McCormick Theological Seminary Appoints the Rev. Julian DeShazier as Mentor for Community Engagement Fellows

09-16-2015

McCormick Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Julian DeShazier to serve as Mentor of the Community Engagement Fellows Program.

The Community Engagement Fellows Program, in its second year at McCormick, is a signature initiative of the school. The Program identifies, attracts and enrolls service and justice-minded students who want to maintain their commitment to these causes while attending school. Dr. Ted Hiebert, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty states, “We want what they are doing in the community to connect with their experience in the classroom, bringing both experiences to bear in their career."

Over the past two years, fifteen incoming students have received the distinction of serving as a Community Engagement Fellow. Their leadership initiatives (local, regional, and national) are positively impacting the classroom, the campus, the community, and the country. The Program, which will now be integrated into the Office of Experiential Education and Field Studies (EE&FS) under the leadership of Dr. Joanne Lindstrom and the Rev. David Watkins, led the school to seek out Rev. DeShazier. “Rev. DeShazier embodies the faithful, transformative, exemplary Christian leadership for the church and the world that McCormick is committed to nurturing in our students,” stated Director of Experiential Education and Field Studies, Dr. Joanne Lindstrom.  

Rev. DeShazier is no stranger to the McCormick community. For several years, he has been a member of the EE&FS teaching team and has supervised a number of McCormick students engaged in their field study work.  "Julian is a perfect and powerful fit for McCormick and for the Fellows program," said Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada, President of McCormick. "His pastor’s heart mixed with his community organizing skills make him a great resource for our students and a champion for our cause of launching seminary graduates into the world." The Rev. Veronica Johnson, Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment, exclaims: "All year I have been playing Julian's video, Ministry Still Matters for prospective students who are inspired by his call to ministry. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAJTtfVaOgU) And now we will have him in person to share his story as well." Rev. DeShazier is pastor to many members of the McCormick community who are active at University Church.

The Rev. Wayne Meisel, the Director of the Center for Faith and Service states, "This is a great example of how an individual school delivers innovation and leadership for theological education around the country. I'm thrilled Pastor Julian has joined our movement and I know he will serve as an outstanding mentor and leader in our program."

Rev. DeShazier is also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and serves as the Senior Pastor of University Church in Hyde Park.  He is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Besides being a highly regarded pastor in the greater Chicago community, Rev. DeShazier is a nationally known recording artist, known to many as J.Kwest (http://jkwest.com/). His song, "Strange Fruit," earned him an Emmy Award (https://vimeo.com/85272088). His newest song, “I Woke Up,” (http://jkwest.com/music-i-woke-up/) was released last month and has been provided to every one of this year’s forty-one incoming students at McCormick.