, Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins; Rev. Tyrone Gordon of St. Luke Community Church-Dallas, and John Wesley Fellows Ted Campbell, Rebekah Miles, Tom Albin, Steve Harper, Priscilla Pope-Levison, Elaine Heath, and Laceye Warner. Also in attendance were AFTE board members Nancy Dumas, Randy Birdwell, Tom Warner, Mike Walker, Ken Kinghorn, and Stan Copeland, pastor of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas. Highlights included Friday night dinner at the renowned Meadows Museum on the SMU campus; Saturday morning Eucharist with co-celebrants and former John Wesley Fellows Fred Schmidt and Natalie Van Kirk; Saturday night dinner honoring the Fellows at Lovers Lane UMC; and Sunday morning worship at Highland Park UMC adjacent to the SMU campus. AFTE Scholar-in-Residence Steve Moore and Executive Director Paul Ervin recognized Fellows who will complete their funding in August with special awards. Special thanks to Perkins faculty members Ted Campbell, Elaine Heath and Rebekah Miles for their excellent planning and wonderful hospitality during the Conference. We want to also acknowledge currently funded Fellows Mark Teasdale and Ken Loyer for their tireless van/shuttle trips between Dallas Love Field and the hotels. Their help was invaluable to us. Preliminary plans are being made to hold Christmas Conference 2008 from December 12-14 at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. We hope that all John Wesley Fellows who are in the area and those who haven’t attended for a while will plan to come. PAPERS FROM CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE 2007 The 2007 Christmas Conference was a great time for AFTE friends to get together. Here are papers which were read at this year's Christmas Conference: Han Helms Oh Schlimm Sours Teasdale NEWS FROM THE SENIOR FELLOWS Albert Outler and the Wesleyan Spirit, a centennial celebration of Outler’s birth, is the theme of this year’s Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology from January 28-30. A number of the senior Fellows will be presenting. Lectures will include Les Longden on Outler as Theological General Practitioner; Ted Campbell on Outler and the Heart of the Christian Tradition; Scott Jones on Doctrine and United Methodism; and Rebekah Miles in a panel on The Legacy of the United Methodist Doctrinal Debate. Michael Cartwright will present a paper, Methodism as an Evangelical Order in the Church Catholic. Edgardo Colon-Emeric recently defended his dissertation at Duke, and is now working as Assistant Research Professor of Theology & Hispanic Studies and Director of the Hispanic Studies Program there. Says Dean Greg Jones: “The appointment of Edgardo Colon-Emeric . . . will help us develop stronger initiatives in ministry by, for, and with Hispanic and Latino/a persons. We anticipate this program will enhance course offerings and field education for M.Div. students, while also addressing Course of Studies education and other workshops for practicing Hispanic and Latino/a pastors.” As noted in a recent e-mail, Wendy Edwards was recently appointed Acting President of United Theological Seminary in addition to her responsibilities as Academic Dean there. Wendy requests the prayers of the Fellowship for herself and the seminary as the search committee and board of trustees seek United’s new president. Amy Laura Hall has recently been promoted to Associate Professor of Theological Ethics with tenure at Duke Divinity School. She is the first Methodist woman to be tenured at Duke Divinity School. Amy’s second book, Conceiving Parenthood: American Protestantism and the Spirit of Reproduction, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly in December. Steve Rankin, campus minister and professor at Southwestern College in Kansas, is an endorsed candidate for bishop. Steve is responsible for the development of the Discipleship Southwestern program, which other colleges are imitating as a way to help students strengthen their faith and witness. Fifty students have gone on to seminary from Southwestern in recent years. In August, Beth Sheppard became the director of the United Library, the shared theological library of Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Seabury Western Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary situated across the road from Garrett. Beth is a faculty member at both schools. Ben Witherington recently published a three-book series written for lay people with Baylor Press: Troubled Waters (baptism), Making a Meal of It (The Lord’s Supper), and The Living Word of God (understanding scripture). His other projects include Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians and Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians for InterVarsity Press. In celebration of Charles Wesley’s 300th birthday (December 18, 2007), John Wesley Fellows Jerry Walls, Paul Chilcote, and John Tyson produced new works: Jerry Walls’ Prisoners of Hope, a new CD of Wesley hymns, was recorded by students and alumni of Asbury College and Asbury Seminary; Paul Chilcote’s Come Thou Long Expected Jesus: Advent and Christmas with Charles Wesley, is a devotional book for Advent; and John Tyson’s biography on Wesley, Assist Me to Proclaim, utilizing letters, journals, hymns and sermons, is scheduled for release soon. NEWS FROM THE FUNDED FELLOWS Jimmy Cooper, a Denman Fellow, is in his second year of studies at Garrett. He will finish his coursework in May, and plans to write on divine suffering. Jimmy and his wife, Erin, expect their first baby in June. Melanie Hughes is in her second year as a Th.D. student at Duke, specializing in healing and wholeness with a view toward writing on Aquinas’ habits of health. She took a group of undergraduates to Honduras last summer and leads a spiritual formation group at Duke. Melanie is looking forward to the publication of her first article, “The Holistic Way: John Wesley’s Practical Piety as a Resource for Integrated Health Care,” in The Journal of Religion and Health. Ken Loyer is in his third year of study in systematic theology at SMU. He will take his last two field exams this month. Ken has much to celebrate – his dissertation proposal has been approved, and he will be married in April. David McCabe and family are now living in Kleipeda, Lithuania, where he is on the theology faculty at LCC, an international Christian university. David is in the revision process of his dissertation. Luther Oconer is in Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Drew University. He is writing his dissertation on revival in the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Luther will conduct workshops with the General Commission on Archives and History for the Manila, Baguio and Mindanao episcopal areas this month. Luther and his wife, Marion are the proud parents of their first baby, Ilana, born in September. Matthew Schlimm is now ABD in Old Testament at Duke. He has begun his job search, and continues working on his dissertation which concerns human anger in Genesis. Stephen and Sarah Sours were accompanied to Christmas Conference by baby Theo (6 months old). Both have passed their prelims at Duke. Stephen defended his dissertation proposal on Eucharistic sacrifice in December; Sarah defends her proposal on suffering and the body this month. Mark Teasdale is a third year Denman Fellow at SMU. Ted Campbell is his advisor and Doug Strong is on his advisory committee. Mark’s wife, Ana, is now the international division head of the Susan G. Komen Foundation which is based in Dallas and dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Amy Wagner is studying Christian ethics at Loyola University-Chicago. Amy will complete her course work this spring. She and husband Robert are expecting their first baby in May. Amy also works at the Northern Illinois Conference office. NEWS FROM THE BOARD CHAIRMAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AFTE board chairman Ed Robb and his wife, Beverley, celebrated the marriage of their daughter Ashley Leanna to John Robert Ellis on December 28, 2007 at The Woodlands UMC. Ed did double-duty as father of the bride and officiant at the beautiful Christmastide wedding service. Ashley and John are now living in Chicago. Paul Ervin has crisscrossed the country several times since joining the AFTE staff as executive director on July 1, and he may be in your area soon. In January thus far, Paul has traveled to Washington, D.C., Orlando-Gainesville-Lakeland, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and to a leadership conference in The Woodlands, making short stops at home (Lake Junaluska) for refueling! Paul’s February travels include Gainesville, Houston and Nashville. Contact Paul at paulervin@prodigy.net or on his cell phone 828.507.5346. He is always delighted to meet with the Fellows, prospective donors, or anyone you think might have an interest in AFTE. Please send all position changes, promotions, moves and other news to Jane Jordan (jjordan@twumc.org) or call 281.297.5929.