Eden Theological Seminary celebrated its 171st Commencement Ceremony on May 14, 2021. You can watch the whole ceremony, Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Nile’s commencement address, and Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause’s power charge to the 2021 graduates below.
On May 21 and 22, Eden Seminary will be hosting its first annual plant sale. It will be located in the main parking lot on the Eden campus. The net proceeds of the sale will go to the Eden Gleaning and Gardening Project. Many types of plants will be available including tomatoes, basil, aloe and more! The sale will run from 10 AM – 6 PM CDT on May 21 and 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT on May 22.
By action of the Board of Trustees and faculty, Eden Seminary is celebrating these faculty promotions and changes. Congratulations to our members on this amazing achievement!
- Rev. Dr. Sonja B. Williams
Promotion to Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
Named as Dean of the Seminary - Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker
Promotion to Assistant Professor of Contextual Education and Community Engagement - Rev. Dr. Christopher Grundy
Promotion to Professor of Worship and Preaching - Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Niles
Named as the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission and Peace
Installation to this Faculty Chair in fall 2021
Continues as Interim Academic Dean
Congratulations to these awardees selected by Eden’s Faculty for the following:
- Honor Graduate Fellowship for academic promise toward further graduate study in theology – Duana Russell Thomas and Jacob Nault
- Grauer Award for promise toward congregational ministry, particularly in preaching and pastoral care – Dee Evans
- Edith and Robert T. Fauth Book Award for an educated and learned clergy with awarding to the student with the highest academic ranking at the end of their first year – Mark Schmitt
- Senior Preacher Award for gifts for preaching and worship leadership with leadership at the Closing Worship of Eden’s Spring Convocation – Cory Lovell
- Keith M. Cooper Book Award for preparation for parish ministry, particularly for a member of the (formerly named) Kentuckian Association of the Indiana Kentucky Conference United Church of Christ – Dakota Roberts
- Kniker Family Book Award for a UCC student selected by the faculty – Merrimon Boyd
- Warren H. Seyfert Memorial Book Award celebrating leadership for religion that takes hold in people’s lives through ministries of social justice, mental health and ecumenical movements – Adam Kaul and Karen Pepmeier
- Robert L. Tiemann Book Award celebrating Eden student with business acumen – Mark Waight
- Milton and Jessie Hoffman Book Award celebrating an M.Div. graduate with ties to Hope United Church of Christ, to support the personal library of a pastor – Diane Yanczer
Eden Seminary is in the midst of saying farewell and best wishes to Professor Adam Ployd, assistant professor of church history and historical theology. Dr. Ployd has given the Seminary notice that he has accepted an offer to serve as the Vice Principal of Wesley House in Cambridge, UK (beginning summer 2021).
For over eight years Professor Ployd has pursued his calling as a teacher and scholar with passion and commitment to Eden Seminary in its mission to empower leaders for the Progressive Christian Movement. He is a brilliant historian, productive scholar, and a dedicated teacher. We are thankful for the gifts he has shared, and celebrate his call to serve in theological education in his own denominational tradition within the global context.
Wesley House, as the name makes plain, is a Methodist theological school with connections to Cambridge University and relationships with several US UMC theological schools. It has a storied history and is developing itself as a global resource in theological education, particularly for Methodist clergy from many different countries. As a Deacon in the UMC, Professor Ployd is excited for the opportunity to be a leader in Methodist theological formation and the family is thrilled at the opportunity to live, work, and learn in the UK.
Eden is wishing Dr. Ployd and his family well. In the remaining months of the term, there will be ways to celebrate his work with Eden and to send the Ployd family off with our best wishes and prayers.
Eden Seminary supports the Statement on Anti-Asian Violence of the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group of the Association of Theological Schools.
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence by The Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group of the Association of Theological Schools
March 24, 2021
We, the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans, of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) condemn and denounce every form of attack against Asians and Asian Americans in the strongest possible terms. As a minoritized group, Asian Americans have been historically subject to harassment, discrimination, violence, and mass incarceration. The recent targeted violent and brutal attacks on the members of our community are abhorrent manifestations of perennial racism against the Americans of Asian descent in our country. The targeted violence unto killing of the most vulnerable—women and the elderly—is especially deplorable. It is a direct assault on our community that honors and values family deeply. We reject white supremacy and xenophobia and urge an end to the scapegoating of Asian and Asian Americans for the pandemic.
The Asian and Asian American community is an ethnically and culturally diverse group that has made valuable contributions to our society—particularly so during this pandemic. We claim our rightful place in our country and demand to be treated equally and with dignity. We ask all of us to respect and protect the life of every member of our community.
We call upon all members of ATS to speak against anti-Asian racism in our institution and nation. We ask you to join in our fight for justice and the equal rights of people of Asian descent, as each and every one of us is called to bear witness to God’s justice and mercy for all people.
The members and friends of the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group at the Association of Theological Schools listed below do hereby stand in solidarity as the signatories of the Statement:
Dr. Susan Abraham, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Pacific School of Religion | Vice-Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Dr. Deborah H. C. Gin, Director of Research and Faculty Development, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. David S. Han, Dean of the Faculty and Vice-President for Academics, Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. Jin K. Hwang, The School of Divinity, Georgia Central University
Dr. Hyunwan Kim, Academic Dean of the Graduate School, Grace Mission University
Dr. Uriah Y. Kim, President, Graduate Theological Union
Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President, Claremont School of Theology
Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Iliff School of Theology
Rev. Dr. James Seung-Hyun Lee, President, International Theological Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. John Y. Lee, Academic Dean, John Leland Center for Theological Studies
Dr. Sanghoon Lee, President, America Evangelical University Graduate School of Theology
Dr. Sang Meyng Lee, President, Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
Dr. Katheryn Leung, President, China Evangelical Seminary North America
Rev. Dr. Kuo-Liang Lin, President, Logos Evangelical Seminary
Dr. Amir Hussain, Chair of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Rev. Dr. Wonsuk Ma, Dean of the College of Theology and Ministry, Oral Roberts University
Rev. Dr. Deborah Flemister Mullen, Columbia Theological Seminary | Past Co-Convener of the ATS African American Presidents and Deans Group
Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Niles, Interim Academic Dean, Eden Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Alvin Padilla, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Director of Advanced Degrees, Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Rollin A. Ramsaran, Academic Dean, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan
Dr. Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, Director of Accreditation and Global Engagement, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian, Dean of the Seminary, United Lutheran Seminary
Rev. Seon Mook Shin, Vice President, World Mission University School of Theology
Dr. Chloe Sun, Academic Dean, Logos Evangelical Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Christopher M. The, PhD Cand., Director of Commission Information Services, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Felix Theonugraha, President, Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of Religion | Convener of the ATS LatinX Presidents and Deans
Dr. Frank Yamada, Executive Director, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Mary H. Young, Director of Leadership Education, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Amos Yong, Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
Congratualtions to Eden M.Div. student, Valerie Patton on receiving the Webster University’s 2021 “Champion for All” award.
More information available here.
Eden Theological Seminary is thrilled to announce Rev. Traci Blackmon as the Pastor-in-Residence for 2021 spring and summer terms.
While continuing to serve in national United Church of Christ leadership, Rev. Blackmon will enhance all UCC-connections with Eden Seminary. Rev. Blackmon will offer expertise on the shape of Progressive Christian Leadership in consultation with Eden’s faculty and staff. Students will interact with Rev. Blackmon as she serves as a guest resource person, sharing her expertise with faculty and students as a denominational and pastoral leader. Alumni, activist communities, and congregations will connect with Rev. Blackmon through the upcoming Spring Convocation, Presidential Installation, and other public forums. As Eden’s classes and programming continue online during this time due to safety during the Coronavirus pandemic, this residency will utilize online platforms as our spaces of interaction.
Join us in a joyful welcome of Rev. Traci Blackmon, a powerful transformational leader, to this role with Eden Seminary!
February 12, 2021:
February 19, 2021:
February 26, 2021:
As part of helping current and future students participate in an Eden Education, you are invited to contribute toward the Reverend Dr. Enoch H. Oglesby Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship fund was created in celebration of the ministry – teaching, scholastic and prophetic witness – of the Reverend Dr. Enoch H. Oglesby. The originating scholarship documents note, in part, “Through his teaching, his passion for ecumenism and ethics, and his vision for a multi-racial global society of peace and justice, Dr. Oglesby taught, nurtured and sometimes prodded – but always loved the community of learning at Eden Seminary into being more fully “the Church” in the world…”
Dr. Enoch Oglesby has offered a challenge grant for contributions to the Eden scholarship named for him. Dr. Oglesby will match the first $5,000 in new contributions between now and February 2022. Thank you Dr. Oglesby!
Donate here with note of Oglesby Scholarship in the designation box.
