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University’s Axelson Center Accepting 2013 Nonprofit Awards Applications

University's Axelson Center Accepting 2013 Nonprofit Awards Applications

Modesto Tico Valle accepts the Alford-Axelson Award, which was presented to the Center on Halsted in 2012 at the annual Axelson Symposium in Chicago.

Modesto Tico Valle accepts the Alford-Axelson Award, which was presented to the Center on Halsted in 2012 at the annual Axelson Symposium in Chicago.

Applications due February 1; two awards to be presented at annual symposium

CHICAGO (January 11, 2013) — The at ÂÜÀòÉç is accepting nominations and through February 1 for its prestigious . The Axelson Center will present two awards of $7,500 each, sponsored by —one to a nonprofit with an annual budget under $3 million, and another to a nonprofit with an annual budget exceeding $3 million.

The award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community health care leader and visionary, and , a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena.

"For more than 10 years, the Axelson Center has awarded the Alford-Axelson Award to two exceptional Chicago-area nonprofit organizations," said , the center's director. "But this isn’t about the Axelson Center so much as it is about an elite group of 22 past award winners who represent the 'best of the best' in terms of nonprofit management structure and leadership. Without these organizations, Chicago wouldn’t be the same vital city that it is today."

Previous recipients of the award confirm its value for promoting overall organizational excellence and for improving staff. In 2012, , Chicago, was the award winner for large nonprofit organizations. , chief executive officer, said the center's executive team invested several months in the award process by reviewing and improving organizational practices. "Auditing our practices really helped us as an organization," he said. "Whether we won or not, it was good to pause and reflect, and audit our work internally. Organizations should do that on a regular basis."

Center on Halsted has about 70 employees, full- and part-time, and provides social service and public programs. It provides direct services annually to about 35,000 people, Valle said. The organization used its cash award to help senior staff improve a variety of management skills. The recognition has challenged the staff to be innovative and employ best practices regularly. "It was an honor to receive this in our fifth year of service, Valle added. "For me it also means, 'What does the next five years look like?' and 'How do we reflect that behavior and excellence in our work?'"

, Chicago, was the 2011 award recipient for small nonprofits. Two years earlier, the awards committee had given the shelter's application an honorable mention, a catalyst to continue improving administrative practices, said , the shelter's director. Among the changes the organization made when it tried for the award again were refocusing its board on strategic planning and hiring a business manager to help realign administrative duties.  

"The application process is rigorous. It made us think hard and examine our processes," Ryan said. "It's easy for a small organization to assume it is 'too small,' but the application process dispels that myth. We can function as a bigger organization, be good stewards of money we raise and good stewards of the services we provide." The shelter serves about 400 people living with homelessness, and provides assistance to relocate people into permanent housing with support services. It has about 12 full- and part-time employees, plus volunteers. The shelter used its cash award to hire a social work intern for a summer, a helpful step for staff and clients, Ryan said. The award has helped donors trust that the organization is efficient administratively, and that its resources are well-managed, she said. This year, the shelter will enter into its first government contract to provide permanent shelter and temporary services to clients.

A selection committee will determine this year's Alford-Axelson Award recipients. "We established a set of seven hallmarks of nonprofit managerial excellence, and organizations that exhibit strength in all seven areas are recognized by their peers as leaders in our sector. The selection committee is made up of Chicago-area nonprofit and civic community leaders. They have the formidable task of selecting each year’s winners," Rogers added.

To be considered, applicant organizations must be defined as 501(c)3 organizations, with their primary mission focus benefiting Chicago and/or its surrounding communities. The Axelson Center will accept nominations for the award by email or by phone, however organizations do not need to be nominated to apply. Recipients will be recognized at the annual , June 4, 2013, in Chicago.

 


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Fifth Annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference Addresses “Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity”

Fifth Annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference Addresses "Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity"

Kanyere Eaton

Rev. Kanyere Eaton

Rev. Kanyere Eaton challenges students to lead in an "edgy time"

CHICAGO (November 14, 2013) — Nearly 600 students, faculty, staff, and organizational leaders from across the country gathered at ÂÜÀòÉç Saturday, November 2, for the . North Park’s , under the leadership of Dr. Terry Lindsay, provides this event to equip college students as effective leaders and agents of change on their campuses. The conference goal is that each student would be equipped to return to their college or university and engage their peers in conversations and activities that create multiethnic cooperation and increase intercultural competency.

Dr. Kevin Kruger, the president and CEO of , brought a message of encouragement for young peoples’ roles in inspiring students of color to see college as a realistic option for their futures. NASPA, a national association of student affairs professionals in higher education, sees that the demographics of American students are changing, bringing new challenges for college preparation and success, especially around issues of diversity and intercultural cooperation.

According to Kruger, research reveals that, in about ten years, more than 50 percent of college graduates will be students of color. He called on the students gathered to see themselves as crucial role models and mentors for these future students. “You are tomorrow’s leaders and will be part of the solution,” he said.

Rev. Kanyere Eaton, pastor of Fellowship Covenant Church in the Bronx, New York, gave Saturday’s keynote address. Speaking on the conference theme, “Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity,” Eaton said that “we have inherited all kinds of attributes and attitudes” from previous generations that now must be negotiated. “What are we going to do with what they left us?” she asked. In our current, changing culture and demographics, she said, today’s students must transform the reality they’ve inherited into the future they desire. As geographic and demographic boundaries are being moved, attitudes toward diversity have not yet caught up.

Eaton charged the students in attendance to recognize themselves as leaders chosen to help shape the legacy for future generation. “You could have been someone very different,” she said, “but you are who you’re supposed to be. And you’re supposed to lead.”

“You’ve also been privileged,” she added, noting that information, connections, opportunities, and responsibilities are part of the package of a college education. “We live in an edgy time,” Eaton concluded, “and consciousness has not caught up with our condition. We’ve got to work with what we have, and take seriously the responsibility to leave things better than we found them.”

The ÂÜÀòÉç ensemble, step teams from North Park and Bethel University, and two African dance troupes gave inspired performances to round out the plenary activities. Following the session, conference attendees spent the afternoon at more than 30 workshops, with topics ranging from leading conversations on diversity, to developing safe, inclusive communities, to understanding the current national atmosphere of race relations.

The next Student Diversity Leadership Conference at ÂÜÀòÉç will take place on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
 


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ÂÜÀòÉç Student Earns Fulbright Grant, Headed to Turkey

ÂÜÀòÉç Student Earns Fulbright Grant, Headed to Turkey

Bailey Schwartz

Bailey Schwartz C'12 learned this month she was a granted a Fulbright award and will be working as an English Teaching Assistant in Turkey.

Bailey Schwartz among 11 University Fulbright grantees in five years

 

CHICAGO (May 30, 2013) — When she was a student at ÂÜÀòÉç, Bailey Schwartz took a class taught by , professor of , about the history of the from the 15th century to the end of World War I. That class struck a chord with Schwartz, who developed a strong interest in Turkish history, culture, and the historic city of . With a grant she earned from the , she will now explore the area firsthand as she lives and works in Turkey for nearly a year beginning this fall.

Schwartz learned this month that she was awarded a grant to work as an in Turkey, the precise location yet to be determined. She joins two who were earlier awarded Fulbright student grants earlier this spring. The program has awarded 11 of its prestigious grants to ÂÜÀòÉç graduates in the past five years.

For Schwartz, getting a chance to live in Turkey is like reading the sequel to good book. "I'm excited about the prospect that I can actually go to this place, and walk the streets that we had talked about in class," she said. Schwartz, who grew up near Lake Geneva, Wis., transferred to North Park after one year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse because she wanted to attend college in Chicago. She graduated from the University in December 2012 with a bachelor's degree in history. Schwartz also earned and an . Her mother, Denise, lives in Colorado. She has a brother, Robert, who lives in Wisconsin, and a sister, Samantha, of Chicago.

Rabe, who was a reference for Schwartz's Fulbright application, said she was an exceptional, motivated student, and is a great Fulbright candidate. "In a 30-year teaching career, she is one of the best students I've ever had," Rabe said. "She stands out not just for her intellectual capacity, which is considerable, but because of her motivation, her discipline, and maturity. She's an incredibly mature young woman."

Turkey is an excellent place to study history and learn, Rabe said. "You see whole span of history from ancient to the present, and you see it in a place where there is a rich culture between continents. It's a country that is such mixture of identities in its own right. It's a fascinating study in humanity, a fascinating study in human history. And it's beautiful," she said.

Schwartz wants to return from her Fulbright experience next year and teach history in a Chicago public school, and later, possibly attend graduate school. The Fulbright program attracted her because she will gain some valuable teaching experience, share U.S. history and culture with Turkish students, and learn about their lives, she said. "I'm sure they have an idea of or an assumption of what it means to be an American," she said. "Any interaction I have with anyone there is going to form the basis of their opinion, and hopefully, I can help it be positive."

Two other North Park graduates were informed earlier this spring about their Fulbright student grants, which begin this fall. Sam Auger of Chicago will work as an English Teaching Assistant in a high school in Haskovo, Bulgaria. Timothy Ahlberg, Perrysburg, Ohio, was awarded a Binational Business Exchange Grant, and will work in a business in Mexico City.

 

 


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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ÂÜÀòÉç to be Site of Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

ÂÜÀòÉç to be Site of Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

International Wheel Gymnastics Championship

Athletes coming to Chicago July 8-14

CHICAGO (July 3, 2013) — The are coming to Chicago July 8–14, with much of the competition happening on the campus of ÂÜÀòÉç. This unique form of gymnastics originated in Germany, putting athletes inside a large wheel, known as a Rhönrad, to perform exercises in categories that include straight line, spiral, and vault.

Hosted by the  and , the championships feature more than 130 athletes from 17 nations. General admission tickets are available, and can be . Competition will be divided between males and females, and junior and senior competitors. Awards will be given for best all-around, spiral, straight line, vault, and mono wheel competitions. This is the first time the competition has been held outside of Europe.

Prior to the world championships, the 8th USA Wheel Gymnastics Open Championship and first ever qualification trials for TEAM USA Wheel Gymnastics took place March 7–10, 2013. Dubbed the “Chicago Big Wheel Weekend,” the USA Wheel Gymnastics Federation and American Sokol hosted this weekend of training courses and competition trials to qualify for TEAM USA in the July World Championships.

ÂÜÀòÉç the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

In 1924 Otto Feick invented and built the Rhönrad (the German Wheel), and began traveling all over Europe and to the United States to promote the newly-created sport of wheel gymnastics. After a surge in popularity following World War II, the (IRV) was formed to oversee all international competitions and training. Seven member countries comprise the IRV and approximately 25 nations participate in the sport, with international training camps and World Championships being hosted in alternate years. The initial World Championship was held in Den Helder, Netherlands, in 1995.


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Marketing Transformation Driven by New Tools, New Behaviors, Says Graduate

Marketing Transformation Driven by New Tools, New Behaviors, Says Graduate

Renee Borkowski

Today's marketers face a "paradox of choice," said Renee Borkowski C'90.

Razorfish VP speaks at ÂÜÀòÉç Breakfast Series

CHICAGO (May 24, 2013) — There has been an incredible transformation in marketing practices in the past 15 years, much of it driven by dramatic shifts in how consumers use digital devices and experiences to fulfill their information and entertainment needs. The result is that there are many players in the marketing landscape today, creating a "paradox of choice" for many marketers.

"Deciding where to pay attention, where to spend, and how and where to stay connected with consumers is increasingly complex," said Renee (Johnson) Borkowski, Chicago, group vice president of strategic marketing for , a global digital agency. Borkowski, a 1990 North Park graduate in and , spoke to an audience of about 80 people at this spring's event in Chicago, sponsored by the University and the . Her topic was "Marketing Transformation in the Post-Digital Era." Borkowski, a member of the University's , brings 20 years of experience working with top-name brands.

Agencies today are challenged to cover all bases—search engine optimization, web and customer analytics, email marketing, marketing automation, social media, social marketing and multi-channel marketing management—along with many traditional forms of communication. With the growth in marketing, channels, and agencies working in the field, "we as marketers are at the intersection of decision-making, of managing our budgets, of figuring out what is going to get us the most for our money in the midst of a very confusing landscape," Borkowski said.

What has changed for marketers? Borkowski suggested several possibilities:

  • Planning is now a continuous and cyclical process. Insights are required to inform annual, quarterly, and daily decision cycles.
  • Digital marketing is experiential. As evidence, she pointed to changes in retail marketing, where shopping is mobile-enabled or occurs in "virtual" stores. More consumers are using multiple devices at home at the same time, including televisions, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Marketing is happening in real-time more than ever. Social media demands quick, short-term, relevant messaging, but must be done responsibly. "The volume and velocity of social online behaviors requires that break-through brands adopt a real-time mindset, and establish 'always-on' teams," she said.
  • New skills and vocations are emerging in marketing. There are growing needs for "data scientists" and "chief marketing technologists."

For nonprofits and mission-driven organizations with smaller budgets, Borkowski suggested an emphasis on social media-fueled experiences, coupled with highly targeted search capabilities to help organizations set themselves apart from others. Digital storytelling can also be more powerful by inviting members and followers to capture video with smartphones and making video blogs highlighting service projects, she said.

Despite the need for real-time marketing, decision-making and communication must be considered carefully and align with business and brand objectives, Borkowski said. "Organizations that take their cues solely from their audiences or cultural happenings without a true brand purpose end up diluting or damaging their brands," she added.


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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North Park Recognizes Minnehaha Academy Centennial

North Park Recognizes Minnehaha Academy Centennial

Minnehaha Academy

The Minneahaha Academy Redhawks' varsity basketball team earned the Minnesota Class 2A championship this year, under the leadership of Lance Johnson a 1983 North Park alum.

CHICAGO (May 5, 2013) — ÂÜÀòÉç recognized the 100th year of ,Minneapolis, Minn., a school for students in preschool through grade 12. Many graduates enroll at North Park, and University graduatesare among the school’s faculty and staff.

President David Parkyn was among the speakers April 28 at the Academy’s Centennial WorshipCelebration. In addressing the faculty, past and present, he said,“It is because you have been faithful in your calling as teachers thatwe can be here today. May God bless Minnehaha Academy withgreat teachers for the next century just as we have been blessedthrough the century past.”

The convocation was attended by TedAnderson C’37, son of Theodore W. Anderson, the school’s firstpresident and North Park Junior College graduate. The school’scurrent president, Dr. Donna Harris, is a member of the University. Lance Johnson C’83 led the Redhawks’varsity basketball team to the Minnesota Class 2A championshipthis year.

The University and Minnehaha Academy are affiliatedwith the .


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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Groundbreaking Initiates Construction Phase of New University Science and Community Life Center

G. Timothy and Nancy Johnson

Dr. G. Timothy and Nancy Johnson will join the University on October 26 to break ground for the 101,000-square-foot Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, named in their honor.

New building honors North Park alumni Nancy and Dr. G. Timothy Johnson

CHICAGO (October 16, 2012) — Two well-known ÂÜÀòÉç alumni, plus family and friends will join students faculty, staff, and leaders of ÂÜÀòÉç October 26 for a that marks the beginning of the construction phase for a new University building. When completed, the will house laboratories, classrooms and offices, plus a variety of student services, including , , , and residence life.

The University will provide a of the groundbreaking ceremony beginning at 5:00 pm CDT.

“The Johnson Center is a project which will transform our University and enhance student learning for years to come,” said , University president. “We are pleased to begin construction of this much-needed academic and student life facility, and also delighted that it is named for the Johnsons who have contributed so much to North Park. We hope Oct. 26 will be as memorable for them as it will be for our community.”

Dr. G. Timothy Johnson is known for his work as chief medical editor for ABC News from 1984 to 2010. He graduated from North Park College (now University) in 1956, and earned a seminary degree at in 1963. He later earned a medical degree, and became one of America’s best-known physicians, providing award-winning on-air medical analysis on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. He was honored with the University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1991, and is also an ordained pastor of the (ECC), the church denomination with which the University is affiliated. Nancy Johnson was trained as a nurse at the School of Nursing, Chicago, including study in the sciences at ÂÜÀòÉç. Immediately after receiving her nursing credential, she completed a short-term medical assignment in Indonesia. The Johnsons reside in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The Johnsons will participate in a in the center of the Chicago campus that will begin at 4:00 pm CDT, with outdoor festivities, food, and music. Following brief remarks and a groundbreaking ceremony at 5:00 pm, invited guests and project contributors will attend an evening reception and program at Hamming Hall, followed by a concert in Anderson Chapel.

“The Johnsons are an extraordinary couple,” said , University vice president for development and alumni relations. “The time is right for us to name this transformational facility in their honor. It includes everything that has been so important to them as alumni, trustees, campaign leaders, medical professionals and lifelong stewards of North Park’s mission. The fact that it will be located in the central part of the campus is dear to their hearts because they know it will serve every student, faculty and staff member in our community.”

The $42 million Johnson Center is the most significant component of , a $57 million comprehensive University fundraising effort. The campaign raised funds for the Johnson Center, the University’s Annual Fund, student scholarships, and Chicago-based academic programs and faculty development. Fundraising continues for the building project and a variety of academic needs related to the new building, Surridge said. The 101,000-square-foot Johnson Center is expected to open for the 2014 academic year.


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ÂÜÀòÉç Board of Trustees Confirms Decision to Build New Science, Community Life Center

ÂÜÀòÉç Board of Trustees Confirms Decision to Build New Science, Community Life Center

The Johnson Center

The 101,000-square-foot Nancy & G. Timothy Johnson Center at ÂÜÀòÉç is expected to be ready in the fall of 2014, and its design will reflect principles of environmental stewardship and energy conservation.

Trustees name building for alumni Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson

CHICAGO (May 15, 2012) — The of ÂÜÀòÉç confirmed construction of the , addressing a significant, longstanding need for state-of-the-art science laboratories and program facilities to serve North Park students. The board, which met here May 10–11, also acted to name the new building for Nancy and , longtime medical editor and senior medical contributor for ABC News, whom the trustees said “define a life of exemplary service.”

A formal groundbreaking ceremony for the 101,000-square-foot Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life is planned for October 26, 2012. Building site preparation will begin this summer, and construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2014 fall semester.

The Johnson Center will support a number of the University’s signature academic programs in , as well as offices for , , , and , said , University president. Strong programs will grow stronger, and effective student learning will be advanced to yet a higher level, he said.

“This new academic building will position ÂÜÀòÉç to recruit students competitively and educate them effectively,” Parkyn said. “In like manner, this new building will assist us in hiring new faculty in several disciplines and in providing for their effectiveness as teachers and researchers.”

The Johnson Center resulted from the University’s comprehensive fundraising effort, . The $57 million campaign is raising funds for the new building, the University’s Annual Fund, student scholarships, and Chicago-based academic programs and faculty development. Fundraising continues.

The Johnson Center
The new building will be named for Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson, recognizing and honoring their lives of exemplary service.

Dr. G. Timothy Johnson graduated from North Park College (now University) in 1956, and earned a seminary degree at in 1963. After completing a medical degree, he served as chief medical editor for ABC News from 1984–2010. Johnson became one of America’s best-known physicians, providing award-winning on-air medical analysis on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. He was honored with the University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1991, is the founding editor of the Harvard Health Letter, and the author of several books on medicine and faith. He is also an ordained pastor of the (ECC), the church denomination with which the University is affiliated. He chaired a task force in 1979–1980 that recommended the University remain in its historic location on the North Side of Chicago.

Nancy Johnson was trained as a nurse at the School of Nursing, Chicago, including study in the sciences at ÂÜÀòÉç. Immediately after receiving her nursing credential, she completed a short-term medical assignment in Indonesia. The Johnsons, residing in Marblehead, Mass., have volunteered considerable time to the University through their service on the board of trustees and on behalf of North Park’s two most recent fundraising campaigns, including Campaign North Park.

“North Park was the first stop for both of us in our long academic journeys,” the Johnsons said. “It gave us a moral and intellectual foundation that has lasted a lifetime — and for which we will always be grateful. We are both very pleased but humbled by this naming honor.”

Naming the building for the Johnsons recognizes their service to the University, and as lifelong stewards of its mission and values, said , Thousand Oaks, Calif., chair of the University’s board of trustees and a member of the class of 1978. “Tim has tirelessly championed the need for this new facility to prepare North Park’s students for demanding careers in modern science, medicine and nursing. Nancy likewise is deeply committed to this important mission,” he said.

The Johnson Center will be located in the heart of the campus, and will be constructed to reflect environmental stewardship and energy conservation. The project will target , demonstrating characteristics such as lower operating costs, resource conversation, and healthful and safe working conditions. The center will feature 30 technology-enhanced laboratories, academic facilities, and faculty and staff offices. Student co-curricular services will be housed in the new facility, as will a café, plus conference and meeting spaces.

Through the summer months prior to the start of construction, the University will complete the building design with the architectural team, finalize a finance plan, and continue fundraising.


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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Interdisciplinary Forum on the Bible and Health Set for October 30

Interdisciplinary Forum on the Bible and Health Set for October 30

Healthy Human Life

Dr. James Bruckner's recent book is the focus of the October forum at ÂÜÀòÉç.

Seminary, School of Nursing sponsor Chicago forum

CHICAGO (October 19, 2012) — A ÂÜÀòÉç professor and a panel of health professionals and pastors will address topics related to the Bible, human health, and healthy relationships in an October 30 forum, "The Bible and Health: An Interdisciplinary Forum." The event features , professor of Old Testament with the University's , who will present from his recently published book, .

The two-hour forum is free to attendees and begins at 3:30 pm in Olsson Lounge at North Park Theological Seminary. Event sponsors are the Seminary and the ÂÜÀòÉç .

Healthy Human Life "is the result of 10 years of conversation about understanding and practicing human health — conversations between a biblical scholar and health care professionals," Bruckner said in an interview. "The book unpacks the biblical text to address questions which are foundational to health care as well as biblical theology." The book includes content for patients, families, health care professionals, counselors, and pastors dealing with health or end-of-life issues, and could be used as a text in professional schools.

Dr. James Bruckner
Dr. James Bruckner

Panelists who will respond to Bruckner are , dean of the School of Nursing and holder of the Gretchen Carlson Memorial Endowed Chair in Nursing; C. Louise Brown, vicepresident of health ministries, Progressive National Baptist Convention, and former director of public health for the City of Evanston, Ill.; and , pastor of Ravenswood Covenant Church, Chicago.

"There is tremendous interest in the church's role in promoting health with their members and communities as evidenced by the wide variety of health ministries in which churches are engaged," says , RN, Seminary and University professor of health ministries and nursing. "It is important for these ministries to be biblically and theologically informed as well as sound from a health perspective." Healthy Human Life "provides a much-needed biblical perspective" for Christian health professionals, congregations with health ministry teams or faith community (parish) nurses, and medical researchers, she added.

In addition, the Seminary offers a 12-credit interdisciplinary in collaboration with the School of Nursing, as well as continuing education workshops for ministry and health professionals.


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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North Park Theological Seminary Announces Urban Ministry Certificate

North Park Theological Seminary Announces Urban Ministry Certificate

Certificate in Urban Ministry

Applications for first cohort accepted through March 31

CHICAGO (February 10, 2012) – is accepting applications for a new, two-year graduate educational program leading to a . The 15-credit certificate program is intended for Christian ministers and lay leaders who want to learn more about engaging in effective ministry in urban settings.

The Seminary is part of ÂÜÀòÉç, a higher education institution with a . Those core values, combined with the cultural and Christian diversity represented in Chicago, position the Seminary to offer a rich educational experience to students, said , program director. Rah is Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism for the Seminary, and a former urban pastor himself.

"Chicago is part of the classroom we're offering," he said in an interview. "Being in Chicago is a tremendous advantage. It is a center for community development, community organizing, for ethnic diversity, and with diverse neighborhoods."

Offering a certificate program in urban ministry is part of a larger trend of urbanization and the growing influences of urban culture, Rah said. Both the University and Seminary are affiliated with the (ECC), which is planting new congregations in urban areas, Rah said. Urban pastors and urban lay workers could benefit greatly from the certificate program, Rah said. "We hope it will strengthen and undergird their urban ministry," he said. The program can also introduce people to urban ministry who want to learn more.

The urban environment is complex, constantly changing, and always challenging, Rah said. The certificate program will emphasize deeper theological and spiritual engagement, as well as practical ideas for enhancing urban ministry. "We do this ministry as followers of Jesus. Anytime we can deepen the theology, it is a good thing. Also important are spiritual formation and discipleship. All of these serve to strengthen our work in the city," he said.

Students who complete the program will earn 15 credit hours in just over two years. Plans call for the first cohort to meet Aug. 13–17 in Chicago, followed by online coursework beginning in October. The cohort will meet in Chicago for another week in August 2013, followed by online coursework. A final week-long gathering in Chicago is planned for August 2014. Rah said an ideal size for the urban ministry cohort is about 15 to 20 people.

"There is great enthusiasm in this Seminary and in this denomination for this certificate program," said Rah. "It represents a wonderful convergence of what ÂÜÀòÉç is all about, and what the Evangelical Covenant Church is excited about."

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted to North Park Theological Seminary by March 31, said E. Kirsten Burdick, director of Seminary . All applications will be considered at the same time in April, she said.


Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

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  • Check out the , an upcoming urban youth and justice event
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