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March 2025 News Perspective Online Top Story

Dean’s Message

Dear Members of the Perkins Community, 

Grace and peace to you in the name of our God, our Creator and Sustainer! 

HUGO
Hugo Magallanes

As you know, we find ourselves in a time of transition at Perkins School of Theology—an important moment of change that is shaping our future and preparing us for continued growth and impact in theological education and ministry. 

As we navigate this season, we celebrate the ways God is guiding and strengthening our school, our ministries, and our community of faith. This issue of Perkins Perspective Online highlights some of these important developments. 

One of the most notable transitions is the appointment of our new Dean, Dr. Bryan P. Stone, who will begin his tenure on June 1. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Stone to Perkins and supporting him in this new role. He and I have met several times, and we are working together to make his transition into the dean’s office seamless. Dr. Stone brings with him a deep commitment to theological education, Wesleyan heritage, and the ongoing mission of the Church. In this issue, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know him better through a Q&A interview.   

In addition to this crucial leadership change, God has also guided us and provided other opportunities for ministry and learning at Perkins, such as: 

  • The appointment of the Rev. Dr. Pamela White as the new director of our Intern Program, which provides opportunities to enrich the formation of our students as they prepare to serve congregations and communities in dynamic ways. 
  • A generous grant from the Baugh Foundation will ensure that our Baptist House of Studies continues as a vital and growing presence on our campus.  
  • The launch of the Fresh Expressions partnership, led by Dr. Michael Beck, will equip students to minister in innovative ways beyond traditional church walls.  
  • Even Kirby Parlor is undergoing a refresh, just in time for the fall semester—reminding us that change is an opportunity for renewal in our ministries and shared spaces. 

I invite you to journey with us in this time of transition, to pray for the future of Perkins, to support Dr. Stone, and to remain connected with this vibrant community of faith. Wherever you are, may you find encouragement in God’s ongoing work, and may you join us in embracing the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to answer the call to ministry together. 

With much gratitude, 

Hugo Magallanes
Dean ad interim
Perkins School of Theology 

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February 2025 Magazine Landing News Standalone Top Story

Priscilla Pope-Levison to be Honored with Wesleyan Theological Society Lifetime Achievement Award

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.”

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February 2025 January 2025 News Standalone Top Story

Testimony HQ: Embedding God Stories into the Heart of Congregational Life

 

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.”

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Dr. Robin Lovin receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Christian Ethics

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.”

 

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Celebrating Our December 2024 Graduates!

Perkins School of Theology proudly celebrates the achievements of 14 exceptional students who will graduate this December. Among them are eight Master’s degree recipients and six Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) graduates.

While Perkins does not host a separate December graduation ceremony, all graduates are invited to participate in SMU’s All-University Commencement on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 9 a.m. in Moody Coliseum. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed at SMU Live | World Changers Shaped Here. Please note an entry ticket is required for all candidates.

For our D. Min. graduates, the Moody Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will take place on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 5 p.m. in Frances Anne Moody Hall, 6404 Airline Road. Please note that tickets are required for this event.

For more information on the December Commencement schedule, click here.

Congratulations to Our December Graduates

Master of Arts in Ministry

Issac Holland

Master of Divinity

Jeremy Paul Brigham

Laura Bray (Magna cum laude)

Macy Karina Story (Cum laude)

Aaron Michael Reindel (Cum laude)

Master of Theological Studies

James Martin Loman (Summa cum laude)

Arnold Yanni Charles (Cum laude)

Master of Theology

Tae Hwa Lee

Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.)

David Briggs (Honors)

Donald Cook

Regina Franklin

Leslie Reed

Allen Stanton

Pam Zolczer (Honors)

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these graduates for their hard work and dedication. We are confident they will continue to make a meaningful impact in their ministries and communities.

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December 2024 News Perspective Online Top Story

Dean’s Message: On the Horizon

Greetings from the campus of Perkins School of Theology, where the fall semester is already in full swing. There’s a contagious “autumn energy” here as students and faculty dive into their studies and ministries with renewed sense of purpose.

As we look to Advent, we also look toward what’s on the horizon for our Perkins community.  Advent is a season of anticipation—a time to prepare our hearts and remember the coming of Christ and to look forward with hope. For us at Perkins, this spirit of expectancy reflects our own hope amidst the many changes underway.

Perkins has been transformed in recent years, adapting alongside a rapidly changing world. This fall, we launched a new curriculum for our master level programs, including significant changes to our M.A.M. and M.Div. degree programs, making them even more relevant and responsive to our students’ needs and to the communities they will serve. We’ve also embraced a new modality for these programs; both the M.Div and M.A.M. degrees are now accessible almost entirely online, enabling students to pursue theological education from any geographical location.

Another exciting milestone is our new M.Div. in Spanish degree program, which welcomed its inaugural cohort of 13 students this fall. This program reflects our commitment to broader accessibility and inclusivity, bringing theological education to more people in more languages. For those studying on our Dallas campus, we’ve also introduced a new schedule to better align with the rhythm of student life and academic demands; and to increase physical presence here on campus.

Looking further ahead, we’re in discussions with other church and academic institutions, aiming to create new partnerships that will expand our reach and impact. While details are still unfolding, we’re exploring partnerships with undergraduate institutions to offer accelerated degree programs and with ministry incubators and organizations to provide additional opportunities for our students.

In all of these endeavors—those already in place as well as those on the horizon—we see a chance to widen our embrace, to serve a growing community of students, and to extend the reach of theological education in transformative ways.

As Advent begins, may this season of expectancy fill your heart with peace, joy, and the promise of new beginnings. Warmest blessings for a meaningful holiday season.

 Dr. Hugo Magallanes
Leighton K. Farrell Dean, ad interim
Perkins School of Theology,

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News Perspective Online September 2024 Top Story

Welcome, New Students!

Perkins School of Theology welcomed one of its most diverse incoming classes in recent memory with a three-day Orientation August 18-20 on the campus of Perkins in Dallas.

Led by the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM), the Orientation followed an expanded format this year. The three-day program included a How to be a Grad Student 101 session with Bridwell Library, spiritual formation/worship experiences and service projects.  Seventy-one students participated, including the new class of 30 residential students and 38 of the 41 new students in the hybrid program.

Previously, Orientation was a single day, but the OEM moved to an expanded model this year.

“Seminary brings with it many life changes and new challenges,” said Christina Rhodes, Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management.  “Because the OEM staff at Perkins is committed to shepherding our students through these transitions, we devoted three days to introducing our students to Perkins as a welcoming and inclusive community.”

This year, the new students enjoyed three worship experiences: a Compline service at the Habito Labyrinth, a Monday morning in a Northumbrian-style prayer service, and a midday Service of Word and Table, led by faculty and staff, with Dr. Roy Heller preaching. Students also participated in two service projects: creating placemats for the Kairos Prison Ministry and “manna bags” (with snacks, socks, lip balm, bottles of water, and cards with encouraging words) to hand out to homeless people or others in need that students may encounter.  Students also learned about services offered at SMU, such as the Women and LGBTQ Center and health center, and “met” Perkins staff in an online “expo” highlighting them.

Students in the hybrid program were offered stipends to cover their travel and housing for the orientation; 38 of 41 new hybrid students took advantage of the opportunity.

“It was not a required component, but we strongly encouraged them to attend, to meet their future classmates and their future coworkers,” Rhodes said.

The attendees represented five different degree programs, twelve states, and six denominations, including members of the first-ever cohort of the Maestría en Divinidad (M.Div. in Spanish) program.

“The geographical scope of our fall incoming class is the largest we have seen in recent years,” said Rhodes. “Perkins continues to attract a diverse student body in terms of ethnicity, denomination and age.”

A few facts about the incoming student body: It’s ethnically diverse, with 59% non-white students (41% White, 28% Hispanic, 18% Black, 7% of two or more ethnicities, 4% foreign nationals, and 1% American Indian/Alaska Native). Denominations represented include United Methodists (52%) as well as Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalian, Lutherans, Presbyterians, non-denominational Christians and United Church of Christ. Some 70% are seeking an M.Div., the largest percentage in years.

On the third day, the program kicked off Perkins’ newly designed Introduction to Theological Studies and Research course for first year M.Div., M.A.M., and M.T.S. students.

“Organizing orientation was a labor of love that involved many faculty and staff,” said Rhodes. “We tried putting everything into those three days, so that students can fully experience Perkins and the SMU community.”

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News October 2023 Perspective Online Top Story

Register Now to Attend Fall Convocation 2023

This year’s event features a diverse lineup of lecturers who will challenge attendees – clergy and laypersons alike – to answer the following questions:

  • Is there only one way to “read” the Bible?
  • What can I learn from someone else’s reading or interpretation of the Scriptures?
  • How can one’s perspective shape the impact of God’s work in our communities?

Join Esau McCaulley, Carolyn J. Sharp, Eric D. Barreto and Terry Wildman as they offer stimulating, rich theological reflections on the Scriptures and inspiring real-life ministry implementation. Pick and choose which sessions you want to attend, or stay for the entire conference at a significant savings!

Register now at: https://perkins-oep-smu.nbsstore.net/2023-fall-convocation

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News Perspective Online September 2023 Top Story

Welcome from the Dean

Dallas campus orientation

As the faculty and staff prepared for the beginning of the fall semester, I was interested in meeting with Perkins’ new students. The orientation for our new students showed that they are eager to begin their theological education and that they are excellent students who are ready!

Houston-Galveston hybrid program orientation

In my conversations with several of our new students, I discovered a wide range of academic interests. A few are curious about Biblical studies, some are interested in the Hebrew Scriptures, and still others are seeking a thorough understanding of the New Testament. Of course, there were students with a keen interest in the Biblical languages, either Hebrew or Greek. Those who enroll in a Biblical language have three semesters of work before them: two semesters of learning the language and a semester of exegesis. Certainly, it is challenging work.

Others are more interested in theology, while others are more drawn to the history of the Christian Church. As I listened, I learned most of our new students came prepared and interested in the Perkins theological education. This is an excellent group of students with knowledge, passion and determination.

As proud as I am of our new students, I am equally proud of our faculty. In the past few months, there have been occasions for conversations with our faculty and learning about that on which they have been working. They have shared their scholarship with me, and I am looking forward to the publishing of several books and articles. The faculty are diligent in their work, and I hope many of you are grateful for them.

In order for theological education to occur, there is a significant group of staff members who are vital to Perkins’ educational endeavors. It could not happen without the persons who work in Bridwell Library, the school’s administrative staff, the enrollment management team and several others who are deeply committed to Perkins and our work of forming students for their vocational callings.

Thank you to all for your commitment and your work for Perkins.

Bishop Michael McKee
Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean, ad interim

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July 2023 News Perspective Online Top Story

Perkins Mourns the Passing of Two

 

Joseph L. Allen, Professor Emeritus of Ethics who served on the faculty of Perkins School of Theology from 1957 until his retirement in 1998, passed away May 3 at the age of 94. Among his scholarship, he wrote and published the 1995 Love & Conflict: A Covenantal Model of Christian Ethics and the 2011 Perkins School of Theology: A Centennial History.

 

 

 

The Rev. Carlton R. “Sam” Young was a comprehensive contributor to church music for decades. He was Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program at Perkins from 1964-75 and established the program as a vital force in graduate professional church music. He also founded the Church Music Summer Seminar at Perkins, a program that continued for over four decades, training countless local church musicians who could not attend seminary.

Young edited The Methodist Hymnal (1966) and The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), and earned distinction as a composer, arranger, conductor, teacher and scholar. Young died May 21 at age 97. Read more about Young’s life and legacy in this profile.