Visionary Awards Dinner Honors Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
11-13-2014
McCormick Theological Seminary’s inaugural Visionary Awards Dinner co-chaired by Elizabeth Foster and Sara Pfaff, was held on Friday October 24, 2014, at the Casino Club in conjunction with the October Board of Trustees meetings.
McCormick honored the Rev. Dr. John Buchanan, Pastor Emeritus of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Rev. Buchanan was honored for his work as editor of the Christian Century and former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), an author, speaker and visionary leader in progressive Christian thought and ministry, nationally. The Visionary Award honors distinguished persons who embody McCormick’s core values and vision for the future, and are agents of transformational change.
Rev. Buchanan remarked, “I came to deeply appreciate McCormick’s distinguished history and its unique place in American theological education today. If there is one thing everybody knows for sure in this business, it is that in this rapidly changing environment in American culture and in the churches, that theological education faces new and unprecedented challenges… If ever there was a time for bold, innovative thinking with these, in many ways most traditional of institutions, it is now, today.”
Rev. Dr. John Buchanan's Complete Remarks
It was a night full of love for Rev. Buchanan, for McCormick’s trustees, faculty, students, alumni, staff and cherished friends, partners and sponsors. It was an opportunity to visit with current students, alumni and faculty, and catch a glimpse of the transformation McCormick has brought about in their lives, the differences they are making in the world and how McCormick has equipped them for their ministry. About this, Rev. Buchanan also said that McCormick “is positioned beautifully, strategically to be a leader” in theological education, and added that he wondered “why anyone would want to study anywhere else.”
McCormick was pleased to welcome many who are important in the life of the seminary and in the PC(USA). President Frank Yamada gave the invocation. Moderator Heath Rada of the General Assembly, President Emerita Cynthia Campbell, and former Executive Director of the General Assembly Council, John Detterick and his wife Bobbye were in attendance as well as The Rev. Robert Reynolds, Executive Presbyter of the Chicago Presbytery. Also representing the Chicago Presbytery was the Rev. Don Register, former pastor of Sixth Grace and Associate for Mission at the presbytery. Rev. Dr. Bill Enright, the former pastor of 2nd Presbyterian in Indianapolis and the retired director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and Judith Pierpont, President of the Casino Club were also present.
With over 240 wonderful guests in attendance, McCormick raised over $161,000 for its mission of nurturing women and men for the creative and relevant Christian ministry needed for the church of the future. Instrumental in the success were the Angel Sponsors of the event: Fourth Presbyterian of Chicago, Elen and Paul Gignilliat, Margaret Hart, and Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. (Additional sponsor information.)
About McCormick Theological Seminary
McCormick is one of 12 schools related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The seminary, located among the Hyde Park cluster of theological schools, including the University of Chicago, is affiliated with the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS). As one of the nation’s most respected seminaries, McCormick prepares women and men from all denominations and backgrounds for Christian ministry and service, advancing a model of education that is cross-cultural, urban, Reformed and ecumenical.
