Alumnae/i Days 2018

The 2018 Alumnae/i Days are scheduled for April 24-26. Mark your calendars now, and plan to join us as we continue to gather for faith, family and fellowship! Registration will be open soon.

This Year's Awardees

Sandra A. Collins ’87
Academia

For the past decade Sandra has served as professor of sacred Scripture at Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh. Also as director of information services there, she directs the library and distance learning program. She has long been an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University and an online faculty member for Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

At PTS Sandra wrote her master’s thesis on John Henry Cardinal Newman and ecclesiastical authority. She earned her M.L.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2012 Cambridge Scholars Press published her book, Weapons Upon Her Body: the Female Heroic in the Hebrew Bible. She received The Catholic Library Association’s John Brubaker Award for her article "A Wandering Aramean: ATLA and the Scholar of Eastern Christianity."

Sandra writes a regular column for Library Journal and Women in Judaism.

John W. Foester ’60
Pastoral Ministry

While serving in Washington, D.C., as a translator of Vietnamese for the U.S. Army, John took courses at Washington Bible School and later earned his M.Div. at PTS. Ordained in the PCUSA, he assumed his first pastoral call at National Mission Churches in Cameron, Rock Lick, and Wolf Run, W.Va. He then served as pastor of First PC in Brownsville, Pa., before becoming pastor of the UPC of Freeport, Pa. Over his 25 years there, he also served a six-year term on the Synod of the Trinity’s Judicial Committee. He was stated clerk of Kiskiminetas Presbytery from 1977 to 2002.

John is now moderator of Clinton PC (Kiskiminetas Presbytery). Over the years he has also filled a variety of other positions: interim pastor of Crooked Creek, Faith, and Grace PCs; adjunct professor at PTS; supply preacher; and moderator of Srader Grove PC, Pa.

Perry Diane Fonderlin ’89
Mission

In 1985 Diane and her husband helped start a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Warren, Ohio. In 1999, the Fonderlins began working with Habitat in Asia and the Pacific and later became fully supported missionaries with Global Ministries (Disciples of Christ).While overseas, Diane served as Habitat’s international church relations coordinator for 26 countries. Eventually, her involvement with the Indian Ocean Tsunami Recovery led to partnerships between Global Ministries, Habitat, and communities devastated by the tragedy.

In 2007 the Fonderlins moved to New Orleans, where, for the Disciples’ domestic program, Diane coordinated short-term mission teams from churches throughout North America. Next, working with the National Spiritual Council of Haitian Churches, the Fonderlins taught at Haiti’s St. Andrews School of Theological Studies. Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Diane now serves as a pastor in Girard, Ohio.

Herbert V. R. P. Jones ’83
Specialized Ministry

Herbert is founder and director of The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, minister of music at Bethany Baptist Church (Homewood, Pa.), and adjunct faculty at Geneva College’s Center for Urban Biblical Ministry. He is one of the nation’s foremost figures in choral conducting and pedagogy and an expert on the intersection between theology and musical expression. Holding multiple master’s degrees (counseling psychology, choral conducting/music education, and divinity) and two doctoral degrees (musical arts, ethnomusicology), Herbert’s

international career also includes serving as an operatic and oratorio bass, liturgical dancer, orator, and pastor.

Retired from the music faculty of Pittsburgh’s Community College of Allegheny County, Herbert is currently working with The Spirituals Project, PBS, and others to produce a documentary on the life and music of composer Moses George Hogan.

Michael C. Gehrling ’08
The Fred McFeely Rogers Award for Creative Ministry

In 2008 Michael joined InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry staff and worked at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh. He was also ordained as co-organizing pastor of the Upper Room New Church Development in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. In 2015 he accepted a new role as InterVarsity’s first national director for international graduate student and faculty ministry.

Michael’s passion for connecting church and culture, commitment to starting new worshiping communities, and heart for discipleship led to his hiring in 2017 as Northeast region associate for the PCUSA’s 1001 New Worshiping Communities initiative. Now he helps new communities get started and find supportive connections.

Alumnae/i Days 2018 Itinerary

Tuesday, April 24

Registration for Alumnae/i Days Begins
Rotunda, Long Hall – 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Worship Service
Hicks Chapel – 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Lunch
Kadel Dining Room, McNaugher Hall – 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., available for purchase

Reunion Dinner Class of 1968, Class of 1993, Recipients of Distinguished Alumnae/i Awards and The Fred McFeely Rogers Award for Creative Ministry, and Invited Guests
Board bus behind the Chapel for dinner at the LeMont Restaurant and city tour with Alumnae/i Council tour guides: the Rev. Laura Strauss ’09 and the Rev. Sharon Stewart ’12.
Bus Tour 2:00 p.m.
Hors d’oeuvres 4:00 p.m.
Dinner 5:00 p.m.

Piano Concert
Knox Room, Long Hall – 8:00 p.m.
Dr. Edith Humphrey and Faye D’Ippolito
"A Song for All Seasons"

Reception
Rotunda, Long Hall

Gathering Rooms for 50- and 25-Year Classes

Wednesday, April 25

Registration for Alumnae/i Days
Rotunda, Long Hall – 8:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Continental Breakfast
Basfield Dining Room, inside Kadel Dining Room, McNaugher Hall
8:00-10:00 a.m.

A Day with Brian McClaren
The Rev. Dr. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity"—just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is an Auburn senior fellow and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors, church planters, and lay leaders called Convergence Leadership Project. He works closely with the Center for Progressive Renewal/Convergence, the Wild Goose Festival, and the Fair Food Program’s Faith Working Group.

Workshop
Knox Room, Long Hall – 10:00-11:15 a.m.
"Creating Communities of Spiritual Activism, or, If I Were 26, What Kind of Church Would I Plant in 2018?"
Pre-registration required. See your registration form.

Worship Service
Hicks Chapel – 11:30 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. Brian McClaren – Preaching

Lunch
Under the tent in the front of Long Hall
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Pre-purchased ticket required. See your registration form. $10

Workshop Continued
Knox Room, Long Hall – 1:00-3:00 p.m. 
Pre-registration required. See your registration form.

Beer Tasting (other beverages available) and Dinner
Under the tent in the front of Long Hall
Beer Tasting and Hors d’oeuvres – 4:00 p.m.
Dinner – 5:00 p.m.
Pre-registration required. See your registration form. $20

Lecture
Auditorium, Hicks Chapel – 7:00 p.m.
"How Our Churches Can Help Heal a Divided America"  
Free and open to the public

Reception
Rotunda, Long Hall

Thursday, April 26

Registration for Alumnae/i Days
Rotunda, Long Hall – 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Continental Breakfast
Basfield Dining Room, inside Kadel Dining Room, McNaugher Hall
8:00-10:00 a.m.

One Big Idea
Knox Room, Long Hall – 9:45-11:20 a.m.
Moderated by Alumnae/i Council Member

Each participant will present for 20 minutes followed by a time for questions and answers.
Tracy Riggle Young, Director of Enrollment and Retention – "The Future of Theological Education: Creating a Bridge Between the PTS of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow"
The Rev. Derek Davenport, Director of the Miller Summer Youth Institute and Digital Marketing Analyst – "Spaghetti on the Wall: Finding What Sticks"
Dr. Shan Overton, Director of the Center for Writing and Learning Support – "Reform, Remake, Revise! On Writing as Transformation"

Worship Service
Hicks Chapel – 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
The Rev. Michael Gehrling ’08, The Fred Rogers Award for Creative Ministry – Preaching

Lunch
Under the tent in the front of Long Hall – 12:00-1:15 p.m.
Private Luncheons: If your class would like to have lunch together, please contact Carolyn Cranston at ccranston@pts.edu to make arrangements for a reserved table.

Presentations by Distinguished Alumnae/i
Knox Room, Long Hall – 1:30-3:10 p.m.
Moderated by Alumnae/i Council Member

Each Participant will present for 20 minutes followed by a time for questions and answers.
"Continuing to Gather for Faith, Family and Fellowship"
Distinguished Alumnae/i
Dr. Sandra A. Collins ’87 – Academia – Professor and Director of Information Services, Byzantine Catholic Seminary
The Rev. John W. Foester ’60 – Pastoral Ministry – 25-Year Pastorate, Stated Clerk, and Synod of the Trinity’s Judicial Committee
The Rev. Perry Diane Fonderlin ’89 – Mission – Habitat for Humanity’s International Church Relations Coordinator for 26 countries
The Rev. Dr. Herbert V. R. P. Jones ‘83 – Specialized Ministry – Founder and Director of The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh

Faculty Presentation
Knox Room, Long Hall – 3:30-4:00 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Edwin Chr. van Driel, Director’s Bicentennial Associate Professor of Theology – "Learn about the New Curriculum"

Wine and Cheese Reception
Rotunda, Long Hall – 4:15-5:45 p.m.

Pictures for the Classes of 1968, 1993 and Spouses; and Distinguished Alumnae/i and Families; The Fred McFeely Rogers Award Alum and Family
McNaugher Lounge, McNaugher Hall – 5:20 p.m. Please be prompt.

Seating for Alumnae/i Banquet
Under the tent in the front of Long Hall – 5:45-6:00 p.m.

Alumnae/i Banquet
Under the tent in the front of Long Hall
6:00 p.m.
Pre-registration required. See reservation form for details. $20/per person　

Friday, April 27

Continental Breakfast
Basfield Dining Room, inside Kadel Dining Room, McNaugher Hall – 8:00-10:00 a.m.