In this month's issue: Mike Slaughter comes to Wesley and information about other exciting events

Table of Contents

- From the President
- Upcoming Events
- Wesley's New Website Launches
- Grad News and Notes
- About eCalling for Graduates
- About Wesley

From the President

It's hard to believe, but the fall semester begins next week. It's been an amazing summer for us here at Wesley and I hope yours has been filled with many blessings.

With the students arriving any minute now, there's a flurry of activity on campus. Plus, we're preparing to host a number of exciting programs that will bring many friends and visitors to our doorstep. We have a nationally known church innovator coming in a few weeks and after that, our Lewis Center for Church Leadership is hosting a conference about being a fruitful congregation. In October, the Luce Center for Arts and Religion's Dadian Gallery is holding a nationally juried exhibition of fine prints. All of this is in addition to our inspirational weekly chapel services and lay and degree courses. I'll stop with the list now, but I hope you read the entire events list in the next section of this newsletter.

I look forward to seeing you on campus at one or more of these gatherings. I'm positive you will experience something at these events that will be a resource to your church and ministry.

Sincerely,
David McAllister-Wilson

Upcoming Events

Exploring the Mission-Driven Church: A Day with Mike Slaughter  -  September 12
On Tuesday, September 12, Mike Slaughter will preach at Wesley's chapel service on the mission driven church at 11 a.m. After lunch, he will give a presentation on the emergent church. Slaughter is a respected author and speaker. As pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Ohio, he has spent decades breaking traditional rules and inspiring others to be Jesus radicals. In 26 years at Ginghamsburg, he has led a small country church to become the faith home for more than 4,000 people reaching out globally in mission. You're invited to attend one or both events free of charge, though registration is required for the afternoon event. Register today at (202) 885-8688 or ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu.

Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Exploration Day  -  September 12
Wesley will host an exploration event on Tuesday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for those interested in our Doctor of Ministry degree program, including the Church Leadership Excellence track. Read more about the D.Min. program, which begins in May 2007. To register for the September 12 exploration event, contact the Office of Admissions at (202) 885-8659. 

Clay Bodies, An Art Exhibition  -  August 28-October 6
Reception and Artists' Talk  -  September 12
The Dadian Gallery of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley presents Clay Bodies. This exhibition of works by Charles McCollough and Rosemarie Schiller features figurative sculpture in conversation with scripture and the natural world. In Genesis, we read that God formed the first human from the earth, blowing the breath of life into the nostrils of its clay body, turning it into a living being. McCollough and Schiller's work in clay embodies the fragility and wonder of human life. You're invited to a reception and artists' talk in Elderdice in the Kresge Building at noon on Tuesday, September 12. For more information, call (202) 885-8630.

Wesley Days  -  September 19 and October 18
Do you know someone exploring a call to ministry? On September 19, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and October 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., individuals interested in the seminary can tour our campus and learn more about our degree programs. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Office of Admissions at (202) 885-8659.

Dean's Forum with Donald W. Dayton  -  September 19
On Tuesday, September 19, Donald W. Dayton, author of Discovering Our Evangelical Heritage, will be at Wesley. Dayton will preach at the weekly chapel service in Oxnam Chapel at 11 a.m. He will speak at a Dean's Forum from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. on the heritage of Christianity in American in the 18th and 19th centuries and how our history has influenced the new emerging trends in the church. Both events are free but reservations are required for the Dean's Forum. RSVP today at (202) 885-8688 or ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu. Lunch is $7.50.

The Fruitful Congregation Conference - September 23
Wesley's Lewis Center for Church Leadership presents the Fruitful Congregation Conference on Saturday, September 23. This day of learning will inspire, empower, inform and equip participating lay and clergy leaders from churches throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The program offers practical, actionable strategies, workshops, resources and connections. Topics include connecting with those beyond your church and developing the basic building blocks of fruitfulness - such as stewardship, communications and prayer. The event will be held on the Wesley campus from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. The registration fee is $55 per person or $45 per person when four or more register together from the same church. Lunch is included. For more information, visit www.churchleadership.com or call (202) 885-8757.

Fall Faculty Lecture by Dr. Traci West  -  October 3 - 4
Tuesday, October 3, from 2 - 4 p.m. and the morning of October 4, Dr. Traci C. West, associate professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University, will give the fall faculty lecture. For more information, call (202) 885-8632.

Seeing God, A Juried Art Exhibition  -  October 23-December 15
Reception and Artists' Talk  -  October 23
The Dadian Gallery will host Seeing God, a nationally juried exhibition of fine prints. The Dadian Gallery, along with the Washington Printmakers Gallery, has invited printmakers to consider what it means to see God. The results of this invitation are an exhibition of the ways contemporary artists of varying religious backgrounds envision the sacred in their work. Please join us for an artists' reception on October 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call (202) 885-8630.

Weekly Worship Services  -  Tuesdays and Wednesdays
If you are in Washington, D.C. on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, we warmly invite you to worship with us at Wesley. During the academic year, we hold a weekly worship services on campus in Oxnam Memorial Chapel on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. Upcoming services include:

- Opening Worship Service of Word and Table with David McAllister-Wilson preaching and Youtha Hardman-Cromwell and Kendall Soulen as celebrants on Tuesday, August 29, at 11 a.m. Faculty will be in full regalia.

- Vesper Service of Word and Table with David McAllister-Wilson preaching on Wednesday, August 30, 6:15 p.m.

- Service of Word and Table with Wesley Dean Bruce Birch preaching and Shelby Haggray as celebrant on Tuesday, September 5, at 11 a.m.

- Vesper Service of Word and Table with Wesley Dean Bruce Birch preaching on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:15 p.m.

Grad News and Notes

For and About Wesley Alums

Please send information you'd like to share with other Wesley alumni to Ann Keeler, director of alumni relations, at Graduates@wesleyseminary.edu. 

The Rev. Taek Kim, M.Div. '00, and his wife, Jamie, represented Michigan as delegates in Seoul, Korea, at the World Methodist Council conference in July.

Hank Thompson, M.Div. '72, retired this June from the Baltimore-Washington Conference after 37 years of pastoral ministry. He will be taking the position as first full-time Chaplain at the Maryland Masonic Homes in September. He and his wife, Carole, just moved into their own home and will celebrate their 37th anniversary this August.

Sandra Bochonok, D.Min. '99, serves as an international prayer team leader and e-pastor for seekers representing more than 144 countries at http://soulfoodministry.org. She has recently begun a global prayer club, cordially inviting people of all sexual orientations from every nation, to commit to 365 days of prayer, for a minimum of 30 seconds to 2 minutes a day. The sign up is located at http://mccchurch.org/globalprayerclub. 

Joseph I. DeLong, D.Min. '99, is publishing a new book It Ought To Be Written: The Story of Charles and Minnie Hanley, Founders of the World Faith Missionary Association, and the Origin of the Evangelical Church Alliance, Inc.  This is a self-published text and is available from www.lulu.com/ecahistory.

Job Announcements

Wesley Seminary does not actively seek job announcements, but when they are sent to us, we forward information applicable to our graduates.

Cherrydale UMC in Arlington has an open position for a Director of Young Family Ministries. This new, part-time position will be responsible for helping to strengthen young families spiritually. This will be done primarily by developing and implementing ministries with newlywed couples and families with young children. 

The right person should be able to:
- Develop plans for ministry to newlyweds and families with young children
- Build relationships among young families and within the church
- Offer programs to attract unchurched young families
- Offer programs for young families within the church

A candidate should have deep Christian faith, love for children and young families, excellent interpersonal skills, eagerness to grow and learn and ability to thrive as a team member.

Cherrydale UMC is a mid-sized church about 15-minute drive from Wesley. Pastor Larry Buxton is D. Min. graduate of Wesley and teaches in the PM&M program. Cherrydale has many years of experience in welcoming seminarians as well as part-time staff. Contact Cherrydale UMC, 3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207 or (703) 527-2621 or cumc@erols.com.

About eCalling for Graduates

 eCalling for Graduates is produced monthly by Wesley Theological Seminary. 

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