wfn.org | Racial/ethnic Growth and Family Ministry

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusanews@pcusa80.pcusa.org>]

Reply-To: pcusanews list <pcusanews@pcusa80.pcusa.org>
18-June-1998 
GA98099 
 
Racial/ethnic Growth and Family Ministry Highlight Louisville  
                        Seminary's Future 
 
                      by Allison Politinsky 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--A new program to promote Christian nurturing with families 
and congregations, as well as new initiatives to promote theological 
education for racial/ethnic students are the highlights for the future at 
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  Seminary President John M. 
Mulder shared details on these initiatives at the seminary's lunch on 
Wednesday, June 17 at the 210th General Assembly. 
   "The Center for Congregations and Family Ministries at Louisville 
Seminary is designed for the simple purpose of promoting the ability of 
congregations to minister to the great diversity of families in church 
life--and to strengthening families in their ability to communicate the 
Christian faith," Mulder explained.  
   The Center has had two successful conferences focusing on issues of 
"Faith, Families & Congregations," and "Single in the Community of Faith." 
Another conference planned in November will focus on "The Spirituality of 
Families." 
   Secondly, the seminary's emphasis on providing new programs and 
scholarships to bring more racial/ethnic students to the seminary coincide 
closely with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s own initiatives in growth 
in these areas. 
   Two unprecedented agreements have been reached between Louisville 
Seminary and the regional representing bodies of two predominantly 
African-American denominations: the African Methodist Episcopal Church and 
the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The seminary has agreed to 
provide the necessary education and training for students in these 
denominations to seek ordination. 
   New scholarships have been established to assist candidates for 
theological education who are from multi-cultural backgrounds. And, three 
new African-American professors have been called to the seminary.  Scott 
Williamson teaches Theology and Ethics, Dale Andrews begins serving as 
professor of preaching and pastoral theology this fall, and Stephen Ray 
will join the faculty in the fall of 1999, after completing his 
dissertation, in the area of theology and philosophy. 
   To compliment these two growth areas, the Seminary has experienced "a 
technological explosion," Mulder added. The web site at www.lpts.edu has 
been up since April and provides access to anyone seeking information on 
e-mail from any staff, faculty or administrator on campus. Starting next 
fall, all students will be required to have Internet access to participate 
in certain coursework. The technology explosion has been possible, in large 
part, due to a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. 
   Finally, Mulder encouraged pastors and leaders in congregations to 
continue sending high quality students to seminaries to ensure the future 
of the church. "You can make a difference in finding them, and you can help 
by funding people who attend seminaries," he concluded.  "Helping to direct 
our money and values in the same direction will help the future of the 
whole church. We would also ask that you remember us in your prayers. We 
know full well that we cannot do what we need to do without the prayers of 
those who support us." 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by PCUSA NEWS
  to the pcusanews list <pcusanews@pcusa80.pcusa.org>.
  Send unsubscribe requests to pcusanews-request@pcusa80.pcusa.org