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.”
The Rev. Katherine Glaze Lyle (M. Div., 1993) remembers Kirby Parlor well from her days as a student. But she’s always been a little dismayed that the parlor remained more or less unchanged from the time she arrived on campus in the late 1980s.
That will soon change.
The large gathering space in Perkins’ Kirby Hall is getting a refresh this spring and summer —and a new name.
Renovations are underway, marking the first major remodel of the parlor since the building’s construction in 1948. The updated space, expected to be completed by fall 2025, will bring modern functionality and a fresh aesthetic, with a new audiovisual system, fresh paint, new flooring, new artwork and updated furniture. The raised platform will be removed to create more usable space. The remodeled space will have a similar aesthetic to Bridwell Library’s Methodist Collection Reading Room, also known as “the Blue Room.”
“This is a huge room with tremendous potential,” said Lyle, chair of the Perkins Executive Board. “I was surprised to learn that Kirby Parlor is two-thirds the size of the Great Hall in Prothro. It didn’t seem that large because it’s always been filled with furniture.”
Funding for the renovation comes largely from a bequest by the late Rev. Dr. Anthony Clay Cecil Jr. (Th.M. ’67). A third-generation Methodist minister, Cecil served in various Texas congregations before retiring in 2009 after 37 years of ordained ministry. His generous gift, supplemented by contributions from Perkins Executive Board members and others, made the long-awaited project possible.
“We’re grateful for Rev. Dr. Cecil’s legacy, which will allow us to create a more welcoming and dynamic space for the Perkins community,” said Perkins Director of Development John Martin. “This renovation ensures that Kirby Parlor will better serve students, faculty and visitors for years to come.”
The remodeled space will provide a versatile venue for faculty presentations, receptions, prospective student gatherings, and a reception area for events connected to Perkins Chapel, such as weddings and funerals. The renovation will include energy-efficient windows, allowing more natural light into the space, and improved lighting that can be adjusted for different functions.
The project is progressing with support from SMU’s facilities team. Additional improvements, including a kitchen update funded by Executive Board member and current D.Min. student Elaine Culver and her husband, Bruce, will enhance the space’s usability for catering and hospitality needs.
With construction on track, the newly reimagined space should be ready for the start of the fall semester, shortly after the arrival of the new dean, Bryan P. Stone. The name “Kirby Parlor” will also be retired, with a new name yet to be determined.
“We envision this as a place that will truly serve the mission of Perkins,” said Hugo Magallanes, Dean ad interim of Perkins School of Theology. “This revitalization is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a space where learning, fellowship and hospitality can flourish.”
Pope-Levison Receives Wesleyan Theological Society Award
Perkins faculty member Priscilla Pope-Levison was selected as the recipient of the Wesleyan Theological Society’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Pope-Levison is research professor of practical theology at Perkins School of Theology at SMU and the third woman to earn this honor. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals for outstanding service to the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition over a lifetime. Since its inception in 1994, the award has been given to distinguished scholars and theologians including Randy Maddox, Billy Abraham, William Greathouse, James Earl Massey and Donald Dayton. Read the story here.
Lovin receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Robin W. Lovin, who served as dean of Perkins School of Theology from 1994 to 2002, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Christian Ethics on Jan. 10. The award was presented at the society’s annual meeting in Chicago by Steve Long, a past president of SCE and Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics at SMU. The award recognizes “outstanding, sustained and substantive contributions in advancing the field of Christian ethics,” with consideration given to the recipient’s publications, influence on students and impact on the discipline of theological ethics. Currently, Dr. Lovin is Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics emeritus at SMU and visiting scholar in theology at Loyola University in Chicago. He is the 14th person to receive this award since its inauguration and the second from SMU, joining SMU professor emeritus Charlie Curran, who received the award in 2017. Read the story here.
Hunt Essay Explores AI’s Impact
An essay by Robert Hunt, “As AI becomes more human-like, what will happen to humanity?” was published online by The Hill on Feb. 16. “Because we are social creatures, we change when someone new comes into our group,” he wrote. “A newborn infant changes its mother and father into parents. A child who becomes a brother or sister is now a sibling. And think about what happens when there is a new student at school or a new employee or boss at work. Up to now, the newcomers have been other humans. But as AI agents become agentic, they will increasingly shape our self-understanding.”
Perkins faculty member Jaime Clark-Soles delivered Mercer University’s 33rd annual Harry Vaughan Smith Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religion Lectures on Feb. 11-12 in Newton Chapel on the Macon campus. Clark-Soles is professor of New Testament, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor and director of the Baptist House of Studies at Perkins.
UMNews Publishes Rebekah Miles Commentary
“Coming out with the new Book of Discipline,” a commentary by the Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles, was published Jan. 6 in UM News. Miles wrote that she joined with many United Methodists in celebrating the removal of the denomination’s 52-year-old stance against same-sex relationships. With her children’s encouragement, Miles also is using the occasion of the new Book of Discipline to discuss her own journey of self-discovery. She writes that she wants to use her privilege to benefit others — noting that the church still has more work to do to ensure LGBTQ+ people are truly safe and welcome.
Emily Nelms Chastain jokes that she began her academic career began as a “professional Methodist.” Her passion for church history was sparked while she was working in the North Alabama Conference office of the United Methodist Church and teaching Methodist history and polity to youth, young adults, and college students to prepare them for Annual Conference.
“I had been a history major in college, and it just kind of melded together into this world that I didn’t realize existed, studying the history of Christianity,” she said. That led her to enter seminary in 2016, earning an M. Div. and an M.A. in Religion at Claremont School of Theology. She was commissioned in 2019 and ordained as a deacon in 2021 in the North Alabama conference. Now she’s teaching History of Christianity at Perkins while completing her Ph.D. at Boston University.
Her teaching specialties include American religious history, American Methodism, world Christianity, women’s religious history, feminist methodology and theology, feminism and women in religion, women’s ordination, and women and Methodism. In her dissertation, Rev. Nelms Chastain is examining the leadership pipeline from the International Association of Women Preachers that successfully mobilized women to work for women’s ordination in American Methodism.
Recently, she published an article in Wesley and Methodist Studies titled “Break[ing] the System: How the Methodist Student Movement Motivated a Generation into Challenging Their Denominational Polity of Segregation.”
In addition to history, Nelms Chastain discovered that she loves teaching students as they find and follow their paths to ministry.
“Some discover that Methodism isn’t the place for them, but for those who do identify and embrace Methodism, learning about the history empowers them,” she said. “It makes them even more excited about ministry. Getting to see students really understand their call and to enjoy the journey is a blast for me.”
Recently, she visited a former student she taught as as instructor at Perkins, who is now serving in the Metroplex.
“She’s done all these new programs, and she’s gotten promoted to be full-time,” Nelms Chastain said. “As a teacher, I get to meet seminary students when they come in, and then to see them launched into the world to begin really doing great things. Teaching puts me in a spot where God is moving. It’s so cool to be able to just experience this whole moment.”
Advice for Theological Students:
Hold onto your call. Theological studies will completely deconstruct a whole lot of stuff that you thought you knew, including who you are. But it’s also an opportunity to reconstruct. My advice is, hold onto that call, but build the community to help reconstruct that call because you can’t do it by yourself. That’s one of the things I love about the United Methodist Church. We believe in community discernment. So don’t do that work alone. It is never meant to be done alone.
Favorite Bible verse?
Ephesians 2:10. I grew up learning it when I was a kid in Bible Drill in a different denomination. I learned it in the King James Version; the verse has more of a pre-destination slant in that version. About a decade ago, I re-read it in the Common English Bible, where it says, “We are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.” I love that idea, that we are God’s accomplishment, especially as a United Methodist who believes in sanctification. Not only is God proud of us, God is still working on us too. Sanctification is my favorite reason why I’m a United Methodist.
Guests at her Fantasy Dinner Party:
I usually have way too many people for my fantasy dinner party. I’d want to invite all the women preachers who became preachers when there was no rule on whether or not they could actually preach, but they just did it anyway. I’d ask them why they were so motivated to preach when it was so unpopular. I would especially like to invite the four women I’m profiling in my dissertation: Madeline Southard, Georgia Harkness, Jeanne Audrey Powers, and Marjorie Matthews. These four women represent generational leaders among Methodist women who were fighting for women to have full clergy rights in the church.
Do you follow any spiritual practices?
I love communal, traditional worship. I love than saying creeds and singing together. There’s something very pure and very sacred in that communal moment. When I’m able to attend community worship on Thursdays at Perkins Chapel, I really cherish those moments together.
Favorite quote or mantra:
I don’t have a single favorite quote, but I do quote a lot of lyrics from ’90s music and lines from ’90s Saturday Night Live at random moments. “Lay off me, I’m starving!” is a favorite line from Chris Farley, my favorite SNL cast member of all time.
Tell us about your family:
I’ve been married to my husband, Ted Chastain, almost 13 years. We met in Bible Drill when we were kids, but we didn’t date until our thirties. (Actually, he was in his late 20s. He’s two years younger than me!) We have three cats: Rizzo, a gray and white ragdoll, and two kittens, Fitz and Kudzu, both adoptees from Eastlake Pet Orphanage. They keep us on our toes!
Anything else you’d like us to know about you?
I am an Alabamian, a Southerner, born in Alabama. My husband and I are rabid fans of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers. I believe Alabama barbecue is the best barbecue. Alabama barbecue focuses primarily on pork and poultry, served with Alabama white sauce, which is made with mayonnaise, horseradish, vinegar, paprika, some smoky spices, and red pepper. I love ribbing folks in Texas about barbecue just because they get irrationally angry about it. But Alabama’s barbecue is the best. I will argue that all day long.
The Rev. Marcus Jones (M.Div. ‘16) is the new University Chaplain at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. A native of Oak Cliff, Jones earned a B.A. in Business Management at Huston-Tillotson, then an M.Div. in Black Church Studies at Perkins. “Rev. Jones brings a profound commitment to spiritual growth, community engagement, and student development, making him a remarkable addition to our institution,” according to a Facebook post by Religious Life Campus Ministries.
Perkins Alums Among New District Superintendents
Rev. Dr. Ramonalynn Bethley
The Rev. Dr. Ramonalynn Bethley (D.Min. ‘00) has been named district superintendent in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Conference, effective July 1. This appointment marks a return to the role for Bethley, who previously served as a district superintendent from 2005 to 2012 in the Alexandria (2005-2008) and New Orleans (2008-2012) districts. “Rev. Bethley brings her past experiences, wisdom, and knowledge to the role of superintendency, along with her faithful and steady commitment to The United Methodist Church,” said Bishop Delores J. Williamston. “She has served passionately in the local church, conference, and on the appointive cabinet previously, and I believe her giftedness will lead clergy and laity strategically in the North District as we live into our vision to build, connect, and equip disciples of Jesus Christ for a transformative future.” Bethley is currently the Lead Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, La. (2021 – present) and previously served as Senior Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Shreveport (2019 – 2021).
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey announced the appointment of two new District Superintendents in the Texas Annual Conference, both Perkins graduates, effective July 1. Dr. Deborah Vaughn (M.Div. ‘08; D.Min. ‘19) will assume leadership of the Metro District. An ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference, Dr. Vaughn currently serves as pastor of Abiding Faith United Methodist Church in Houston, a congregation she founded in 2009. Earlier, she served as an Associate Pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church in downtown Houston. Her leadership extends beyond the local church, having served on the TAC’s Council on Finance and Administration (2012–2016) and as Chairperson (2016–2021). She has also played a pivotal role in the African American Church Initiative and currently serves as Chairperson of the TAC’s Committee on Episcopacy, a Leadership Team member of the Metro District, and a Board Member of the Texas Methodist Foundation.
Rev. Cesar Martinez
Rev. Cesar Martinez (M. Div. ‘17) has been appointed to lead theSoutheast District. Born in El Salvador, Rev. Martinez immigrated to the United States at age six and grew up in the Houston area. His 14 years of service in the United Methodist Church reflect his passion for ministry and multicultural engagement. Receiving his call to ministry in 2011 at Foundry United Methodist Church, Rev. Martinez later served there for five years before being appointed to CrossRoads UMC, a diverse, multilingual congregation, where he has served for the past eight years. A dedicated advocate for Hispanic-Latino ministry, Rev. Martinez has led the Directiva, the TAC’s Hispanic Ministry Committee, working to reinvigorate Hispanic-Latino ministry in the Texas Conference.
The Rev. Dr. Lucretia Facen.
The Rev. Dr. Lucretia Facen (M.Div. ‘01) has been appointed the next Metro East District Superintendent in the Horizon Texas Annual Conference, effective July 1. Since 2020, Dr. Facen has served as the senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Dallas, a historic congregation known for its deep commitment to outreach ministries, including initiatives supporting young people and the unsheltered. Prior to leading St. Paul UMC, she served congregations including New World UMC in Garland, Hamilton Park UMC in Dallas and Jubilee UMC in Duncanville. “Dr. Facen’s perspective, experience, and unwavering energy for ministry will make her an excellent addition to the cabinet,” said Bishop Ruben Saenz. “She has deep roots in the Metro East District, and her commitment to transformative leadership will be a blessing to the district’s churches and congregations as we seek the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people.”
New Arrival for Perkins Alums
Congratulations to Danielle Buwon Kim (M.Div. ‘19) and Dukwhan David Kim (M.Div. ‘21), who celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Tabitha Lahai (라해) Kim on St. Patrick’s Day. “We are drenched in pure joy and love God brings to our lives through our little girl,” said Danielle.
New Book by Jennifer O. Smith
Jennifer O. Smith (M. Div. ‘13) has published a new book, Being A Blessing Everywhere You Go: Your Book of Prayers (December 23, 2024.) “Divinely inspired and written by a woman who loves Jesus Christ, this book is designed to share her journey through personal stories of self, loved ones and others. It will serve to empower, encourage and inspire you to not allow anyone or any circumstance to stifle or block your life journey,” according to the book’s description. The book is available on Amazon.
The Rev. Dr. Sid Hall, III.
Sid Hall Q&A
The Rev. Dr. Sid Hall, III, (M.Th. ’84, D. Min. ’88), 2020 recipient of the Perkins Distinguished Alum Award, was recently spotlighted in a Q&A on the Perkins blog. Hall is pastor emeritus of Trinity Church of Austin and now retired from full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church and in the United Church of Christ. He continues to write books and speak on topics such as creation spirituality, the history of anti-Jewish theology in the church, LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church, and earth-based ritual and worship in the church.” Read the Q&A with Sid Hall here.
Mara Richards Bim Approved for Ordination
Mara Richards Bim (M.Div. ‘24) is one of five candidates for ordination approved this year at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. “I’m so grateful to the folks at Royal Lane Baptist Church for believing in me,” Bim posted on social media. “The journey has officially begun.”
James Howard Hill Essay
An essay, “Abyssal Love,” by James Howard Hill, Jr. (M.T.S. ‘16) appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of Insights, the Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary. Hill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University. He holds a B.A. from Criswell College, an M.T.S. from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He teaches courses and conducts research in Black study, religion and the politics of popular culture in the United States, political theory, black political thought, modernity, ecology, and coloniality, and conceptual methodologies informing the study of religion. Hill is the author of two forthcoming books under contract: The Haunting King: Religion, Michael Jackson, and the Politics of Black Popular Culture (under contract with The University of Chicago Press Class 200: New Studies in Religion series) and Haunting Joy: Essays on Religion, Black Popular Culture, and Overcoming Childhood Adversity (under contract with Fortress Press).
OBITUARIES
Obituary: The Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Griffin, Jr.
The Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Griffin, Jr.
The Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Griffin, Jr., (M.Div. ‘90) died January 6. Griffin was the Director of Endorsement and Endorsing Agent of The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, an ordained elder in full connection with the Horizon Texas Annual Conference, and a beloved member of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. He is survived by his wife Ellainia, their daughters, Porsche and Alex, and the Griffin family. A proud veteran, Griffin spent 39 years in the military, including 9 years in the United States Army and 30 years in the United States Navy. After retiring from the Navy in 2023, Herbert made history as the first African-American Director of Endorsement and Endorsing Agent for the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. In this role, he continued his lifelong commitment to service, guiding and mentoring countless individuals in their paths of ministry and professional growth. Services were held January 17 at Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home in Dallas and January 18 at Hamilton Park United Methodist in Dallas.
Obituary: The Reverend Kenneth “Kent” Wood Kinard
The Reverend Kenneth “Kent” Wood Kinard.
The Reverend Kenneth “Kent” Wood Kinard (Th.M. ‘72) died November 24 in San Antonio at the age of 77 after a long illness. Kinard devoted 44 years to ministry as a United Methodist pastor at more than a dozen churches in Arkansas and Texas. He is remembered as an insightful preacher, a reliable and encouraging ministry colleague, a faithful minister, and for his beautiful singing voice. He also loved classic cars and made many friends through the Association of North American Rover Clubs and South Texas Triumph Association. He is survived by his wife Sheila, three children and nine grandchildren. A memorial service was held December 21 at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in San Antonio.
Obituary: The Rev. Michael Nichols
The Rev. Michael Nichols.
Michael Loy Nichols (Th.M. ‘73) died January 3 at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, surrounded by his wife and children. Nichols spent more than 50 years as a United Methodist minister, serving a period of that time as a District Superintendent in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Mike served many churches throughout the North Texas region, including Axe Memorial United Methodist Church in Garland, Texas and Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville, Texas. While at Wesley UMC, he participated in numerous mission trips to Juarez, Mexico, helping to build homes with the Proyecto Abrigo organization, now known as Operación Abrigo. Most recently, he served as the Campus Pastor at CC Young Senior Living, where he preached and met regularly with the residents. A Celebration of Life was held on January 18, at First United Methodist Church Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Janice, four children and seven grandchildren.
Obituary: Harold Lee Price
Harold Lee Price
Harold Lee Price (Th.M. ‘63) passed away on Wednesday, February 5 at the age of 86. Price graduated from Logansport High School, Centenary College, and Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Chesley Price and Billie Townley Price; his daughter, Polly Price Massey; and stepdaughter, Anne Ward Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Pat; daughters, Rebecca Price and Amy Price; granddaughters, Chesley Banks Jones, Ali Massey, and great-granddaughters, Olivia and Penelope Jones. Interment was private.
Perkins faculty member Priscilla Pope-Levison has been selected as the recipient of the Wesleyan Theological Society’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award. She will receive the award at a Society banquet on Friday, March 14, at Baylor University. Dr. Pope-Levison is Research Professor of Practical Theology at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and she is the third woman to earn this honor.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals for outstanding service to the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition over a lifetime. Since its inception in 1994, the award has been given to distinguished scholars and theologians, including Randy Maddox, Billy Abraham, William Greathouse, James Earl Massey, and Donald Dayton. Any Wesleyan Theological Society member can be nominated, then the recipient is chosen by the Executive Committee under the direction of the Society’s president.
Society leaders cited Pope-Levison’s leadership in the organization as well as her contributions to the field of Wesleyan-Holiness scholarship as reasons for her selection for the award.
“Priscilla’s impact has made this year’s selection an easy decision,” said Justus H. Hunter, PhD, (GPRS, 2015), Society president and Associate Professor of Church History at United Theological Seminary. “She served on the Executive Committee and as president of the Society in 2018. She has made major contributions to both Women’s Studies and Evangelism, alongside extensive service to the church and academy.”
During her three-year term in executive leadership of the Society, Pope-Levison led the planning for one annual meeting and presided over another meeting in which she also gave her presidential address, titled “Negotiating ‘Andromania’ and Other Disputed Borders in the Wesleyan Deaconess Movement.”
“This is the second time the Society has honored Priscilla,” said Steven Hoskins, the Society’s promotional secretary and Professor of Church History at Trevecca Nazarene University’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry. “Her book, Building the Old Time Religion: Women Evangelists in the Progressive Era (NYU Press, 2014), won the Society’s Smith-Wynkoop Book Award in 2015 and remains a standard in the field.”
Hoskins also noted that Pope-Levison has delivered several landmark papers and is recognized as a leading scholar in Wesleyan-Holiness studies.
This is the second career-spanning award for Pope-Levison, who also received the Distinguished Service Award in 2022 from the General Commission on Archives and History for her ground-breaking research into the lives of the United Methodist denomination’s pioneers, especially women in evangelism, and for significant academic contributions to the ministry of memory of The United Methodist Church.
Pope-Levison joined Perkins School of Theology in 2015 as Associate Dean for External Programs and Professor of Ministerial Studies. Since 2019, she has served as co-Principal Investigator of two initiatives, the Thriving Congregations Grant and the Strengthening Congregational Ministries with Youth Initiative Grant, both supported by grants totaling nearly $2 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc. She is also the author of Models of Evangelism (Baker Academic, 2020) and the upcoming No Man’s Land: The International Methodist Deaconess Movement, 1874-1918 (Wesleyan and Methodist Exploration Series, Cascade Books).
Pope-Levison expressed deep appreciation for the award, noting the Society’s unique role in uniting Wesleyan scholars across denominational lines.
“It’s the one organization where the entire Wesleyan family participates across denominations—including the Salvation Army, the Church of the Nazarene, Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the United Methodist Church, and the Global Methodist Church,” she said. “It fosters friendships and academic collaboration among scholars who otherwise might not be connected. I’m extremely honored to receive this recognition from such a distinguished and inclusive group.”
The Testimony HQ initiative at Perkins School of Theology has made a lasting impact on congregations by helping them embrace testimony—sharing personal stories that reflect God’s work—as a central part of their church communities. Through three cohorts, congregations of all sizes, contexts, and denominations within a 350-mile radius of Dallas have learned to use testimony as both a spiritual practice and a way to engage with their wider communities.
A Look Back: Stories of Transformation
Churches that participated in the second cohort experienced remarkable growth and connection:
South Dallas Ministry Expansion: “Testimony HQ helped us become more visible in our South Dallas community. People who joined our Testimony/Prayer Circle events even started attending Sunday worship. Our church is becoming a beacon of light, especially for the unhoused and unemployed.”
Stories of Gratitude Event: “One of our most impactful events welcomed friends from the Afghan refugee and Turkish communities, with over 150 people gathering for ‘Stories of Gratitude.’ Held the week before Thanksgiving, the event created space for sharing heartfelt stories of thankfulness.”
Testimony Night Success: “At our Testimony Night, over 115 people came together. After dinner, we reflected in small groups on where we’ve seen God at work, especially through acts of service. The energy was inspiring, and we’re committed to weaving testimony into all aspects of our church life, from life groups to community events like Fall Fest and Back to School Bash.”
Celebrating the Journey: Testimony HQ Café 2025
In January, leaders from more than twenty congregations gathered at Grace Avenue UMC in Frisco for the Testimony HQ Café. This event marked the culmination of the initiative, bringing together participants from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. It was a time of worship, reflection, and sharing stories about how testimony has transformed their churches.
A highlight of the event was the Testimony HQ Story Gallery, where churches showcased their journeys through creative displays—videos, collages, and written testimonies. This gallery captured the spirit of the initiative, showing how testimony can deepen faith and strengthen communities.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
While the application period for the third and final cohort has closed, the impact of Testimony HQ will continue to resonate in congregations across the region. The lessons learned, relationships built, and stories shared will inspire churches to keep testimony at the heart of their ministries.
“Testimony HQ got started because we saw the incredible value of testimony in building community,” said Rev. Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison, co-principal investigator. “Community and connection flow out from a thriving congregation’s practice of testimony into the world around it.”
Perkins School of Theology at SMU is preparing to launch a transformative new program, the Fresh Expressions House of Studies, on June 1, 2025. The initiative is designed to provide innovative theological education that equips students to lead ministries both inside and outside traditional church settings.
Michael Beck, a trailblazer in the Fresh Expressions movement in North America, has been appointed as the program’s inaugural director. The Perkins faculty approved the initiative in December 2024.
Begun in 2003 by the Methodist Church of Britain and the Church of England, Fresh Expressions is a creative, interdenominational movement that shares the gospel and builds communities in unconventional spaces. From dog parks to EV charging stations, local pubs to assisted living centers, these ministries aim to reach those who may feel hurt, harmed, or marginalized by traditional church experiences.
“This represents a paradigm shift in theological education – offering a traditional seminary experience while creating a dynamic space for reimagining ministry and leadership for a new generation,” said Dr. Beck. “This program will build on Perkins’ legacy of equipping faithful leaders, expanding the vision to embrace new, transformative forms of ministry that serve the present age. Students will learn how to lead church plants that are organic and innovative – which may never take place in church buildings but will reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.”
The Fresh Expressions House of Studies will create a network of students, faculty, and community leaders exploring new approaches to ministry. Students will engage in spiritual formation, mentorship, internships, and real-world ministry practice in nontraditional settings. Program leaders are also working to develop specialized courses and an academic concentration related to Fresh Expressions for Master of Divinity students.
Dean ad interim Hugo Magallanes emphasized the program’s alignment with Perkins’ Wesleyan heritage. “In a time of uncertainty about the future of the church at large, Fresh Expressions reclaims a distinctive Wesleyan emphasis,” Dean Magallanes said. “The Fresh Expressions House of Studies will allow us to reach students seeking rigorous theological education while inspiring creative approaches to sharing the gospel.”
Beck, an ordained United Methodist clergy, brings extensive experience to this role. He has consulted with hundreds of churches, denominations, and networks, and currently oversees contextual church planting as director of Fresh Expressions UM at Path 1/Discipleship Ministries. Beck holds a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies from George Fox University, a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and is completing a Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Florida.
Dr. Robin Lovin receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Christian Ethics
Dr. Robin W. Lovin, who served as Dean of Perkins School of Theology from 1994 to 2002, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Christian Ethics on Jan. 10. The award was presented at the society’s annual meeting in Chicago by Steve Long, a past president of SCE and Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics at SMU. The award recognizes “outstanding, sustained, and substantive contributions in advancing the field of Christian ethics,” with consideration given to the recipient’s publications, influence on students, and impact on the discipline of theological ethics.
Currently, Dr. Lovin is Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics emeritus at SMU and Visiting Scholar in Theology at Loyola University in Chicago. He is the 14th person to receive this award since its inauguration and the second from SMU, joining SMU professor emeritus Charlie Curran, who received the award in 2017. Only one other institution, Yale University, has had two faculty recognized in this way.
In presenting the award, Steve Long noted the substance and breadth of Lovin’s scholarship, influence, and commitment to the discipline of Christian Ethics.
“Professor Lovin’s service to the SCE has been unparalleled,” said Steve Long. “Not only did he serve as president, but he also chaired two SCE presidential committees that oversaw restructuring of the SCE administration. In addition, the influence he has had on his own students as well as those of us who are students at a distance are too numerous to mention.”
A non-denominational scholarly association, the Society of Christian Ethics has nearly 1,000 members from the faculties of universities, colleges, and theological schools primarily in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The SCE promotes research in the history of ethics and moral theology, theoretical issues relating to the interplay of theology and ethics, methodology in ethical reflection and investigation, and comparative religious ethics. At the same time, the society addresses problems in applied and professional ethics, human rights, and social justice in national and global contexts.
Dr. Lovin is the author of numerous books and papers, including What Do We Do When Nobody is Listening? Leading the Church in a Polarized Society (2022) and An Introduction to Christian Ethics: Goals, Duties, and Virtues (2011.) He is also an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church and has been active in local and national church events. He has served on the editorial boards of numerous scholarly journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Studies in Christian Ethics, and the Journal of Law and Religion, and he is an editor-at-large for the Christian Century.
“On behalf of Perkins School of Theology, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Robin Lovin on this well-deserved lifetime achievement award,” said Perkins Dean ad interim Hugo Magallanes. “His exemplary leadership as dean and profound contributions to Christian ethics have indelibly enriched our community and the broader theological field.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an indefatigable fighter against economic and racial domination, and a fierce advocate for a Beloved Community that promotes and protects human dignity. Join us on January 25th, 2025, as we come together under the theme, “Toward The Beloved Community: Resisting Domination,” to discuss and reflect upon changes in the post-Civil Rights Black church and the ongoing struggle for racial and economic justice. Guest speaker: Dr. Jason E. Shelton, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. Event moderator: Dr. Michael Greene, Director of Black/Africana Church Studies at Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University. Event held at Salem Institutional Baptist Church, 3918 Crozier Street, Dallas, Texas 75214. Senior Pastor: Rev. Todd Atkins.
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.
experiences and compare notes,” Silva Steuernagel said.
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.
