The new InMinistry Delivery System for the MDiv program is poised to begin with the on-campus orientation and class, June 29-July 15. A hale & hearty group of pioneering students are gearing up to participate and faculty and staff have been working hard to get ready for them.

Since the last edition of The Moving Times, Seminary faculty and staff have:

• Participated in training in competency-based education (see photos)
• Participated in a site visit to the LLU/LSU extension campus
• Provided training on the mentoring program for several local and union conferences (with special recognition for the hard work of Dr. Walt Williams)
• Worked on the design of the "contextualized ministry component" for the first year
• Organized the orientation (with special thanks to Pastor Maury Castro for his hard work)

If you would like to learn more about the InMinistry Delivery System, we would encourage you to:

• Explore the InMinistry Web Site (a more professional version is "in the works")
• Read the "documents" listed under the documents tab on the InMinistry Web Site, especially the list of competencies for the "contextualized ministry component"
• Read the cover story in the June 28, 2001 Adventist Review, "The Making of a Pastor, 2001" by Bill Knott (which will be available on-line in a few days)

Thank you to all who are helping implement this important initiative.

The Seminary's Student Life Committee is pleased to announce the founding of the Hispanic Association of the Seminary with a distinguished set of founding officers. Chairman Skip Bell states, "As we look to the future we anticipate our Hispanic students making significant contributions to our community and shared ministry. Thank you for the enthusiastic leadership and compelling vision you share with our seminary community!"

Congratulations to President Denis Sand and his colleagues on the birth of this new student organization which joins a growing list of such groups--the Seminary Student Forum (SSF), Black Student Association of the Seminary (BSAS), Doctoral Students' Club, and Women's Ministries.

Staples and Bediako Honored at Commencement
[See below for more Graduation photos]

Dr. Russell Staples, alumnus and longtime member of the Seminary faculty, received the John Nevins Andrews Medallion.

The citation honoring Staples reads in part: "In retirement as well as in twenty-one years of service to Andrews University, Dr. Russell Staples has graced this campus as a revered senior professor, wise counselor, and Christian gentleman. . . . The Renaissance man recreated, he is most of all the 'good and faithful servant' of which the Bible speaks. Therefore, the faculty of Andrews University take pleasure in presenting the John Nevins Andrews Medallion to Dr. Russell L. Staples."

If you would like to read the citation in full, follow this link.

Dr. Matthew Bediako received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at the same gathering.

As Secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Dr. Bediako works closely with the Seminary and with the Institute of World Mission.

The citation honoring Bediako reads in part: "Although the great West African country of Ghana was his place of birth and the venue of his early professional growth, and although his blood ties to the Ashanti tribe are cherished, Matthew Bediako's real homeland is the Seventh-day Adventist church. . . . Because this Andrews alumnus and trustee of the University personifies the quintessential Christian administrator, the faculty of Andrews University present Matthew Ango Bediako as a candidate for the degree, Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa."

If you would like to read the citation in full, follow this link.

Summer Speaking Appointments

That Seminary faculty members ring the globe speaking, presenting, and teaching should come as no surprise. Still, it has been an inspiring exercise to collate a partial list of sermons, courses, workshops, seminars and evangelistic meetings to be presented by the Seminary faculty over the course of the summer. As you read through this list, we hope that you might find opportunity to be blessed by our faculty and to pray for their worldwide ministry.

Sabbath Sermon, "The Great Sabbath Welcome"

NADEI: Natural Church Development Coaches Training
May 14-17, 2001

To facilitate these newly trained coaches, a support network has been set up in North America, whereby the coaches meet regularly and a trainer contacts them regularly to help them develop their coaching skills. The event and support system has been developed and is supervised by NADEI, which sponsored the event. Bob Logan and Dave Wetzel from the NCD US office assisted in the training. Another training is being planned for next July.

-- Dr. Russell Burrill

In late May, Dean McVay joined Dr. Merlene Ogden, Dean of Affiliations and Extension Programs, and Dr. Karen Graham, Dean of the School of Education, on a site visit focused on the Andrews University programs offered at Spicer Memorial College.

Seminary programs offered at SMC include the on-going offering of the M.A. in Religion program and a recent and very successful Doctor of Ministry program cohort.

While on Spicer's campus, team members were warmly hosted by the Spicer administration and faculty led by the president, Dr. Suresh M. Gaikwad and his wife, Dr. Prema Gaikwad, Dean of the School of Education.

The visiting team conducted interviews with students, faculty and administrators and toured campus facilities. An evening banquet, sited at the President's home, was held for all Andrews University graduate students. All three team members spoke for vespers or worship services.

The team left with a strong appreciation for the mission and ministry of Spicer Memorial College and a sense of joy in collaborating with SMC in the delivery of graduate programs.

Dr. Vyhmeister Writes the Writing Handbook

We are pleased to announce the release of the following volume and to congratulate the author:

Nancy Jean Vyhmeister. Quality Research Papers for Students of Religion and Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 2001.

In sharing the news of the book's publication, Dr. Vyhmeister, Professor of World Mission, Emerita, wrote:

And how do you obtain a copy? You will find it at major on-line bookstores including Christian Book Distributors and Amazon. The Andrews University Bookstore is ordering the volume and will be stocking it soon.

The Building: Alumni Weekend Tours (Pictures taken April 28)
[For more Alumni Weekend tour photos, go to the Building Photo Gallery #1]