Alumni News
Reverend Dr. Robert V. Ozment (GRS ’56, STH ’56)
"Robert V. Robert V. Ozment entered this earthly pilgrimage in Rome, GA, on a beautiful spring day, May 7, 1927, the second son of Julia Nebraska McCool Ozment and Lon Vince Ozment, Sr. He passed into his heavenly home on May 27, 2020, after an extended illness.
As a lad he joined Beech Creek Methodist Church in Floyd County, where his parents were members. He attended Coosa High School and married the late Arah Jane Lingerfelt. He attended Young Harris College in Young Harris, GA, and Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL, where he received his B.S. Degree. While a student, he served churches in North Carolina and Alabama. He continued his studies at Candler School of Theology of Emory University and received a B.D. Degree. While at Emory, he served churches in Hiram, Bethel, and Rex/Noah's Ark, GA. He and Arah moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1951, and served Lakeside Methodist Church while he attended Boston University where he earned his Ph.D. in 1955. From Boston, Dr. and Mrs. Ozment moved to Havana, Cuba, where they served the University Methodist Church. In June of 1956, Bishop Arthur Moore appointed Dr. Ozment to Allen Memorial Methodist Church in Oxford, Georgia, where he preached and taught at Oxford College. In 1957, Dr. Ozment was appointed as the first pastor of a newly organized congregation in Atlanta called St. James Methodist. At Christmas in 1965, Bishop John Smith appointed Dr. Ozment to the historic First Methodist Church of Atlanta which he served as senior pastor until his retirement in June of 1989.
Dr. Ozment authored six books. His books enjoyed wide circulation. But God Can, his first book, was translated into the German language and released in Germany in 1967. Other titles include Happy is the Man, Putting Life Together Again, There's Always Hope, Love is the Answer, and When Sorrow Comes. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, through his Guidepost Associates, republished and released Love is the Answer along with Dale Evans Rogers' book, The Woman at the Well, in a single volume and distributed the volumes in America as well as Europe. Dr. Ozment was a columnist for The Atlanta Constitution during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He wrote for Progressive Farmer magazine, a publication which later gave launch to Southern Living. A syndicated column by Dr. Ozment appeared in nearly 20 newspapers in the South. Dr. Ozment was among pioneers in Atlanta in having his Sunday morning church services televised live on WSB-TV. He continued this television ministry from First Methodist Church for more than twenty years. He was in demand as a speaker and spoke to audiences in forty-seven states. He frequently served as a guest professor at Emory University's Candler School of Theology. For many years, Dr. Ozment served as president of the Methodist Foundation and as a trustee of Young Harris College.
Dr. Ozment was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Arah Jane Lingerfelt Ozment, his parents, and two brothers Buford Ozment and L.V. Ozment, Jr. He is survived by two sons, Dr. Randall R. Ozment (Laura) of Dublin, GA and Dr. Richard V. Ozment (Chandra) of Concord, NC, two grandsons, Matthew Ozment (Whitney) of Greenville, SC, and Grant Ozment (Taylor) of Kailua-Kona, HI, five granddaughters, Alison Feyereisen (Joel) of Atlanta, GA, Abby Goolsby (Ben) of Birmingham, AL, Anna McClung (Brad) of Chattanooga, TN, Ashlyn Lassiter (Daniel) of Landis, NC, and Ansley Ozment of Concord, NC. He is survived by four great-granddaughters, Arah Jane, Grady Anne, Emmaline Grace, and Charlie Mae. He is also survived by a sister, Geraldine Turner, and a brother, Floyd Ozment (Mary), of Rome, GA. He left behind a close friend Connie Conn of Rome.
A private graveside service took place on Saturday, May 30 in Rome, GA. For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family asks that donations be sent to one of the following children's homes, *The Methodist Home for Children and Youth 304 Pierce Avenue Macon, Georgia 31204 *Wellroot Family Services (formerly the United Methodist Children's Home ) 1967 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 400 Tucker, Georgia 30084 Parnick Jennings Sr.'s Good Shepherd Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements."
This article was originally published here by Legacy.com.
Reverend Harris Wolfe (STH ’74)
"Harris L. Wolfe, 70, of Hazleton, passed away Friday evening at his residence after a brief illness. He was born in Hazleton, son of the late Carl and Adela (Berzanski) Wolfe. Harris was of the Protestant faith. A graduate of West Hazleton High School, class of 1967, he attended Bloomsburg University, Boston University and Drexel University, Philadelphia. Prior to retiring, he was employed as an electrical engineer with Rushabh Instruments, producing medical instruments for Europe.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Dale Benjamin; and sister, Jeanette Rarick.He is survived by his former wife, Debbie Wolfe, Illinois; and the following brothers and sisters, Cindy Washko and her husband, George, Sugarloaf Twp.; Bette Mae Rittochette and her husband, Ken, Shickshinny; Adele Garger, Claifornia; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc. and are being held privately at the convenience of the family."
Reverend Arthur John Wiechels (STH ’54, Wheelock ’55)
Reverend Paul D. Whipple (STH ’51)
"Reverend Paul D. Whipple, age 96, went home to heaven Friday, May 15, 2020, at Copeland Oaks, Sebring, Ohio.
He was born March 17, 1924, in Conneaut, Ohio to Paul D. Sr. and Hazel (Risley) Whipple.
Paul served his country honorably in WWII. He graduated from Baldwin Wallace College and received a Master’s in Theology from Boston University.
Paul served as pastor at Ohio United Methodist churches in Hartford, Fowler, McConnelsville, Brimfield, Liberty, Akron and Middlefield.
Survivors include his sons, David (Diane) Whipple of Atwater, Douglas (Susan) Whipple of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and daughter, Patti (Paul) Whipple-Kochman of New York; and grandchildren.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorla (Olds) Whipple, two sisters and one brother.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Church World Service, PO Box 698, Elkhart, IN 46515 or Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation, 236 Walnut Ave, Lakeside, OH 43440."
This article was originally published here by Record Courier.
Resuming Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life
The Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments published yesterday a guide for resuming gatherings of worship while the pandemic is still present. School of Theology Professor of Worship Karen Westerfield Tucker has been involved with bringing this document to life over the past six weeks, working with other theologians, pastors, scientists, and physicians from different ecumenical faith traditions. Click the image to view this important document.
BU Community Gatherings for the Week of June 8
The following information was originally shared on Saturday, June 6 by the Boston University Diversity & Inclusion team, the Office of the Provost. Please visit www.bu.edu/provost/diversity/ for more information. Please read the descriptions of these meetings carefully, as some apply to specific groups of people on campus.
Dear Members of the BU Community,
In light of the extraordinary and troubling current events, we know that many of you are seeking ways to productively connect with others. This list is by no means comprehensive as additional events are being scheduled for the coming week. We hope that it is helpful, and that you find opportunities for healing, grounding, community, and positive change during this challenging time.
Take good care.
~BU Diversity & Inclusion
Sunday, June 7
Marsh Chapel
Title: Sunday Interdenominational Worship Service: Ground of Being
Time: Sunday, June 7, 11 am–12 pm
Description: Join us this Sunday for interdenominational worship as the Dean of Marsh Chapel, The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Hill, preaches a sermon entitled “Ground of Being” calling us to be mindful of the past, present, and future of being in community with one another.
Meeting Information: Listen live on WBUR's website, or on radio station WBUR 90.0FM in the greater Boston area. You can follow along with the service by downloading the bulletin here. Can’t listen at this time? You can also listen to the service later, on Marsh Chapel’s sermon blog, or by searching “Marsh Chapel” in iTunes Podcasts.
Monday, June 8
Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
Title: How to Become a White Accomplice for Equity and Social Justice
Time: Monday, June 8, 1–2:30 pm
Description: *OPEN TO WHEELOCK COMMUNITY ONLY* This forum offers an opening conversation to examine and commit ourselves to concrete actions we can take to battle inequity and injustice by exploring ways to become effective White allies by collaborating more effectively with our colleagues of color as well as advocacy organizations. We invite you to share ways that each of us are working to transform the systems of oppression and improve our communities so that all citizens can thrive.
The organizers for this event include BU Wheelock graduate students Turner Block and Erika Barr, and faculty members Raul Fernandez and Scott Solberg.
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BU Diversity & Inclusion
Title: Faculty and Staff of Color Check-in
Time: Monday, June 8, 1:30–3 pm
Description: BU Diversity & Inclusion invites you to join Associate Provost Crystal Williams in a community check-in for BU faculty, staff, and students of color. This check-in will be a space for people from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to engage in open, supportive, and community-specific conversation regarding the current racial climate in the country.
To request an accommodation (e.g. ASL Interpreters, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART); assistive listening devices), please contact our office at odi@bu.edu. Please submit requests for accommodations as soon as possible.
Meeting Information: Register here
Tuesday, June 9
Allies and Advocates Faculty and Staff Community Network
Title: Reflection Space for Allies, Session I
Time: Tuesday, June 9, 10–11 am
Description: This is the first reflection session hosted by Allies and Advocates network to follow up on the Collective Space for Community Solidarity event held last Friday, hosted by BU D&I. During this conversation, we will provide a space to discuss what allies and advocates might be able to do together to achieve positive change.
Meeting Information: RSVP here
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Metropolitan College Dean’s Office
Title: MET Community Town Hall on Social Justice
Time: Tuesday, June 9, 3–4 pm
Description: *OPEN TO METROPOLITAN COLLEGE COMMUNITY ONLY* For those of you in the MET community who are looking for ways to share your views, reflect and listen to others, or simply be together and feel part of the community, we invite you to join the Dean’s Office for the MET Community Town Hall on Social Justice.
Wednesday, June 10
Faculty & Staff Assistance Office
Title: Coping with Current Events: Support and Solidarity
Time: Wednesday, June 10, 12:30–1:30 pm
Description: Please join us for this interactive group to share thoughts, feelings, reactions to current events. Get to know your colleagues and learn more about how they are coping. We will offer support and compassion while holding space for each other’s unique and shared experiences. Registration will be limited to 45 participants.
Meeting Information: Register here
Thursday, June 11
Allies and Advocates Faculty and Staff Community Network
Title: Reflection Space for Allies, Session II
Time: Thursday, June 11, 2–3 pm
Description: This is the second reflection session hosted by Allies and Advocates network to follow up on the Collective Space for Community Solidarity event held last Friday, hosted by BU D&I. We will discuss what allies and advocates might be able to do together.
Meeting Information: RSVP here
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School of Social Work
Title: Affinity Spaces
Time: Thursday, June 11
- People of Color Affinity Space: 2–3 pm
- A second People of Color Affinity Space will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 8–9 pm
- White Affinity Space: 2–3 pm and 8–9 pm
Description: *OPEN TO SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK COMMUNITY ONLY* The School of Social Work invites our community members to share collective space and solidarity following the events of the last week. We hope to come together to support and share practices/resources that ground us during these challenging times.
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BU Diversity & Inclusion
Title: BU All-Community Check-In
Time: Thursday, June 11, 3:30–5 pm
Description: BU Diversity & Inclusion invites you to join in a community check-in for BU faculty, staff, and student allies. This check-in will be a space for open conversation regarding the recent events and racial climate of the country, as well as place to discuss how we can all be more effective allies in our communities.
To request an accommodation (e.g. ASL Interpreters, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART); assistive listening devices), please contact our office at odi@bu.edu. Please submit requests for accommodations as soon as possible.
Meeting Information: Register here
Anger, Awakening, Action – A Message from Dean Moore
View the STH List of Actions Here
Dear Beloved Community,
I cannot remember a time when I was angrier than I am today after the criminal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, combined with the overwhelming despair expressed in streets across the United States. My anger is deepened by the use of militarized tactics to “dominate” human beings who protest for justice, even the large majority, who protest peacefully. All of these appalling events heighten other deadly realities: inequities in health care access; devastations of COVID-19 and its disproportionate effects on people of color; and staggering job losses. People are hurting, and the United States systems and deeply engrained racism are multiplying that hurt.
Anger. What can we do with our anger? Consider the story in Matthew 21 when Jesus “drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves” (21:12, NRSV).[i] Jesus was angry, and not at people who offended him personally but at the very system that allowed money-changing and economic abuses of many people, even within the Temple. Quoting scripture, he argued: “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers” (13). The money changers contributed to injustices that were hurting human lives and violating the house of worship. Jesus directed his anger to a corrupt, destructive system, not to people against whom he held a personal or racial grudge. If you read one more verse in Matthew following up on this story, you see that Jesus then turned to healing: “The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them” (14). Jesus did not stop at being angry but went immediately into acts of healing, which sadly evoked the anger of others (a tale for another day).
Jesus’ response to the practice of money-changing in the Temple illumines the power of anger to address real and Holy concerns. Today is a good day to be angry about things that really matter, as Jesus did. It is a day to claim “the power of anger in the work of love,”[ii] as espoused by Beverly Harrison, Emilie Townes, and many other ethicists. Anger is Holy when it is addressed to wrongs against God and God’s people and creation. It is powerful when it is not a stopping place, but a starting place toward “never again” – toward healing broken lives and broken systems!
Awakening. If anger is to be powerful in the work of love, it needs to awaken people to the realities of abuse and suffering endured by persons of color. This is hard work, and even more so for people of white privilege (like me) and/or any kind of privilege. People distanced by privilege need to listen long and hard to recognize the brutal actions of many individual police officers and of militarized systems of policing wherever they exist. We need to listen to the hard realities of discrimination in health care and housing; abuses of immigrants; and racial slams in streets, stores, schools, and homes. Awakening requires hours and days and a lifetime of listening to the voices of people who are aching and terrified for their lives and those of their children. Awakening means that we come to know George Floyd and his family as people whose lives are more than symbols; they have meaning. Stories from Houston, TX, reveal Floyd as a peacemaker in the streets of the Third Ward, where he lived most of his life.[iii] We need to hear these stories to encounter the humanness of every victim – every person.
We have so much to learn! We need to awaken to countless incidents of protestors trying to protect their peaceful demonstrations from the aggressive acts of counter-protesters. We need to hear the despairing cries of those who engage in destructive actions, and to analyze the “domination rationale” of releasing gas and rubber bullets into a peaceful crowd. We need to awaken to the complexities, so we can respond with empathy, even toward the despairing, destructive actions that we seek to end. Without empathy, our responses to those actions will never lead to real change, and despair will continue.
Action. Anger and awakening are still not enough. The world in which we live is far more violent than we can grasp, and words, like these words in my letter, are empty if they are not connected to action. I hope that we in the Boston University School of Theology community (STH), near and far, can listen deeply and be challenged; engage in advocacy and service; and change actions of our daily lives to build just relationships with individuals and communities of all races, economic situations, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender identities. As some have said in these days, actions need to be specific to contribute to real change, and we need to change our actions as we listen ever-more deeply. Whether you are students, pastors, leaders in social service, public advocates, lawyers, police, medical professionals, teachers, neighbors, or family members, you can be agents of change. We really cannot let systemic racial violence continue to destroy our society and precious human beings loved by God. We need to undo the system of violence with justice and to de-escalate violence rather than meet violence with more violence. You will find suggestions for action on the STH website, and on others, such as this resource for white people. Please offer your own wisdom and proposals on STH social media and in your other circles. We need to hear the community’s concerns and wisdom!
I know my words are inadequate and unavoidably distorted by my whiteness. Small actions are also inadequate, but they can create movements for change, especially if we join with friends and strangers in our unique and shared work. Even as we recognize our limits, we can direct our anger to the work of love, to awakening, and to action. God does not ask us to save the world, but merely to give ourselves to the world-loving, world-saving work that is God’s. I pray that you can draw living water from your own deep wells of faith for the sake of revolutionary and lasting justice, powered by love.
With hope,
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth Moore
Dean and Professor of Theology and Education
Boston University School of Theology
[i] See also Luke 19:45-46.
[ii] Beverly W. Harrison, “The Power of Anger in the Work of Love,” Union Seminary Quarterly Review, vol. xxxvi (1981), 41-57.
[iii] One example of this kind of coverage can be found in Kate Shellnutt, “George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston,” Christianity Today, May 28, 2020, available at https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html?fbclid=IwAR2Rq0o-QGZF1TxOo3C2EH5DBnsMUKHf12U7JHTxuAhjS22PeMMKR7_1rtE (accessed May 30, 2020).
DMin Alums on “How can we respond to the George Floyd riots?”
Here's a conversation about race, relationships, faith, and agency with Rev. Dr. Theodore Turman (STH'20), pastor of First Baptist Detroit, and Rev. Dr. Shannon Karafanda (STH'18), founder of the #HolyMischief series. Check out this honest and real discussion about race and racial tension.
Rev. Dr. James A. King (STH ’58)
James A. King was born on Friday, December 29, 1933 and passed away on Tuesday, March 03, 2020. James A. King was a resident of California at the time of passing.
Rev. Dr. Richard E. Harding (STH ’53)
"Rev. Dr. Richard E. Harding (June 16, 1926-May 16, 2020) originally of East Boston spent his career as a devoted and admired United Methodist Church minister in Kentucky, Chicago and across Massachusetts. Although a distinguished graduate of Union College (where he met wife Shirley) and Boston University School of Theology, his greatest learnings in life were from the people he met and the places he loved, including Newfoundland Canada - a second home that stole his heart, and Botswana where he served as a missionary pastor for a year in 1991 in his retirement.
If you had the pleasure of knowing him, you know he was fascinated by people and their stories. A storyteller himself, he would often enamor you with his own adventures and perspectives on the world. He was an educated and travelled man, but he was most impressed by a strong character and a good sense of humor, no matter your background or stature.
He was a minister, a humanitarian, and an activist. He was passionate about politics, human rights and community. He would get lost in conversations, he would challenge you, and he was goofy (insert Donald Duck voice here!).
He was intensely present, full of life, and at almost 94 years, it's fair to say his was a life well lived. He soaked up the small things and rallied for the big things that mattered (even his yearly Christmas letter could be mistaken for political satire).
He was active in the Civil Rights and anti-war movements and supported gay marriage as one of the founders of the Reconciling Retired Clergy of New England Conference of the United Methodist Church and an active member of the Religious Coalition of the Freedom to Marry in Massachusetts.
More than his many accomplishments and accolades though, he was most proud of his family. He is survived by his wife Shirley Harding (Harrington) of 72 years; children Elaine (Tom), Richard (Beth), Sue (Gord), and Leslie (Ed); seven cherished grandchildren Christine, Gordie, Josh, Ashley, Corey, Sara, and Jason; and four beautiful great-grandchildren Zachary, Ronnie, Shelby and Leila. He is predeceased by sister Peg, and sons James and John.
He was the epitome of grace, humility and patience. He served in every sense of the word and we shall miss him and honor him in our memory every day.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date, post COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to a charity of choice."
The article was originally published here by Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home.