This summer, Steed V. Davidson and Bradley B. Burroughs began work as faculty members with joint appointments on the faculties of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) and Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) in Berkeley, California. Davidson already serves as a professor at PLTS, while Burroughs is new to both seminaries.

Burroughs most recently taught courses in contemporary theology at Duke Divinity School's Course of Study for Ordained Ministry in Durham, North Carolina. He earned a Ph.D from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2012 and holds an M.Div from Duke and a B.A. from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Davidson has taught Old Testament at Pacific Lutheran since 2007 and has served as a member of the core doctoral faculty at Graduate

Theological Union in Berkeley, California, since 2010. He has a Ph.D and M.Phil from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, an S.T.M. from Boston University, and an M.A. and B.A. from the University of the West Indies.

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Whitaker and Toy

Third-year M.Div. student Monica Whitaker joined the Rev. Dr. Fran Toy ('84, '96), Professor Emeritus John Kater and more than 300 leaders in the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries Consultation and 40th Anniversary Celebration(EAM@40) held in Burlingame, CA in June.

"My experience at EAM significantly influenced how I view myself as a 'hapa haole' - half white and half Chinese - and Asiamerican, and contributed to my deeper understanding of ministry with Asiamericans and other people of color," said Whitaker. 

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On Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 pm, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), 2451 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California, will present "Liturgical Sense:  The Logic of Rite," a reading and discussion with Professor Louis Weil, who is the James F. Hodges and Harold and Rita Haynes Professor Emeritus of Liturgics. The event is free and open to the public.

Guests are also invited to Eucharist at 5:45 pm and to dinner ($12) following. Dinner guests are asked to RSVP to the CDSP Front Office at 510-204-0700.

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Larson-Miller with Prof. Dr. Martin Stuflesser, Societas Liturgica president-elect (left) and Gordon Lathrop, Societas Liturgica past president (right), in Würzburg

At its 24th Congress held in Würzburg, Germany August 5-10, the members of Societas Liturgica elected CDSP professor Lizette Larson-Miller as the organization's president. Larson-Miller is Nancy and Michael Kaehr Professor of Liturgical Leadership and Dean of the Chapel.

Societas Liturgica, an international society for liturgical study and renewal, was founded in 1967.

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In June, third-year M.Div. student Cathlena Plummer of the Diocese of Navajoland presented a paper, "The Patron Saint to the Navajo of the San Juan," at the Tri-History Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more.

Over the summer, third-year M.Div student Twila Smith of the Diocese of Oklahoma made a month-long walking pilgrimage around the San Francisco Bay, visiting more than 70 Episcopal churches and other sacred places. Learn more.

Faculty

Professor Marion Grau was recently awarded a Conant Fund Grant and a grant from the Norwegian Research Fund. She spent the summer working on a book on

intercultural theological hermeneutics and researching the recent increase in pilgrimage travel in Europe as a reengagement with Christian heritages and spiritual and cultural roots.

Professor Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski will serve as acting dean of academic affairs during the fall semester while Professor Ruth Meyers is on sabbatical (see below).

Professor Lizette Larson-Miller gave a paper at the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation in Dublin in July. Read more in Episcopal News Service.

Professor Ruth Meyers has been awarded a Conant Fund Grant for her fall 2013 sabbatical study at Ripon College Cuddesdon, a theological college in England with which CDSP has an exchange program. During her sabbatical, Meyers will work on a book that brings the emerging theology of mission into conversation with the discipline of liturgical studies.

Eric Nefstead, who teaches in the School for Deacons and in CDSP's field education program, has been elected president of the Assembly of Episcopal Healthcare Chaplains.

Associate Professor Susanna Singer was recently awarded a Conant Fund Grant for her summer work in community organizing with the Industrial Areas Foundation and with Sr. Judy Donovan, Lead IAF Organizer for Northern California. Singer is developing a January 2014 intensive course on community organizing at CDSP.

Staff

Elly Rhee has joined the CDSP staff as registrar and academic administrator. She holds an MDiv from Claremont School of Theology and has recently completed a community organizing internship with Congregations Organizing for Renewal in Hayward, CA. Reach Elly via email or at 510-204-0731.

Elsbeth Wetherill recently joined the CDSP staff as executive assistant to the president and dean. She brings with her many years of experience as executive assistant and communications officer to Bishop Dan Edwards of the Diocese of Nevada. Contact Elsbeth via email or by phone at 510-204-0733.

Alums

Randal Gardner, CDSP board member and alumnus, has been appointed canon for congregational life at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. 

Takaaki (David) Ito '92, who is currently a DMin student, has been appointed professor of practical theology at the School of Theology at Sophia University in Tokyo.

Michelle Meech, CDSP alumna and former director of CALL, on her appointment as the director of the Whitaker Institute of the Diocese of Michigan. 

Chester L. Talton '70, '91 will retire as provisional bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in October. Bishop Talton will be honored at CDSP's colloquium on October 10.

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