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15-November-1996 
 
 
96462            News of Theological Institutions 
 
                          by Alexa Smith 
 
RICHMOND, Va.--A written proposal to unite the Presbyterian School of 
Christian Education (PSCE) and Union Theological Seminary in Virginia may 
be ready to go before the boards of trustees of the two institutions as 
early as February, according to Deona Huff, PSCE's director of 
communications.  A Joint Board Committee is examining a "federation" or 
"university" model that would create one institution with two schools and 
would maintain the identity of both schools. 
 
PITTSBURGH--Ronald Cole-Turner was installed to the H. Parker Sharp Chair 
of Theology and Ethics on Nov. 12 at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 
During the same service, the chair was inaugurated in memory of Sharp, who 
was an attorney, philanthropist and member of the seminary's board of 
directors for 12 years.  Ordained in the United Church of Christ, 
Cole-Turner's work has revolved around issues related to technology, 
science and the church.  His two books include "The New Genesis: Theology 
and the Genetic Revolution" and "Pastoral Genetics: Theology and Care at 
the Beginning of Life." 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Germano Presbyterian Church of Jewett, Ohio, has 
established a scholarship in rural ministry for at least one student yearly 
at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) in memory of the 
Rev. J. Leslie and Lucile Bell, who served the church from 1975 until 1986. 
The church held its final worship service Sept. 24, 1995.  Bell graduated 
from LPTS in 1930.  The couple's son, Donald, and grandson, John, both 
attended LPTS; and their granddaughter-in-law, the Rev.  Leah Akers-Bell, 
served as the seminary's director of admissions from 1986 until 1991. 
 
CHICAGO--The board of trustees of McCormick Theological Seminary recently 
named the Rev.  Homer U. Ashby as the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone 
Professor of Pastoral Care.  The chair was established in 1977.  Ashby 
joined McCormick's faculty in 1979 and was named a full professor in 1990. 
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Ashby is a fellow of the 
American Association of Pastoral Counselors and is a member of the Society 
for Pastoral Theology. 
 
SAN ANSELMO, Calif.--Carol Robb was installed as the Margaret S. Dollar 
Professor of Christian Social Ethics of San Francisco Theological Seminary 
in an Oct. 8 service in the seminary's Stewart Chapel.  Robb joined the 
faculty in 1985 and was named professor of Christian Social Ethics in 1994. 
Based on Hosea 5:13-6:13, Robb's address focused on the roles of Christian 
faith, economics and the ecological crisis. 
 
DECATUR, Ga.-- The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Health Ministries' Office 
has awarded a $10,000 grant to Columbia Theological Seminary to assist in 
development of a collaborative health ministries project for seminaries and 
congregations.  The project is coordinated by Ernestine B. Cole, associate 
dean of students, and it is designed to create a model that can be 
replicated throughout the church.  The grant is part of an effort to 
respond to the 200th General Assembly, which promoted a comprehensive 
approach to health in the life and mission of the church. 
 
AUSTIN, Texas--The James I. and Hazel McCord Community Center on the campus 
of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary was dedicated Oct. 19.  The 
25,000-foot center contains a fellowship hall for large assemblies, 
classrooms, an audio-and-videotaping studio, a multimedia lecture room, a 
recreation area and offices, as well as a student lounge.  McCord served as 
part of University Presbyterian Church in Austin before joining the 
seminary's faculty as a professor of theology in 1944. He became dean in 
1945 and continued as professor and dean until 1959, when he was elected as 
president of Princeton Theological Seminary. 

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