COLLEGE SERVES IN MANY WAYS

Transcription

1 Tidings SPRING 2015 NEWSLETTER COLLEGE SERVES IN MANY WAYS By Robert Harris, President Have you not heard (audio)? Have you not seen (video)? Have you not learned (curriculum)? The Disciples College is all across North America. Our enrollments in the Seminary-level course Disciples of Christ: History, Polity and Ethos with the Reverend Jerry Gladson, Ph.D., has reached more than eighty students The Reverend Denise Bell (right) is greeted by the Rev. Dr. Bob Harris and the Rev. Vincine Brown during the Regional Assembly in Sandersville, Georgia A MEMORABLE ASSEMBLY By Robert Harris, President The Regional Assembly at First Christian Church, Sandersville, was one of the high points of Regional Ministry in Georgia, in the memories of everyone who attended. Oh what a Day, it was!! The planning committee created all the pieces, but the Holy Spirit put them together. Christian College was among the Regional constituent groups to recognize and affirm the new ministry of the Reverend Denise Bell. Bob Harris and The Reverend Please see ASSEMBLY on Page 6 in over twenty Regions in the USA and Canada, students who are seeking Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Students right here in Georgia are taking Please see GROWTH on Page 6 My Disciples College Days Christian College of Georgia has provided spiritual guidance to Disciples since being chartered in 1947 by the State of Georgia. At one time, it had buildings nestled into the University of Georgia campus. In the new feature My Disciples College Days we d like to publish your stories on how Christian College of Georgia has influenced your life whether in live classes, in campus ministry or in distance learning classes. Stories and memories of your time at Christian College, including photos, can be sent to rharris@thedisciplescollege.org Photos should be at least 300 dpi for any print projects, including a possible book. Aim for 200 words. Try to be succinct. A form to help guide you is attached. INSIDE; The Rev. Hoyt Huff, a former student recognized with with the Doctor of Divinity Degree, shares about college life in the early 1960s. Pages 4-5

2 PAGE 2 TIDINGS SPRING 2015 TRUSTEES AND MORE INFORMATION LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR On behalf of the Board of Trustees for the Christian College of Georgia the Disciples Church I welcome new Board Members, Vincine Brown, Carol Hanson and Chuck Marshall.. We are delighted to have them join us as they give their time, talents and gifts of ministry and administration to build a sustainable future for The Disciples College. We are looking forward to a dynamic future in our work together. To our longstanding Board of Trustees, thank you for your continued dedication and persistent support as you serve this Board to fulfill its mission of nurturing, educating and preparing Disciples for ministry. To President Bob Harris, my continued gratitude for his leadership and visionary guidance. To Co-Chair James Shelton, thank you for your wellspring of support and encouragement. We have begun a great start to a new year full of new ideas for a bright and promising future. Blessings and Peace Rev. Antoinette Kemp Board Chair Rev. Antoinette Kemp, Chairperson Rev. Chuck Marshall Trustee Rev. Vincine Brown Photo on Page 1, is a new Trustee, recently certified as a Consultant for Career-Direct. See more informationabout this ministry on Page 6 of Tidings. Please visit for more information on the leadership of Christian College, including ministers, faculty, and adjunct faculty serving at this time. You will also find Board CONTACT INFORMATION there Please send USPS mail to: Christian College of Georgia PO Box 747, Statham, GA Rev. James Shelton Vice-chairperson Mr. Buddy Ray, Trustee Mr. Jim Simmons Treasurer Reverend Denise Bell Regional Minister Ex officio member: Denise provides the essential liaison role with the College, while Dr. Harris, in turn, serves as a member of the Regional Board. Dr. Larry Steinmetz Secretary Mr. Kris Jensen Editor-in-chief kjensen55@comcast.net Dr, Bob Harris, President, ex officio member Photo on Page 1: rharris@thedisciplescollege.org

3 NOVEMBER 2013 TIDINGS PAGE 3 MEET THE TRUSTEE: Carol Nichols Hanson Carol Nichols Hanson is a native of Oconee County, Georgia, having grown up in Union Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Watkinsville. She has held most church offices on the local level; served as CWF Northeast District Coordinator on the district level; and served on the Commission on Ministry and Camp Christian Advisory Committee on the regional level. She is a former member of First Christian Church in Decatur; Loganville Christian Church, where she served as Choir Director; Shiloh Christian Church in Snellville, where she served as Elder; Spirit of Joy Christian Church, where she served as Choir Director and Elder; and currently at New Hope Christian Church in Lawrenceville, where she serves as Elder. Carol s ties to the College go back to the 1980s when her father, Roy, was the maintenance supervisor for the College. Carol retired in October 2013 from U.S. Poultry & Egg Association where she was Executive Assistant to the President. Students in Disciples on Campus in Athens prepare posters. ON CAMPUS College Students Reach Out to Others and Dig into Revelation in Athens Spring semester 2015 has been a busy time for the Athens-based Disciples on Campus group. We have spent much of the semester exploring the imagery in Revelation, making sense of the historical context in which it was written, and considering how Revelation is relevant to our everyday lives. It s been an interesting discussion that has left us with as many questions as answers. We spent part of the MLK Day holiday helping clean up and preserve a section of Brooklyn Cemetery, where many African American residents of Athens are buried. The students are also reaching out to other students on campus, inviting them to join us on Wednesday nights, through Activities Fairs and one-on-one conversations. They have worked hard to develop an eye-catching board that explains who we are and why others should join us. We celebrated Shrove Tuesday with a pancake supper and marked Ash Wednesday with a 15-minute service of ashes and prayer, both with our ecumenical partners at the Presbyterian Student Center and the Cooperative Student Fellowship. We are planning a trip to a local pottery studio to try clay soon. If you are a student in the Athens area, or know of one, we would love to have them join us for Disciples on Campus. We meet on Wednesday nights at 7 pm at the Presbyterian Student Center on Lumpkin Street for dinner, discussion, and communion. For more information, contact campus minister Diane Bales at dbales.doc@gmail.com.

4 PAGE 4 TIDINGS SPRING 2015 MY DISCIPLES COLLEGE DAYS A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE REV. HOYT HUFF RECOUNTS 53-YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH COLLEGE By the Rev. Dr. Hoyt Huff The feature My Disciples College Days will be published in each newsletter with memories of the College and how it affected that person s life. Stories and memories of your time at Christian College, including photos, can be sent to rharris@thedisciplescollege.org Aim for 200 words. A copy of the form to gather information is attached to this newletter and should be filled and sent to us. Photos should be at least 300 dpi. For questions, contact Bob Harris at above or Kris Jensen at My ties to the Christian College of Georgia began in 1961, evolved over the years and continue today. On Sunday afternoon, September 17, 1961, my family dropped me off at 220 S. Hull Street, Athens, Georgia. This was the address of the Christian College of Georgia offices, library, and men s dorm. Though enrolled at the University of Georgia, I had permission to live in the College dorm at a time when all freshmen were required to live in dorms on the University campus. The. Rev. Hoyt Huff speaks in Novermber 1, 2009 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lawrenceville where he received an honorary doctorate from Christian College of Georgia. Thus began my relationship with the college and my education toward becoming an Ordained Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition to being a fulltime student at the University of Georgia over the next four years, I took elective courses from the Christian College that included history and polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and an overview of the Bible ( Old and New Testament). In those days the College taught religion courses for the University for majors in Philosophy and Religion. In my Bachelor of Arts Please see next page

5 SPRING 2015 TIDINGS PAGE 5 From preceding page degree from the University are: Life and Letters of Saint Paul; History of the Christian Church (the church in general, not Disciples); and Denominations in America. The elective courses were then taught by the College President, Dr. Barton Dowdy, and the religion courses were taught by Dr. William E. David. A secretary for the College and janitor for the dorm were the only other employees. Fellowship, worship, friendships were all a part of the experience of the College. Tuesday night suppers were a chance for a home-cooked meal hosted by one of the Disciple churches in the Athens area. Food, fellowship, speakers, and sharing were all a part of the evening s activity. First Christian of Athens had a bus in those days that would come by the dorm on Sunday morning to pick up those interested in attending Sunday School and Worship. There was never a great number on the bus, maybe five or six on a good Sunday, but it was a free ride and saved walking. College life in general had its quirks in those days. All male students at the University were required to have two years of ROTC before graduation since the University was a land-grant school. All female students had to wear a long coat when leaving the dorms wearing shorts. The University had been integrated in 1960 with all the turmoil that included but was an accepted fact by the time I arrived. At least, I do not remember any major demonstrations or problems. Field work was part of the learning process at the College. Students served small congregations around the Athens area that could not afford fulltime ministers. Sermon preparation, teaching Sunday School, visitation, hospital calls, etc. would be part of the experience. By my sophomore year, I was trying to create sermons and have enough to say to last more than five minutes. More realistically I was trying to determine what is a sermon, and what does one say in a sermon (I am still on that journey). At the end of my sophomore year and the beginning of my junior year, I began serving my first student church. Within a couple of years I remember six of us that came out of High School with plans to enter the ministry and spent our years together at the College and University. There were other students and some that I may have forgotten, so my apologies for my memory. Jack Snellgrove, Al Widener, Andy Crowley, Wes Mullins, Diane Hummel and I spent several years together at the College and University. Jack, Diane and I are the only ones still living. These have made a significant influence on the Christian Church in Georgia over the years and across our nation as they have carried out their calls to ministry. Many others could be named before and after our time at the College. So began my journey of understanding ministry and what being a pastor is all about. By the time I arrived at Seminary, I discovered my Christian College experience had put me ahead of many that came out of other colleges responding to the call of ministry. Over the years I attended the twenty-fifth anniversary of the college, took continuing education courses, and served on the Board of Trustees and President of that Board. In 2009, the College bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree upon me in a very moving and meaningful worship experience. In retirement from First Christian Church in Lawrenceville, my ties to the College continue as I attend a monthly Ministers Luncheon sponsored by the College and supported by funds given by a long time supporter. Relations to the College have been a lifetime experience.

6 PAGE 6 TIDINGS SPRING 2015 HELP IN FINDING YOUR VOCATION One of the areas of emphasis of Campus Ministry is What Does The Lord Require of Me? or in 21 st Century parlance, What Am I Going To Do With My Life? Our vocation as Christians is created by God, directed by the Holy Spirit, in the steps of Jesus. But that does NOT mean that we are all supposed to be preachers or missionaries. God desires our humility to discern and discover our unique purpose in life, based on our Personality, our Interests, our Abilities, and our Values. While complex, this combination of ingredients CAN be measured, CAN be combined, and CAN be presented to an individual to help him or her discover God s perfect will for the Calling (Vocation) he or she has as a Christian. The Disciples College has two Certified Consultants (and we are preparing more) to work with young adults in this process. But in true Disciples fashion, lest we leave someone out, we also work with those who have the misfortune of losing a job, those who are entering second-career, those who are still trying to find out What I want to be when I grow up (you know who you are), and even couples who would like to gain a deeper understanding of one another. Bob Harris and Vincine Brown are your Consultants at this time. Contact us for more information (harris7172@aol.com and vincine.brown@yahoo.com ) WHEN IS VOICES? VOICES is being transformed. For twelve years, the College sponsored an annual gathering at Camp Christian Conference Center for clergy and seminarians. This year, with no compelling theme and dwindling numbers of participants, we decided to offer the VOICES momentum and resources into a partnership for leadership with the Region. When you see more information on such events, know that Denise and Bob are COLLABORATING for the Vitality of Congregations in Georgia. We are eager to serve the REGIONAL VISION the future into which God is Calling us as the Christian Church in Georgia. GROWTH ON CAMPUSES From Page 1 advantage of this course through the Atlanta Disciples Divinity Center of Christian College. BUT WAIT!! This is no longer a course for Standing Candidates only. Now, anyone can enroll at ANY time for a self-paced course or as part of a study group and benefit from the same video content and learning activities for only $39.95 ( Closer to home, and closer to our hearts, is the collaboration with the Christian Church in Georgia. Regional Minister Denise Bell has opened new and exciting avenues for Christian College of Georgia, dba The Disciples College (get used to it) was designed to be: an Educational Ministry of the Regional Church (EMRC: but acronyms were not popular in 1947). And even closer is the growing ministry of Disciples on Campus. Keeping Young Adults Connected with the Church. It is not important WHO does it; what is critical is that it is DONE. We now have campus ministries in Athens and Statesboro (Rev. Lainie Jenkins). Congregations (such as Valdosta First) have their own unique ministries with local colleges and universities. And we have a vision for helping to facilitate new ministries in Milledgeville and Columbus. Learn more at Regional Assembly or contact Bob Harris to discover how you can help. ASSEMBLY EMRACES NEW MINISTER From Page 1 Vincine Brown (Trustee, Charter Member of the Ray of Hope) offered a shared prayer, two voices joined with hundreds of hearts, to affirm and encourage and empower the service of our new Regional Minister. On behalf of the College, Bob and Vincine gave gifts of books and network membership in the Faith Soaring Churches Learning Community. That event will LIVE ON in a very active way for years to come, we pray. The Disciples College at SOAR The General Assembly is already happening. Planning, scheduling, arranging, inviting, registering. Get more information on the Regional and General Church websites. Disciples seminarians in the Greater Atlanta area will be called to reunion. Under the leadership of Candler Disciples Alumnus the Reverend Chris Carruthers (now of Irving, TX), there WILL be an after-session for the Atlanta United Divinity Center. Graduates of all Atlanta Seminaries are invited. If you know of someone you want to be certain has the information, please refer them to Bob Harris at We will get the information to them. Tuesday evening, July 21 Mark the calendar. Info will be on the GA website