Heart & Mind
- Matters of the Heart
- Taking the Boy Out of the Country
- World-Class Seminary, Worldwide Influence
- Ministering in the Wake of the Tsunami
- Just Your Average, Everyday Visionary
- Dangerous Duty
- Campus News
- Giving Back
- This Issue Home
- This Issue Table of Contents
- H&M Home
- Seminary Home
Heart&Mind
Winter 2005
Commencement Celebrated Coast to Coast
Bethel Seminary Class of 2005
United by a common theme, "A Life Worthy of Our Calling," Bethel Seminary students in all campus locations, from California to the eastern seaboard, celebrated a milestone in their ministry and educational joaurneys as they participated in commencement activities in June. Students in St. Paul held their commencement on June 11, presided over by President George K. Brushaber. The commencement address was provided by Carolyn Custis James, who spoke on the topic, "In the School of Rabbi Jesus." James is an international conference speaker, author, editor, and president of WhitbyForum, a ministry organization dedicated to equipping women to serve God in deeper ways alongside their brothers in Christ. On June 12, Bethel Seminary San Diego celebrated its commencement, again with President Brushaber presiding. C. Dennis Williams challenged the class with his message, "What's Your Hand?". Williams has served as senior pastor of numerous churches, most recently the 2,000-member Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of San Diego's fastest-growing congregations. Among many other leadership positions, Williams is president and chief executive officer of Richard's Place, Inc., and a member of the Bethel Seminary San Diego Board of Executive Advisors. President Brushaber traveled to Manchester, Conn., for the seminary's final commencement service, held for students of the four centers of Bethel Seminary of the East. Students heard from Alice P. Mathews, who discussed "Mastering the Paradox of Power." Mathews is a teacher on the daily radio program "Discover the Word" and serves as the Lois W. Bennett Distinguished Associate Professor of Educational and Women's Ministries at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the author of A Woman God Can Use, A Woman Jesus Can Teach, and A Woman God Can Lead, in addition to the homiletics text Preaching That Speaks to Women and a biblical theology of marriage, Marriage Made in Eden.
Children's and Family Ministry Program is Key as Bethel University Receives $2.1 Million Grant from Scripture Press
Scripture Press Ministries has given Bethel University a $2.1 million grant to support the launch of innovative, high-impact initiatives for those engaged in ministry to children and families.
Victor and Bernice CoryAs Scripture Press merged into Cook Communications Ministries, the Scripture Press board voted unanimously to honor the legacy of founders Victor and Bernice Cory and to perpetuate their evangelistic vision by establishing an endowment at Bethel. Annual revenue from The Scripture Press Endowment for the Advancement of Children's Ministries will be used to advance the Corys' passion for communicating the
Word of God effectively to children and young people.
"The strong track record of Bethel Seminary's exceptional children's and family ministry program was key in the Scripture Press board's decision to make this award," Bethel President George K. Brushaber said.
The programs of the Scripture Press Endowment will be administered through Bethel Seminary with the cooperation and assistance of a representative advisory council for planning and assessment. Initiatives will begin in 2006. Potential children's ministry projects funded by the endowment may include an annual national conference for children's and family ministers; the development of "kid-friendly," biblical resources; a mentoring network for consulting, encouraging, and resource-sharing; and cross-cultural mission service projects related to children's and family ministry both nationally and internationally.
"Bethel has, over the past decade, positioned itself to play a larger, national role on behalf of the evangelical church," said Brushaber. "Our ground-breaking children's and family ministry program grew from a passion to reach children and their families for Christ. The close alignment of this value with the vision of the Corys, propelled by the financial resources provided through the Scripture Press endowment, will enable Bethel to serve and lead the children's ministry movement in exciting new ways."
Fall Enrollment Sets Record
The largest entering class in the history of Bethel Seminary participated in Genesis, the orientation program for new traditional seminary students, during the week of September 19. Total seminary enrollment for fall 2005 is 1,146 students, including 824 in St. Paul, 205 in San Diego, and 117 at Bethel Seminary of the East.
St. Paul Hosts Seminary Fall Retreat
Bethel Seminary of the East Dean
and Executive Officer Doug
Fombelle interacts with other fall
retreat attendees.More than 200 students, faculty, and staff gathered at Bethel Seminary St. Paul for the annual seminary fall retreat on September 24. The day included two addresses by Chris P. Rice, co-director for the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, where he is pursuing studies. Rice is author of Grace Matters: A Memoir of Faith, Friendship, and Hope in the Heart of the South and is the winner of a Critic's Choice Award from Christianity Today magazine for his book More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel, which he coauthored with Spencer Perkins. Worship was led by Joe Rogness, who also performed an afternoon concert for attendees. Rogness abandoned a highly lucrative business professon in 2003 to passionately pursue his dream of a full-time career in Christian music. He released his first album, Right With You, in May 2004. The event also included a barbeque lunch under an outdoor canopy, recreation tournaments, breakout discussion groups with faculty, and lots of free time for relaxed conversation. It was a meaningful start to the new academic year!
Marriage and Family Program Celebrates 10 Years
In fall 2005, Bethel Seminary celebrated the 10th incoming class of marriage and family therapy program students. Graduates of this program serve as marriage and family specialists with a strong biblical and theological understanding of the need for and implications of their role. They work in a variety of mental health agencies, counseling practices, and congregational and parachurch settings requiring family expertise. Several alumni are actively shaping the field as professors, licensure board members, and supervisors. Four times in the past six years the program has been honored to have one of its graduates named "Student of the Year" by the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Leadership Conference Held at Philadelphia Center
Leith Anderson, noted author, pastor, and host of the nationally syndicated radio program "Faith Matters," was the keynote speaker at the 
Pictured left to right: DouglasFombelle,
dean and executive officer, Bethel
Seminary of the East; Leith Anderson,
senior pastor, Wooddale Church and
conference guest speaker; and Ralph
Gustafson, director of church ministries
at Bethel University2005 Bethel Seminary of the East Leadership Conference held on May 12 at Chelton Baptist Church in Dresher, Penn. "Attending to Your Own Soul: Spiritual Formation for Christian Leaders" was the conference theme.The event was designed to introduce Bethel Seminary of the East core values to pastors and Christian leaders in the greater Philadelphia metro area. "The conference provided a great opportunity for us to announce the new Master of Arts (Theological Studies) program that was recently approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Douglas Fombelle, dean of Bethel Seminary of the East. Ralph Gustafson, director of church ministries for Bethel University, helped plan the conference. Chelton Baptist Church is the site of Bethel Seminary of the East's Philadelphia Center.
Seminary of the East's leadership conference series continued in early November at Westgate Church in Weston, Mass. Erwin McManus, cultural architect of Mosaic, a multisite church in Los Angeles, keynoted the event, which also featured sessions on spiritual formation and mentoring with seminary faculty and staff. Future leadership conferences are planned for Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City in spring 2006. For more information about any of Bethel Seminary of the East's leadership conferences, call 888.THE.EAST or 215.641.4801 or email bsoe@bethel.edu.
New Course Coming This Spring
A new course, Re-Envisioning the Church: An Adventure in Applied Ecclesiology, will be offered at the St. Paul campus in spring 2006. The course will be
taught by Joel Nelson, director of church planting for the Minnesota Baptist Conference, and Mark Van Steenwyk, church planter and Bethel Seminary student. Registration is open. For details, contact the registrar's office at 651.638.6181.
Seminary of the East Golf Classic
The third annual Bethel Seminary of the East Golf Classic was held at Talamore Country Club on May 16. A 2005Hummer H2 was available for the Hole-in-One contest winner, but unfortunately no one was able to claim it! It was a great morning for golf and fellowship. The 2006 Philadelphia Golf Classic is planned for October 2006 at Talamore Country Club.
New Faculty and Administrators
Bethel Seminary St. Paul welcomed three new faculty in fall 2005. They include:
Dan Gurtner
Dan Gurtner, assistant professor of New Testament. Gurtner recently completed his Ph.D. in New Testament at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, under Richard Bauckham. His dissertation topic was Matthew's description of the tearing of the veil in the temple. Gurtner holds a B.A. from Grove City College, an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Th.M. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and Beth, his wife, and son Matthew live in Shoreview, Minn.
Joel LawrenceJoel Lawrence, instructor of theology. Lawrence comes to Bethel from Cambridge, England, where he is pursuing a doctorate on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's ethics. He holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University, an M.Phil. from Cambridge University, and a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He worked for several summers with staff at Camp-of-the-Woods, a Christian resort and camp in upstate New York. He and Myndi, his wife, and daughters Bethany, 2, and new twins Anna and Kathryn live in Shoreview, Minn
Kyle RobertsKyle Roberts, assistant professor of theology. Roberts holds a B.A. from Wheaton College, an M.Div. from Midwestern Baptist Seminary, and is completing a Ph.D. in biblical and systematic theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School under Kevin Vanhoozer. His dissertation topic is Soren Kierkegaard's hermeneutics. Roberts was an adjunct instructor in Trinity International University's adult degree program and has served as worship leader at his church in Evanston, Ill. He lives in St. Paul.
Current faculty and administrators recently have assumed new administrative roles. They include:
Jeannine Brown, assistant professor of New Testament (St. Paul). Brown has added to her faculty role the position of associate academic dean, a position previously part of the seminary registrar's role. As associate academic dean, Brown will support and implement the work of the seminary's three center deans and will have primary responsibility for coordinating contracts for and training of adjunct faculty, for coordinating and evaluating recommended curricular changes, and for monitoring the seminary's assessment strategies and programs.
Cheryl Gregg, director of academic programs (Seminary of the East). Gregg has accepted the new position of associate dean for Bethel Seminary of the East. This new position strategically realigns aspects of the seminary's academic administration. As associate dean, Gregg will give strong leadership in the academic programs, coordinating the degree programs in the seminary's four teaching centers. She will continue to coordinate and evaluate curriculum and scheduling as well as coordinate assignments for professors and adjunct faculty. She will also serve on Bethel Seminary of the East's leadership team with the dean, registrar, and center directors.