During Alumnae/i Days 2015, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will honor four grads with awards.
The Rev. Keith C. Kaufold ’07/’12, Fred McFeely Rogers Award for Creative Ministry
In 2007, Keith Kaufold renovated a former radio station in Homestead, just outside the Pittsburgh city limits, into Eighth Avenue Place, a coffee shop ministry that provides a safe environment to drink a cup of fair trade coffee, fellowship, and participate in Christian worship services.
The people who gather at Eighth Avenue Place confront the ignorance that perpetuates racism by living and ministering together in the name of Jesus. Eighth Avenue offers after-school programs, lessons on Scripture and life skills, and support for those recovering from addiction. Other programs include weekly worship services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, and the Gathering—a twice-monthly service offering fellowship and a meal. Additionally, Eighth Avenue is a resource center for released inmates.
“If we reduce church to being a place, a location, where the word is preached and the sacraments are administered, we’re not teaching the whole story of who the Church is supposed to be.”
Keith is ordained in The United Methodist Church and serves part time at Homestead Presbyterian Church.
Keith is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and earned his MDiv and STM from Pittsburgh Seminary. He is married to Monica, and they have one daughter.
The Rev. Joan E. Reasinger ’86, Pastoral Ministry
Joan Reasinger has served The United Methodist Church for more than 20 years. Following her graduation from Pittsburgh Seminary she became a consecrated diaconal minister and was ordained as a deacon in 1997.
Throughout her time in the church, Joan served as the director of education and minister of discipleship at Coraopolis UMC, was a church consultant in education for the Western Pennsylvania Conference, and minister of discipleship at Canonsburg UMC. She retired from church ministry in 2006.
In addition to serving in the church, Joan was also a mission ambassador to Israel/Palestine in 2006 and a jurisdictional and General Conference delegate. From 2008-2012, she served as secretary of the Division on Higher Education within the General Board on Higher Education and Ministry.
Her first career was as a business education teacher training young people for work in the business world. “I feel a special affinity toward church secretaries and the vital role they play,” she said.
Joan is married to Joseph and is the mother of two and grandmother of four.
Chaplain Moses L. Stith, Capt. USN (Ret.) ’72, Specialized Ministry
From 1974-2005, Captain Moses Stith served the U.S. military in various capacities around the nation. He served eight commands and was awarded two Legions of Merit, among other personal decorations.
Before entering military service, Moses served as campus minister at Eckerd College (Fla.) and University of Pittsburgh, where he also was chair of the University Chaplains Association. Moses also served as pastor of churches in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana.
While in the Navy, Moses was deputy director of the Chaplain Resource Board, served as editor of the Chaplain Corps’ professional journal, and was historian and archivist for the Navy Chaplain Corps.
Following his retirement he served as the pastoral care program manager for Marine Forces, providing pastoral care and counseling to Marines and Sailors returning from deployment.
A graduate of Virginia Union University, Pittsburgh Seminary, and University of Pittsburgh, Moses is pastor of New Grace Christian Church in Marietta, Ga., and is a doctoral candidate.
Moses is married to Roxanne and has four children and one granddaughter.
The Rev. Dr. Edgar A. Towne ’52, Academia
New York native, Edgar Towne has dedicated his life’s work to the church and academy. A graduate of the College of Wooster, Pittsburgh Seminary, and the University of Chicago, Edgar has served as a pastor and professor.
He completed pastorates in two mining camps in West Virginia and was on the staff of the Mountaineer Mining Mission, a project of the Board of National Mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Edgar also served as senior pastor of Hyde Park Union Church (American Baptist and UCC) in Chicago.
He has taught at Winebrenner Theological Seminary and Findlay College and is professor emeritus of theology at Christian Theological Seminary, where he began teaching in 1975. Edgar is a member of five academic societies and is the author of Two Types of New Theism: Knowledge of God in the Thought of Paul Tillich and Charles Hartshore. Also, he was twice elected president of the American Theological Society of the Midwest.
Edgar is married to Marian and has five children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.