Alumni News
Pastoral Residency Program, Two-Year, UCC: Wellesley, MA
As a Pastoral Resident at the Wellesley Village Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts you will
• Be a full-time pastor, participating in all aspects of the life of Wellesley Village Church and our partner congregation, the Congregational Church of Weston. The two settings provide the experience of working within the large staff of a large congregation and as solo pastor of a small one.
• Gain experience in core areas of pastoral work: Worship, Faith Formation, Pastoral Care, Transformational Leadership, Social Justice, and Professional Development.
• Learn the basics of church management: worship planning and leadership, staff management, church finances and stewardship, all with the support and mentorship of pastoral staff at Wellesley Village Church and congregations in Wellesley and Weston.
• Be supported by a peer Resident, then mentor a peer: the program trains two Residents at a time, and the staggered call process enables the more established Resident to mentor the newer.
• Respond to the Spirit’s movement. Personal spiritual development is supported by the program. So is participation in a New Clergy Group through the UCC’s Southern New England Conference.
The next Pastoral Resident will participate in a major joint stewardship campaign between Wellesley Village Church and our Boston partner, the Charles Street AME Church, and also play a role in designing a community center for faith and justice at the Weston Church.
We are looking for a candidate who has discerned a call to parish ministry, has a passion for God’s justice, a heart for Jesus’ way of compassion, and an openness to the Holy Spirit. Excellent candidates have or will have graduated with an M.Div. within the last two years, be Members in Discernment in the UCC, be on track to be ordained within the time frame of the program, and be able to commit to serve from August 2022-June 2024.
This position is an ordainable call in the UCC, with a salary and housing allowance of $60,000 a year (or $55,000 with free parsonage housing, if available), and full benefits.
The Information Sessions for our Pastoral Residency Program will be held on:
- Mon Jan 31st at 7:30pm
- Tues Feb 15th at 7:30pm
The information presented at each will be the same, so they may chose whichever is the more convenient date to attend.
Zoom link here
Click here to read more about the position and application instructions: 2022 pastoral residency application FINAL 4Jan22
Rev. Richard D. Turner (STH ’64)
The obituary was originally published by Lincoln Journal Star on Jan. 7, 2022 and can be found here.
Richard "Dick" Turner, age 88, of Lincoln passed away on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. He was born in 1933 on a farm outside Fairbury, Nebraska, and was a graduate of Fairbury High School in 1951. He served in the Army during the Korean War from 1953-1955. He married Luci Shultz, also of Fairbury, after they met at the local Veterans Office where she worked.
He graduated with his BA in Philosophy & Religion from Wesleyan University, and then received his Masters of Divinity from Boston University's Theological Seminary in 1963 where he studied under the great theologian and civil rights leader, Howard Dean Thurman; a lifelong influence for Dick. He took his charge with the Nebraska United Methodist Conference in 1963 where he successfully served as a pastor for multiple United Methodist churches across the state. He finished his career as the Executive Director of the United Methodist Conference.
With every move they made with the church there was always a grassroots cause. He provided a safe haven for displaced youth during the Vietnam war, spoke up for persecuted students in rural high schools and defended the rights of the LGBTQ community well ahead of its time. His committed work with Native American tribes on issues of fairness and inclusion fostered a bridge across cultural divides. His work with the Great Plains rural organizing project and the formation of Omaha Together One Community helped both farmers and urban leaders who were struggling economically.
A lover of poetry, music and the arts, he was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Elvis Presley (Who he saw live at the Lincoln FieldHouse in 1956!) A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, his surviving family are humbled and honored by his loving memory.
Preceded in death by his parents Samuel and Rose Turner, his brother, Dave and sister, Linda. He is survived by Luci, his wife of 63 years, brothers Jim and Tom, daughter, Laurie (Dave) McDonald, sons, Paul (Paula) Turner, and John (Melissa) Turner, 6 grandchildren, Ashley, Lindsey, Sam, Michael, Elizabeth, and Simon, 4 great-grandchildren, Harper, Carson, Lucas, Rhodes, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
All are welcome for the celebration of Dick's life that will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 8th, 2022 at St Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M St., Lincoln, NE. Masking and social distancing will be required. The service will also be live streamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/28361637/events/9362058.
Donations on behalf of Dick can be made to The Institute for Public Leadership, 3647 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, NE 68131-1363 or online at https://shareomaha.org/nonprofit/institute-public-leadership to support broad-based organizing in Nebraska. Flowers and cards can be sent to Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 O St, Lincoln NE 68510
Associate Director, Financial Aid/Admissions, Full-Time, Higher Ed: Atlanta, GA
Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.
The Associate Director of Financial Aid and Admissions oversees Candler’s scholarship program, including the administration of approximately $6.5 million annually from over 80 scholarship accounts and nearly $1 million in external scholarship funds.
The Associate Director of Financial Aid and Admissions reports to the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. The Associate Director maintains an effective working relationship with the school’s Dean, staff of the Candler Finance, Communications, Registrar, Advancement and Alumni Engagement, and Student Programming Offices, staff of the University’s Office of Financial Aid, staff and faculty of the Candler School of Theology, alumni, families, friends, and providers of external student funding.
Director of Children’s Ministry, Full-Time, UMC: Woodlands, TX
Does serving kids and families in America’s #1 rated city to live and raise a family sound appealing? The Woodlands Methodist Church, located in The Woodlands, Texas is looking for a joy-filled, passionate, full-time children’s ministry director to lead the children’s ministry into a vibrant, faith-filled future. The Woodlands UMC is passionately focused on creating environments for children to learn and experience the gospel of Jesus. If you’re energized by leading a staff team to create this environment and also love creating a culture where volunteers love to serve, have at least five years of demonstrated experience supervising a staff team and leading a large-scale children’s ministry, have a Bachelor’s degree or more in ministry, education, or related field, and are excited to embrace the challenge of innovating ministry in a post-pandemic world, we’d love to talk with you.
You can view the full job description here: Woodlands Director of Children's Ministries job description -2. Please direct inquiries and share your resume and cover letter: melinda.kinsman@ministryarchitects.com
Development Associate, Full-Time, City Mission: Boston, MA
As a member of a small team, the Development Associate will have a key role in driving fundraising for City Mission. Working with the Director of Development and Stewardship, the Development Associate will be involved with all major aspects of development and will make a significant contribution to meeting organizational fundraising goals. The Development Associate will assist with departmental projects and initiatives such as online giving campaigns, grant proposal/report writing, donor cultivation, meetings, events, and other opportunities for donor engagement. This position will provide administrative support and maintains the donor database.
This position reports to the Director of Development and Stewardship. Flexibility to accommodate work during evenings and weekends when warranted is an important requirement for this role.
Essential Duties:
Database Management and Gift Processing
• Maintain the accuracy of data and financial records in the eTapestry donor database
• Process and enter gifts in the database as they arrive, and send acknowledgements to supporters for gifts received
• Provide input to finance for monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations and audits
• Enter and update donor information, input contacts and solicitor activity into database, and track and report on prospects, donors, donations, and appeals
• Monitor online giving vehicles (e.g., YourCause and various Donor Advised Funds)
• Research and identify prospective foundation funders, major donors, and corporate sponsors; follow fundraising-related news, research, trends, and best practices.
• Draft donor correspondence, including solicitation and acknowledgment letters, as needed and manage the timely acknowledgement of all contributions.
Event Support
• Work closely with the Director of Development and Stewardship to support execution of events. Related activities include keeping event deadlines, identifying and working with venues and external vendors, creation of mailing lists, mailing invitations and other information, creation of online forms, management of attendees, timely correspondence with constituents, and event-day logistics.
• Support, attend and participate in program and departmental events.
• Manage event volunteers
Grants & Grants Management
• Manage the grants process, tracking system and calendar
• Write and edit grants and reports for institutional donors
• Research new funding opportunities; Identify lapsed and prospective institutional funders
• Manage and maintain grant files to ensure all grant-related correspondence, guidelines, and requirements are documented in the database, as well as in other files.
Administrative Responsibilities
• Help prepare and maintain Development Office budget
• Draft, edit, and proofread communications and documentation
• Maintain donor files and prospect materials and information
• Execute all department mailings; coordinate written, printed and electronic segmented appeals
• Coordinate and participate in development team meetings and required trainings
• Support the design and creation of printed and online materials
• Work effectively with vendors, including off¬site designers and printers and mail houses
• Other miscellaneous duties, such as but not limited to maintaining and ordering supplies and gifts, reconciling credit card bills and receipts, and producing and distributing meeting minutes
• Support the Development Director in carrying out the regular duties of the development department.
• Other projects as assigned to help meet City Mission development and growth goals each year
Qualifications, Experience, and Attributes
• Minimum of two years’ relevant work experience.
• Experience with eTapestry database management and Blackbaud platform strongly preferred.
• Keen attention to detail and high-quality output
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Undaunted by a high-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Ability to work independently, proactively, and collaboratively
• Strong belief in City Mission’s work and mission
• Commitment to diversity and respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic background.
• Strong computer knowledge and skills (Google Drive, Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel; Blackbaud, Greater Giving or other database experience) and a willingness to learn more
• High level of discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive and confidential information
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• Desire to learn about all aspects of non-profit fundraising
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time position. Annual salary range is $55,000 - $60,000. Compensation is based on the overall number of years of experience as well as relevant experience to the position. City Mission offers a competitive benefits package, including PTO and health insurance
Apply
City Mission is committed to inclusion and diversity and recruiting a broadly diverse pool of candidates for this position. City Mission invites applications without regard to race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, gender identity, physical disability, or sexual orientation.
Send a cover letter and a resume to careers@citymissionboston.org. Please place the subject title “Development Associate” in the headline of your email. No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Rev. Vernon Walker (STH’16) on Climate Change in Boston Globe
This article was originally published on The Boston Globe, by Dharna Noor on January 11, 2022.
In the US, 2021 was chock full of climate extremes. Last year, the country experienced its fourth-warmest year on record and saw its second-highest number of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters on record, new federal data shows. It’s our latest evidence that the climate crisis isn’t just waiting for us in some distant future, it’s here right now.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual State of the Climate report, released Monday, found that average temperature for the contiguous United States last year was 54.5 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s 2.5 degrees above the average for the twentieth century.
The year was capped off by the hottest December the nation has seen since record keeping began in 1875. That month, the average temperature in the Lower 48 was 39.3 degrees, 6.7 degrees above average.
In New England, temperatures soared to even more abnormal heights. Maine and New Hampshire both saw their second-warmest year on record. A separate study also found that it was the third warmest year on record for Massachusetts, and that the state saw its warmest June and second warmest summer on record.
Though the year was marked by above-average temperatures, cold weather broke records, too. In February 2021, the US saw its costliest winter storm on record as a cold snap sent the Texas electricity grid into disarray. The storm carried a $24 billion economic toll. That’s more than double the cost of the previous record-bearer, the Storm of the Century in March 1993.
Other extreme weather bore even larger price tags. Hurricane Ida was the most costly event of the year, exacting a toll of $75 billion.
2021 also brought record-smashing wildfires to the West, destructive December tornadoes to Kentucky, and an array of other extreme weather events. 20 of these events cost the nation over a billion dollars in damage, which is the second-highest number on record.
“The science is clear, climate change is happening at an accelerated pace and we are seeing the effects manifest in the form of more extreme weather events.”
Reverend Vernon K. Walker, senior program manager at the Massachusetts-based group Communities Responding to Extreme Weather, said...
Read more here.
Summer 2022 Internship, Benetvision: Erie, PA
The Joan Chittister Internship is accepting applications, now through March 20. This year’s graduate student intern will work for Benetvision, promoting feminist, contemporary spirituality. This internship is designed to meet the needs of Catholic women studying in these fields, who often struggle to find meaningful ministry opportunities within their own faith tradition, but we are open to applicants from other traditions as well.
This funded internship for graduate students runs through June and July. This internship is available to women with masters’ level or higher training in theology, spirituality, religion, and related fields. She will be involved in compiling and editing newsletters and other publications from Sister Joan, designing book discussions and eCourses, and implementing a project of her own design related to contemporary spirituality and the works of Joan Chittister.
The intern will live at Mount St. Benedict Monastery, Erie, PA, with room and board provided, in addition to a stipend.
Contact Jacqueline Sanchez-Small, OSB at jacqueline@benetvision.org for more information or to apply.
Cohort Based Education Marketing, Recruiting, Admissions Manager, Full-Time, Higher Ed: South Hamilton, MA
Cohort Based Education Marketing, Recruiting, Admissions Manager
Full-Time Staff/Leadership
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA
Under the direct supervision of the EDO of CBE, in coordination with the Vice-President of CBE/Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) Dean and Latino & Global Ministries (LGM) Dean, this position supports the mission of the Seminary by achieving new student recruitment goals for Gordon-Conwell’s Cohort-Based Education offerings: Doctor of Ministry and Latino & Global Ministries programs. This individual manages admissions and marketing operations for DMIN and LGM, including tasks related to recruiting, admitting, and enrolling new students. The Marketing, Recruiting, & Admissions Manager will strive to achieve an annual new student headcount of 80-150 for both DMIN and LGM, as determined in partnership with the VP of CBE/DMin Dean, LGM Dean, EDO of CBE and LGM Assistant Registrar & Program Manager.
Download full job description here: HAM CBE Marketing Recruiting Admissions Manager 12.21.21
Domestic Violence Advocate, Full-Time, BMC: Boston, MA
Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It's a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all-and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet - an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.
The Domestic Violence (DV) Advocate provides a range of domestic violence victim services to both patients and employees of Boston Medical Center, as well as consultation with those working to support victims and survivors of abuse. The Advocate participates in multi-disciplinary, cross-departmental case reviews, training, and other institutional initiatives to improve the health care and employer response to domestic violence. The DV Advocate works under the supervision of the Domestic Violence Program manager.
Dr. Douglas E. Wingeier (STH’54, GRS’62), Beacon For Jesus
This article was originally published on The UMC Michigan Conference on Dec. 14, 2021, by Glenn Wagner. Full article can be found here.
The world’s need for lights that offer hopeful direction everywhere underscores a biblical truth from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:16) “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to our God in heaven.”
Choosing to live as a directional beacon for God’s love and grace can make a profound difference. This tribute to a man from Michigan, a living lighthouse for Jesus, is offered to encourage personal living as beacons for God’s love wherever we live...
Doug attended Boston University, the oldest Methodist college and seminary in the United States, to pursue his Master of Sacred Theology degree and later for his PhD. Both Doug and Carol had a passion for living out their love of Christ in mission. In preparation, Doug and Carol both studied and became fluent in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese as part of Doug’s doctoral studies and their shared preparation for missions.
Doug has served as a pastor, minister of education, and campus minister in Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin during his career...
Read the full article here.