Letter from Dean Kuan

Dear Alumni and friends,

We all remember four years ago the issues of faith and race featured prominently in the politics of the presidential election. In some ways, a lot of us were not well prepared to engage the conversation. For example, in the so-called “Jeremiah Wright Controversy,” many people reacted with anguish and anger, including members of Dr. Wright’s congregation, Trinity United Church of Christ. The presidential candidate, Barack Obama, soon distanced himself from his pastor.

The issues of faith, race, and politics are again before the American populace in this presidential election year. How do we as people of faith and leaders of communities, in our roles as practicing pastors, community organizers, chaplains, and scholars, lead our communities to engage conversations of faith, race, and politics at a deeper and more meaningful level?

This year’s Tipple-Vosburgh Lectures provide opportunities to hear the voices and visions of activists, scholars, and church leaders responding to this unique and timely dilemma. I invite you to join us for our 2012 Tipple-Vosburgh event for a faithful/faith-filled exploration of faith, race, and politics during this presidential election cycle. I look forward to our time together and to welcoming you for this reunion event.

Grace and peace,

Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan
Dean, Drew Theological School

Letter from Joe Monahan, TAA President

Dear Friends,

It’s hard being a Christian in an election year.  The candidates offer easy answers, but there are none.  We seek partners for respectful discussion, but find few.

We seek to articulate a political perspective that engages our deep concern for justice and peace, for people on the margins and people of color.  Our voices are sometimes hard to hear during an election for the commander-in-chief of the world’s biggest military.

But if you’re up to the challenge of dialogue around “Faith, Race, and Politics,” then you need to join us at the 2012 Tipple-Vosburgh Lectures.  Here you’ll find tools you need to bypass the shouting matches on cable TV and engage your community in holy conversations.

This is our annual opportunity for alumni to reconnect with Drew, each other, and recognized experts on a timely and vitally important topic.  I look forward to seeing you in the Forest, and hope you’ll use this event to introduce someone you know to our good community.

Peace,

Rev. Joseph P. Monahan T’03
President, Theological School Alumni Association