Alumni News
Professor Chai-sik Chung (GRS’64, STH’64)
A Celebration in Memory of the Life of
CHAI-SIK CHUNG
1930—2022
“A deeply beloved professor at STH, Dr. Chung was known for his work as a social ethicist and a sociologist of religion providing scholarship focused on comparative religious ethics that particularly explored the intersections of East Asian religious traditions, society, and Christian theology. Please keep Dr. Chai-Sik Chung’s family in your thoughts and prayers.”
--- STH Dean G. Sujin Pak
CHAI-SIK CHUNG
In loving memory
Chai Sik Chung passed away peacefully in Boston in April 2022 at the age of 91. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Soon Ria Chung, and is survived by his sons Eugene and Warren and grandchildren Caleb Hansu, Chloe, Isabelle and Euan.
Chai-Sik Chung was an American social ethicist and sociologist of religion. After the Korean conflict, he came to Boston at the age of 27 and studied under the late Robert N. Bellah at Harvard Divinity School with whom he had been long associated.
He studied under Walter G. Muelder at the Boston University School of Theology, where he served as the Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics from 1990 to 2011. As a scholar of comparative religious ethics, he has been a pioneer in the study of social and ethical problems arising from East Asia’s modern transformation. He has published widely in both Korean and English, on social and ethical issues involving globalization and encounters between civilizations, particularly those between Korea, East Asian religious traditions and Christianity. His publications include A Korean Confucian Encounter with the Modern World; Korea, Religious Tradition, and Globalization; Consciousness and History: Korean Cultural Tradition and Social Change; Korean Religion and Society Under Challenge: Continuity and Change; The Clash between Korean Confucianism and Modern Western Civilization; and his culminating work The Korean Tradition of Religion, Society, and Ethics: A Comparative Historical
Interpretation and Looking Beyond (2016).
Dr. Chung taught at Boston University's College of General Studies, Emory University—Oxford College, Heidelberg College as the Chairman of the Sociology Department, and as the Chairman of Sociology and the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. From 1983 to 1987 he served as Director of the Institute of Humanities at Yonsei. In 1986, he served as the Koret Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2003, he was the Luce Distinguished Professor of Korean Christianity at the University of California, Los Angeles and in the following year he served as the Yongjae George L. Paik Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University. In 2011, he retired from the Boston University School of Theology where he is an Emeritus Professor, completing a 50-year teaching career.
Chai-Sik Chung Memorial at Marsh Chapel
Dr. Chung’s son Eugene Chung has generously established a scholarship in his father’s name. Gifts to the Dr. Chai-sik Chung Endowed Scholarship in Social Ethics can be made online here or by check payable to “Trustees of Boston University”. Please add “Dr. Chung Scholarship” to the memo field. Mail to Boston University, Gift Processing, c/o JPMorgan Chase & Co.. PO Box 22605 New York, NY 10087-2605. On behalf of the Chung family, thank you for your thoughtful donation.
Director of Young Adult & University Student Ministry, Part-Time, UMC: Cambridge, MA
We seek a dynamic, energetic and creative candidate to develop and lead programming with university students and young adults at Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church. Located in Harvard Square, HEUMC is a progressive and inclusive congregation known for our well-established ministry to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as to young professionals living in the area.
HEUMC's ministry to university students and young adults provides opportunities for interpersonal connection, spiritual growth, and participation in Harvard-Epworth's focus on social justice and outreach to needs in the larger community.
We desire a person deeply rooted in faith and possessing excellent communication and organization skills, a spirit of joyful engagement and a commitment to being a part of a team dedicated to growing in faith, building the beloved community and, occasionally, getting in "good trouble."
www.harvardepworthchurch.org
Director of Young Adult & University Student Ministry
Hours/week: 13
- Sick days/vacation time negotiable
Worship Leadership:
- Attend weekly worship services to engage with students and young adults, also to greet any visiting students or young adults
- Occasionally lead one aspect of a worship service or a worship service in full
Programming:
- Organize and facilitate a weekly small group on spiritual formation such as Life Groups for students and young adults
- Organize monthly fellowship events such as Brunch Bunch, Game Night, or potluck dinners for students and young adults
- Organize and facilitate monthly or seasonal small groups such as book clubs, bible studies, or social justice informative studies for students and/or young adults
- Organize and facilitate a seasonal event such as a mission project or a retreat for students and young adults
- Occasionally facilitate Adult Forum discussions or other programs for the Harvard-Epworth community
- Offer times for one-on-one pastoral care or support conversations with students and young adults when needed
Administration:
- Regularly organize, schedule, and advertise for student and young adult events through monthly newsletters, email updates, and word of mouth
- Attend and faithfully participate in staff meetings, BCMHE meetings, church council meetings, or other organizational events
- Reach out to local universities to invite undergraduate and graduate students to worship, participate in small groups, or other programs
Qualifications:
- College graduate, preferably with some knowledge of church leadership or theological studies
- Prior related experience preferred
- Able to communicate effectively and work with a team
- Strategic and forward-thinking to set and accomplish goals.
- Proficient with computers (databases, Microsoft Word, Excel, file sharing) and online platforms (Zoom, Doodle, Canva, Facebook, etc.)
Assistant Director for Tutor Engagement, Tutor Chaplain, Full-Time, Non-profit: Dorchester, MA
EVkids empowers underserved Boston youth with the skills and confidence needed to realize their potential. We create a community of support through 1-on-1 multi-year academic mentoring relationships, professional family engagement and school advocacy, college success advising, and a summer camp at our 9-acre site in Vermont. As an organization with roots in the Catholic commitment to social justice, EVkids supports low-income students grades 4 to 12 aspire to and achieve college enrollment and graduation as first-generation college attendees. EVkids volunteer tutors commit themselves to the values of service, community, and reflection, and as such, graduate to become lifelong agents of positive social change.
Tutor volunteers come through local university partnerships, including at Boston College, Harvard, Massachusetts College of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Northeastern, Tufts, and UMassBoston among others. Tutoring pairs meet weekly at five EVkids after-school Tutoring sites, three in Dorchester, one in Roxbury, and one virtual site. EVkids supports 100+ tutor-tutee matches, and has plans to expand to 125-130 pairs in School Year 22-23. EVkids Camp hosts up to 36 campers each summer, and EVkids high school graduates are accompanied by College Success mentors through college.
Position
We are seeking to fill a full-time, 10-month school-year (September-June) position for the 2022-2023 academic year and beyond. Applications are considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The option to make this a full-year position with equivalent additional compensation is available if selected to co-direct Camp in Granville, VT for 5 weeks (approx. June 25-July 30, 2023).
The Assistant Director for Tutor Engagement, Tutor Chaplain works closely with the Associate Director for Tutor Engagement and a part-time Tutor Chaplain. This Tutor Engagement Team is responsible for tutor recruitment, training, and formation. Primary tasks for the Assistant Director include supporting student tutor coordinators, coordinating Tutor/Tutee pair events (Tutor Tutee Days, special outings), and tutor community events. Tutor Chaplains periodically attend tutoring to engage volunteers on site, as well as individual check-ins each semester with around 40 tutors (virtually or in-person), and support tutor coordinators (student leaders) in directing 1-hour, small group “reflections” on themes of spiritual development and social justice for their peers.
Special projects include: implementing an annual winter Tutor Retreat, collaborating on a yearly Social Justice In-Service, as well as periodically participating in Saturday training, mentoring, and community events. The Assistant Director for Tutor Engagement, Tutor Chaplain reports to the Associate Director for Tutor Engagement through weekly supervision meetings, and attends Tutor Engagement, Program Staff, and Peer Supervision weekly meetings, as well as monthly All Staff meetings. Meetings are a mix of in-person and virtual.
Tasks
- Cultivate student leadership via monthly meetings with Tutor Coordinators that include event planning, leadership development, and reflective/spiritual activities; create regular avenues for individual and group reflection space at various campuses, and to hear how tutoring is going - all in collaboration with fellow Tutor Chaplains;
- Design and implement a curriculum to assist the Associate Director for Tutor Engagement in developing campus partnerships with service and faith-based student and university entities;
- Interview, match, and help train EVkids Tutors;
- Attend tutoring 1 to 2 times per month to engage volunteers on site or virtually;
- Plan and implement bi-annual campus Tutor-Tutee Days, while collaborating closely with the Tutor Engagement Team and student coordinators;
- Implement periodic relationship-building pair outings throughout the year;
- Mentor tutors on effective and healthy closure practices with their tutee;
- Participate in regular program evaluation and reporting;
- Update Tutor records and information on a Salesforce database;
Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent experience, in education, theology, ministry, social work, or related field required; some Masters level work, or equivalent experience, preferred;
- 3+ years experience in campus ministry, education, or mentoring/tutoring;
- Experience in leading spiritual/theological small group reflection;
- Professional experience working with diverse populations including low-income, ethnically-diverse, BIPOC communities; school-age children, university students, parents, educators, and campus ministers;
- Comfort and flexibility navigating multiple work sites and professional demands
- Experience in project and event management;
- Excellent written and computer skills, including using Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, & Forms) and Salesforce; Personal Qualifications
- Understanding of faith-based social justice work, openness to those of no-faith or a values driven commitment, and passionate for the mission of EVkids;
- Ability to work collaboratively with an energized, committed, and diverse team;
- Persuasive and passionate communication skills;
- Strong interpersonal social skills;
- Cultural sensitivity & humility; openness to explore organizational racial equity efforts
- Detail-oriented and able to be creative and self-supervising in maintaining your own schedule that will vary week to week;
- Commitment to self-reflection and creating equity in tasks and projects;
- Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance required;
- Personal connections to, and familiarity with, the Dorchester and/or Roxbury neighborhoods preferred
Salary/Benefits
$4,500 - $5,000/mos. depending on experience; health care and retirement plan available, 4 weeks paid vacation (5 weeks after a year of employment), plus 17 paid holidays (13 fixed, 4 floating), and 5 paid sick days.
EVkids respects and welcomes staff and volunteers from various backgrounds, motivated to work towards a more equitable, compassionate, and socially just world. We are committed to a diverse workplace and do not discriminate based on race, age, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. EVkids has a zero tolerance policy for child maltreatment.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and references to scottpyzik@evkids.org.
3 Open Positions at UMCom
Associate Marketing Project Specialist
Posting Date: April 12 – May 6
To apply or for more information contact: UMCom/Human Resources: 615-742-5412 Email: hr@umcom.org To apply please submit an internal application form.
Additional Information is helpful: Cover Letter→ Resume →Work Samples (if applicable)
Submit Internal Application: (Application Form Required) UMCom Employment Application Form
Attachment or Request Form upon submitting resume!
Position Title: Associate Marketing Project Specialist
Position Overview:
The position requires an enthusiastic, highly motivated, go getter! The Associate Project Specialist assist with the implementation of marketing tactics, coordination of project schedules, creation of weekly status reports, and publishing daily content for social media channels. The job requires interaction with clients through all stages of resource development (designer, writers, printers, etc.) while maintaining master schedules to meet deadlines for completion. The successful candidate will exhibit a natural orientation for details, flexibility and strong organization skills to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Assoc Marketing Project Specialist Connectional Giving External Posting
Senior Creative Content Specialist
Posting Date: Until filled!
To apply or for more information contact: UMCom/Human Resources: 615-742-5137 Email: hr@umcom.org To apply please provide the following: Cover Letter→ Resume →Complete Application Form →Work Samples Welcome
Submit External Application
Position Title: Sr. Creative Content Specialist
Position Overview:
The Senior Creative Content Specialist uses creative copywriting and ideation across multiple channels to support marketing and advertising efforts for both internal and external clients. The position develops and manages high-quality marketing and advertising content including but not limited to email campaigns, websites, social media, newsletters, brochures, advertisements, infographics, videos, live presentations, events and webinars. The successful candidate will be able to collaborate and contribute to the creative conceptualization for both internal and external clients. This position serves as the lead proofreader and editor for all collateral created by the Creative Strategy team.
Sr Creative Content Specialist Creative Strategy External
Sr. Graphic Design Specialist
Posting Date: Until filled!
To apply or for more information contact: UMCom/Human Resources: 615-742-5137 Email: hr@umcom.org To apply please provide the following: Cover Letter→ Resume →Complete Application Form →Work Samples Welcome
Submit Internal Application located in Dropbox (HR Forms)
Position Title: Sr. Graphic Design Specialist
Position Overview:
The successful candidate will serves as the creative, graphic design expert for the Local Church Services team. This role requires someone able to work closely with local church leaders and pastors to develop UMC brand and custom logo packages, print collateral, online ads, and promotional items. The candidate will consult and equip local church leaders with best practices in design to help develop and/or improve the brand identity of local churches and its ministries across marketing channels. They will work in collaboration with other teams throughout the agency to achieve the goals of the Local Church Services team. This position requires the development of high quality design/copy layout artwork to be used to provide multimedia integrated marketing communications materials. The candidate must be able to collaborate with internal and external clients.
Africana Spirituality Chaplain, Part-Time, University Chaplaincy: Medford, MA
The Tufts University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community on all of Tufts’ campuses. The University Chaplaincy provides pastoral care, supports religious and philosophical communities, educates about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world, and promotes multifaith engagement within Tufts’ tradition of progressive thought in education. Through its programming and initiatives, the Chaplaincy is actively committed to Tufts’ initiative in becoming an anti-racist institution and is welcoming to, and inclusive of, all people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Reporting to the President, the University Chaplain leads the University Chaplaincy team, which currently includes six Associate Chaplains (Buddhist, Catholic, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant); one Advisor (Hindu); four administrative, program, and music staff; one chaplain intern; and thirteen student workers. The University Chaplaincy works with 15+ campus religious and philosophical communities that offer over many weekly gatherings and special programs. Beyond its work supporting these communities, the University Chaplaincy offers multifaith programming and services for the whole University and its staff serve as liaisons to various departments and schools and are members of various University committees related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, campus life, and mental health and wellness. The department also manages the care and use of Goddard Chapel and the Interfaith Center.
BUSTH Welcomes New Assistant Professor of Ethics
April 2022 – Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce the appointment of new full-time faculty member Peng Yin, who will begin on September 1, 2022. Professor Yin will join the faculty as Assistant Professor of Ethics.
Dr. Yin is completing a manuscript on the intelligibility of moral language across metaphysical differences. He has received the Emerging Scholar Fellowship from Villanova University’s Center for Political Theology and the Doctoral Fellowship from The Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History. Trained in Ethics at Harvard University and Yale Divinity School, his writing has appeared in Modern Theology and Journal of Religious Ethics. Prior to BUSTH, he taught at Candler School of Theology at Emory University as a Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow.
“It is an exceptional gift to hear my scholarly interests resonating with student questions in interfaith dialogue, gender and sexuality, as well as mysticism and ethical formation,” says Dr. Yin. “At BUSTH, I sense a strong anticipation for the teaching of ethics that does justice to the least of these, and to Christianity’s moral wisdom accumulated across its historical and global pluralism. I am delighted to be joining this distinguished community in a shared work to do good in the world.”
“His presence and expertise will strengthen STH’s commitments to interreligious conversation.”
School of Theology Dean G. Sujin Pak shares her delight for the announcement of this appointment. “There is great anticipation of how Dr. Yin’s work can collaborate with the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program and Chinese Christianity projects within the Center for Global Christianity and Mission,” she says. “His presence and expertise will strengthen STH’s commitments to interreligious conversation and the interreligious leadership track and enhance our curriculum, particularly around topics of sexual ethics, queer ethics, and comparative ethics.”
BUSTH Announces Faculty Publications for April 2022
The School of Theology is pleased to announce the following faculty publications for the month of April 2022:
- Filipe Maia
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“The Rise of the Common: Spiritual Revival and Political Revolution in the Wesleyan Movement.” In Methodist Revolutions: Evangelical Engagements of Church and World. Edited by Joerg Rieger and Upolu Lumā Vaai. Nashville: Wesley’s Fondery Books, 2022.
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- Mary Elizabeth Moore
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“Liberating Service: In Christian Community and Diaconal Ministries,” Currents in Theology and Mission: The World is My Parish: Festschrift for the Rev. Dr. Norma Cook Everist, Emerita Professor, 49:2 (April 2022)
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“Responding to a Weeping Planet: Practical Theology as a Discipline Called by Crisis,” Religions 2022, 13(3), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13030244
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- Judith Oleson
- “The Power of Peacemaking: Shapeshifting for Justice.” Tikkun. https://www.tikkun.org/the-power-of-peacemaking/
- Dana Robert, et al
- Kara Jackman, Patricia Thompson. “Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society Windows.”
- Steven Sandage
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“Think therapy is navel-gazing? Think again.” The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/think-therapy-is-navel-gazing-think-again-173312
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- Steven Sandage, et al
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Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D.C., & Crabtree, S.A. (2022). “Virtues as mediators of the associations between religious/spiritual commitment and well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life.” https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10046-y
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- Brandon Simonson, et al
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Elizabeth Schrader and Brandon Simonson, “‘Rabbouni,’ which means Lord: Narrative Variants in John 20:16,” TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism 26 (2021): 133-54.
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Associate Dean of Students, Director of the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making and Cornell United Religious Work, Full-Time, High Ed: Ithaca, NY
The Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making and Cornell United Religious Work is a member of the senior staff of the Office of Dean of Student (DOS). The Associate Dean provides leadership for religious, spiritual, and ethical life at Cornell. Through vision, leadership, programming and advocacy, this role inspires and supports Cornell’s increasingly diverse student body in the process of meaning making of beliefs, values, experiences, spiritual discovery and asking life’s big questions. Additionally, as the Director of Cornell United Religious Work, this position oversees the sixty religious life affiliates who partner with OSMM to advance their shared vision and mission.
We are seeking candidates who are team-oriented, student-centered, and highly collaborative. We need an intentional, caring, innovative, and equity-minded professional to lead our religious life affiliates and help students achieve their personal, professional, and academic goals. Attached is the full job description.
Candidates may apply HERE.
Interested candidates can contact Oliver Goodrich, Associate Dean of Students, at osmm@cornell.edu. Please be aware that we are moving on a rapid timeline: for full consideration, applications should be received by April 27, 2022.
BUSTH Welcomes New Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care and Counseling
April 2022 – Boston University School of Theology is pleased to announce the appointment of new full-time faculty member Eunil David Cho, who will begin on July 1, 2022. Professor Cho will join the faculty as Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care and Counseling.
Dr. Cho is an ordained Presbyterian (USA) minister with a background in congregational ministry and chaplaincy, and worked with immigrant and refugee populations before his current appointment at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University as Visiting Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care and Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow. He was the Director of the Candler Writing Center at Emory University from 2017-2019, and his first book “Making Sense of Life with God: Religious Stories that Dreamers Tell in the Face of Uncertainty” is in progress. He earned his PhD at Emory University in 2020 and is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on the topics of pastoral and practical theology, psychology of religion, Asian American theology and ministry, and narrative theories and practices.
“I am absolutely thrilled to join Boston University School of Theology for its historic reputation as a theological education community that trains all persons of faith and fosters both personal and social transformation,” says Dr. Cho. “I look forward to collaborating with the diverse faculty, staff, and students at BUSTH to cultivate further a scholarly community of diversity, equity, and inclusion, where all students have equal access to learning and feel valued in pursuing their vocational goals.”
“Dr. Cho’s presence and expertise will strengthen the School’s commitments to academic and vocational formation, interdisciplinary collaborations, and practices of care in these challenging times.”
School of Theology Dean G. Sujin Pak shares her excitement for the announcement of this appointment. “Dr. Cho brings outstanding gifts in pastoral ministry, spiritual care, youth ministry, writing pedagogy, teaching, and mentoring in support of a diversity of persons and vocations,” says Dean Pak. “His scholarship demonstrates an exciting trajectory, with a current project exploring experiences of and responses to anti-Asian violence. Dr. Cho’s presence and expertise will strengthen the School’s commitments to academic and vocational formation, interdisciplinary collaborations, and practices of care in these challenging times.”
BUSTH Professor Dana Robert Receives Boston University William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professorship
The following is an excerpt from BU Today’s article “William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professorships Honor Mark Grinstaff, Gary Lawson, and Dana Robert” by Joel Brown, featuring Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission and Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission Dana Robert, published on April 14, 2022. Click here to read the full article.
“One of the things I’m excited about is that I’ll be the only Warren chair actually teaching what William F. Warren taught,” Dana Robert says, sitting in her book-lined office at the School of Theology. “He came here and taught mission, and then he taught world religions. He was a mission theologian.”
Mindful of the connection, she even went to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge a few years ago and found Warren’s grave and those of several of his BU colleagues, along with that of his wife, Harriet Merrick Warren. Harriet Warren was a founder of the Methodist Woman’s Missionary Society at about the same time BU was founded and Warren installed as its first president.
Robert draws a direct connection between those 19th-century Methodists who founded BU and the concept of the “beloved community” and another famous denizen of the School of Theology, Martin Luther King, Jr. (GRS’55, Hon.’59).