Table of Contents

- Update from Ann
- Letter from Dr. Doug Strong
- Student Questions - Then and Now
- Upcoming Gatherings at United Methodist Annual Conferences
- Two Alums Receive Society of John Wesley Award
- Upcoming Events
- About eCalling
- About Wesley

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Update from Ann

My Dear Alumni Friends,
We had a glorious graduation at the National Cathedral on Monday, May 7, with one of the best commencement addresses I've ever heard by Bishop Sally Dyck. The celebrations leading up to that and the excitement of finishing final papers and ending the semester has now quieted down as many people have dispersed from campus.  Summer school has two exciting courses being taught this week by Walt Shropshire and Diedra Kriewald, but those courses are in the evening so we don't see the students. There is a moving van every other day to take new Alums on their way to the next chapter of their lives. And construction is in full force as phase one of Wesley's renovations has begun. (There are construction updates posted to the website.) In a way, this really is an odd time of year at Wesley.

I need to share something very personal with you. After 18 years of working at Wesley in many different positions, I announced to the community last month that I will be leaving the seminary at the end of July in order to take care of my preschool aged twin boys and my aging mother. For the first time in all my years at Wesley, I finally really get what alums experience this time of year. Through the years, alums have said to me right around this time in the graduation process that they feel a little lost, trying to imagine what it will be like not being part of this community on a regular basis. Now for the first time, I'm feeling the same sense of being a little lost. And I realize now more than ever how important it is for all of us who have been transformed at Wesley to stay connected with the seminary.

There has been a new full-time position created that will incorporate a lot of the work I do, as well as add a very important component of fundraising, planned giving, that will take Wesley into it's important next steps. You can find that position posting at www.wesleyseminary.edu/dev. We hope you'll pass that along to qualified people.

There is a lot of change at Wesley going on now, but every time I see one of those diggers in the parking lot, and think of how much my boys will enjoy watching them during our new time together, I'm aware that with every drilling sound, Wesley's future is being transformed. Personally, I can't wait to see all that God has in store for Wesley with our new faculty, new staff, new students and someday new buildings. I hope to see you around again, when we're all visiting our alma mater, Wesley Theological Seminary.

Peace to You,
Ann Keeler
Director of Alumni Relations

p.s. Please send to me (at Graduates@wesleyseminary.edu) any information you'd like to share with other Wesley alumni.

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Letter from Dr. Doug Strong

After eighteen years of teaching at Wesley, I have accepted an offer to become the Dean of the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University. I feel called by God to this position and it will provide fascinating new opportunities for ministry. Nonetheless, I leave DC with mixed emotions. One reason for this ambivalence is because Wesley is at a great moment in its history. You can be proud of your alma mater, for it has become one of the best mainline seminaries in the nation. Perhaps my greatest sadness in leaving, though, has to do with the connections that I have made with staff, faculty colleagues and many wonderful students over the years. I will miss the regularity of these relationships, but I look forward to the possibility of meeting you in other settings in the future. May God bless you and your ministries.

In Christ's service,
Doug Strong

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Student Questions - Then and Now

We asked Wesley faculty members to respond to two questions. First, what questions do current students ask that students asked you when you first started teaching at the seminary? And second, what are the questions current students are asking that you never had asked before?

From the faculty's answers we can get a glimpse of how things have stayed the same for the students, but also for our churches and our society. We also can see how things have changed, because whatever is going on in the world is brought to the classroom and our churches. The questions students wrestle are the same ones our churches and our society wrestle with daily. The way in which we help students answer these questions will mean the difference in the ministries they lead in churches in this new century.

1. What questions do current students ask that students asked you when you first started teaching at the seminary?

How do you lead change in a church that does not want to change? - Dr. Lovett Weems

Has God really called me to ministry and how will I know? - Dr. Amy G. Oden

Will academic study destroy my deeply held faith? - Dr. David Hopkins

How do I help others to be formed in the faith? How do I help people live out their faith in a troubled world? How do I teach or lead Bible study? Students realize it is an awesome responsibility and privilege to teach the faith and they want to be confidently prepared and equipped to do that. - Dr. Susan Willhauck

I always get a lot of questions about whatever the latest revisionist theory the media is covering. Lately, the Gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code are the popular ones. You just know there'll be another one and people will be intrigued. These theories appeal to people's sense of mystery and desire to be on the inside of a great secret. The problem is that those who are already doubtful about church look to these theories for justification for their turning away from the church. - Dr. Craig Hill

2. What are the questions current students are asking that you never had asked before?

Questions about the relationship of Christian faith to other religious traditions seem to be more prominent, if not new. - Dr. Kendall Soulen

How can we reach emerging generations who look at the world very differently? - Dr. Lovett Weems

How can we as Christian leaders work to change a consumerist, success-oriented culture, to do something about poverty and other injustices? How do I address questions about such things as homosexuality, euthanasia and terrorism? How are Christians supposed to regard persons of other faiths? And how do I teach about those things to my congregation? - Dr. Susan Willhauck

How do the ideas they're learning enable them to save the planet? Students now have much greater urgency around the environment. Also, they want to know more about what the boundaries are that define a faithful Christian life. And, they want to know how to articulate their Christian faith in a world that feels increasingly hostile to that faith. - Dr. David Hopkins

Should I add or change to a contemporary service and does this music has true theological depth or is it too shallow? - Dr. Larry Stookey

Students have always sought answers regarding how they will know what God's truly calling them to do, versus what they think or imagine God is calling them to. What's different now is that people are rarely considering Christian education as their vocational track. Instead now it's more along the lines of program coordinator and not someone dedicated solely to helping the entire congregation have a deep understanding of the faith and our rituals. - Dr. Diedra Kriewald

Where can I find a parking place? For a commuter racing between work hours it's becoming more and more difficult. - Dr. Walt Shropshire

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Upcoming Gatherings at United Methodist Annual Conferences

Wesley faculty will be at a number of alumni events corresponding to the annual conferences of The United Methodist Church this year. If you are attending one of these annual conferences or happen to be nearby, we hope you can come hear these faculty members speak. These faculty events are open to all, regardless of denomination. Contact Ann Keeler at mailto:Graduates@wesleysem.edu for more information

Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Friday, May 25 at Noon in Washington, DC
Dr. Lovett Weems, President, Lewis Leadership Center speaking

Wyoming Annual Conference
Saturday, June 2 at Noon in Scranton, PA
Ann Keeler, Director of Alumni Relations speaking

West Virginia Annual Conference
Thursday, June 7 at 5:30 pm in Buckhannon, West Virginia
Current students speaking

Central- Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Friday, June 8 at Noon in Harrisburg, PA at Messiah College
Dr. Craig Hill, Professor of New Testament, Director of Wesley Ministry Network speaking

Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference
Friday, June 8 at 11:30 in Oriole, MD
Dr. Michael Koppel, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Congregational Care speaking

Western-Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Friday, June 8 at Noon at Grove City College
2007 graduate speaking

Virginia Annual Conference
Tuesday, June 12 at 12:30 in Roanoke, Virginia
Dr. Kyunglim Shin Lee, Vice President for International Relations speaking

California-Pacific Annual Conference
During June 20-24 Conference
Bruce Birch meeting with Alumni

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Two Alums Receive Society of John Wesley Award

On Monday, May 7, the seminary presented Rev. Kenneth Arthur, former director of the United Methodist Home for Children in Pennsylvania, and Rev. Kincannon, founding pastor, Rising Hope United Methodist Mission in Alexandria, Va., with the Society of John Wesley Award of Merit. The seminary gives this award annually to alumni who, through sacrificial leadership, exemplify a high standard of commitment and devotion to God, the church (referring to the universal church) and Wesley Theological Seminary. Recipients are Wesley graduates nominated and selected by fellow alumni.

Kincannon graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in 1981 from Wesley. He founded Rising Hope in 1996 to be a church that focuses on the least, last, lost, lonely and those left out of mainstream society. He has supported Wesley Theological Seminary by serving as a seminar leader for the school's field-placement program. He has also been field-education supervisor for five Wesley interns placed at Rising Hope. And for the past two years, Keary has served on the Urban Ministry Task Force with other professionals trying to help shape the program at Wesley to effectively equip pastors for urban ministry. 

Arthur graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in 1961 from Wesley. He is a full member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and has been since 1961. He served many churches in four separate appointments before being appointed to the United Methodist Home for Children in 1970.

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Upcoming Events

Wesley Days  -  Tuesday, June 5

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

Critical Mass, an Exhibit by Trudi Ludwig - June 4 through July 20

The Dadian Gallery will host an exhibit of Trudi Ludwig's works. Ludwig's work is deeply grounded in her faith journey and the history of art. The show will feature pieces from her series "Miracles and Madness: New Icons for a Twentieth Century Cathedral" and a group of prints titled "Prima Veritas and the Grace Notes Suite." For more information, call (202) 885-8630.