February 25, 2010
Dear Alums,
Technology is a gift of God, given through the creativity of humans, exercising aspects of the image of God in us. Like other aspects of the God-human project, when it works well it is wonderful and transformational, and helps us function more fully. When it does not work well it can serve as a tool of repression, exclusion, separation, and reinforce the distinctions that create "class warfare."
In Haiti, where alumnus Travis Hardy served as part of a medical mission team, we all witnessed the roles of technology in bringing relief, coordinating relief, raising consciousness around the world to the issues facing Haitians, and keeping donors and governments accountable through the ever-present cameras of the press. These tools continue to serve.
At Fuller we are endeavoring to use the gifts of technology to enhance God's desire for the seminary's ministry. We believe that Fuller Theological Seminary can continue to serve as a vital resource for the Church and the world throughout the 21st century. To do so, it needs to interact with those outside its walls and share its intellectual and library resources, as well as secure and streamline its business processes by leveraging technological resources.
We are presently engaged in a process to rebuild, update, and enhance the way technology works at Fuller, to enable us to remain competitive in theological education. Technology at Fuller must be missional, "community owned" and governed, integrated, appropriate, resourceful, sustainable, and scalable to meet Fuller's developing missional needs. In other words, we are working to enable it to serve as a transformational, creative, and re-creative aspect of the human realization of the image of God. We covet your prayers and support as we work to keep Fuller an institution of which you can be proud!
David Bundy
Associate Provost for Library and Information Technology and Associate Professor of History
ALUMNI/AE IN ACTION
Responding to Haiti: An Alumnus Reports
In this travel journal, Travis Hardy (MAT '08) describes his recent trip to earthquake-ravaged Haiti with a medical mission team. Read more
COUNCIL CORNER
Getting Connected: Join the Conversation
New Alumni/ae Council member William Guice (MAGL '08) talks about how and why we all should be involved in social networking. Read more
FULLER NEWS
John Deere Chairman Speaks on Flourishing in the Marketplace
Robert W. Lane spoke on "Human Flourishing: Theological Reflections on the High Calling of Business Leadership" for the De Pree Presidential Leadership Lecture. Read more
Gordon MacDonald Shares Wisdom in "Life Issues Conversation"
Author and longtime pastor Gordon MacDonald spoke and led a candid discussion on "Ordering Your Private World." Read more
Fuller Launches Newly Restructured Master's Degree Offerings
The seminary has consolidated and restructured master's degree offerings and academic services to increase synergy among Fuller's three schools, among other benefits. Read more
Film on Forgiveness Screened
Documentary film The Big Question was screened, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and Fuller faculty members. Read more
Evangelical Interfaith Dialogue Journal Launched
The inaugural issue of this student-run journal features articles by Dean Doug McConnell, faculty members Martin Accad and Erin Dufault-Hunter, and others. Read more
Alumna Named CISF Scholar-Leader of the Year
The Christian International Scholarship Federation (CISF) announced this month that Dr. Gladys Mwiti (PhDPsy '04), founder and CEO of Oasis Africa, has been named their 2010 Scholar-Leader of the Year. Read more
Check Fuller's News Archive for more stories
UPCOMING EVENTS: CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
The Burner Blog: Fuller Resources for the Local Church
New from Fuller's Lowell W. Berry Center for Lifelong Learning (formerly Continuing Education) is this blog, at www.theburnerblog.com. Combining posts from church leaders with resources from Fuller's faculty, centers, and institutes, the Burner Blog provides clergy, church staff, and laypersons with ongoing practical education for ministry.
Biblical Colloquium
March 11 5:00 p.m.
School of Theology professor Christopher Hays will present "It's the Tomb, Shebna: A New Reading of Isaiah 22:15-19 in its Ancient Near Eastern Context" in Room 106, Taylor Hall, preceded by afternoon tea. More information: johngold@fuller.edu
Beyond Hierarchy: Leadership as Co-Creation in the New Millennial Church
April 19-23
Taught by Sally Morganthaler and George Cladis, this seminar is offered by Fuller's DMin program for audit or continuing education credit. Read more about this and other courses
UPCOMING EVENTS: PASADENA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Ustream.tv Broadcasts
February 25, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Howard Loewen, Dean of the School of Theology
March 2 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Nancey Murphy, Professor of Christian Philosophy
Watch these professors and send them your questions during these live "online visits." Only an internet connection is needed. Read more
Court-Clergy Conference on "Justice and Restoration"
March 4 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Church leaders are invited to attend this conference sponsored by Fuller and the Los Angeles Superior Court, to include a presentation by President Richard Mouw. Read more
Author's Forum with John Goldingay
March 9 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Professor of Old Testament John Goldingay will discuss and sign his newly released books, Genesis for Everyone (Parts 1 and 2), at this reception with refreshments. Read more
Book Discussion on Christian-Muslim Relations
March 11 7:00 p.m.
Professor Evelyne Reisacher will offer a lecture and book discussion entitled "Gardens of Water: Accurate Portrayal of Christian-Muslim Relations?" centered on the City of Pasadena's "One City, One Story" book selection for 2010. Read more
City of the Angels Film Festival 2010
March 12, 13, 14
The Brehm Center's Reel Spirituality Institute is cosponsor of this festival highlighting films that are "Hidden Gems, Buried Treasures." Read more
Fuller Closing Reception
March 14 7:00 p.m.
Alumni/ae and friends are invited to gather for a reception after the final film, After the Storm. More information and rsvp: rsvp@fuller.edu
Desert Forum Speaker Series: Ryan Bolger
March 19 11:30 a.m.
Ryan Bolger, associate professor of church in contemporary culture, will speak on "Following God in a Facebook Age" in Palm Desert, California. Read more
An Evening with Eugene Friesen: A Jazz Fusion Concert
March 26 8:00 p.m.
This concert with Grammy award-winning cellist Eugene Friesen and several other noted musicians will honor the lives and work of Professor Warren Brown and Janet Brown. Read more
School of Theology Lectures
Spring 2010
Save the dates for these noteworthy lectures coming in spring:
April 6: Inaugural Lecture by Scott Cormode, Hugh De Pree Professor of Leadership Development: "The Faithful Next Step: Forming Christian Leaders for the Future"
April 20: Inaugural Lecture by Clayton Schmit, Arthur DeKruyter/Christ Church Oak Brook Professor of Preaching: "Walk Humbly With Your God"
May 5-6: Payton Lectures by Luke Timothy Johnson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Candler School of Theology: "Spirit and Body: the Corinthians and the New Creation"
More information: School of Theology Dean's Office, 626-584-5300 or theology@fuller.edu
Arts Fest 2010
April 12-16
The theme for this year's Arts Fest is "The Elements," and artistic submissions from alumni/ae are welcome. Read more
Michael Novak on "The Moral Foundation of Markets"
April 15 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Save the date: Diplomat, theologian, and author Michael Novak will speak about the interaction between faith, society, work, and economics at this event sponsored by the De Pree Leadership Center. Read more (PDF, 164KB)
Asian American Symposium
April 24 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
“God Is Roomy: Generations, Gender, and the Future of Asian American Ministry” will be the topic of this continuing education seminar for Asian American pastors, parachurch leaders, and lay leaders. Details to come.
Jubilate! '10
May 14 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Save the date for this performance of Edwin Willmington's Jubilate! An Ancient-Future Concert Mass, with new choreography. Read more
Check Fuller's events calendar for more upcoming events for alumni/ae and the larger community.
UPCOMING EVENTS: FULLER'S REGIONAL CAMPUSES
Fuller Northwest:
Fuller Supper Club: East Africa
March 5 6:00-9:00 p.m.
The next in this series of supper clubs for alumni/ae and students will feature Kenyans Ken and Mark Nsimbi sharing insights into East African culture, history, and current issues. Read more
Movie and Discussion Nights
March 14 & April 11 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Screening and discussion of the ten-part series "The Decalogue" continues, with each installment depicting a modern interpretation of one of the Ten Commandments. Each can be viewed independently of the previous ones. Read more
Fuller Northern California:
Bay Area Windrider Film Forum
April 8-10
Save the date for the first Windrider Film Forum in the Bay Area, featuring film screenings from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance Film Festival and discussions with the filmmakers. Read more
Brown Bags and Brownies Alumni/ae Event
April 22 11:30 a.m.
This lunch gathering will offer an opportunity for alumni/ae to reconnect with one another and share what is happening in their lives and ministries. Read more
Fuller California Coast:
C. S. Lewis: Making Sense of Christian Beliefs
February 28 10:30-11:30 a.m.
"Lewis on the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell and Purgatory?"
Associate Professor of Church History Nathan Feldmeth will speak on the above topics at San Marino Community Church. Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS: ACROSS THE GLOBE
Study in Orvieto, Italy
June 20-July 3
This Brehm Center-sponsored study trip is open to alumni/ae for audit, and will include daily course gatherings and trips to medieval and artistic sites in the area. Space is limited so please respond soon. More information: wtaprograms@fuller.edu or 626-304-3724.
WHAT ARE FACULTY READING?
Oscar García Johnson, assistant professor of systematic theology, offers these reading recommendations:
Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (Penguin, 2003). This collection of writings models the mentalities and spiritual practices of our Christian ancestors, and constitutes by far the greatest challenge to the hedonistic and superficial tendencies intrinsic to contemporary Christianity.
Jacques Ellul, Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes (Eerdmans, 1990). Ellul's insights represent a "reality check" of our commitment to faith in the midst of ambiguity. The complexity of life and faith, he says, is resolved only in our commitment to proceed with finding God in the midst of absurdity and vanity. Again, the non-reflected faith so prevalent nowadays will be edified by this writing.
Paolo Coehlo, The Winner Stands Alone (HarperCollins, 2009). This novel is by a renowned Brazilian author who also wrote The Alchemist. Here, his sardonic style and great portrait of human excess in the form of fame, fortune, and power speaks to our contemporary lifestyles. As the title suggests, at the end of the day the so-called winner stands alone, an unhappy condition passionately embraced.
ALUMNI/AE PUBLICATIONS
Jim Belcher (MA '02). Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional. InterVarsity, 2009.
Steve deClaisse-Walford (MA '87). Mission as Holistic Ministry. Smyth & Helwys, 2008.
Kevin Lee (MDiv '05). God's Words for Life: Daily Words of Encouragement for Men. Self-published, 2009.
John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol (DMin '96). Bo's Café. Windblown, 2009.
Gary McIntosh (PhD ICS '05):
Biblical Church Growth. Baker Books, 2003.
Church That Works. Baker Books, 2004.
Creating Community: Deeper Fellowship Through Small Group Ministry (with Glen Martin). Broadman & Holman, 1997.
Evaluating the Church Growth Movement (with Paul Engle). Zondervan, 2004.
The Exodus Principle: A 5-Part Strategy to Free Your People for Ministry. Broadman & Holman, 1995.
Finding Them, Keeping Them: Effective Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation in the Local Church (with Glen Martin). Broadman & Holman, 1992.
It Only Hurts on Monday: Why Pastors Quit and What You Can Do About It (with Robert Edmondson). Church Smart, 1998.
James Nikkel (DMini '82). Church Planting Road Map. Self-published, 2004.
BULLETIN BOARD
Employment Opportunities
Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, is seeking a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, or psychologist to serve as a counselor with its Seaver Counseling Center. Read more
North Bay Christian Academy, a K-12 school in Novato, California, that is increasing its international student enrollment, is seeking a middle school/high school math and science teacher. For more information contact Natalie McIntosh at (415) 892-8921 or nmcintosh@nbca.com.
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Theology, News and Notes is published twice a year for alumni/ae and friends of Fuller Seminary. To read past issues of the magazine, visit our website. If you do not currently receive the magazine and would like a free subscription, please send an e-mail with your current postal address to alum-alumni@dept.fuller.edu.
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