You’ve been a Candler faculty member for nearly 30 years. What is one of your favorite Candler memories?
There are so many. One is a convocation address several years ago by Robert Franklin on arguing with God. Robert is always good, but this was an extraordinary oration, rooted in the Old Testament and Robert’s moral vision and passion for justice. It enraptured everyone in Cannon Chapel. As Robert stepped down from the podium, Bishop Woodie White rose to deliver the prayers. Now, Bishop White was renowned for his soaring and moving prayers, but he looked over his shoulder at Robert and rather than proceed, just tore his notes in half and, without saying a word, sat down again. Hard to imagine higher praise!
What is your favorite course to teach?
My seminar on the theology of Martin Luther. Luther is a fascinating and yet troubling figure—full of startlingly creative theological insights that shaped the course of modern Christianity but also deeply problematic in his vitriol and intolerance to opponents and non-Christians. Together, these make for fascinating discussions that force students to wrestle with the ethics of historical work in theology.
What’s the last good book you read for pleasure rather than for your work?
Fintan O’Toole’s We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland. O’Toole is one of the keenest observers of our contemporary politics and culture, and he’s a brilliant stylist to boot, which makes it a pleasure to read.
Is there a movie or TV show you think unexpectedly captures theological themes or lessons?
Religion permeates a lot of visual culture, but it is rare for theological issues to be taken seriously in popular culture without resorting to timeworn tropes or oversimplification of good versus evil. Just a few transcend that, like Martin Scorcese’s film Silence, based on the novel by Shusaku Endo, which deals with profound questions of theological meaning across cultures in seventeenth century Japan.
If you could organize a dinner party with theologians from across time, who would be on the guest list?
Many of the most fascinating theological figures in history would make lousy dinner companions either because of their rigorous asceticism, say Julian of Norwich or John Wesley, or because of their difficult personalities, like Martin Luther or Teresa of Avila. At my dinner party I’d like to include those figures who saw things that many of their contemporaries could not: Sebastian Costellio, an early advocate for religious conscience and religious tolerance who based his views on strong biblical and theological convictions. He called out his colleagues at great personal cost during the intolerant confessional age; Frederick Douglass, the towering advocate for Black freedom in the nineteenth century who ridiculed the hypocrisy of American Christianity on slavery and disenfranchisement; and more contemporarily, Dorothea Sölle, the German liberation theologian of the post-war era, who pushed traditional Protestantism to reexamine its commitments on questions of justice. They would make for an animated and vigorous table discussion from which I would learn a great deal even if we wouldn’t all agree on theological doctrine or menu!
Do you have a hidden talent that many people don’t know about?
I’m an excellent bicycle mechanic and love rescuing and restoring old bikes.
Those who know you know you’re an avid runner. When did you start?
I ran competitively in high school but just didn’t enjoy it at all. About ten years ago I started training again more seriously and found I really appreciated the mental and physical benefits of long runs. Now it’s something I look forward to. As long as I can avoid injury, I’ll try to run a couple of marathons each year. My next goal is Boston in April next spring. I’ve got a good qualifying time, so fingers crossed!
You’ve spent a lot of time in Germany for research. What is your favorite landmark or place to visit there?
Berlin is a wonderfully cosmopolitan city with a rich cultural life, a vibrant arts scene, and terrific public transport. It is also home to the newly renovated Staatsbibliothek, whose magnificent rare-book reading room is the most striking place I’ve worked as an historian.
What is something you’re looking forward to as dean of Candler?
I’ve got so many talented colleagues among staff and faculty, it’s a privilege to be able to work with them more closely and I’m looking forward to that, well aware of the trust that they have put in me.
What legacy do you hope to build during your time as dean?
Graduate theological education faces a lot of challenges today, some would even say [it’s in] crisis. But among our peers, Candler is really in an enviable position because we have terrific students, an outstanding faculty committed to our mission, and great support within a leading research university. To capitalize on this, I see two main opportunities. First, we need to continue making progress towards full scholarships for all our students. Dean Love has made enormous progress towards that goal, and I will continue that. Second, as the generational change at Candler is ongoing, we also need to nurture and sustain our highly productive faculty that is at same time committed to the mission of the school.
How can Candler alumni best support you during this time of transition?
Candler alums do so many creative things in churches, religious communities, and other organizations. Their support is vital to school, not just with their financial gifts, which are incredibly generous, but also with their engagement on behalf of Candler and Emory in congregations, annual conferences, local organizations, and national associations. Engaged alums are one of the most important markers for the University and external supporters, and I want to show them off.
What role do you think Candler alumni can play in the life of the school during this season?
I see two things. First, ministry is changing rapidly throughout the United States, and we need to hear from our alums who are in the midst of these changes about how they are creatively adapting and what Candler can do to help prepare the next generation of religious leaders to thrive. I have found our alums extraordinarily reflective about the ways their studies at Candler have shaped their vocation, but we also need to hear about the gaps and misalignments, especially at this time when the nature of ministry is shifting so profoundly. Providing us regular feedback is critical and very welcome. Second, our alumni are excellent guides to the next generation of emerging leaders from Candler. Many already do wonderful mentoring, and we want to leverage their insight, experience, and networks for current students and recent grads who face a very different landscape now. No one is better situated than our alums to help with that mentoring.