“In the midst of terrible loss, real gains have been made in Afghanistan. The losses, and gains, only make sense if Afghanistan 
remains on the path of sustainable development. ‘Living water’ means many things. Surely, in this decade, in Afghanistan, it includes living in peace with the basic rights that Christians have long taken to be an essential element of realizing the Kingdom. Let all of us, individually and as a nation, do what we can to continue to bring this water to Afghanistan.” Arthur Keys ‘73 M.Div., president and CEO of International Relief and Development in Washington, D.C., in the sermon “Living Water in Afghanistan,” delivered on March 25, 2012, at the First Congregational Church, Washington, DC.
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Emilie Townes, associate dean for academic affairs and the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology, and Diana Swancutt, former associate professor of New Testament, were both recently married to their respective partners, and both were involved in public discussions about gay marriage on the same day – June 22. Townes published a column in the Huffington Post entitled “Gay Marriage and Religion: What Marriage Means to Me.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emilie-townes/gay-marriage-and-religion_b_1609491.html. And Swancutt participated in a public radio forum on same-sex marriage.
http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/node/20612
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Jennifer Landis ‘12 M.Div. and Sam Owen ‘12 M.Div., Berkeley Divinity School, who met during their first year as YDS students, were married in Marquand Chapel on June 30, and both are headed into active parish ministry—Landis at Christ Church, Greenwich, CT, and Owen at a Haitian congregation in New York. At present, they are honeymooning in Rome.
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“A superb analyst of moral ambiguities and changing ethical positions in the context of political pressures, Miller himself moved from a rather strong posture as a political and social realist to something more resembling a critical, Reformed idealism. I first encountered him in a lecture course in 1958-‘59. Strongly influenced then by Reinhold Niebuhr, Miller left us with the impression that if we really wanted to be versed in social ethics, we needed – almost for our survival – to love our Niebuhr as ourselves. But by 1963-‘64, when I did a seminar with Miller in Ethics and Politics, he was moving beyond Niebuhr, probing the ethical possibilities of a moral society. We shall miss the continuing excitement of Bill Miller’s incisive mind. But, then, Bill’s principal motive in teaching and writing was to have us go and do likewise. Condolences to his widow, Linda Miller, can be sent to 135 Eastern Parkway #13H, Brooklyn, NY 11238.” Ralph Barlow ‘59 B.D. ‘64 S.T.M., writing about the death of University of Virginia political historian William Lee Miller ‘50 B.D. ‘58 Ph.D., who taught social ethics at YDS in the late 1950s and ‘60s, who died on May 27 in Manhattan.
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“[The early church fathers] saw the leader primarily as a shepherd. ‘Shepherd’ is our most basic idea that captures all the aspects of church leadership, of what it means to be a leader. The role of shepherd is one of authority and guidance. Church leaders are those who are chiefly responsible for the overall spiritual guidance of the flock. Our relationship with authority and power, however, is one of our oldest problems. Human beings are naturally uncomfortable with either extreme of power relationships. We’re uncomfortable having our own power, and we can also be uncomfortable being under the power or influence of others. That’s why the image of ‘shepherd’ is still rich and helpful. It speaks to us today about this basic need to have authoritative, humble and well-functioning leadership. That’s very easy to say, but it’s very hard to carry out.” Walter H. Gray Associate Professor of Anglican Studies and Patristics Christopher Beeley, June 19, 2012, in a Q&A by Faith & Leadership at Duke Divinity School about his new book, Leading God’s People: Wisdom from the Early Church for Today” (Eerdmans, 2012).
http://www.faithandleadership.com/qa/christopher-beeley-constant-the-call-for-leadership
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“We’re thrilled that the film, as well as the accompanying educational series and book, are all having such a positive impact with audiences around the country.” YDS Senior Research Scholar Mary Evelyn Tucker, June 19, 2012, reacting to the selection of her film “Journey of the Universe” for an Emmy Award for Best Documentary from the Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Tucker and here husband, YDS Research Scholar John Grim, are co-executive producers of the film.
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“I am passionate about cohesive and thoughtful liturgy and always strive to plan organ and choral music that is not only appropriate to the day, but creates a unified worship experience that, hand in hand with the spoken word, provides a genuine opportunity to encounter the holy.” Ryan Jackson ‘97 M.A.R., in an announcement about his appointment as director of music and fine arts ministries at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York, effective July 1, 2012.
http://fapc.org/about-us/693-06-19-12
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Robert Roberts ’71 B.D., ‘74 Ph.D., distinguished professor of ethics at Baylor University, has been awarded the Alvin Plantinga Fellowship to pursue research and writing at the Center for Philosophy of Religion at the University of Notre Dame. The Plantinga Fellowship, one of four fellowships awarded annually by the center, provides time for writing and reflection to individuals working on the forefront of Christian philosophy and the philosophy of religion. The fellowship will support Roberts’s his research on ethics, virtue and emotions, including his current project, Emotions and Virtues: An Essay in Moral Psychology.
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“We believe that a nuclear weapons-capable Iran poses a grave threat to the United States, to Israel, and to the global community. It is critical that we employ every available tool at our disposal to dissuade if possible—and prevent if necessary—the Iranian regime from developing nuclear weapons or the capability to produce them from stockpiled materials and components.” From a May 21, 2012 letter to President Obama co-written by U.S. Rep. David Price ‘64 B.D., ‘69 Ph.D. and signed by some 70 members of the House.
http://price.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3242&Itemid=100260.
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“If religion doesn’t address the current needs of the people, it might as well be dead. You have to have relationships … people to worship with you, celebrate with you.” Willie Barnes ‘12 M.Div., June 27, 2012, West Volusia (FL) Beacon, in the article “DeLand pastor comes straight from Yale Divinity School.”
http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/5005
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“Paul is trying to make happen what should have happened by now. There’s no transparency in these appointments, and there should be.” Janet Ruffing, professor of the practice of spirituality and ministerial leadership, June 30, 2012, Connecticut Post, in the article “Theologian critical of bishop selection process” about Fairfield University Professor Paul Lakeland’s plea for more lay and priestly participation in the selection of Catholic bishops.
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“Some of the parables of Jesus speak of taking the resources with which we have been blessed and using them not for our own sakes, but using them for the sake of the kingdom of God and for our sisters and brothers in the world, and especially those in need. It’s a matter of claiming the Church of England heritage, but then using it in such a way that it really serves the wider needs of various communities and not to keep it closed to ourselves, but to be able to share it with the wider world and especially those in need.” John Branson ‘74 M.Div., June 10, 2012, Westport News, in the article “Rev. John Branson: A ‘leap of faith’ after a blessed time in Westport.”
http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Rev-John-Branson-A-leap-of-faith-after-a-3622763.php
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