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By Rev. Margot Perez-Greene, Ph.D. These current times appear to be opportunities to tell our stories well and to strive to reach deep into the places where our story connects with individuals called to ministry who are worshiping, serving, and searching for schools of theology. Perkins is a place where individuals are provided the freedom to stretch, learn, and grow in the school’s sacred spaces: the classroom, community events, worship, and study groups. The reason this story is so [...]

The End of a Remarkable Year! 2021 has been remarkable in many ways at SMU.  We rebounded from the COVID-19 shutdown.  Students were glad to be back on campus.  The University announced the public phase of our next capital campaign, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow.  Already, over the last four “silent years” of the campaign, more than 42% has been raised of the projected $1.5 billion campaign goal.  That includes $20.7 million raised by Perkins, 35% of the total [...]

Members of the Perkins School of Theology community will gather for Advent Worship on Thursday, December 2 at 6 p.m. in Perkins Chapel on the campus of SMU. Titled “Corde Natus Ex Parentis: An Advent Evensong,” the annual service will take place in person. “This year’s service will offer an opportunity for participants to reflect on the Advent season amid the ongoing pandemic, and will therefore be of a somewhat somber nature,” said Marcell Silva Steuernagel, Assistant Professor of [...]

Taking a Close Look at the Furniture: The Future of Theological Education and Its Curriculum by Rebekah Miles, Chair of the Perkins’ Curricular Review Committee Dan Aleshire, retired director of the Association of Theological Schools, often draws on the image of furniture to describe current transformations in theological education. “In a time when so much has changed and continues to change... what should be the future of theological education? Some people want to get rid of all the furniture [...]

Perkins School of Theology will offer a new course, Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of Religion: The Work of William J. Abraham (TC 8308) during the Spring 2022 semester.  The course will be open to Perkins students as well as to anyone with an interest in Abraham’s life and writings. Instructors will survey the work of Abraham, a Perkins faculty member emeritus who died suddenly October 7, 2021. Abraham joined the faculty in 1985, and was the Albert Cook [...]

The presenters and attendees came from a variety of faith backgrounds, cultural traditions and geographic locations. Some attended in person, others joined virtually. But all turned their attention to a fundamental form of human connection: telling stories. With the theme, “Speak Up! Stories for a New Day,” the 2021 Perkins Fall Convocation brought together theology professors, authors, activists, performers, pastors and laypeople for two days of programming at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Keynote speakers included Amy-Jill Levine, who [...]

Nominations are now open for the 2022 Perkins School of Theology Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award and will be accepted through December 17, 2021. The annual award is presented to a layperson in the United States who exemplifies an exceptional commitment of service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world.  For more information on how to make a nomination, read the press release here.

Registration is now open for the 2022 Perkins School of Youth Ministry (PSYM), a four-day educational gathering for youth ministers taking place January 10-13, 2022. Last year’s event was held virtually, but this year PSYM returns in-person to Highland Park United Methodist Church, near the campus of SMU, in time for its 35th anniversary. PSYM 2022’s theme is “Finding Forward.” “We think that moving forward is best done in a learning community,” said Bart Patton, Director of the Office [...]