Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary will host an autograph party for Professor Loren Townsend to celebrate his new book, Introduction to Pastoral Counseling, which provides a fresh look at how pastoral counseling and pastoral counselors have changed over the past twenty years.

Townsend will sign his book — released in 2009 by Abingdon Press after more than 10 years of research — the afternoon of Oct. 7 in the Winn Center at the seminary. Introduction to Pastoral Counseling readdresses basic understandings of pastoral counseling within increasing cultural and theological diversity.

Townsend observes, "There is a historic shift away from pastoral counseling defined as a function of seminary-trained clergy specialists and toward models that require interdisciplinary collaboration, state licenses, and a new vision for what it means to be 'pastoral.'" Grounded in empirical research and richly illustrated with case studies, Townsend's introduction continues the theoretical, practical, and theological expansion of pastoral counseling while making the case that a richly textured and diverse understanding of pastoral identity can offer an organizing vision for the field's future.

An LPTS faculty member since 1996, Townsend is professor of pastoral ministry and pastoral care and counseling. He is an ordained minister American Baptist Church minister, a diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a licensed marriage and family therapist.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Princeton Theological Seminary Touring Choir will sing an assortment of global music selections within the context of worship services at four churches this fall.

The Touring Choir will sing, lead prayers, and read scripture during services at the Rossmoor Community Church in Monroe Township, N.J., Oct. 10; the Newtown (Penn.) Presbyterian Church,  Nov. 7; Central Presbyterian Church in New York City, Nov. 14; and the French Evangelical Church in New York City, Dec. 5.

"We mix traditional anthems with global music to help congregations experience other cultures," said Martin Tel, the seminary's director of music. "The shining beauty of global church music is its relationship to the service. If this were a concert, people might passively enjoy the music. When we weave songs into a congregation's liturgy, people actively experience the music. To create a first-hand experience, we personalize the music for each congregation."

The tour program introduces seminary students to worship planning while bringing a unique musical experience to others. "It also helps a congregation explore cultural issues," Tel said. "We use music to take people out of their context. We have a diverse student body that brings us songs from around the world."

RICHMOND, VA — The Rev. Brian K. Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary will present a series of lectures and discussions on "The Kingdom of God" at the sixth annual Dillard Forum, a faith dialogue hosted by Trinity United Methodist Church in conjunction with the Seminary, Oct. 10–11.

Blount, who has served as president of the seminary since 2007, previously taught New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. The schedule for his Dillard Forum presentations:  is as follows:

  • Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m. — "The End of the World: The Kingdom of God and the Millennium"
  • Oct. 10, 7:00 p.m. — "Is Apocalyptic the Mother of Christian Theology?"
  • Oct. 11, 1:00 p.m. — "The Kingdom of God: Parables, Miracles, and Prayer Informal Discussion"
  • Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m. — "Judgment Day"

All events will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church with the exception of mid‐day Oct. 11, which will be held at Watts Chapel on the seminary campus.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. — A memorial service to honor the Rev. Howard L. Rice will be held  Saturday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church here, across the street from the campus of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where Rice taught for 30 years. Another service was held in Claremont, Calif. — where he lived following his 1997 retirement — shortly after his death Aug. 8.

Rice came to SFTS in 1968 as professor of ministry. In 1982, he added the duties of chaplain of the seminary to his teaching. But already in the mid-1970s, he began organizing retreat opportunities at SFTS for students and local clergy, signaling a farsighted understanding of the value of retreats in renewing pastors and laity that grew into a seminal program in Christian spirituality and spiritual disciplines.

Rice was elected moderator of the 191st General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in 1980. In 1991, he published his influential Reformed Spirituality, An Introduction for Believers and, in 1998, The Pastor as Spiritual Guide. From 2003-2005, he was drawn out of retirement to serve as interim president of Cook College and Theological School in Tempe, Ariz.

CHICAGO — Because international students in virtually any institution confront the challenge of fully participating in community life, McCormick Theological Seminary took an important step this fall by creating “Global Community.

While McCormick's Global Community is still taking shape, already its very existence as an organization governed by international students engaging the rest of the seminary represents an important shift in the community dynamic. "McCormick is making an effort to connect with the international students, but we also recognize that it is a challenge for us as individuals to find a way to participate in events that are not specifically for us," said Chingboi Guite, co-moderator of the Global Community.

Guite, a Baptist who is originally from India but who has also lived in Japan, is joined as co-moderator of the fledgling group by Ji-Tae Park, a second year Korean Methodist student.  

Other Global Community officers are Secretary Lilit Ayvazyan, a student from Armenia who has also studied at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut; and second-year Master of Theological Studies student and treasurer Mi Suk Shin, an ordained Korean Presbyterian minister who served for six years as head of missions for National Korean Presbyterian Women after earning her M.Div. in 1998.

PITTSBURGH — The Rev. Lisa M. Dormire ('86), Pittsburgh Theological Seminary vice-president for seminary relations, has accepted a position as vice president for development at Redstone Highlands Presbyterian Senior Care, a Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to providing living alternatives and high quality services which help to meet the changing needs of the community. She will begin Oct. 20.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my years at Pittsburgh Seminary and the decision to move on has not been easy. At a middle point of my life, however, I feel very ready for a new and different challenge which I will have at Redstone Highlands. As my seminary alma mater, PTS will always have a very special place in my heart and my life," said Dormire. 

"For the past 16 years, Lisa Dormire has done a marvelous job in advancement, public relations, marketing and Seminary relations at Pittsburgh Seminary. She has helped us develop on campus a positive, healthy, and joyful community dedicated to teaching students, pastors, and lay people who promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ both here in this country and around the world. Lisa is one who understands and lives the Seminary's motto of 'Bridging the Word and the World.' Her ever-present smile and collegial leadership will certainly be missed. But we wish her well in her new calling at Redstone Highlands," said Seminary President the Rev. William J. Carl III.