Philip Wickeri's new book “Reconstructing Christianity in China: K. H. Ting and the Chinese Church” (Orbis 2007) was named as one of the 15 outstanding books in “mission studies” by the International Bulletin for Missionary Research for 2007. It also received an honorable mention from the American Catholic for historical books published in 2007.
Wickeri worked with the Institute for the Advanced Study of Asian Cultures and Theologies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong this past summer as a mentor for younger scholars. This program, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia in cooperation with the Graduate Theological Union. It brings together theologians and religious scholars from across Asia for six weeks of writing and research. Each afternoon they meet for a seminar presentation, together with the two mentors, Wickeri and Pushpa Joseph from the University of Madras in India.
Also in Hong Kong, Wickeri preached at St. John's Cathedral and other churches, and delivered a series of lectures on Christianity in China for the Anglican Province of Hong Kong (Sheng Kung Hui).
Lewis Rambo served as a consultant on “Cinema and Faith: Secular and Sacred Story - Finding Connections that Enrich.” He attended the “Transformation and Ministry” seminar at The Alban Institute, in Herndon, Va., May 20-21. In June, Rambo attended “The Vicissitudes of Conversion: Toward a New Paradigm of Conversion Studies,” during the conference, “Conversion and Time in Global Pentecostalism” at Free University of Amsterdam.
Currently working on editing and contributing articles to the Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion (forthcoming in late 2009 or early 2010). This volume seeks to be a comprehensive study of conversion processes in various religions from many different disciplinary perspectives;
This fall, Rambo will attend the Beijing Summit for Chinese Spirituality and Society, Oct. 8-10 at Beijing University, and the World Congress of Psychotherapy, Oct. 12-15, also in Beijing.
In November, he will attend “Pastoral Care and Counseling with Converts: Explorations in Multi-Cultural and Multi-Religious Complexities,” at the International Conference on Multicultural Counseling in Asian-Pacific Context (sponsored by the Korean Association of Christian Counseling & Psychotherapy).
Sam Hamilton-Poore, director of the Program in Christian Spirituality and assistant professor of Christian spirituality, will be at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., Sept. 22-24 as a participant in a colloquy on prayer, sponsored by the Institute for Reformed Theology. He will preach at the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto on World Communion Sunda, and on Oct. 25, he will provide the keynote address for a gathering of ministers and elders of Nevada Presbytery in Las Vegas.
Hamilton-Poore will also preach at the services of the Green Valley Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas Oct. 25-26. His article, “Encountering the Spirit in Creation,” appeared in the Summer 2008 issue of Hungry hearts: A Quarterly Journal of Reformed Spirituality. He has co-authored an essay with Scott Sullender, director of the Lloyd Center, entitled, “Psyche and Soul: Dialogue at the Crossroads of Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction,” that will appear in the winter issue of Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction. In January 2009, Upper Room Books will release his book, “Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation.”
Eugene Eung-Chun Park, Dornsife Professor of New Testament, published exegetical articles on Acts 19:1-7, 1 Cor 6:12-20, and 1 Cor 7:29-31 in David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds., “Feasting on the Word: Advent through Transfiguration: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary” (Westminster John Knox, 2008).
He gave a lecture on biblical hermeneutics at the "Church Unbound" conference convened by the PC(USA) in Montreat, N.C., July 1-5.
He also presented a paper, "A Soteriological Reading of the Great Commandment Pericope in Matthew 22.34-40" at the 63rd General Meeting of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, which was held at the University of Lund, Sweden, July 29 – Aug. 2.
Charles Marks attended an event in May at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., entitled, “Calling for the Order of the Day: Pedagogies of African American Presbyterians-Implications for Theological Education,” where he presented the paper, "A Delicate Balance" that focused on maintaining African American identity in the PC(USA). He was also responsible for organizing the SFTS participation in the 2008 Marin CROP Hunger Walk, in which the seminary helped raise $2,010.
He also participated in teaching a class at the General Assembly meeting in San Jose, Calif., June 19-28 entitled “Presbyterianism: Principles and Practice.” In August, Marks preached at the St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif., as part of a faculty outreach effort in Southern California. He also participated in ordination services of SFTS graduates in September and October.
Elizabeth Liebert
Elizabeth Liebert, professor of spiritual life, recently completed a sabbatical holding the Joseph Veale Chair at the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Dublin, Ireland. During the sabbatical, she completed “The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making” (Westminster John Knox). >> Click Here for additional Info
Her Veale Lecture, “Discernment for our Times: a Practice with Postmodern Implications” is being published this fall in the Belgian journal, Studies in Spirituality. Her sabbatical travels also took her to Spain and Ukraine.
Phil Butin, president of
SFTS, is currently on sabbatical, beginning on August 15th until December 15th 2008. Phil's planned sabbatical activities include, reading biographies of leaders, making music, taking a Spanish refresher course, several prayer and spiritual retreats, time with family and refocusing for the next season of seminary growth and effectiveness.
