Table of Contents- Update from Ann ______________________________Update from AnnDear Alumni and Friends, We had a glorious day last Tuesday as we celebrated the 25-year ministry of Diedra Kriewald on the occasion of her retirement from teaching at Wesley Theological Seminary. "Reflections on the Call" was the title for the chapel service, with Word and Table and liturgy for a retirement that was written entirely by Diedra herself. Imagine this: a cell phone call from Mary Magdelene, Shenandoah University music faculty playing Dave Brubeck jazz during communion, and Dr. Denise Hopkins storytelling, complete with Mardi Gras mask, while in the character of Esther from the Old Testament. Throughout the service Diedra reminded us that life is a journey, not a destination. Go to Wesley's website to read her homily about being called (this includes an inspiring story about inviting dragons riders into the church) and see pictures from the service. I was fortunate to be one of the community speakers who performed "The Call of Bezalel" with 10 other colleagues, alumni and students. This craft of choral speaking is relatively new to me, a veteran lay person in protestant churches. As the meaning of the text unfolded through this artistic presentation, we all understood more fully what Deidra was relating to us about all baptized Christians being called by God. Thank God for Wesley Theological Seminary and for Diedra Kriewald's 25 years of teaching our church leaders. Peace to You, ______________________________Marks of a Healthy Congregationby Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary A new book outlines five key marks of healthy, vital, and fruitful congregations. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations (Abingdon Press) by Robert Schnase, United Methodist bishop in Missouri, captures what he and other church leaders have come to see as congregational attributes associated with strength. Those characteristics are: Radical Hospitality - Out of genuine love for Christ and others, laity and pastors take the initiative to invite, welcome, include and support all the people of their communities and help them grow in faith. Audit your ministry. Passionate Worship - Vibrant congregations provide worship experiences that lift spirits as people are connected with God and others. Audit your ministry. Intentional Faith Development - Healthy congregations help members understand that entrance into faith is the beginning of a lifelong journey and these churches provide multiple well-planned opportunities for members to grow in their faith. Audit your ministry. Risk-Taking Mission and Service - Churches thrive as they move beyond their walls to expend effort and to take risks on behalf of those near and far who are in need. Audit your ministry. Extravagant Generosity - Fruitful congregations teach, preach and practice without apology faithful proportional financial stewardship of all that God provides. Audit your ministry. How would your congregation rate on each of these characteristics? Asking leaders of your congregations to assess your church's strengths on each might be a way to take a next step. ______________________________Unique Classes Offered During Summer TermRegistration is now open for Wesley's summer term, which features some rarely offered (and some new!) courses. These include: The Church and the Ecological Crisis; Biblical Storytelling; Contemporary and Emerging Worship; Mission of the Church on the College Campus; Suicide Prevention and Pastoral Ministry; Spirituality of Prayer; and Evangelism in the Contemporary Church and World. Wesley's summer term offers a great opportunity to earn CEUs, deepen your biblical understanding or advance your studies. Also, fall term registration has begun. Exciting fall offerings include: African Spirituality; Introduction to Deaf Ministry; Visual Technologies for the Church; Globalization, Mission and the Church; Ethics, War and Film; and a readings course on ending global poverty. Learn more about the summer term. Learn more about the courses offered in the fall term. ______________________________Grad News and NotesFor and About Wesley Alums Please send information you'd like to share with other Wesley alumni to Ann Keeler, director of alumni relations, at Graduates@wesleyseminary.edu. The Rev. Harry Haines, M.Div. '49, director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief from 1966 to 1983, died on March 29 of a heart attack at the age of 89. He and his wife, Loma, lived in Eugene, Oregon in their retirement. Haines, a native of New Zealand, was a missionary in China in the 1940s and later in Malaysia. The Rev. Angela Barksdale Martin, M.Div. '06, was ordained an itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church on April 13. She has also received her first pastoral appointment and will be going on loan to the United Methodist Church. She will be the pastor of the Churchville Charge in Harford County, Maryland. The Rev. Joan Senyk, M.Div. '94, has retired from her position as half-time minister with senior adults at St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas. She has sold her house and car and moved into the Oak Park Arms, a retirement community in Oak Park, Illinois near her daughter and her family. Besides thoroughly enjoying being grandmother to 3 1/2 year old Lucas, Joan is becoming active in the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, a racially inclusive fellowship, and a reconciling congregation. An important ministry she is happily anticipating is officiating at a new weekly communion service at the Arms. Joseph Sheridan, M.Div. '63, will be inducted into the Fairborn City Schools' Hall of fame in Fairborn City, Ohio on April 27.
Coming to a City Near You Lovett Weems will speak at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 25 during lunch. Kyunglim Shin-Lee will speak at the Virginia Annual Conference on Tuesday, June 12 at the Hotel Roanoke Craig Hill will speak at the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference on Friday, June 8 at Messiah College. The speaker has yet to be determined for the Peninsula Delaware Annual Conference on Friday, June 8.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley Theological Seminary. Gifts will be designated for the library to which Lash dedicated so much of his life and ministry during his 38 years at Wesley.
Wesley Staff Bazaar Raises $2,650! Of the items left over from the bazaar, books went to Goodwill, men's items went to the Access Housing SE Veterans Service Center, and everything else went to the National Children's Center Value Village.
Pastor of Worship Arts wanted for full-time work at United Methodist congregation with more than 500 members Multi-site church ready to launch second campus. We are seeking a creative, motivated, cutting-edge contemporary musician and worship leader who values the old as well as the new and desires to reclaim both the cultural arts and historical faith for the Kingdom of God in ways that are culturally relevant to the community in which we are located (rapidly growing, eclectic, coastal community along Alabama's Gulf of Mexico). Person must be an authentic and passionate worshipper, without inflexible preconceptions about worship style (we are very much a house blend of styles, utilizing a variety of secular as well as sacred genres). Must have proven experience and be adept at recruiting, training and multiplying musicians and other worship leaders to serve a long-term multi-site strategy. Must be a capable leader, yet genuinely relate well to authority, able to work over and under others with equal grace. Do you have a passion to see people curious about God become fully committed to Jesus? Are you ready to dream alongside a visionary lead pastor and other creative artists in crafting a worship culture that honors God, values people and transforms lives? Then catch the wave and send resume and current DVD, along with a one-page personal purpose and passion statement to: Jubilee Shores, ATTN: Bill Kierce, P. O. Box 1046, Fairhope, AL 36533 or wckierce@aol.com.
Housing will be at the Imperial College just off of Hyde Park and behind the Royal Albert Hall. For more information about this study trip, contact Rebecca Scheirer at (202) 885-8670 or rscheirer@wesleyseminary.edu. ______________________________Upcoming Events
Bishop Dyck, ordained as a United Methodist clergywoman in 1981, has led the Minnesota Area of the church since September 2004. Before coming to Minnesota, she served as an elder in the East Ohio Conference as a pastor and a district superintendent. She has served on the board of directors for the General Board of Global Ministries and was elected to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in 2006. Doctor of Ministry Exploration Day - Tuesday, May 15 Fresh from the Studio, an Exhibit of Works by Wesley's Artists-in-Residence - now through May 11
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