2011 Newsletter

A Message from Interim Department Chair Karen
Petersen Finch

Dear friends,

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, while sitting in my office here in the "catacombs" of Westminster Hall, on a beautiful May day at Whitworth University. The Whitworth Theology Department is currently housed in a subterranean setting, yet I am glad to report that our productivity, fellowship and delight in our students are sky-high (even stratospheric). more...

Howard Redmond, (1957-1990), Professor Emeritus of Theology
My two major tasks this year have been Bible teaching and music. If circumstances permit, I may teach an adult Sunday school class at Whitworth Church next school year on "Two Great Prophets: Isaiah and Jeremiah" they are among my favorite biblical books. more...

Ron White (1974-1981), Professor Emeritus of Theology
Dean Sam Lloyd, convening the National Cathedral's Sunday Morning Forum on May 15, 2011, asked me the question: "Why do you think historians and biographers have written so little about the faith of Abraham Lincoln?" more...

Dale Bruner, (1975-1997), Professor Emeritus of Theology
Dear Friends:
I am hoping that my commentary on John will come out with Eerdmans Publishing Company this year. I am beginning the study and teaching of Paul's great fifth gospel, Romans, in my Sunday school class at First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood. more...

Roger Mohrlang (1978-present), Professor of Theology
Warm greetings to you, my former students! Dottie and I have now completed 33 happy years at Whitworth. This has been a great place for us to serve Christ together, and we're grateful for the invitation to be here. What wonderful colleagues we have to work with! more...

Gerald Sittser (1989-present), Department Chair, Professor of Theology
Dearest Friends:
It has been an eventful year for the Sittsers. On Aug. 28, 2011, I married Patricia Yost, someone I have known for years. Jim Edwards performed the ceremony. We made vows to our children first, and then to each other. more...

Terry McGonigal (1994-present), Dean of the Chapel
This academic year has felt like a wild ride on a rollercoaster. On Sept. 2 our second granddaughter, Klein Marion, was born. She bears the names of her two great grandmas. more...

James Edwards (1997-present), Professor of Theology
Greetings, dear friends!
Highlights of the past year include:

• Officiating at the wedding of Jerry and Pat Sittser in August -- rarely have I seen a congregation of such joy and solidarity;
• The inauguration of the Bruner-Welch Endowed Chair of Theology in October -- rarely have I experienced such vibrancy and advocacy in an audience;
  more...

Tim Dolan (2006-present), Director, Master of Arts in Theology and Director, Whitworth Institute for Clergy and Lay Leadership Development
This fall I will complete 13 years at Whitworth (my, how time flies!). I continue to enjoy being a member of the theology department. more...

Kent McDonald (2000-present), Lecturer in Theology
As I reflect on my 11th year here at Whitworth, I count it such a privilege to get the opportunity to teach at Whitworth while also continuing my role with Young Life as the regional trainer. more...

Keith Beebe (2003-present), Associate Professor of Theology
Teaching
After a very good sabbatical last spring, I was glad to return to the classroom in the fall. In addition to directing the Core 150 course, I taught one of my favorite courses, Jesus and the Kingdom of God, and enjoyed the eager and intelligent students who asked thought-provoking questions and contributed to stimulating discussions more...

Karin Heller (2003-present), Professor of Theology
Warm greetings to all of you who read this letter! The winter was particularly long this year. There were no people really happy about the situation! Students and professors saw enough of this white stuff falling down from heaven until April 18. more...

Adam Neder (2004-present), Associate Professor of Theology
I'm composing this letter four months into what has been a glorious sabbatical full of reading, writing, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. more...

Scott Starbuck (2006-present), Lecturer in Theology
This year I bring you the great and recent news of a child born to us; a daughter given to us! Katriel Aletheia Starbuck arrived 36 hours ago [on May 18, at 7:10 a.m.] as a 9lb, 20'' miracle of God's grace and love. more...

Moses Pulei (2007-present), Assistant Professor of Theology
As some of you are aware, I took a leave of absence from Whitworth last summer. After teaching for three years at Whitworth, we decided to take an opportunity to come back to East Africa for a couple of years. more...

Karen Petersen Finch (2008-present), Acting Department Chair, Assistant Professor of Theology
I am amazed to find that I have just completed three years at Whitworth. My teaching load this year remained much the same as last year: lecturing in Core 150 and leading two discussion sections, and teaching three theology courses for Whitworth in the Evening, the adult-degree program, and Introduction to the Bible (fall semester). more...

Jonathan Moo (2010-present), Assistant Professor of Theology
The first year of full-time teaching is reputed to be among the busiest years of a professor's career, and so it's no surprise that my first year at Whitworth has been marked by 80-hour work weeks and little time for much else. more...

Jeremy Wynne, '99 (2010-present) Lecturer in Theology
It's been a joy and a privilege this year to return to Whitworth as a lecturer. Having passed through Japan, New Jersey and Scotland, it feels in many ways like coming full circle. more...