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“As you walk the questions melt away and new answers begin to appear.” In a few words, Rev. Sandy Brown (G-ETS 1982) captures the allure to the walking pilgrimages which, for almost two decades, have formed the heart of his ministry. When he read Paulo Coehlo’s description of the Camino de Santiago, he became captivated by the lure to walk hundreds of miles through the Spanish countryside to the apostle James’ tomb. He traveled the Camino for the first time in 2008 but, a couple years later re-walking the pilgrimage on a minor route, he found he had to rely on Spanish and French guidebooks, since an English-language version did not exist. Recognizing an opportunity to assist English-speaking travelers on their pilgrimages, he began writing books to accompany people on their spiritual quests. Today, he is the author of six pilgrimage guides and founded —a boutique travel business that specializes in custom, self-guided and group pilgrimage trekking adventures, lending insight from his experiences walking and biking more than 10,000 miles on trails throughout Europe and the United States. But he’s discovered something else along the way: a relationship with fellow seekers who follow in pilgrims’ well-trod footsteps.

In many ways, it’s a natural extension for what he learned in his Garrett MDiv program, if albeit an unconventional one. “Writing pilgrimage guidebooks is a form of teaching,” he explains. “When I’m describing a church, for instance, I need to place it within its historical context. Soon I’m talking about church history.” In his four-volume series about the Via Francigena, for example, he describes a medieval route from Canterbury to Rome, traveling through four countries, visiting Anglican, Reformed and Catholic churches. To properly explain the significance to travelers, he draws upon the theological grounding he received at Garrett and subsequent study—an adult education class on the road. “Jim Stein’s class on Martin Luther is one of the most important I ever took, and it wasn’t until that class that I really understood the Reformation,” Rev. Brown reflects. “I loved the voices of bishops and preachers I heard in chapel. Garrett was an amazing place to learn and I cherish the memories.”

While some guidance he offers is grounded firmly in the factual, other parts veer into decidedly existential terrain. One of the unique elements of spiritual pilgrimages is that they often draw people who have complicated or ambivalent relationships to organized religion. “The common thread is the desire to take a break from life and take a long walk to sort out their relationships, priorities, and hopes,” Rev. Brown says. “They are often quite negative about church but quite curious about spirituality. I’ve had long debates held over days…I’ve learned a lot and think I’ve been a pastor to many struggling people who, in turn, have helped me in innumerable ways.”

Perhaps it should be unsurprising that long walks afford space for earnest reckoning with the deepest questions of faith, identity, and belonging. It is, after all, a core part of our Christian story. “As you walk, the questions melt away and new answers appear,” Rev. Brown notes. “St. Francis was a walker. Jesus was a walker. There’s a fine tradition and it’s not there by accident.”

What’s clear when communicating with Sandy is how deeply he cherishes the chance to be welcomed into an intimate part of people’s lives, the humble responsibility he accepts when providing information. “Pilgrim walks are international, they get people out of their nationalistic ruts so they can see into the hearts and minds of people from other places,” he says. “I’m so happy if I have any part in making their pilgrimage trek a success.” The truth about being an author is that you often will never hear about the lives your words have touched, but every so often the universe offers a glimpse into that beautiful impact. “In a podcast, a Catholic nun was walking to Rome and was asked, ‘Are you scared?’” he recalls fondly. “She said, ‘No, I have Sandy with me!’”

Rev. Brown’s seventh book has just hit stores!

The post Faith on the Move appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

When Rev. Jenny Weber (G-ETS 1997) was approached by Garrett to create a student scholarship in her name 13 years ago, she didn’t have all the money she needed. Few lifelong pastors do. And yet, Rev. Weber knew that she felt called to invest in the next generation of ministers so she worked with Garrett’s development office to create a legacy plan, combining both gradual donations over time and a will commitment naming the seminary, so another student could attend seminary debt-free. “I was one of those fortunate scholarship recipients,” Rev. Weber says. “I’m so deeply grateful for that, especially as I hear about so many others who grapple with such large debt. As a recipient of such generosity, I was raised in a family who taught me that giving back is part of what we do.”

This personal window has given her an intimate look at the kind of transformative ministry a Garrett scholarship can enable. She has served as a parish minister across a wide variety of congregations—urban, suburban, and rural alike—and eight years ago also co-founded the Morning Retreat Center in Hampshire, Illinois. In this most recent call, she has created space for other people to find restoration. “I’ve led women’s retreats, guided people through different prayer practices, organized grief groups and more,” Rev. Weber explains. “The Center is in a country farmhouse—a cozy space where people can come to rest, read, pray and find what they need. We just create the space to ensure they have what’s necessary to do that.”

It’s fitting, because space to sit, reflect, and study is also a gift that seminary scholarships enable. Seminary education is a rigorous experience under the best of circumstances and it’s even more difficult when students must work part- or full-time to match the cost of tuition or take on debt that will limit their future choices. This is particularly true for the increasing number of Garrett students who are second-career ministers, international students, and first-generation college graduates—groups that face more difficulty to afford a masters-level education. “It can be so stressful when you’re in the midst of wanting to learn and grow if you’re also worried about finances,” Rev. Weber notes. “I hope this scholarship helps folks do their education in a timely manner and be able to begin their call.”

In addition to alleviating financial anxiety, reducing students’ monetary pressures also helps them take full advantage of seminary learning that happens outside the classroom. “When I was at Garrett, some of my favorite memories were attending community meal in Loder, spending time freely in conversation,” she says. “I was in a covenant group, as well. That feeling of connectedness is so important—forming friendships, just being able to hang out, learn, and grow.” These informal networks are also essential to sustain the ministries students pursue after graduation, particularly in early career years. “It’s crucial to have that support from people who understand what we’re going through as clergy,” she confides

While it took years to build the money needed to sustain a scholarship, Rev. Weber found other ways to nurture Garrett students while she donated funds. “I’ve been so blessed to be the field education supervisor for several students,” she shares. “Garrett’s focus on practical, hands-on experience is such a strength of the seminary. Particularly working in Chicagoland, it creates a diverse context that informs students as they learn everything from caring for homeless populations to preaching.” One blessing Rev. Weber feels she received from her own field education were lessons about the administrative side of parish ministry, so she tried to share that gift as well. “I felt equipped around finances and stewardship, as well as working with different committees,” she says. “I tried to offer back that truly well-rounded experience.”

Too often philanthropy is portrayed only through the lens of major gifts and one-time endowments, but Rev. Weber’s experience testifies to the incredible benefit that comes from intentional giving through both a lifetime of sustained gifts and a deferred gift through her will. “I want students to have the same foundation of a good education and community life. That’s what helps you think, learn, and grow,” she shares. “As a minister, I’ve witnessed all the ways people commit themselves to living and serving, not just with their financial contributions, but also with their talents.” Financial contributions do enable institutions to expand the scope of their mission, however, and Rev. Weber is thrilled that long years of preparation will now bear abundant fruit in students’ lives. “We’re in this together,” she says, “and the world needs their ministry.”

Have you considered the legacy you want to leave? Thoughtful giving and estate planning, like Rev. Weber’s, allows you to support the people and causes most important to you—while ensuring that your values live on. Whether through bequests, charitable gift annuities, or other planned giving options, you have the power to make a lasting impact. To learn more, go to or contact Shane Nichols, Assistant Vice President for Development, at shane.nichols@garrett.edu or 847.866.3866.

The post A Lifetime of Commitment appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

It is an extraordinary honor to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, a beloved institution that has stood as a beacon of faith and scholarship for 175 years. To be the first African American woman in the seminary’s history to hold this position is both humbling and inspiring. This moment is not just about my story—it’s about the progress we’ve made as a community and the work that remains to be done to ensure justice, equity, and inclusion across our society—at a moment when those values are acutely threatened. Together, we are called to fulfill the seminary’s mission: to form courageous leaders in the way of Jesus to cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and hope.

My story begins on the South Side of Chicago, where I was born and raised. Growing up in this vibrant, resilient community shaped me in ways I am only now beginning to fully understand. The South Side taught me the power of community, the necessity of faith, and the importance of perseverance. These lessons carried me through my years in the Chicago Public School system, where I learned how to thrive despite the challenges of under-resourced schools and systemic inequities.

Education became my pathway to opportunity. I went on to attend Howard University, a place that not only prepared me academically but also deepened my commitment to justice and empowerment. Howard taught me to see the world not just as it is but as it could be, and it fueled my passion to make that vision a reality.

After Howard, I embarked on a career in accounting—a field where I quickly discovered that diversity was often lacking. I became the first Black person admitted to the partnership at my firm, an achievement of which I am proud, not because of personal recognition, but because of what it represents for others. Today, I serve as Partner and Office Lead for the Chicago office, where I work to create opportunities for those who have historically been excluded from spaces of power.

My experiences in corporate America equip me with skills that I bring to all of my leadership roles: strategic thinking, financial acumen, and a focus on creating systems that are equitable and sustainable. But beyond these technical skills, it has taught me the importance of advocating for inclusion in every space I occupy. These values align perfectly with the seminary’s mission to prepare leaders who embrace justice and cultivate compassion.

I step into this role at the seminary during a time of immense complexity. Across the country, seminaries are grappling with declining enrollment, financial challenges, and a rapidly changing cultural landscape. These pressures are compounded by the broader turmoil we see in the world—economic inequities, a climate of racial tension, and the election of a president whose rhetoric and policies have exacerbated divisions rather than healing them.

As someone who has lived and worked at the intersection of faith and justice, I know that the challenges we face are not insurmountable. I believe this is a moment of opportunity for the seminary to lead with courage, innovation, and a renewed commitment to its mission. We must reimagine theological education to meet the needs of this generation, equipping leaders who can address systemic injustices, foster reconciliation, and bring hope to a fractured world.

We do this crucial work at a moment when diversity, equity, and inclusion are widely named as evils our country must eradicate, when they are in fact the beating heart of the beloved community God calls us to build. This crisis runs deeper than any elected official or administration: From school boards to board rooms, we are witnessing concerted efforts to tear down the programs and policies which empowered me to thrive. Religious leaders have a unique role to play, reminding people of the moral values which knit us closer together.

My vision for the seminary is rooted in my own experiences and the lessons I’ve learned. I want to see this institution become a place where future faith leaders are not only educated in theology but also empowered to serve as agents for communal change. This means integrating theology with the practical tools needed to address real-world challenges—economic empowerment, community engagement, and justice advocacy.

I am deeply committed to equitable ministry and inclusive justice. These principles have guided my life, and they will continue to guide me in this role. The seminary has an opportunity to lead build bridges between faith and action, showing the world what it means to live out the gospel in tangible, transformative ways. I believe this is the essence of forming courageous leaders in the way of Jesus.

As the first African American woman to chair the seminary’s board, I carry a responsibility that goes beyond the duties of governance. Representation matters. For too long, religious institutions—like many others—have excluded voices that are essential to our vitality and mission. My presence at this table is not just about me; it is about opening doors for others and ensuring that those who come after me do not have to be the “first” in the same way.

I am also deeply aware of the legacy of those who came before me, those who fought for opportunities I now enjoy. Their courage and sacrifices remind me that I am standing on the shoulders of giants, and it is my duty to continue paving the way for future generations.

Garrett’s mission to cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and hope resonates deeply. Justice calls us to address systemic inequities and advocate for those who are marginalized. Compassion reminds us to meet people where they are, offering care and understanding in times of need. And hope compels us to look beyond present challenges, trusting in God’s promise of a better future. It is not enough to believe; we must live out our beliefs in ways that uplift and empower others. These are values I learned as a student at Garrett, and they form a powerful foundation for the seminary’s future work and its impact on the world.

Leadership in this moment requires not only strategy—it requires purpose and courage. We must be willing to face hard truths, to acknowledge where we have fallen short, and to take bold steps toward a more just and inclusive future. And we cannot give in to fear when this work is countercultural. This is my commitment as Chair of the Board, and what I invite our seminary community to join.

We are called to lead not just for ourselves but for those who come after us. The decisions we make today will shape the future of theological education and ministry for generations to come. It is a weighty responsibility, but it is also an extraordinary privilege.We are called to lead not just for ourselves but for those who come after us. The decisions we make today will shape the future of theological education and ministry for generations to come. It is a weighty responsibility, but it is also an extraordinary privilege.

As I step into this role, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude—for my roots that ground me, for the mentors that council me, and the communities that have supported me, and for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. I am also filled with hope for what we can accomplish together.

This is a time for bold leadership and faithful action. It is a time to embrace the challenges before us as opportunities for transformation. And it is a time to live out the seminary’s mission to form courageous leaders in the way of Jesus who will cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and hope.

I am honored to lead this journey, and I look forward to working with all who share this vision for a brighter, more just future. Together, we can ensure that Garrett not only survives but thrives as a leader in faith, justice, and community transformation.

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Healthcare workers are experiencing a burnout crisis. Since the pandemic began, rising workplace stress and staffing shortages have pushed medical professionals to the brink. This disturbing trend is particularly acute among nurses: In 2023, found that 56% of nurses were overburdened, and 41% planned to leave their job within two years. While caring for patients is sometimes depicted as chaplains’ sole charge, they are called to minister to everyone in a hospital. Rev. Clare Biedenharn (GETS – ’06, ’15) takes that responsibility seriously: She and her research team are planning a study to investigate how to reduce nurse burnout. In a potent sign that this is something the world desperately needs, The National Institute of Health selected their proposal to move into the next round for a $275,000 grant.

Their study is based on research Rev. Biedenharn completed for her Garrett DMin dissertation, listening to ICU nurses at East Jefferson General Hospital, New Orleans. “Listen, healthcare is in a hot mess,” she admits. “Nurses feel like widgets, and have been moved so far away from that initial loving impulse of wanting to help people.” Part of her approach is to reconnect nurses with their original sense of call. “My favorite question is, ‘Why did you want to become a nurse?’” she shares. “Suddenly, they’ll stop, look kind of wistful and talk about how they helped care for their grandfather. Or, at the hospital I worked at in New Orleans, some of those nurses started as candy stripers—high school volunteers—and have been there for 20-25 years.” By grounding people in that call, she hopes to build resilience toward inevitable workplace stressors. “I love that I can help people remember and reconnect, to know how they’re part of a bigger picture,” she says.

Part of what motivates Rev. Biedenharn is gratitude to nurses who helped revive her own sense of purpose. In her last local church ministry appointment, she was told she couldn’t preach or teach because she was a woman. She left that job for a chaplaincy position but was so harmed by the experience she wasn’t sure she could offer meaningful care. “When I came to that hospital, I was so beat down by that church, I really felt worthless. In fact, when they were making assignments, I thought, ‘I’ll just sit back and take whatever is left,’” she confesses. “The only thing left was the ICU and those nurses did for me what they do for their patients. I came to that third floor broken and sick, and they picked me up and got me going again.”

Nearly thirty years later, Rev. Biedenharn has helped lead wider changes in how chaplains operate as part of hospitals’ care team. “We were kind of a bunch of cowboys at first,” she laughs. “If you were a religious person, you could just show up an offer care. Now, there’s a big push for research, for professional credentials, so we can have a real seat at the table.” Throughout all the changes, it’s the same love for ministry that sustains her. “As chaplains, we get to be a symbol of God’s grace and presence,” she says with joy. “It’s such an honor to keep asking open questions—not to give people solutions, but to help them tap into their own resources.”

The post Helping the Helpers appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

“As a seminary, we must help to bridge any gap between the academy and the church.” The Rev. Dr. Dong Hyeon Jeong—Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Director of the Center for Asian/Asian-American Ministry (CAAM)—is animated and joyful as he describes plans for the Garrett Seminary Homecoming on November 13. At this year’s gathering, CAAM will celebrate its 40^th Anniversary, welcoming alumni to share exciting news about how the center is expanding its work and relationships with Asian churches. “All of our speakers are Asian women pastors, to discuss what it means to be of Asian descent and serve in local churches and other forms of vocational ministry,” Dr. Jeong says. “CAAM was created by the church and I want to rekindle those foundations, to connect academic study with practical ministry.”

Now in his fourth year leading CAAM, Dr. Jeong expresses deep gratitude for the abundance that Dr. Wonhee Anne Joh left as the center’s previous director. “Her incredible work on CAAM’s programming and commitment to hospitality helped so many students find a home at Garrett,” he says. “I seek to continue Dr. Joh’s legacy by inviting our alumni to reconnect with Garrett through the Homecoming and 40^th founding anniversary event.” It’s a particularly exciting time for alums to connect with the Center, as the seminary experiences a dramatic increase in South and Southeast Asian students. “There are so many more students from India, Myanmar/Burma, and from other parts of the continent,” he notes. These new colleagues bring their own lived experiences, adding breadth to the programs CAAM is able to offer. “Last year, for example, we had a special event about what’s happening to churches in Myanmar under the military occupation,” Dr. Jeong reports. “We were humbled and honored to hear the stories and difficult experiences the people and the church of Burma are going through.”

While the addition of new perspectives nurtures change, other parts of CAAM’s mission remain constant. “The emphasis on hospitality is quite Asian,” Dr. Jeong asserts . “Many Asian cultures focus on communal wellbeing, and students who just came from those cultures hope to have a sense of continuity in what they’ve experienced when they arrive at Garrett.” Through frequent communication and shared meals, CAAM helps students feel a sense of belonging throughout their years at Garrett. “It’s so simple and yet so effective,” he says. “Regular emails remind them that they are part of this community, and food helps them know that Garrett is not just an intellectual or spiritual place—it’s also a physical, material space where you’re holistically cared for.”

One of CAAM’s hopes is that students will bring these same values into their ministries after graduation. “Before Jesus told people they were saved, he would feed and heal them first,” Dr. Jeong says. “If we’re going to live out a gospel of social holiness from the Wesleyan perspective, salvation is not just individual—it’s communal.” As students experience this holistic care, it prepares them to offer it to others. “If the Asian Center helps them feel welcome, they can go out and lead communities committed to the same,” he says.

Indeed, the fruits of this interplay between CAAM and Garrett’s Asian students are reflected in the number of graduates who return to help the center further its work. “We just had a worship service for alums of Korean descent and more than twenty of them came back,” Dr. Jeong reports with delight. “Some of them were even from Central Illinois and drove two hours just to be with us. It was a joy to hear their stories, to mutually engage and learn from one another.”

This same abundant spirit is poised to continue at November’s Homecoming celebrations. Garrett alumna The Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong will preach, and The Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker and The Rev. Ayla Samson—both alumna—will make presentations. Garrett professors The Rev. Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran and The Rev. Dr. AHyun Lee will also provide teaching sessions, alongside an address by President Javier Viera. As he plans for the Center’s future, Dr. Jeong dreams that CAAM can model reciprocal relationships between new students and the generations who came before. “Seminary shouldn’t be something that ministers just finish and leave in the past,” he says. “It can be a place where people’s faith is renewed, where we learn fresh and different expressions of the Christ.” Click here to learn more about Garrett’s Homecoming and Register to Attend!

The post Vibrant Past, Abundant Future appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

The Reverend Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) and the Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) have been named the 2024 Distinguished Alums of 91PORN. Each year the seminary chooses two alums to be honored as Distinguished Alums. One alum is chosen from the most recent 25 years of graduates, and one alum is chosen from alums who graduated over 25 years ago. Both Jung and Lear will be honored for their remarkable ministries at this year’s Homecoming at 91PORN.

Reverend Im Hyon Jung

Master of Divinity, 91PORN, 1993

Rev. Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) serves at the Discipleship Ministries and Upper Room Ministries of The United Methodist Church as Director, International Relations, Asia, and Global Programs Manager. An ordained elder in the Wisconsin Conference of The United Methodist Church, Jung is a certified spiritual director, retreat and workshop leader, program developer, and ministry coach.

In her work, Jung travels internationally and engages congregations and leaders interdenominationally and inter-religiously. She truly practices what John Wesley proclaimed, “the world is my parish.” Jung has a passion for encouraging people to walk closer with God, be attentive to God’s presence in their daily lives, and be more like Christ as they grow deeper and wider in their faith journeys and ministry. 

Jung received her Master of Divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1993. During her time in seminary, Garrett-Evangelical widened and deepened her spiritual life, providing a space for her to encounter the organic spiritual formation and spirituality of Teresa of Avila. Soon, Jung became a devoted student of not only Teresa of Avila, but also John of the Cross and Ignatius of Loyola. These spiritual giants molded and guided her own spiritual life, strengthening and empowering her to love God and God’s people throughout her life and ministry. 

Jung shares the early state of her faith journey in the book The Holy Seed of Calling: Korean-American Clergywomen’s Journeys toward Ordination, National Association of Korean American United Methodist Clergy Women (2010).

Among Jung’s daily spiritual practices is walking and hiking. She has hiked through the hills and mountains of several countries, including a pilgrimage to Annapruna Sanctuary and the Dingboche Himalaya Trekking Route in Nepal, four spiritual pilgrimages to Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Great Wall of China, and three of the highest mountains in South Korea. Through this spiritual practice, Jung finds God’s abiding presence, awe and wonder, comfort and peace, love and grace, beauty and delight, and strength and empowerment on the trail.

Jung lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Resident Bishop of the Ohio Annual Conference, United Methodist Church. She is an avid gardener, maintaining both a vegetable and flower garden, and enjoys spending time with her two adult sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. 

Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear

Doctor of Ministry, 91PORN, 2015

The Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) is the Vice President for Grant Administration for the Foundation for Evangelism, located in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. She joined the staff for the Foundation in 2019, and prior she served as an ex-officio trustee and member of the Grants Committee.

From 2013-2018, Lear served as the Director of Evangelism Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship for The United Methodist Church. An ordained elder and member of the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2008, Lear served three congregations in North Carolina from 2004 to 2012.

With her experience, Lear has brought a passion for teaching and training leaders. She has co-taught the online course “Evangelism for Non-Evangelists” with Reverend Dr. Mark Teasdale, Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical, for numerous years. In addition, she has taught evangelism courses at several seminaries and United Methodist conferences, convened the directors of evangelism from the mainline denominations across the US and Canada, and served as a contributor and presented at several World Council of Churches events around the globe.

Publications by Lear include her 2016 book, Evangelism: Share the Good News (Discipleship Ministries, 2016), and numerous articles, including “Making Disciples: Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Congregations,” International Review of Mission (2016), and “Reclaiming Evangelism for the Local Church,” Witness: Journal for the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education (2014).

Lear holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston University (2000), a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (2004), and a Doctor of Ministry from 91PORN (2015). In addition, she earned her United Methodist Professional Certification in Evangelism in 2014 and Executive Scholar Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in 2023.

Lear’s Doctor of Ministry dissertation was titled, “Reclaiming Evangelism: Evaluating the Effect of Evangelism in Selected United Methodist Congregations on Fulfilling the Denominational Mission to Make Disciples.” In this project, Lear looked at and analyzed United Methodist congregational practices that specifically sought to form and equip disciples of Jesus Christ to engage the world and how to effectively measure transformation.

Lear lives in Brentwood, Tennessee, with her husband Casey and their son Caleb.

The post Reverend Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) and the Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) named 2024 Distinguished Alums appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Reverend Dr. Irene Taylor (MDiv ‘87) and the Reverend Dr. Manuel Villalobos Mendoza (PhD ‘10) have been named the 2023 Distinguished Alums of 91PORN. Each year the seminary chooses two alums to be honored as Distinguished Alums. One alum is chosen from the most recent 25 years of graduates, and one alum is chosen from alums who graduated over 25 years ago. Both Taylor and Mendoza will be honored for their remarkable ministries at this year’s Homecoming at 91PORN.

Reverend Dr. Irene Taylor

Master of Divinity, 91PORN, 1987

“My heart is filled with joy, and my faith is renewed in the reality that God sees us and rewards faithfulness,” says Rev. Dr. Irene Taylor, 91PORN’s 2023 Distinguished Alum, as she reflects on the legacy of her seminary education after more than thirty years in ministry. 

The life and work of Rev. Dr. Taylor are indeed characterized by faithfulness. Through her multiple appointments as an Elder of The United Methodist Church and her involvement with diverse types of ministries, Rev. Dr. Taylor has cultivated a holistic ministry of spiritual formation for the empowerment and transformation of God’s people. After completing her Master of Divinity at Garrett in 1987, in 2005, Taylor received her Doctorate in Ministry in Spiritual Formation from United Theological Seminary with a project titled, Christian Spirituality: A Resource for Equipping, Enabling, and Empowering African American Youth.  

Her commitment to the church began at an early age, when, through many life transitions, Taylor found a home in the church. She says, “My earliest or most impactful memory of the church was it was the one place where I felt affirmed and most alive. . .. Despite my age, my gifts were affirmed, and I could let them shine. I felt safe and affirmed.” Because of this, one of the central aspects of Taylor’s ministry has been equipping youth, particularly young women. 

In 2018, in honor of Rev. Dr. Taylor’s thirty years since graduating from seminary, the Irene Taylor Scholarship Fund was established at Garret-Evangelical. Taylor regards her seminary education as foundational for her commitment to justice and love, particularly in the face of challenges. She adds, “I am grateful for the gifts, sound theological preparation, and spiritual formation I received from this great institution and the local church’s ministry.” 

Although she is now retired, Rev. Dr. Taylor affirms she still feels the call to serve God through the ministry of the church. She is hopeful about the future of the church and encourages the next generation of leaders to hold on to the calling to be a beacon of light amid much darkness. 

Reverend Dr. Manuel Villalobos Mendoza

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 91PORN, 2010

What is the liberating news of the gospel to those who experience otherness? The 2023 91PORN Distinguished Alum, Father Manuel Villalobos Mendoza, PhD (’10), has dedicated his ministry and scholarship to this question.  

Father Villalobos uses the Latin American biblical interpretation method of Vida-Texto-Vida (Life-Text-Life), which sees the body and the experience of the community as the birthplace of biblical interpretation. In this way, his publications center on the bodies that have been excluded from the biblical narrative. Dr. Osvaldo D. Vena (Professor Emeritus of New Testament), who served as his PhD supervisor, describes Father Villalobos as a “creative and courageous scholar,” whose research has made important contributions to Dr. Vena’s own work. 

Alongside being a prolific writer with monographs published in both English and Spanish, Father Villalobos is a Roman Catholic priest and founder of the Instituto Bíblico Claretiano (IBICLA), based in the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. IBICLA seeks to empower minority groups who have been marginalized through abusive readings of scripture. Dr. Osvaldo Vena highlights that one of the qualities he most appreciates of Father Villalobos is “his concern for the education of the laity.” Father Villalobos’ work with IBICLA, his teaching engagements in Mexico and the United States, and his YouTube channel Escuela Bíblica Claretiana all demonstrate his commitment to promoting liberation through the study of scriptures for and from the margins. 

Father Villalobos received a Bachelor of Arts from Universidad Pontificia de México and a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts from Catholic Theological Union. In 2010, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Bible and Culture from 91PORN, and his dissertation, Abject Bodies in the Gospel of Mark, was published by Sheffield Phoenix Press in 2012. Today, Father Villalobos is an affiliated assistant professor of New Testament Interpretation at Chicago Theological Seminary and a faculty member at IBICLA. 

The post Reverend Dr. Irene Taylor (MDiv ‘87) and the Reverend Dr. Manuel Villalobos Mendoza (PhD ‘10) named 2023 Distinguished Alums appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

91PORN is happy to introduce today , a new podcast that shares findings from our Young Adult Initiative. In each episode, Dori Baker (MDiv ‘90, PhD ‘00) and her co-host Rose J. Percy enter a story-sharing practice with changemakers who’ve journeyed with us.

“Across my career, I’ve been helping people use life stories to unearth our collective wisdom—deepest hopes, dreams, and beliefs about the world and our place in it,” Baker says.

“I believe stories hold the power to heal us and to heal our world. In LIVE to Tell, we hold space for the stories that help people survive and thrive.”

Baker, an alum of the Garrett-Northwestern Joint PhD, served as research director for the first phase of our Young Adult Hub. Her practice of “holy listening” guided the first phase of Garrett’s work with congregations. Percy is a spiritual director and thought leader whose emphasis on justice-oriented embodied practice centers each episode.

“Working with Dori reminds me that just as storytelling is a craft, so are faith and formation,” Percy says. “Each episode is a unique offering that highlights each individual’s journeys in a way that cannot be copied, manufactured, or essentialized. My hope is that the stories inspire listeners to search out the stories that they are living to tell.”

The podcast shares a key learning from our Young Adult Hub: faith communities can position themselves as allies and friends to young people coming of age in these times.

“We learned that young adults are often hurting from painful past experiences with religious communities, leaving them ambivalent about identifying with any singular faith tradition,” Baker says.

“Even so, young adults are still hungry—hungry for practices that tend their souls, hungry for meaningful relationships, and hungry for community that welcomes them as they are and cares deeply about who they are becoming.”

Listening deeply to young adults is especially important these days, Baker argues, because of the current mental health epidemic.

“Brain research shows that spiritual practices can mitigate against the severity and duration of depression, but this first generation coming of age in the spiritual-but-not-religious era often lacks access to communal practices of tending the soul,” Baker says. “In LIVE to Tell, we uncover fresh images of God and shine a light on the practices people are already using to foster individual and communal soul care.”

Each episode models theological reflection on a life story using a four-step method, guided by the acronym L.I.V.E. Baker describes how to use L.I.V.E. as a way to unleash the life-affirming power of feminist, Womanist, and other emancipatory theologies in the book Girl/Friend Theology: Godtalk with Young People (revised edition forthcoming, September 2023, Pilgrim Press).

Across this first season, we’ll encounter stories that touch on:

· One woman’s dawning awareness that her life will always include managing depression

· Another’s story about the stunning miracle of breaking a rule and reaping reward for it

· A man’s story about a transformative moment when love surprised the skeptic heart

· A story about how community can help someone heal from a devastating break up

· Another about a loving practice for recovering from trauma

You can find small group resources to accompany LIVE to Tell at .

, MDiv (91PORN), Ph.d. (Northwestern University), describes herself as a “Spy for Hope.” She is particularly passionate about expanding the genre of stories, images, and artifacts for helping people find meaning and discover purpose. She is an educator, activist, and scholar focused on feminist theologies, young adult culture, leadership development, and spiritual practices that sustain activism. She is an activist/scholar at the intersection of feminist theology.

Rose J. Percy (MDiv) is a contemplative theopoet with a background in justice-oriented education and ministry. Her work engages theopoetics, mysticism, identity, vocational discernment, trauma, and theology.

Lilly Endowment’s Young Adult Initiative aims to help congregations develop and strengthen ministries that build relationships with young adults, nurture their religious lives, and foster their engagement with religious communities. With support from a $1.5 million through the Young Adult Initiative, Garrett-Evangelical created Holy Yearnings, Holy Listening, Holy Partnerships in 2017. The initiative will continue for an additional four years with a renewal grant of $1.25 million from Lilly Endowment to support Holy Partnerships: Creating a Culture Shift Toward the Valuing of Young Adults in Congregations. To learn more, go to garrett.edu/youngadultinitiative.

is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community , , and . Though the Endowment maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, it also funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. The primary aim of its religion grantmaking focuses on strengthening the leadership and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States. Visit .

The post <em>LIVE to Tell</em>, a Young Adult Initiative Podcast appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

A shorter version of this article appeared in the Fall 2022 edition of Aware Magazine.

Reverend Dr. Stephanie A. Welsh (G-ETS 2012) served as pastor in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church for more than eight years. During her time in pastoral ministry, she amassed several significant accomplishments, including saving the historic Israel CME Church in Gary, Indiana, from foreclosure.

Although she enjoyed pastoral ministry, much of her work at Israel CME Church focused on ensuring the church had the funds necessary to pay bills and apportionments. “I felt like I was doing more fundraising than ministry,” she said.  

Instead, Welsh said she wanted to more closely follow Jesus’s mission to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.  

So, in 2014, she started clinical pastoral education training to become a chaplain. Now, board certified, she serves as the spiritual care manager at Loyola University Medical Center, a 547-bed quaternary care facility in Maywood, Illinois, where she leads a team of 11 while providing spiritual care to patients.  

Before joining Loyola in June of 2021, she served nearly six years as a chaplain at the University of Chicago Medicine, supporting the trauma patient population as well as the burn, neurological, surgical, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units.  

Welsh’s road to ministry and then chaplaincy wasn’t straightforward. 

She grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated in 1992 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in African American studies. During this time, she attended St. Matthew CME Church in Milwaukee. The pastor there kept reminding Welsh about her call to ministry–one she received when she was eight. “I was fully aware of my call,” she said, “but I was essentially running away from it.” 

She stopped running a few years later after attending a revival at her church. “The preacher leading the revival had a prophetic ministry,” she remembered. “During the revival he announced, ‘There are some people here who have a call to ministry upon their lives, and they’ve been running away.’” 

At that point, the preacher looked straight at Welsh. “I looked behind me because I thought he must have been talking to the person behind me, and he said, ‘No, no, I am talking to you,’” she said.   

Later, she met with her pastor and trained to become a local preacher under his tutelage. She also started taking classes through Trinity International Divinity School at its satellite location in nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin. 

When she moved to the Chicagoland area in 1997, she paused her coursework to focus on her career in human resources. A few years later, she left the CME church and started attending Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago–not confessing to the pastor that she had a call on her life.  

A visit to her grandmother’s home in Mississippi reminded her of her calling. One day, her grandmother asked her when she was going to get back into ministry. Welsh insisted that she was participating in ministries at the church she currently attended. “No, that is not what I am asking you,” her grandmother said. “You’ve been called to preach. When are you going to start back preaching?” 

Welsh went back to the CME church, started the ordination process, and became a deacon in 2008. In the fall of 2009, she started attending 91PORN. While at Garrett-Evangelical, she became an ordained elder in the CME church and was appointed to serve as pastor of the St. James CME Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois–all while taking classes full time. “I have no idea how I managed that,” she recalled. “But I felt like I left Garrett-Evangelical well equipped to do the work of ministry.” 

After graduating in 2012, Welsh’s bishop asked her to become the pastor of Israel CME Church in Gary, Indiana–a church, she later found out, was facing foreclosure. While there, she negotiated with Israel’s lender to save the church from foreclosure. Additionally, she helped the church significantly pay down its original $400,000 mortgage, pay off its bus, reduce its debt by more than 65 percent, and arrange for the former 10,000 square-foot place of worship to be torn down, among other things. 

In 2014, Welsh began to think about what’s next. “I felt that I had done what I was sent to do at the church,” she said. She also began thinking about making a change and becoming a chaplain full time. “When we think about Jesus’s mission, we think about clothing the naked and feeding the hungry,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I had had the opportunity to do that.” 

She continued to serve Israel CME Church, but at the same time, she completed four units of clinical pastoral education at Northwestern Medicine and later began working as a full-time chaplain at the University of Chicago Medicine in Hyde Park, Illinois. She also began a doctor of ministry program at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. “Things were a little complicated,” she said about those years. Finally, in 2018, she left Israel CME Church and continued her chaplaincy work at the University of Chicago Medicine, where she worked for six years.  

While there, Welsh received the University of Chicago Medicine Making a Difference Award for the care she provided to a trauma patient, their family, and the staff. In 2020, she was among three chaplains featured in the CNN article,   

In December 2021, Welsh finished her doctorate and graduated with distinction. While completing her doctoral studies, she authored a chapter in the book, .  

Currently, she serves as the spiritual care manager at Loyola University Medical Center. She said she loves spending time with patients and helping them cope with their illness. “In this position, I am able to visit and minister to the sick each day,” she said.
 

For now, Welsh said she is content serving in ministry as a chaplain and associate minister, even though she doesn’t rule out returning to pastoral ministry should the spirit of God so lead. 

The post “I Was Sick, and You Visited Me” appeared first on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.