Alumni Around the World
Year by year, advanced graduate students pass through the School of Theology and the Center for Global Christianity, then go out into the world to teach and do what they have been studying. As they move, the CGCM community grows in engagement through them. They are such a diverse group of people that no one description could possibly do the entire body justice. Instead, news and updates will be regularly provided. Cumulatively, their activities will create a portrait of the CGCM alumni community.
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.
Building Bridges
At the United Methodist General Conference, Glen Messer--the first faculty associate of the CGCM, and now an executive in the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships--announced that the UMC was forming two new ecumenical relationships. One was with the Moravian Church and the other with the Uniting Church in Sweden.
Perfecting Unity
In his new book, Perfecting Unity, Glen Alton Messer II--the first faculty associate of the Center for Global Christianity & Mission--aids Christ's disciples in discernment in the midst of this present moment of time; in our world and context. The book is also written for those who wish to understand Christians and the things with which they wrestle as they do their best to live faithfully in the world. It is not a book that gives answers. Indeed, it is a book that challenges answers formulated previously by other faithful Christians in different moments and different contexts. It is not a repudiation of what came before; but a reminder that the practice of courage in people of faith necessitates the testing of previous worldviews and the formulation of new best attempts to incarnate the love of God in us and around us.
The book is being published one chapter at a time, with a new chapter appearing every Wednesday until October. The material is digitally accessible now, and later will be available for purchase through Amazon.
Vincent Machozi Memorial Services
On April 26th, life and death of Father Vincent Machozi, A.A. was remembered during a memorial service to be held in the Boston University Marsh Chapel. The service began at 2:00 pm, and included various people from the communities Father Machozi overlapped with in Boston, such as the School of Theology, African Studies, the Assumptionists, Congolese immigrants, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Recently, a service was held for him at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Everett, Massachusetts, and his funeral was held in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Exploring Sports and Spirituality in the Classroom
The city of Boston is a sports-loving city with thousands of people following sports religiously. But what is the connection between sports and spirituality? Some scholars are exploring that very question. Boston University School of Theology alum Mark Stamm teaches a course precisely on the connection between sports and spirituality in American culture. Dr. Stamm (STH, Th.D. '95) is a Professor of Christian Worship at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Nurtured in the loved Boston Red Sox baseball team in his time at BU, Dr. Stamm belongs to the Society for American Baseball Research. He explores how baseball and other sports impact on Christian faith, spirituality, and even liturgy. You can read more about his fascinating course in the article on Sports and Spirituality by Sam Hodges.