ECF Fellows News: December 2016
Audra Abt (2015) offered an ECF-sponsored webinar, Witnessing Faithfully Beyond the Walls in September 2016 on intercultural faith community development and building community-based witness. She also spoke at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Women’s and Gender Studies panel on the experiences of LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees in the church. In October 2016, she was the guest preacher at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland and spoke at the Dean’s forum about creative approaches to being Church in the world. In addition, she began work as a member of a team brought together by The Episcopal Church Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries to transcreate the Asset Based Community Development – Called to Transformation workshop for use by Episcopalians in Province IX and for Spanish-speakers in the United States. Audra gave a presentation to ECF Board of Directors at their meeting in November 2016 and served as moderator for a panel at the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina’s annual convention. The panel brought together lay leaders involved in new ministries and alternative worshiping communities before the convention to talk about their experiences of reconciliation and evangelism and to embolden more lay leaders to embrace the call to be domestic missionaries in their own contexts.
Liza Anderson (2010) has completed her PhD in theology at Yale University, and has started a position as a postdoctoral fellow at Episcopal Divinity School, teaching church history. She has also been named a KAICIID International Fellow in Interreligious Dialogue. The program aims to, “facilitate dialogue encounters by giving these teachers the tools, experience, networks and knowledge to pursue interreligious dialogue and further be able to prepare their own students to become facilitators and leaders in interreligious dialogue.”
Claude Barbre (1995) presented two papers in November as part of the 2016 Chicago School Lecture Series. The first paper was entitled, “The Prejudice Against Children: Contemporary Perspectives on Childism.” A second paper, “Archetypes of Masculinity in Psychotherapy and Counseling,” was presented in honor of Men’s Health Awareness Month. Also, in January 2017 Claude will present a paper, “People With a Future Instead of a Face: Neoliberalism, Neo-illiberalism, and Language Mystification in Psychology” at a national conference entitled, “Advancing Psychotherapy for the Next Generation: Rehumanizing Mental Health in Policy and Practice,” sponsored by The Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (CCP). In addition, in March he will present two papers at the 2017 Cultural Impact Conference (CIC) in Chicago. One paper, “An American Tragedy: A History of Police Torture in Chicago,” will be presented as part of a panel entitled, “Police Torture in Chicago: Trauma, Justice, and Rehumanization.” A second presentation, “Connecting Communities and Classrooms: A Round Table Discussion” will focus on ways to create bidirectional learning opportunities between academic communities and marginalized neighborhoods. Further, he will publish a book chapter entitled, “My Father’s Shoes: Confronting the Intergenerational Transmission of Neoliberal Ideologies and Subjectivities in a Psychoanalyst’s Personal Therapy and Their Impact on Clinical Encounters” in Slow Burn: Patient’s Perspectives on the Political in Psychoanalytic Treatment, edited by Max Cavitch (Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2017). Finally, Claude has been appointed a Core Faculty Member of the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (CCP) where he is also a Training Supervisor, and member of the Board of Directors. He is Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago IL., and a psychoanalyst in private practice in Chicago.
Bruce Chilton (1974) has retired from his position as rector of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Barrytown, NY, and continues his ministry as Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion and Senior Pastor at Bard College. His recent publications include “Jewish Mysticism, Nostra Aetate, and Renewal in Judaism and Christianity,” Bridging between Sister Religions. Studies of Jewish and Christian Scriptures Offered in Honor of Prof. John T. Townsend: The Brill Reference Library of Judaism 51 (ed. Isaac Kalmi; Leiden: Brill, 2016) 262-283; “The Gospel according to John's Rabbi Jesus,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 25.2 (2015) 39-54; and “Jesus: Money in the Service of the Kingdom,” The Episcopal New Yorker (Spring 2015) 14, as well as reviews in The Review of Rabbinic Judaism, Biblical Archaeology Review, and The Review of Biblical Literature. During the autumn of 2016 he gave a series of lectures, entitled “Herod the Great,” for the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College as well as a series on Saint Paul for the Reformed Church in Rhinebeck, based on his book, Rabbi Paul. A Critical Biography.
Paul Cochran (1977) died in Lexington, Kentucky on October 14, 2016 at the age of 74. Paul served parishes in New York and Long Island and was named an ECF Fellow in 1977 when he began doctoral studies at General Theological Seminary. A service was held at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Nicholasville, KY on October 28, 2016. More on Paul’s life can be found here in the General Theological Seminary News. Please pray for Paul, his daughters Anastasia and Betina and their family, and those who mourn.
Pamela Cooper-White (1995) was featured in a video series, Union Faculty Video Spotlight, which highlights the issues being addressed by faculty at the seminary. In “Union Ideas: Becoming Conscious of the Unconscious," Pamela shares an overview of how and why understanding of the unconscious is important for the training for those in ministry, activism, or any type of relationship or group.
Pamela is the Christiane Brooks Johnson Professor of Psychology and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY assisting priest at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Joseph Duggan (2008) shares that Postcolonial Networks had an exhibition booth for their knowledge activism project, Borderless Press, at the 2016 American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Conferences in San Antonio, TX. Borderless Press publishes books of Majority World scholars in Africa, Asia and South America. Joseph and Borderless Press' Managing Editor, Dr. RS Wafula, a Kenyan postcolonial scholar, will also launch their new book: Knowledge Activism Beyond Theory: A World-wide Call to Action. Joseph is founder of the Postcolonial Networks and Priest-in-Charge of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Fair Oaks, CA.
P. Joshua Griffin (2013) has worked with the Native Village of Kivalina on receiving an $18,400 grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado. This award will support a collaborative effort between the Native Village of Kivalina and the Re-Locate Project to conduct a Food Sovereignty Assessment. This program has multiple objectives, among them to provide a valuable tool in understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change and baseline data for future village planning. Griff, a University of Washington Anthropology Doctoral candidate, and a Re-Locate Curator, will coordinate the project, assisted by locally selected Kivalina youth interns. More information on this project is available the Relocate Kivalina website.
Jordan Hylden (2015) now serves as Canon Theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas and Associate Editor for The Living Church Foundation. In his new role with the diocese, he will be working to create resources for parish Christian formation, among other projects. Recently, he delivered study day talks in the Diocese of Central Florida and the Diocese of Norwich, England. Jordan is writing his doctoral dissertation in theology and ethics at Duke University with Stanley Hauerwas, focusing on democracy and authority in the work of the Catholic philosopher Yves Simon.
Robert MacSwain (2004) is on sabbatical as a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and a resident of the Center for the Study of World Religions. In September, his review of William J. Wainwright's Reason, Revelation, and Devotion was published on the American Academy of Religion's new on-line review site Reading Religion. In October, he delivered a paper titled "The Hagiological Argument for the Existence of God" at the Eastern conference of the Society of Christian Philosophers, held at Rutgers University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Rob is Associate Professor of Theology at the School of Theology of the University of the South.
C. Bruce McNab (1973) has published his third book, Believing is Seeing: A Guide for Responding to John’s Gospel (Wipf & Stock, 2016). He shares in this post that, “the book is primarily for a lay audience in the hope that the author’s thoughts might be a springboard for readers’ private insights, reflections, and ruminations on the Fourth Gospel. Each chapter concludes with a section called “Doing Your Own Theology,” made up of personal reflection questions for readers to ponder.”
Derek Minno Bloom (2016) has been organizing with the Educational Justice Collective in Asbury Park, NJ. The collective is currently working with local transgender organizers to organize the Transgender Day of Remembrance for the city of Asbury Park with the hope to make it a state-wide event next year. Derek also helped found the Racial Justice Project (RJP) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park. Recently, the Racial Justice Project hosted a workshop/adult spiritual education class on women of color feminism and Christianity. In November RJP also organized two trainings on "How to Interrupt the Isms (racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.) During the Holiday Season". Derek is also the Director of Food Justice at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, NJ. This winter Food Justice at Trinity is organizing a speaking event led and organized by people experiencing homelessness to educate the Asbury Park community about poverty in their town.
Kyle Oliver (2016) was named to faculty of Kenyon College's 2016 spiritual writing program, Beyond Walls. The program teaches how to be a more more proficient and current in writing for media as diverse as op-eds, blogs, the personal essay, and social media. Kyle will also be teaching “Digital Media for Ministry” at Virginia Theological Seminary January 9-13. This course is open to continuing education students and at time of publication, the course still had spaces available. March 10-11, 2017, Kyle will be co-facilitating a regional e-Formation Bootcamp in Boston, MA. Kyle was interviewed about his digital missioner work on KALW 's podcast "The Specialist" and interviewed by Faith & Leadership in, “You already have everything you need to be a digital media minister”.
William Petersen (1970) reports that the latest evidence of "failing retirement" is that he is currently teaching a “Liturgy & Music: Development & Theology" course sponsored by the Bexley-Seabury Federation for Episcopal seminarians, and interested faculty, at Colgate Rochester Crozer Theological Seminary in Rochester, NY. Bill is Emeritus Dean and Professor of Ecclesiastical and Ecumenical History of Bexley Hall Seminary, Consultant to the Ecumenical Office of the Episcopal Church, and the founder and convener of The Advent Project.
Titus Presler (1988) presented at a one-day conference "Jesus Amidst the Many Mosques: Christian Witness, Muslim Contexts" on October 22 at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles, CA. Some 75 participants, including Episcopalians, Muslims and members of the wider community, reflected on how Christian ministry is carried out in Muslim-majority areas, centering on the question: "How does one remain grounded in, and loyal to, one's own particular religious tradition while working with those from another?” Titus is currently based in Vermont, where he serves St. Matthew’s Church in Enosburg Falls, and continues as Principal-in-exile of Edwardes College in Peshawar, Pakistan at the request of Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters.
Nedgine Paul (2016) was profiled in the September issue of Faith & Leadership in “Proving what’s possible in Haiti”. The article shares how Nedgine founded and developed the non-profit Anseye Pou Ayiti and how by focusing on the Haiti’s rich culture, customs and community, it is possible to make a difference. Anseye Pou Ayiti recruits, trains, and equips Haitian teacher leaders to unleash transformative outcomes for Haitian students.
C.K. Robertson (1998) is a featured contributor in the book of meditations for the season of Lent, "Ashes and the Phoenix" published by Forward Movement. He is guest teaching this fall at Church Divinity School of the Pacific and has been invited to be a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Spring 2017 at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in China. Chuck is delighted to announce two new volumes in his Studies in Episcopal and Anglican Theology series through Peter Lang Publishing, one on a theology of tragedy by Joel Daniels and the other on leadership and conflict in African churches by Mkunga Mtingele. Chuck is Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Beyond The Episcopal Church.
Greta Ronningen (2011), a founding member of Community of Divine Love, an Episcopal monastery, has written a book for the inmates she serves. Free on the Inside: Finding God Behind Bars is an invitation to inmates to use their time of incarceration as a time to heal, transform and find spiritual rehabilitation. The book includes stories of Sr. Greta's own journey through trauma and the healing she found through Christ. Free on the Inside describes how a prison cell can become a monastic cell, how imprisonment can lead to true freedom.
Robert Royalty (1991) delivered the 37th LaFollette Lecture in the Humanities at Wabash College in October. His lecture was entitled “Walking Hadrian’s Wall: Meditations on Romans, Christian, Birds, and Growing Older” in which he shared his personal story, the moments that tie us together as humans, and wove in his research on early Christianity, heresy, some current politics, and plenty of Roman history. The lecture was profiled in the Wabash Magazine article, “A Wall that Connects Us”. Bob is Professor of Religion at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN.
Jane Shaw (1991) delivered Berkeley Divinity School’s 2016 Cheney Lecture during Convocation on October 18. Her lecture was entitled “Mysticism and Ethics: A Modern (mostly Anglican) Perspective.” For more details on her talk, please click here. Jane is Dean of Religious Life and Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University.
Regina Walton's (2005) collection of poems The Yearning Life was recently published by Paraclete Press and was awarded the first Phyllis Tickle Prize for Poetry. Her essay "The Deaths of Macrina and Monica in Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Marcrina and Augustine's Confessions: The Female Philosopher and the Problem of Christian Grief," is included in the newly-published volume Suffering and Evil in Early Christian Thought (Baker Academic, 2016). In September, she presented a paper entitled "Storying at Little Gidding: Renaissance Dialogue, Collaborative Authorship, and the 'framing and moulding of this storying Busines'” at a conference on the Ferrars of Little Gidding held at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Regina serves as Pastor and Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Newton, MA, and was recently named Denominational Counselor for Episcopal/Anglican students at Harvard Divinity School.
Malcolm Young (1999) presented a paper at the Pacific Coast Theological Society called “Theology, Economic Symbols and the Environment.” Malcolm is Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, CA and regularly contributes to the San Francisco Chronicle. The latest op-ed, “What do we do now?”, shares his response to the recent presidential election. Malcolm as also been in the news with press coverage of Grace Cathedral’s new projects including its St. Francis Day Pet Blessings and the launch of a new app audio and visual tour of the Cathedral.