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 Dear Jonathan,
It
is time to come to ETS and celebrate. We have many opportunities in
the coming weeks for fellowship and fun at the Seminary. On May
2nd, ETS is celebrating its Jubilee birthday, on May 12th ETS has an Open
House for anyone interested in learning more about the programs, and
graudation is just around the corner on June 2nd, So come on down and
enjoy the party, fellowship, and make new friends.
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 Come to the Party!
In
1957, the Mackinac Bridge opened, the Pistons moved to Detroit, and Buddy
Holly recorded Peggy
Sue.
Also
that year, Dr. Reuel Howe, pictured at the left, began the
movement that would evolve into Ecumenical Theological Seminary.
He founded the Institute for Advanced Pastoral Studies. He
began with a desire to provide ecumenical continuing education
for clergy in metro Detroit
and now fifty years later his dream has grown into a fully accredited
theological seminary with four programs: Doctor of Ministry, Master of
Divinity, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, and the Urban Ministry
Diploma.
This
year ETS is celebrating our 50th birthday, and you are invited to the
party. Come and join in the festivities as we toast 50 years of
quality theological education right here in Detroit.
Join
with faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and friends of
ETS on Wednesday May 2nd beginning at 6 pm. Enjoy an evening of
Detroit foods: Coney dogs, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda, Stroh's
ice-cream with Sanders' hot fudge, Vernors' floats, and birthday cake.
ETS
faculty members Dr. Ken Harris and Dr. James Perkinson will share their
ideas and vision of Jubilee at ETS. It will be an enjoyable evening of
fellowship, food, and discussion. Plan to be here.
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 SPRING
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday,
May 12, 2007 - 10 am to 2 pm
Have you felt
a calling to the ministry? Are you looking for an accredited seminary
where you can explore that calling and receive a quality
education? Look no further. Right here in the heart of Detroit is a
diverse Christian community where men and women learn pastoral and lay
leadership skills through study, prayer, dialogue, and collaboration.
Join us on
Saturday, May 12, 2007 from 10 am to 2 pm for our Spring Open House.
Your questions will be answered by faculty, staff and students
who will be here to meet and greet you. Come, tour the building, join in
discussions about the seminary and seminary life.
Learn about
our degree programs and course offerings. Information on
admissions and registration processes and procedures as well as financial
aid and tuition payment programs will be available. Stop in and bring
a friend. Pick up an application packet. Spread the word. Ecumenical
Theological Seminary is waiting for you.
If you have any
questions, please call 313-831-5200 for more information. Come and
bring a friend.
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 Words from our grads:
Terry Gallagher
MDiv Student,
Class of 2007
ETS News Flash: Seminary experience transforms "cynical
hard hearted conservative corporate executive" into a "flaming
liberal bleeding heart pastor."
As is true for most
headlines today, the one above, while not completely accurate, contains
enough of the truth to be printable.
It is true that a
number of years ago, I was a cynical hard hearted conservative corporate
executive, and it is also true that after 5 years of seminary I could now
fit some people's concept of a "flaming liberal bleeding heart
pastor." What is somewhat misleading is the claim that the Ecumenical
Theological Seminary experience was the transforming force when actually it
was God.
I have been
transformed by the acceptance of God's Spirit working in my life through
the seminary experience of classes, professors, and peers; through the
churches that I pastor, and through the people that I meet who show me new
understandings of God working in my life every day.
It is also true that
it was the experiences of Seminary that most pointedly broke down those internal
barriers that I had which interfered with seeing God alive and working in
this world today in ways that I could never have seen before. For a white
male corporate executive, the first shock wave hit through the experience
of "Church & Society" which is the ETS equivalent of boot
camp for those of us that belong to the privileged classes of the majority
and are so ignorant we aren't even aware of this fact.
The shock waves of
the seminary experience continued to assault my interior barriers to new understandings
of God with the courses in Biblical studies and Theology. The shock waves
contained in each course not simply with the class content or due to the
wisdom of the professors but more so as a result of the enlightening and
challenging interactions that occurred within my amazingly diverse group of
peers.
Somewhere along the
way and I don't know where and I am unsure of exactly when, I realized a
new way of approaching my God and seeing the presence of God's Spirit in
all that I encounter. For whatever portion of this transformation from
narrow minded and cynic to open minded and hope filled that ETS is
responsible for, I will be eternally grateful.
Terry Gallagher will
graduate with his Master of Divinity Degree from ETS on June 2nd. He
recently retired from the auto industry and is currently serving as pastor
of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Flat Rock and First
Congregational United Church of Christ of Gibraltar.
He plans to continue his education at ETS in the Doctor of Ministry
Program.
Sandra E. Freeman
UMD
student, class of 2007
I began matriculating at Ecumenical
Theological Seminary in 2005. This was a totally different area of
study for me after almost 37 years as a Registered Nurse the last 25
years being a Hospital Executive. Almost all of my professional life has
been spent in the world of education, science, and business. I earned a
Bachelor in Nursing and a Master in Health Service Administration; but
there was still 'something missing.' I asked numerous questions and became
more deeply involved with my faith community. I wanted to learn more not
just about church but also about my faith journey where I was headed.
I found myself attending an Open House at
ETS in June 2005. The next thing I knew I was in class! Initially, this
time was a period of discernment for me; a time for me to stop and listen
to what was being said to me and where I was being led. Truly my steps have
been ordered along an entirely new path and I thank God for that.
Attending ETS has been a wonderful
experience. New acquaintances, new friends and a different perspective have
been gained. School and studying are old friends, which I enjoy. Coming
from a corporate world, I am used to things being black or white, having a
firm basis with calculated yet expected outcomes - even in the educational
arena.
In this seminary, there is structure yet
compassion and interest in each person as an individual. Students actually
enjoy being together, sharing and learning from each other. The professors
are the greatest. They readily involve students in learning and dialoguing.
In almost every instance, they extend themselves to assist students in any
ways possible.
Sandra E. Freeman will graduate from
the Urban Ministry Diploma on June 2nd. In the fall, she will enter
the ETS Master of Divinity Program.
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ETS Distinguished Alumni Banquet and Reunion June 1st
The ETS
Alumni Association is proud to introduce you to the two distinguished
Alumni who will be honored at the June 1, 2007 Distinguished Alumni Banquet and Reunion . Tickets are
$35 per person and dress is Semi Formal. To purchase tickets call Cathy Maher
313-831-5200, ext. 210 or email her at cmaher@etseminary.edu.
The Reverend Penny L. Lowes
Penny
L. Lowes is currently the senior pastor at the Congregational Church of
Birmingham, United Church of Christ in Bloomfield Hill, Michigan
where she has served for the past five years. She is the first woman to
hold this position. Penny completed her undergraduate work at Bowling Green State
University in Ohio,
receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, and her Master of Arts
Degree in Education with a specialty in Training Dynamics and Leadership
from University
of Michigan before
entering ETS. She received her Master of Divinity Degree in 1999.
After
graduation, Penny received a call to Associate Pastor at the First
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Rochester, Michigan.
She was ordained at the Rochester
Church on September
19, 1999 and served that church until moving to the Congregational
Church of Birmingham, UCC in April of 2002.
Penny is married to Dean McMinn and
the mother of three children: Zachary, Nicholas and Courtney, and two grown
step-children Nathan and Sean. She is grateful for the presence of ETS in Detroit and the
outstanding education and spiritual formation experiences she received
there.
The Reverend Dr. Samuel Stephens
Samuel
Stephens is currently the senior pastor at Pure
Word Missionary
Baptist Church
in Detroit
where he has served for the past seven years. Sam graduated from Cass Technical
High School, Detroit in 1974. He continued his
education in various fields of study including Highland Park Community
College, Control Data Institute, ISC Systems Corporation, William Tindale
BA, before attending Ecumenical Theological Seminary in 1991. Sam
graduated with his Master of Divinity in 1999 and his Doctor of Ministry in
2005.
Pastor
Stephens gained extensive experience in the corporate management
environment as well as the technology development environment. In addition
to his pastorship, Sam also founded the Get It Done Learning Centers, which
are tutoring centers located throughout Michigan. He is currently the Chief
Executive Officer of this family-owned business.
Sam is
particularly proud of the ministry Pure Word Missionary Baptist provides
the community while creating an environment where people of various
socio-economic and cultural backgrounds can worship together in spirit and
truth. |
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Masters of Divinity Summer 2007
Class Offerings at ETS
Introduction to Preaching
M, T, Th 6-9:50 pm
6/11-6/28 4 Credits
Ecological Ministry of the Church
Wed. 6/6, 17, 27, and 7/11 - 6 -9:50 pm
Sat. 6/16 and 30 - 9:30 am - 4 pm
4 Credits
Experiencing Religious Diversity
Mon. through Friday 6/18-6/23 8 am -8 pm
Sat 6/23 9 am -12 pm
4 Credits
Islam in the West
M, W, Th 6-9:50pm 8/6-8/23
4 Credits
The Pentateuch
M, T, Th
7/9-26
6-9:50pm
4 Credits
Theological Voices for the 21st Century
Sat
7/7-8/18
9:30am-4pm
4 Credits
Ministry of Dance M,T,Th 6/4-6/21
6-9:50pm
4 Credits
Register online at
www.etseminary.edu
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NEW SUMMER
COURSE SNAP SHOTS
This summer ETS is pleased to offer two new MDiv courses,
Ecological Ministry of the Church, taught by Dr. Olaf Lidums, and Ministry
of Dance taught by Penny Godboldo
Ecological Ministry of the Church
Dr.
Olaf Lidums
Wednesday
June 6, 13, 27, Saturday June 16, 30, Wednesday, July 11
Ecological
Ministry expresses our common care as stewards of God's Good Earth. This holistic
environmental emphasis in ministry relates to economic, cultural, political
and social processes and structures of our society.
This course will
focus on Urban Ecology, with
specific attention to Metro Detroit. It will explore how Detroit demonstrates both the
decomposition and reconstitution of a city preparing to move to a more
viable ecological and social future. Students will have the opportunity to
engage in field-learning experiences in Detroit urban farm settings.
It will be
taught from an inter-disciplinary approach of a theologian, an
environmental scientist, and an urban ecologist. Joining me will be Dr.
Linda Schweitzer, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Oakland University
and Rev. Ventra Asana, a PhD candidate in Urban Ecology at Union Institute
and University in Cincinnati,
Ohio.
This
course will be dynamically engaging, highly informative, spiritually
challenging, and equipping for current and new disciples of God's Good Earth.
June 4-21,
2007 6:00p - 9:50p
Mondays
/ Tuesdays / Thursdays
Come and take a
dance class at ETS. No previous dance training is required. This class
is designed for people interested in gaining an understanding of
the role of dance in the worship service. It is appropriate for church
leaders and/or those interested in starting or enhancing an
existing dance ministry.
We will
complete the course with a small repertory of dances appropriate for the
worship experience. Women and men are encouraged to come for an
enjoyable and spiritually enriching experience. Dress in comfortable,
loose-fitting clothing.
Penny Godboldo
is a tenured, Associate Professor of Dance/Dance Education at Marygrove College
and Artistic Director of the Liturgical Dance Ministry at Hartford Memorial
Baptist Church
in Detroit,
where she serves as a Minister.
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Versey Williams, from Trinity African
Methodist Episcopal in Lansing,
presented her dissertation: "Church Response to People Affected by
Someone's Addiction" on April 13th.
Charles Clark,
from Friendship Missionary Baptist in Pontiac,
presented his dissertation: "Engaging Men in Church: Biblical Manhood
and Accountability" on April 15th.
Congratulations to
both of them.
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Walk2gether
Michigan
Experience
the Oneness
Sunday,
May 20, 2007 at
Detroit
International Riverfront
GM Global
Headquarters at the Renaissance
Center
Sponsored
by MRDI (Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion formerly known as
NCCJ)
This unique
walk-a-thon raises funds to sponsor the Roundtable's youth diversity
leadership program.
Gather
your friends and family to walk with ETS and other folks who believe in the
"unity" "community." For more information and to
register please go to: www.walk2gether.kintera.org Then
RSVP to ETS at jroach@etseminary.edu
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