Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa names new dean
BY BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Saturday, March 16, 2013
3/16/13 at 6:13 AM
The Rev. Nancy Pittman will be the next dean of Phillips Theological Seminary, President Gary Peluso-Verdend has announced.
Pittman is director of the doctor of ministry program at the seminary and has a background in both seminary teaching and in congregational leadership.
She was an assistant professor of New Testament Studies at Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan as a missionary for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
Before coming to Phillips full-time in 2005, she was the minister of First Christian Church in Tahlequah. She also has been an adjunct faculty member at the seminary, teaching, among other courses, The Gospel of John, Interpreting the Book of Revelation, Introduction to Preaching and Preaching the Lectionary.
Pittman said she was excited and nervous about her new position.
"We're facing some real challenges, as a school and as part of the ecumenical Protestant movement that has experienced some declines," she said.
"Our challenge at Phillips Theological Seminary will be how to train and educate leaders in this shifting religious environment in the United States; how to prepare our students to deal with churches that are losing steam, as well as to develop new communities of faith and new ways to proclaim the Gospel."
She said it will be an ongoing task to re-articulate the principles of the ecumenical movement for "lots of folks who don't know that we've been working for church unity for decades now," as well as developing interreligious understanding and relationship with non-Christians.
Peluso-Verdend said Pitt- man was chosen after a national search that found some promising candidates.
"But when we considered Nancy's significant contributions to the seminary in revising two degree programs, her scholarship, her service to the church and the community, her institutional citizenship, and her reputation as a preacher and workshop leader among the Disciples of Christ, we concluded that Nancy was the right candidate for this time," he said.
When she is not teaching, working with students in the doctoral program and developing new doctoral specializations, he said, she will continue her research of Johannine literature in the New Testament as it relates to women in pastoral leadership and the Christian community, topics about which she is now writing a book.
She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a graduate of Texas Christian University, Brite Divinity School and Southern Methodist University.
She will assume her new duties in July when the current dean, Don A. Pittman, her husband, retires.
Phillips Theological Seminary is a graduate-level ministry training program affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Original Print Headline: Minister named as next dean at Tulsa seminary
Bill Sherman 918-581-8398
bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The Rev. Nancy Pittman will become the new dean of Phillips Theological Seminary on July 1. Courtesy
|
