Hastings College will host the 55th annual Omaha Presbyterian School for Pastors to be held July 6-13. Presbyterian clergy and commissioned lay pastors from 13 Midwestern states have been invited to attend the eight-day residential program.

Participants will attend daily worship service and lectures and group discussions on a variety of topics presented by four invited theological faculty.

The Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation and Hastings College have worked together to bring to the School the unique combined expertise of each institution that will provide the church with essential tools to enhance the quality of its leadership.
School for Pastors faculty and their lecture topics are listed below.

Faculty
The Rev. Dr. Jennifer L. Lord teaches homiletics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. A Presbyterian minister, she served congregations in New York State before joining the seminary faculty in 2005. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Albion College, she earned her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and her Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Her current book is “Introduction to Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Texts to Sermons for Westminster John Knox.” She is also working on a worship journal for Sopher Press; a book, “The Sacramental Sermon,” and a series of articles. In addition, she travels nationally as a conference leader, consultant, and liturgist/preacher. Her sermons will be from the lectionary gospel cycle.

Dr. Kenneth Sawyer teaches church history at McCormick Theological Seminary. Ken is a Presbyterian lay person who spent a dozen years in Nebraska as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, then obtained both his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Chicago. He has taught at McCormick for the past 20 years. While his particular research and teaching focus is Reformed and Presbyterian history and theology, he has also published on topics of Egyptian Christian origins, multicultural education, and the place of technology in theological education. He is an active teacher in congregations and training institutes. His topic will be: “Thinking with the Church: Congregations as Centers of Conversation.”

The Rev. Dr. Monya Stubbs is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Austin Seminary. A graduate of Spelman College, she earned her MTS from Vanderbilt Divinity School and her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. An ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she is the co-author of A Contextual Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew and its Readings for Abingdon Press. She is also the author of an essay on “Healing Through Touch” in My Soul is a Witness for Beacon Press. In addition to her scholarly interests, she has a wealth of experience working with theological students engaged in practical aspects of ministry. Her topic is: “Subjection to God.”

The Rev. Dr. Patricia K. Tull is an ordained Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister and Louisville Presbyterian Seminary’s A.B. Rhodes Professor of Old Testament Emerita. She is a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Emory University. Author of two prior books on Isaiah, she is currently writing the second volume of a Smyth and Helwys commentary on Isaiah. By the time she visits Hastings, she hopes to have the first volume, which is currently in press, and to have completed a book-length Bible study for Westminster John Knox on environmental stewardship. Her lecture topic is: “The Seven Days of Creation Care.”

Director and Adjunct Faculty
The Rev. Dr. Gary S. Eller is President of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation, the successor organization of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Omaha. He received his bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill as a John M. Morehead Scholar. He attended Duke Divinity School and received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Eller earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. He is a lecturer in Theology at Creighton University and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He is a member of various professional organizations including the Committee on Theological Education of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, West Virginia and Nebraska.

The Rev. Dr. David B. McCarthy is Associate Professor of Religion and Chaplain to the College at Hastings. A cum laude graduate of Carleton College, he earned an A.M. from Duke University along with an M.Div. from Harvard University. Dr. McCarthy earned his Ph.D. from Duke University. Before coming to Hastings in 2001, he served churches in New York and North Carolina and taught at Harvard and Duke University. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and reviews. Dr. McCarthy is very active in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in the life of Hastings College. He serves as the adjunct faculty member during the School.

Dr. Robin R. Koozer is Professor of Music/Department Chair and Development Associate at Hastings College. He graduated from Hastings College and then earned his master’s degree at Kearney State College and a D.M.A. at Arizona State University. Before joining the Hastings faculty in 1989, he was Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Northern Colorado. While at Hastings, he was named Nebraska’s Outstanding Young Educator. Dr. Koozer is an active music education consultant, choral clinician and adjudicator. He serves as a planning director and the coordinator at Hastings College for the week.

Hastings College was founded in 1882 by Presbyterians who envisioned a college that would encompass the highest academic standards within the broad perspective of the liberal arts and dedication to the Christian faith. Throughout its 129-year history, Hastings College has remained faithful to the vision of its founders by preparing its students to excel in their personal, professional and spiritual lives. The Hastings College Center for Vocation, Faith and Service encourages students to think deeply about the ethical and spiritual dimensions of their life’s work and to consider careers of service to others.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.