Alumni News

Dr. Seth Villegas (STH’23) Named CHASS/Spark! Postdoctoral Fellow

The following is an excerpt from Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences’ article “CDS Welcomes Four New Team Members," published in July  2023. Read the full article here.


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Seth Villegas is a Postdoctoral Fellow for CDS' BU Spark! Program and the Computational Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Initiative (CHASS). In this dual role, Seth teaches data science ethics in Spark! courses, acts as a risk consultant on Spark! projects using a risk-assessment process that he designed, and coordinates CHASS activities for CDS. Seth earned his PhD in Ethics and Technology at Boston University’s School of Theology.

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Iris Thay Crossley (STH ’77)

This obituary was originally posted by the Tribute Archive and can be found here.

Iris Thay Crossley was born on January 4, 1953, in Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, DC. She and sisters Marcia and Greta were raised in Southeast DC by their parents Garnett Crossley, a Library of Congress administrator, and Mazola Crossley, a U.S. Post Office supervisor, who instilled tChristian values in their daughters.

In 1974, Iris earned her bachelor’s degree in religion at Albright College, and in 1977 her master’s in theology at Boston University, the same college where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. earned his doctorate. Iris had a feminist perspective of theology, advocated for women’s leadership within the church, and was a member of the Black Seminarians who advocated for civil rights. In a more progressive era, Iris probably would have become a pastor, but that route was seldom available to women at that time. Instead, she was highly involved in church at various times in her life.

After graduate school, she worked in Chicago at a women’s prison creating programs for incarcerated women. At the encouragement of a friend, she moved to Northern California and lived in the Bay Area for more than 30 years. For about two decades, she was an academic advisor at various colleges including Dominican University, University of California, Berkeley, and Northern Virginia Community College.

In California, Iris found the perfect place for her trend-setting ways. Long before it became popular, Iris became a vegetarian, bought organic foods, and used natural cleaning and health products. She also loved to learn and took classes throughout her life, including Arabic, voiceover training, and singing.

Iris married Ron Thomas in DC in 1982. In 1992 she achieved her proudest accomplishment by giving birth to daughter Kali Crossley Thomas. At the time of Iris’ death they were not only mother and daughter, but also best friends. Kali and Iris discussed life’s joys and challenges, bonded over food, books, and podcasts, and gave each other advice. Kali is thankful to have a mom who supported her in all of her adventures and personal and professional goals.

After retiring, Iris moved back to DC to live with her sister, Greta. Iris took advantage of living in the nation’s capital by visiting museums and attending local events. In 2013, she protested every Monday in front of the White House to educate people about the need for gun control. She was a woman of routine so you could always find her at Whole Foods, Ross, walking around the U.S. National Arboretum, or at home cheering on the Washington Commanders.

Iris departed this life at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on July 7, 2023. Iris leaves cherished memories with: her daughter Kali Thomas; sister Greta Crossley; sister Marcia Powell, her husband Godfrey Powell; nephew Godfrey Powell Jr., his wife Stephanie Powel, and their children, Godfrey Powell III, Mireya Powell, Wolf Powell, and Naiyeli Powell; nephew Jared Powell; niece Kimberly McCain, her husband Desmond McCain, and their daughter Ava McCain, former husband Ron Thomas, and many friends.

Dr. Donald Eugene Bossart (STH’57, GRS’63)

This obituary was originally posted by Horan & McConaty Funeral Services and Cremation and can be found here.

Don passed away on July 8, 2023 at 91 years old. Don was born and raised in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to Dana Eugene and Eva Mabel Crawford Bossart. Don went to grade school at the second ward school and then on to high school in Latrobe. He graduated from high school in 1950. While in high school, he won the PIAA tennis doubles championship in his junior year and the PIAA singles tennis championship in his senior year. He also played varsity basketball.

Don went on to college at Harvard University majoring in economics and graduated in 1954. He was a member of the Harvard University N.E. championship tennis team.

Don went into the Methodist ministry by entering Boston University School of Theology and graduated in 1957 with an STB (MA). He was inducted into the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Church. He continued his education by entering the PhD program at BU.

Don married Marion Gay Kent on June 9, 1957 in Medford, Oregon. They moved to Amherst, Massachusetts where Don was campus minister at the Wesley Foundation for the four colleges in the area. While in Amherst, two children, Kent Donald and Alan Dana, were born.  Don finished his PhD in 1963 and that year the family moved to Madison, Wisconsin where Don became campus minister for the University of Wisconsin. Their third child, Dona Gay, was born there.

Don’s next calling was for the campus ministry at the Wesley Foundation at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana from 1966-1970. In 1970, Don was called to the University of Denver for the Wesley Foundation. In 1974 he then joined The Iliff School of Theology as faculty administrator and later Assistant then Associate Professor of Interpersonal Ministry. Don retired from Iliff in 1997 and he and Gay stayed in Denver to enjoy retirement.

Don sang in church choirs as a tenor his whole life including singing in the Colorado Symphony Choir. He also continued his love of tennis playing until he was 85 years old. He and Gay loved the Colorado mountains and they traveled the world together. Don and Gay loved being grandparents. They (“Papa” and “Baba”) attended many school, sporting and scouting activities enjoying all of them!

Don is survived by Gay, his wife of 66 years, his three children Kent (Jackie), Alan (Kim), Dona (Matthew, deceased). He is also survived by his grandchildren: from Kent and Jackie, Douglas (Chloe) and Hope; from Alan and Kim, Kyle, Corey (Grace, and great grandson Stetson) and CJ; from Dona and Matt, Kenneth and John. Don is also survived by his nephew Roger Bossart (Della) and nephew Keith Mandic (Chris) and Jennifer Bossart (wife of nephew Greg, deceased).

Reverend Dr. Richard A. Vickery, Jr. (STH ’65, STH ’72)

This obituary was originally posted by Legacy and can be found here.

Richard (Dick) Alexander Vickery, Jr. was born on December 12, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elise (Marks) and Richard A. Vickery, the eldest of two children. Graduating from Hatboro-Horsham High School in 1957, Dick earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickerson College, Carlisle, PA (1961); a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Theology degrees from Boston University School of Theology, Boston, MA. (1965 & 1972).

Dick was married to Mary Ann Witt on August 23, 1965. To them were born three children: Mary Ann (Mollie), Christianna (Christie): and Richard Alexander Vickery III (deceased) and five grandchildren.

Ordained a Deacon in the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1962, Dick transferred to the Rocky Mountain Conference in 1965, ordained an Elder and admitted into full Conference membership. He served on the staffs of the Washington Park and Grace, Denver, Churches. He was appointed to the Jefferson Avenue Church (Wheatridge, CO), University Park Church (Denver, CO), Hope Church (Greenwood Village, CO), Evergreen Church (Evergreen, CO) as interim at Burns Church (Aurora, CO) and in retirement to St. James Church (Central City, CO).

Dick served the Rocky Mountain Conference Council of the Board of Ministry, Conference Secretary, member of the Conference Council Ministries, Conference Worship Chair, member of the Program & Arrangements Committee, the Rules Committee, Conference Session Petition Coordinator, Legislative Committee Chair, Editor of the Conference Journal and Psychological Assessment Coordinator for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.

In the communities he served, Dick was a member of the Salvation Army Service Extension Units and sang with the Evergreen Chorale, including performing in its Broadway musicals (2003 through 2013).

As a foster home, Dick served the Evergreen Protective Animal League (EPAL), rescuing over a hundred dogs, cats, goats and sheep as animal companions.

Dick died on July 16, 2023 at the age of 82.

Donations can be provided to; Evergreen Protective Animal League at EPAL.com or The Preservation Fund of St James Methodist Church (P.O. Box 42, Central City, CO. 80427).

Children’s Pastor, Part-Time, PCUSA: Brookline, MA

The Korean Church of Boston (KCB) is searching for a part-time Children’s Pastor to serve in our children from toddlers to 5th graders. The KCB is a member of The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. We are proud to have three generations of congregations worshiping together in a church. We welcome the candidate to join our church family and become a member of our ministry staff to serve God and to be a servant of God to let Him be known.

Candidate shall possess the following attributes:

Currently enrolled or a graduate of an accredited Seminary
Able to preach in English and comfortable working with the Korean American culture

Job responsibilities include:

Lead the Children’s group in worship service with preaching and overseeing bible study each Sunday.
Oversee and provide training to the teachers in Sunflower Children’s Ministry.
Organize and lead Vacation Bible School every summer.

Application/Required Documents:
Resume
Spiritual Journey/Personal Testimony
Statement of Faith

Deadline: Open until filled

Contact: Elder Sang Kang, uno@sangkang.com

Elder Sang Kang/Deacon JaeWon Chung
Chair/Vice Chair of Education Committee 1

The Korean Church of Boston
32 Harvard Street Brookline, MA 02445
www.kcboston.org

Protestant Pastor, Full-Time, Protestant: Peabody, MA

Our high-end continuing care retirement community in Peabody, MA is seeking a full time Protestant Pastor to implement Protestant Ministry programs that focus on the spiritual life of our flourishing Protestant Community. The Protestant Pastoral Associate will serve as the Pastor for the Protestant Faith Community which is part of the vibrant and interfaith Pastoral Ministries Team of clergy and pastoral leaders.  This exciting ministry opportunity gives the candidate the unique opportunity to serve as Protestant Pastor, while also working on an interfaith team of clergy and chaplains that together take care of the spiritual needs of all residents. In addition to preaching and leading worship in our beautiful Chapel each Sunday, the Protestant Pastor implements a full complement of ministry programs that meet the needs of our residents.  This ministry opportunity and its duties are comparable to that found in the local church, however it is set within the context of an interfaith continuing care retirement community and a multi-faith pastoral staff!

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

  • Generally serves as a minister to any Protestant resident seeking such service.
  • Specifically serves as a Spiritual leader to the Protestant residents by preaching and leading worship, ministering to those in need, leading and teaching to support a variety of spiritual needs and to empower wellbeing.
  • Meets, as part of the Pastoral Ministries effort, residents in their life crisis points and provides pastoral care and spiritual counsel.
  • Develop and coordinate Protestant ministry programs as relates to residents, this with approval of the Pastoral Ministries Manager.
  • Establish and coordinate continuance of Resident Faith Council for the Protestant community. The purpose of this council is to provide resident leadership and a representation for the Protestant community.
  • Work toward continuing to make the Protestant Faith Community self-supporting financially and provide leadership in this community that is financially responsible.
  • Assess with the Pastoral Ministries Manager on an ongoing basis, the quality of life environment in the community to determine the short and long term direction of the ministry program.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Excellent interpersonal skills. Strong communication skills (written and oral). Effective organizational and motivational skills. Appreciation and respect for a mature population.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
​Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred; ordination, licensure, or certification required; Minimum of five years pastoral ministry experience; work with seniors a plus.

Hiring manager is BUSTH alum Rev. Chad W. Kidd.  Please email (Chad.kidd@erickson.com) with any questions!

Apply today:
jobs.ericksonliving.com

C. Dean Freudenberger (STH’55, GRS’69)

This obituary was originally posted by the Claremont Courier and can be found here.

Professor, agricultural and environmental ethicist, minister, great-grandfather

C. Dean Freudenberger died quietly on July 2 at age 93 with family present at home, Pilgrim Place.

Dean was born in Los Angeles on March 9, 1930 to Carl and Minerva Freudenberger. He attended LA schools, graduating from Dorsey High School in 1948. Though he entered Occidental College that fall, “history of civilization” was not for him, and he transferred to then all men’s Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo, where he majored in landscape design and crops, graduating in 1953.

Meanwhile, in 1952 his world was greatly enlarged when he was a member of a college student work team to war-torn Germany, helping to build an orphanage. During his Cal Poly years he also experienced a call to become an agriculturalist in the Belgian Congo with the Methodist Board of Missions. With fear and trembling he entered Boston University School of Theology in 1952, receiving complimentary Cs; he graduated in 1955 with As.

He met his future wife Elsie Kittelsen while attending a Germany work team reunion in Altadena, California in December 1953. They were married on June 26, 1955, in Santa Ana, California. He was also ordained a Methodist elder in June 1955.

In preparation for serving in the Belgian Congo, the couple spent a year of graduate study at Boston University, followed by a year of French study in Brussels, Belgium. In 1957 he began agricultural work at Sandoa in the savanna area of then Belgian Congo. On June 30, 1960 the Belgian Congo became independent; by July 9, the army had mutinied. The couple’s third child, Anne, was born that morning. At noon a ham radio order was received: all Americans were to leave the newly independent country — the nation’s and the Freudenbergers’ world was turned upside down!

The family returned to Sandoa in 1962, where despite the political upheaval a branch of the Congo Polytechnique Institute had been formed. He became its director from 1964 to 1966.

He returned to Boston University in 1966 to complete his Ph.D. in social ethics and became a trainer and consultant for Peace Corps programs in French speaking West Africa. He saw the growing “desertification” of Africa, the effects of climate change, and the challenges and of world hunger as he traveled in the tropics and in the Sahelian regions.

He earned his Ph.D. in 1969. From 1969 to 1972 he traveled extensively, serving as the agricultural programs secretary of a quadrennial program of the Methodist Board of Missions, with work in 21 countries in Asia, South America, and Africa. He also consulted with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, and with Agrimissio at the Vatican.

At the close of the Methodist quadrennial program, he accepted a teaching position at the Claremont School of Theology, with the challenge of “putting the school into the world, and the world into the school.” From 1973 to 1990 he taught in the areas of church and society, environmental ethics, and ecumenics, along with teaching occasional evening courses at Cal Poly, Pomona in the fields of tropical agricultural ecology, and agricultural development in the tropical world.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bread for the World as well as the Catholic Rural Life Conference; of the interdisciplinary design team that established the John Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly, Pomona, where for two years as an ethicist he was also a member of the animal welfare committee that evaluated research proposals. He also lectured at conferences and workshops on the many-faceted issues of hunger and the care of the earth.

In 1990 the couple decided it was time for another adventure, thus he accepted an invitation to teach at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota in the fields of church and society with an emphasis on rural ministry. He taught there for seven years until his retirement in 1997.

As he traveled and lectured in the Upper Midwest, he saw the ravages of the farm crisis, bankruptcies, the selling of family farms to corporate agriculture, and the rape of the land. In a memorable experience during a break at an ecumenical conference, he heard a woman telephone her husband and say, “You have to come to this conference. Losing the farm is not our fault; it’s the system’s fault!”

Recognizing it was time to return to Claremont, in 1999 the couple entered Pilgrim Place. Almost immediately he became a member of the plants and produce committee, growing vegetables, harvesting citrus, planting trees, and making over 100 tons of compost to enrich the soil. He was a founding member of the environmental committee, festival facilities coordinator, town meeting moderator, and a member of the Pilgrim Place Board of Directors.

He was the author of many journal articles and three books, “Global Dust Bowl: Is It too Late?” “Food for Tomorrow,” and “Christian Responsibility in a Hungry World.”

He received several awards, including Boston University’s School of Theology Distinguished Alumni Award in 1981, and Cal Poly, Pomona’s Dean’s Award from the College of Environmental Design in 1992.

“C. Dean Freudenberger is remembered as humble, a friend to all, visionary, passionate, prophet, practical, ahead of his times, compost maker, mentor, challenger, motivating teacher, listener, quiet humor, loving husband to Elsie and to his children,” his family and friends shared. “Dean and Elsie are admired as a true couple, working together, but at the same time following their own paths, for 68 years.”

He is survived by his wife Elsie; children Mark (Boston), Jane (Louisiana), and David and Anne (Australia); eight grandchildren in Louisiana, Colorado, New York City, Australia, Cambodia, and Madagascar; and three great-grandsons in Australia and Madagascar.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, August 19, at Pilgrim Place’s Decker Hall, 665 Avery Road, Claremont 91711.

BUSTH announces David Anderson Hooker as Visiting Professor for Fall 2023

Boston University School of Theology is pleased to announce the appointment of David Anderson Hooker as visiting associate professor of religion and conflict transformation for the fall 2023 semester. Dr. Hooker will be teaching two courses this fall, TC 871 Spiritual Formation for Peacebuilders and TS 807 Transitional Justice and Reconciliation: Healing and Collective Wounds. Dr. Hooker is a lawyer and former community psychologist with more than 35 years’ experience as a mediator, trainer, and community builder, and his life's work will be integral for students who wish to learn restorative and healing justice processes.

“Dr. Hooker brings global perspectives and hands-on engagement with communities across the world to his teaching,” says G. Sujin Pak, dean of the School of Theology. “Drawing upon his knowledge, skills, and expertise in theology, law, and public health, he implements an exquisite framework and set of practices that wrestle with issues of memory, historical harms, and the role of narrative in shaping human beliefs and practices. Every student should seize this amazing opportunity to take his classes! I am so thrilled to have him with us this fall.”

Q&A

Part of the Boston University School of Theology’s mission is to “seek peace with justice in a diverse and interconnected world.” How do you see some of your previous work building upon this mission?

This is the entirety of my work for the past 40+ years. I have sought to facilitate mediate convene restorative and healing justices processes that are directly pointing to peace with justice. My work in communities in several countries including the US, Bahamas, Myanmar, Bosnia and Serbia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia is all focused on avoiding the trap of “trading justice for harmony.” Durable peace must be achieved through a proper balance of Truth, Justice and Mercy.

In addition to your PhD, you hold degrees in public health (MPH and MPA), law (JD), and theology (MDiv). How do you navigate the intersections of your interdisciplinary academic background through your teaching?

All of my study and practice has been looking for frameworks for liberation and full flourishing. Each discipline has some contribution and some limitations in that pursuit. I try to bring the wisdom and language of each discipline to allow students to focus on peace liberation and full flourishing.

Do you feel you have a “default lens” through which you teach – i.e., do you approach issues of conflict transformation and peacebuilding as a lawyer, a theologian, or a public health advocate?

The primary/default lens that connects all of my work and all of the disciplines I work in and through is the role of narrative in shaping our lives. There is a significant distinction between narratives and stories. Our narratives undergird, shape and connect law, theology, psychology, and public health.

What are your learning goals for the students in each of your two classes? Do they differ?

Spirituality and peacebuilding is designed to be a reflection and formation class, transitional justice is a framework heavy content course. Each course will present an opportunity to examine our own implicit and explicit theories of peace justice and humanity.

What are you most looking forward to as a visiting professor at BUSTH for fall 2023?

The program in Religion and Conflict Transformation is highly regarded in both fields. It is one of the few places where the theories and practices of both fields and disciplines is given equal significance. I look forward to engaging with both faculty and a student body that wrestles regularly with these questions and seeks to advance them.

 

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Parish Administrator, Part-Time, Episcopal: Cambridge, MA

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Cambridge, is looking for a part-time Parish Administrator. Located in Central Square, the church has a dynamic role within the community and a faithful congregation centered in service and tradition. Saint Peter’s is looking ahead, hoping to be more efficient in its systems. The Parish Administrator plays a critical role in welcoming this kind of change and supporting both the Rector and the leadership in new endeavors. The ideal candidate should be proficient in Word and comfortable with email and calendaring. Experience with MailChimp and Canva will be helpful, but not required. Willingness to learn and the ability to function as a team member are essential for the candidate to be successful in this role. Patience and a sense of humor also help.

The Parish Administrator maintains a warm, welcoming, orderly atmosphere for parishioners and others who call or visit the church. Reporting to the Rector, the Parish Administrator is responsible and accountable for day-to-day coordination and implementation of administrative and business-related functions of St. Peter’s. This person is responsible for smooth, efficient operations and overall management of the parish office, including coordinating, directing and executing all non-ministerial, non-finance parish operations, responding to all telephone and in-person inquiries/visits with courtesy and tact. The Parish Administrator completes all annual, monthly and weekly tasks in an efficient and timely manner, works closely with all church staff, volunteers, Treasurer, Wardens and Vestry and provides support services for all church operations. Meets weekly with Rector to strategize both long-term projects and the weekly tasks at hand. The ability to work autonomously while also having a strong teamwork approach is critical.

This position is part-time, 20 hours per week (hours may vary depending on the season). Compensation will range between $20 - $25/hour, depending on level of experience. Benefits are not included.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to the attention of Henry Soones, Senior Warden, at hsoones@comcast.net Please include the words “Parish Administrator” in the subject line of your email.