|
04513
November 22, 2004
Notes about people
by Jerry L. Van Marter
The Rev. Nancy J. Ramsay, professor of pastoral theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary since 1983, has accepted the invitation of the Board of Trustees of Brite Divinity School, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) institution in Fort Worth, TX, to serve as its first woman dean and vice president of academic affairs. She begins her new work in June 2005.
Ramsay, a leader in the fields of pastoral theology, pastoral counseling, and marriage and family therapy, has also done groundbreaking work in anti-racism training and the rapidly changing landscape related to theology, sociology and medicine. From 1997 to 2001 she co-edited the Journal of Pastoral Theology and has just recently published a new book, Pastoral Care and Counseling: Redefining the Paradigms.
Ramsay served in pastoral ministry prior to embarking on her seminary teaching career. She has served on numerous PC(USA) committees.
# # #
The Rev. David L. Maxwell will join the staff of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation as Geneva Press editor on Jan. 1, 2005. Maxwell is currently coordinator for global education and international leadership development for the Worldwide Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.
With Geneva Press, Maxwell will be responsible for developing electronic and print resources for clergy, leaders and laity of the PC(USA), as well as leadership resources with ecumenical appeal.
A graduate of Yale Divinity School, Maxwell has also served the church as a missionary in Chile, in a street ministry with Latin American refugees in New York City, and as a mission service recruitment officer for the PC(USA).
# # #
The Rev. Calvin Schnucker, 99, who served at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary for nearly 30 years, died Oct. 24 in Mesa, AZ.
Schnucker, a native of Peoria, IL, was professor of town and country church at the seminary for 28 years and served for 13 years as its dean. He also served a pastorate in Titonka, IA.
He is survived by two daughters, six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilhelmine.
# # #
The Rev. James L. Morgan Jr. has been elected chair of the Board of Trustees at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC.
An accomplished musician and successful businessman, Morgan also now follows in the footsteps of his father, James Sr., who served as Montreat’s board chair in 1968. Morgan’s family has owned a home in Montreat since he was 8 years old, and the family foundation has established an $800,000 endowment to support Montreat’s youth conferences.
Morgan and his family live in Laurinburg, NC.
# # #
The Rev. Gary A. Bowker of Allen, TX, has been named national coordinator of the Wee Kirk Ministry of Presbyterians for Renewal, succeeding the Rev. Harry Hassall of Dallas, TX, who is retiring.
Bowker spent much of his ministry as a U.S. Army chaplain. After leaving the army in 1989 he served as pastor of Millwood Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA, and then as director of development at Whitworth College there. Most recently he served as executive pastor for Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX.
# # #
A reception was held Nov. 14 at Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY, to honor the 30th anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, the PC(USA)’s most visible advocate for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Presbyterians in the life of the church.
A graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, Spahr was ordained in 1974, four years before the PC(USA) adopted its policy banning the ordination of “self-affirming, practicing homosexuals.”
Since then she has served pastorates and organizations throughout the United States. She is currently minister/director of That All May Freely Serve, which is based at Downtown Church. In 1999 she was named one of the PC(USA)’s “Women of Faith” award-winners.
|
