Spring 1999
A minister calls and says, "I need information about churches that are looking for a minister."
A member of a minister search team calls asking, "Do you know of any good ministers looking for a church?" An elder calls inquiring, "We have a crisis in our church, and we think we may need some help from someone outside. Do you know anyone who could help us?" Or, an elder calls, saying, "We have just selected additional elders, but we think we need help blending these new elders in with our previous elders. Can you help us do some team building with our leaders?" The answer to all of the above questions is, "Yes."
For decades ACU has endeavored to serve churches. Now we are becoming more intentional in making our various programs and services accessible to those needing them. The mission of the Ministry Services Team is to deliver the resources of the College of Biblical Studies to those who lead and serve in Christian ministry worldwide. Dr. Charles Siburt, Frazer professor of church enrichment and professor of ministry in the Graduate School of Theology, has been named associate dean for ministry programs and services to coordinate the delivery of these resources to churches and church leaders.
Resources available to church leaders from the College of Biblical Studies include all academic degree programs currently offered through the departments of Bible, missions, and marriage and family therapy plus a variety of other valuable programs, events and services. The Certificate in Ministerial Counseling - a five-course sequence - is available for those interested in basic training for ministering in crisis situations (for more information, call 915-674-3722).
A new Graduate Certificate in Conflict Mediation, a five-course sequence for those interested in the ministry of reconciliation in the workplace, in the professions or in the church, has been launched this fall through ACUs newly-established Center for Conflict Management (for more information, call 915-674-2979).
A long-standing menu of annual renewal events has included the Bible Lectureship (each February) and the Lectures on Preaching (each September). Each July the Bible Teachers Workshop, the Elders and Leaders Workshop, and the Equipping Women for Ministry Workshop occur simultaneously on campus.
Some key ministry services are available to churches and church leaders. Two services most often used are the Churches Looking for Ministers List and the Ministers Looking for Churches List, the first assisting congregations who seek minister candidates to interview and the latter supplying ministers with information about congregations needing candidates. For more information about this free service provided by ACUs Ministry Programs and Services Team, visit the Web site at www.bible.acu.edu/ministry or email your question to looking@bible.acu.edu.
The popular Marriage Enrichment Seminar, featuring Drs. Carl Brecheen and Paul Faulkner, has blessed thousands of marriages with reinforcement and guidance. Several faculty make themselves available to congregations needing consultation, training, intervention or teaching and preaching.
Another special service is the Ministers Support Network, which offers ministers and spouses a time of encouragement, fellowship and renewal in a safe and supportive environment. The MSN hosts two ministers sabbaticals, which are Thursday evening through Sunday noon retreats for eight minister couples, one in the fall in Atlanta, Ga., and the other in the spring in Texas. These retreats, by invitation only, are designed to facilitate sharing and listening without being intrusive or invasive. Host couples are Paul and Gladys Faulkner, Eddie and Annette Sharp, Charles and Judy Siburt, and David and Jeanne Wray. Participants pay no fee but are responsible for their own travel expense to the retreat site. The MSN may also provide crisis care for ministers, minister families, and congregations who need the assistance of outside caregivers. If you or someone else you know could benefit from the services of the Ministers Support Network, please call 915-674-3732 or fax 915-674-6180.
Several centers offer resources and services in a wide range of interests. The Center for Church Ministry Programs and Services Available for Churches and Church Leaders Enrichment, directed by Dr. Ian Fair (915-674-3732), offers leadership seminars and resources to elders and other leaders. The Center for Youth and Family Ministry, directed by Robert Oglesby (915-674-3798), strives to empower youth and family in their work with teenagers and families in the church context. Job placement assistance for youth ministers is a major service supported by the center. The Center for Women in Christian Service, directed by Jeanene Reese (915-674-3750), serves and equips Christian women serving the Lord in biblical, responsible and effective ways. Those interested in research or information concerning the history of the Stone-Campbell Movement may contact the Center for Restoration Studies, directed by Dr. Doug Foster (915-674-3795). The Center for New Testament Language and Literature, directed by Dr. Carroll Osburn (915-674-3799), provides special teaching series for churches on a variety of New Testament books.
Still more resources available from ACU include: access to the Christian Education Association (a network for those who lead in spiritual formation and other related ministries), Restoration Quarterly (a scholarly publication for serious Bible students and leaders), and Abilene Education Supply (a retail distributor of Christian books, supplies and Christian music). Of special importance for those with increased interest in missions is the Missions Mall, which includes multiple resources on the ACU Web site.
Updated information about these and other programs, resources and services is always available on the ACU Web site. Also, planning continues for new services to help our ministry partners even more. For more information, check out our Web site: www.acu.edu/ministry.
In 1829, Alexander Campbell left his home in the western panhandle of Virginia and traveled to Richmond. He had been elected as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention from Brooke County. During the weeks spent away from his wife Selina and family, Campbell wrote several letters home telling of the events in the capital, giving instructions on business matters and expressing his love for Selina and his children. The letters are a rich piece of history giving insight into the mind and heart of this great religious reformer.
In 1985, these letters were given to the Center for Restoration Studies at ACU. Transcriptions were made, and the originals were placed on display in the reading room of the Center. But the excitement of seeing and reading them was limited to those who came to Abilene. This is no longer the case. In 1997, the Center launched what it hopes will become one of the most useful Internet sites for Stone-Campbell research available. Begun by Gary Oliver, ACU librarian, and continued by Chuck Poulous, ACU graduate student, and now Tom Dolan, computer systems manager in ACUs College of Biblical Studies, the Center has a Web page where visitors may see the Campbell letters as well as other important documents of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Go to www.bibleacu.com/crs and click on "documents" to see the actual letters (even clearer than seeing the originals in person) and to toggle to a transcription of each.
The Campbell letters are only one example of the unique materials housed in ACUss Center for Restoration Studies. For more than two decades the Center has sought to collect, preserve and make available the materials that document the history of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, especially the history of Churches of Christ in this century. First under the direction of Dr. Bill Humble and R.L. Roberts, and now under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Foster, Craig Churchill and Erma Jean Loveland, a collection of tremendous historical value is being assembled. Even before the establishment of the Center as a separate entity, ACU's Brown Library held a large and valuable collection of books, journals and vertical files. Each of those areas has continued to grow, along with personal papers, sound recordings, photographs and slides, films, diaries, and artifacts.
One of the chief problems for many people is accessibility. It is not always convenient or possible to come to Abilene to do research. The electronic media capabilities on the Internet help us make our special collections available on the World Wide Web. Anyone with a computer and modem, regardless of their location, can access a wide range of resources from our unique holdings on the Center's new Web page.
When you arrive at the Center's Home page, click on "Virtual Tour." There you will see a photograph of the pulpit used by Thomas Campbell when he preached at the Ahorey Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland in the early 1800s. The pulpit is now housed in the Center's reading room. To the left of the screen are links to other materials. These include bibliographies of publications on the Stone-Campbell Movement, indexes to published Lectureships in Churches of Christ, documents on issues important in the history of Churches of Christ, and personal papers including materials from leaders like Reuel Lemmons, E.W. McMillan, Andy T. Ritchie and Jimmy Lovell. The other important link is to the vertical files on churches, individuals and miscellaneous topics. Each of the vertical file listings for individuals has a link to a brief listing of each item in the file.
Registers for many of the personal paper collections have been placed online, though one still must search through the descriptions of box and file contents. To examine these registers, go to the Center's home page and type the name of the person whose materials you want to search in the search box.
In most cases, researchers can only see a listing of what is in a vertical file or in boxes of personal papers. However, Center personnel have begun to put many of these materials online. During the fall 1999 semester, graduate assistant Rob Sorensen has been scanning the contents of a small collection of personal papers of T.B. Larimore. In addition, some fascinating selections of sound recordings in the Centers holdings will be placed on the Web page letting researchers actually hear sermons and other lessons from decades gone by.
For a number of years the Graduate Department of Bible and Ministry at ACU has offered a Master of Science degree in biblical and related studies. This non-thesis 36-hour program, usually including an additional 18 hours of leveling, has been favored by some non-resident students who cannot enroll full time in graduate study. Many off-campus participants in this program have benefited by earning their masters degree while continuing their full-time ministry or work.
This degree will be renamed as part of the new degree program known as the Master of Arts in Religion. The M.A.R. degree, a 54-hour program, includes the same total number of hours as the former M.S. degree with leveling. Up to 18 hours of advanced standing may be granted to persons admitted with some advanced theological study, or with extensive undergraduate studies in Bible, religion and ministry. The M.A.R. degree includes studies in biblical text, ministry, history of Christianity, theology and electives.
The restructuring of the Graduate School of Theology at ACU and the desire for consistency in nomenclature with other graduate theological degrees prompted the renaming of the degree. The transition from the M.S. degree to the M.A.R. degree does not affect the degree plans of persons who are currently pursuing the M.S. degree in biblical and related studies.
The Master of Arts in Religion aims to equip persons for competent leadership in some form of specialized ministry in congregations or other settings. Specialization is available in youth and family ministry, Christian education, conflict management, pastoral counseling or communication. The degree normally spans two years for the full-time student.
Non-resident students have six years to complete the degree and may obtain it by attending one-week short courses on the ACU campus every summer and during one week in January. ACU professors and outstanding adjunct professors teach these classes covering course material taught in the regular semester. In addition to courses on the ACU campus, courses are taught at the Center for Christian Education in Irving and at the Institute for Christian Studies in Austin, where adjunct faculty members offer courses leading to the M.A.R. Resident ACU faculty members also teach in these off-campus programs.
For information about the M.A.R. degree, please contact Robert K. Marcho, director of recruiting for ACU's Graduate School of Theology, by mail at ACU Box 29430, Abilene, Texas 79699-9430, by phone at 888-242-5360, or email marcho@bible.acu.edu.
Church leaders from Texas and neighboring states met on Sept. 16, 1999, as guests of ACU and the College of Biblical Studies.
About 200 men and women enjoyed a full day of enlightening information about healthy theology and ministry. Randy Harris, a recent addition to the ACU Bible faculty, presented three theme lectures on "Theology Matters for Healthy Churches." Drs. Tim Sensing and Charles Siburt joined him to continue this theme with their addresses on "Resources in Preaching and Ministry" and "Preaching and Pastoral Care."
A tribute luncheon honored three veteran preachers Harvey Childress, Perry Cotham and Clifton Rodgers each of whose faithful service in ministry spans seven decades.
Unfinished business: challenges for the new millennium
February 20-23, 2000
A talented array of theme lecturers and teachers headlines the menu of assemblies and classes on February 20-23, 2000, when "Unfinished Business: Challenges for the New Millennium" will bring around 10,000 guests to the campus of Abilene Christian University for the four-day event. Before the lectureships Sunday evening keynote session, parents and alumni attending Sing Song and the special Presidents Circle Dinner will begin the trek of guests to Abilene.
Moody Coliseum will feature seven theme lecturers beginning with the keynote address by Royce Money on Sunday Evening "A Vision for the Third Millennium." Theme lectures will also include Monte Cox on Monday morning "Renewing Our Identity: Seeking and Saving the Lost;" Jack Reese on Monday Evening "May It Be According To Your Word;" Harold Hazelip on Tuesday morning "People of Proclamation and Prayer;" Mike Cope on Tuesday evening "A Passion For Community;" Mark LaValley on Wednesday morning "A Gospel For All Generations;" and Ervin Seamster to conclude the 82nd session of the lectureship on Wednesday evening "Holy God: Holy People."
In the auditorium of the University Church there will be three discussions on the theme "Having One Mind: A Focused Conversation On Issues Facing the Church." On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:45 to 3:15, Mike Armour and F. LaGard Smith will compare and analyze their thoughts on three subjects of current interest. On Monday, the focus will be "Can We Talk? The Necessity for Constructive Conversation." The emphasis on Tuesday will be "Taking Different Perspectives Seriously: A Case Study." The wrap-up session on Wednesday will feature both men discussing the topic "Can We Still Talk? Honoring One Another in the Midst of Differences." Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, will coordinate the three sessions.
August 1999
MAY 1999
The local church is the essential community the Lord moves to spread the Good News. The Department of Missions recognizes the primary role of individual congregations to inspire, motivate, call and support missions and missionaries. Two faculty members, nine missionaries-in-residence and staff fill a supportive role to churches as they realize their mission mandate.
There are a number of ways this supportive role can be fulfilled. Periodically questions may arise regarding missions in different regions of the world. We represent mission service and expertise from every major region of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S.). One missionary-in-residence has expertise and experience in medical missions. We want to be a resource for you.
We are available for special mission weekends and offer several seminars and workshops for local congregations. Some workshops are valuable for the entire congregation, while others serve leadership groups such as elders and missions committees. We realize that missions must come from a strong spiritual core; therefore, workshop themes range from strengthening churches spiritually to equipping them for effective evangelism and cross-cultural outreach. Sample topics are: "Spiritual Foundations for Congregational Mission," "Building Basic Christian Community," "Equipping Mission Leaders," "Church Growth," "Becoming a Redemptive Church" and "Becoming Redemptive." These workshops, as well as others, will help a church become a Christian community reflecting the mission heart of the God we worship.
The development of missionaries also involves forming teams. Seminars and workshops are available for team building. These are useful for existing and forming teams to address important aspects of teamwork. In order to train effective missionaries and form powerful mission teams, the department assesses mission candidates and graduates in the ACU Church Planters Assessment Center. This helps individual mission students and mission teams understand their role and readiness for cross-cultural church planting. The assessment center is not only for ACU students. The ACU missions department will work with any congregation to provide readiness and needs assessment of their missionaries and mission teams.
If you would like information about these services or other concerns, please call the missions department. The faculty, missionaries-in-residence and other staff are eager to encourage churches in the task Jesus left His disciples: reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please contact by phone at 915-674-3711; by email missions@bible.acu.edu; or by fax at 915-674-3769.
In 1993, Dr. Phillip Slate moved to ACU to become chair of the missions department. This year he retired from full-time academic work. Slates distinguished academic career began in the 1960s when he served as a missionary to London, England. After 10 years involved in missions, he taught at the Harding Graduate School of Religion and served as its dean from 1986-92.
Slates training, experience and commitment to the church and its mission has allowed him to make valuable contributions wherever he has worked. He has always given significant ministry to the local church as well as teaching. Most recently he preached at the Woodlawn Church of Christ while he served as chair of the missions department at ACU.
Slate and his wife, Pat, became loved members of the ACU community, the missions department and the College of Biblical Studies. They are currently living in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he works half-time as missions coordinator with the North Boulevard Church of Christ. He plans to teach short courses at Christian schools and universities and speak at retreats and seminars. His great passion is to help encourage and strengthen churches and their missions programs. His friends wonder if "retirement" is the correct term. Because of Phils and Pats love for the Lord, their commitment to the church, and concern for the lost, they will continue to bless the cause of Christ for many years to come.
ACUs mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. One of the ways we accomplish this task within our undergraduate ministry department is through summer internships in Churches of Christ across this nation. Our undergraduate department places 45-50 students in supervised internships each year.
While most internships are youth ministry positions, we have also had an increase in the numbers of students interested in hospital chaplain programs, and childrens ministry internships. But we still have aspiring pulpit ministers who cannot find an internship in their chosen field. More internship programs with preachers in our fellowship would help meet this demand. In the excerpt below, a senior Christian and pulpit ministry major appeals for more internships that would meet his vocational goals.
ACU has a strong history of providing internships for those who are interested in pursuing a degree in Bible to eventually secure a job as a full-time minister. These internships have been invaluable in providing experiential learning that gives the intern a point of reference for his or her studies in the classroom. Historically, there have been more churches seeking interns than there have been interns available. The problem is not the number of internships but the type of internships. The overwhelming majority of available internships are in youth ministry. This becomes a problem because the number of Bible majors in the Bible department is spread out over different areas of emphasis.
The Supervised Field Education program aims to help students grow in understanding and competence in ministry. A sound biblical program is not complete without relating academic work to practical ministry within a local ministry setting. Thus, field education is the strategy used to "learn ministry by doing ministry." This integration of academics and practical ministry becomes apparent once you see the step-by-step process.
We envision students working with churches who take this component of education seriously. This program is not hoping to teach students; it intentionally pursues preparing students for ministry in our Lords church.
Field education requires supervision, focus and reflection involving the student, faculty and a supervisor in the ministry setting. We are so thankful for the partnership we share as we train the ministers of the next millennium.
John Preacher desires to be the best possible servant for the Kingdom, recognizing the grace of God calling him and gifting him for ministry. Yet he recognizes his need for continuing development and growth. John decides to go back to school. The sacrifice involved in juggling career, family and school overwhelms him at times. Finances, extensive travel and long days press he to the max. However, due to the support of his wife and church, John perseveres. Since the school occasionally offers short-courses and off-campus courses, his burden lightens. But Johns struggle to keep afloat continues. Can the university serve Johns special needs?
Drs. David Wray and Doug Foster have been working closely with the Adams Centerfor Teaching Excellence to provide students with more opportunities to complete their academic work from a distance. Drs. Jack Reese and James Thompson have already taken advantage of Interactive Video classes to teach courses in Irving by satellite video-teleconference.
The Internet quickly became a focus as an untapped resource. Dr. Tim Sensing was asked to join a team from the Adams Center to develop a prototype course for the university. BIBM 604: Expository Preaching: Pauline Epistles was selected to be that first course. The team consisted of: K.B. Massingil, Raye Lakey, James Langford, Mark McCallon, Tom Dolan and two student workers, Nil Santana and Brent Campbell. The course was developed in the spring of 1999 with its inaugural debut this fall. Online courses offer a full range of interactive learning opportunities. This course provides traditional readings, lecture notes, tests, papers, and also threaded discussion questions, online PowerPoint presentations, web links, streaming video and audio. Online viewing of sample sermons allows students to see models and critique sermons using criteria they have learned in the course. Tests, emails, writing assignments and threaded discussions all take place online, creating a complete paperless interface.
Sensings preaching course is the first, but not the last. This spring, Dr. Tom Olbricht will be offering BIBL 611: Old Testament Theology, a study of selected portions of the Old Testament to attempt to determine the major religious teachings of each portion. Not only can the student be off campus, but in this case, so will the professor.
One day, preachers like John can complete course work living in West Texas or West Africa. The wave of the future is now.
For more information call Dr. Bob Marcho at 888-242-5360 or 915-674-3735.
Diversity is a rather old idea. Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 emphasize the oneness of the Body of Christ alongside the multiplicity of gifts within the Body.
Diversity is one theme of the student population of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. We intentionally emphasize diversity because we live in a world of differences where all have the right to be touched by the Good News.
Diversity also applies to the 1999-00 MFT class. Gender differences are obvious; we have 14 men and 18 women. Eighteen are single, 14 are married, and 10 have children. Some have just completed their undergraduate degrees, others have retired after years of service in other vocations, and a few have returned to school after a few years in dissatisfying jobs.
The students come from all corners of the country, arriving from the Southwest, South, Midwest and Northeast. Likewise a diverse international influence shapes us. One student comes from the mission field in Brazil, two others from time spent in Panama and the Far East, one is from Africa, and two are from Pacific Rim countries, Taiwan and Korea. Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish and Sign Language are spoken by these students.
Why would the faculty want a diverse student population? We desire to train men and women for service as Christian therapists who go to all parts of the globe. We value the challenge of different ways of thinking and applying systems theory principles to a variety of contexts. And, the people who come to the clinic for therapy are themselves a diverse group. They are young and old; women and men; teenage boys and girls; poor and not so poor; single parents or married with children; grandparents and grandchildren; American, Mexican, Asian and African; Christian and non-Christian.
As we see Gods love transcending language and culture, we become passionate about equipping people for Christian service and leadership, both at home and abroad.
Mark Steven Rowland died on August 21, 1999, as a result of a gunshot wound from a father who mistook Mark for a state of New Hampshire official coming to take his son away. A 1992 graduate of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University, he worked for Nashua Childrens Home, a private, non-profit agency whose primary work is children and their families. As a family counselor in the Family Preservation Program, Mark provided counseling, support and referrals in an attempt to keep families together.
Prior to studying at ACU, Mark earned a B.A. in Bible from Harding University, and he worked as a minister with Churches of Christ in Camden, Ark., and Manchester, N.H. Known as a man of many gifts, he was involved in a wide range of ministries with the Manchester Church, including the bus ministry, Bible class teaching, youth ministry, small groups, song leading and occasionally preaching. He also served on the board for Camp Ganderbrook.
His life resonated with faith and family. In his purpose statement, written prior to entry into the MFT program at ACU, he wrote of his faith in God and his desire to serve God by working with families. On one occasion he wrote, "Ever since I have tasted of the Lords goodness, I have tried to share that with others."
He is survived by his wife, Lynette, and their two-year-old daughter, Emily.
Tony Ash
Rodney Ashlock
Frederick Aquino
Janice Bingham
Carl Brecheen
Jeff Childers
Craig Churchill
Mike Cope
Ken Cukrowski
Ian Fair
Doug Foster
Sonny Guild
Jan Hailey
Randy Harris
Jackie Halstead
Waymon Hinson
Robert Marcho
Ed Mathews
Carroll Osburn
Robert Oglesby
Jack Reese
Jeanene Reese
Dwight Robarts
Tim Sensing
Charles Siburt
James Thompson
Ken Sinclair
Gailyn Van Rheenen
David Wallace
John T. Willis
Wendell Willis
David Wray
