Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

With tremendous gratitude, Garrett celebrates the life of the Reverend Dr. Taylor McConnell, who recently passed into glory. From 1967 - 1987, Dr. McConnell served on the seminary's faculty and also as Dean of Students—helping to steward the institution through a pivotal period of social and institutional change. Together with his wife June, Dr. McConnell became an early forerunner for research into multicultural educational ministries and congregational studies, conducting pivotal scholarship into how to best nurture Christian faith. That commitment to formation carried into their work at Garrett, where he served as a beloved faculty member through the union with Evangelical Theological Seminary—helping to design a new curriculum to train M.Div. students, and shaping a generation of faith leaders. His and June's use of ethnographic methodologies long predated their widespread adoption in theological fields and offered crucial insight into oral cultures and faith formation. Their work exemplifies the marriage between rigorous scholarship, pastoral sensibilities, and practical ministry that is now a hallmark for Garrett's educational approach. We pray for his family in this time of grief, and thank God for the scholarship and institutional legacies through which the Spirit will continue to work, seeding abundant life. Click the link to learn more about Dr. McConnell's life and ministry. And if you studied with or worked beside Dr. McConnell, please share a memory in the comments as we celebrate his life.

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The Hebrew Scriptures have so much (in such specificity and consistency) about hospitality and the dignity of the foreign resident. It is imperative for faith leaders to understand the texts and to respond with moral clarity to issues of immigration and the realities of immigrants. In this 90-minute webinar, participants will explore texts in the Hebrew Scriptures and practice interpreting for our time and place. Participants will walk away with skills in interpretation as well how to reference scripture to support the hospitality and dignity of immigrants.

Click the link to register: https://garrettseminary.wufoo.com/forms/s3f3yhx1cc3wxl/

Held in Dallas on April 29-May 2, the Shifting the Atmosphere conference brought together pastors, worship leaders, and ministry teams from Black Christian congregations across the nation to come together with a collaborative coaching event put co-lead by Garrett Seminary's Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music and Worship in the Black Church & Beyond and Strengthening the Black Church of the 21st Century, an initiative of the United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries. "Throughout the conference, one message became increasingly clear: atmosphere matters... Atmosphere is created through posture, presence, intentionality, authenticity, and spiritual grounding," Rev. Dr. Cynthia Williams, director of the Junius B. Dotson Institute, shared. "Atmosphere creates openness. It creates receptivity. It createes apce for reflection and renewal." Click to read more about the insights that the conference generated from Rev. Dr. Williams and others: https://buff.ly/LHuJReP

Answering God’s call is rarely a straightforward business, which is why Garrett Seminary created the Laity Discernment Cohort, semester-long opportunity for lay persons to take a deeply-discounted Garrett course and explore their call through conversation with Garrett faculty, staff, and alums. “Seeing the wide diversity, people who have atypical paths, who enter seminary later in life, that was a big deal,” LDC attendee Missy Thrasher-Lyon said. “It was huge to realize there could be space for my life experience, and how directly my calling can employ the gifts God has already given me.” You can hear more from Missy and others in the LDC program by clicking the following link: https://www.garrett.edu/an-invitation-to-discernment/.

We invite anyone who is interested or curious about the Laity Discernment Cohort to apply; the application deadline is July 15th: https://www.garrett.edu/laity-cohort/.

"The story of Creation isn't only about what we do to the Earth," says Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy, "But about what the Earth and all that is on it continues to offer within the life that we share." Dr. Sherman-Conroy was one of three keynote speakers at "For All Creation," a gathering held on April 18-19th in dynamic partnership between Garrett Seminary, the Center for Ecological Regeneration, and Hennepin Ave. UMC in Minneapolis, MN. Bringing together scholars, community activists, advocacy groups, and area artists, participants cherished in company and the work as described by President Javier as "a shared ecology of formation." Click the link to read more about how the inspiring event took place, as well as listen to the presentations made by Dr. Matthew Fox, Dr. Sherman-Conroy, and urban farmer and activist Will Allen.

"The Garrett-Hennepin partnership, rooted here in the Twin Cities, with partnerships connected across the region, and around the world—we played a key role," Dr. Timothy Eberhart, Director of the Center for Ecological Regeneration reflected, "What began as a conversation led to a class, which led to a collective, which led to gardens and solar panels and advocacy and a weekend celebration... and a lot of inspired dreaming, which led to… well, you tell me, what happened next?”

https://www.garrett.edu/a-shared-ecology-of-formation/

Congratulations to Garrett alum Rev. Dana Neuhauser who was awarded the Jeanne Audrey Powers Award today at this year’s Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church!