Category: Perspective Online

Advent is a time of expectation.  The seasonal hymns are full of anticipation: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; Savior of the Nations, Come. 

But it is not only Christmas, the coming of God’s Messiah to the Bethlehem manger, that Christians anticipate.  The biblical hope also includes the expectation that God in Christ ultimately will right all wrongs and bring in everlasting peace.  It is this hope that is expressed so powerfully in Revelation 21:  

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

But there is at times a gap between what we hope for and what actually happens, between our interpretation of God’s intentions and their fulfillment. When Christmas arrived two millennia ago, it was all a bit of a surprise.  No one expected the Messiah to come like this, in such a place, in such humility.  In retrospect, birth in the Bethlehem manger might seem the perfect start to this most exceptional life, but no one at the time appears to have expected it.  

When Jesus later began his ministry, he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the reign of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” There was a large audience well prepared for this message. People had been hoping for centuries that God would act on behalf of Israel, an expectation encouraged by John the Baptist. Still, while the message might have sounded familiar, there appeared to be something wrong with the messenger.  Jesus wasn’t at all the Messiah people had expected.   

It was not until after the death and resurrection that Jesus’ own disciples came to understand what the coming of the Christ meant.  In particular, it revealed the character of God in ways far beyond their expectation. God in Christ joins with us, suffers with us, lives with us. The reign of God had begun in a new way among them, but to see it, they themselves had to become a new creation.  

During the Advent season, Christians celebrate the coming of Christ, believing that we, at least with the benefit of hindsight, got this one right.  The future Advent of Christ also is eagerly anticipated by many millions of Christians, which in and of itself is not a bad thing. Matthew’s Gospel, for example, enjoins us to keep our lamps lit, to stand at the ready, to watch and pray. Indeed, on a practical level, none of us knows when our own end will come. Even if the world goes on for millions of years, these are for us the last days, and it behooves us to live at the ready, to redeem the time, to watch and pray. 

Unfortunately, the perspective found in most popular books about the biblical future is deeply problematic. It takes a piece of this and a piece of that, joined together with extraordinary imagination, and creates a version of God’s ultimate reign that is actually foreign to every biblical author. In other words, people are tempted to homogenize various perspectives for the sake of a larger interpretation that itself is not found in any biblical book, prying texts free of their context and effectively drowning out the distinctive voices of the individual authors.  

It is not the case that the Bible gives us a simple roadmap to the ultimate advent of God’s reign.  At the end of the day, that’s probably a good thing.  Those who do think of these texts in that way are always in danger of constructing a religion of escapism, whose main business is that of departing this world and leaving behind (certainly not solving) its problems.  

We might instead take a lesson from Christ’s first Advent. Jesus did not offer his contemporaries what they wanted, which was escape from Roman occupation. Instead, Jesus offered them almost the reverse, telling them to love their enemies, shown in a willingness to carry the enemy’s cloak a second mile. He submitted himself to them, even when he knew it would kill him.   

Jesus offered hope, to be sure: hope both for God’s presence, forgiveness, and meaning in our lives today, and hope for God’s ultimate victory, for the final triumph of meaning, justice, purpose, and love. But he did not offer escape. If anything, he is the model of one who chooses to do the will of God without exercising the escape clause.

Many people in the early church understood that, which is why they experienced so much liberation and joy in the present. They had something to hope for and something to do in the meantime. Living lightly to possessions and pride, to things that the world gives and therefore can threaten to take away, they were set free to live much more fully in the world, not to evade it.  

It is possible to be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good, and, conversely, to be so earthly minded that we are of no heavenly good.  The best thing, in the only moment in which we can actually choose and influence–which is of course the present–is to bring heaven to earth, to live as God equips us today. Not because we have no future hope, but because we rest in it and are set free by it from all that would weigh us down and make us ineffective, self-absorbed, and afraid.   

We are called to newness of life today. It is in fact a much greater act of faith to live Christianly in this present world than it is, in effect, to check out of this world in expectation of a divine escape.   

Of course, none of us would want to miss out on God’s future.  At the same time, we ought to be careful not to miss out on all that God would do with and through and for us right here, right now. 

Wishing you the joy and reality of Christ’s Advent,

Craig C. Hill 

For the second year in a row, enrollment at Perkins has increased significantly, and applications are on track for yet another uptick in enrollment by next fall. 

It’s a happy milestone for the Office of Enrollment Management, Perkins’ recently reorganized admissions and recruiting function.  The office was formed in 2017, following the arrival of Dean Craig Hill and the hiring of Margot Perez-Greene as Associate Dean for Enrollment Management. 

“With the new vision brought forth by Dean Hill, it was an ideal time to refocus and re-energize the team,” said Perez-Greene. 

The Office of Enrollment Management’s mission: to engage and recruit prospective students, shepherding them each step through enrollment, whether on our Dallas campus or as part of the newly launched hybrid Houston-Galveston Extension Program.  That means not just boosting enrollment but also finding students who will thrive and flourish at Perkins, helping them leverage financial aid to best advantage, and overcoming any barriers that might keep them from applying. 

“Enrollment management is much broader in scope than simply processing admissions applications,” Perez-Greene said. “It includes the entire school – faculty, programs and services, marketing, groundskeepers, financial aid staff and staff hospitality and services.” 

Behind the comprehensive approach to Enrollment Management is the notion that “recruitment is everybody’s responsibility.”   

“It’s up to all of us to attract students who are a good fit for Perkins, retain and graduate them,” Perez-Greene said.  “Enrollment management is shaping the institution by recruiting students whose goals align with its mission. We have what they need; we deliver what we say we have; and our students are successful.” 

Perez-Greene notes that the Office of Enrollment Management posts its staff travel schedule so everyone at Perkins may stay informed – and alert the staff of potential connections. 

“If we’re visiting a place where you know someone we should talk to – a faculty member, a personal connection, a student with an interest in Perkins – please let us know, and we’ll be sure to follow up,” she said.  

So far, this new approach seems to be working. This fall, Perkins experienced a 14.1% increase in enrollment over the previous year—building on 2017 totals, when the increase was more than 40% over 2016.  And next year is looking promising, too – so far, the Office has received about 50 percent more applications for the fall of 2019 than it had this time last year.  

Meet the Staff

The Office of Enrollment Management invites faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders to join this effort. Do you know a prospective student who is considering graduate theological education?  Refer someone here  or alert them to on-site information events this fall through  Inside Perkins. 

Margot Perez-Greene, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, leads the team of recruitment and admissions personnel, focused on making theological education possible and the admissions process seamless. Perez-Greene encourages all members of the Perkins community – faculty, staff, students and alumni – to contact her with any leads, connections or events that might help her staff connect with potential Perkins students. 

Stephen Bagby, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, meets with prospective students and helps them through the admissions process. He also coordinates individual visits and Inside Perkins events. One of his greatest joys is calling applicants to let them know they’ve been accepted to Perkins School of Theology.  

Yazmin Strauss, Recruitment and Admissions Specialist, assists students as they move through the application process, managing the applications process through a customer relationship management (CRM) system. She is also actively involved in events planning.   

John Lowery, Ministry Discernment Associate, travels extensively throughout the U.S. meeting prospective students and chatting with them about the call to vocational ministry in its various forms, as well as the diverse and inspiring learning environment of Perkins School of Theology. 

Caleb Palmer, Ministry Discernment Associate, also travels extensively to campuses, camps, and churches, and cultivates connections with Wesley Foundation leaders and religious faculty members at undergraduate colleges.      

Sandy Oswalt, Financial Aid Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to the Associate Dean, gets involved the minute a student is admitted to Perkins to assist with financial aid. She also serves as the point of contact for all questions and issues regarding financial aid.    

Jean Nixon, Financial Literacy Coordinator, is working to help make seminary students financially savvy, in terms of affording seminary, staying out of debt and budgeting. She leads an educational program of workshops and monthly events, funded by the Lilly Foundation.  

By Mary Jacobs, a Dallas-based freelance writer and former staff writer for The United Methodist Reporter and the Dallas Morning News.

Perkins’ fiscal year begins on June 1 and ends on May 31, but for most of us, our personal fiscal year ends on December 31 and coincides with our IRS tax responsibilities. 

While the vast majority of us don’t give to charities in order to get a tax benefit, it is a nice advantage to claim on our income tax returns.  Because of the 2018 change in the U.S. tax law, I urge you to pay close attention this year.  With the loss of the personal exemption but the large increase in the standard deduction, along with new tax brackets, many will want to get advice in filing under the new system. 

The SMU Office of Gift Planning, under the expert leadership of Marianne Piepenburg, will be glad to talk to you about specific year-end gifts you may wish to make to Perkins or to the University.  I also can be a point of contact (johnma@smu.edu).  

Without regard to whether the entire gift is deductible or not, gifts of appreciated stock are tax-effective as they avoid the capital gains tax when transferred to charity. For those over 70 ½, IRA Charitable Rollover gifts are a good way to make gifts up to $100,000 to the public charity of your choice, meeting your required minimum distribution without increasing your income tax liability.   

 For information about gift planning, visit smu.planmylegacy.org for some useful ideas to maximize your legacy of giving.  At that site you can be reminded how to donate stock, find information about charitable gift annuities, see sample language for bequests, and so much more.  You will see helpful steps based on your general gift amount, your age, or the kind of asset that you have in mind.  The website is informative and intuitive.  You will find it very helpful. 

Are you aware that almost 60 percent of adults in the United States do not have a will or any document detailing what happens to their estate after their death?  Perhaps it is time for you to review your documents—or create them if you have not already done so!  A review is especially important if you have moved to a new state because each state has its own laws pertaining to wills and trusts. 

I am grateful for the faithful and generous donors who have allowed Perkins to continue in its ministry of education for more than 100 years.  Many of our sustaining gifts came about because of careful estate planning.  I hope each one of us will take that responsibility on our shoulders so that the charities we care so deeply about will benefit for years to come.  

With a heart of thanks, 

John A. Martin
Director of Development
Perkins School of Theology

“Nativity,” an 86 x 104-inch oil-on-canvas painting by Luke Allsbrook, is currently on display in the stairwell of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall.  The artwork pictures the birth of Jesus in the midst of a great heavenly battle, with imagery and text from the Nativity story in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Revelation.  

“As a New Testament professor, I am strongly drawn to this painting because it encourages me to consider together very divergent scriptural texts and perspectives,” said Dean Craig Hill. “Needless to say, ‘Nativity’ is inspiring and thought provoking in ways not achieved by the traditional Christmas-card image.” 

Text and images from traditional Christmas carols are also incorporated into the piece, which was previously displayed in 2017 at Duke Divinity School. To read more, visit the artist’s website. 

As it has every year since 1959, the Perkins community will celebrate Advent by recalling an ancient story: the coming of the Christ Child. This year, however, the annual worship service will include some new twists.

The December 6 Advent worship service will be the first led by Marcell Silva Steuernagel, Perkins’ new Director of the Master of Sacred Music program.

“It’s a fresh take on something we do every year,” said Steuernagel.

With the theme “What Child is This?” the service will revolve around three Nativity canticles (lyrical passages) found in the gospel of Luke: Mary’s song of praise (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55), Zechariah’s song of prophecy (Benedictus, Luke 1:67-79) and Simeon’s song celebrating the child’s arrival (Nunc Dimittis, Luke 2:29-32).

“This is a liturgical triptych,” Steuernagel said, referring to the three-paneled altarpieces of the Renaissance and high Middle Ages. “We are looking at these three scenes that surround arrival of Jesus – two before, the Magnificat and the Benedictus, and one after, the Nunc Dimittis.”

Perkins’ Seminary Singers will be joined by performers from Meadows School of the Arts for this service, which will feature, along with traditional hymns, five new original compositions commissioned especially for the occasion: a Prelude by Anthony Elia, director of the Bridwell Library; the Benedictus, by José Luis Manrique; the Magnificat by Marcell Silva Steuernagel; the Nunc Dimmitis, by Fernando Berwig; and a Postlude by Robert Frank, Associate Professor of Composition at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts.

The three thematic compositions by Manrique, Steuernagel and Berwig were commissioned by way of a Latin-American collective, called Ars Iubilorum, of which Steuernagel is a founding member. Since 2007, these composers have researched the intersection of Christian liturgical traditions and new music. Ars Iubilorum has collaborated with universities, churches, orchestras, ensembles and performers in South and North America, and in Europe.

The liturgy will be ordered around the three canticles.

“For each, there will be a scripture reading followed by the words of the canticle as framed by these new compositions. The congregation responds to the canticles by singing hymns,” Steuernagel said.

A moment of silence separates the first two canticles from the third, mirroring the contemplation of the baby Jesus by the Wise Men and shepherds. The final canticle, the Nunc Dimittis, recounts Simeon’s joyful response to the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple.

Steuernagel notes that 2019 will mark the 60th anniversary of the annual Advent worship service at Perkins.

“We’re taking a new approach with a service that’s been observed at Perkins since 1959,” he said, adding with a chuckle: “It might scare a few people away. But I hope it will be a draw for some.”

Plan Your Visit

Perkins’ annual Advent Service takes place Thursday, December 6, at 4 and 8 p.m. in Perkins Chapel, 6001 Bishop Blvd., on the Southern Methodist University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Parking is across the street from Perkins Chapel, inside the Meadows Museum Parking Center; enter the garage on the LEFT side of the entrance gate.

By Mary Jacobs, a Dallas-based freelance writer and former staff writer for The United Methodist Reporter and the Dallas Morning News.

Many students come to Perkins with the goal of moving into a new job, advancing in a current career, or becoming ordained.  

Stephanie Bohan’s goal, however, is to just keep on doing the job she’s already doing – “until the day I die,” she jokes – but doing it better. 

Bohan is Executive Director of The Agape Clinic, a nonprofit medical clinic which serves the community of East Dallas. On top of her job, she is pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry degree part-time with a concentration in nonprofit leadership, which Perkins offers in partnership with the Cox School of Business.  

Bohan credits serendipity for the choice.  A sermon by her pastor, the Rev. Judith Reedy of Grace United Methodist Church, led her to Perkins’ website. 

“Judith said something about being a servant leader, I don’t remember exactly, except it made me go look at the website,” she said. “When I discovered the M.A.M. program, I felt it had been created specifically for me.” 

She became the first student to declare an intention to earn the degree with the nonprofit leadership focus.   

“I want to be the best leader I can be,” she said. “I was nervous at first; it had been at least 20 or 30 years since I turned in a paper for a grade. But I’ve been ridiculously blessed in this program.” So far, she’s earned straight A’s. 

“Every time I step on the campus, I feel like I’m becoming a better person and learning to become a better servant,” Bohan said.  

Founded by Dr. Barbara Baxter, who is also medical director and a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church — which played an instrumental role in the clinic’s creation —The Agape Clinic is the oldest charity medical clinic in Dallas and is independently funded. The clinic provides medical and dental care for anyone and everyone who asks for help. The clinic was located in the basement of Grace UMC for 33 years, until the clinic purchased the building across the street.  

Since Bohan joined in 2010, the Clinic has expanded its reach, from 2,800 patient visits to 18,000 patient visits per year, now delivering some $8 million in care to patients on a $850,000 annual budget, thanks to volunteers, donations and partnerships with educational institutions. Dental services are provided by students at the nearby Texas A&M College of Dentistry.  

A “cradle Catholic” who’s now a United Methodist, Bohan is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where she earned her degree in philosophy. Previously, she held positions in development at a Catholic elementary school and the Dallas Holocaust Museum. 

“I discovered I was naturally good at this,” she said. “I realized that nonprofit management was about doing good work and communicating it effectively. When you do that, you’ll never have to ask anyone for money. People naturally want to give and support you. Just stay focused on doing good work for the right reason.”  

Bohan said she was fearful when she started the job at Agape – fearful there wouldn’t be enough money, fearful they’d have to turn patients away, fearful they couldn’t serve everyone, fearful of failure.  None of those fears materialized. 

“There have been a million miracles that I have been privileged to witness,” she said. “I get to witness people giving of their time, lives saved, families kept whole because they didn’t lose a mom, a dad, or a child because they received good medical care,” Bohan said. “My life has been full of blessings that I could never have imagined because of this work.”  

Through her Perkins education, Bohan said, she’s getting closer to God, and preparing the way for more miracles.  

“If I’m a better servant, there are even more blessings to come,” she said.