Minutes of the Louisville Seminary Alum Board of Directors

March 11-14, 2007

The Alum Board met at 5:00 PM on Sunday, March 11 in the Winn Center McAtee dining rooms. Member Kathy Barlow Westmoreland opened the meeting with a devotion on the parable of the sower. Then board members introduced themselves and shared their favorite class when they were in seminary. The variety of responses underscored the wonderful heritage of memorable professors in the LPTS tradition.

A student panel was convened, including Archie Fugate, Clemette Haskins, Diana Moore, Josh Robinson, Sherry Arconti and John Manon. In response to the question, “Why did you come here?” one student said it was for reasons of conviction. God was challenging him to broaden his horizons. Kudos were given to the CPE program, the extensive financial aid and the personalized treatment from the Admissions Office. Chris Elwood’s talk on a Call to Ministry was a factor, as was the friendly caring faculty and staff. Recommendations from alums played a role, as did the focus on anti-racism in hiring minority faculty members. Participating in the CLP program and the Old Testament Survey Class on weekends provided an entry point and gave the message that age wasn’t a barrier to learning. The increasing accommodation of non-traditional students was part of the opening door. Several recognized the role of God’s leading in bringing them here, so apparently the seminary is following God’s will for educating servant leaders.

Panelists also responded to the question, “What has changed at LPTS?” There is a difference in the profile of seminarian, since 10 or 15 years ago. The seminary has responded to that change by addressing the needs of second career and non-traditional student. The increased emphasis on anti-racism has been another recent change.

Students were also asked to share how their families have responded to seminary life and most said their families were quite supportive of this change in their life. Whether residents or commuters, spouses pray for each other and extended family members embrace their calling. One panelists said her atheist aunt welcomes the opportunity to talk to her about issues that trouble her. Those with families commented on the “many open arms” here. Kids are highly respected and there are spouse classes and programs to ease the transition, despite the radical downsizing of living space.

The addition of half-time and evening classes was welcomed but there were a few challenges. It’s hard to integrate these off-campus students into the community, since they’re only here during class time. More faculty are required, which increases the expenses of the seminary. In addition, the range of classes is limited to mostly elective classes, so students trying to use this vehicle for the entire seminary education have a hard time getting core classes.

Field education is par excellence at LPTS, according to one panelist. It helps him to understand why they talk about seemingly irrelevant things in class. Field ed helps students expand their vocational horizons, discern their call, pull everything together and makes the theoretical real. Thus there’s a need for a diversity of placements, such as the urban ministry program in Chicago. One CLP says his ministry in the church has improved since he started taking classes – an advocacy for the education side of field ed.

The Board asked the panel if they were getting adequate support from their presbyteries and most were above the norm for CPM experiences. Monthly calls, care packages once a semester, personal visits, inquiries about what the presbytery can do for the candidate were all part of their experience. One difficulty had to do with conflicts between classes and the timing of annual consultations, but professors have tried to be flexible to accommodate these denominational requirements.

Regarding worship on campus, some panelists were disappointed in the poor attendance at chapel. They applauded the quality of the services, but there were varying opinions about the styles. Some thought there was too much variety, others thought it should be more inclusive with different styles and denominations. There was also a suggestion to have evening worship periodically for part-time students and working spouses.

The Monday meeting was opened with a devotion from Donna Morton on the book Middle Church by Bob Edgar. Then we heard reports from Kerry Rice, Director of Admissions, David Hester, Dean of the Seminary, and Donna Melloan, Dean of Students.

Kerry reported that we had 55 new students in the fall – 13 in the MFT program, 8 in the MAR program and 34 in the MDiv program. Both MFT and MDiv programs have half-time students, which is a new development. The half-time students can take up to six years to complete the program, which allows working people to work on a seminary education. Advertising will begin in the spring. There is a slight increase in the number of people of color, as well as the number of women. Average age is 37, but Kerry’s goal is to have half of the students over 30 and half under 30.

Admissions is doing personalized follow-up with approved applicants. Newly-hired assistant director Louis Brogdon is working with local churches and traveling to regional colleges to identify new applicants. Another source of prospects are faith formation centers like Montreat, where 135 mostly young adults are employed every summer. There were fewer attendees at the Exploratory Weekend but more prospects are making individual visits to campus.

David Hester reported that the Trustees elected to replace the current Master of Arts in Religion degree with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. He also gave an overview of the new curriculum, which incorporates the new MATS. The goal is to incorporate more flexibility into the curriculum to make seminary education as widely accessible as possible. There is also an emphasis on anti-racism and multi-culturalism. Implementation began last fall with a class taught by Johanna Bos called Heart of the Stranger, for which she won a Metroversity Teaching Award. Transforming Seminary Education is the mandatory two-week class for entering students that orients them to seminary and familiarizes them with the community, while incorporating the anti-racism goal. The intent is to give the students a sense of public ministry and help them begin their seminary career with a positive attitude. Senior Seminar, Theologies of the Louisville South from Amy Plantinga Pauw, courses on Martin Luther King Jr. and reconciliation from Johnny B. Hill, The Art and Practice of Teaching from Brad Wigger and David and a future Black Theology class are part of the new curriculum. CHATS has morphed into Faith Seeking Understanding and two units of History of Christian Experience. There is an increase in the number of courses welcoming to MDiv students in the area of pastoral care and counseling.

In the past two weeks, David has attended two conferences related to curriculum and anti-racism. In both venues, LPTS was nationally recognized for its stellar work, in creativity and collaboration on curricula revision and in dismantling racism.

Donna Melloan provided a financial aid expense worksheet for alums to take to their CPMs to use in helping their candidates with seminary expenses. She reported that churches are getting more generous in helping their candidates. She said bookend scholarships continue to be important and urged alums to find groups to fund them. Women’s groups are frequent donors. She suggested CPMs sit down with their candidates and go over their financial situation – help them find ways to cut back on their expenses so they don’t leave school with an insurmountable debt.

REHAB is a group in the seminary community that facilitates dispute resolution. They are working on difficult issues like smoking and dogs. The new housing unit – Seminary Hall – is bright and beautiful. Students had the transition eased by professional movers hired by the seminary.

Other programs for addressing student needs are the Spiritual Formation program, which has 10 students and 3 spiritual directors, the Academic Support Center which deals with learning disabilities and the accommodation of people with physical disabilities in the new residence hall. A food closet was also opened to help families through food shortages.

David discussed the strategic plan, including the appointment of a committee to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of the plan and some revisions to the Mission Statement. The Plan examines the role of the Presbyterian seminary in an ecumenical context but also deals with nuts and bolts issues such as: the increased cost of endowed chairs; the need to maintain and refurbish aging facilities; the desire to add a fifth Bible professor; and the extension of the music program.

Over lunch, the Board was introduced to three new faculty members, Doug Gragg, Director of Information Services, Johnny B. Hill, Assistant Professor of Theology and Sheldon Sorge, Associate Director of the Louisville Institute. They were asked to explain their sense of vocation and what they brought to the seminary. Doug sees himself as a bridge builder and wants to maintain a wide diversity of library materials while introducing new technology. Johnny took his vocational cue from observing his mother’s incessant drive for service. The community of faith forms his vocational identity. Sheldon is committed to exploring the character of the pastorate theologically and sees the Institute as drawing the academy and the church together to strengthen ministry.

The panel talked about the importance of offering skills and practices for parish ministry at the same time following LPTS’s strong tradition of social work in the greater community.

The seminary is about to begin the 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation process for the Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with Doug Gragg directing the self-study portion.

President Thompson gave a briefing on his activities, dreams and experiences over the past year. His visits to congregations all over the country have given him a positive view of the denomination. He has shared the seminary’s story in those places and encourages the Board to do the same, identifying and connecting donors who love the local church and the seminary. Dean sees a need to build our endowment from $92 million to $200 million in order to ensure our financial stability. We also need to reduce our endowment draw from 6.1% to 5.5%.

Dean was asked if there are ways LPTS can partner with the denomination and presbyteries to improve the church’s national image. He said bridges of continuity will be the topic when Clifton Kirkpatrick and Linda Valentine meet with the Board of Trustees in October. Because “seminaries are the jewels in the crown of the church,” they are being asked to be a resource to other entities. So the question is, what can we share on a broader scale? His view is that the GA is transitioning from a regulating body to a resourcing body.

Tuesday morning’s session began with a devotion by Adam Fisher, president of the student body, on a Midrash story about Abraham’s call. Before the Board broke into committees, it was M/S/C to form a Community Life committee for the purpose of establishing a consistent and personal connection with students and student life. The committee would include Board members, students and the Dean of Students. It would not take action, but serve as a listening post.

Wednesday morning’s devotion was given by Susan Sharp Campbell on the subject of Open Prayer. Board of Trustees representative George Hupp gave a report on his perception of the board meetings. He gave a glowing appraisal of the Board members and celebrated their ability to facilitate the healing that’s taken place over the last five years in the seminary community. He noted that they have carved out a day in the Board schedule to listen and learn, first on race relations and then on curriculum issues. We can help the Trustees by telling other alums the story of our new era at LPTS so they can become re-integrated.

The Board then heard reports from the individual committees. The following actions were taken as a result of the work of the committees:

Communications: It was M/S/C to close the alum web-site when the current funding ends on December 31, 2007. All possible features will be transported to the seminary website and the Alum Relations Office will explore the establishment of an Alum blog to enhance communication and online conversation between graduates. It was also suggested that the Alum Relations Office conduct an electronic survey of alums to identify the online features most valued by alums.

Community Life: It was M/S/C to change the format of the Sunday evening meeting from the student panel to round table discussions in the dining hall with two or three students and a faculty member at each table. Included in the motion was a recommendation to the Seminary Council to assign a support team to all racial/ethnic students, ensuring their integration into the Seminary community.

Nominations: It was M/S/C to elect Cliff Nunn, Marie Cross, Robert “Skip” Hansen, Nancy Barkat and Wayne Yost to serve as Alum Board members for the class of 2012. One new member is a person of color.

The Board also approved the nomination of Ed Albright, John bare, Jennings Bryant, Maqsood Kamil and Cheryl and Mark Goodman Morris as Distinguished Alums for 2008. Rick Nutt was elected as Alum Board representative to the Board of Trustees for the next three years.

Seminary Relations: It was M/S/C to set the Alum Annual Fund goal at $97,500 for 2007-2008. It was reported that we have received $4,550 of the $10,000 Alum Board challenge for this fiscal year. We have until May 31, 2007 to raise that amount. Alums were urged to participate regardless of the size of the gift. 100% participation is the goal. It was also M/S/C to submit an Alum Relations Office budget of $18,150 for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

In other business, it was suggested that we re-institute the practice of praying for a partner on the Board throughout the year. Rick Nutt closed the meeting in prayer.

The Alum Association met at noon on Wednesday, March 14, 2007. After an opening prayer, President Susan Sharp Campbell called the meeting to order and gave a summary of the board meeting. Walt Sutton, chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the names for the new board members and the Alum Board representative on the Board of Trustees and they were approved by the association. Names of the Distinguished Alums for next year were not disclosed, pending their notification.

President Dean Thompson recognized and gave framed certificates of accomplishment to the outgoing board members: Karla Conditt Daniels and Susan Sharp Campbell. Walt Sutton spoke for the Class of 1957, of which there were seven members in attendance at the reunion. The class presented a monetary gift to the seminary to be used for Bookend Scholarships. The meeting was then closed with a benediction.

Respectfully submitted,
Katie Haney, Secretary