Alumni News

Lament, Pray, and Act

By Kimberly Macdonald June 2nd, 2020 in Alumni/ae News, News

With our world and communities reacting and reeling from both the continued loss of life from the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing fight for justice for Black Lives, many of you might be searching for ways to be active in your communities. Here are some resources to help you navigate your next steps.

Take action in your local neighborhood: Local food banks especially need assistance during this time
Participate in the actions of ecumenical, denominational, and interfaith bodies: Massachusetts Council of Churches, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and Unitarian Universalist Association all have resources for charitable works and social action
For those who are white: Find actions that will take the burden off of People of Color, be proactive in anti-racism, read up on dismantling white privilege here and here, and make a racial justice to-do list
Write letters: Write letters to your elected officials to protect healthcare and emergency funding for working people, and/or adopt a senior self-isolating pen pal
Prepare yourself: Do you see things in your community in need of change but lack the skills to step in? Tool up by finding a lesson on YouTube, a podcast, a webinar, or a mini-course to give you the education to lead the way
Take care of your own mental health: BU offers resources for graduate students through Student Health Services, Behavioral Medicine, The Danielsen Institute, and The Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders (CARD). Turn off social media and news coverage if you become overwhelmed
Have a conversation with someone you know: We often are around people different than ourselves without ever opening up to talk about that difference. Here are two STH Doctor of Ministry alums talking about and modeling such a conversation
Engage in meaningful spiritual practices: Dean Moore recently wrote “Lament is a pathway to share pain, to be fully human, to journey toward the heart of God, who holds more pain than all of us together can imagine and who will never let us go.” Be present in your spiritual practice to grieve and provide clear guidance for your next steps.

We deeply love and care for you all. May we hold each other close and continue to be agents of change during this confusing and deeply troubling period in history.

Dismantling White Privilege, Power, and Supremacy: Reading List

By Kimberly Macdonald June 1st, 2020 in Alumni/ae News, News

The following reading list for AY20-21 course STH TC858 "Dismantling White Privilege, Power, and Supremacy" is published courtesy of course co-professors Bishop Susan Hassinger and Dean Teddy Hickman-Maynard. Much of the required reading list is available as eBooks through the STH Library for BU students, faculty, and staff here.

Required Reading/Viewing

Anzaldua Gloria E. & Analouise Keating, eds. This Bridge We Call Home: Radical visions for Transformation (Routledge, 2002), pp. 540-576
Barndt, Joseph, Becoming an Anti-Racist Church (Fortress Press, 2011)
Brown Douglas, Kelley, Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God (Orbis Books, 2015)
Coates, Ta-Nehisi, Between the World and Me (Spiegel & Grau, 2015)
DiAngelo, Robin, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism (Beacon Press, 2018)
Dube, Musa W., Power, Privilege and Profits: a Global Reflection (speech; on Blackboard Learn)
Hart, Drew G.I., Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (Herald Press, 2016)
Harvey, Jennifer, Whiteness and Morality: Pursuing Racial Justice through Reparations and Sovereignty (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007)
King, Martin Luther, Jr.: Letter from the Birmingham Jail
Pregeant, Russell, For the Healing of the Nation: A Biblical Vision (Cascade Books, 2016)

Dean Moore: Invitation to Lament

By Kimberly Macdonald May 29th, 2020 in Alumni/ae News, News

Beloved Community,

In this week of horrifying tragedy, I invite you to pause together to remember and mourn the coronavirus deaths of more than 100,000 people in the United States and more than 360,000 worldwide. Then, pause again and pray for people who have suffered and continue to suffer from the virus, while the known cases now surpass 1.76 million in the U.S. and 5.9 million across the globe. Every one of these numbers represents a human being who was and is precious in God’s sight and in the sight of those who loved and cared for them. Let them be precious to you and me as well. God, have mercy.

On this mournful night, I also beseech you to lift your pain-filled prayers and anguished cries for George Floyd, who was violently murdered on the streets of Minneapolis on May 26. Such violence against a fellow human being calls for collective mourning and for unceasing prayers for Mr. Floyd’s family, loved ones, and angry, hurting community. And pray for a radically transformative justice in Minneapolis and in your own communities that are spread far and wide.

In the next 24 hours, I invite you to light a candle or pause to breathe deeply of the pain and loss. Today is not a day to be conservative, progressive, or “middle of the road”; nor is it a day to be a Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian. It is a day to be HUMAN – to draw from the deepest wells of your faith and to lament. We need to mourn as a community, and we can only do so if we dare to be still and let the tragedies soak into the depths of our being. Lament is a pathway to share pain, to be fully human, to journey toward the heart of God, who holds more pain than all of us together can imagine and who will never let us go.

Blessings and prayers,

Mary Elizabeth

Ms. Cassandra Valentine Helms (STH ’12)

By sthalum May 26th, 2020 in Alumni/ae Deaths

"Cassandra 'Cassie' Valentine Helms, 35 of Hoover, Ala. passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Shelby Baptist Hospital. A private family graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2020 at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The service will be live streamed from Rainey Family Funeral Service website at www.raineyfuneral.com and their Facebook page.

Cassandra was born in Bethesda, Maryland to Chester Ethane Helms and Cheryl Valentine Helms. She received a BS Degree in Anthropology and Linguistics from Emory University, an MAT from Agnes Scott College and a M. Div. from Boston University School of Theology (2012). She was a teacher at Grace Ministries, a faith-based counseling, education and writing center. Cassie had a passion for learning and helping others so her job allowed her to teach and minister. She especially loved being able to help teenage girls find their way in life. She is survived by her parents, Chet Ethane and Cheryl Valentine Helms of Valdosta; and her paternal grandmother, Inez Helms of Cordele. She was preceeded in death by a sister, Melissa June Helms, paternal grandfather, A.M. Helms; and maternal grandparents, Marjorie Louise and Ira Valentine.

Memorials to honor Cassie being made to Grace House Ministries, P.O. Box 547, Fairfield, Ala. 35064 would please the family."

This article was originally published here by The Newport Daily News.

Marian Jean Poindexter, Ed.D. (STH ’56)

By sthalum May 26th, 2020 in Alumni/ae Deaths

Rev. William A. Nicoll (STH ’50 and ’51)

By sthalum May 26th, 2020 in Alumni/ae Deaths

"William A. Nicoll, 100, of Frankfort, joined his Lord February 20, 2020 at Wesley Manor. He was born in 1919 in Owatonna, Minnesota to William R. and Nellie (Loomis) Nicoll. He married Mary Louise Howard in 1942; she preceded him in death in 1981. He subsequently married Ruth (Laque) Bruehl in 1983; she preceded him in death in 2011.

William graduated from DePauw University & Boston Theological Seminary (1950 and 1951). He also attended Harvard. He was a veteran of WWII earning a Bronze Star as a 1st Lieutenant serving in the Army Medical Corp. He was a United Methodist minister for churches in the following cities in Illinois: Evergreen Park, Zion, Oregon, South Lawn in Chicago, Prophetstown-where he supervised construction of a new church, Stockton-where he supervised construction of an education wing, Rockford and churches in Massachusetts, before retiring after 36 years of service. William was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church and sang in the choir. He was a president of family counsel at Wesley Manor, a member of Singing Saints, videotaped chapel services until his 100th birthday, past president of Rotary in Evergreen Park, Ill., and was a chairman and helped organize Waukegan Crisis Intervention Hotline in the 1970's. In Oregon he helped establish Blackhawk retirement apartments, and volunteer ambulance service, serving as a driver/attendant. While serving in the Rock River Conference in Northern Illinois, William served on committees to secure insurance and pension for pastors. William served his god faithfully, shepherded his family and his congregations, pursued equality and justice, and supported causes to save nature and the planet.

William is survived by his children; Dale William (Marilyn) Nicoll of Concord, California and Jane (Dr. Carl) Nicoll Stover of Park Forest, Ill.; step-children; Dr. Richard A. Bruehl (Nancy Stott) of Brentwood, Tenn., Step daughter-in-law Ellen Bruehl, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and brother and sister-in-law John & Ann Howard, Mt. Vernon, IL.; five grandsons, 4 great grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, and 12 step-great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.

Along with his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Corwin, and sisters, Louvinia Zartman and Josephine Broholm, stepdaughter, Marcia Kauten, stepson, Robert A. Bruehl II, nephews, Harvey Zartman and niece, Sandra Zartman Nason.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 4, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. until the start of the memorial service at 1:30 p.m. at Amanda Reed Memorial Chapel, Wesley Manor. His niece, Nancy Hardin of Urbana, Ohio will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made in William's honor to Wesley Manor."

The article was originally published here by Genda Funeral Home.

CDC Offers Guidance for Faith Communities During Pandemic

By Kimberly Macdonald May 25th, 2020 in Alumni/ae News, News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published guidelines for communities of faith to practice their beliefs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines include "Safety Actions" such as promoting healthy hygiene practices, wearing cloth masks, cleaning and disinfecting, and social distancing. The article also offers guidance on how to plan for a staff member or a congregant coming down with the illness.

Please find the full article published on the CDC website here.

BUSTH Announces Faculty Publications for May 2020

By Kimberly Macdonald May 20th, 2020 in Alumni/ae News, Faculty Publications, News

The School of Theology is pleased to announce the following faculty publications for the month of May 2020.

Filipe Maia: “The Pan-Amazon Synod,” in Concilium (n. 385: 2020/2). Info about the issue can be found at https://concilium.hymnsam.co.uk/issues/20202-masculinities-theological-and-religious-challenges/
Mary Elizabeth Moore: “Sacred, Revolutionary Teaching: Encountering Sacred Difference and Honest Hope,” Religious Education (April 2020), 1-13. [Doi: 10.1080/00344087.2020.1738044]
Shelly Rambo: Foreword in Karen O’Donnell and Katie Cross, Feminist Trauma Theologies: Body, Scripture & Church in Critical Perspective Paperback. SCM Press, 2020. Several of the essays engage Prof. Rambo’s work. Available as an eBook through the BUSTH Library here.
Steven Sandage: “The growing dangers of clergy narcissism, and some humble solutions,” The Association of Religious Data Archives (April 27, 2020). http://globalplus.thearda.com/globalplus-humility-and-religious-leadership/
James Walters:
- Dedication -- “This volume is dedicated to James C. Walters in honor of his scholarly acumen, his dedication to teaching and learning, and his collegial spirit. James helped initiate the collaboration that led to this volume and it is in part the fruit of his labors.”Daniel Schowalter, Sabine Ladstätter, Steven J. Friesen and Christine Thomas (Eds). Religion in Ephesos Reconsidered: Archaeology of Spaces, Structures, and Objects. Novum Testamentum Series, Supplements, Volume: 177.Religion in Ephesos Reconsidered provides a detailed overview of the current state of research on the most important Ephesian projects offering evidence for religious activity during the Roman period. Ranging from huge temple complexes to hand-held figurines, this book surveys a broad scope of materials. Careful reading of texts and inscriptions is combined with cutting-edge archaeological and architectural analysis to illustrate how the ancient people of Ephesos worshipped both the traditional deities and the new gods that came into their purview. Overall, the volume questions traditional understandings of material culture in Ephesos, and demonstrates that the views of the city and its inhabitants on religion were more complex and diverse than has been previously assumed. Available as an eBook through the BUSTH Library here.

Rev. David Jadlocki (STH ’01): New Pastor of the Congregational Church of Henniker, NH

By sthalum May 18th, 2020 in Alumni/ae News

The Concord Monitor reports, "The Congregational Church of Henniker [NH] is excited to announce the arrival of Rev. David L. Jadlocki as its new pastor on Sunday.

Under normal circumstances, a welcome service and reception would be held, however an event date will be announced when large groups may gather again.

Rev. David Jadlocki comes to CCoH following 8 years of vibrant ministry at the First Congregational Church and Society in Rindge. Prior to pastoring in Rindge, he served as the transitional pastor in the Mont Vernon Congregational church, supporting them to claim a new organizational model that enhanced their ministries and encouraged future growth. He has continued his professional growth through the United Church of Christ’s Next Generational Leadership Education program and served as a church re-vitalization consultant.

Jadlocki worked serving individuals with developmental disabilities, and currently serves as a psychological educator for a counseling center in Manchester.

Jadlocki received his bachelor’s degree from Drew University with a concentration in psychology and religion and a earned a master of divinity degree with a specialization in pastoral care from Boston University School of Theology ('01). Jadlocki resides in Peterborough with his wife, Christie, and their two children."

“How to Help Domestic Violence Clients during Shelter-in-Place Situations” by Rev. Dr. Federico G. Carmona (STH ’02 and ’08)

By sthalum May 18th, 2020 in Alumni/ae News

This article was originally published here by Counseling Today.

Rev. Dr. Federico G. Carmona (STH'02 and '08), is a trauma therapist for victims of domestic and sexual violence at Peace Over Violence in Los Angeles. He is also an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. He wrote “How to Help Domestic Violence Clients during Shelter-in-Place Situations,” which was published by the American Counseling Association in its online publication Counseling Today.

"It’s heartbreaking to read the variety of articles circulating about vulnerable people trapped at home with their abusers because of shelter-in-place mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.Unfortunately, experience reminds us of a concerning reality that is typical of these uncertain times: Adverse labor market conditions are positively related to domestic violence. Research conducted after the Great Depression of the 1930s, the farm crisis of the 1980s, and the Great Recession of 2008 found that economic crises have significant negative effects on the quality of intimate relationships and parenting in working families. Marital conflict, abuse (particularly violent controlling behavior), and a decline in parenting quality are among the harmful effects in families of a macroeconomic downturn.

In my role as a trauma therapist, I have seen dozens of domestic violence clients during clinical intakes and in counseling. I have also read a multitude of articles on the subject about studies and reports from different parts of the world. Shelter-in-place mandates aren’t a good thing for women and children who are the targets of abuse. The anticipatory anxiety and uncertainty of these times can cause negative emotions to churn, leading to behaviors that increase the already-concerning number of domestic violence and child abuse cases. There is no “how-to” manual to deal with the current situation, of course, but the safety of this vulnerable population demands us to do our best.

How can the counseling community help domestic violence clients who are trapped at home with their abusers? I offer a few suggestions:

Reach out between appointments/sessions. One of the critical signs of abuse is the isolation of victims of domestic violence from their networks of love and support. An occasional check-in from us can empower these clients to tell us more about their situations and perhaps even dissuade their abusers from further violence as we keep checking in.

Listen, just listen. People experiencing domestic violence need an empathic ear — someone who will allow them to vent their repressed emotions and feelings without judgment. We are not to offer advice, only listen and empathize. It’s just time to build trust.

Validate clients’ feelings, emotions and beliefs even when they don’t make sense. The best way to build trust with clients experiencing domestic violence is by being present with them. We’re present with them through our vicarious empathy, active listening and compassionate validation. Our empathy is vicarious because it takes an emotional toll to connect with someone’s anguish and suffering. Active listening requires us to be disciplined enough to fully concentrate on what the client is saying rather than on the answer that we might have in mind to their situation. Clients experiencing domestic violence require validation — compassionate validation — because many times, their decisions (or lack of them), circumstances and beliefs don’t make sense to us.

Introduce them to mindfulness exercises. Clients experiencing domestic violence live in a world of fear and anxiety because of the cycle of abuse. At first, they’re worried because of their confusion and inability to make sense of and control the incipient abuse. In time, as the abuse increases, worry turns into anxiety and fear.

Mindfulness can help these clients become aware of their emotions, thoughts and bodies to take control of them and find much-needed relaxation. Meditation exercises shouldn’t necessarily be long. There are plenty of sites online with short, simple exercises, from breathing to stretching, that can help clients gain the bodily and emotional awareness they need to function.

Remind clients of their strengths and qualities. One of the benefits of practicing active listening is the ability to notice in clients’ stories what they have forgotten about themselves: their own power, qualities and strengths. By doing this, we help clients not only to survive their circumstances but also to move toward a better future as survivors of domestic violence who deserve lives of meaning and purpose.

Help clients to start a project. Because of shelter-in-place mandates, more perpetrators of abuse are at home all of the time. This increases the emotional state of “walking on eggshells” for domestic violence clients. We can help distract these clients from that state by brainstorming with them or suggesting a project to them. It could be an individual project based on their abilities, strengths and qualities that we noticed in their stories, or it could be a project that involves their children.

Assist clients in making a safety plan. Making a safety plan is incredibly useful. It doesn’t need to be complicated or lengthy. The simplest way of doing this is by helping these clients become aware of their circumstances (call the problem what it is — domestic violence). The rest of the plan might involve:

Trying to avoid conflicts and arguments during the mandated confinement
Involving their children in most of their home activities
Reaching out to relatives and trusted friends (when possible)
Being prepared to leave at any moment (i.e., having money, documents, car keys, children’s backpacks filled with some clothes and snacks ready to go)
Calling 911 when they feel that they or their children are in danger (even in a shelter-in-place situation, law enforcement will issue an emergency protective order to separate victims from their abusers)

Involve others. We can help our clients experiencing domestic violence to think about the resources they possess to deal with their situation. One of these resources could be men who are part of the couple’s life in some way (e.g., clergy, friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates, teachers, bosses).

When families and friends get involved, perpetrators of abuse can sometimes be dissuaded from causing harm to their partners and children. The presence of fathers, brothers, neighbors and friends prompts accountability. Some of these individuals might be willing to offer their support and speak up against the ongoing abuse. Victims of domestic violence can only break their silence and become survivors if they feel supported. We need to be cautious, however, and see each client in their particular context, giving consideration to whether this type of intervention could put them in more danger than they already are.

Help clients build a network of support. Isolation is one of the most critical signs of abuse. It creates a hated dependency on the abuser. Imposed isolation robs victims of domestic violence of their personhood. It suppresses their voice and identity piece by piece as family members and friends are pushed away. Connections are the simplest way to beat domestic violence. It is critical that victims of domestic violence get reconnected with relationships they trust. It is also crucial to get these clients connected with other survivors of domestic violence (via online groups) so they can claim their victory and begin the journey of healing from the trauma caused by the abuse.

Inspire clients to pursue self-sufficiency. Studies show that when women’s wages are relative to those of men in dual-income couples, there is a significant reduction in domestic violence. To be self-sufficient is to have bargaining power. It’s to have the ability to exert influence in the relationship. There are public resources designated to help survivors of domestic violence pursue further training and education with the purpose of becoming self-sufficient. Check with social services agencies about these resources.

These recommendations aren’t intended to override the urgency of calling 911 when someone is facing a clear and present danger at home. Let law enforcement personnel figure out how they will bring individuals and families to safety during shelter-in-place situations. Emergency protective orders are being issued even with the courts closed."

Contact Rev. Dr. Federico G. Carmona at federico@peaceoverviolence.org.

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Required Reading/Viewing

Recommended Reading and Viewing