Alums reflect on the theological voices who ignited their vocational passion
12-01-2022
McCormick alums reflect on the theological voices who ignited their vocational passion.
The theological voices that most fascinated me at a young age were two pastors in my hometown, Akron, Ohio: the late Rev. Dr. Diana Swoope of the Arlington Church of God and Bishop F. Josephus (Joey) Johnson, II, of The House of the Lord. I had friends who attended both of their churches. Rev. Swoope and Bishop Johnson preached the Word of God masterfully and with clarity. Even before she became the senior pastor, I remember being on the edge of my seat hearing Pastor Swoope in-person. She inspired me and helped me discern my own call to ministry during young adulthood. I intently listened to Bishop Johnson’s weekly radio broadcast while riding in my father’s car. Bishop Johnson’s deep knowledge of Scripture was impressive and undeniable. Both revolutionary pastors were examples of Holy Spirit-filled vessels who were clearly committed to declaring the truth of God’s Word and promoting the growth of God’s people. Although as a young person, I never verbalized wanting to be a pastor or preacher when I grew up, but I admired these pastors from afar. I patterned myself after their excellence because they demonstrated the best of what a preacher or pastor could be.
Rev. Rosalyn Bates, MDiv 2014
What strikes me about the theological voices that ignited my vocational passion is that my collection of people is both disturbing and weird. Disturbing because the lead voices forming the “theological quintet” in my mind are all white males. Like I said, disturbing. As for weird? Well, their names all begin with the letter “B”. Barth because I was excited to practice his notion of “preaching with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.” Something I am not sure how to do today when newspapers barely exist and I preach in a church that’s intentionally a politics-free zone on Sundays. Buechner for being an inspiring wordsmith who encouraged me to listen to my life. Borg for stretching boundaries and embracing an approach to faith that was intellectually rigorous and exciting; I could not wait to share his ideas with my congregation! And, Burkhart, as in the late Professor John Burkhart of McCormick, whose work Worship fed me as I struggled to design meaningful liturgy for a new church. A final “B” - for Bill. For it was Bill Enright who modeled for me how seminary classroom theology could be made powerfully real in the local church.
Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Dickelman, DMin 1991, MDiv 1983
You may need to be of a certain age to remember Dr. Joseph Haroutunian (1904-1968). He taught at McCormick from 1940-1962 and then at University of Chicago Divinity School from 1962-1968.
My studies of systematic theology focused primarily on Bart and Tillich, but it was Joe Haroutunian who brought those intellectual foundations to my heart. His last book God With us: A Theology of Transpersonal Life (1965) answered questions about how theology matters in everyday life. He helped me translate intellectual and logical understandings into personal relationships and community life. This has inspired my preaching, teaching and writing over the past forty years.
The Rev. Dr. Judy Mitchell (Todd) Rich, M.A., M.Div., D.Min. was ordained in 1981 and served churches in Michigan, Kansas and Ohio before retiring to Alabama. She is a frequent guest preacher in the churches of North Alabama Presbytery. Judy has also written five novels, which focus on mysterious intrigue, insidious evil, and the blessings of church community. In addition, they reveal some of the complexities in the life of a pastor.
Rev. Dr. Judy Rich, DMin 1990, MDiv 1980, MA 1967
Rev. Rosalyn Bates
MDiv 2014
Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Dickelman, DMin 1991, MDiv 1983
Rev. Dr. Judy Rich
DMin 1990, MDiv 1980,
MA 1967