Fall 2012 Issue [PDF] - Episcopal Divinity School

EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOLEDS NOWFall 2012 | Vol. XXXVIII No. II The Calling IssueObserving the Call31323INSIDEBrattle Street DiaryOn CampusRemembering Mary-Marguerite Kohn7 14

Contemplating the CallJEFFREY PERKINSEDS NOWEDS Now is a publication ofEpiscopal Divinity School and ispublished twice a year for friends andalumni/ae of Episcopal Divinity School,Philadelphia Divinity School, andEpiscopal Theological School.Address correspondence to:Editor, EDS NowEpiscopal Divinity School99 Brattle StreetCambridge, MA 02138comms@eds.eduEditorJeffrey PerkinsDirector of Communicationsand MarketingIssue DesignEmalie ParkhurstMagazine DesignSarah Caitlin HendersonPhotographyLisa AbitbolKen KotchJeffrey PerkinsPresident and DeanThe Very Rev. Katherine HancockRagsdale ’97Board of Trustees OfficersBrett Donham, ChairThe Very Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski ’78,Vice ChairThe Rev. Devin McLachlan ’02, SecretaryDennis Stark, TreasurerBoard MembersE. Lorraine BaughThe Rev. Clayton D. CrawleyThe Rt. Rev. Thomas Clark ElyDouglas Orr FitzsimmonsThe Rev. Dr. Robert L. Griffin ’06The Rev. Hall Kirkham ’08Patricia Mathis ’05Edward NilssonThe Rev. Warren R. Radtke ’64Susan B. SamsonThe Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJEThe Rev. Dr. Robert E. Steele ’68Benneville N. StroheckerThe Rev. Canon Daniel S. Weir ’72Honorary TrusteeCharles V. Willie HD’04It is the policy of Episcopal Divinity School not todiscriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, sex,marital status, sexual orientation, physical disability, or age.Imet recently with a close friend in a newcafé in my neighborhood. My friend is currentlyon a sabbatical from his universityto write a book about how to read the work ofCzech writer and political leader Vaclav Havel.Throughout the last few weeks, I had sharedwith him some of the pieces I was assigning andreceiving back for this issue on calling, and heasked me why the term was often understoodin a religious context but not necessary in largerterms, as he felt one might be called in manyaspects of one’s life.It was a good question. David, for example,has been finding Havel’s speeches filled withnotions of calling that fuse the spiritual meaningsof the word with a secular understanding ofmission and responsibility. So why do Americanstend to relegate the idea of calling to thereligious, rather than to understand it as relatedto every aspect of life?I chose this topic for the issue because Isensed that there was a more complicated storyon calling that EDS folks could elucidate. Afterall, “calling” is one of the words that sit at thecenter of the work of a seminary, and I knewthat the EDS community would have its ownway of understanding the word and its possibilities.When I started to look into this topic, Irealized that at the center of my thinking aboutcalling was a very old notion of the word as avoice that comes from without—a voice thatappears to the few and chosen and sends themin their direction. In this way of looking at calling,the few wait for a divine phone to ring. Thecall is clear when it comes.While this model of calling is certainly supportedby scripture, as I began to talk to peopleand to learn more about the subject, I began tosee other ways that we might understandingcalling.The contributors to these pages suggest newpossibilities. Michael Diaz talks about how hissearch for answers led him to have a respect forquestions. Lisa Fortuna reflects on the importanceof mentors and mirrors from one’s life.Fredrica Harris Thompsett surveys the topicfrom almost 40 years of observing calling inothers. And then there is Gail Avery, who findsherself visiting ships and providing spiritualcouncil to their workers, talking about the waysshe encounters God in her work.As I was nearing the completion of this issue,Christi Humphrey, our new director of alumni/ae and constituent engagement, joined the EDSteam. On her second day, having surveyed astack of books I had gathered for research onthe topic of calling, Christi loaned me a copyof Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community.Community is at the heart of new waysof understanding calling, where the “phonecall” comes from those around you. Now I havebegun to see calling everywhere.I am grateful for having had the chance tothink more about this topic while preparing thisissue. I hope that the collection of essays we haveassembled will lead you to new questions andideas. Share them with us. We’re waiting to hearfrom you.Jeffrey PerkinsDirector of Communications and Marketingjperkins@eds.eduOn the Cover: Detail from Untitled byCarolyn Lambert (www.carolynlambert.com)345789101213151617192023TABLE OF CONTENTSBrattle Street DiaryQuotes on CallingInfinite GratitudeA Calling of QuestionsModels and Mirrors in CallingMy Journey from Zambia to EDSMany Paths, One JourneyMy Pilgrim JourneyOn CampusChina in Dynamic MovementSoul’s RetreatQ&A with The Rev. Dr. Stephen BurnsFaculty UpdatesClass NotesRemembering Mary-Marguerite Kohn

attle street diaryBrattle Street DiaryKATHERINE HANCOCK RAGSDALEi confess—i’m a General Convention junkie. i’ve only missedone since 1985. I love to watch the broad range of the church communityat work—trying to figure out who we are together, what we’re called to do,and who we’re called to be; exploring whom we live with, and learn from,what our differences are; worshipping together in varied styles, some familiarand dear to us, others strange, lovely, and inspiring, others sometimesjust strange; working and playing with old friends, colleagues, and adversaries.This year in Indianapolis was no different.Yes, it’s politics. But politics shouldn’t be considereda dirty word. Politics is simply the meansby which groups of people bring order to theircommon experiences. It can be done well—ethically, thoughtfully, kindly, and inclusively—orit can be done badly—with dirty tricks,refusal to listen, and a winner-takes-all attitude.I think that, more often than not, the EpiscopalChurch does politics well. That doesn’t mean it’snot sometimes messy and frustrating and painful,but it’s more often challenging and movingand educational—an opportunity for the HolySpirit to move amongst and direct us in wayswe never would have been able to hear or imaginewithout the challenge of having to openourselves to the “other” who is also our sister orbrother in Christ. I love General Convention.General Convention is also a superb placeto see and hear what’s important to the churchtoday. From the booths to resolutions to debatesto conversations, the clues are there, revealingthe problems we must address and the challengeswe must overcome. So, where do we find hopeand promise? This year, I was particularly wellpositioned, as well as required, to hear what thechurch finds worrisome—and exciting—aboutthe seminaries.I want to tell you about the thing that seemedto evince the most interest: Episcopal DivinitySchool’s commitment to training both parishpriests and ministers from congregations of otherdenominations, and to preparing people fora variety of ministries, lay and ordained, insideand outside the institutional churches. Peopleseemed especially excited by our commitmentto offer students the opportunity to prepare forbi-vocational ministries. The whole church iscoming to recognize that, given the nation’seconomy and the shrinking membership andpledges in our congregations, those who wishto serve a congregation may need to help supportthemselves by doing other work as well.What we at EDS know is that some people maychoose (as I did before coming here) to engagein such bi-vocational ministry not because thefinances of our congregations demand it, butbecause that’s what we feel called to do andwhat energizes us.As EDS board chair Brett Donham has said,“EDS doesn’t just offer competence and a rangeof skills; we offer a point of view and a formationthat is needed for many future career paths.Most seminaries prepare graduates for servicein one or a very few callings; EDS preparesthem to be citizens in the fullest sense of thatword, citizens with a spiritual worldview. EDSoffers access to experiences across a full rangeof formation, from the deeply spiritual and contemplativeto the mainstream church, to thenonprofit world, to the social justice changeagents—all with the common underpinning ofthe Gospel.”This commitment to seeing the whole worldas a venue for the exercise of our ministries,this preparation/formation to serve God in anynumber of ways, excited the people I spoke withat General Convention. It also excites and inspiresme—I hope and trust you feel the same.As always, thank you for your support; wecouldn’t do what we do without you.The Very Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale ’97President and Deaneds now | Fall 2012 3

quotes on calling“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes youcome alive, and go do it. Because what the world needsis people who have come alive.”“Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with yourone wild and precious life?”—Mary Oliver from “The Summer Day”—Howard Thurman“Vocation does not mean a goal that I pursue.It means a calling that I hear. Before I can tellmy life what I want to do with it, I must listento my life telling me who I am. I must listen forthe truths and values at the heart of my ownidentity, not the standards by which I mustlive—but the standards by which I cannot helpbut live if I am living my own life.”“We should go with our lives where we most need to go and where we aremost needed . . . In a world where there is so much drudgery, so muchgrief, so much emptiness and fear and pain, our gladness in our work isas much needed as we ourselves need to be glad. If we keep our eyes andears open, our hearts open, we will find the place surely. The phone willring and we will jump not so much out of our skin as into our skin. If wekeep our lives open, the right place will find us.”—Parker J. Palmer from Let Your Life Speak—Frederick Buechner from The Hungering Dark“In our wishes, small urgings, dreams and fantasies, we are given intimations of the way weare to go. It is our way alone and cannot be learned by reading books or listening to scholarsor following others. We can learn our way only by taking seriously the sign that we seeand the small voice that we hear. These we must treasure up in our hearts and ponder over.The code we are to decipher is written into our genes and sent out to us, as it were, fromthe core of our beings.”—Elizabeth O’Connor from Eighth Day of Creation4 episcopal divinity school

infinite gratitudeon calling“We must not imagine that we discoverthis destiny only by a game of hideand-seekwith Divine Providence.Our vocation is not a sphinx’s riddlewhich we must solve in one guess orelse perish. Some people find, in theend, that they have made many wrongguesses and that their paradoxicalvocation is to go through life guessingwrong. It takes them a long time to findout that they are happier that way.”—Thomas Merton from No Man Is an Island“In my priority of values and vocationalgoals, I am called into this community firstto become a mature Christian person, thena Christian priest, and then (hopefully) aChristian scholar. I am aware that I havea ministry here to some of my fellows andtheir wives, and I am thankful that somerecognized their ministry to me. There areglorious moments when in groups of twoor three we love as we have been loved, andwhen they happen, the times are redeemed.”—Jonathan Daniels, in a letter to John Gallagher,Episcopal Theological School, Fall 1964Infinite Gratitude:Reflections on Friendshipand VocationDR. FREDRICA HARRIS THOMPSETTPHOTO BY LISA ABITBOLAt the recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church, I wasfilled with a sense of infinite gratitude. Despite the hard work ofthose very long days (as a deputy, I served on the busy Committeeon Structure), the smile has yet to leave my face. Why I am still grinning?It’s the “fault” of seminarians I have taught over the years. Two weeks later,I am still seeing in my mind’s eye a lively flowing river of faces, vocations,and callings.Let me explain. Late at night on a hotel elevator, I encountered a formerEpiscopal Divinity School student whom I had not seen in almost30 years. This long-lost and dear-to-me alumnus was one of those studentswho shaped and deepened my ability to appreciate vocational upsand downs. The next day, on the floor of the House of Deputies, I literallybumped into two other much beloved former students whose ordinationsI had preached many years ago.For almost 40 years—my first seminary appointment was in 1973—Ihave listened to, learned from, and been refreshed by lessons students havetaught me. What’s more, I am still learning from today’s new and splendidgeneration of students.What am I learning? Here are five hallmarks that have arisen from yearsof listening to their stories.First of all, callings are seldom simple, and many are not as basic asmatching the “world’s deep hunger” with my “deep gladness,” althoughthese elements may well appear. The vocations I have been privileged toaccompany are more often complex, thick with personal evocations, yetseldom clear from the beginning.eds now | Fall 2012 5

infinite gratitudeA Few SuggestedResources fromFredrica:Fredrica Harris Thompsett with The Rev. Eric Law ’84.William A. Barry, S. J., A Friendship Like NoOther: Experiencing God’s Amazing EmbraceFrederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking:A Seeker’s ABCCallings are likely to be various, shifting, and to grow overtime. What’s more, we can experience more than one call. Weare as likely to end up back at the beginning as we are to beconnected to places we never thought we would go. Surpriseis a lovely component of formation, especially in the shapeof “ah-hah!” moments that linger in our hearts and informour hopes.Theologically, I am clearer now about the importance ofcommunity. A community can, and indeed often does, evokea call. Mentors and other community members can also helpus see our gifts in ways we might not be able to on our own.Vocations are richly and often deeply peopled by those we’vemet along the way.I don’t intend to sound overly sentimental or narrowlytheological, yet I am also increasingly confident about thecourageous incarnational center that lies at the heart ofthe vocational pursuit. We are, I believe, made of sturdierChrist-like stock than we habitually admit. Struggle and perseverance,as well tragedy and sudden loss, are often a part ofeven the most joyous vocational journeys. A calling may not beeasy or comfortable, but I have seen many rise to the challenge.Last, yet by no means least, I am vocationally refreshed bydiving more deeply into the waters of those lavish baptismalpromises that so many of us share. I believe these promisesground our commitment to God and to one another. Theyare a source of life-changing and life-lasting friendships—friendships for which I remain infinitely grateful.As I am grateful for running into former students whoremind me of the varied and complex paths that EDS studentstake in the world. Witnessing them through the years remindsme of the diversity, joy, and complexity of God’s work.L. William Countryman, Living on the Borderof the Holy: Renewing Priesthood of AllNora Gallagher, Practicing Resurrection:A Memoir of Work, Doubt, Discernment,and Moments of GraceParker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak:Listening for the Voice of VocationSam Portaro and James Lemler,Transforming VocationKevin Thew Forrester, I Have Called YouFriends: An Invitation to MinistryHoward Thurman, The Inward JourneyDr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett is Mary Wolfe Professor of HistoricalTheology and faculty emerita, and a newly elected member of theExecutive Council of the Episcopal Church.6 episcopal divinity school

a calling of questionsA Calling of QuestionsTHE REV. DR. MICHAEL DIAZ“be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heartand try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms andlike books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do notnow seek the answers, which cannot be given you because youwould not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything.Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, withoutnoticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”-Rainer Maria RilkePHOTO BY KEN KOTCHIn the beginning, before I could answer any call, I felt Ineeded to know all the answers to so many questions of faith.How many letters did the Apostle Paul actually write?How can a good God allow such suffering and evil in ourworld? Was Jesus a compassionate conservative or a lovingrevolutionary? What happens when one pulls the forgivenesscard out too many times past 70 times 7?Answering the call on my life became the restless pursuitof trying to know all the answers religious people thought Ishould know. How can one answer the call to ordained ministryif one doesn’t have all the answers?So I studied. And I studied. And I studied some more.And when my undergraduate theological studies and lifeexperiences didn’t produce more answers but only generatedmore questions, I began seriously to wonder whether I wouldever know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, every answer to mymany questions of faith. One nagging question loomed aboveall others: How could I answer a call from God when I hadmore questions than answers?When I began my graduate studies at Episcopal DivinitySchool, I began to gain a new understanding. Becauseministerial students in formation, lay leaders, scholars, andclergypersons openly embrace and ask questions in community,I began to discern how critical questioning can actuallylead to a prophetic, vibrant, and enriching spirituality.Through my membership in a community of questionersat EDS, I was able to embody a spirituality that offers hopeand compassion and leads to divine reconciliation. Throughstudying feminist methodologies and asking how queerLatina/os interpret scripture, I became free to identify anddevelop biblical reading strategies that affirm my social location.I was able to question the relevance of St. Augustine’s“just war” doctrine to the injustices of the violent warsbeing perpetrated today, and I was able to see how God isstill working toward peace in our world—and how I can dothe same. Thanks to EDS, I found grace, empowerment, anddivine guidance in asking critical questions, rather than seekingsimple answers. Hard questions need not lead to simpleanswers, and they need not cause one to avoid one’s calling.The divine calling I have answered isn’t easy; I suspect itnever is for anyone. Whether preaching, writing, pastoring,connecting lay leaders to volunteer opportunities, advocatingfor marriage equality, or simply being, I am called to aid inthe transformation of society by engaging in God’s movementof social justice—even with my many questions. I amcalled to practice radical inclusion in the church and in theworld. I am called to love and effect social change right whereI am, always affirming hope in the beauty of humanity. Iam called to continually embrace the questions themselveswhile building up the blessed community of God.The Rev. Dr. Michael Diaz is the Director of Connections at ResurrectionMetropolitan Community Church in Houston, Texas. He holdsa BA in New Testament Studies from Oral Roberts University andMDiv and DMin degrees from Episcopal Divinity School.eds now | Fall 2012 7

models and mirrors in callingModels and Mirrors in CallingTHE REV. LISA R. FORTUNA, MDPHOTO BY KEN KOTCHWhen I was four years old, I declared that I wantedto be a doctor. I had no real idea what a doctordid, but there was something about who mygrandmother was that touched the place inside me that isabout who I am and what I am called to do.Despite having only a third-grade education, my grandmotherwas the inspiration for my desire to become a healer.She is a caring woman who is knowledgeable about medicinalherbs, and she is a constant source of wisdom and caring.She taught me the most important lessons and values ofhealing, which I still bring to my medical practice and myministry: be faithful to God, be humble, love people, takegood care of them, and listen with your heart. When I wasyounger, I really did not know what all that meant, but I knewthat it “spoke” to me and awakened what was within me waitingto mature and to reach fruition.When I attended college in 1987, I discovered that, in additionto studying molecules and cells, it was natural for meto integrate my interests in contemporary issues, culture,and spirituality. I continued on to medical school, and latercompleted a master’s degree in public health. Because of theculture of medical training and the health-care field in thiscountry, I found myself consciously struggling to retain mygrandmother’s values of humility, faith, and love.The process of becoming a physician can be surprisinglychallenging to your spirit. You can easily become lost in thescience and the procedures, and there is the risk of forgettingto witness the amazing human beings whose lives you havethe privilege to know.I was struck by this the first time when I was unable toresuscitate an 11-year-old child who had been struggling withthe complications of AIDS and had stopped breathing duringa fatal bout of pneumonia. I was the physician leadingthe resuscitation team when she stopped breathing. Whenthe child died, I sat with her grandmother to console her andshe began to tell me beautiful stories about that child’s life. Iknew I was in a place of sacred privilege, and it was humbling.I was not sure who was consoling whom, but reflecting back,I now know we were holding each other.This type of experience brought me back to that calling tobe a healer, but also reminded me to be present in the sacredas part of that calling. I began to discern how to combine myvocations of medicine and ministry. Once I truly opened upto that possibility, I began to meet other women who werepriests, ministers, and healers, and they helped me see whatcould be.A calling starts with that core and central part of whowe are—that thing placed deeply inside us by God but thatgrows with the help of others. They mirror and reflect back tous what might be possible.The Rev. Lisa R. Fortuna, MD, received her MDiv from Episcopal DivinitySchool in 2012 and was ordained to the transitional deaconatein June 2012. She serves as an urban resident and assistant clergyat the multicultural congregation of Christ Church/Iglesia San Juanin Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Fortuna is a board-certified child andadolescent psychiatrist, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Directorof Child and Adolescent Addictions Psychiatry at the Universityof Massachusetts Medical School. She is a bilingual/bicultural Latinaand is passionate about ministry that cares for and connects peoplemore deeply to God and to one another. She is married to MichellePorche and they have a seven-year-old son, Alex.8 episcopal divinity school

my journey from zambia to edsMy Journey from Zambia toEpiscopal Divinity SchoolTHE REV. MWAPE B MUSONDA-CHILOMBO“in education it isn’t how much you have committed to memory or even howmuch you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t.It’s knowing where to go to find out what you need to know and it’s knowing how to use theinformation you get.” -William FeatherOn August 29, 2010, I boarded a South African Airwaysplane that took me from my hometown of Ndola, Zambia,to South Africa and, with one stopover in Senegal, to JFKInternational Airport. After flying for 17 hours, plus 6 hourswaiting at various airports, I finally arrived at Logan Airportin Boston.Why did I think of coming to Episcopal Divinity Schoolin the first place? My purpose was to increase my knowledgeand hone my ability to interpret theology relating to social,political, physical, and spiritual issues. I felt it was importantto move further along in my understanding of issues relatedto ethics and values in my ministry, and to understand myown spirituality at a deeper level. As a theologian with atraditional Anglican background, my attention is focused onthe liberation of women who are faced with patriarchal discriminationand, as Margaret Benefiel says in The Soul of aLeader, “Paying attention requires courage.”One skill that I learned at EDS was to really hear others’voices, as well as my own. Hearing is an art. It requires skillssuch as determination, consistency, space, spiritual discernment,and the courage to follow your heart. As Benefiel says,“The heart knows that the way will be revealed and that itwill be good. The heart serves as a compass, helping the leadertake the first step, then another, then another.” I am glad Iadded another step to motivate my pastoral responsibility,and I will use it wisely to the glory of God.At EDS I had an opportunity, using that courage, to participatein classes that dealt with international reconciliation,peace, and justice, and with spiritual healing between theChurch and the community. I looked at the urgent needfor tribal unity in my country of Zambia, and at the manyproblems related to the structures of our economy that contributeto the strife our people experience. As people struggleto survive, they are affected physically, mentally, and spiritually.Therefore, spiritual healing is very important. As anAfrican international student, I was inspired by most ofthe readings, and I integrated them with my own healingfrom childhood to today. The knowledge gained at EDS is alaboratory I will turn to in my future endeavors. It will helpme take another step, then another.The Rev. Mwape B Musonda-Chilombo received her MATS degree in2012 from Episcopal Divinity School.ON THE WEBPHOTO BY KEN KOTCHTo read the full account of The Rev. Mwape B Musonda-Chilombo’s journey,visit eds.edu/journeyfromzambiaeds now | Fall 2012 9

many paths, one journeyMany Paths, One Journey: FindingOur Way along Dark PathwaysTHE REV. GAIL AVERYMake me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. —Psalm 25:4Sometimes there are too many paths before us,and not all of them are particularly helpful. Isit any surprise, then, that the Psalmist is cryingout to our Lord?Still, the truth remains: there are many pathsthat can bring us to our Lord. Many paths, yetone journey—a journey that takes us into thevery heart of God. But how do we discern God’scall and will for us when a path is lit so dimlythat we can barely see that it is a path at all?The Hebrew Bible is full of “call” narrativesthat have helped me to navigate the dark pathwaysI encountered along my journey to thepriesthood. It was at EDS, in my Introductionto the Hebrew Bible course with Angela Bauer-Levesque, that I learned there are six parts toa call from God: (1) a divine confrontation, (2)an introductory word, (3) a commissioning, (4)a human objection, (5) an assurance from God,and (6) a sign along the way to help us see thatGod is always with us.I remember that our class found greatcomfort in learning that Moses expressed atleast five objections to his call from God.There have been no burning bushes in myown life, but I did have a burning feeling that Icouldn’t shake. I knew God was calling me intoa different kind of ministry, but I didn’t knowwhat it would look like and I couldn’t let go oftwo things—my passion for global ministry, andthe fact that the church as an institution has thecapacity to go to the end of the road—that placewhere no one else can go. I had witnessed thisfirsthand in South Africa during an EDS TravelSeminar. My urge to travel to foreign lands wasso strong that I frequently warned my family wemight have to move.Then God did the impossible.Without leaving my home in homogeneousNew Hampshire, the world now comes to me.I am a maritime chaplain in the Port of Boston,and I literally go to the end of the road beforestepping onto a ship’s gangway.Jesus’ first disciples were seafarers, and itmoves me deeply that God has called me tominister to the forgotten seafarers of the world,the people who bring us the products vital to ourlocal economies and way of life. Did you knowthat 90% of all goods produced throughout theworld travel by sea at some point? Here in theNortheast, our winters would be very different ifwe didn’t receive road salt to keep our roads safeor heating fuel to warm our homes.Over the course of a year, our mission seesabout 10,000 seafarers from all over the world.English is the common language, but it’s notunusual to have mixed nationalities and faithtraditions aboard ships—ratings (unlicensedseafarers) from the Philippines; officers fromRussia or Baltic states such as Latvia, Estonia,and Poland; and Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists,Hindus, and Christians all on the same vessel,which adds to the challenges of life at sea. Manycrew members tell me it is hard work navigatingthese various cultural and religious differences,especially within the hierarchical structure ofthe shipping world.When I began this ministry more than fiveyears ago, I initially thought that I’d be climbingup gangways to bring God to the ships. I soondiscovered that God was already aboard thevessels, waiting for me. God was there with thecrew—even crew who didn’t embrace a livingGod somehow knew that there was somethingbigger than themselves guiding and providingfor them aboard their vessel and for their familiesat home.And I found God in the most peculiarplaces—in a slice of lemon floating in the cupof tea served by a Russian able seamen, the redElmo sneakers that were attached to the thinbrown legs of a captain’s three-year-old daughter,a smile from one of the crew waving to mefrom high up on a crane that was unloadinggypsum used to manufacture sheetrock.So who was I to think that I would take Godup there?10 episcopal divinity school

many paths, one journeyClergy renewal with Seafarer’sFriend, a maritime ministry based in theports of Boston, Portland, and Portsmouthsince 1827, is offering a 12-week experiencefor clergy renewal in an interfaith,multicultural setting in September. Participantswill visit ships with a chaplain andreflect on their experience in small groups.For more information, please contactThe Rev. Gail Avery at Seafarer’s Friend;phone: 339-226-2199; email: port.rev@seafarersfriend.org. Sabbatical retreatoptions are also available.I learned that God is there on the shipsbecause that’s where every pathway (or gangway!)goes: to the place where God lives… evenwhen it is too dark for us to see.The Rev. GailAvery at work.The Rev. Gail Avery ’06 serves as a maritime chaplainin Boston Harbor through Seafarer’s Friend. Seafarer’sFriend has been serving the maritime communitiesof Portland, Maine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; andBoston, Massachusetts, since 1827, “coming alongsidethe maritime industry with friendship, faith, andhospitality.” Gail also serves on the North AmericanMaritime Ministry Association board as the Anglican/Episcopal Denominational Representative for Canada,the United States, and the Caribbean, and is assistantvicar at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Hampstead,New Hampshire.eds now | Fall 2012 11

my pilgrim journeyThe scallop shell has long been the symbol ofCamino de Santiago.My Pilgrim Journey to Santiago deCompostela and BeyondTHE REV. YONG JA KIMAfter 15 years of ministry in crossculturaland cross-racial appointmentswith the United Methodist Church, Ifinally decided to follow the cry from my heart.I needed to take a break, not because I wasrunning away from anything in my life andministry, but because I wanted to move towardsomething invisible, yet shimmering withpossibility. For several years, I had been feeling—a call in my heart—the need to move toward anew way of being, a simpler life, a slower life, alife with deep roots in spirit, a life of more riskand adventure. A life full of things I could noteven yet imagine. So I decided to request a yearlongunpaid sabbatical, planning to spend thisprecious time on something I had never donebefore: communicating with God closely and deeply.As a milestone birthday was approaching inJune last year, I felt I could not just keep doingwhat I had been doing. I felt an urge, like a secondcalling, to leave everything behind me andbecome a pilgrim.While I was doing research on what I woulddo and where I wanted to go, the Camino deSantiago, “the Way of St. James,” in Spain cameto mind—500 miles traveled on foot for 40 dayson from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in southernFrance, across the Pyrenees, ending in Santiagode Compostela in Spain. I felt it would be thesufficient distance and amount of time to reflecton what was important and unimportant in mylife and ministry and to envision the future. Iwanted to figure out ways I could use my time,energy, passion, and money more satisfyinglyand creatively in the coming years.A friend of mine who taught me Spanish fora few weeks wondered, “Why do you want totake a Catholic pilgrim route for penitence?”My intention was neither to do penance nor tovisit the tomb of St. James at the Cathedral inSantiago de Compostela. I just wanted to travelone of the most sacred paths of Christian pilgrimageon earth, the others being to Jerusalemand Rome. The Camino de Santiago spans 1,200years of religious, cultural, and spiritual historyand traditions, starting in medieval times. Stayingat albergues (youth hostels for pilgrims) andbuying food would be affordable for the extendedperiod of traveling time. I couldn’t imagine howmany interesting pilgrims I would meet alongthe way.I moved through the process of completing myministry at the local church where I had servedfor four years and started to buy equipment forthe journey. Last summer I moved to Wilton,New Hampshire, and began to prepare myselffor the physical, mental, and spiritual challengesof my pilgrimage. I walked various roads, walking5-12 miles a day, hiked Mt. Monadnock a fewtimes, and learned to cope with different weatherconditions.I left Boston on September 15, 2011.The Rev. Yong Ja Kim ’96 was a proctor scholar atEpiscopal Divinity School during the 2011-2012academic year.ON THE WEBRead the rest of the Yong Ja’s storyonline at eds.edu/camino12 episcopal divinity school

on campusOn Campus“You literally have to master painting inside the lines beforeyou can paint outside them with insight and innovation.That’s not usually a message that goes down well withundergraduates and it still doesn’t sit well with me, but ifI were truly honest, I would have to say that it’s probablycorrect. Critique is always more powerful when grounded indeep understanding. As you leave this place, consider thatthought.” —from the commencement address delivered byhonorary degree recipient Dr. Robert W. Radtke, Presidentof Episcopal Relief & DevelopmentThe Rev. Dr. Bruce B. Lawrence ’67, Marcus Family Professorof the Humanities, Emeritus, and Professor of Islamic Studiesat Duke University, receives an honorary degree duringcommencement from The Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng.PHOTOS BY KEN KOTCHOn a beautiful sun-filled day, Episcopal Divinity School celebrated the graduation of 28 students at its 2012 commencementceremony, which took place on Thursday, May 17, at the First Church in Cambridge, Congregational.eds now | Fall 2012 13

on campusOn CampusEDS in IndyThe Rev. Jack Bishop ETS ’52 (here with his wife, Elizabeth) received adistinguished alumni/ae award on May 3, 2012. Jane Gould ’86 presentedJack’s award, noting that “we have been blessed with his 60 years ofordained ministry within the Diocese of Massachusetts.”Members of the EDS community were present at the 77thGeneral Convention of the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.Above The Rev. Canon James Shannon PDS ’73 shows off thenew EDS bags at the EDS booth.PHOTOS BY LISA ABITBOLDifferent EDS buttonswere released everyother day of theGeneral Convention.People stoppedby the booth withanticipation.Faculty member and alumnus The Rev. Canon Ed Rodman ’67 (here withhis wife, Bunchie) was presented with a distinguished alumni/ae awardon May 3, 2012, by classmate Jean Steele ’67, who commented, “AlthoughEd has been honored for his incredible work in the wider world, todaywe honor him for the work he has done in this community, for the wayhe has challenged us, for the way he has been a loyal friend and mentorto so many, for the gift he has been to those who know that they wouldnot be the ministers of justice and reconciliation that they are if they hadnot known him.”ON THE WEBTo read the recap from EDS at GeneralConvention, visit www.eds.edu/gc1214 episcopal divinity school

eds in chinaOn the heels of commencement, a group of faculty, students, and staff wenton an EDS Travel Seminar to China. The focus of the seminar was to learnabout the culture and religions of China, explore the life and witness of theChinese churches in a rapidly changing society, and study the legacy of theEpiscopal mission in China. Charles Wynder and Susan Taylor were on the trip.China in Dynamic MovementCHARLES A. WYNDER JR.Returning home from China, I am leftwith one overriding impression: China,as a nation and a diverse people, iscommitted to a constant journey of being andbecoming. The Chinese are engaged in a dynamiccultural, spiritual, economic, and political movementthat is having an impact, not only on theircountry but also on the world, and their commitmentto this process runs deep.Our visits to temples, the Great Wall, and theWarriors at Xian all reminded me of the longview of China’s legacy. This nation of thousandof years was engaged in urban planning longbefore Europe’s nation states emerged. And yet,the Shanghai waterfront’s blend of buildingsinfluenced by 1920s Europe with contemporaryskyscrapers forced me to grapple with themeaning of China’s postcolonial existence, as Ilearned that the United States and Europeannations and institutions, including their denominationalchurches, dominated China during aperiod of imperialism.PHOTO BY KEN KOTCHIt was China’s resistance to colonialism andefforts at self-determination and the reestablishmentof its sovereignty that led blackintellectuals and activists like W. E. B. DuBois,Malcolm X, and Paul Robeson to look to Chinafor inspiration as early as 1909.Our tour of China and visits with scholarsreminded me of the Bandung Conference, atwhich China represented the hopes of emergingindependent nations in Africa, Asia, LatinAmerica, and the Caribbean. I learned to respectthe dedication and commitment of an entirenation that was engaged in a postcolonial liberatoryprocess of contesting the psychological,economic, and political impact of colonialism. Ialso learned more about the negative impact theCultural Revolution had on China’s people andits institutions, which served as a reminder notto see any nation’s model as a utopia, includingmy own.In peeling back the complex layers of Chinesehistory and coming to terms with this long-viewnarrative of change, I began to appreciate the contemporaryefforts of Chinese Christians to reframeand contextualize Christianity for the Chinese.I continue to grapple with the absence offormal denominations in China but am comingto understand the Chinese church’s FreeSelf Movement. This movement focuses on selfsupport,self-government, and self-propagation.Even without fully synthesizing the rich contextof Christianity in China, I recognize the rapidgrowth of the Chinese church. They do not haveenough churches, clergy, or lay leaders to ministerto the growing body of Christ. I cannot help butcontrast this reality with my American context ofgraying pews, decreasing membership, and thediminished vitality of too many congregations.China is moving. Its dynamism clearlyextends beyond the sphere of church and intothe economic realm. My orientation was equallytransformed in this space. The hybrid Chinesemodel of central planning and capitalism has ledto rapid change and economic development, andthe government and church are grappling internallywith difficult questions about the impactof the rapid transformation of Chinese society.For example, I experienced the reality of censorshipwhen BBC coverage of Chinese dissidentChen Guangcheng’s arrival in the United Stateswas cut off, immediately following a story onTibetan protests.I return to the United States without feelingsuperior to China over questions of politicalfreedom, human rights, and democratic participation.The Occupy Movement alongsidepersistent racial and gender disparities speaks toour domestic contradictions that remain unaddressed.Battling over questions of human rightsdoes not inherently improve the conditions ofethnic, racial, and politically targeted populations.So I return home looking at both Chinaand the United States with fresh gospel eyes.The church in the United States can learnmany lessons from the Chinese. Our nationalso could benefit from adopting the Chinesefocus on revisioning, reframing, and equippingits people for the current and emerging world.These lessons not only can help us change ourview of China, but also help us transform ourcongregations, institutions, and national outlook.Charles A. Wynder Jr. received his MDiv in 2012 fromEpiscopal Divinity School and was awarded the WilliamJ. Dietrich Jr. Memorial Prize for the Best Paperon the Urban Mission of the Church for his thesis,“Revisioning the Afro-Anglican Church: Discernment,Leadership & Praxis.” Prior to coming to EDS, heserved as Vice President of Programs at the NationalLegal Aid & Defender Association.eds now | Fall 2012 15

eds in chinaSoul’s RetreatSUSAN TAYLORIlove hiking in the mountains where I live. Usually theonly sounds I hear are woodland creatures or featheredfriends. Even as I write this at midnight, I can see amoose outside my window, snorting and making delightfulsounds while feeding in the marshy pond across the street.But the hike I want to tell you about was different.While participating in the EDS Travel Seminar to China,we arrived in Hangzhou, China, on the fourth day of thetrip. Our destination was the Lingyin Temple, which means“Soul’s Retreat.” We were led to an ascent that curved alonga winding path, up steep steps, along plateaus, and througha series of structures. The journey up was like riding a raftalong a river of people. The cacophonous melding of voiceswas frequently pierced by the staccato bullhorn announcementsof tour guides.We flowed upward, past the detailed carvings of deitiesand religious symbols that adorn the gray ledges lining thepath. We ventured through spectacularly decorated halls,where countless variations of Buddha sculptures reside inblazing golds, reds, yellows, greens, and blues. Bodhisattvacarvings share space with dragons and phoenixes. It is an artist’sparadise that entrances all who have the opportunity totake in the beautiful images.We pressed on past large black kettles, where pilgrims fromall over the globe offer a tribute of incense. Woodsy aromasmingled with the intoxicating clouds of smoke that beckonedus to continue past devout visitors bowed in prayerful ritual.The air was permeated with sacramental gesture. (For thisEpiscopalian it was a heavenly experience!) But I wasn’t theonly one lagging behind, caught up in the myriad sights,smells, sounds, and sensuality of the place. It would have beeneasy to get separated from our group without the humbleattention of Miki, our guide, who served as a beacon to allwho got sidetracked.Although not a formidably long hike, for me each stepfelt weighted with the intensity of pilgrimage. It was my firstencounter with a Buddhist temple, and this one is particularlyfamous, drawing large numbers of visitors.Finally reaching the temple, after having viewed the largestwood carving of Buddha, the 24.8 meter high, gilded Sakyamuni,we began to hear the yellow-draped monks chanting. Atonce I felt in sync with the drum-beating rhythm and vocals.But too quickly hands were tugging on my arm. It wastime to go! No, I thought, I want to stay immersed in thisHoly moment. Alas, we began the descent.On the steps just below the temple, Professor Cheng andI shared our reflections on the visit. We asked, “How couldyou not find God here?” To our Buddhist friends, pleaseaccept my gratitude for sharing your sacred gift. It was,indeed, a retreat for my soul.Susan Taylor is a postulant in the Diocese of Vermont, and is in thethird year of her MDiv program at Episcopal Divinity School.16 episcopal divinity school

q & a with the rev. dr. stephen burnsQuestions and Answers withThe Rev. Dr. Stephen BurnsThis fall, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Burns will join the EDS community as a facultymember in Liturgics and Anglican Studies. An author and editor of multiple books andpublications, his most recent position has been as a research fellow in public and contextualtheology at Charles Sturt University in Sydney, Australia.Q: What are you most looking forward to about joiningthe EDS community?A: I have known about EDS for many years, probably firstof all from Carter Heyward’s writings, and I have long lovedthe things it has stood for and stands for. It seems to me tohave a very strategic vocation in theological education andamongst the Anglican churches of making things possible.So I am very happy to be coming to participate in the communityacheiving that vision and task. And while I am lookingforward to teaching at EDS, I am even more lookingforward to learning from and with and in the community.in Eucharist along with the rest of us, something that theEpiscopal Church has pioneered in the Anglican Communion—seemsto me to imply a liturgical style in whichchildren can fully engage. It’s an implication of the liturgicalimperative of full, conscious, and active participation by theassembly. This is by no means the same thing as “dumbingdown,” but rather about raising expectations of inclusivityall ’round. Nor is it about turning ritual events into didacticones, though it is about everyone being challenged to learnand relearn, all the time.Q: Your book, Worship in Context: Liturgical Theology, Childrenand the City, examines issues connected to the place ofchildren in worship. Why is this issue important to you andhow do you see it in the larger context of inclusion?A: There are lots of disconnected conversations in thechurch, in the Church of England at least, about worship,about children, now about “mission-shaped church,” and soon, and what my work was trying to do was, in some smallway, bring the conversations to some points of convergenceand understanding. And to point to some practices at theplaces of convergence.My own experience in parish ministry was much likethat of many others, I think: of struggling hard to includechildren yet facing “traditions” of providing for children,such as holding “Sunday Schools” at the same times asservices (with the Sunday Schools for children only, at leasttheir UK and Australian versions), that actually disinheritschildren from the liturgical traditions of the church. Theliturgy needs to be made a fully participatory experiencefor children, and their “sacramental belonging”—sharingeds now | Fall 2012 17

q & a with the rev. dr. stephen burnsQ: In addition to your own publishing projects, you havepublished a number of books in collaboration with others.Why have you made collaboration such an important partof your scholarship and what have you learned are keysto collaboration?A: Collaboration has been very important to me, and I havebeen very intentional about it. On the one hand, I have sometimesbeen a cultural outsider in the places I have lived andworked (in Australia, for example), and it would, I think, bearrogant to speak without first taking good time to listen.Collaborations invite conversations.On the other hand, I am a white male cleric, and I recognizethat my kind have had their turn to do theology—atleast to speak for others’ theology. Now, if white males areto raise our voices, it must, I think, be in consort and choruswith others who have been waiting their turn, listeningcarefully all the time. So, again, collaborations invite conversations.And because I have been deeply influenced byfeminist, black, and other so-called contextual theologies,they have pushed me to do more than listen, but also totake sides and to use my own voice sometimes to amplifyand advocate for others.Q: What do you think is one of the greatest challengesfacing students from EDS and other seminaries?A: I’m looking forward to listening to lots of people—especially students—talk about their sense of this question.What at the moment I want to bring to that conversationis reflection from a very lively Australian variant of it. Therehave been some high-profile critics of current theologicaleducation in seminaries in Australia, that “many institutionsthat train clergy still produce graduates to a society and culturethat has now passed for more than a quarter-century”(Gary Bouma, Andrew Dutney). But it all depends on whatkinds of ministry are being envisaged and shaped in formation.It’s a very important conversation, and full of crucialquestions, and you can expect me to be gently obsessed with it!18 episcopal divinity school

faculty updatesFaculty UpdatesAngela Bauer-Levesque traveled to China withthe EDS Travel Seminar in May, and had a successfulJune term. She attended the BiennialMeeting and Seminar for Chief Academic Officersof the Association of Theological Schools inMinneapolis. In July she attended the 77th GeneralConvention, where she enjoyed the strongEDS presence at the booth, as well as the party,the elections, and strengthened partnerships.Throughout her travels, Angela has been readingabout leadership and sustainable change.Patrick Cheng was appointed associate professorof Historical and Systematic Theology. InApril, he delivered the 16th annual GilbertoCastañeda Lecture at Chicago TheologicalSeminary. The title of the lecture was “Trianglesand Rainbows: Constructing a Queer of ColorTheology.” In May, Patrick sat on a panel onreligion and the LGBT community with theRt. Rev. Gene Robinson and others, followingthe Boston LGBT Film Festival screening ofLove Free or Die at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge,Massachusetts. He was co-leader of theEDS Travel Seminar to China, with Kwok PuiLan. Patrick was profiled in the May/June Prideissue of Boston Spirit Magazine, and in Augusthe will serve as a mentor for the third year atthe Human Rights Campaign 2012 SummerInstitute for LGBT and allied advanced master’sand doctoral students in religion and theologyat Vanderbilt University Divinity School inNashville, Tennessee.This past April, Bill Kondrath became presidentelectof the Academy of Religious Leadership;he will become president in April 2013. Hedelivered a keynote lecture at The SorrentoCentre in Sorrento, British Columbia, titled“Creativity, Change, and Conflict in Congregations”in July. Bill also has led trainings forthe Diocese of Massachusetts and Diocese ofConnecticut, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church inSimsbury, Connecticut, and Emmanuel Churchin Boston, Massachusetts. His review of NancyKehoe’s book, Wrestling with Our Inner Angels:Faith, Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness( Jossey-Bass), will be published in the fall 2012issue of Anglican Theological Review.EDS faculty members before Commencement 2012.On April 12, Kwok Pui Lan delivered a lecturetitled “Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude”at the Academy of Religion, The Collegeof Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio, where she alsospoke to a few classes on feminist methodologiesand feminist theology in developing nations. OnJune 13, she discussed theological education withfaculty and students at the Divinity School ofChung Chi College, The Chinese University ofHong Kong. She visited Singapore, where shedelivered a lecture titled “Asian Theologies inthe Age of Globalization” at Trinity TheologicalCollege on June 14, and another lecture, “Lovingthe Body, Loving God,” at the Free CommunityChurch on June 15.On September 14, Joan Martin will be representingher alma mater, Elmhurst College, atthe inauguration of M. Lee Pelton as the 12thpresident of Emerson College. While on sabbaticalduring the fall term, Joan will be givinga lecture at Brandeis University, at the invitationof Dr. Bernadette Brooten, on the topic, “Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender: WomanistReflections on Coming Home to Self.” Shewill also be attending the annual meeting ofthe American Academy of Religion in Chicagofrom November 17 to 20. Joan is a member of thesteering committee on Womanist Approachesin Church and Society.In September, Ed Rodman will receive theCommunity Restorative Justice Award fromthe Boston Theological Institute in recognitionof his restorative justice service and concernfor the intersection of victim, perpetrator, andcommunity safety in local settings. He will alsoreceive an award in November from the Unionof Minority Neighborhoods.PHOTO BY KEN KOTCHIn May, Susie Snyder was invited to participatein a workshop to produce a new theologicalstatement on migration by the World Councilof Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Her book,Asylum-Seeking, Migration and Church (Ashgate),will be published in October. She is currentlywriting a chapter on interfaith perspectives onmigration in collaboration with two Muslimwomen and a Roman Catholic woman for amultidisciplinary volume about religion, migration,and the city, to be published next year.Larry Wills was invited to be a panelist at aHarvard Divinity School program held on April23, entitled “Teaching Introduction to the Bible.”He and Patrick Cheng are also proceeding withplans to publish a volume of the presentationsfrom their spring conference on Jews, Christians,and Muslims in the ancient East, called,“What Would It Take to Move the Map? AbrahamicReligions on the Silk Road.” He is alsocontinuing his research on the Book of Judithfrom the Apocrypha, as well as writing sectionsfor the forthcoming Fortress Commentary on theOld Testament (Fortress Press), co-edited withGale Yee.Gale A. Yee has published Exodus and Deuteronomy(Fortress Press), the second book of the Texts@ Contexts series that she co-edits with AthalyaBrenner. This series understands “contexts” as anumbrella term covering a wide range of issues, includingsocial and ideological factors. She is alsoon the advisory board and one of the co-editorsof the forthcoming Fortress Commentary on theOld Testament (Fortress Press), which is gearedtoward seminary and university biblical courses.eds now | Fall 2012 19

class notesClass Notes1950–1959Oscar Swensen ’59 recently receiveda clean bill of health after a decadelongbattle with cancer. He says hehad excellent care from both friendsand Massachusetts General Hospital.1960–1969William Romer ’60 retired for thesixth time a year ago, after servingas interim rector in Laconia, N.H.Alfred Cramer ’62 continues toserve as priest associate at St. Michael’sin Brattleboro, Vt., whilealso enjoying his retirement.Rudolph Moore PDS ’62 is teachingcourses in spirituality, Americanreligion, and world religions atHoly Family University in Philadelphia.He also continues astreasurer of the Widows Corporation,an organization helping clergyfamilies in Pennsylvania.E. Walton Zelley Jr. PDS ’64 servesas a supply priest in the diocesesof Western Massachusetts, Connecticut,and Albany, N.Y., andis active in community affairs inCopake, N.Y., where he and hiswife reside. Since the couple retiredin 1998, they have remained trueto their commitment to take twotrips each year. This fall they will bedeparting on their 36th trip—asafari in Tanzania that includes avisit to the Serengeti.William Warne PDS ’66 has retired.He now serves as a supply priest inthe Diocese of Bethlehem, Penn.,and assists at his home parish, theChurch of the Good Shepherd inScranton, Penn.Judy Upham ’67, as an Episcopalianinvolved in the civil rightsETS Class of 1967 representatives (l-r) Ed Rodman, Donna Kingman, Jim Jones, Ginger Shaw, and Bill Wood.movement and the church’s work ofreconciliation, was featured ina series of interviews done byEpiscopal News Service duringBlack History Month. Judy was acompanion to Jonathan Danielsand a witness to his shooting inAugust 1965. Judy now serves asassisting priest at St. Alban’sChurch in Arlington, Texas.Tom Kennedy ’68 retired fromthe banking world in 2008. In hisretirement, he has volunteered forthe Trinity Boston Foundation,served as chair of the board oftrustees of Sherrill House (anextended care and rehabilitationfacility in the Jamaica Plain sectionof Boston), and is president ofthe Boston Episcopal CharitableSociety, the oldest charitable societyin the U.S. Meanwhile, he andwife, Joanna, are enjoying theireight grandchildren.David Nicholson ’68 has beenserving as priest in charge atSt. Luke Church in Springfield,Mass., for the last 13 years. InDecember 2011, David celebratedhis 80th birthday. He enjoys spendingtime with his six grandsons andwith Judith, his wife of 32 years.Walter MacDonald ’69 has recentlyretired from the Diocese of Michigan.1970–1979John R. Van Eenwyk ’70, clinicaldirector of the International TraumaTreatment Team, was recentlya member of a resource groupthat was assembled by the Gazacommunity mental health programto evaluate and make recommendationsfor the mental health systemin Gaza. He joined seven practitioners(psychiatrists, psychologists,social workers, physicians) fromGaza, who then teamed up with six“internationals,” their goal being tointegrate their various perspectivesinto a unified recommendation.Paul Breshnan ’72 is serving aspriest in charge at St. Gabriel’s,Douglassville, Penn., until a newrector is called. Paul reports that it isa wonderful and vibrant congregation.Alden Flanders ’72 led a refreshmentday at the Bethany Houseof Prayer in Arlington, Mass., inApril 2012.Edward Peck PDS ’73 retired inJanuary 2004 after 30 years inordained parish ministry. He iscurrently serving as priest associateat St. John’s in Carlisle, Penn.Gay Jennings ’77 was elected presidentof the House of Deputies atGeneral Convention in July.1980–1989Lauren Gough ’83 is assisting atSt. Martin in the Fields, FortWorth, Texas.Mark Delcuze ’85 has recentlybeen called as rector of St. John’s,Beverly Farms, Mass.Judy Baldwin ’86 has retired and isliving in Key West, Fla.Ann Franklin ’86, ’91 just returnedfrom working the EDS boothat General Convention—a greatopportunity to see other alums.Along with Susan Langle ’07, shewill be co-leading a Women’sWitness Trip to the Holy Land inthe fall.20 episcopal divinity school

1990–1999Elizabeth Windsor ’98, ’09 continuesher ministry at Sudbury UnitedMethodist Church in Sudbury,Mass., and was recently appointedChristian education resource assistantto the Bishop of the NewEngland Conference. In this role,she develops and facilitates onlinecourses for United MethodistCommunications. She also hasrecently started her own consultingbusiness, Acts 29: Christian FormationResources, and writes regularposts for Church Publishing’s website,buildingfaith.org. Elizabeth isalso very excited about becoming amother-in-law in September 2012.Christine Carr ’99 was recentlyappointed director of technologyservices at Episcopal DivinitySchool and received a President’sAward for service to the school atCommencement.2000–2009Celeste Hemingson ’02 is currentlyserving as interim priest at St. Andrew’sChurch in New London, N.H.Liz Magill ’02 married Ken Porter inJanuary 2012. At that time, she alsoreceived, and accepted, a new callto be the sole pastor and executivedirector of Worcester Fellowshipin Worcester, Mass.Mary Jane Eaton ’03 was called tobe the associate pastor at EcclesiaBoston earlier this year.Doug Fisher ’07 was elected ninthbishop of the Diocese of WesternMassachusetts. Doug and his wife,Betsy, will begin their ministry in thediocese in the middle of September.Doug’s ordination and consecrationwill take place on December 1.Susan Langle ’07 will be co-leadinga Women’s Witness Trip to theHoly Land with Ann Franklin ’86,’91, in the fall.Will Bronson ’08 is running forU.S. Congress in the 17th districtof Florida.Christi Humphrey ’08 was nameddirector of alumni/ae relations andconstituent engagement at EpiscopalDivinity School. She beganher ministry in July in the midst ofGeneral Convention.Valerie Miller ’08 is a second-yearresident chaplain at Hartford Hospitalin Hartford, Conn. She worksprimarily in the emergency room.PHOTOS IN CLASS NOTES BY LISA ABITBOLclass notesALUMNI/AE DAYS AND KELLOGG LECTURES 2012Dr. Ingrid Mattson (center), pictured here with AcademicDean Dr. Angela Bauer-Levesque (left) and President andDean The Very Rev. Katherine Ragsdale (right), delivered theannual Kellogg Lectures on May 3, 2012.On Wednesday, May 2, EDS sponsored an interfaith panel(above) entitled “Nurturing Cultures of Just-Peace: OpeningLocal Faith Communities for Inter-Faith Engagement.” Thispanel brought together leaders from the Jewish, Hindu,Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic traditions. (below l-r) Dr.Christopher Duraisingh, Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, Ji Hyang Padma,Swami Tyaganda, Dr. Jared Kass, and Latifa Zyiad.ETS Class of 1972 representatives (l-r) Dan Weir, Doug Bond, StuartHoke, and Dave Ferner.ON THE WEBFor a complete recap from Alumni/ae Days 2012, includingvideos from the day, visit eds.edu/alumdays12eds now | Fall 2012 21

class notesWayne Stewart ’08 is currentlyserving as nonprofit executive-inresidenceat Mt. Royal University inCalgary, Alberta. He also serves thestewardship group of the CalgaryPoverty Reduction Initiative.2010 to PresentRandy Callender ’10 married ChantaleBelefanti on August 4, 2012.In July 2012, Randy began his newministry as rector at St. Philip’sin Annapolis, Md.Stephanie Mitchell ’10 will beginserving as assistant to the rectorat St Peter’s Episcopal Church inWeston, Mass., in September 2012.Robyn Provis ’10 has been electedsenior pastor of Salem EvangelicalLutheran Church in Minneapolis,Minn.NecrologyMark Bailey PDS ’72Joachim Haupt ’53Mary-Marguerite Kohn ’93Thomas W. S. Logan PDS ’41Raymond Mitchell ’49Eugene B. Montague ’67Michael Randolph ’70David E. Smith ’57John P. Thomas PDS ’61Ordained DeaconJessica Flaherty ’12Lisa Fortuna ’12Becky Gettel ’12Terry Hofmann ’09Margery Kennelly ’11Ema Rosero-Nordalm(adjunct faculty)Sean Slack ’10Meghan Sweeney ’11Ordained PriestCathy Clark ’12Christi Humphrey with Ed Rodman at the EDS booth at GeneralConvention in July 2012.God’s Call and EDSCHRISTI HUMPHREYOver the last few weeks, as I made my way through theinterview process and discernment that led to becomingthe director of alumni/ae and constituent engagement atEDS, I found myself asking, how is God calling me to be in relationshipwith EDS now? God was surely involved in my decision sevenyears ago, when my family and I decided to sell our house, moveto Cambridge, and embark on the journey that led to my MDivdegree. At that time, there were desires and interests in my heart thatI believe were God’s invitation to be in relationship with the peopleand community of EDS. And now, God has once again invited meto be part of this community. My new association with EDS takeson a different shape. No longer a student, I am part of the staff. Ihave changed. EDS has changed. God calls me and the people ofthe EDS community to be in relationship in a new way. And so, Iinvite you too to consider, how is God calling you to be in relationshipwith EDS now?What you discover could come in various forms. I’d love to hearwhat happens. How are you moved to respond? Your thoughts willhelp me learn more about you, and also how I can support new relationshipsand connections between all the constituencies that makeup the EDS community.Feel free to email me at chumphrey@eds.edu or give me a callat 617-682-1573.EDS Class of 1977 representatives (l-r) John Van Siclen, Susan Crampton,Stephen Voysey, Charlene Leigh-Koser, and Dan Warren.22 episcopal divinity school

emembering mary-marguerite kohn“I REMEMBER MARY-MARGUERITEKohn as a delightful, engaging, and alwayscreative student. Her spiritual life was asrobust as her passion for justice. Her lifeand witness as an EDS alumna are vibranttestimony to our shared commitments tojustice, compassion, and reconciliation.”—Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett, Mary WolfeProfessor Emerita of Historical Theology,Episcopal Divinity SchoolRememberingMary-Marguerite Kohn ’93KATHRYN DESCHAMPSThe tragic news of the shooting atSt. Peter’s Episcopal Church in theDiocese of Maryland on May 3, 2012,touched close to home for EDS. One of thevictims, The Rev. Dr. Mary-Marguerite Kohn,was an EDS alumna who served as the corectorof the church and performed manyoutreach ministries throughout Maryland.She and Brenda Brewington, the administrativeassistant for the church, were shot by DouglasFranklin Jones, a homeless man who came regularlyto the church food bank and was thoughtto be mentally ill. He then took his own life.As the situation unfolded, the Episcopalcommunities in Maryland prayed for Kohn,who died from her life-threatening injuries onMay 5, and the grief-stricken community. Dioceseof Maryland Bishop Eugene Sutton spokein a private Eucharist of the community’s grief,the concern for all ministers’ and administrators’safety, and anger at a society that still ignoresthe homeless and needy. While condemning theviolence resulting from the lack of social supportfor the disadvantaged, the diocese’s message wasone that adhered to the calling of the EpiscopalChurch: “In this time of wounding, death, andbrokenness, we stand with all victims and weoffer our sanctuaries as places of healing, witnessingto God’s peace amidst violence and tothe unbroken love that God has for all.”Photo by Lisa AbitbolSt. Peter’s responded to the tragic circumstancesin their community with similar graceand forgiveness. The Rev. Kirk A. Kubicek, theco-rector at St. Peter’s who shared pastoralduties with Kohn, said that while no one willever understand why it happened, the communityunderstands that God’s love and humancompassion allow the parishioners to forgive—eventually—even the most unspeakable acts andto seek justice.Kohn’s sudden death shows the depth of hercalling to serve others in her community, particularlythose who are less fortunate. Fromher arrival at St. Peter’s in 2003, she performednumerous ministries, including working withveterans with PTSD, hospice and AIDS/HIVgroups, the youth, and the homeless. She evendonated her organs, giving the gift of life as herfinal ministry.Although the initial reaction to this tragicevent was one of shock, anger, fear, and grief, thecommunity banded together and seeks to liveas Kohn had preached: with compassion, forgiveness,and a calling toward justice for everyperson. The loss of Kohn, Brewington, and Jonesis a test of faith, a path of forgiveness, and anopportunity for justice.“WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT MARY-Marguerite is her bubbly laughter, hergenuine interest in everyone, and hersacred listening.”— The Rev. Miriam Gelfer, Dean of Studentsand Community Life, Episcopal Divinity School“MARY-MARGUERITE KOHN WASdedicated to helping those less fortunate.She had a love of life and of the EpiscopalChurch. May God bless her and keep hersafe in abundant love.”—Classmate Beverly A. Ferrante, Coordinatorof Pastoral Care, Interfaith Chaplain, LawrenceGeneral Hospital“I WANT TO GIVE THANKS FORthe life and ministry of Mary-MargueriteKohn because she knew what our Lordmeant by being a friend. She knew andshe lived as one who was the faithful andloving companion who could cry with thesorrowful, rejoice with the joyful, correct thesinners, and be faithfully impatient withthose she did not think ‘got it.’ We love yousister, for you were our friend and, moreimportantly, someone our Lord could saywas truly a friend. As you are with God now,dear ‘MM,’ we will best thank and rememberyou by trying to follow in the goodexamples you set before us.”— The Rt. Rev. John L. Rabb, from the sermondelivered May 8, 2012, at the Celebration forthe Life and Ministry of The Rev. Dr. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, the Episcopal Cathedral ofthe Incarnation, Baltimoreeds now | Fall 2012 23

EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOLEpiscopal Divinity School99 Brattle StreetCambridge, MA 02138Watch the new EDS video,EDS: An Extraordinary Place to Behttp://eds.edu/anextraordinaryplace