Alumni
Books on Korean Protestantism
Dr. Sung-Deuk Oak, STH alumnus, published two books on the history of early Korean Protestantism for the Korean audience. A New History of Early Korean Protestantism is a critical study of many accepted, yet distorted narratives of early Korean churches up to 1910. It demythologizes historical heroes and criticize renowned historians’ interpretations. Recently Christianity Today Korea chose this book as the best book of the year in history and nominated it for the book of the year.
The First Forty-five Events of Early Korean Protestantism presents 45 first figures and events in the early history of Korean Christianity such as the first visiting missionary, the first vernacular Korean Christian tract, the first baptism in Pyongyang, and so on. Oak’s three sourcebooks also come out this January. Sources of Samuel Austin Moffett, vol. 1 (1854-93) and vol. 2 (1894-1900). This ten-volume series compiles all English materials of the first American missionary couple to Pyongyang and translate them into Korean with annotations and photos. Sources of Modern Nursing in Korea, vol. 2 (1910-19) transcribes, translates, and annotates the primary (English, Japanese, and Korean) sources of the nursing work in Korea.
No Other Name: One Couple’s Journey With Cancer
Ed Williamson, STH alumnus, recently published his book No Other Name: One Couple's Journey With Cancer. This is a story of Ed and Loretta Williamson and their look at realistic faith amid modern medicine intertwined in a story of love, pain, triumph, anguish and miracles. Dr. Williamson holds a doctorate in Mission and Evangelism from STH.
Eastern Fellowship of Professors of Mission Report
On the weekend of October 21st and 22nd, professors and graduate students representing 18 different religious and educational institutions from the North East and Mid Atlantic United States met at the 99th annual Eastern Fellowship of Professors of Mission. Seeking to survey and understand the current state of missions education in the region, the theme of the conference was “Education for Mission: Current Status and Future Visions.” There were three panels that represented seminaries, undergraduate institutions, and churches, respectively. Panelist in each session addressed the same set of questions from their particular contexts: (1) what are you teaching? (2) what are your teaching objectives? (3) what should we be teaching and why? and (4) how do you see mission education linked with the task of mission service?
The conversation that ensued was productive and informative. Panelists and attendants alike discussed that as the cultural and religious context of the United States was changing, the demography of the students who sought mission education shifted as well. Moreover, such a shift demanded new starting points and pedagogies for teaching mission theory and practice that fit into the rich pluralistic context that students would inhabit on local, regional, national, and even global levels. One striking feature of the conference was the theological diversity of those who attended. It was encouraging to see attendees from both theologically conservative and liberal backgrounds come together to discuss the important and pressing issue of training mission practitioners. As Dana Robert, Boston University’s Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission, said in her opening remarks, the Eastern Fellowship of Professors of Mission had truly moved beyond the modernist and fundamentalist controversies of the 20th century in order to discern how mission professors and practitioners could faithfully participate in the Mission of God.
Report by Jeremy Hegi
Vincent Machozi’s Calling
Father Vincent Machozi (STH ’15), a priest from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was recently killed during his peaceful protest to help end the violence. He operated a website Beni Lubero Online, where he posted photos of victims of violence in the DRC province of North Kivu, as well as reports that often identified the killers as military or government agents. He had hoped that the photos of dead and dismembered bodies would galvanize site visitors to help end the violence. Full article about his calling and martyrdom can be found here.
Conversions and Transformations: The 14th Meeting of the International Association for Mission Studies
Mission Studies revolves around change. Conversion animates the entire field: religious, institutional, and cultural transformations are the object and, sometimes, the objective of missiological studies. For that reason, Mika Vähäkangas observed that it was odd that the International Association for Mission Studies had waited until its 14th Quadrennial meeting before it finally addressed the issue of “Conversions and Transformations.” In his opening remarks of August 11, 2016 in Seoul, Korea, the IAMS President wondered aloud, “Was conversion too close and therefore too controversial a subject to raise at an earlier date?”
The week-long conference was an extended answer to his question, showcasing through plenary sessions and study groups that conversion is a challenging topic. Scholars from Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America presented papers that collectively demonstrated that conversions and transformations look different, depending on the time and place. There is no normative conversion, even if conversion is the norm.
Boston University had solid representation at the meeting. Daryl Ireland (’15), Younghwa Kim (’16), Daewon Moon (current student), and Titus Presler (’94) all attended, three of whom presented papers on the theme.
Christian Mission Education
Benjamin L. Hartley (BUSTh 2005) recently finished up 11 years of work as a mission professor and Director of United Methodist Studies at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University in Philadelphia. He now joins the faculty at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon as the Associate Professor of Christian Studies. He will continue to teach courses in Christian mission and the history of world Christianity among undergraduates and graduate students. He also recently became part of the Missional Wisdom Foundation cohort of United Methodists in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. This group is together exploring new possibilities for Christian ministry in the Northwest. Ben recently transferred his Conference relationship as a UMC deacon to Oregon-Idaho from Eastern Pennsylvania. In addition to his work at George Fox University he is also a deacon at Mountain Home United Methodist Church in Sherwood, Oregon.
Mission as Globalization
David W. Scott, assistant professor of religion and Pieper Chair of Servant Leadership at Ripon College and CGCM alumnus (STH '07, GRS '13), recently published his book Mission as Globalization: Methodists in Southeast Asia at the Turn of the Twentieth Century. The book unites the history of globalization with the history of Christian mission, examining the global connections produced by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Malaysia Mission from 1885-1915. Full description of his book can be found here.
Dr.Koh Hyeseong recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice
On July 19, 2016, Dr. Koh Hyeseong-Cheon will be recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for her achievements and contributions as a naturalized citizen. Senator Richard Blumenthal and other representatives of the government will speak at this event. She is the first Korean American to receive this recognition. Dr. Koh received a Doctorate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Boston University in 1959. She is a co-founder of the East Rock Institute in New Haven, Connecticut (1952-) and her leadership was acknowledged through her reception of the Prime Minister’s Award in South Korea (1990), the Korean Broadcasting Society Overseas Korean Compatriot Prize in South Korea (2000), the Connecticut Governor’s Award (2003), and the Order of Civil Merit in South Korea (2007). More description of her achievements can be found at the Boston Korean Diaspora Project website.
Hunter Mabry, American Sociologist and Missionary
Dr. Hunter P. Mabry, teacher, sociologist, and missionary, passed away on July 9, 2016, after a long struggle with chronic radiation damage. Mabry obtained his Doctorate in Sociology of Religion and Social Ethics at the Boston University School of Theology in 1969 and had taught and mentored hundreds of students under the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and the United Theological College in Bangalore, India. His memorial service was held on July 16 at the Jesus the Redeemer Church, Roanoke, Virginia. Full tribute can be found here.
Korea Research Institute for Mission
Daewon Moon, Doctoral Fellow at the CGCM, was recently appointed as a visiting researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Mission (KRIM). He is involved in a project to develop training materials for Korean missionary candidates under the leadership of the renowned Korean missiologist Dr. Steve Moon, who is contributing editor of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research. Daewon is also supporting KRIM’s annual missiological forum and seminar. Following a year and a half of mission work at International Leadership University in Burundi, he and his family have temporarily relocated to Korea due to political instability in Burundi.