Category: April 2020

McKenzie Appearances in Amarillo, Relevant

Alyce McKenzie traveled to Amarillo on March 1-2 for a Preaching Workshop hosted by 4Amarillo – a collaboration between First Presbyterian Church, Polk Street United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church and Central Church of Christ. The free event was open to all preachers, church leaders, church members and anyone eager to renew their faith.

On Sunday morning, she also preached at Polk Street UMC. Also leading the workshop were Ron Scates from First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Alyce McKenzie, Chris Seidman from The Branch church in Dallas and Joel Gregory from Baylor’s Truett Seminary in Waco. The theme was “Easter’s Coming. So What?”

McKenzie was also quoted in a recent Relevant magazine story, “Why Matthew 25 Became the Rallying Cry for Christians on the Left.” The story explored how Democrats have rallied to Matthew 25 as a way to prove that their legislative agenda has scriptural backing too. Read the story here.

 

Mark Stamm Publishes Collect

A Collect for the UMC by Mark Stamm has now been released on the UMC Discipleship Ministries website. Titled Prayer for a Denomination in Trouble, it includes a petition: “Guide the people called United Methodist through our current distress to a place of peace and rekindled vision.” Read the entire Collect and his process paper here. Stamm has also been busy with a number of preaching gigs this semester: in a service for spring term orientation on January 14; at Perkins Community Worship on February 13; at Arapaho UMC in Richardson on February 2; and at Cornerstone UMC in Garland on February 9. On March 29, he had a chance to renew his online preaching skills, preaching in a virtual service at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Sachse.

 

Abraham Smith: Historic Roots of #StayWoke

Abraham Smith, Professor of New Testament, gave a Black History Month speech on February 27 at the U.S. Navy Supply System Command in Mechanicsburg, Penn. Titled “Staying Awake; Hearing the Challenges of Ethical Leadership in the Writings of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Howard W. Thurman,” the talk looked at historic forerunners of the recent hashtag theme #StayWoke. Wells-Barnett and Thurman, he argued, used the diction of staying awake or keeping awake in their writings as calls for ethical leadership, that is, as calls for a commitment to a revolution of values.

“Wells-Barnett and Thurman offer us clear and compelling counsel for changing the narrative or the myths about persons who are often counted as nobodies,” said Smith. “These two African Americans teach us to be conscious of the operations of power; to commit ourselves to honest self-assessment and recalibrations of our social values; and to cultivate affirming and confirming communities of inclusion and equity.”

Lawrence Commentary: General Conference Questions Can’t Wait

With the postponement of General Conference, what’s next for the United Methodist Church? The Rev. William B. Lawrence, Professor Emeritus of American Church History and former Perkins dean, weighed in with his concerns in an essay published on UM News. While multiple proposals for a possible separation of the denomination will be delayed, he writes, other matters cannot wait. For example, the delay in General Conference raises questions about the authority of agencies to spend or receive funds after Dec. 31, 2020. Read his commentary here.

 

Robert Hunt in Living Our Faith

As part of an ongoing feature called Living Our Faith, The Dallas Morning News posed a question, “What will it take for congregations to become more diverse?” Robert Hunt, director of Global Theological Education at Perkins, was one of the writers cited. Read his response here.

 

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry – Loan Suspension Program

In response to the economic impact of the global pandemic, the GBHEM Office of Loans and Scholarships has made some important updates to its policies.  GBHEM is aiding student loan borrowers whose income has been impacted as a result of the pandemic. Borrowers currently in repayment may request a payment suspension for three months.  Read more here.

 

Waters Quoted on COVID-19 Cases

D Magazine recently quoted the Rev. Dr. Michael Waters (D.Min. ’12, M.Div. ’06) in a story about how limited testing in low-income neighborhoods of Dallas is likely skewing the reported number of cases. Waters, who is the head pastor at Abundant Life AME Church in Dolphin Heights, just east of Fair Park, said, “I want to temper myself, but this is what I expected, this has been my fear. The old saying that “when white America catches a cold, black America catches the flu”? Well, if white America now has the coronavirus, what does that mean for black, brown, marginalized and poor communities in our society? It’s always worse.” Read the story here.

Perkins Grad Honored

At a recent fundraising luncheon for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Perkins grad and equal justice advocate Cynthia Wallace (M.A.M. ’18) was named Volunteer of the Year. Until 2019 she was program coordinator at the Juvenile Detention Center in Dallas County. Broadcast journalist and executive producer Soledad O’Brien served as the event’s keynote speaker. The luncheon raised more than $1.3 million for the organization, which serves 85,000 Central and North Texans each year in Austin, Corsicana, Dallas, Fort Worth, Paris, Tyler, Waco and surrounding communities.

Perkins Alum to Serve as Interim Chaplain

The Rev. Ellen R. Alston (M.Div. ’90) has been named interim Hendrix College Chaplain, effective July 1, by President Ellis Arnold, in consultation with Bishop Gary E. Mueller, episcopal leader of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. An Arkansas native, Alston has served the United Methodist Church in Louisiana for nearly two decades in numerous clergy and leadership roles, including two District Superintendent appointments.

 

Honorary Doctorate to Jack Singleton

Hendrix College plans to posthumously award the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Jack Singleton at the 136th Hendrix College Commencement, scheduled for May 16 at the Wellness and Athletics Center Event Gym. Singleton graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1957. His sadness over the division and anger of the community surrounding integrating the school inspired his lifelong passion for justice. He graduated from Hendrix College and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins. While attending Perkins, he became involved in the Civil Rights movement, marching in Selma with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and hosting King on a visit to the SMU campus. At deadline, the commencement was scheduled to proceed. Visit www.hendrix.edu/commencement for updates.

 

Friends We Will Miss

The Rev. Clarence W. Kidd

The Rev. Clarence W. Kidd (M.Th. ’80), the father of Shunda Wilkin, passed away in his sleep on March 7. Funeral services were held March 18 in Shreveport, LA.  His daughter, Shunda Wilkin, asks for prayers for her family, especially her mother, Mrs. Emma Kidd. The family celebrated Clarence and Emma’s 61st anniversary on January 1, 2020.

Dr. Timothy D. Maxwell

Dr. Timothy D. Maxwell, who began teaching at Hendrix College in the Department of Psychology in 1989, passed away on March 2. Maxwell graduated from Hendrix in 1978, then earned a Master of Theological Studies from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology in 1983 and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 1990. Fellow Hendrix faculty remember Maxwell as a beloved colleague, mentor and friend who enriched the Hendrix community in a variety of ways, including passionate teaching, meaningful student advising and more than 12 years of dedicated service as department chair. Maxwell is survived by his wife, Carol, and his sons, Colin and Cameron. A Memorial Service was held on March 7 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock. A Celebration of Life was held at Hendrix College on March 12. Read his obit here.