Lenten Webinar
Two Perkins alums were recently featured in a webinar series from Amplify Media, “A Season of Reflection: Lenten Studies to Prepare for Easter’s Celebrations.” The series highlighted Susan Robb (M.Div. 2006), author of Seven Words: Listening to Christ from the Cross, examining the last words of Christ on the cross; and Adam Hamilton, (M.Div. 1988), discussing Words of Life: Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today, which brings modern eyes to the most important set of ethics in history. Watch the series here.
Adapting to COVID
After Hurricane Harvey struck Faith United Methodist Church in Galveston, Texas, the Rev. Johnnie Simpson Jr. (M.Div. 2017) advocated for audio and visual upgrades during the rebuild, including better microphones, recording equipment and cameras as well as was software for live streaming and graphic presentation. When the pandemic hit, the church was prepared, Simpson said. He was featured in a story in the Galveston County Daily News about how COVID-19 affected local churches; read it here.
Crossroads Exec Retires
Jay Cole (M.Div. 2002), Executive Director of Crossroads Community Services in Dallas, will retire on March 15. Cole has served since 2001, when he helped First United Methodist Church Dallas open the agency. Crossroads Community Services seeks to ensure that all people in Dallas County have ready access to nourishing foods. Benaye Wadkins, Cole’s successor, will assume her new role as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 1, 2021. Read the story in Park Cities People here.
Anthony Everett
The Rev. Dr. D. Anthony Everett (M.Div. 2008) has been named executive director of Mission Behind Bars and Beyond (MB3) in Louisville, Ky. He becomes the first African American to lead the organization, which works to lead inmates into re-entry to the workforce. Everett, a current member of the Perkins Executive Board, is an ordained elder and was previously associate director of New Church Development for the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church. He often is referred to as a “criminal justice minister.” Read the story here.
Hermans-Webster at PSR
The Rev. Thomas G. Hermans-Webster (M. Div. 2016) will serve as Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies at Pacific School of Religion (PSR) beginning July 2021. Hermans-Webster is a Ph.D. candidate in Constructive Theology and Theological Ethics at Boston University School of Theology, a lifelong United Methodist and an ordained elder in full connection in the North Alabama Conference. Read the story at the North Alabama conference website here.
Miller-Yow to Lead Grant
The Rev. Ronnie Miller-Yow (M. Div. 2006) will serve as Assistant Project Director for a new $1 million grant made by the Lilly Endowment, investing in Philander Smith College to strengthen ministries in Black and small churches in Central Arkansas. Philip L. Pointer, Sr., is Project Director. The grant is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry. The grant period at Philander Smith College will run from December 2020 through December 2025. Read about the grant here.
Roller Derby Pastor
Strapping on her skates and heading into the rink for a roller derby match, she becomes “Slaydie Hawkins,” number 23 on the Spindletop Rollergirls team. The rest of the time, however, everyone knows her as Rev. Sadie Brink (M. Div. 2017), senior pastor at Silsbee FUMC. Roller derby, she says, provides an outlet for camaraderie, for promoting health and for evangelism, far outside her church walls. Read her story from the Texas Annual Conference here.