Alumni Day is Oct. 15, and I invite you to join with alums, faculty and staff from across the years to reconnect and celebrate the significant ministry and service of our graduates. Keeping our tradition of remembering our emeritus faculty, we also will honor Rev. Dr. Ervin Smith, emeritus professor of Christian ethics. Erv joined the faculty in 1971 and remains a beloved and influential presence in the life of the school. We will reflect on his work as scholar and teacher and on the impact he made on several generations of students.

We will begin the day with a 10:30 worship service, honoring the work of the 2018 Mount Alumni Award recipients. There is a common thread among this year’s awardees. As our region of the country grapples with the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, these three alums are engaged in substantial efforts to bring awareness and healing to individuals and communities.

Dr. Bradford Price, (M.Div. ’76, MADAM ’86) is a fully affiliated MTSO faculty member in pastoral care and counseling. He has taught an array of courses for more than 30 years and has been integral to the addictions work with the MADAM and MACM degrees.

Andrea Boxill (MACM ’00) is deputy director of the Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team at the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, where she monitors service delivery, assists in writing policy, interprets federal and state laws and regulations to ensure compliance, and assists in coalition building to address the opioid epidemic across the state.

Rev. Nancy Day-Achauer (M.Div. ’08) is pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Columbus, dynamically connecting that congregation with its neighborhood. Among her many community roles, she is a member of the city of Columbus’ Westland Area Commission, a founding member of the Prairie Township Community Health Action Team, director of addiction ministries for the Capitol Area South District of the West Ohio Conference and a member of the Franklin County Opiate Crisis Task Force.

Our hurting world is a better place for the work of these individuals, and we’re honored to count them as our alumni. I hope to see you here in October.

Jay Rundell

Two significant United Methodist events took place on MTSO's campus in July, beginning with a meeting of campus pastors from around the country.

More than 90 members of the United Methodist Campus Ministry Association gathered for the group's annual Summer Institute July 17-20, experiencing first-hand the school's unique beauty, hospitality and farm-to-table dining. MTSO welcomed not only campus pastors but sponsors, plenary speakers and preachers.

Members of the extended MTSO community provided leadership throughout the Summer Institute. Dean Valerie Bridgeman preached at opening worship, with President Jay Rundell celebrating communion. MTSO alum Anna Guillozet (’11), senior pastor of Church of the Master UMC, led a morning worship service. West Ohio Bishop Gregory Palmer, an MTSO trustee, preached at closing worship. And during a closing-night banquet, faculty members Yvonne Zimmerman and Tim Van Meter gave a presentation on MTSO's ecological commitments and the way sustainability is woven into degree programs. See MTSO's Facebook page for a Summer Institute photo album.

Less than a week after the campus pastors departed, the East Ohio and West Ohio conferences' Candidacy Summit Retreat began. The twice-yearly event centers on those exploring a call to UM ministry. This is our sixth year of hosting this event every July and January. It's a privilege we embrace.

A Candidacy Summit photo album is here.

MTSO’s 2018 Alumni Day features a luncheon honoring Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics Erv Smith and the presentation of the John and Ruth Mount Alumni Awards for Distinguished Service to Andrea Boxill, Nancy Day-Achauer and Brad Price. (See President Rundell's comments above.) As always, our delicious lunch will feature Seminary Hill Farm produce and other locally sourced food.

We welcome all alumni, students, faculty and staff – as well as former Methesco faculty and staff members – to take advantage of this opportunity to reconnect.

Alumni Day features events from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15. All events are being presented at no cost to guests, though everyone who plans to attend is asked to RSVP here. See you in October.

If you are considering graduate theological education, the Seminary & Theological Grad School Fair provides an opportunity to explore options from the comfort of your laptop. MTSO is among the seminaries that will participate in the Sept. 13 event.

MTSO's admissions and financial aid experts will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for group or individual live chatting throughout the day. Free advance registration is required and available here.

Of course, even a good online chat is no substitute for a campus visit. MTSO's Fall Admissions Open House is Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more and register for the open house here.

MTSO is in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its accrediting agencies. The school will undergo two comprehensive evaluation visits: Oct. 1-4 by a team representing the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and Oct. 8 and 9 by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. MTSO has been accredited by ATS since 1965 and by HLC since 1976.

The teams will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the criteria for accreditation by their respective agencies. The public is invited to submit comments, which must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing.

Third-party comments can be submitted to the Association of Theological Schools at the following address:

The Commission on Accrediting
The Association of Theological Schools
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110

Third-party comments can be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission at the following address. All comments to HLC must be received by Sept. 10, 2018:

Public Comment on Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411  

 

When The Story Magazine and Annual Report publishes Alum News this fall, we'd like your news to be a part of it. Please take a moment to update us on any activities, adventures and milestones over the past year. 

It’s easy to share your news and update your contact information at www.mtso.edu/update. You’re also invited to share an optional photo to go with your news.

Our Alum News is an ongoing record of the meaningful lives MTSO’s alumni are leading. Thanks for your contribution to it.