wfn.org | Seminary's Hunger Auction Benefits Bread for the World

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18-Apr-96

96133    Seminary's Hunger Auction Benefits Bread for the World 
 
                          by Nancy Crowe 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Members and friends of Louisville Presbyterian Theological 
Seminary made bids totaling almost $3,000 at the seminary's annual Hunger 
Auction March 28.  All proceeds from the auction, and the chili supper that 
preceded it, went to Bread for the World, the educational and public policy 
advocacy anti-hunger organization. 
 
     The problem of hunger is serious.  The auction was anything but. 
 
     Goods and services "on the block" varied from two loaves of prune 
bread to an autographed book by Thomas Merton.  The loaves went for $20 
each; the book for $45. 
 
     Two weight-training sessions offered by first-year student Dwight 
McCormick were won by Aaron Doll, also a first-year student.  Doll's offer 
of an afternoon of yard work ("No jungle too much!") brought a winning bid 
of $110 from seminary president the Rev. John Mulder on behalf of seminary 
dean Eugene March, who was traveling in Ireland at the time. 
 
     Mulder made several bids on March's behalf during the auction.  A 
picture from Madagascar and two beginning country-and-Western line-dancing 
lessons were also part of the dean's vicarious haul. 
 
     Also up for bidding was a "topless car wash" by another first-year 
student, Dale Cook.  The buyer of his generous donation was Cathy Dawson, 
the seminary's vice president for finance.  And an appropriate match it 
was: "I have a topless car!" she said, referring to her white convertible. 
 
     A half hour of professional close-up magic by first-year student Craig 
Kunkle was quickly snapped up by second-year student Teri McDowell to 
entertain the campus children.  But she had some competition.  "Can he make 
my brother disappear?" asked a hopeful Jeremy Carlton, son of second-year 
student Deborah McCallister. 
 
     Another hot item on the block was a videotape of Mulder's birthday 
party.  The tape was actually one shown at -- not recorded of -- the party, 
but the president admitted that it contained "some of my finest moments in 
front of the camera [read: bloopers]."  Polly Williams, a second-year 
student, procured the treasure for $35. 
 
     Seminary professors Burton Cooper and John McClure, who teach 
philosophical theology and preaching, respectively, donated free beer and 
theology at a local pub: "We'll answer any theological question, no matter 
how perplexing or personal!"  Third-year student Mitch Trigger, with a bid 
of $205, won this prize.  Mulder responded with another offer on behalf of 
March -- and, this time, himself -- a refutation of Cooper and McClure's 
theology. 
 
     The event was coordinated by the seminary's Hunger Task Force, chaired 
by first-year student Judi McMillan and third-year student Lori Baete.  A 
worship service with an offering of letters and a faculty-student 
basketball game fundraiser are planned for the future. 

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For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, KY 40202
  phone 502-569-5504            fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

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