President's eUpdate
Dear Saint Paul Community,
Dr. Angela Sims has been installed in the Robert B. and Kathleen Rogers Chair in Church and Society. The books, art and mementos have been packed and moved home to Lawrence, KS. The final Leadership Team meeting has been completed. The keys, ID card, automobile and laptop have been turned in. My personal calendar looks appropriately empty. My heart is full to overflowing with gratitude for the opportunity to serve with and among all of you for these last twenty months. Thank you for the prayers, notes of support and many words of encouragement.
The Board of Trustees received the Strategic Plan Document 2017-2025 last week. The Strategic Planning Team made their final report to the Board on February 26 and I am elated to announce that the Board approved the Strategic Plan after an eight hour working session. Every strategic direction and goal and indicator of effectiveness was reviewed and discussed. Words were changed, goals tweaked and repositioned. The edits are being made and as soon as Twila Glenn, Chair of the Board of Trustees, gives it a final review, the Strategic Plan will be posted to the Saint Paul website. We will let you know when that occurs so that you can read, study and drop a note of appreciation to the members of the Strategic Planning Team with attention to the Office of the President or email to Melissa Whalen, the Executive Assistant to the President.
I have served on a number of strategic planning groups over the years, chaired some, resourced others and facilitated too many to count. I have never worked with a more dedicated team than this one. Nancy Brown served as a superb leader, shepherd, encourager, research guru, and clarion communicator. Members of the Board who served on the team were: Ashley Cheung, Bob Cox, Twila Glenn, and Angela Sims. Other members were: Brian Green-Young, Mark Holland, Nancy Lambert, Tom McDaniel, Marcia McFee, Tex Sample, Kendall Waller, and Karyn Wiseman. (I loved serving ex-officio!)
The Board of Trustees received the Strategic Plan Document 2017-2025 last week. The Strategic Planning Team made their final report to the Board on February 26 and I am elated to announce that the Board approved the Strategic Plan after an eight hour working session. Every strategic direction and goal and indicator of effectiveness was reviewed and discussed. Words were changed, goals tweaked and repositioned. The edits are being made and as soon as Twila Glenn, Chair of the Board of Trustees, gives it a final review, the Strategic Plan will be posted to the Saint Paul website. We will let you know when that occurs so that you can read, study and drop a note of appreciation to the members of the Strategic Planning Team with attention to the Office of the President or email to Melissa Whalen, the Executive Assistant to the President.
I have served on a number of strategic planning groups over the years, chaired some, resourced others and facilitated too many to count. I have never worked with a more dedicated team than this one. Nancy Brown served as a superb leader, shepherd, encourager, research guru, and clarion communicator. Members of the Board who served on the team were: Ashley Cheung, Bob Cox, Twila Glenn, and Angela Sims. Other members were: Brian Green-Young, Mark Holland, Nancy Lambert, Tom McDaniel, Marcia McFee, Tex Sample, Kendall Waller, and Karyn Wiseman. (I loved serving ex-officio!)
This team met monthly, conducted numerous focus groups, interviewed experts and visionaries, committed themselves to read and read and write and read more! They pushed, challenged and argued (civilly) with other. The focus was always singular: The future of Saint Paul School Theology. It was a gift to work with this amazing collection of God's people.
On Monday I signed individual letters to Saint Paul graduates who will celebrate the 25th or 50th anniversary in May. We have made an intentional effort to invite, recognize and honor our anniversary year grads during the May 20 Commencement in the sanctuary of Church of the Resurrection at 11:00am. I hope many of them will be able to attend. The Outstanding Graduate Award will also be presented. The Rev. Dr. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, MDiv '76, is the speaker. The Saint Paul: Oklahoma City University Commencement will be on May 27 at 4:00pm. Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. is the speaker. Please make your plans to attend one or both!
While serving as senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS, I returned to the church on a very cold February afternoon from a graveside service. As I turned into the parking lot I noticed my neighbor and clergy colleague at Plymouth Congregational was struggling to tie a banner to the railing in front of the church. He successfully anchored three corners, but the fourth flapped around in such a manner I couldn't read the message on the banner. I stopped in the street and shouted to Peter Luckey, "What does it say?" He pulled the renegade corner down and stepped to the side so I could see: GOD IS STILL SPEAKING with the huge comma. We gave each other a thumb's up!
On Monday I signed individual letters to Saint Paul graduates who will celebrate the 25th or 50th anniversary in May. We have made an intentional effort to invite, recognize and honor our anniversary year grads during the May 20 Commencement in the sanctuary of Church of the Resurrection at 11:00am. I hope many of them will be able to attend. The Outstanding Graduate Award will also be presented. The Rev. Dr. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, MDiv '76, is the speaker. The Saint Paul: Oklahoma City University Commencement will be on May 27 at 4:00pm. Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. is the speaker. Please make your plans to attend one or both!
While serving as senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS, I returned to the church on a very cold February afternoon from a graveside service. As I turned into the parking lot I noticed my neighbor and clergy colleague at Plymouth Congregational was struggling to tie a banner to the railing in front of the church. He successfully anchored three corners, but the fourth flapped around in such a manner I couldn't read the message on the banner. I stopped in the street and shouted to Peter Luckey, "What does it say?" He pulled the renegade corner down and stepped to the side so I could see: GOD IS STILL SPEAKING with the huge comma. We gave each other a thumb's up!
God is still speaking to and through Saint Paul School of Theology and to each of you who have read these occasional eUpdates. Thumb's up!
Blessings,
Rev. H. Sharon Howell, President
Saint Paul School of Theology
sharon.howell@spst.edu
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Special Events
Dr. F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Evangelical Society Lecture
Saint Paul: Church of the Resurrection, C041
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 11:07 a.m.
Cleaver Lecture in Religion and Public Life
St. James United Methodist Church, Kansas City, MO
Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Stephen Ray
Wertsch Lecture
Saint Paul: Church of the Resurrection,
Wesley Covenant Chapel/Video-streamed to Saint Paul: OCU
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 11:07 a.m.
Dr. Emilie Townes
Sacred Worth & Women in Ministry Lecture and Workshop
Saint Paul: Church of the Resurrection, C041
Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 11:07 a.m.
Celebrate Saint Paul
Celebrating 8 years of seminary education at Saint Paul: OCU
United Methodist Church of the Servant, Oklahoma City, OK
Thursday, April 28, 2016, 6:30 p.m.
2016 Commencement - Leawood, KS
Saint Paul: Church of the Resurrection, Main Sanctuary
Friday, May 20, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
2016 Commencement - Oklahoma City, OK
Saint Paul: Oklahoma City University, W. Angie Smith Chapel
Friday, May 27, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.
For further information please contact:
Tracy Miller, tracy.miller@spst.edu
Register online: www.spst.edu/special-events
STAY IN TOUCH
Saint Paul: UM Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
(913) 253-5000
Saint Paul: Oklahoma City University
2501 North Blackwelder Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106, United States
(405) 208-5757
Saint Paul School of Theology
4370 West 109th Street SUITE 300
Overland Park, Kansas 66211, United States
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