SCUPE's CityVoices -- November 2006
A resource of the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education

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DERNARD NEWELL IS NEW DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

(Rev. Dernard Newell joined SCUPE's staff in August as Executive Director of CAATS, the Center for African-American Theological Studies. A native of Sandusky, Ohio, Dernard holds degrees from Miami University of Ohio, Howard University Law School, George Washington University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. For the past three years, he has served as Chaplain for African-American students at Chicago's DePaul University.)

Q.- Dernard, since joining SCUPE's staff in August, what potential do you see for the CAATS program?

CAATS has great potential to lead the way in training black church
leadership: male, female, clergy, non-clergy, pulpit and pew. We really have unrivaled potential to help educate individuals for leadership in the black church, so that the church can continue to be an agent of transformation with the black community.

Q.- What really motivated you to take on leadership of CAATS?

It was probably the Africentric approach to theological education. We want to use the experiences, traditions and culture of African-Americans and people of African descent to do theological reflection. We want to use ourselves and our own experiences as the resources for our theology. In some instances, traditional seminary education does not prepare students for leadership in the black church.

Q.- Given that, do you see yourself teaching CAATS classes along with administrating the program?

Oh yes. I would like to teach the "Introduction to Preaching" class, the "Africentric Approach to Theological Education" and the "Church History"
classes.

Q.- As you look at the CAATS curriculum, what areas do you get excited about?

Just about everything. Dr. Julia Speller (Chicago Theological Seminary) teaches "African-American Approach to Christian Education." Dr. Linda Thomas (Lutheran School of Theology) teaches "Womanist Theology." Dr. David Daniels (McCormick Theological Seminary) teaches "Church History." You would not get exposure to this breath of scholars if you chose any one of the seminaries.
With CAATS you can get the best of African-centered theological studies from the best professors in the area.

Q.- Will faculty members from Payne Theological Seminary (Wilberforce, Ohio) and Virginia Union University (Richmond, Virginia) also be involved?

Not only do we have the best of the Chicago-area seminaries, but we also have the best that both Virginia Union and Payne Seminary have to offer. We look forward to having people from both schools involved in leading our classes.

Q.- What are your dreams on where you'd like to see CAATS go in years ahead?

I would really want to see CAATS become a center - in concept - that really brings together not only theological education, but also a very practical Christian education. I would like to see it become a center from which we publish a periodical reflection on African-American theology and community ministry. I would like to have a continuing education program for pastors.
There are lots of tools that pastors need to obtain, or skills they need to sharpen. Many pastors don't have the administration skills that are needed today. My own work in this area of administration here at SCUPE will help me to be a better pastor in the future.

Contact: Rev. Dernard Newell, SCUPE - Center for African-American Theological Studies, 200 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60601,
(312) 726-1200, dernard@scupe.com

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GLENN KLAASSEN ASSUMES NEW ROLE WITH GTUS

The Graduate Theological Urban Studies program (GTUS) has a new director.
Glenn Martin Klaassen joined SCUPE's staff in July, replacing Bill Wylie-Kellermann who has taken a leave of absence to be home with his family in Detroit. Glenn is a veteran of service with the Mennonite Central Committee in both Mozambique and Bolivia, and is well-acquainted with multicultural and urban environments. A GTUS graduate, Glenn has served in health care, pastoral and administrative roles during the 1990s in Chicago.

A native of Wisconsin, Glenn earned his B.S. in Psychology/Computer Science/Music at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. He followed that up with a B.S. in Nursing from Goshen College in Indiana and a M.A. in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Rochelle, have two boys, Brennan (8) and Jared (5). Glenn recently shared some of his vision for the GTUS program.

Q. - Glenn, what have you gained from the past three years you spent in Africa that particularly impacts your work with SCUPE?

The past three years gave me a chance to understand faith, church, friendship and solidarity from an African point of view. The distinction between European and African models is stark in my mind. I'm excited about the opportunity to come back to Chicago and work with students, black and white, all of whom are interested in gaining information, expertise and power in this area of racial relationships. I'm looking forward to being involved with those students and to bringing my experiences from Africa into the classroom.

Q. - As you get involved in your new assignment, what is it that really excites you about GTUS?

I'm excited about the opportunity to work with students in an environment which is challenging and potentially transforming. What's really exciting is the chance to work with students who are taking their faith and theological knowledge to the streets and making it real.

Q. - Do you see any new directions ahead for the GTUS program?

I'm looking at a return to an old direction. Historically, SCUPE's GTUS program has focused on providing a five-month experience for theological students, not just coming for a weekend, or one or two courses. The emphasis has been upon a whole contextual educational experience: internship, course work and practicum over a five-month period. Over the years, the number of students completing that entire experience has diminished, taking away from the transformative experience that we are here to accomplish at SCUPE.

Also, Chicago is a changing place. We need to make sure our curriculum stays in step with the city. My predecessor, Bill Wylie-Kellermann, initiated the development of a new course on environmental work in the city: Urban Ecology. The idea would be to link arms with faith groups who are making creative choices regarding their land and property to live in greater harmony with God's creation.

Q. - What kind of students are you looking for in the GTUS program?

We're looking for students who see themselves as leaders. We see the GTUS program as a place for those leaders to gain the needed spiritual tools, while engaging in a spiritual process of discernment about their leadership gifts and how those can be used.

Contact: Glenn Klaassen, SCUPE, 200 N. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 502, Chicago, IL 60601, (312) 726-1200, glenn@scupe.com

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REGISTER NOW FOR THESE GTUS CLASSES:

· Public Issues in Urban Ministry, Professor: Cynthia Milsap, November 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 (3 semester hours)

· Dimensions & Dynamics in Urban Ministry, Professor: Dr. Yvonne Delk, January 8-12, 15-19 (3 semester hours)

· Urban Principalities & the Spirit of the City, Professor: Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann, February 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 (3 semester hours)

· Christology & Culture, Professor: Dr. Jim Perkinson, March 2-3, 9-10,
16-17 (3 semester hours)

· Urban Preaching Intensive, Professor: TBA, April 16-20 (3 semester hours)

· Restoring Urban Communities, Professor: Dr. Mary Nelson, May 4-5, 11-12,
18-19 (tentative) (3 semester hours)

· Christian Traditions & Community Development, Professor: Dr. David Frenchak, May 28-June 1 (tentative) (3 semester hours)

· Cross-cultural Ministry Intensive, Professor: Cynthia Milsap, June 4-8,
11-15 (3 semester hours)

To register for any of these courses, contact Dody Finch at the SCUPE office, (312) 726-1200, dody@scupe.com.

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SCUPE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF URBAN MINISTRY

SCUPE friends, alumni and well-wishers joined together on October 6th for a concert by famed jazz pianist Willie Pickens. The musical event, with a reception following, marked 30 years of SCUPE's work and ministry in Chicago. Other performers joining Pickens included Sue Conway, Robert Haigler, Artistrings and the Youth Voices for Christ Chorale from Chicago's Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church. Since SCUPE was founded in 1976, more than 300 seminarians have participated in urban internship programs, and numerous other students have enhanced their urban ministry preparation by taking one or more SCUPE classes.

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MUST READ!

"Trolls and Truth: 14 Realities About Today's Church That We Don't Want to See," by Jimmy Dorrell, New Hope Publishers, 2006

Jimmy Dorrell is the director of Mission Waco (TX). He also teaches at Baylor University and Truett Seminary. But he is best-known as Pastor of Church Under the Bridge, an outreach of love and commitment to homeless people living under the I-35 overpass outside Waco. Each Sunday, several hundred homeless men and women are joined by Dorrell and others to pray, sing, worship and eat a meal together. In short, this church goes where the people are.

Trolls and Truth calls the Christian church to repentance for avoiding some of Christ's most profound and challenging teachings. Dorrell implores Christians to live a radical/biblical lifestyle. He focuses on such subjects as friendship and families, appearance and creativity. He bemoans the fact that the church "has lost its prophetic voice in the culture," with church budgets not reflecting Christ-like priorities. Dorrell urges Christians to break down the protective walls that shield them from dysfunctional people, and choose to welcome all people into God's family.

"Street Signs: A New Direction in Urban Ministry," by Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe, New Hope Publishers, 2006

With the first half of Street Signs, Ray Bakke updates many of his familiar themes: the great migration from rural to urban life, making your city home and seeking God's signs of hope in your own urban milieu. In recounting his own journey to the urban pastorate, Bakke identifies five "street signs" - ideas leading to completely different life paths than one would have ordinarily taken.

In the book's second half, Bakke's teaching colleague (and director of Bakke Graduate University's D. Min. program) Jon Sharpe offers his own story. It's one of arriving at a new and greater call to urban mission, right in his home city - Seattle. Sharpe goes on to describe the importance of the consultation process in cities, with pastors gaining an ever-expanding knowledge of their own urban place.

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NURTURING THE CALL BEGINS NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Nurturing the Call (NtC) is SCUPE's one-year program of theological education aimed towards working urban ministers. NtC is a pre-seminary program designed to prepare leaders for seminary and urban ministry. A supportive learning environment encourages students to identify their gifts and explore their call to ministry at a deeper level.

Fall 2006 courses in the NtC program include:

· Church History, Professor: Dr. Rupe Simms, October 11-December 13

· Introduction to Theological Studies, Professor: Rev. Colleen Norman, October 17-December 19

· Public Issues in Urban Ministry, Professor: Cynthia Milsap, November 3-November 18

The program is designed to provide introductory theology, church history, biblical studies and theological writing and research courses that will prepare one for seminary. It also includes a choice of urban theology and ministry courses that explore the role of the church in the community as a social service provider, an advocate for social justice and a partner in community economic development.

Application materials for Nurturing the Call are available from the SCUPE office, (312) 726-1200 or by email at urbanmin@scupe.com. Questions about the program should be directed to Cynthia Milsap at cynthia@scupe.com. For January admission, application deadline is November 15.

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NEW SCUPE WEBSITE MAKES DEBUT

SCUPE's website (www.scupe.com) will soon have a new look. You'll find all of SCUPE's programs, including the Association for Metro/Urban Ministry and CityVoices, now under one SCUPE umbrella. You'll be able to access information on GTUS, MACD, NtC and CAATS, including their courses, faculty and admission requirements. You'll also find helpful information on the Congress on Urban Ministry, SCUPE's bookstore and other urban ministry resources. Log in to www.scupe.com to find a growing array of attractive and informative pages on SCUPE's wide variety of academic programs. We invite your comments and suggestions. Contact roger@scupe.com.

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HEALTH NOTE:

On October 1st, SCUPE's President, Dave Frenchak suffered a heart attack while at home, followed by cardiac arrest shortly after arriving at the hospital. After receiving excellent emergency medical care, he was home in a few days for a six-week period of rest and cardio rehab. Needless to say, the entire SCUPE staff, board, faculty and students have been very concerned for Dave and his wife, Carol Ann McGibbon. At this point, Dave is doing very well in his rehab. But we ask for your continued prayers on behalf of Dave as he continues to recover from this heart attack.

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PUBLICATION NOTE:

Thanks for reading this edition of SCUPE's CityVoices. The newsletter is now published (electronically) six times annually, with two editions printed and mailed, free of charge. If you are interested in receiving print editions of SCUPE's CityVoices, please contact us at roger@scupe.com and we'll make sure that you are included in our mailing lists.

In December, look forward to a profile of Columbus -- Ohio's largest city and the Midwest's second-fastest growing urban center.

Roger Johnson, editor -- SCUPE's CityVoices 200 N. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 502 Chicago, IL 60601, (312) 726-1200 roger@scupe.com, www.scupe.com