Updates – June 2017
Dr. Jonathan Powers—New Assistant Professor of Worship
Asbury Theological Seminary welcomes Dr. Jonathan Powers to the community as the Assistant Professor of Worship. Prior to joining the Seminary faculty in this capacity, Dr. Powers served as an Adjunct Professor of Worship at Asbury Theological Seminary.
“Dr. Jonathan Powers brings an added dimension to the Seminary faculty with his focus on catechesis, sacramental theology, worship design and history, lyrical theology and songwriting,” Dr. Bill Arnold, Acting Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said. “His experience in the classroom, church, and as a songwriter brings enormous strength to our community. We are delighted to have him join our faculty.”
Dr. Powers has authored several books and papers, his latest book is Watchnight: John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service, published in 2016 with Seedbed. In 2009, he was awarded the Hoyt Hickman Award by the Order of St. Luke at Asbury Seminary for excellence in liturgical scholarship and leading public worship.
He is currently writing a Ph.D. dissertation through The London School of Theology, and holds the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Florida, as well as an M.A. in Christian Ministries with a focus in worship studies from Asbury Theological Seminary.
He currently works as the Director of Student Involvement at World Gospel Mission at Asbury University and as an adjunct professor at United Theological Seminary and Asbury University. He has also served as the worship pastor at The Offerings Community (UMC) of Lexington, Ky., and as a freelance producer and songwriting consultant with Oakwood Sound Design. He produced EP albums for three independent Christian recording artists, as well as served as an album consultant on a hymn/spirituals album project for country recording artist Martina McBride.
Dr. Sam Kim—New Assistant Professor of Missiology
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sam Kim to the Asbury Theological Seminary community as Assistant Professor of Missiology on the Kentucky Campus. Dr. Kim recently completed her Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Seminary in 2013. Her dissertation examined the Identity Crisis of Jordanian BMB (Believer from Muslim Background) Women at the Beginning Phase of New Faith.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Sam Kim to the work of Asbury Theological Seminary,” Dr. Bill T. Arnold, Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said. “Her breadth of experience as a teacher, student, pastor and with cross-cultural missions brings enormous strength to our faculty team and an added resource for our students. We are grateful to have her on our team as we work toward fulfilling our 2023 Strategic Plan.”
Dr. Kim has authored two books and a variety of papers. Her third book is to be published this year. She actively works with Syrian refugees and participates in cross-cultural ministries in Jordan, working in hospitals and mentoring others in leadership. Her areas of interest include world religion and theology of mission, evangelism and discipleship, identity, women’s studies, and cultural anthropology.
Prior to completing her Ph.D. from Asbury Seminary, she earned a Master of Theology in Missiology from the Asian Center for Theological Studies in South Korea and a Master of Divinity from Seoul Theological University in South Korea. She is currently studying at Yarmuk University in Jordan, pursuing a Master of Arts in Anthropology.
She currently serves on the International Council of Interserve, as the Mission Pastor of Jangjungdan Korean Evangelical Holiness Church, as the Adjunct Professor of the Asian Center for Theological Studies in South Korea, and as a Representative in the Middle East and North Africa for All Nations Missions Center. She has served as a missionary with Interserve for 15 years and as a minister with the Christian Medical Fellowship in Korea from 1997 to 2001.
When not in the pulpit or classroom, Dr. Kim enjoys playing the piano and flute, and walking.
Dr. Michael Voigts—New Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Voigts to the community as Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation on the Kentucky Campus. Dr. Voigts has taught as an affiliate professor at Asbury Seminary since 2008 and will join the community in this new role on July 1, 2017.
“I am delighted that Dr. Mike Voigts will be joining the ministry of Asbury Theological Seminary,” President Timothy Tennent said. “His breadth of experience as a teacher, pastor, researcher, author and mentor brings enormous strength to our faculty team and an added resource for our students. We are truly blessed by God to have someone with his background helping us to fulfill our 2023 Strategic Plan.”
Dr. Voigts experienced his call to preach when he was 10 years old and has been in pastoral ministry since 1993. Currently, he pastors at Centenary United Methodist Church (UMC) in Danville, Ky. He also serves as a mentor and second reader for more than 10 Asbury Seminary Doctor of Ministry students. He currently teaches courses in spiritual formation, church history, and United Methodist doctrine and polity.
He is the author of several articles and one book, Letters of Ascent: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux. After completing his M.Div. and D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1993 and 2004, he pursued his Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Brunel University/London School of Theology. His thesis explored “Regere Animas in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux: A Methodology for Twelfth-Century Ecclesiastical Reform.”
“We are very pleased and grateful that Dr. Voigts is joining our team and helping our students live out our mission of ‘the whole Bible for the whole world,’” Dr. Doug Matthews, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said. “His passion, skill set, vision, love for students and gift for encouraging others all set him apart to train our students to make a global impact.”
Dr. Voigts has served as pastor in the Central Texas Conference of the UMC, Associate Pastor at St. Luke UMC, Senior Pastor at Wilmore UMC and Senior Pastor at Centenary UMC before coming to Asbury Seminary. He has received several awards, including the Outstanding Rural Pastor Award from the Texas Council of Churches and the Five Star Pastor Award from the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church.
When not in the pulpit or classroom, Dr. Voigts enjoys writing, amateur photography, the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (he reads The Lord of the Rings annually), and is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He usually has at least one cup of coffee nearby at all times.
Asbury Seminary Receives Grant from Wabash Center for Teaching & Learning in Theology & Religion
Asbury Theological Seminary received a $33,000 grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion. This grant allows students to explore and prepare to teach online courses prior to graduation to prepare them for a job post-graduation. This grant is a dimension of the Lily Endowment and begins June 2017 to June 2019.
“Asbury Seminary is a flagship institution in online teaching, and it has been our desire to connect this rich online teaching resource with the Ph.D. degree program to give these students exceptional training in online teaching,” Dr. Kima Pachuau, Dean of Advanced Research Programs, said. “The project, designed by Dr. Marmon and Dr. Hale, will give opportunities for Ph.D. students to work side-by-side with their professors from course planning all the way to operating online classes and assessing class works. We are extremely thankful to Drs. Marmon and Hale for the excellent project and Wabash Center for the generous funding.”
Asbury Seminary’s project is entitled “Getting in Line with Online Learning: Ph.D. Apprenticeships in Online Education.” Asbury Seminary plans to use its funding to prepare qualifying Ph.D. students to work with a faculty member in their discipline by teaching an online course. During the first semester of the course, students observe a faculty member teaching an online class and vice versa second semester.
Dr. Dale Hale, Director of Distributed Learning, and Dr. Ellen Marmon, Professor of Christian Discipleship and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, co-direct this program. The Seminary’s Instruction Design Services will assist in ongoing training throughout the duration of the grant.
The Wabash Center supports teachers of religion and theology in higher education through meetings and workshops, grants, consultants, a journal and other resources to make accessible the scholarship of teaching and learning. All Wabash Center programs are funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.
New Testament Scholar Craig Keener’s NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Named Bible of the Year
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) named Dr. Craig Keener’s NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible as the Bible of the Year at the 2017 Christian Book Awards. The Christian Book Awards have recognized the highest quality in Christian books since 1978 and are the most prestigious awards in the religious publishing industry.
“I am grateful that this award draws attention to the value of this work,” Dr. Keener, F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Seminary, said. “Many other aspects of the Bible seem clear to readers, but in most passages there are other issues that seem foreign to us because the Bible was originally written in a different time and place. Getting the background that helps us hear it the way that its first hearers heard it makes it much more accessible for many readers today.”
Dr. Keener authored the New Testament notes and many sidebars, while his co-author, Dr. John Walton, Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, provided the Old Testament notes.
The Christian Book Awards are judged based on audience, version/content, features, helps, design and impact. Dr. Keener’s book offers behind-the-scenes details you may have been missing, with insight into customs, literature and culture of Bible times.
The ECPA is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Its goal is to build networking, information and advocacy opportunities to effectively produce and deliver transformative Christian content.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Keener on his contribution and achievement!
David Bauer Prize for Excellence in Writing Winners Announced
Asbury Theological Seminary’s chapter of the Theta Phi Honors Society awarded three students the David Bauer Prize for Excellence in Writing. This year marks the first for this competition and provides students pursuing master’s degrees with an opportunity to present original research to their peers.
“Theta Phi is an international honors society composed of independently-operating chapters,” Robert Book, President of the Seminary’s Theta Phi chapter, said. “It seeks to recognize and champion the dedication and accomplishments of highly achieving students at Asbury Seminary.”
David R. Bauer Excellence in Writing Winners
First Place: Peter J. Smith
Second Place: Taylor S. Brown
Third Place: Jane Shoemaker
These academic papers are written by current students and can come from any field of study. The subject matter must directly relate to the Christian faith, but encourages all students, no matter their field of research to participate.
Theta Phi is an international honors society composed of independently operating chapters. It seeks to recognize the dedication and accomplishments of students at Asbury Seminary.
Wesley Dolls
The children of Church of the Holy Trinity, Grahamville (Anglican), in Ridgeland, South Carolina love their Wesley dolls. The Rev. Dr. James Gibson (M.Div. 1993) is pictured here with the children of the parish holding their beloved “Father Jack” and “Father Charles.”
OneMission Headquarters-Update from Dexter Porter, Alumni Ambassador
Dickie Lee and I are visiting Alumni in Greenwood, IN and Greentown, IN. We have been at OneMission Headquarters ((OMS). We were provided a tour of headquarters yesterday by Donald E. Saum (67). He will be on campus next week for the Golden Grad celebration. He arranged a meeting in the office of David E. Dick (81) Vice President at Large. Don and his wife Peggy joined us for lunch yesterday.
O. Kemp Edwards (65) was available in his office for a visit. We also had lunch with Jay K. Six (78) and Linda J. Six (78). Jay, Dickie Lee and I graduated from West Virginia University. General Info below: https://www.onemissionsociety.org/give/TheSixes
D. Min. Slogan
Dr. Ellen Marmon and Dr. Jim Miller have decided the D. Min program needs a new slogan. After watching our D. Min. grads jump on the internet whenever we got near wireless here in Nairobi, the new slogan for the program (and the Seminary) is:
The World is Our Hotspot.
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