Convocations
Resident driven, weekly Convocations have been a part of Monte Vista Grove campus culture for years. Offering a variety of presentations, musical performances and speakers on a wide array of intellectual, theological, and cultural topics, organized and run by our creative and enterprising resident body. These gatherings are always free and open to the public!
Usually, Convocations are held here on campus each Thursday (with a summer hiatus), but this year we invite you to join us from your living room. The virtual format allows anyone to join from anywhere, and allows us to host speakers from all over the world. Please join us for our first season of virtual Convocations, kicking off a new fall series: “Living Into Hope.”
Below, please find a list of upcoming convocations. Each Thursday, a link to the current program will appear next to the title, below. Simply return to this page, click the link, and you’re in!
Fall Series: “LIVING INTO HOPe”
We begin a new season of Convocations at Monte Vista Grove with a challenge that arises out
of the crises of COVID-19, economic dislocation, and racial inequities – LIVING INTO HOPE.
Join on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 843 0580 7388
Passcode: 2020
Click here for Zoom Instructions
Living Into Hope
SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Jim Symons, Lynn Cheyney, Karen Berns, and Tom Erickson
Jim Symons will introduce the fall theme “Living Into Hope,” and explain why it was chosen. Lynn Cheney, Karen Berns, and Tom Erickson will explore the meaning of hope at this moment in our history, including the unique opportunity we have in this time of upheaval to make changes that will move us toward compassion and justice. Our four speakers are retired Presbyterian ministers living at Monte Vista Grove in Pasadena, California.
A sacred journey OF HEALING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Nuala Ryan, SSL, retired music therapist and Catholic chaplain
Nuala Ryan was born and raised in Western Ireland, and was ‘afflicted’ by clergy sexual abuse at ages 8 and 15. Years later, during her work at Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona as the music therapist, she realized her own sacred journey of healing alongside the beloved and loving clients with whom she shared life, nurture and play. During her years of work at Lanterman, Nuala Ryan became the first woman Catholic chaplain. She retired in 2008 after 23 years of ministry and service.
TEACHING AS LOVE:
A LEGACY OF KATIE GENEVA CANNON
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Dr. Charlene Jin Lee. practical theologian and activist based in Los Angeles. → See expanded bio here and website here
Charlene will speak on the Womanist ethics of her mentor, Katie Geneva Cannon, and our ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. The progenitor of Womanist theological ethics, Katie Cannon, distinguished scholar, brilliant orator, and incisive truth-teller was, above all, an extraordinary teacher. She lived her ethical claims and theological convictions in her classroom and invited others to do the same. As deep calls to deep, students’ own prophetic voices were called into existence and communities of mutual reverence emerged. Dr. Charlene Jin Lee honors Katie Cannon’s enduring contribution to church and academy by sharing the pedagogical practices of her mentor who taught her to “do the work your soul must have.”
Steve Yamaguchi, broadcasting from Tokyo
OCTOBER 1, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Steve Yamaguchi, Tokyo Union Church pastor
Steve Yamaguchi shares from Tokyo where he serves as pastor of the Tokyo Union Church. He reflects on his journey from growing up in the '50s and '60s in a Japanese-American ghetto in south central Los Angeles to now serving at an international English-speaking congregation in Tokyo. Steve is a PC(USA) minister and reflects on his learnings from his sojourn as a non-white Presbyterian in a nearly all-white denomination.
Lest We Forget
OCTOBER 8, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Captain Nat Read
Nat Read is a retired Navy captain and author, who worked in public relations. When asked to speak about Living Into Hope, Nat reflected on Memorial day and patriotic funeral speeches. Though mourning doesn’t initially seem hopeful, Nat came to understand military funeral speeches to be, in a way, the ultimate observance of hope, saying “All wars are fought for a better peace. Young people in their prime risk the only lives they will ever have on this earth for the HOPE of a better tomorrow for others. Their hope is what we honor on each Memorial Day.” (Reflection: Psalm 27)
Nat was present off the coast of Vietnam during the Tonkin Gulf Incident; the genesis of the U.S./Vietnam Conflict. He was the protestant lay leader on two different ships and after his active duty years he remained in the Naval Reserve as a public affairs officer. He has published articles about Navy chaplains, including the chaplain at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, which made him the southernmost member of the clergy on the planet earth. He and his wife, Linda, are members of the San Marino Community Church.
A NEW ZEALAND PERSPECTIVE ON LIVING INTO HOPE
OCTOBER 15, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Rev. Dr. Kerry Enright, Pastor of Knox Church in Dunedin, New Zealand
Rev. Dr. Enright is a Presbyterian Minister in New Zealand with Maori (indigenous) and British ancestry. After practicing law, he undertook theological study in his own country and at Princeton, and served in congregations. For ten years he was the equivalent of the PC (USA) Stated Clerk in his Church. He then served in the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia and was responsible for international partnerships and development before taking up the role at Knox. His wife Dr Mavis Duncanson is a Public Health Physician and is Director of the Centre for Child and Youth Epidemiology at the University of Otago. They have three adult children. New Zealand's experience of COVID-19 has been marked by strong political and public health leadership with widespread national support. Clear, consistent and active national decision-making and communication has generated respect, even when there have been mistakes prompting sharp criticism. Community transmission, although always a risk, has been halted at least for a time. This outcome arises from the particular history, culture, locality and political evolution of the country. The talk will highlight qualities of empathy, thoughtfulness, care
CONVERSATION WITH A LIFER
OCTOBER 22, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Steve Bell, Prison Library Project in Claremont
Steve Bell, JD, incarcerated for 17 years, will discuss a few myths about prison, the huge problem of illiteracy among prisoners, its effects on public safety, and the work of the Prison Library Project, of which he became director in 2018.
IS THIS ANYWAY TO ELECT THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL LEADER? (SPOILER ALERT: NO!)
OCTOBER 29, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Michael Genovese, LMU Political Science Prof. on American presidency
Michael A. Genovese received his BA from Saint Mary’s College, and his PhD from the University of Southern California (1979). He holds the Loyola Chair of Leadership and serves as the President of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). The author of over 50 books, Genovese frequently serves as a political commentator on CNN, the BBC, CNNi, and local news stations. In 2018, he received the DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD from the American Political Science Association, and is only the fifth person in the over 100 years’ history of the Association to win the award. He was made a Fellow at the Queen’s College, Oxford University in 2006.
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
NOVEMBER 5, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Rev. James Lee, International Theological Seminary President
No community is an island. In order for churches to bear witness to the Gospel effectively in the 21st century, global partnership is essential. Churches in the Global South are experiencing tremendous growth and vitality. A successful model of theological education will need to include conversation and mutual learning from one another across the globe. This presentation will share an overview of recent developments in theological education and explore how global partnership will benefit and enrich all of us.
THE CHURCH AS A REFUGE: CHRIST’S CARE FOR FRIENDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND GRAVE DISABILITIES
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Amie Quigley, Director of Community Outreach and Urban Mission at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.
In her role at Hollywood Pres., Amie oversees the Lord’s Lighthouse, the Hollywood Healthcare Partnership, and the Hollywood Winter Refuge shelter. These ministries offer friendship, discipleship, and connections to housing and health services. Urban Mission also partners with numerous local ministries such as Youth First, Jews for Jesus and Fuente de Vida. Originally from Princeton, NJ, Amie has a background in theater. After receiving an AB in English from Duke University, she did postgraduate studies in Greek at Oxford University and recently completed an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. She currently serves as the Chair of the Homeless Task Force for the Presbytery of the Pacific and on the Executive Board of the Faith-Based Advocacy Council for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Amie is a Candidate for Ordination in the PC(USA).
welcome NEW RESIDENTS
NOVEMBER 19
4:00 PM (PST)
Video available to MVGH residents here
NOVEMBER 26
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO PROGRAM
Immigrant Accompaniment sPOTLIGHT
DECEMBER 3, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Kristy Van Nostran, Immigrant Accompaniment Organizer, San Gabriel and Riverside Presbyteries.
Kristi was raised in the Presbyterian Church. During her six years in El Salvador as a mission co-worker with the Joining Hands Network, Kristi Van Nostran worked to bring people to a common table and create a network to support ongoing efforts around justice and food sovereignty. Now she is working with two Southern California presbyteries to once again walk alongside her Central American brothers and sisters. We welcome Kristi Van Nostran to share her experiences in Central America and her work with immigrant accompaniment in Southern California!
THE ORIGIN AND CULMINATION OF THE MORAL ORDER OF INTEGRATION
DECEMBER 10, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Herman Waetjen, San Francisco Theological Seminary New Testament Professor
Herman C. Waetjen, Dr. theol. (Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Germany) taught in the School of Religion of the University of Southern California, and subsequently as the Robert S. Dollar Professor of New Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. After teaching at the Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union for thirty-four years, he retired in 1996 but has continued to teach into the present time. He is the author of four books: The Letter to the Romans: Salvation as Justice and the Deconstruction of Law, The Gospel of the Beloved Disciple: A Work in Two Editions, Praying the Lord's Prayer, and A Reordering of Power: A Socio-Political Reading of Mark's Gospel. He is married to Mary S. Waetjen who taught at Madrone High School in San Rafael for 19 years and is now retired. They have three children: Thembisa, Elaine and Dave.
Welcome new residents
DECEMBER 17, 2020
4:00 PM (PST)
Video available to MVGH residents here