2018 News and Events

Perkins School of Theology is the recipient of a five-year, $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., for an initiative designed to strengthen congregational ministries with youth. Co-directors of the grant are the Rev. Bart Patton, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Education, and Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison, Associate Dean, Office of External Programs.

The annual award is presented to a layperson in the United States who exemplifies an exceptional commitment of service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world. Awarded first in 1993, the award has been presented to more than 45 distinguished laypersons throughout the years.

As it has every year since 1959, the Perkins School of Theology community will celebrate Advent by recalling an ancient story: the coming of the Christ Child. This year, however, the annual worship service will include some new twists. It’s the first led by Marcell Silva Steuernagel, Perkins’ new Director of the Master of Sacred Music program.

Indiana Wesleyan University’s John Wesley Honors College is pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Aldersgate Prize: Natalia Marandiuc’s “The Goodness of Home: Human and Divine Love and the Making of the Self” (Oxford University Press, 2018).

Cynthia Fierro Harvey (M.Div. ’99), bishop of the Louisiana Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, received the 2018 recipient of the Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus/a Award on Nov. 12. The event was held in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall on the Perkins campus. Watch the video below.

The annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature takes place Nov. 17-20 in Denver, and many Perkins School of Theology and SMU professors—as well as SMU Ph.D. students— will be presenting research and participating on panels and in committees.

Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, will be the featured guest for the 2019 Bolin Family Public Life Personal Faith Scholarship Luncheon, scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 8, 2019, at the Martha Proctor Mack Grand Ballroom of the Umphrey Lee Student Center on the SMU campus. This is the tenth Public Life Personal Faith luncheon. Woodruff will be interviewed by Peggy Wehmeyer, former religion correspondent for ABC World News Tonight, on the topic of personal faith in the public square.

Applications are now being accepted for the hybrid United Methodist Studies course, to be taught by three leaders in world Methodism, which runs January 3-5, 2019. The deadline for enrollment is December 1, but discounted early enrollment ends November 3.

The Dallas Chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA, a national grassroots organization devoted to strengthening the U.S.- UN relationship through public education and advocacy, announced its 2018 Honorees – an extraordinary group of North Texans, for their bold, transformative work shifting the world onto a more sustainable and resilient path.

Since 1988, the Perkins School of Youth Ministry has taken place each January as a way to offer a collaborative learning environment for sharing best practices and trends relating to youths in the church.

Cynthia Fierro Harvey (M.Div. ’99), bishop of the Louisiana Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, has been chosen as the 2018 recipient of the Perkins School of Theology’s Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. The prestigious award will be presented to Bishop Harvey at a dinner banquet at 5 p.m. on Nov. 12.

All prospective degree and non-degree students are invited to attend Inside Perkins, a free information session offered by Perkins School of Theology. An evening session is set for Oct. 3, 5 to 8:30 p.m. and a daylong session will be held Nov. 13.

Dr. Frank A. Thomas, an internationally renowned author, scholar and preacher, will be the keynote speaker on Monday, Oct. 22 at the second annual ArkLaTex (Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas) Lectures in Preaching.

An interdisciplinary dialogue, “The ABC’s of Theology and Criminal Justice Reform on the Lives of School Children of Color,” set for Monday, Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.in Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall (5901 Bishop Boulevard) at Perkins School of Theology and will bring together scholars from Perkins School of Theology and the Dedman School of Law.

All prospective degree and non-degree students are invited to attend Inside Perkins, a free information session offered by Perkins School of Theology, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21. In addition to receiving a first-hand look at the range of educational opportunities offered at both the Dallas campus and through the Houston-Galveston Extension Program, participants will have the opportunity to engage with noted theologian Dr. Stanley Hauerwas.

“The Pietists,” an exhibition of works from Bridwell Library Special Collections written by precursors to and leaders of the Pietist movement in Holland, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States is the featured fall exhibit in the library galleries and will be on display through Dec. 14.

Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is accepting nominations for its 2018 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. The deadline to submit nominations is Sept. 1.

"JustWorship" the 2018 Fall Convocation at Perkins School of Theology set for Nov. 12-13, will explore worship through the lenses of social justice and reconciliation with internationally acclaimed author, theologian and pastor Brian McLaren and Chicago-based preacher, liturgist and activist Sandra Maria Van Opstal.

“Keeping Faith in a Multifaith Society” is the theme for the 2018 Houston Lay School of Theology, set for Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 Main Street, in Houston. Featured speakers and discussion leaders include Dr. Robert Hunt, Director of Global Theological Education at Perkins School of Theology and Rev. Gregory Han of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston.

Marcell Steuernagel, an internationally acclaimed musician and scholar, is the new director of the Master of Sacred Music (M.S.M.) Degree Program at Perkins School of Theology – Southern Methodist University.

Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General, on Monday, June 11, 2018, declared that a strict interpretation of asylum eligibility excludes victims of domestic abuse and gang violence, reversing his own Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals decision in 2016. In doing so, thousands of children, women and men fleeing Central America’s well-documented criminal gang violence are at risk. Also, at risk are the thousands of women and children fleeing honor killings and genital mutilation globally.

Dean Craig C. Hill of Perkins School of Theology has announced two hirings that will further enhance the school’s admissions and recruiting efforts.

Seventy-five graduates of the Perkins School of Theology Class of 2018 were honored during the Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The ceremony, which took place at Highland Park United Methodist Church, also included the awarding of honors for academic excellence.

Perkins School of Theology will honor graduating seniors with a variety of events, including Bishop Cynthia Harvey, a Perkins alumna (M.Div. ’99) and episcopal leader of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, as preacher for the May 19 Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements.

Perkins School of Theology will honor graduating seniors with a variety of events, including Bishop Cynthia Harvey, a Perkins alumna (M.Div. ’99) and episcopal leader of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, as preacher for the May 19 Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements.

Rev. Dr. William J. Abraham, Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology, is the recipient of the 2018 SMU Faculty Career Achievement Award for his extensive work and dedication to Perkins and Southern Methodist University.

Perkins School of Theology has named Andrew Keck, former director of library services at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., as executive director of strategic initiatives. In the newly created position, Keck will work closely with Dean Craig C. Hill to provide leadership and management for school-wide projects and priorities.

Anthony Elia has been named J.S. Bridwell Foundation Endowed Librarian and Director of Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, effective June 1. He succeeds retiring Director Roberta Schaafsma, who has served in that role since April 2007.

Are you discerning a call to ministry? Explore the possibilities of life-changing graduate theological education at Perkins School of Theology during a free information session offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11.

A selection of publications by the Perkins School of Theology Faculty.

Perkins School of Theology Faculty Publications. A selection of publications by the Prekins School of Theology Faculty.

Hendrix College students will have an opportunity for early admission to Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, thanks to a new agreement between the two institutions. The agreement honors the institutions’ heritage in The United Methodist Church and their shared commitment to training students for ministry.

Students in Perkins School of Theology’s Houston-Galveston Extension Program will be able to earn the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.M.) degree completely on-site through a groundbreaking distance-education program scheduled to launch in fall 2018.

SMU is announcing plans to move forward with renovation of Bridwell Library, one of SMU’s most visible libraries and one of the preeminent theological libraries in the country. Funding secured from the J.S. Bridwell Foundation is enabling the $6.1 million renovation project to move forward. Renovations will allow the facility to continue its outstanding tradition of providing the highest quality resources and materials for theological scholarship and patron use.

Perkins School of Theology is honored to announce Dr. Lydia Bean, Dr. Kathryn S. Stream and Dr. Beverly E. White as recipients of the 2018 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award.

The 2018 Perkins Theological School for the Laity, a three-day event focusing on the Bible, theology, and spirituality is set for March 22-24 on the Southern Methodist University campus.

Explore the possibilities of a life-changing graduate theological education. All prospective degree and non-degree students are invited to attend Inside Perkins, a free information session offered by Perkins School of Theology, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 9.

Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University announces an exhibition highlighting forty-five Bibles from the collection of Thomas J. Harrison (1885-1963). This display will take place from February 1 through May 4, 2018 and will be located in The Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Galleries at Bridwell Library.

Father and son team, Bishop Scott J. Jones of the Texas Annual Conference and Rev. Arthur D. Jones of St. Andrew United Methodist Church Plano, will present their recent book Ask: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age at the upcoming Houston Lay School of Theology.

Perkins School of Theology is accepting applications for merit-based scholarships (awarded on a rolling basis) through Thursday, Feb 1 and for need-based scholarships (provided upon availability) through Thursday, March 1.

Critically acclaimed international best-selling author Joseph Jaworski will be the featured speaker for the 2018 Bolin Family Public Life Personal Faith Scholarship Luncheon, scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 2, at the Martha Proctor Mack Grand Ballroom of the Umphrey Lee Student Center on the SMU campus.

Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University announces an exhibition of documents and images from the personal papers of Ernest T. Dixon, Jr. (1922-1996), William Talbot Handy, Jr. (1924-1998), and Rhymes H. Moncure, Jr. (1945-2006). These archival collections are being highlighted as part of the Black Archives Matter at SMU Initiative.