Categories
May 2025 News Perspective Online

Perkins School of Theology Celebrates 2025 Graduates

Perkins School of Theology will honor its graduating students with a series of special events this spring, culminating in the Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements on May 17, 2025.

The Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements will take place in the main sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) beginning at 2 p.m. The speaker for the service will be Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer for the Texas Methodist Foundation, ordained Elder in the Horizon Texas Conference, a 2012 M.Div. and 2018 D.Min. Perkins alumna, and a member of the Perkins Executive Board.

Graduates will assemble for line-up in Cox Chapel at 1:15 p.m. in preparation for the formal processional into the sanctuary. The service will include the hooding of graduates and the presentation of select academic and community awards. A celebratory reception will follow in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall.

The reception is free for graduates, their guests, as well as Perkins faculty, staff, and students. It will begin immediately following the diploma presentation at 3:30 p.m.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed.

On Friday, May 16, the graduating class will gather for the Senior Class Worship Service at 5 p.m. in Perkins Chapel. Following worship, the Senior Class Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at HPUMC. During the banquet, the Elsa Cook Award will be presented—an honor established by students in recognition of Ms. Cook’s lasting contributions to student life and community at Perkins.

Additionally, all graduating students are invited to participate in SMU’s university-wide Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m. in Moody Coliseum. Line-up begins at 7:30 a.m. near the Perkins banner.

Details regarding schedules, regalia, ticketing, parking, and logistics are available at: smu.edu/academic-ceremonies/events/may-commencement. The SMU Commencement will be live-streamed at smu.edu/live and on SMU’s YouTube channel.

A full list of Perkins award recipients will be made available following the conclusion of graduation events, courtesy of Melissa Gooch, Registrar and Director of Academic Affairs.

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April 2025 Faculty News Perspective Online

Perkins Faculty Honored at American Theological Society Conference 

Perkins School of Theology is pleased to share the recent honors and scholarly contributions of three esteemed faculty members at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Theological Society (ATS), held April 4–5. 

Founded in 1912, the American Theological Society is the oldest professional theological society in North America. Membership is by nomination and election and is limited to 100 members at any given time. The purpose of the Society is to foster research excellence in the various theological disciplines and to cultivate collegial relationships. 

Dr. Frederick Aquino, Professor of Systematic Theology at Perkins, was elected to membership in the American Theological Society. His election recognizes his outstanding contributions to theological scholarship and signals a growing national recognition of his academic leadership. Aquino’s work explores the intersections of epistemology, spiritual perception, and the theology of John Henry Newman, and he is widely respected for his commitment to rigorous scholarship and theological formation. 

Dr. Karen Baker-Fletcher, Professor of Systematic Theology and current ATS member, presented a scholarly paper at the annual gathering titled “Becoming Christian and Buddhist: Poetics and Koans.” Her presentation explored themes of interreligious identity and the integration of spiritual practices through poetic and philosophical expression. Dr. Baker-Fletcher is known nationally and internationally for her theological work in womanist thought, constructive theology, and religious imagination. 

Dr. Ruben L.F. Habito, Professor of World Religions and Spirituality, delivered the 2025 Presidential Address at the conference. His talk, “Effing the Ineffable: Charting Tasks for Christian Theology in Our Troubling Times,” challenged listeners to consider how theology can respond to contemporary challenges with depth, nuance, and spiritual courage. A pioneering voice in Buddhist-Christian dialogue and contemplative theology, Dr. Habito’s leadership within the ATS and across global theological communities continues to inspire scholars and students alike. 

For more information about Perkins faculty achievements and events, visit smu.edu/perkins.  

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April 2025 News Perspective Online Standalone

Exploring Faith and Reason: 2025 William J. Abraham Lecture with John Greco

More than 100 people filled Perkins’ Prothro Great Hall on April 1 for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of faith and reason. The occasion: the William J. Abraham Lecture, named in honor of the late Billy Abraham, and featuring guest speaker John Greco, a leading voice in epistemology and religious philosophy.

Greco’s lecture, titled “Knowledge of God?”, explored the enduring philosophical question: Is knowledge of God possible?

Greco drew attention to a “double mindedness” among believers: On the one hand, they shy away from making claims about knowledge of God in academia or in the public sphere; on the other hand, they don’t hold back on such claims in their private lives.

“When you tell your child, ‘You are a beautiful child of God,’ you don’t say, ‘But at least that’s what I believe,’” he said. “It doesn’t even occur to us that we don’t know that God created this beautiful child. I want to challenge this double mindedness a little bit.”

He cited an “animating theme” that infused Abraham’s work, including the principle Abraham called “epistemic fit” — the idea that we know different things in different ways.

“The way you know, say geometry or mathematics, is different from the way you know about the empirical world of biology, or the way you know what’s right or wrong,” Greco said. “The principle of epistemic fit says: Don’t confuse the proper methodology for knowing one kind of subject area with the proper methodology of knowing another subject area,” he said. “So for religious belief, don’t take a mathematical model for how you would know that God exists or is creator.”

Dr. Frederick Aquino, Professor of Systematic Theology at Perkins and Director of the Abraham Lecture Series, highlighted the broad reach of the event. Among the attendees were included faculty, students, administrators, alumni, church leaders, and philosophers—some religious, some not.

“We had people who are part of the Global Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church, and other denominations, some who don’t go to church, and people from a variety of disciplines, including philosophers,” he said. “And more importantly, John Greco offered an engaging talk that I believe was accessible for everyone in the room.”

The Abraham Lectures aim to create space for interdisciplinary conversations about contemporary questions and issues of significance, as a way of extending the spirit of Billy Abraham’s work into the future, Aquino added, and he’s pleased so far with the response.

“Each year, the lecture grows—both in size and in spirit,” he said. “It’s connecting Perkins with new communities and rekindling ties with the university at large.”

Missed the lecture? Watch it here: John Greco – 2025 Abraham Lecture

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News Standalone Top Story

2025 Annual Conferences with Perkins Gatherings for Alumni and Friends

We’re hitting the road! Perkins School of Theology is excited to announce our presence at the 2025 United Methodist Annual Conferences across the country. Whether you’re a proud Perkins alum, a current student, or someone exploring theological education, we invite you to connect with us in person. Faculty and staff from Perkins will be onsite offering updates and we’ll be hosting special alumni gatherings along the way. Didn’t receive your invitation? Update your contact info here to stay in the loop. Make plans now to join us—we can’t wait to see you! 

For questions, contact: Michelle Killian | mmkillian@mail.smu.edu  

May 

Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Hilton Hotel, Baltimore, MD
May 13–15 

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ
May 18–20 

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ
May 20–22 

Texas Annual Conference
Hilton Hotel Americas, Houston, TX
May 25–28
Alumni Event: Alumni Breakfast
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 a.m.
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link 

Special Invitation: Read a message from Bishop Harvey

West Ohio Annual Conference
Capital University, Bexley, OH
May 28–31 

Oklahoma Annual Conference
Boston Avenue UMC, Tulsa, OK
May 28–31
Alumni Event: Alumni Lunch
Date & Time: Thursday, May 29 at 12 p.m.
Registration: Available through the conference registration process 

Michigan Annual Conference
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Acme MI
May 29–31
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Dinner
Date & Time: Thursday, May 29
Registration: Available through the conference registration process 

Alaska Missionary Conference 
First UMC, Anchorage, AK
May 30-31
Perkins Representation: We will host a table with materials only.

June 

Holston Annual Conference
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
June 1–4 

Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference
Collierville UMC, Collierville, TN
June 1–4 

Great Plains Annual Conference
Kansas Wesleyan Center, Salina, KS
June 4–7 

Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
June 5–7 

Florida Annual Conference
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
June 5–7 

Wisconsin Annual Conference
Marriott West, Middleton, WI
June 5–8 

Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conference
SW Region Ministry Center, Anadarko OK
June 6–8
Alumni Event: Alumni Lunch
Date & Time: Saturday, June 7 at 12 p.m.
Registration: Lunch Registration Link 

Missouri Annual Conference
St. Charles Convention Center, St. Charles, MO
June 6–8 

Dakotas Annual Conference
Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD
June 6–8 

Rio Texas Annual Conference
American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX
June 11-14
Alumni Event: Alumni Dinner
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Registration: Dinner Registration Link  

Special Invitation: Read a message from Bishop Harvey

Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference
Pensacola First UMC, Pensacola, FL
June 8–10 

Horizon Annual Conference
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
June 8–10
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Breakfast
Date & Time: Monday,  June 9 at 7 a.m., Prothro Great Hall
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link

Alumni Event: Fresh Expressions Mixer with the Horizon Annual Conference – Sponsored by the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at Perkins School of Theology at SMU
Date & Time: Monday, June 9 at 5:15 p.m., Lockwood Distilling Company
Registration: Not required.

Northern Illinois Annual Conference
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL
June 9–11 

Louisiana Annual Conference
Baton Rogue Hilton, Baton Rouge, LA
June 10–13 

Minnesota Annual Conference
St. Cloud Convention Center, St. Cloud, MN
June 11–13 

California-Pacific Annual Conference
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells, CA
June 11–14 

Virginia Annual Conference
The Berglund Center, Roanoke, VA
June 11–14  

Mountain Sky Annual Conference
St. Andrews UMC, Highlands Ranch, CO
June 12–15 

Desert Southwest Annual Conference
Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
June 12–15 

Iowa Annual Conference  
West Des Moines, RecPlex, Des Moines IA
June 13 – 15
Perkins Representation: We will host a table with materials only.

Arkansas Annual Conference
Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, AR
June 18–20
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Breakfast
Date & Time: Saturday, June 19 at 7 a.m., Embassy Suites
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link 

New England Annual Conference
Boston North Shore DoubleTree, Danvers, MA
June 19–21 

New Mexico Annual Conference
St. John’s UMC, Albuquerque, NM
June 19–21 

Western North Carolina Annual Conference
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
June 19–22 

Pacific Northwest Annual Conference
Bothell UMC, Bothell, WA
June 26–28 

Categories
March 2025 News Perspective Online Top Story

Dean’s Message

Dear Members of the Perkins Community, 

Grace and peace to you in the name of our God, our Creator and Sustainer! 

HUGO
Hugo Magallanes

As you know, we find ourselves in a time of transition at Perkins School of Theology—an important moment of change that is shaping our future and preparing us for continued growth and impact in theological education and ministry. 

As we navigate this season, we celebrate the ways God is guiding and strengthening our school, our ministries, and our community of faith. This issue of Perkins Perspective Online highlights some of these important developments. 

One of the most notable transitions is the appointment of our new Dean, Dr. Bryan P. Stone, who will begin his tenure on June 1. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Stone to Perkins and supporting him in this new role. He and I have met several times, and we are working together to make his transition into the dean’s office seamless. Dr. Stone brings with him a deep commitment to theological education, Wesleyan heritage, and the ongoing mission of the Church. In this issue, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know him better through a Q&A interview.   

In addition to this crucial leadership change, God has also guided us and provided other opportunities for ministry and learning at Perkins, such as: 

  • The appointment of the Rev. Dr. Pamela White as the new director of our Intern Program, which provides opportunities to enrich the formation of our students as they prepare to serve congregations and communities in dynamic ways. 
  • A generous grant from the Baugh Foundation will ensure that our Baptist House of Studies continues as a vital and growing presence on our campus.  
  • The launch of the Fresh Expressions partnership, led by Dr. Michael Beck, will equip students to minister in innovative ways beyond traditional church walls.  
  • Even Kirby Parlor is undergoing a refresh, just in time for the fall semester—reminding us that change is an opportunity for renewal in our ministries and shared spaces. 

I invite you to journey with us in this time of transition, to pray for the future of Perkins, to support Dr. Stone, and to remain connected with this vibrant community of faith. Wherever you are, may you find encouragement in God’s ongoing work, and may you join us in embracing the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to answer the call to ministry together. 

With much gratitude, 

Hugo Magallanes
Dean ad interim
Perkins School of Theology 

Categories
March 2025 News Perspective Online

Q&A: Meet Perkins’ new dean, Bryan P. Stone

Bryan P. Stone, an innovative educator, researcher and bridge-builder, will be the new Leighton K. Farrell Dean of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. He joins SMU from the Boston University School of Theology where he is associate dean for academic affairs and the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism. A 1992 SMU Ph.D. graduate in Religious Studies, Stone is returning to SMU to lead his alma mater June 1. Read the announcement of Stone’s appointment here.

To learn more his vision for Perkins, Nakoya Loucks, Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications, asked Stone a series of questions. Here are his answers:

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to theological education?

I grew up very active in the church and was a religion major and philosophy minor in college. I went on to seminary where I was drawn both to philosophical questions about religion and theologies of social justice and liberation. Those might seem like two very different and separate intellectual paths, but for me they came together at every turn, and I read everything I could get my hands on in philosophical theology and liberationist and feminist theologies. What I love about theology is its capacity to point, however falteringly, to God as the mystery of the universe while at the same time inspiring and undergirding liberative action and loving communities that have the capacity to change the world.

What drew you to Perkins School of Theology, and what excites you most about joining this community?

I was drawn to the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU because of Dr. Schubert Ogden, who became my advisor. I only ever applied to one school because of him. I had fallen in love with Wesleyan and Process theologies and wanted to study with Ogden and in a school that had a notable strength in Wesleyan studies. Originally, I did not understand that all my classes and professors would be Perkins classes and faculty, but once I was in the GPRS program, I got fully immersed in the Perkins community.

What made you want to come back?

My decision to come back is a confluence of several factors. I was not looking to become a dean, but I am currently ending 15 years as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Boston University School of Theology. I found myself contemplating next steps in my career and my life when the Perkins search team came knocking. What I love most about returning to my alma mater is that Perkins is embedded as a progressive Mainline Protestant seminary in a major research university, is an important center for Wesleyan studies and is deeply committed to serving the United Methodist Church. The School has the full support of the President and Provost and is well-positioned to build on its historic strengths and legacy to face immense challenges facing theological schools at this point in history.

What scares you most about this new role?

I don’t know that anything “scares” me (maybe it should!), but I think the transition from a Boston culture back to a Texas culture is a formidable challenge after spending 27 years in New England. I’m increasingly looking forward to it, though.

The biggest challenge I see in my new role is trying to understand how things are done at Perkins and SMU—and to do so relatively quickly. Each school is unique in its personality, community, culture and systems. That doesn’t mean that things can’t be changed, but I need to listen carefully and work hard to understand the culture at Perkins.

As you step into this new role, what are your primary goals and priorities for Perkins?

With a large number of faculty retirements coming up, this is a time for reshaping the faculty. I want to collaborate with the current Perkins faculty, supporting and celebrating their creativity, productivity, impact and reputation while attracting other new faculty who are bold and resourceful thinkers, passionate teachers, warm and generous colleagues and research-active scholars. I hope to be part of a band of faculty, administrators and staff who are committed to the cultivation of a vibrant on-campus community while also reaching out beyond the physical campus with new and ever evolving pedagogical modalities. I hope to build on Perkins’ strengths in embracing social and religious diversities of all kinds, its commitment to social justice, interdisciplinary research, collaborative programs (both within and outside the University) and opportunities for rich contextual engagement both local and global.

Another of my priorities is ensuring the accessibility of theological education to an ever-expanding variety of students pursuing manifold vocational paths, whether as clergy, chaplains, teachers or other religious and faith-based non-profit leaders. I want to accent the rich Wesleyan heritage and resources of Perkins, its connection to the United Methodist Church, its ecumenical openness (what John Wesley called a ‘catholic spirit’) and its commitment to interfaith dialogue and hospitality. Last, but not least, one of my top priorities is to connect with, learn from and involve what I have come to see as an unparalleled network of committed alumni, donors and friends who love Perkins.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges facing theological education today?

Theological education in the U.S. is in a time of critical transition. Religious affiliation has changed radically in the U.S.; online and AI technologies have revolutionized the way people socialize, think and learn; and we are situated in a country with deep political and cultural polarization. The future of theological education must be more expansive than the sole purpose of clergy preparation. Clergy preparation is still central, but this is a time to recover the aim and purpose of theological education as much more fundamentally the practice of knowing and loving God and the things of God. Theology is for all the people of God.

How do you hope to engage with students, faculty and alumni as you begin your tenure?

I love hanging out with students, faculty and alumni informally, and have, for example, hosted a regular dean’s pub night each semester while at Boston University. I’d love to do things like that, and I certainly believe strongly in attending community events, worship, lunches and student group activities (when invited!). If there is interest in developing a weekly Perkins podcast, I would love to be a part of developing that. I will be looking for ways to engage alumni and friends in virtual spaces and by holding alumni gatherings in cities where they live.

What aspects of Perkins’ mission resonate most with you?

The breadth and expansiveness of the Perkins mission resonates strongly with me as well as its stated mission of making theological education accessible to persons throughout the region, nation and world. I love that the mission of the school is holistic in bringing together service to the church, the academy and the world . . . and I believe it is possible (and necessary) to do all three without sacrificing any one of them.

What is one or two key books, theologians, or mentors that have had the greatest impact on your academic and spiritual life, and how have they influenced your career trajectory?

John Wesley’s writings have always been important in my life, and I try to read Ted Jennings’ Good News to the Poor: John Wesley’s Evangelical Economics every couple of years. Charles Hartshorne’s The Divine Relativity, John Cobb’s God and the World, and Schubert Ogden’s The Reality of God expanded my vision of a God who genuinely feels and relates to the cosmos, giving me new lenses through which to read the Christian theological tradition. The writings of theologians like Rosemary Radford Ruether, Letty Russell, Gustavo Gutierrez, Juan Luis Segundo and James Cone had a powerful early influence on the trajectory of my theology and ministry, ultimately leading me into an urban ministry I developed in Fort Worth (called “Liberation Community”) in the late 1980s. John Howard Yoder’s The Politics of Jesus, the sermons of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the writings of Gandhi influenced me greatly toward the form of pacifism to which I subscribe. More recently, I’ve been helped by the trauma-informed theology of Shelly Rambo (including especially Spirit and Trauma) and the writings of Elizabeth Johnson.

What are some things you enjoy outside of your work—any hobbies or interests you’d like to share?

My wife and I love to travel, and we have a dog named Floyd (a Cockapoo) who is the love of our lives. I am also passionate about music (my favorite is still Pink Floyd after all these years), and a couple years ago I decided to learn the guitar. It has been a blast. I only wish I had more time to play; but I really want to get better at it. One of my biggest passions is cinema, and for about 30 years now I have been integrating theology and cinema in my teaching and writing as part of my larger interest in theology and culture. But film is also a personal love in my everyday life.

I’d love to hear more about your time in freshman housing at BU. Do you have any plans to stay similarly connected with students at Perkins and SMU?

For 24 years, my wife and I have lived as faculty in residence in a freshman dorm on the BU campus. Students come by every Monday night, and we feed them and have conversations on every topic under the sun, ranging from dating to professors to career choices to new trends in pop culture. Each semester we have also held a karaoke night or open-mic night in the big multi-purpose room in the dorm, with about 200-300 students attending. While I won’t be living with students anymore, I would love to be a part of those kinds of ongoing social events.

If you could share one message with the Perkins community as you begin this new chapter, what would it be?

The future is bright! The recent split in the United Methodist Church and the decline in enrollments felt across theological education can be demoralizing. Keeping up with new technologies and modalities in education requires ever new learning and innovation. But Perkins has an incredible legacy and foundation from which to rethink theological education in our time. And Perkins also has an amazing constellation of faculty, administrators, staff, alumni/ae and friends who, by collaborating together, can continue the good work of forging a creative and compelling model of a seminary in service to the church, academy and world.

 

Categories
March 2025 Perspective Magazine

Perkins Names Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for 2024 and 2025

Perkins School of Theology announces the 2024 and 2025 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award: The Rev. Dr. John C. Holbert (M.Th., 1971; Ph.D., 1975,) a pastor, scholar and former Perkins professor, is the 2024 Awardee, and the Rev. Denise Alice Sawyer (M.Div., 1999,) a pastor, hospital chaplain and community leader, is the 2025 Awardee.

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Perkins graduates who have demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support for the goals of Perkins and SMU, distinguished service to the community and exemplary character.

“Just as the work of the church takes place in a range of places, the work of these Awardees spans an array of contexts: parish ministry, teaching, service, scholarship and advocacy, both within and beyond the church,” said Hugo Magallanes, Perkins Dean ad interim. “We are pleased to honor these outstanding Perkins graduates for their faithful leadership and Christian ministry.”

Holbert and Sawyer, as well as recipients of the 2024 and 2025 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award, will be honored at the Perkins Awards Banquet on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, 5901 Bishop Blvd. on the campus of SMU in Dallas. The Seals award honors laypersons in the United States who exemplify an exceptional commitment of service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world. This is the first year to present both the Distinguished Alumni and Seals Laity awards in the same evening.

 

Registration for the Awards Banquet is open now and through April 1. Tickets are $45.00 per person and $300.00 per table of 8.  Parking passes ($10) are also available. To purchase tickets and register for the banquet, click HERE.

 

About the Recipients:

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award:

The Rev. Dr. John C. Holbert

The Rev. Dr. John C. Holbert.

The Rev. Dr. John C. Holbert earned an M.Th. in 1971 from Perkins School of Theology and a PhD in Hebrew Bible in 1975 from SMU. Holbert joined the Perkins faculty in 1979, teaching there until retirement in 2012 as Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics for the last 16 years of his faculty appointment.

Over the course of his career, he has taught and preached in more than 1,000 churches in every state in the U.S. and 20 countries. Holbert remains active in ministry, contributing weekly lectionary reflections on the Hebrew Bible and New Testament through the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence’s Lively Lectionary blog. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles with his wife, the Rev. Dr. Diana Brown Holbert (Master of Music 1971, M.Div. 1993, D.Min. 2005) and serves as head of Adult Education at Westwood United Methodist Church.

An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, he has also served as interim senior minister at First United Methodist Church in both Fort Worth and Dallas. A past president of the Academy of Homiletics and former co-editor of the journal Homiletic, Holbert has authored numerous works and preached and lectured globally.

The Rev. Martha (Allen) Soper (M.Div., 1998), a retired United Methodist pastor and former student, praised Holbert’s gifts as a faculty member who supported and inspired student preachers.

“His combination of warmth, humor, and wisdom gave me the courage I needed to find and use my own voice,” Soper said.

Soper also noted that Holbert, a talented vocalist, co-wrote an opera about the Book of Job with his son.

The Rev. Anna Hosemann-Butler (M.Div., 1998), a retired United Methodist pastor, praised his integrity and dedication. She shared how Holbert’s encouragement transformed her path, recalling his words: “Use the gifts given to you, find the joy in it, love the Word of God, and let it be proclaimed.”

“We, the ripples of John Holbert’s life, continue to make waves. And we are so grateful,” Hosemann-Butler wrote.

 

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award:

The Rev. Denise Sawyer

The Rev. Denise Sawyer.

The Rev. Denise Sawyer (M.Div., 1999) grew up in the Methodist Church of the Bahamas before attending Perkins School of Theology. While at Perkins, she excelled as a student, co-chaired the Black Seminarians Association and advocated for increased faculty diversity. After graduating, she served five churches in the Bahamas, then returned to the U.S. to serve as an ordained United Methodist elder in what is now the Great Plains Conference.

“Her commitment to parish ministry was outstanding,” said Sally Vonner (M.Div., 2008) in a letter recommending Sawyer for the award. “She was beloved by many for her faithful prayers and companionship through difficult life moments.”

After 10 years in parish ministry, Sawyer transitioned to the chaplaincy, relocating to Dallas to serve in Methodist Health System’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. She was endorsed by the United Methodist Endorsing Agency of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and certified as a chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains.

In 2011, Sawyer joined Lee Health in Fort Myers, Florida, where she currently serves as director of spiritual services.

“Rev. Sawyer’s leadership extends far beyond her official responsibilities,” said Jennifer Higgins, Lee Health’s chief nursing officer. “She has selflessly supported staff members facing terminal illnesses, often traveling long distances to visit them and their families. Her empathy, kindness and generosity of spirit inspire us all.”

Sawyer also continues to preach regularly in a seasonal community church in Naples, Florida, and is an active member of Hope United Methodist Church in Fort Myers. She remains connected to her home church, Ebenezer Methodist Church, in the Bahamas.

“Her life is an example of one who seeks to walk in the likeness of Jesus, leading with a servant heart through the brokenness of our world,” said the Rev. Debra Crumpton (M.Div., 2000), a retired United Methodist pastor and Perkins classmate. “She impacts lives, changes hearts, brings joy and radiates love.”

 

 

List of all past Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Recipients 

Categories
March 2025 News Perspective Online

Perkins Names Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award Recipients for 2024 and 2025

Perkins School of Theology is pleased to announce the 2024 and 2025 recipients of the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award:

Denise Espinosa Lloyd

Receiving the 2024 Award is Denise Espinosa Lloyd (M.Div., 1985), an active member of First United Methodist Church of Missouri City, Texas, and a longtime community volunteer and advocate for the unhoused.

The 2025 recipient is Thomas C. Sellers, a banking executive, community volunteer and lay leader in First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas. The Seals Laity Award honors laypersons in the United States who exemplify an exceptional commitment to service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world.

“It is our distinct honor to recognize these outstanding laypersons, whose faithful leadership and Christian ministry are so important in the churches and communities they serve,” said Hugo Magallanes, Perkins Dean ad interim. “By living out their faith in tangible and transformative ways, they have made a lasting impact. We are thrilled to celebrate their contributions and honor their faithful witness.”

Tom Sellers

Lloyd and Sellers, along with the recipients of the 2024 and 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards, will be honored at the Perkins Awards Banquet on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, 5901 Bishop Blvd., on the campus of SMU in Dallas.

This marks the first year both the Distinguished Alumni and Seals Laity awards will be presented on the same evening. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Perkins graduates who have demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support for the goals of Perkins and SMU, distinguished service to the community, and exemplary character.

Registration for the Awards Banquet is open now through April 1. Tickets are $45 per person or $300 per table of eight. Parking passes are available for $10. [Click here to purchase tickets and register.]

 

About the Recipients

 2024 Seals Laity Award: Denise Espinosa Lloyd

Denise Espinosa Lloyd graduated from Perkins School of Theology in 1985 and was ordained in what is now the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was the only Hispanic clergywoman in the conference at the time. After leaving ordained ministry, she remained an active layperson of First United Methodist Church in Missouri City. Texas. She served as a choir member, missions committee leader, Disciple Bible Study leader, education committee chair, Sunday school teacher and for 20 years, a lay member of the Texas Annual Conference.

“Mrs. Lloyd shows her leadership by being organized, recruiting others, guiding and teaching people to be part of missions and outreach, and demonstrating compassion to families without homes as a longtime volunteer with Fort Bend Family Promise,” said the Rev. Dr. Jerome Brimmage, pastor of First United Methodist Church Missouri City.

A lifelong learner, Lloyd is also participating in the Fort Bend Leadership Forum, a 10-month program sponsored by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce to expand her network of nonprofit organizations.

Lloyd currently serves as board president of Fort Bend Family Promise, a nonprofit that meets the immediate needs of families experiencing temporary housing insecurity while empowering them to regain self-sufficiency.

“I first met Denise during a challenging time when my family and I were welcomed as guests at Fort Bend Family Promise and empowered to self-sufficiency,” said Rosinda Pinon, now a housing navigator specialist at Fort Bend Family Promise. “Denise’s dedication to her work, community and faith is truly inspiring. She has been a blessing to the staff, families and community.”

 

2025 Seals Laity Award: Thomas C. Sellers

Thomas C. Sellers is a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas, as well as an Eagle Scout, school board member and community volunteer. Over the years he has taught Sunday school and chaired multiple church committees; most recently, he began hosting “Toddler Time with Tom,” a weekly playdate in the church gym to welcome local families with young children.

Sellers graduated from SMU’s Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and joined Alliance Bank in 1988, rising to chief executive officer in 2004. In 2021, he was named chairman and CEO of Alliance Bank. Among those recommending Sellers for the award was Craig Roberts, a competitor at Guaranty Bank & Trust and a member of the Sunday school class Sellers taught for 20 years.

“As a professional, Tom and I have battled for business for 23 years,” Roberts said. “Never have we battled negatively. At times, we teamed up as bank leaders to help those in need or in our community development by sharing common goals.”

Barbara C. Law, a member of the church who was Sellers’ high school English teacher, highlighted his leadership during the recent disaffiliation process, when many members of First UMC Sulphur Springs left to form another congregation.

“His continued leadership and good sense, and especially his kindness and acceptance of varying viewpoints, helped keep our First UMC alive in Sulphur Springs,” Law said. “I believe that Tom exemplifies the Wesleyan concept that, while we cannot do everything for everyone, we can do something for someone.”

“We as a church had an incredible past, and we were going to have a beautiful, expectant future,” added the Rev. Peter McNabb, senior pastor of First UMC Sulphur Springs. “We just needed help seeing it. And Tom was key in helping us do that.

“Tom carries the torch of that long line of saints who have come before us and shines the light for the church going into the future.”

 

Since 1993, the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award has been presented annually to a layperson embodying the Christian faith and commitment of service to Christ as exemplified by Judge Seals, a distinguished layperson whose interest and energy were instrumental in establishing the Perkins Theological School for the Laity (now the Perkins Summit for Faith and Learning.) See a list of the past recipients here.

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March 2025 News Perspective Online

Novel Preaching

Certificate in Preaching Excellence (CPX) Program Continues with Novel Preaching Course in April 2025

Preachers looking for inspiration, new techniques, and a fresh approach to sermon preparation will want to add this upcoming course to their calendars: “Novel Preaching: What Preachers Can

Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie

Learn from Creative Writers,” offered on two dates: April 2, 2025, and April 24, 2025. It’s the second course in the Certificate in Preaching Excellence program, launched in January by the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence (PCPE) at SMU.

The virtual workshop, taught by Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie, will examine novelists’ techniques for crafting engaging narratives and how they may be applied to preaching. Participants will learn tips for cultivating their imagination and developing a “knack for noticing.” The course is based on McKenzie’s 2010 book, Novel Preaching.

“These skills can transform sermons from dry lectures into deep, engaging encounters with God’s Word,” said McKenzie, who is co-director of the PCPE and Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins. “The constant demand for fresh, compelling sermons can leave preachers feeling drained. The antidote to uninspired sermons is imagination,” McKenzie said. “Imagination is like a muscle. You can use it or lose it.”

Participants will learn to fine-tune their ability to observe and appreciate the details of scripture (“textscape”), their congregations and culture (“landscape”), and their own inner lives (“inscape”). They will discover how to pay attention to the metaphors, anecdotes, and images that can enrich preaching. Simple metaphors, such as “A broken crayon still colors,” can serve as powerful tools for a transformative sermon.

McKenzie adds that the African American preaching tradition speaks of the “sanctified imagination”—the power of the Holy Spirit working through the preacher’s creative faculties.

“This workshop will help preachers harness their imaginations to craft sermons that are neither shallow nor tedious but both deep and delightful,” she said.

The Certificate in Preaching Excellence (CPX) is designed for pastors with experience and formal training (M. Div. or equivalent) who wish to expand and refine their skills. To complete the certificate, participants take four non-credit courses, followed by three one-on-one coaching sessions with expert homileticians.

Courses can be taken in any order, and participants can begin at any time. Preachers may also opt to take one or more individual courses without enrolling in the certificate program.

The first course in the program, Experiential Preaching, was taught by Dr. O. Wesley Allen Jr. in January 2025.

Other courses scheduled for 2025 as part of the CPX program include:

  • Sept. 9, 2025: “Preaching the Parables,” exploring a theological approach to proclaiming the kingdom of God for contemporary congregations by reading the parables in the literary context of the different Gospels. Taught by Dr. Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching, Candler School of Theology at Emory, based on his book, Proclaiming the Parables: Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God (2024.)
  • Oct. 21, 2025: “Preaching and Trauma,” a look at how preachers can address issues of collective and individual trauma from the pulpit, utilizing insights from scripture, psychology, and trauma studies. Taught by Dr. Joni S. Sancken, Butler Chair of Homiletics and Biblical Interpretation, Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, British Columbia, and based on her books Words That Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded Souls (2019) and All Our Griefs to Bear: Responding With Resilience After Collective Trauma (2022).

Four classes are also scheduled for 2026:

  • January: Experiential Preaching, taught by Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie.
  • April: Preaching and the Human Condition, taught by Dr. O. Wesley Allen Jr., based on his 2016 book Preaching and the Human Condition.
  • September: Preaching and Spirituality, taught by Dr. Luke Powery, dean of Duke University Chapel and Professor of Homiletics and African and African American Studies, based on his book Dem Dry Bones: Preaching, Death, and Hope (2012.)
  • October: Preaching and Performance/Embodiment, taught by Dr. Nancy Lammers Gross, Arthur Sarell Rudd Associate Professor of Speech Communication in Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, based on her book Women’s Voices and the Practice of Preaching (2017).

The upcoming “Novel Preaching” course is offered from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.. CST on two dates: April 2, 2025 and again on April 24, 2025.  Click here to register.

Visit the Certificate of Preaching Excellence page for more information and details.

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March 2025 News Perspective Online

Sacred Music Reunion

Perkins Hosts 65th Anniversary Sacred Music Reunion

The last time Perkins hosted a reunion for alumni of the Sacred Music program was March 9–11, 2020. Just two days later, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world. In the years that followed, church musicians scrambled to adapt.

The massive changes  of the past five years gave attendees much to reflect on when Perkins hosted the 65th Anniversary Sacred Music Reunion last month, Feb. 24–26. According to Marcell Silva Steuernagel, director of the Master of Sacred Music Program at Perkins, the event was a great success.

Approximately 70 alumni, faculty, students, and friends attended from 40 cities, spanning 52 years of the program. The earliest graduate in attendance from the class of 1972. “I think people enjoyed having alumni from different generations share their experiences and compare notes,” Silva Steuernagel said.

The program featured representatives from all departments involved with the interdisciplinary Sacred Music programs. Presenters included Anthony Elia, director of Bridwell Library; Thomas Keck, director of the Division of Music in the SMU Meadows School of the Arts; and Margaret Winchell, the director of Choral Activities at Meadows. The Meadows Chamber Singers also performed during closing worship.

The reunion opened with an Alumni Organ Concert featuring Charles Eidelman, an up-and-coming organ student at SMU; Dr. Michael Conrady (M.S.M. ’09, M.T.S. ’09, D.Min. ’19), director of music, organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church; Alissa Brewer (M.S.M. ’15), an organist and choirmaster at St. Vincent’s Anglican Cathedral; and Dr. Wayne A. Barr (M.S.M. ’92), director of choral activities at Tuskegee University.

Worship services and musical performances provided attendees with opportunities to reconnect and engage with peers. Keynote speakers Dr. Steve Guthrie, Dr. Monique M. Ingalls, and Dr. Jeffrey A. Murdock reflected on the changes in church music scholarship and practice, as well as topics on music and theology. An outing to Westlake Brewery in Deep Ellum for an evening of “Beer & Hymns” gave attendees a chance to experience Dallas.

Another highlight was the presentation of the Soli Deo Gloria Awards honoring outstanding service in church music. This year’s awardees included:

  • Wayne A. Barr
  • Tim Morrison (M.S.M. ’85), music director at Custer Road UMC for four decades
  • Judith Laoyan-Mosomos (M.S.M. ’85), a visionary church musician and educator serving in Southeast Asia and beyond
  • Clark W. Joseph (M.T.S. in Church Music ’05), minister of music and worship arts at St. John Church Unleashed

Silva Steuernagel praised the hard work of the reunion team, including Jackie Ancelet, Fernando Berwig Silva, Chris Anderson, Michael Hawn and the dedicated staff at Perkins.

“The best events are more than the sum of their parts, and that really happened this time,” he said. “The last five years have been tumultuous for many church musicians; this reunion served as a beautiful bookending of that time.”