May 2021

Members of the Perkins community gathered virtually on April 28 to bid farewell to graduating students and retiring faculty members with a Sending Forth Service held via Zoom. More than 100 people were in attendance, including some 2020 graduates. Student JaeJun Daniel Cho presented the Gospel reading, Luke 4:18-30, followed by a sermon by Isabel Docampo, Director of the Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity, on “Some Thoughts on the Good News and Salt.” “Remember that we are [...]

More than 150 people gathered virtually on April 19 for “Words Matter:  The Intersectionality of Race, Religion and Public Policy.” A panel of academicians and community leaders explored the power of language in the intersection of race, religion and public policy and how that is reflected in the ways that different groups thrive while others remain marginalized. The Zoom webinar was sponsored by Perkins School of Theology’s Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity and Religions and the Department [...]

An online program, "Do No Harm: Black Bodies and Bioethics," on April 26 presented a filmed presentation of the play “Do No Harm” and two lectures exploring its themes and implications. The event was sponsored by Perkins School of Theology, the Robinson Arts Fund at the Perkins School of Theology, and the Perkins African American Fine Arts and Bioethics Project. An introductory lecture by Evelyn L. Parker, Susanna Wesley Centennial Professor of Practical Theology at Perkins School of Theology, opened [...]

Pope-Levison in Webinar Priscilla Pope-Levison will be featured in a May 11 webinar, “Inviting Others into God’s Good News.” Pope-Levison, author of the award-winning book Models of Evangelism, will talk about how a variety of evangelistic models can inspire churches and individuals to convey the good news. The webinar is part of “Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet,” a series of online conversations hosted by Randy Harris and Carson Reed and offered by the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry. [...]

Craig C. Hill Dean Professor of New Testament Ask Craig C. Hill to describe a “typical” day, and he’ll tell you there’s no such thing. As Dean of Perkins School of Theology, his job involves juggling many roles: pastor, counselor, sounding board, cheerleader, prognosticator, scholar, mediator, negotiator, visionary, bridge-builder, representative, and spokesperson. “This is the classic no-two-days-are-alike job, which has its up- and its downside,” he said. “Many days turn out quite different from what I planned because of [...]

In an interview, Julian Hobdy was once asked: Did he see himself in the future as a pastor or as a professor? His answer: Yes. “I have no need to bifurcate,” he said. “I believe persons living out their deepest beliefs also have the responsibility to bring that same love and transformation far beyond the walls of the local church. The pulpit and the public park are equal grounds.” The quest for those dual goals is what brought Hobdy [...]

Perkins D.Min. student Allen T. Stanton’s new book, Reclaiming Rural, will be released in May by Rowman & Littlefield.  The book explores the myths and realities of rural places, and how those common narratives impact the leadership of rural churches. Stanton is Executive Director at the Turner Center at Martin Methodist College, which will merge into the University of Tennessee system on July 1. In reviewing the book, author Gil Rendle wrote: “When Allen Stanton writes of rural congregations [...]

The Perkins School of Theology team captured the Pacesetter Award for the greatest percentage of faculty/staff participation in the 2021 Virtual Wellpower 5K. The event, presented by SMU Human Resources in partnership with MS Health Promotion Management, was aimed to promote health wellness within the SMU community. As part of the 5K event, SMU faculty, staff, students, family and friends were invited to complete the race on their own during the week of April 10 – 17.  After completing the [...]

Urban Farm Featured Josh Esparza (M. Div. 2019) was recently featured in a report on WFAA-TV about Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space, where he has served as campus pastor since 2018. The urban farm was created in 2017 on four prime acres, which previously sat unused behind Owenwood United Methodist Church in far east Dallas, after the church became unsustainable. For the first time, the farm will produce crops at a large scale this spring and summer. The faith-based [...]