SEMINARY IN THE CITY

First-year student Carlton Rhoden has a text for his ministry. It’s "rebuilding the city," he says, "doing the work of Nehemiah."

Rhoden is a community organizer. Before starting seminary he worked full time with Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), an association of churches addressing community issues. His work was to help congregations tackle neighborhood problems and interact with city and county officials.

Now in seminary, Rhoden continues to work part time for OCO, keeping the churches and government officials connected.

Dr. Tim Tseng, associate professor of American religious history, presented a paper in November at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature. His title was “Stirring Up the Evangelical Pot: The Impact of Asian Pacific Americans on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.”

Tseng gave a presentation on “Clay Pots: Asian and Pacific American Christian History in Theology” at the Asian American Christian Leadership Conference in San Diego in December.

In February Tseng spoke at the Chinese Christians for Justice Young Adults Conference in Los Angeles. He has also been appointed to the Editorial Board of the New American Baptist Identity and Polity Project.

Dr. LeAnn Flesher

Dr. LeAnn Flesher, professor of Old Testament, is on sabbatical this spring, teaching at the Caribbean Theological Center in Limon, Costa Rica, and learning Spanish. In January she taught a course on "Preaching from the Prophets." Her next course is “Suffering and the Grace of God: Studies in the Book of Job.”

Victoria Schlintz, a senior M.Div. student, published two articles recently – a story in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, (September 2001) and an article in the Journal of Christian Nursing (Summer 2001) titled “Conversations With God: Keeping a Prayer Journal.”

Schlintz is education manager at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif. She is also a gifted photographer and has helped compile a pictorial of the students, faculty, and staff of ABSW.

Dr. Keith Russell, seminary president, has been busy preaching in the city. In December he was the preacher for the ordination of the Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble (’01) at Imani Community Church in Oakland. In January he gave the charge to the church for the ordination of the Rev. Allison Tanner (’99) at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, also in Oakland.

Russell preached at Grace Baptist Church in San Jose in February. In March he will speak at First Baptist Church, Palo Alto, and First Baptist Church, Pacific Grove.

The Rev. Michelle Holmes, vice president for seminary relations, preached in October at First Baptist Church, Alameda, Calif. In December she was in the pulpit at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church. She will speak at Chestnut Avenue Community Church in Concord, Calif., in March.

Last October Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., professor of preaching, was the keynote preacher for the 137th Session of the Northern California Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oakland. In November, Smith was the preacher for the 75th anniversary of Pilgrim Baptist Church of San Mateo, Calif., Dr. James Chuck, professor of theology and church ministry, is spending the spring semester at Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, teaching courses in pastoral leadership, church administration, and interpersonal relationships in the church.