Alumni News
An Election Week Message from Dean Moore
Dear Beloved Community,
How can we be present with one another during Election Week, especially with people who hold strong and diverse views and people observing in many countries? Millions of people have already voted, and I hope huge numbers vote on November 3. People know that the future of the United States and global relationships are at stake. Yet, people have different views of that future. This is a time to act on your convictions and give others space to act on theirs, holding one another in dignity if not in agreement or easy conversation. STH student groups and Religion and Conflict Transformation will offer opportunities for reflective conversations over the next month. Students can look up the links to these events in this week’s issue of Collegium.
How can we also be present with a raging world? At the same time that political contests are flaming, people are facing the pressures of COVID-19 on themselves and on the people they love, added to the exhaustion of shut-downs and quarantines, made more ominous by quickly rising cases on every continent. We are surrounded by hard news: a large earthquake has shaken Turkey and Greece; wildfires continue across the Western US; another hurricane has battered the Gulf Coast. Terror attacks have burst out in France and Pakistan and Austria, immigrant children in the US are still suffering separation from their families and a loss of their human rights, and Walter Wallace, Jr., an African American man was killed by police in Philadelphia, followed by violence in the streets. How can we stop the cycles of violence and ecological abuse that create and multiply these tragedies? How can we be present to the hard realities and the real possibilities for justice and change? We can only be present when we face them and allow them to critique and transform us with the force of truth, even as we listen intently and discern paths shaped by our multiple truths in the search for common ground (Howard Thurman).
How can we be present with the Holy? This may be a week to focus on practices that keep you centered, whether contemplative prayer, the morning prayers of your tradition, Buddhist walking meditation, close reading of scripture, or jogging. Many of us will be impassioned this week to celebrate, rage, mourn, or kick ourselves into action. As we all do what we most need, I encourage you to pause frequently to center, so your celebrations, ragings, mourning, and actions can be present to the moment and the future to which it points.
May justice and democracy survive, and may we have courage and strength to keep building!
With deep respect,
Mary Elizabeth Moore, Dean (she/her/hers)
New Testament Faculty Create Video for Prospective Doctoral Students
October 2020 – The Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) has recently launched an initiative to recruit students from underrepresented populations to the academic area of Biblical Studies. Their recent SBL event BlackScholarsMatter was designed to increase diversity in Biblical Studies. Boston University School of Theology (STH) Assistant Professor of New Testament Rev. Dr. Shively T. J. Smith was a panelist for this event. The Society is putting together a panel where STH Assistant Professor of New Testament Luis Menéndez-Antuña will be presenting, and has asked that institutions advertise what kind of support they offer minority students.
Professors Smith and Menéndez-Antuña created a video that would explain to prospective doctoral students of color what it is like to be a student here at STH. Their collegial conversation includes topics like why they love Boston, their own interests and their favorite on-campus organizations at Boston University, the new BU Center for Antiracist Research, and what makes a successful PhD student.
For more information about the PhD program at STH, please click here. Enjoy the video!
Rev. Bailey Brawner (STH ’18) an Openly LGBTQ+ Pastor Talks About the “Racical Inclusiveness” of Her Church
The “radical inclusiveness” of an openly LBGTQ+ pastor, to embrace the reality that faith is about action.
Mission Hills United Methodist Church
- Contact: 4044 Lark St, San Diego 619-296-1243 www.missionhillsumc.org
- Membership: 50
- Neighborhood: Mission Hills
- Pastor: Bailey Brawner
- Age: 26
- Born: Anchorage, AK
- Formation: University of Montana-Western, Dillon, MT; Boston University School of Theology, Boston, MA.
- Years Ordained: 3
San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach?
Pastor Bailey Brawner: God’s expansive love. Sometimes we as people of faith, as the church, put limits on God’s love, which is completely against the message of Jesus. Jesus was all about radical inclusiveness, which is something I try to live out in my ministry as well.
SDR: What is the mission of your church?
PB: Our mission statement is “Loving God by loving all.” It speaks to the inclusive and radical love of God for all God’s people. I am an openly LBGTQ+ pastor, and so our church is a reconciling church, which means no matter who you are, what you love, or what you do for a living or not, you are fully loved, accepted and needed by God. I started as pastor at Mission Hills in July 2019 and in September of that year I started a group called The Voyage for LBGTQ+ people of faith, and it has expanded online to people in the UK and Canada and across the U.S. We get together to talk about hard topics and fun topics; we explore the idea of faith with LBGTQ+ people, many of whom have been told by their church that they will not be loved by God until they change, and won’t be accepted and be able to marry their partner in their home church. Those raw moments have shown me what our church believes, and this lifesaving ministry speaks to that idea of loving God by loving all.
SDR: Where is the strangest place you found God?
PB: One of the most profound non-traditional God-moments I had was at a drag show in seminary I attended with my best friend. We noticed the Holy Spirit in that space, showing up in this affirming and incredibly positive environment where there was no fear or shyness about showing up as your full self, and that’s something God continues to remind me — that we weren’t created to be in hiding; we were created to be fully ourselves. That authenticity is what makes us so beloved.
SDR: Where do you go when you die?
PB: We are called to trust in God’s care, which means living like Jesus did. Sometimes we think of faith and salvation as a “ticket to heaven” mentality, but in reality, it is about doing the work to be faithful now. I guess I’m reframing the question, but what happens when we die is less important than what we are doing before we die, how we are living like Jesus and honoring the story of Christ here and now. This idea of salvation, of being saved before we die, is something we are given through grace, and we are saved by faith through grace. So when we are born, we can do nothing to separate ourselves from the love of God. I find that reassuring. Therefore my salvation is not something I’m worried about after I die. When we shift our focus in this way, it makes it easier to do the work, to embrace the reality that faith is about action, and that no matter what happens after we die, whether it is heaven, hell or something we don’t have language for yet, we can rest in that faith and assurance from Christ.
This article was originally published here, by the San Diego Reader.
Third-Year Student Appointed to BU Socially Responsible Investing Committee
October 2020 – Boston University School of Theology (STH) student Breanne MacFarland (MDiv/MSW ’22) was recently appointed to serve as the BU Graduate Student Representative on the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, with the Board of Trustees. This is the first time an STH student has been selected to represent their University graduate student peers on this board.
Breanne is in her third year at the School of Theology and the School of Social Work (SSW), as she pursues a dual degree in social work and theology. She is the current president of the STH Student Association. In her application, she wrote about the use fossil fuels in her state of Alaska and their detrimental effects on the environment.
This year, “the group will be working to define a process for the Board of Trustees’ reconsideration of a petition for the University to divest from fossil fuel investments in 2021," says MacFarland. The group will be meeting at least four times this year, up from twice last year. Additional information on investment issues can be found here.
Reverend Herbert F. Hoskins (STH ’56)
Reverend Herbert F. Hoskins June 7, 2020 Reverend Herbert F. Hoskins, 95, of Minoa died peacefully on June 7th. He was a United Methodist Minister for many years, serving many locations throughout Central New York. He enjoyed playing cards and spending time with friends gathered throughout his ministry. He was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn; son, Stephen; and grandson, Dennis. He is survived by children, Carol Hoskins, Marley (Tom) Wylie and Charlie Hoskins; granddaughter, Janelle (John) Cole; best friend and companion, Jean Dena; and special nieces and nephews. Services will be private. Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. For guest book, please visit: www.SCHEPPFAMILY.com
This obituary was originally posted here, by Legacy.com.
Reverend William M. Brown (STH ’56)
Rev. William Martin Brown, 92, of Shippensburg, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Green Ridge Village, Newville.
Born Sunday, February 12, 1928 in West Oneonta, New York, he was a son of the late William Martin and Marian Sterling Brown.
William graduated from Wyoming Seminary, Upper School, Kingston, PA in 1945, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. There he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Playshop and Alpha Psi Omega Dramatic Fraternity. He went on to graduate from Boston University School of Theology in 1965 Master of Divinity. William taught English at Rowlesburg, West Virginia High School.
He received his Pastor’s License from Elm Park Methodist Church, Oneonta, New York. He was ordained in the Methodist Church of the Central Pennsylvania Conference by Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam. The Churches he served include: Avis (interim student pastor); Clearfield Circuit (student pastor); Fayetteville; Shrewsbury, Grace-New Freedom, Trinity Church; Altoona, 58th Street U.M.C.; York Bethlehem (merged Ridge Ave. Methodist and Bethlehem EUB Churches); Huntingdon, First U.M.C.; and Shippensburg, Messiah U.M.C. He retired July 1, 1993 as Visitation Pastor from the First Church in Chambersburg.
William’s Conference service includes: Camp Director for over 20 years; United Methodist Cluster Leader Huntingdon & Shippensburg, Board of Education (former Methodist Conference); Commission on Worship (former Methodist Conference); Conference Secretary for 23 years; Council on Ministries; Committee on Nominations; Committee on Conference Session; and Council on Finance and Administration. He also served as Board of Directors United Methodist Homes for the Aging (now Bethany Village); Board of Directors, Neighborhood Center (including Chairmanship); Bishop’s Management Team; Chair, Chambersburg District Committee on the Superintendency; Coordinator, Conference Pastoral Chaplaincy Program; Assistant Secretary, Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference, three quadrennial; Recipient of the Bishop D. Frederick Wertz Award for Outstanding Service to the Church; President (twice) Conference Retired Minister’s Fellowship; and First Chair of Summer of Service Ministry in the Conference.
Rev. Brown’s community service includes: Founder and Chair of Huntingdon Food Bank; Huntingdon County Block Grant Committee; Board of Directors, Huntingdon Head Start; Judge of Elections, Shippensburg East Ward; Member of Cumberland County Democratic Committee; Shippensburg East Ward Democratic Committeeman; Chair of Shippensburg Meals on Wheels; Chaplain-on-call, Chambersburg Hospital; and Board of Directors, Chambersburg Area Community Concert Association.
Organizations he was involved with include: JayCees, New Freedom; Kiwanis Club, Huntingdon (Past President); Rotary Club, Shippensburg; and Chambersburg Mallwalkers’ Club (President).
William was a United States Army Veteran serving in the Korean War with the 2nd Infantry Division, Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG) and Commendation Ribbon for Meritorious Service.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lorraine Bodkin Brown whom he married August 21, 1954 in Buckhannon, WV; three children, Ann Elise (Timothy) Baer, Carol Elaine (Steve) McKinley, and Peter Eric (Monica Wolfe) Brown; grandchildren, Joshua Baer, Sarah Baer, Emily (husband Alec) Young, Christopher (wife Rachel) McKlinley, David McKinley, Xavier Brown and Kirsten Brown; one great grandchild, Rowan
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Paul Emery Brown, and all his siblings.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Chambersburg, with Ministry from the Susquehanna Conference. Burial will be private in Spring Hill Cemetery
with Military Honors conducted by the Oscar M. Hykes American legion Post # 223 Minutemen.
This obituary was originally posted here, by Fogelsanger Bricker Funeral Home and Crematorium, Inc.
Dr. Louis Bach Hoyer, Sr. (STH ’55, STH ’56, GRS ’62)
Dr. Louis Bach Hoyer Sr., age 90, of Worthington, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at the Claremont Retirement Village following an extended illness. The son of Ludolf Joseph Hoyer & Melanie Bach, he was born on August 8, 1930 in Morris, MN.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Doris Hoyer; five children, Wayne (Shirley) Hoyer, James (Kathy) Hoyer, Louis (Debra) Hoyer, John Hoyer, and Patricia (Peg) Hoyer; nine grandchildren, Alison, Kellie (Jerrod), Emily, Kaylea, Aaron, Devon, David, Stephanie, and Lindsey; great-grandchildren, Brayden, and Ava; brother, Duane (Karen) Hoyer; sister-in-law, Ruth Warner; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Louis married Doris Eleanor Nicoll on March 21, 1954, together they shared 66 years of marriage. Dr. Hoyer earned his master’s degree in Theology in 1955 and his PhD in Psychology in 1962 from Boston University. Louis later went on to work as a Pastor at Lakeside Methodist Church in Lynn, MA. He taught Clinical Pastoral Education at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, IL and eventually became the Director of Pastoral Counseling Services in Columbus, OH. Dr. Hoyer was a member of Linworth United Methodist Church and was also a member of the Golden Fleece Masonic Lodge.
A memorial service will take place at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at the Claremont Retirement Village and Capital City Hospice for their kind and compassionate care.
The original obituary was published here, by Ohio Cremation and Memorial Society.
Event Recording featuring US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
October 2020 – The STH community is invited to watch the recording of the recent Lowell Lecture featuring Joy Harjo, US Poet Laureate 2019 - 2021. The event was hosted last week during Boston University’s Alumni Weekend 2020: Reimagined. The recording is on the STH Livestream page and will be available publicly for only two months and then upon request for research purposes through the STH Library.
A special thanks to Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore, Ms. Hazel Monae (STH’19), and Ms. Joy Harjo for their spirited participation in this thought-provoking, soul-enriching conversation.
A review of the event is also available through the Boston University student publication the Daily Free Press.
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Lowell Institute.
Reverend Carl Victor Bretz (STH ’54)
The Rev. Carl Victor Bretz died on Oct. 4, 2020 while in rehab at Diversicare at Oak Ridge. He was a long time resident at Oak Ridge Commonwealth Senior Living.
Carl was the only child born to John H. and Miriam M. Bretz in Cumberland County, Pa. He was born on Dec. 6, 1925, passing away just short of his 95th birthday.
He graduated from Marysville, (Pa.) High School in 1943 and was drafted into the Army at the height of World War II. He proudly served in the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers from February 1944 until April 1946. His brigade was one of the earliest of U.S. troops to arrive in Nagasaki after Japan’s surrender. That experience has stayed with him forever.
He received his B.S. degree at Albright College, in Reading, Pa., in 1949. He then received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1952 from Evangelical School of Theology (now the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio), also in Reading. He received an MST in Psychology of Religion in 1954 from Boston University School of Theology.
The Rev. Bretz was ordained and fellowshipped into the Unitarian Universalist Ministry at Concord, N.H. in 1956. He worked as a chaplain in mental hospitals in Concord, N.H. and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He served as minister of the Harvard UU Church, in Harvard, Mass., from 1964 to 1972. He retired from the Alabama Dept of Mental Health, and lived in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
He began a serious avocation as a weaver in 1971, his passion and great talent. He joined the Weaving Group at the Appalachian Arts Center in Norris, Tenn., when he arrived in Oak Ridge in 1994. He was a regular participant until March of this year. Many people throughout Eastern Tennessee have some of Carl’s special weavings.
He is predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his children, Janice Miller Bretz-Howe, and his last wife Rosemary Burns. Both Carl and Rosemary were trusted leaders at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, promoting small group ministry and religious education.
Carl is survived and will be very missed by his three children: Stephanie Cox (Craig) of Ramah, N.M., Jonathan Bretz (Linda) of Maynard, Mass., and Rima Michaud (Eric) of Eustis, Fla. His grandchildren: Molly Panos McDonald (Dan), Philip Panos Jr, Jamieson Bretz (Elizabeth), Barbara Michaud Bowers (Demetrius) and the late Rita Michaud. He leaves 11 great-grandchildren: Ayden and Mackenzie McDonald, Kennedy Panos, Jackson and Oliver Bretz, Allison, Evan and Lyla Bowers, Erin Michaud, Kaiden Hayes and Desmond Hayes.
Contributions may be made to the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) for the Rosemary M. Burns Memorial Endowment fund at ORUUC, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN, in lieu of flowers.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church in Oak Ridge. Interment will be in the ORUUC Memorial Garden. Please remember Carl with the special, kind and thoughtful ways he impacted others.
This obituary was originally published here, by the OAKRIDGER.
Ms. Betty J. Gray (CAS ’63, STH ’66)
Born July 20, 1934, to Ethel and Fletcher Gray in Worcester, Betty Jane Gray was a woman of substance. She went to glory to be with her beloved parents and two brothers, James and Robert, on September 25, 2020. She is survived by her sister Marjorie Ellen Ellsworth, her son Christopher, his fiancé Kristina, and her granddaughter Jenifer.
Betty obtained her high school diploma at South High School, Worcester, and her bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Christian Education at Boston University School of Theology. Betty worked at State Mutual Life Insurance Company and then for the City of Boston as an employment counselor.
Born with a big heart and a generous spirit, Betty always championed the causes of social justice. Determined to make a difference, she adopted her son Chris when he was five years old, rescuing him from a difficult situation. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. Widely traveled, Betty spent time in the Middle East, visiting Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
After settling in Brookline, Betty lived her later years at Asbury Grove Methodist Campground in Hamilton, and was active on the Asbury Camp Meeting Corporation, as well as in the community.
Betty was active in her beloved church, The United Parish in Brookline, where she taught adult Bible study and served as an usher and an acolyte teacher. Betty was that devoted caretaker who was on the front row for every dance recital and show in which her granddaughter took part. Betty loved the theater and always took Jenifer to musicals and ballets, her favorites being The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. She will be terribly missed by her family, loyal friends and church members.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please direct any donations to The United Parish in Brookline, 210 Harvard St, Brookline MA 02446.
This obituary was originally published here, by The Salem News.