Louisville Seminary presents fellowships for alumni/ae continuing education

During the 2003 alumni/ae reunion held in March, Louisville Seminary awarded The Mr. and Mrs. Olof Anderson, Sr. Fellowships for Excellence in Pastoral Ministry to four graduates from the Class of 2000.

These fellowships are presented to Seminary alumni/ae who are currently engaged in parish ministry with at least two years experience. Each recipient receives $1,000 towards expenses for continuing education experiences and projects that will help to nurture excellence in ministry.

Established in 1927, the awards honor Mr. and Mrs. Olof Anderson, Sr., parents to sons Frank and Sidney W., who ran the Anderson Wood Working Company, and Olof, Jr., who earned the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Louisville Seminary (1927) and spent his entire ministry of 43 years pastoring Kentucky Presbyterian churches. After the death of Olof Anderson, Sr., the awards were later supported through the Anderson Wood Working Company, and today they are continued through the Sidney Anderson Foundation, Inc.

The 2003 recipients:

The Rev. Charles “Chip” Andrus is an associate for worship in the Office of Theology and Worship in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In this position he consults with congregations, presbyteries and other denominational bodies in developing models for liturgy, music, and worship that “reflects the Church’s theological tradition and connects with the changing world.” Andrus is also the director of an evening worship service at Second Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Ky., where he began serving before graduating from Louisville Seminary. At the church, he has initiated an alternative form of worship that incorporates and revives the ancient and Reformed liturgical traditions of the Church and nurtures the spiritual growth of its people.

Andrus plans to use the fellowship to attend the Calvin Institute of Reformed Worship, an international study course that will explore the historical revivals and spiritual movements of England and Scotland, and also provide opportunities to meet with Great Britain’s experts in contemporary worship. From his experiences there he hopes to lead others to think critically and theologically about their worship practices and its impact upon future generations.

The Rev. Beverly Brock is the pastor of Canton Presbyterian Church, a congregation of 80 members in the mill town of Canton, N.C., in the Appalachian Mountains. Brock says that as the solo pastor, she wears many hats: worship leader, educator, liaison, moderator, counselor, pastor, van driver, youth leader, a retreat organizer, office manager, and more. “Continuing education is crucial in a ministry with limited resources,” she said. In her ministry of two years at Canton, Brock feels that her strongest contributions have been in pastoral care and community involvement. She has participated in the care of many church members as they have faced health crises or the death of a loved one. She has also led her congregation to become more active in community events such as hosting an ecumenical remembrance service following the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

The Anderson Fellowship will help Brock attempt one of two projects. She hopes to participate in an educational trip to Scotland for personal retreat and to develop a better understanding of her Presbyterian heritage in preparation for the church’s centennial celebration in 2004. However, if the world situation prevents such travel, she will further her education in the area of older adult ministry to better understand their needs for meaningful worship and discipleship.

The Rev. James B. Goldsmith has been the associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland, Ky., since his graduation from Louisville Seminary. In his position he has implemented a five-year program for Christian education based on a “rotation model.” In the process he incorporated new curriculum for the Sunday school and Wednesday Bible evening programs and outfitted classrooms with multimedia, a computer lab, and an arts and crafts center. In addition, Goldsmith has completed a three-year program for the Diploma of Spiritual Direction. As a spiritual director he was trained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to work one-on-one with prisoners “who desire to seek out God while confined in prison.” He also helped to coordinate “Spirit Walk”, two weekend retreats for senior high school students in the Transylvania Presbytery.

Goldsmith is using the Fellowship to supplement the creation of a pictorial book and accompanying, interactive CD-Rom comprised of inspirational images and brief devotionals for people who learn by non-traditional methods. The CD will include spoken word and music for the non-reader and provide a compact option for reflection and meditation for individuals who feel too busy to develop spiritual practices in their lives.

The Rev. Ronald R. Russell is the pastor of Fountain Charge United Methodist in Corydon, Ind., a ministry to two congregations simultaneously. He served this charge during seminary when it was comprised of three churches. As a result of significant growth, two churches were able break out of the coalition and sustain a full-time minister for the first time in their history. Russell has helped to lead his congregations to a greater level of stability, in both Christian education and financial resources and expenditures. In the coming year, he hopes to lead church members to increase their support of outreach ministries in the community, the county, and overseas.

In addition to pastoral ministry, Russell has served on the clergy teams for the Emmaus Walk and for Residents Encounter Christ, a prison-based ministry. He is the spiritual director for the Emmaus Board and President for the Harrison County Ministerial Association. The Anderson Fellowship will help him to serve on a mission team of clergy and laity to Africa and to attend seminars on the topics of stewardship, evangelism, worship, and Christian education.

Alumni/ae interested in applying for the Anderson Fellowships can contact the Office of Field Education by e-mail or call 800.264-1839, ext. 297.