Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo to Teach at United Methodism’s Wesley Seminary

on June 14, 2012

At a lunchtime gathering in the U.S. Capitol on June 11, staff and faculty from Wesley Theological Seminary introduced their “innovative, new Master of Arts program” to a small group of prospective students. Wesley Seminary in Washinton, D.C. is one of 13 official United Methodist seminaries. According to the seminary’s website, the “program provides theological grounding for those who are curious and want to understand their faith more deeply and for those who are pursuing ministry in the world as part of either their vocation or avocation.”

One of the courses highlighted was “Christian Faith, Political Action and Public Policy,” which will be taught by Tony Campolo, Ron Sider, and Jim Wallis, who are three of the most prominent voices among the Evangelical Left. According to the informational flier, the course will be “an examination of the contours and intersections of public policy, political action, and Christian faith.” Specific issues will include: “immigration, poverty, the federal budget, a consistent life ethic, Israel and Palestine, civility in public discourse, ecumentical and inter-faith cooperation, organizing a campaign, and running for political office.”

Shaun Casey, the director of this new program, told prospective students: “The impetus for this, is what I would call flexibility … we are discovering a younger cohort of students showing up on our doorsteps in the last four years, who frankly, didn’t want a 60 hour degree … they wanted to come here and pursue what they wanted to pursue.”

Casey, a professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley, and a director of religious outreach in President Obama’s 2008 election campaign, described the dilemma that led to the formation of this new, “flexible” program. These younger students who do not want to enroll in a traditional graduate program “have a passion for social justice,” he said. “Many are interested in the intersection of religion and public policy, many people want to go into NGO’s or continue into political work,” Casey explained. This new program will allow students to select their courses and design their own degree.

“We’ve come up with this 36 degree hour program which is extraordinarily flexible. … of those 36 hours, probably about 16 of those hours are required courses,” Casey said. “A little Bible, a little church history, but beyond that … students would have access to any class in our curriculum,” he enthused. “This degree would allow you to make up your own degree and pursue your own passions and interests and field of focus.” For those who want to “work in political theology and in public theology,” Casey explained, “Wesley offers you a wealth of resources, that frankly, you cannot get in any other seminary or divinity school in the United States because of our location here in D.C.”

Casey also told the prospective students about a course he teaches every spring, which would give them the opportunity to “look at a number of very specific public policy issues depending on what the mood is, what some of the current topics are here on the Hill, and learn to think theologically about how to approach and interact with those issues.” He explained: “We see [this program] as trying to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. We are now hearing from students your age that they really feel called to be in public life, to serve the kingdom of God, not necessarily by being ordained, not necessarily by getting a Ph.D., but to find to find a vocation somewhere in public life here in Washington D.C.” Casey concluded: “We think this degree will help empower you to respond to God’s call if you’ve heard it, to work in that arena, and give you the tools and expertise to allow you to be the most effective and powerful disciple you can be.”

The sponsoring congressman for the Wesley lunch was Kentucky Republican Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-KY). Mike McCurry, former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, offered an endorsing blurb: “My studies have made me more committed to reflecting my own faith in those things I do to change the course of our nation,” wrote McCurry, who is an active United Methodist layman in Maryland. “Wesley is where faith, public affairs, and action come together as one.” Currently a partner at Public Strategies Washington, Inc., McCurry affirmed: “At Wesley Theological Seminary, you can dig deeper into what it means to be a Christian while attempting to serve the public good.”

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