Bethany Theological Seminary looks forward to another 100 years.

"We hope you're here for another 100 years!" Sally Hutton, mayor of Richmond, Ind., summed up the sentiments of many who were in town for the Bethany Theological Seminary Centennial Homecoming Weekend Sept. 30-Oct. 2. More than 200 people attended one or more of the centennial events over course of the weekend.

Hutton was one of several speakers at a convocation Oct. 1, addressing a colorful audience of current and former faculty in full academic garb, staff, trustees, alumni, and students. Others who joined Hutton in celebrating Bethany's presence in Richmond were Anne Reid, chair of the Board of Trustees; Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean; Annual Conference moderator Ronald Beachley; and Jay Marshall, dean of Earlham School of Religion (ESR).

Bethany's immediate neighbor at the northeast corner of the Earlham College campus, ESR is a partner in providing theological education, sharing many facilities, faculty, and staff with Bethany. Each of the schools "understands that the pursuit of truth is essential to education," Marshall said. They have provided a model of how to work together "without losing our identity which is so important to us," he added. "I too hope for another 100 years with Bethany, as we witness to our faith and we serve God."

Bethany's president Eugene Roop gave the convocation address. "For 100 years, Bethany has worked to equip the saints for the ministries of the church," he said. Roop reviewed theological and social concerns that motivated education at Bethany, from its beginnings on Hastings Street in Chicago, through the establishment of a campus on Van Buren Street on Chicago's west side, to the school's moves to Oak Brook, Ill., and Richmond, Ind.

Bethany was founded in a decade of high expectations, Roop said, hopes for a new Christian age as well as developments in science, medicine, social welfare, and world peace. A line from a hymn by A.C. Wieand, one of Bethany's founders, expressed the sentiments of the era: "On the radiant threshold of this dawning day...."

Although the mood in 2005 is quite different--Roop referred to a current culture of "blame and fear"--Roop called on the school and the church to renew anticipation for the future. As for the ancient Israelites emerging from the wilderness, on the verge of crossing the Jordan, and the disciples of Jesus, ready to follow him down from the mountaintop, "the anticipation of a new day overrides the cynicism of the day," Roop said. "The invitation of God's new day is the opportunity of life, by life, for life.... That is the quintessential teachable moment. That is when and where the church needs a seminary," he said.

In other homecoming events, a concert was given by alumni, faculty, staff, students, and a Bethany Alumni/ae Choir. Nancy Faus-Mullen directed the choir and much of the congregational singing during the weekend. An ice cream social was the venue for a surprise announcement by Lowell Flory, executive director of Institutional Advancement, that the seminary has achieved its initial goal for a fundraising campaign, receiving gifts and commitments totaling more than $15,700,000. A wide variety of "mini-classes" were offered by present and past faculty on subjects such as "Brethren Leaders" and "What's Up in Preaching?"

An evening celebration Oct. 1 began with a banquet featuring ESR faculty member and humorist Tom Mullen as master of ceremonies, leading a search for the most "Bethany-ized" person present. Former faculty member Donald Miller won the prize of an ice cream scoop, after Mullen commented on the Brethren love for ice cream. Following, Bethany sponsored a concert by the male a capella group Cantus of Minneapolis, Minn. The concert was open to the public and the student body at Earlham as a gift to the Richmond community.

Added to the schedule was a memorial service for Donald Durnbaugh, former faculty member who had been scheduled to help teach one of the homecoming's mini-classes. At the service, memories of Durnbaugh were shared by Roop and Donald Miller, who had taught with Durnbaugh.

Planning for the centennial celebration began in 1999 with the formation of a steering committee coordinated by Earle and Jean Fike. Other committee members are Tim Binkley, Nancy Faus-Mullen, Jay and June Gibble, Michelle Grimm, Mary Jessup, Donald Miller, Barb Sayler, Ken Shaffer, Graydon Snyder, David Steele, Fred Swartz, and Janice Ruhl.

"The future of Bethany will probably be different than any we can anticipate," said Roop when he preached for the weekend's closing worship service at Bethany's Nicarry Chapel. To face that future, Roop said, Bethany brings "an incredible adaptability in seminary education."

For more about Bethany Theological Seminary see www.brethren.org/bethany/.

Source: 10/14/2005 Newsline Special Report
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