Category: News

The Perkins School of Theology community began the 2025–26 academic year with fresh energy, a diverse and committed incoming class and a new dean at the helm. Faculty, staff and students gathered for worship, fellowship, volunteer work and learning to mark the start of the year. 

“This fall, Perkins welcomed 68 new students along with 129 returning students and 52 doctoral students,” said Christina Rhodes, assistant dean of enrollment management. “There is a strong sense of optimism and energy on campus. Our staff and faculty are fully prepared to embrace the opportunities ahead and support students through this dynamic season.” 

The new class represents a rich tapestry of backgrounds, faith traditions and callings to ministry. Students come from 17 states and represent nine different denominations. While nearly 70% are United Methodist, others come from the Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Anglican, Church of Christ, Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), Episcopalian, non-denominational Christian, and United Church of Christ traditions. 

Five different degree programs are represented in the incoming class, along with several nondegree students. The most popular degree choice remains the Master of Divinity (M.Div.). 

“That is a surprising statistic,” Rhodes noted. “Last year, 70% of students pursued the M.Div., and this year it’s up to 74%. Nationally, the Association of Theological Schools is reporting a decline in the M.Div. and a rise in other master’s programs, but Perkins is seeing the opposite. We’re pleasantly surprised.” 

The student body also reflects Perkins’ commitment to diversity. Overall, 44% of the new students identify as nonwhite. The breakdown includes 25% Black, 6% Hispanic, 5% of two or more ethnicities, 4% foreign nationals, 3% Asian and 1% American Indian/Alaska Native. 

This fall, 72% of incoming master’s students are enrolled in the hybrid-online format, bringing the overall hybrid population to 57% of the student body. 

“Hybrid allows flexibility,” Rhodes explained. “It’s easier for students to do coursework online on their own time.” Even Dallas-based students may opt for an online course, with permission, if their schedules demand.  

Perkins’s hybrid courses include both synchronous and asynchronous components, which seems to appeal to many students.  

“The appeal is that students are not just on their own with no interaction,” Rhodes said. “There are Zoom sessions with professors, teaching assistants, and classmates. It really builds community—you’re in the class together, just virtually.” 

Orientation and Welcome Week
The new school year began with three days of orientation activities, followed by four days of service in the community through the Ministry Dallas program.   

Students experienced Perkins’s hallmark combination of academic rigor and spiritual formation, with daily worship services including Compline, Morning Prayer, a Midday Service of Word and Table and Vespers in Perkins Chapel. 

A highlight of the week was the chance to meet Bryan P. Stone, who began serving as Perkins’s 12th dean on June 1. Stone welcomed the incoming class for dinner in his home.   

“Students arrived with a remarkable mix of creativity and accomplishment, and we are eager to bring their voices into the conversation,” he said. “Some joined us in classrooms in Dallas, others from across the country and globe, yet all of them leaned forward with the same desire: to be engaged, to be connected, to be part of this unfolding community.” 

Stone also complimented the Perkins staff for carrying out the week’s activities with grace and good humor. 

“They wove together learning, worship, and service in Dallas, and at the same time guided students through the practical rhythms of registration, financial aid and course navigation,” he said. “The result was a week that was equal parts sacred and logistical, the kind of foundation that allows genuine learning to flourish.” 

In addition to the full rollout of hybrid courses, preparations are underway for the next cohort of Perkins’ Maestría en Divinidad (M.Div. in Spanish) program. The first cohort of 13 students launched in fall 2024. The next is planned for fall 2026, pending sufficient interest, with recruitment beginning this September. The program is led by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Hugo Magallanes.  

Rhodes noted that, despite broader shifts in theological education, Perkins’s enrollment numbers remained steady. Last year, 71 new students enrolled—slightly more than this year—but that number included the first Spanish-language M.Div. cohort.   

“Our numbers are holding steady,” Rhodes said. “We’ve had some large graduating classes in recent years, which affects overall totals, but when you look at incoming students, we are on track.” Perkins also welcomed nine new D.Min. and three D.P.M. students.  

Perkins leaders see the rise in M.Div. students as especially encouraging. “Now that the United Methodist Church has worked through some of its recent challenges, we’re seeing more students step forward, including LGBTQ students who feel affirmed and accepted,” Rhodes said. “That’s one reason we think our M.Div. numbers are strong.” 

Feast of Beginnings Worship Service Marks Start of Academic Year at Perkins
Prayer and worship have always punctuated the rhythm of the school year at Perkins School of Theology. This year was no different, with the Feast of Beginnings marking the start of the new academic year on August 28 in Perkins Chapel.  

Gathering students, faculty and staff, the service marked the occasion with communion, music, worship and a sermon by Perkins’ new dean, Bryan P. Stone. For many in attendance, the service was the first opportunity to hear from Stone, who arrived on campus in June.  

Stone’s sermon revealed him as a thoughtful theologian, unafraid to challenge his audience with prophetic words, but balanced with a quick wit. His 13-minute message drew more than a dozen bursts of laughter and even occasional applause from the congregation. Stone preached from the week’s Revised Common Lectionary text, Hebrews 13:1-3: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers. For by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”   

The call to entertain angels unawares, Stone said, poses a “delightful and mysterious” reminder. 

“Sometimes when we welcome a stranger, it turns out we’re welcoming angels,” he said. “We’re welcoming heaven itself.”  

But angels never fit the Hallmark image, he cautioned. More often, they are terrifying to those who encounter them. And they often go unrecognized. 

“My wife Cheryl and I have hosted quite a few folks in our home over the years—students, friends … in-laws,” he said. “I can say with confidence that if any of them were angels, it wasn’t always obvious to me. It’s all fun and games until an angel breaks the toilet.” 

Hospitality, Stone said, “is not about coziness. It’s about disruption. Angels arrive to shake things up. And if Jesus is to be believed, they show up most often in the faces of the hungry, the sick, the prisoner and the stranger at the border.”  

This biblical call to hospitality, Stone added, speaks directly to contemporary issues.  

“If we really believe in angels, and if we believe that when you welcome a stranger, you might be entertaining angels without knowing it, then why do we refuse their presence, deport and imprison them when they’ve committed no crimes?” he said. “Why do we torture angels in detention centers like Alligator Alcatraz?” 

It’s often said, Stone added, that a society can be judged by how well it treats those most vulnerable, including its strangers.  

“If the stranger might be an angel, then hospitality demands more of us than just being polite,” he said. “It demands that our politics, our policies and our allegiances must reflect the sacredness of every person.” 

Stone concluded with words of challenge to Perkins students.  

“I hope you learn to better understand the Bible and to articulate a grace-filled theology,” he said. “But I also hope that together we’ll learn more about how to practice hospitality. So, here’s the challenge: This semester, entertain a few angels, not in some mystical winged sense, but in the daily discipline of making space for others. Opening your table, allowing an interruption, listening longer than your patience wants to, extending grace when you’d rather not.” 

Geoffrey C. Moore, curator of community worship, served as presider for Holy Communion. The service also included a recognition and installation of the newly elected Perkins Student Association leaders. Assistant Dean of Students, Alum and Community Engagement Tracy Anne Allred introduced President Calyn Donaldson, Vice President Chuck Norcross, Treasurer Rich Dudley, Secretary Abbey Adcox, Justice in Action Chair Beth Webb, Chaplain Carolyn Barker, Houston/Galveston Representative Brandon Sikes, Spanish M.Div. Representative Karla LaConcha, Hybrid Representative Paula Garrett, and Second/Middle Year Representatives Matthew Peters (Dallas) and James “JT” LaRue (Houston.)   

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Hugo Magallanes recognized new and recent additions to the Perkins faculty, administration and staff: Alicia Greene, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs; Kathleen “Kate” Hanch, Director of the Baptist House of Studies; Josey Jones, Exhibits Designer and Collections Manager, Bridwell Library; Michelle Killian, Coordinator, Office of External Programs and Church Relations; Joshua “Josh” Kuker, Financial Business Manager; Nakoya Loucks, Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications; Roxanne Paulson, Instructional Learning Technologist; Avery Pryer, Executive Assistant to the Dean; Dean Stone; Kaylee Vida, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning in the Office of External Programs; Fahiym Webber, Communications Coordinator; and Pam White, Director of the Intern Program.  

 

Serving, Learning and Growing Together
Every August, before classes begin, Perkins students, staff and faculty step out into the community for Ministry Dallas, a four-day immersion in service, learning and community engagement.

From August 21–24, the program introduced participants to local ministries and nonprofits that embody the gospel in unexpected places: Hugs Café in McKinney, GROW North Texas in East Dallas, Restorative Farms near Fair Park and St. Paul United Methodist Church in downtown Dallas. Each day offered a blend of hands-on service, storytelling and theological reflection.

“It’s a great way to begin the academic year, by meeting the people who are doing hands-on ministry and learning about the needs of the community,” said Tracy Anne Allred, Perkins’ assistant dean for student life, who coordinates the program along with Laura Figura, program specialist.

Day One: Hope, Understanding, Grace, Success at Hugs Café
Hugs Café is a fast-casual restaurant and nonprofit that employs 77 workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Soon, the organization will expand to a second location near Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The program also offers a training academy, cooking school and a greenhouse.

Participants enjoyed lunch, heard from program leaders, and spent the afternoon cleaning the patio and dining area, organizing the refrigerators and prepping food.

At a time when many restaurants are struggling to hire and retain staff, founder Ruth Thompson noted that most of the staff has been with Hugs Café staff since the beginning in 2015.

The Rev. Evan Marshall Jones (C.M.M., 2012), director of expansion and culture, is working to create partner affiliates. He shared how, after serving in church staff positions for 24 years, he’s made the shift to nonprofit ministry.

“As an ordained deacon, my call is to bring the church to the world and the world to the church,” he said. “I get to live that out every day.”

Carli Koontz, a first-year M.Div. student, appreciated how the ministry supports people with disabilities.

“It was gratifying to see how Hugs Café creates a safe space that encourages and develops people with special needs beyond high school,” she said.

First-year M.Div. student Leah Paige signed up because she was intrigued by the way Hugs Café brings together food and ministry.

“Food brings people together,” she said. “Everybody eats. It bridges differences.”

Day Two: Cultivating Gratitude at GROW North Texas
On day two, the group visited GROW North Texas, located on the former site of Owenwood UMC, now repurposed as a community center. Executive Director Susie Marshall (M.T.S., 2009) and Volunteer Coordinator Eric Langford described how the organization connects North Texans to healthy food through sustainable farming and strong community ties.

Participants saw the urban farm’s orchard and beehives, learned about the community garden plots, and pulled weeds while braving the heat and bugs. For some, the experience boosted their appreciation of the food they eat.

“After seeing all the hard work that goes into growing fruits and vegetables, I am more grateful for the strawberries I had for breakfast this morning!” said Josue Bonilla, a first-year M.Div. student.

Day Three: Restoring Lives at Restorative Farms
Ministry Dallas participants traveled to Restorative Farms in South Dallas on August 23, an initiative building a sustainable food system in one of Dallas’s largest food deserts while providing job training and living wages to residents, many of whom are formerly incarcerated.

Participants heard from co-founder Doric Earle, professor of practice at SMU’s Department of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs; board member Chris Hill, an environmental engineering adjunct professor at SMU; and volunteer coordinator Morris Moye.

“I don’t like it here,” Moye said. “I love it. It’s Restorative because I have been restored. I’m a different person because of this place.”

The group toured a state-of-the-art greenhouse, imported from Israel, and learned about hygiene and food safety standards. Growing organic produce, leaders said, nourishes spirits as well as bodies.

“Plants create a natural accountability,” said Hill. “If you water and feed them, they grow. If you don’t, they don’t grow. It’s as simple and as profound as that.”

To date, Restorative Farms has produced more than 810,000 servings of fresh produce—85% distributed locally—while paying $730,000 in living wages and offering over 300 hours of vocational training.

At Restorative Farms, Dean Bryan P. Stone attended his first Ministry Dallas as Perkins’ new dean.

“I wanted to hang out with the new students, in a different context other than the academic, and to see what’s happening in the community,” he said. “I ran a community garden in Fort Worth back in the ’80s, but it was nothing like this. The level of competence and impact here is amazing.”

D.Min. student Veronika Czutor, Pastor of Central Lutheran Church in East Dallas, came seeking ideas.

“Our church has four acres of land,” she said. “I’m here to learn and possibly replicate something like this for our community.”

Many were impressed by the knowledge and expertise that leaders have brought to the program.

“The farm system here is so scientific and well built,” said Hyung Jun, a first-year M.Div. student.

Day Four: Worship and Witness at St. Paul UMC
The week concluded on Sunday with worship at St. Paul United Methodist Church, a historic Black congregation in downtown Dallas led by the Rev. Kantrice S. Robinson (M.Div., 2016), senior pastor. Before the service, participants learned about the church’s storied past from Macy Mays-Roberson, St. Paul UMC’s church historian.  Dating back to 1873, the church is considered the oldest African American Methodist Church in Dallas.

JinRi Kim, a second-year M.Div. student from South Korea, enjoyed the opportunity to experience a traditional African American worship service.

“What I appreciated most was the passionate praise and worship, where the congregation wholeheartedly offered their talents in worship,” he said.

Looking Ahead
Additional Ministry Dallas programs will take place during the academic year. For news of future events, watch the weekly Perkins News or sign up by emailing theology@smu.edu.

Family and friends filled the sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church to honor the 2025 graduating class of Perkins School of Theology at A Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements on May 17.  

Ninety-three students in the class of 2025 received their SMU degrees from Perkins, including 26 earning doctoral degrees and 67 receiving master’s degrees. (Ten of those students completed their studies in August but participated in the May ceremony.)  

Degrees were conferred earlier in the day at the university-wide commencement at Moody Coliseum, and graduates received their master’s or doctoral hoods at the celebration service. 

The sermon, “Can you see anything?,” was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson (M.Div. 2012; D.Min. 2019), chief learning and innovation officer at the Texas Methodist Foundation.  

Choral music was provided by alumni of the Sacred Music Programs and the Seminary Singers under the leadership of Dr. Marcell Silva Steuernagel, associate professor of church music and director of the Sacred Music Programs. 

A reception to honor graduates followed in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall immediately after the ceremony. 

Awards
During the program, the Rev. Dr. Hugo Magallanes, then Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean, ad interim, presented the following awards for outstanding academic achievement: 

The Dr. and Mrs. J. P. Bray Award in Hebrew, to the student who ranks highest in Hebrew scholarship, to Davis Anderson.  

The Faculty Award in Greek, to the student who ranks highest in New Testament Greek scholarship, to Todd Stall.  

The Charley T. and Jesse James Bible Awards, to students on the basis of academic achievement in biblical courses and overall scholastic performance, to Kenna Curry, Elizabeth Beshear and Josiah Brown.  

The W. B. DeJernett Award in Homiletics, to the senior student with the highest academic average in homiletics courses, to Clayton Hall.  

The Paul W. Quillian Award in Homiletics, to the student who has presented the best written sermon, to Andrew Phillips.  

The William K. McElvaney Preaching Award, to the student who has presented the best written sermon on a public issue, which includes a social crisis, a controversial issue or a chronic social problem, to Laura Garcia.  

The Robert Weatherford Prize for Internship Preaching, to theology students recognized for excellence in preaching during internship, chosen by the intern faculty of Perkins School of Theology and a representative from the preaching faculty, to Julie Bartle, Beth Bentley and Luke Thomson   

The Hoyt Hickman Award for Outstanding Liturgical Scholarship and Practice, awarded by the Order of Saint Luke, to the graduating student who, in the judgment of the selection committee, has given evidence of a high quality of scholarship in the study of liturgy and is an effective leader of Christian worship, to Kwang Oh.  

The Roger Deschner Prize in Sacred Music, established by friends and family in memory of Roger Deschner, to the M.S.M. student who has excelled in academic work, musical abilities and overall achievement in the Sacred Music Program, to Brook Clarke Gibson.  

The Albert C. Outler Award in Theology, to the student who produced the most outstanding essays in theology during the academic year, to Amber Jamison.  

The Phillip Schaff Prize in Church History, established by Klaus Penzel, to the student who has demonstrated excellence in the historical study of Christianity while participating in courses in church history, to John Bryant.  

The B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics, given by the Harold M. Kaufman Memorial Foundation, to students on the basis of scholarly competence in the field of social ethics and personal commitment as shown in voluntary activity in support of worthy causes, to Michaela Calahan and David Henderson.  

The Harry Hosier Spirit Award, established by Perkins alumnus the Rev. Dr. Henry Masters, to a graduating student who best exemplifies the spirit of Harry Hosier expressed in what is described as his “elocution of faith: I sing by faith, preach by faith, pray by faith and do everything by faith,” to Eno Afon.  

The Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Flinn Senior Award, to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the faculty, best exemplifies the aims of the school and the church for its ministry, to Julie Harding and Lily White.  

A full-circle moment: Rev. Dr. Joe Cobb returns to United Methodist Ministry
When the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church was called to order in July, the Rev. Dr. Joe Cobb (M.Div. ’89) was there to greet the assembly in his role as mayor of Roanoke, Va., the city where the conference gathered.  

Just a week earlier, Cobb’s clergy credentials had been reinstated by the Great Plains Conference, following the United Methodist Church’s 2024 General Conference decision to allow clergy who had surrendered or lost them to return to active ministry. Cobb had surrendered his credentials in 2001 after coming to terms with his identity as a gay man.  

In Virginia, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson surprised Cobb by presenting him with a stole, as his former spouse, the Rev. Leigh Anne Taylor (M.S.M. ’87), stood by.  

For Cobb, the moment was nothing short of extraordinary. “I’ve been watching the denomination wrestle with this,” he said. “I didn’t really imagine this would occur in my lifetime.” 

A marriage, a family, and a turning point
Cobb entered Perkins School of Theology in the 1980s, earning his M.Div. in 1989. It was a turbulent era for LGBTQ persons in the church and in society.   

“There was a solid and supportive gay community in Dallas, but at the same time, there were evangelical conservative firebrands there speaking out against homosexuality,” he said. “But there were also professors at Perkins — Victor Paul Furnish, Joe Allen and David Switzer, who were looking at this issue more holistically.”  

At Perkins, Cobb met Taylor, a master of sacred music student who also earned a master’s in choral conducting. They married and built a family together, raising two children. As Cobb came to terms with his identity, the marriage fell apart. The divorce, finalized in 1999, was painful.  

In 2001, Cobb surrendered his clergy credentials in the Kansas West Conference and moved to Roanoke to start a new phase of his life. 

Still, Taylor and Cobb remained determined to prioritize their children’s well-being. Over time, they forged a new bond, built on honesty, respect and love redefined. Ultimately, Cobb and Taylor wrote about their shared journey in a book, Our Family Outing: A Memoir of Coming Out and Coming Through (Total Publishing Media, 2011). The book offers a rare dual perspective on a marriage transformed by one partner’s coming out. 

Revisiting the breakup of the marriage was painful, but Taylor believed their story could help others.  

“There was a climate of secrecy around homosexuality at the time; I wanted to break the silence so that other people could feel safe to speak too,” she said. “I was willing to do it [write the book] if only to send a life preserver to just one woman.” As it happened, many spouses and parents reached out after reading the book.  

For Cobb, the writing process was equally healing. “We were able to share stories and experiences with each other that we had kind of kept to ourselves,” he said. Writing the story brought “healing and hope for our families and for other people.”

A public theologian
After leaving the United Methodist Church, Cobb was ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church in 2006, where he served nearly 20 years. In Roanoke, his ministry expanded beyond the pulpit. In 2018, he was elected to city council, and in 2025, he was sworn in as mayor. 

“I’ve always had this sense of listening very closely to the marginalized voices to find a better way to acknowledge those voices and create a larger table where people can gather and express their experiences and how we can work together to make meaningful change in the community,” he said.  

His political role isn’t that different from that of a pastor. “I get to show up and be present and celebrate extraordinary things happening in our city,” he said.   

Today, both Cobb and Taylor have found happiness in new marriages. Cobb lives in Roanoke with his husband, James, with whom he has shared more than 20 years. Together, they are raising two children, Ginny and JJ. Taylor, who serves as director of connecting ministries in the Mountain View District, lives nearby with her husband, Hugh. The families remain close, celebrating holidays and milestones together. 

Taylor believes their story offers a vital witness to the church and to families everywhere.  

“What God taught me is that we don’t throw out our LGBTQ family members,” she said. “Joe and I could stay in a loving relationship and redefine what that meant. In our marriage vows, I said, ‘With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.’ I could still be true to that. I could still honor Joe Cobb. And he could honor me.”   

Cobb is still exploring options for extension ministry in his reinstated role. But the reinstatement itself, he said, created both closure and a new beginning. 

He said, “Standing on that stage at annual conference, with Leigh Anne at my side — it was a full circle moment of healing and reconciliation — something I’ll treasure the rest of my life.” 

Representatives attend record 31 UMC annual conferences in 2025
More than a dozen Perkins staff and faculty were out and about this past summer, representing Perkins School of Theology at a record-setting 31 annual conferences of the United Methodist Church across the United States.   

“It’s a high-water benchmark for us,” said Bart Patton, assistant dean of external programs and church relations at Perkins, who coordinated the effort. “We’ve never done anything close to that number before.” 

Patton emphasized that Perkins’ “annual conference tour” is about much more than just recruiting new students. 

“This is about presence and it’s about partnership,” he said. “We’re not there primarily for recruiting. We’re there to reinforce existing partnerships, to create new partnerships and to learn. If we’re not out there learning what’s happening at the local church level, how can we teach future church leaders?”  

Patton added that annual conferences also serve as a kind of research and development (R&D) for Perkins, helping faculty and staff understand the lived experience of pastors and church staff.  

“I meet with pastors and hear stories about what’s happening in their context,” he said. “Those are stories that come back to Perkins and help us think about our programming, our curriculum, even how we teach in the classroom.”  

That “R&D” work has already borne fruit. Perkins’ Fresh Expressions House of Studies and partnership with Ashley Boggan of the General Commission on Archives and History are both direct outcomes of insights gained during last year’s annual conference visits. The next Perkins Summit for Faith and Learning (Spring 2026) will take place in Oklahoma City, thanks to connections forged at annual conference gatherings.  

On the road 
This year’s expanded effort involved 15 Perkins representatives, including 13 faculty and staff representing every office at Perkins, plus two alumni. They fanned out from coast to coast, listening, connecting, teaching and sometimes even bowling or sharing pizza with youth delegations. 

Emily Nelms Chastain, assistant professor of Christian history and Methodist studies, attended the Horizon Texas, Rio Texas and New Mexico conferences. “While the travel was exhausting, the connections were genuine, and they left me inspired by what The United Methodist Church is becoming,” she said. “I think our presence communicates our commitment to the future of the UMC and our willingness to journey with United Methodists.” 

Nelms Chastain added that attending Horizon Texas was especially meaningful as three legacy conferences came together for the first time to ordain new clergy and work through legislation. “I loved getting to meet alumni and current students and to hear about their experiences at Perkins,” she said. 

Heather G. Moore, associate director of recruitment and admissions, represented Perkins at the Great Plains and Cal-Pac Annual Conferences. She found deep value in reconnecting with alumni and meeting prospective students. 

“Perkins really does show up at these conferences,” Moore said. “We are present, we are consistent and we are genuine. Many seminaries have stopped traveling to annual conferences. To me, Perkins’ commitment means we are committed to building relationships with folks, regardless of their history with Perkins.” 

New energy in the church
The tour also gave faculty a chance to gauge the mood of the wider denomination.  

“I sensed a lot of positive energy and hope for the denomination,” said Patton. “These gatherings were like camp meetings—folks are committed to the future of the church.” 

Wes Allen, Lois Craddock Perkins professor of homiletics, attended the Florida and Alabama-West Florida conferences. He was struck by the interest in Perkins’ online programs, including questions about the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min. )program. He also noted the significance of Perkins being present in regions beyond its traditional Southwest base.  

“The more we show up for these events in regions beyond the Southwest, the more the church across the nation will come to know us as a resource for them,” said Allen, who is also director of the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence.  

Looking ahead
Patton expressed that annual conferences are more vital than ever, especially as hybrid and online degree options open new doors for students nationwide in a wider geographic area. 

“It’s hard to recruit online for an online program,” he explained. “We’ve got to physically go to people to make the first connection. And while we’re there, we’re listening, we’re learning and we’re investing in relationships.” 

That investment, Patton stressed, will continue.  

“We don’t go to annual conferences just to check a box or fill our quotas,” he said. “We go because Perkins is committed to being fully present with the church. The future of the UMC matters to us, and we’re here to walk alongside it.” 

Sharpen your preaching skills and deepen your knowledge this fall at Perkins School of Theology!  

October 21, 2025: “Preaching and Trauma” 10 a.m.—1:30 p.m.  

The Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence at SMU 

Location: Virtual 
How can preachers address issues of collective and individual trauma from the pulpit? This class draws on insights from scripture, psychology, and trauma studies to equip preachers to address ongoing and catastrophic experiences of individual and corporate trauma in their pulpit ministries. 

This class is taught by Dr. Joni S. Sancken, Butler Chair of Homiletics and Biblical Interpretation, Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, British Columbia, 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). 

This course may be taken “à la carte” or as part of the Certificate in Preaching Excellence (CPX).  

For more information, visit the Center for Preaching Excellence Certificate Program webpage here.  

REGISTER HERE  

November 10-11, 2025: Perkins Fall Convocation  

Location: SMU campus 

Perkins Fall Convocation is an annual gathering highlighting relevant lectures in contemporary theological engagement, practical ministry and faith-informed leadership. This year’s convocation will feature a rich series of lectures and dialogues across diverse fields, including preaching, Hispanic theology, sociology and wisdom, religious education for social change and United Methodist studies. Join us as we celebrate a diverse learning community for church and community leaders alike, as you connect with like-minded peers, engage with visionary thinkers around fresh scholarship, and gain practical tools for your ministry. 

For more details, click here: https://www.smu.edu/perkins/publicprograms/perkins-fall-convocation 

Registration is open Sept. 15 through Oct. 30. Click here for details and pricing.  

Certificate in Spiritual Direction 
The Certificate in Spiritual Direction is a nondegree program for individuals called to the ministry of spiritual companionship. Through a cohort model, students grow in prayerful listening, theological reflection, and contemplative practice. The program prepares certificate graduates to serve as spiritual directors in both individual and group settings, integrating prayerful presence, discernment, and practical ministry tools. 

Applications have closed for the upcoming cohort beginning in October. Follow the Certificate in Spiritual Direction page for updates on the next cohort forming in 2026.