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Scenes
from Fall Opening Dinner Some 40 students, faculty and friends attended the Fall 2001 opening dinner for the Urban Theological Institute (UTI) on Friday, September 28, 2001. With a focus on supporting church leaders to expand their credentials through part-time study, the UTI welcomed 17 new students to campus this year. The 21-year-old UTI has 61 enrollees altogether. Here are pictorial highlights.
About the Urban Theological Institute
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Alum
and United Methodist Pastor Carla Harris
offered a powerful spiritual message through expressive dance.
UTI
Advisory Board Chair Janet Jenkins,
right, paid a surprise tribute to Seminarian Eloise
Scott, who has chaired an effort to revise the UTI program's
bylaws. Scott is stepping down from the Board after many years of
dedicated volunteer service.
The
Rev. Lois A. Barksdale was the dinner's energetic emcee.
Gregory
and Deborah Holston were among dinner attendees. The
Holstons are Independent Baptists and members of Philadelphia's
Church of the Redeemer. Gregory, a UTI student, is an attorney,
who in the past has owned his own business and now teaches while
studying to become a pastor. Deborah teaches special education at
Philadelphia's Youth Study Center. The couple has four children,
Taheerah, 18; Jamila, 13; Nia, 9, and Nasser, 7.
The
Rev. Nelson Rivera brought
greetings from the Seminary's faculty. Pastor Rivera directs the
Seminary's Latino Concentration.
"God
is with you no matter what obstacles you may face in pursuing your
call to ministry!" was part of the encouraging word offered October
1 by Pastor Lois Barksdale, preacher for a joint worship experience
in the Seminary Chapel attended both by day students and seminarians
in the continuing studies program known as the Urban Theological
Institute. Shown with the preacher are, left, the Rev. Andrew Willis,
who recruits students for the UTI, and the Rev. Randolph Jones,
a faculty member who directs the UTI program.