Alumni News
Dean G. Sujin Pak’s Message for Holy Saturday and Easter 2022
Easter has a long tradition of being the height of the Christian liturgical season, particularly in the calendar of western churches. It can be a beautiful celebration of hope and resurrection, offering the promises of new creation and restoration after a season of repentant preparation (Lent) and after a profound event of violence, loss, and grief (Christ’s crucifixion). The yearning for such Easter hope is palpable in a world wracked with trauma and loss of life from the crises of war, racism, climate change, a health pandemic, and a myriad of injustices and inequities.
Yet, as our own theologian Dr. Shelly Rambo points out, we are at risk of completely overlooking a crucial aspect of the Easter story when we move too quickly from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Dr. Rambo names the need for mindful attention to Holy Saturday. She warns of Christian theology’s tendency toward a too-quick movement to a triumphant resurrection, often at the risk of glorifying suffering, evading violent realities, and glossing over trauma and loss. In Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining, she wisely suggests, “Perhaps the divine story is neither a tragic one nor a triumphant one but, in fact, a story of divine remaining, the story of love that survives. It is a cry arising from the abyss. The question is: can we witness it?” (172).
Can you imagine that first Holy Saturday? The disciples’ worlds were turned upside down. All that they had been certain about—all in which they had placed their hope—was devastated. Traumatized by violence and loss, they huddled together in disorientation, grief, and shock. The way forward was not only uncertain; it seemed unimaginable.
For many in these COVID years, uncertainty has become a constant companion.
These feelings are not so unfamiliar. Certainly, they are not unfamiliar to persons whose worlds have been disrupted and destroyed by disease, war, racism, ecological devastation, and repeated, traumatic injustices. For many in these COVID years, uncertainty has become a constant companion. Indeed, beyond COVID, uncertainty and trauma have been too-long a companion of too many.
What might it mean to linger on Holy Saturday? For one, we find that the disciples and their families gathered in a room together. They must have mourned and grieved together. They must have held each other’s trauma and uncertainty. They must have had to find a way to accept the silence, the lack of answers. All the while, they remained with one another. They abided with one another. They sought and found solidarity and strength in and with one another. As Dr. Rambo suggests, they found love in the remaining.
Holy Saturday is a call to a profound hunger for peace and justice that cannot and will not be satisfied with shallow, illusory ‘triumphs’.
Christianity’s triumphalist temptations have had dire consequences, particularly in the season of Easter, as any historian of Christian-Jewish relations will know. Christians would do well to pause long and intentionally within and upon Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is a call to a profound hunger for peace and justice that cannot and will not be satisfied with shallow, illusory ‘triumphs’. Holy Saturday is the vocation of remaining, with honest recognition and acknowledgment of our own and others’ pain. Holy Saturday is an invitation to transformative love and life-giving solidarity, that we might begin to become, embody, and enact the life abundant that is Easter.
- G. Sujin Pak, dean
Dr. David W. Scott (STH’07, GRS’13) Quoted by the UM News on Bulgaria-Romania United Methodists Vote to Leave
This press release was originally published by the UM News on April 11, 2022, by Sam Hodges. The full article can be found here.
The Bulgaria-Romania Provisional Annual Conference has voted to leave The United Methodist Church and join the Global Methodist Church when that new, traditionalist denomination begins operations on May 1.
Dr. David W. Scott (STH'07, GRS'13), who oversees the blog UM & Global, wrote in an April 8 post: “The Central and Southern Europe Central Conference may have little recourse to opposing the decision and little incentive to fight a unanimous decision by the annual conference.”
Read the full article here.
Coming Alive Memoir by Rev. Dr. Anne Ierardi (STH’90)
Rev. Dr. Anne Ierardi’s (STH'90) memoir “Coming Alive” (Shanti Arts Press) charts her spiritual, psychological, and artistic formation of three decades through feminism, gay liberation, and her quest to integrate her Italian-Catholic background after experiencing a profound call to ordination in seminary. Her oil paintings are featured in the book and on the cover. She lives on Cape Cod with her wife of 42 years and is available for presentations and art exhibits.
Anne Ierardi is a writer, painter, and minister. Her passion is trusting the Life that could be, and bringing all her gifts and those of others to that living. Making connections, finding beauty, and choosing what is good takes roots and reach.
Coming Alive, her recently completed memoir, from Catholic Italian-American Boston to ordained minister and same sex marriage on Cape Cod is filled with the portraits of people, places, and ideas that enliven and invite.
Anne cofounded Healthsigns Center, a sanctuary for spiritual guidance, contemplative worship, and creative gatherings. The book, Walking with Grief: A Healing Journey, was published by Healthsigns. Anne illustrated 21 sensitive paintings responding to the touching poem by Rev. Nanette Geertz on the sudden death of her daughter.
Artistic expression whether it is visual art, writing, or music defines Anne's identity and search for wholeness and the Holy.
Visit Rev. Dr. Anne Ierardi’s (STH'90) website here.
Get your copy of Coming Alive from here on Shanti Arts. The book is also available on Amazon.
Terry S. Smith, D.Min. (STH’94) Published Core Story: Unlock the Treasure of Knowing Your Story
Discovery Your Core Story: By the age of 12, every person forms unconscious beliefs in these three areas: - How to be safe and secure (perhaps even how to survive) - How to garner the love and esteem of those around you - How to control the way others respond to you These core beliefs are powerful, unconscious drivers of personality that often dictate what a person says and does. They are so powerful, in fact, that people are more influenced by their core beliefs than by what they have learned as an adult.
Developed by Terry S. Smith, The Core Story tool helps an individual explore their core beliefs. The process, based on the genogram, takes the unconscious and unseen and makes them concrete. The Core Story diagram, similar to a diagram of your family tree, allows you to quickly identify and understand various relationships and traits in your family history that may have had an influence on your behaviors and relational patterns. Understanding your Core Story raises your awareness of your behaviors and empowers you to decide, as an adult, if the beliefs you adopted as a child are appropriate in your life today.
Get your copy of Core Story on Amazon.
Director of Children’s, Youth, & Family Formation, Full-Time, Episcopal: Charlottesville, VA
St. Paul's Memorial Church at UVA seeks an energetic, professional Christian formation leader for children, youth, and families. The person called to this role will join our staff at a moment of unique opportunity as we deepen our commitment to intergenerational worship, fellowship, and formation, and prepare for a major building project. We have a full-time staff of eight, and Sunday attendance growing toward pre-Covid averages of about 300. We have both the spirit of optimism and the financial health necessary to pursue big dreams.
St. Paul’s is a growing, intergenerational, justice-minded parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, directly across the street from the heart of the University of Virginia. Founded in 1910 as a mission to the University, St. Paul’s is characterized by a lively mix of town and gown, including a thriving college chaplaincy. We are a curious, engaged, LGBTQ-affirming community of seekers and committed Christians, including families, graduate students, longtime locals, faculty members, undergraduates, and retirees.
St. Paul’s is looking for a Director of Children’s, Youth, & Family Formation who wants to...
• Invite children, youth, and families into deeper relationship with God and each other in an inclusive environment of joyful curiosity.
• Encourage and equip lay vocations, especially by example.
• Recruit, coordinate, equip, inspire, and appreciate leaders for Children’s Chapel, Youth Fellowship, intergenerational Common Hour programs, Wednesday evening worship and fellowship, and more.
• Work creatively with staff and parishioners to invite children and youth to participate in new ways in the many ministries of the parish, including worship leadership and mission & service.
• Collaborate with our Director of Music to build on the success of our thriving children’s choirs.
• Coordinate seasonal parish events and traditions specific to children’s, youth, and family ministries.
• Participate in strategic, collaborative program planning and exercise leadership in other ministry areas according to the Director’s own gifts, experience, and perception of potential synergies with children’s, youth, and family formation.
• Grow in faith, skill, and expertise and be compensated according to our expectations for commitment and excellence in this position.
A Master’s degree and/or relevant experience in parish or school ministry is strongly preferred, as is a deep appreciation for the unique theological and liturgical heritage of the Episcopal Church. Joy in working with people of all ages is essential, as are strong writing skills and an attitude of openness, optimism, and flexibility.
Please submit a résumé, along with a cover letter addressed to the Rector, the Rev. William Peyton, describing why you think you might be called to this ministry.
Application materials should be sent to office@spmcuva.org and received by April 24.
Receptionist, Part-Time, Roman Catholic: Boston, MA
Hours/Schedule:
This position is 15 - 20 hours per week, with the possibility to add more when coverage is needed. It is shared position with a small reception team. The parish is a seven day/week operation including Sundays and holidays.
Who We Are:
Saint Cecilia Parish is a growing, progressive Roman Catholic community in the heart of the City of Boston with approximately 3,000 registered and active households. Saint Cecilia’s mission is lived out though 27 ministries and outreach programs. To learn more about the parish, visit, www.stceciliaboston.org.
Responsibilities:
- Answer and direct all incoming calls and serve as front line contact to phone call inquiries, visitors, vendors, etc.
- Support Director of Facilities and Events with scheduling requests and vendor correspondence
- Support Director of Finance and Development with detailed tracking of parish contributions, timely follow-up correspondence, annual campaign mailings, ongoing donation acknowledgements, event contract execution/completion
- Support Communications and Operations Manager with data entry re: staff forms, parishioner registrations, required employee background check forms, etc. CORI check paperwork
- Prepare monthly outgoing Welcome Packets for new registrants
- Respond and confirm Calendar/Facility Management requests
- Weekly Duplication of worship aids
- Additional administrative projects where needed
Qualifications:
- Minimum two to three years of work experience in similar administrative role desired
- Ability to maintain a professional manner with a customer service mindset while working with a high degree of confidentiality
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Highly proficient in MS Office Suite of Programs
- Team player with proven ability to be flexible, reliable, independent, and organized
- Understanding and support of the mission of the Catholic Church
- Flexibility of schedule during busy seasons (Christmas, Easter)
- Occasional availability on evenings or weekends (with advance notice) preferable
Please send your resume to Colleen Melaugh (Director of Finance) at cmelaugh@stceciliaboston.org
Youth Program Director, Part-Time, Congregational Church: Swampscott, MA
Youth Program Director
The First Church in Swampscott, Congregational
Swampscott, MA 01907
$23 - $30 an hour - Part-time
Navigating the years from tween, to teen, to adolescent, and then early adulthood, have never been easy. But of late, experts in education and pediatric health have raised the alarm about the impacts of our society on the wellbeing and development of the children in our lives today. A recent US Surgeon General’s Advisory spells out roles for community organizations to address this, including the formation of youth enrichment programs.
We are seeking a Youth Program Director to plan and execute activities that engage 6-12th graders from the surrounding community with fun, weekly programming that supports character development and public service.
This program will be a secular, fun environment that is welcoming to people of every faith background and of no faith, but grounded in a progressive Christian ethic of respect, inclusion, compassion, service, honesty, peace and justice.
The initial focus of this role will be designing and building youth programs for grades 6-8 and 9-12. The events should be fun, while helping develop character, inclusion, and service, and supporting the mental well-being of kids and families in our area. This is a part-time role, 16-20 hrs/week, expected to become permanent after an initial pilot phase. Once established the youth programs may be further expanded to include parent/family programs, youth music, etc. Budget is available for supplies and events.
Hourly rate will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
The following is modeled after a successful program currently running in another town, however, the Director is invited to be creative in co-designing and developing the program.
Prof. Filipe Maia Awarded Louisville Institute Book Grant
The Boston University School of Theology is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor of Theology Filipe Maia is a recipient of the Louisville Institute’s 2022 First Book Grant for Scholars of Color. The First Book grant “supports early career, non-tenured scholars of color completing a major research project in North American Christianity with grants up to $40,000,” according to the Louisville Institute announcement on Facebook.
Prof. Maia’s project, titled “A Political Theology of the Worthless: A Critique of Modern Axiology,” will investigate narratives of value-formation that occupy a central role in North American Christianity. The project research will show how a set of values were formed around five categories (the nation, market, family, the globe, and corporation) and then reveal that the “construction of value is tied to the formation of that which is construed as worthless.”
Congratulations, Prof. Maia!
Rev. Dr. Stanley W. Possell (STH’61,’66,’78)
This obituary was originally published by the Carmon Community Funeral Home and can be found here.
Stan was born May 11, 1936, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He graduated from Fort Wayne Central High School in 1954 where he was active in sports and music, a class officer, and president of the Student Council. He went on to graduate from Earlham College in Richmond, IN. Stan married Elaine Holland on June 15, 1957.
Stan and Elaine moved to Upton, MA where Stan became the pastor of the Upton United Methodist Church while also attending the Boston University School of Theology. He received his M.Div. in 1961 and was ordained May 28, 2961, in Muncie, Indiana. Stan was then called as the pastor of the Park Congregational Church in Worcester, MA and served there from 1965 to 1967. During this time in Massachusetts, Stan and Elaine were blessed with four children.
Stan returned to Indiana where he became the pastor of the Park Place United Methodist Church in Anderson from 1967 to 1974. While in this position, Stan helped originate and became the executive director of an ecumenical 24-hour crisis intervention center (CONTACT-HELP). He also served as president of the Ecumenical Council and president of the Madison County United Way Board of Directors. He returned to Massachusetts serving as the senior pastor of the former Chestnut Street Congregational Church in Worcester, MA and earning his D. Min. from Boston University concentrating in liturgical studies and Biblical Interpretation of the Arts. Stan held a leadership position in the Worcester Council of Churches and was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Central Massachusetts.
Stan then accepted calls from the First Congregational Church of East Haven, CT, Storrs Congregational Church at the University of Connecticut, and Naples Congregational Church, U.C.C. in Naples, FL. Stan was then called to help the Faith United Church of Christ in Tamarac, FL build a new worship center. Stan personally transported furniture and several magnificent stained-glass windows to adorn the new building that came from his former Chestnut Street Church in Worcester, MA. He ended his career by serving as an interim pastor at the Fort Myers Congregational Church in FL and the Thompson Congregational United Church of Christ in Thompson, CT.
An avid singer with an amazing baritone voice and a passion for singing the musicals, an accomplished athlete (played football in college and was a dead-eye in basketball), a fanatic coach, a dog lover, a supreme handyman, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather – this describes Stan best. Among his greatest joys was building a lakefront cottage in Indiana, and then purchasing a small lakefront cottage in Spencer, MA and building it into magnificent home. Elaine, Stan and family summered at Oakland Shores in Spencer beginning in 1975. He absolutely loved paddling the canoe with Elaine and playing with his eight grandchildren. And oh the magnificent stories that he could tell.
When Elaine became ill, Stan and Elaine moved to Connecticut to be near their youngest daughter. Stan lived in CT until his passing. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine in 2011. Stan is survived by his wife, Rita Collins, his four children – Lisa and Linn of Orlando, FL, Stephen of Indiana, and Lois of Connecticut, his eight grandchildren – Lexi, Haley, Stephen, Camden, Megan, Quinton, Brianna, and Mason, and his sister Sharon Michael of Indiana.
Funeral services will be celebrated at the First Congregational Church of Vernon, 695 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon, CT, on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Storrs Cemetery, N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LiveWell (1261 S. Main St., Plantsville, CT 06479) – the center where Elaine lived and thrived during her final years. Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home in Vernon has care of the arrangements. To leave an online condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com
Rev. Will Earl Chambers (STH’72)
Will Earl Chambers, was born on November 23, 1938, in South Fulton, Tennessee, to the late Hall and Sallie Chambers. Will attended school in Union City, Tennessee, and after graduation, attended Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, the International Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia and Boston University School of Theology.
Will was employed by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church until his retirement in 2001. He was also a professor at Livingstone College, in Salisbury, North Carolina, from 1972 -1986.
Will is survived by his wife, Judith T. Chambers; daughter, Carissa J. Chambers; grandson, Christopher R. Leslie; sister, Treva C. Kerney (Paul); and a host of other family and friends.
Lovingly submitted,
The Family
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