Presbyterian News Service
06263 May 11, 2006
Seminary news
AUSTIN, TX -- Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work will offer a dual degree program for Master of Science in Social Work and Master of Divinity degrees. The program will assist social work students looking for a deeper understanding of the religious lives of their future clients. It's also designed to help pastors, church leaders and others serving in religious or social agencies gain the competencies required to serve as social workers. Students in the dual degree program will receive two degrees; one from each institution, earned concurrently, and awarded as the requirements for each degree is met.
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DECATUR, GA-- Columbia Theological Seminary received more than $2.5 million from the estate of the late Walter and Lucile Moore. According to family and friends, the Moores -- active Presbyterians -- felt there was no better use of their resources than to support ministry in the church and those who've chosen ministry as a vocation. Walter Moore was active in First Presbyterian Church of Walhalla, SC, and in Foothills Presbytery. Lucile Moore served as president of the Columbia Friendship Circle, a group of Presbyterian women that supports the education of seminary students. Lucile Moore died in 1989 and Walter Moore in 2004.
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LOUISVILLE-- Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary will hold its 153rd commencement on May 21. The seminary will confer Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Of the 44 potential graduates, 26 are women and 18 are men. Several graduates will receive degrees in two disciplines through the seminary's dual degree programs -- Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) and the Master of Divinity; MAMFT and the Master of Arts in Religion; Master of Divinity and the Masters in Business Administration through the University of Louisville; and Master of Arts in Religion and the Master of Arts in Spirituality through Bellarmine University. In the seminary's non-degree programs, certificates in pastoral counseling supervision will be granted to seven people. The commencement speaker will be the Rev. Marian McClure, director of the Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). McClure, along with the Rev. Richard (Dick) Menzel and the Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pickering, will receive the Devoted Service Award, which recognizes individuals for their service in the life of the Church. Menzel is a retired pastor who served congregations in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, and who serves the Synod of Mid-America; and Pickering is pastor of Cordova Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN, who serves the Synod of Living Waters.
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PRINCETON, N.J.-- Princeton Theological Seminary will hold its 194th commencement exercises on May 13. Seminary President Iain R. Torrance will deliver the commencement address and 207 students will graduate in six degree programs. One hundred thirty men and women will receive the Master of Divinity degree, four will receive the Master of Arts degree; 43 will receive the Master of Theology degree; 10 will receive the Doctor of Ministry degree; and five will receive the Master of Divinity/Master of Arts dual-degree. Fifteen students will be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree, the highest degree awarded by the institution. Twenty-five international students will graduate, including students from Kenya, Ghana, the West Indies, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Hungary, Brazil, India, Thailand, Scotland, Canada and Myanmar.
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SAN ANSELMO, CA -- San Francisco Theological Seminary will host Mark Yaconelli, a nationally renowned youth ministry authority and co-founder of the Youth Ministry & Spirituality Project (YMSP), on May 12. The event will be an evening of stories and conversation around his newly released book, "Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus." Yaconelli's research, conducted while at SFTS, integrates contemplative practice, spiritual direction and ancient spiritual practices as the basis of discipleship with teenagers. This event is free and open to all. For more information, visit the YMSP website (http://www.ymsp.org), or call Deborah Arca Mooney at (415) 451-2879.