Alumni News
Celebrating 150 Years of United Methodist Women
April 4, 2019 – Published on unitedmethodistwomen.org
On March 23, 1869, eight women gathered at Tremont Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston and founded the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. On the same date in 2019, Methodist women marked the 150th anniversary of this organization, now known as United Methodist Women, with a celebration at Boston University hosted by the New England Conference United Methodist Women.
United Methodist Women was founded less than three miles down the street, said emcee and New England Conference lay leader Rene Wilbur, speaking of the Tremont Street church, whose historical exterior has been preserved but which now houses luxury apartments.
Boston University and its theological school has historic ties to the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, as attendees learned throughout the day.
Dana Robert, professor and director of Boston School of Theology’s Center for Global Christianity and Mission, explained ties between the school and the women’s society during her presentation on United Methodist Women’s founders and New England Methodism.
To continue reading the full story, please click here.
Rev. Megan Stowe (STH ’04) appointed as District Superintendent of Central Massachusetts
Rev. Megan Stowe, who received her Master of Divinity from BU School of Theology in 2004 was recently appointed as District Superintendent of Central Massachusetts. Rev. Stowe will begin this appointment on July 1, 2019. To read the full announcement from Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, click here.
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr (STH ’83) will serve as the Keynote Speaker at Louisiana State University
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. (STH '83) Pastor Of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana will serve as the Keynote Speaker at Student-Athlete Support Summit at Louisiana State University on Friday April 5, 2019. He will be addressing counselors and support staff to help athletes succeed in their academic endeavors. Dr. Kelly will present the three P’s, Passion, Purpose, and Power. Attendees will be from around the state of Louisiana. Dr. Kelly serves as adjunct Faculty at Louisiana State University In The African and African American Studies Program and The School Of Education.
Dean Moore and School of Theology featured in UMNS Story about General Conference 2019
March 28, 2019 – The United Methodist News Service recently posted another recap of the General Conference 2019 decision affirming the church's ban on LGBTQ individuals serving as clergy or church officials performing same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Boston University School of Theology was featured twice in this article; firstly, using a photo taken by Director of Enrollment Rev. Dr. Anastasia E. B. Kidd (see picture below), and secondly through a moving quote offered by Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore: “I reacted to the decisions (at) General Conference with sobs, which I have not done since my daughter and I distributed my husband’s ashes in the Pacific Ocean,” said the Rev. Mary Elizabeth Moore, dean and professor of theology and education at Boston University School of Theology. “I am devastated about where our church is at the present moment, and I am also determined to be part of a new wind of change.”
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Rev. Dr. Robert “Bob” Hibbard (STH ’54, GRS ’57) passed on March 18, 2019
The Rev. Dr. Robert B. Hibbard (STH '54, GRS '57), 92, beloved husband of Elaine Arnsbarger Hibbard for 65-years, died Monday, March 18, 2019 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. A memorial service will be held Monday, April 1, 2019 at 11AM at St. John's United Methodist Church with The Rev. Dr. W. Timothy McClendon and Rev. Nancy Creswell Reed officiating. To read Bob's full obituary, click here.
Jen Bloesch (STH ’18) starts as Agrarian Youth Mentor and Supervisor at Gideon’s Garden and Grace Church
Jen Bloesch (STH MDiv Graduate 2018) recently began as the first Agrarian Youth Mentor and Supervisor at Gideon's Garden and Grace Church, an Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires. To learn more about Jen and Gideon's Garden, visit their website here.
Significant Honors for Professor Nimi Wariboko
Professor Nimi Wariboko has a list of upcoming achievements and honors to add to his list of lifetime achievements and awards.
He will be inducted into the American Theological Society in the Society’s meeting in Princeton Theological Seminary this weekend, beginning March 22. Other School of Theology faculty among the select 100 members are Professor Emeritus Robert Neville, Professor Wesley Wildman, and Professor Walter Fluker.
The BU Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs will launch Professor Wariboko's most recent book, Ethics and Society in Nigeria: Identity, History, and Political Theory onWednesday April 3, 2019, 4:00pm, Hillel, 4th floor (213 Bay State Road). The School of Theology and the African Studies Center are co-sponsoring this event: https://www.bu.edu/cura/nimi-wariboko-book-launch/
Finally, Professor Wariboko will deliver the 41st W. E. B. Du Bois Distinguished Lecture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, on November 13, 2019. Nimi adds to a distinguished line of lecturers, including people in history, political science, creative writing, law, and sociology. Visit https://africanastudies.umbc.edu/w-e-b-du-bois-lecture-series for more information.
Congratulations to Professor Wariboko!
Mary Baker Eddy Library Hosts Podcast with STH Alum Dr. Ruth Duck (’89)
The Mary Baker Eddy Library Podcast Series Seekers and Scholars recently hosted Dr. Ruth Duck (STH '89) for an episode entitled "Hymns of Our Time," exploring Dr. Ruth Duck's hymn writing. Listen to the episode here.
“Faith at the Intersections: A Collection of Writings for Black and LGBTQ Communities in and beyond the United Methodist Church”
Rev. Gil Caldwell (STH '58), Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey (Former STH Dean of Community Life), and Bishop Melvin Talbert published "Faith at the Intersections: A Collection of Writings for Black and LGBTQ Communities in and beyond the United Methodist Church" in 2017 and we share it with you now as a resource after the recent vote.
From the Introduction:
“Through his writings, Rev. Gil Caldwell civil rights activist and foot soldier who walked with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has frequently identified black, same-gender loving persons as important to the work of liberation. Bishop Melvin Talbert, another civil rights activist has been the leading episcopal voice reminding us that biblical obedience means full inclusion of LGBTQI persons in the worship and ministry of our denomination. Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey, a queer lesbian ordained elder and scholar works within the academy, the church and as an activist on urban streets protesting racism and homophobia. Each of us, in our work and writings have consistently argued that our ministries are made better by the teachings and examples of such Black LGBTQI persons as James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, and Audre Lorde. We have seen no conflict in our racial justice activism and our activism in challenging the discrimination LGBTQI persons, same gender loving persons and couples face in church and society.
We share these writings with the hope that the unfinished justice journeys of persons of African descent in the America’s, Africa and the rest of the world, will be linked to the justice journeys of LGBTQI persons, same sex couples, women, the poor, and all people who are yet to experience complete freedom, justice and equality.”
For a further preview or to order a copy, please visit the Reconciling Ministries Network Website.
Rev. Dr. Shively T. J. Smith to Appear in History Channel Special
Rev. Dr. Shively T. J. Smith, Assistant Professor of New Testament, will appear as an expert on the History Channel series "Jesus: His Life". The showings begin on Monday, March 25 at 8pm EDT, and with two back-to-back episodes weekly leading to Easter (March 25, April 1, April 8, and April 15).
The story is told through the eyes of those who knew Jesus. The series interviewed or consulted with more than 25 of the most prominent theologians, historians, biblical scholars and faith leaders from across the ideological spectrum to create a complete portrait of Jesus and the times in which he lived, combining a narrative retelling of Jesus that follows the Gospel accounts with attention to the cultural and historical context. The order of the episodes are:
• Joseph – The Nativity
• John The Baptist – The Mission
• Mary Mother – The First Miracles
• Caiaphas – The Rising of Lazarus
• Judas – The Betrayal
• Pilate – The Trial
• Mary Magdalene – The Crucifixion
• Peter – The Resurrection
For more information and to find showtimes in your area, please visit https://www.aenetworks.com/article/history-to-premiere-eight-part-event-jesus-his-life-on-monday-march-25.