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| Courtesy of Bethany Theological Seminary |
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The Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees held its spring
meeting on the Bethany campus in Richmond, Ind., on March 21-23. In
addition to hearing reports on department activities and new
initiatives, the trustees addressed a number of action items. A
highlight of the weekend was a retirement dinner for Ruthann Knechel
Johansen, whose presidency of Bethany concludes on June 30.
"One of the most important tasks for a board during a transition time
in the life of an institution is to preserve the fertility of the
educational soil by attending to fundamental faith and institutional
values that make thoughtful continuity possible,” said Johansen in her
opening remarks. “You will do that by keeping the institutional mission
and vision clearly in mind and being guided by the strategic plan."
Trustee officers for the 2013-14 year were approved as follows: Lynn
Myers, chair; David Witkovsky, vice-chair; Marty Farahat, secretary;
Jonathan Frye, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee; John Miller,
chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee; and Greg Geisert,
chair of the Student and Business Affairs Committee and the Audit
Committee. Nate Polzin will serve as the board representative to the
Council of District Executives as he begins his second five-year term on
the board. Appreciation was expressed to Phil Stone Jr. as he concludes
his 10-year tenure on the board, having served as chair of the Student
and Business Committee and of the Investment Committee for the past two
years.
A major board action was the approval of a pilot project entitled
Seminary Associates. Developed to address a named priority in Bethany’s
strategic plan as well as a goal of the Reimagining Ministries campaign,
this project is intended to further extend Bethany’s presence and
resources to those at a distance. In this first phase, Bethany will
initiate conversations with people connected with selected Brethren
colleges, exploring ways to strengthen Bethany’s relationship with the
colleges and their extended regional communities.
Following up on an initiative from the October 2012 board meeting,
trustees received a report from the Task Force on the Institute for
Ministry with Youth and Young Adults. They approved recommendations to
continue the position of coordinator of outreach programs and to form a
Review and Vision Committee, which will complete a review of the
Exploring Your Call program and develop a vision for the institute.
Trustees also approved new demographic benchmarks as part of
Bethany’s revised institutional-student profile. Projected for
2013-2016, these measurable goals are based on the diverse demographics
and the academic, curricular, and vocational profiles of the current
student body. They include increased enrollment; desired percentages of
ecumenical, male, female, and international students; a stronger focus
on recruiting recent college graduates; and more intentional preparation
for bi-vocational ministry.
Led by Tara Hornbacker, professor of Ministry Formation, a faculty
task team shared its progress in the first phase of Bethany’s Ministry
Formation assessment and refinement project. The project is funded by a
$20,000 grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in
Theology and Religion.* The team is conducting church visits over a
year’s time to learn about varieties in ministry, changes in
congregational life and ministry, and what is needed for excellence in
ministry. They have been met with appreciation for their initiative and
have engaged in sincere, constructive dialogue. The information will
help Bethany structure its ministry training for the realities of
current congregational life.
Academic Affairs
Dean Steven Schweitzer gave a thorough overview of Bethany’s new
curriculum, calling it a “long process but a worthwhile process. Our
faculty and curriculum will be in a better place.” To be implemented in
fall 2013, the new structure was developed over an 18-month period by
the teaching faculty and has a flexibility that will appeal to
prospective students. Master of divinity students will be able to select
a ministry studies focus area, and all students will have the
opportunity to combine their elective courses for a named emphasis.
Master of arts students now have a first-year formation course, and new
requirements in history, intercultural, and intergenerational studies
were added.
The board approved the promotion of Russell Haitch to professor of
Christian education and director of the Institute for Ministry with
Youth and Young Adults.
Thirteen seniors were approved for graduation upon their completion of all courses.
Updates on the new faculty searches included a projected announcement
for the Brethren studies position in the next few weeks. Candidates for
the reconciliation studies position will be on campus in late April.
Schweitzer commended the board for approving these positions, which will
strengthen the academic programs and the faculty.
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership report included a
potential new cohort in the Spanish language ministry training program
(SeBAH-COB) and plans for the new Sustaining Ministerial Excellence
program, to succeed Sustaining Pastoral Excellence. Donna Rhodes,
executive director of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center on the
campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, reported on course and program
offerings. The board also heard that the Brethren Journal Association
has updated its articles of organization regarding hiring and employee
review and will be reviewing its partnership with the seminary this
year.
Institutional Advancement
The Reimagining Ministries campaign has reached nearly 80 percent of
its $5.9 million goal with 15 months remaining in the public phase.
While successful and educational, campaign meetings are drawing fewer
new people and increases in giving than was hoped. Fiscal 2012-13 giving
to date is lower than in 2011-12, but close to that of the three
previous years.
Lowell Flory, executive director of Institutional Advancement, noted
characteristics of younger generations’ approach to philanthropy,
particularly their support of specific causes and more indifference to
general institutional support. The packaging and delivery of Bethany’s
message to new generations of constituents needs to reflect changing
values and forms of communication. The Advancement Office is also
working on publicity materials for a speakers bureau, publicizing
lecture and workshop topics that faculty are able to present.
Student and Business Services
The Compensation Committee, named at the previous board meeting,
recommended updated policies for compensating Bethany employees, which
were approved. Comparative data was gathered from peer institutions for
these proposed benefits and teaching faculty salary ranges. Determining
compensation for administrative faculty is more challenging as position
titles and responsibilities vary widely among schools. This research
will continue, allowing for flexibility in meeting Bethany’s particular
staffing needs and values.
The board passed the proposed 2013-14 budget of $2,638,640. This
represents a 10.8 percent increase and slightly higher endowment draw
than in 2012-13 due to new positions and program expansion. The
administration also proposed a series of benchmarks to be met over the
next three years if the new expenditures are to be maintained.
The SBS Committee also reported progress on plans to use the Mullen
House property adjacent to the Bethany campus. Offices for the Brethren
Academy for Ministerial Leadership will be moved to the first floor of
the house, while the second floor will remain as an apartment.
Relocation of offices within the Bethany Center also will take place.
Recognition celebration
On March 22, more than 120 faculty, staff, students, colleagues, and
friends gathered for “A Community Called to Shalom,” honoring Ruthann
Knechel Johansen with festive fellowship, laughter, and memories.
Tributes to her personal and presidential contributions were given by
Ted Flory, former Bethany board chair; Stan Noffsinger, general
secretary of the Church of the Brethren; and Jay Marshall, dean of
Earlham School of Religion. Poetry, musical selections, readings, and a
video titled “Images of the Journey” filled the evening. In closing,
Lynn Myers announced that the board had named Johansen president emerita
upon her retirement. In addition, he revealed to Johansen that the new,
fully funded Ruthann Knechel Johansen Endowment for Theology in
Literature, recognizing her personal and professional passion, would
cultivate the relationship of literature and theology within the Bethany
community for years to come.
*The Wabash Center is located on the campus of Wabash College in
Crawfordsville, Ind. Its programs are funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.
-- Jenny Williams directs Communications and Alumni/ae Relations at Bethany Seminary.
Source: 5/17/2013 Newsline
