Randall Miller Appointed Assistant Professor of UM Studies, Ethics and Leadership at PSR

9/13/2012


Dr. Randall Miller has been appointed Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies, Ethics and Leadership at PSR, and Director of a collaborative PSR/Cal-Nev Leadership Initiative.

Sept. 13, 2012—Pacific School of Religion (PSR) has announced the appointment of Randall Miller as Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies, Ethics and Leadership, and Director of a Leadership Initiative – a joint collaboration with the California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

PSR President Riess W. Potterveld made the announcement on Tuesday (Sept. 11).
 
"Pacific School of Religion and The United Methodist Church have worked together for a long time in the education and preparation of leaders for the church, both ordained and lay," Potterveld told Instant Connection. "This week PSR named Randall Miller to a new position, Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies, Ethics, and Leadership. In this teaching position, Dr. Miller will teach courses in the history, theology, and polity of The United Methodist Church. Additionally, [he] will direct a Leadership Institute that is being jointly designed by PSR and the California-Nevada Annual Conference and that will focus on programs of leadership development for ministry in the 21st century."
 
Developing principled Christian leaders is one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church and a significant impetus of the California-Nevada Conference, which this year hired the Rev. Greg Bergquist to fill a newly created staff position, Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development.
 
Resident Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. said that in his new capacity at PSR, Miller will work closely with Bergquist to develop a comprehensive leadership plan aimed at cultivating highly effective leaders (both clergy and lay) who are theologically and ethically grounded in the United Methodist tradition, shaped by lived experience, and engaged in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
 
The goal of the initiative is to facilitate developments of adaptive skills and enable vibrant and innovative forms of leadership in both religious and non-religious settings and sectors.
 
"Significant changes in the context of ministry – in our society and throughout the world – underscore the importance of a renewed and strengthened partnership … aimed at supporting transformative and adaptive clergy and lay leaders who will lay the groundwork necessary for United Methodism to thrive in the 21st century," the bishop said.
 
Miller is a 1981 graduate of Emory and Henry College. He undertook graduate studies at Candler School of Theology in 1985, and received a PhD from Graduate Theological Union in 2007.
 
Before joining the PSR faculty in July 2010 as Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics and Social Thought, Miller held senior positions in politics, HIV/AIDS prevention, philanthropy, and national youth ministry. He is an active lay member in The United Methodist Church and chaired the 2012 California-Nevada General Conference Delegation. At the 2012 Western Jurisdiction Conference, he was elected to the General Board of Church and Society and named chairperson of the WJ Episcopacy Committee. 
 
"I'm very pleased to be appointed to this new faculty position," Miller said today, "and look forward to working with good colleagues at the Pacific School of Religion and throughout the California-Nevada Annual Conference to revitalize a strong, vibrant, and inclusive spirit of United Methodism in this region."

Comments

1. Erich Harris wrote on 9/14/2012 4:44:59 PM
Although the general board of discipleship says that homosexuality is contrary to christian teaching, we are naming an openly gay man to teach ministers about leadership. No wonder the United Methodist Church is losing members left and right, we do not adhere to or espouse the teachings of the Bible, so every one knows, including the ones who support this, know that we are full of it. We have no ethos.
2. Rhonda Canale wrote on 9/14/2012 5:02:46 PM
Congratulations to Randall! Would love to see some DVDs developed at PSR. We would be happy to have them available for churches to check out. This is a wonderful step forward!
3. Dr. Rosa Washington-Olson wrote on 9/15/2012 12:26:57 AM
My heart leaped for joy when I saw the announcement of your appointment! Any one entering your class will be blessed and awaken by your skills,deep insights, knowledge, intelligence, and your forward thinking. What a powerful choice PSR made!! Be Blessed!!!
4. Bud Tillinghast wrote on 9/15/2012 2:36:17 AM
Mr. Harris, may I make a couple corrections about your comment. First. the Board of Discipleship has no such statement concerning homosexuals. It is in what we call the Book of Discipline. Second, the UMC has "no ethos." I believe you meant to say it has no ethics. It not only has one ethic but two as the 52% to 48% vote on the resolution by Hamilton and Slaughter at G. C. indicated. Third, if the loss of membership is due to our not "espousing the teachings of the Bible", why are the Southern Baptists, who, by your terms, do "stick to the Bible" on homosexuality, also losing members? Randy, congratulations to you!
5. Ellen Rowan wrote on 9/15/2012 10:18:14 AM
Good move for PSR.
6. Erich Harris wrote on 9/15/2012 2:41:48 PM
Ethos refers to your character and the way that you are perceived by others based on the life that you are living. In classical Rhetoric it refers to the way that you influence an audience by using Ethos- Logos- or Pathos.
7. Erich Harris wrote on 9/15/2012 5:48:12 PM
Mr. Tillinghast, Thank you for clarifying that the "Book of Discipline" the governing set of principles for the United Methodist Church, says that Homosexuality is inconsistent with Christian principles. United Methodist are losing members at a more rapid rate than ministries that follow the teachings of the Bible. I was hoping that someone would point out in the Bible where it says that it is not a sin. The more that I hear and learn, the more that I believe that it is the goal of many members of our church to tear down and dismantle the church. In fact I believe that it is closely aligned with people whose goal it is to dismantle the establishment, whether it is good or bad. Almost like those who say that every rich person is evil, that any money that they earned was not from simply hard work, but they must have taken advantage of someone. Like Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord."
8. Cynthia Abrams wrote on 9/18/2012 4:47:56 AM
Congratulations Randall! PSR is blessed to have a deeply faithful Christian and principled church leader in this position. Our beloved United Methodist Church is blessed to have you guiding our new young leaders with your vision and wisdom.
9. Doug Sibley wrote on 9/19/2012 12:21:41 PM
Congratulations Randall Miller on your recent appointment. Please help enlighten our community about God's Loving and Healing ministry. Christ taught forgiveness and to not judge one another. It boggles my mind how some within our church can single out one particular group called "homosexuals," stereotype and then uniquely condemn them. No one is perfect. We are ALL human. Life's struggles are tough enough today without excluding some by a term not clearly defined. To me, it is un-Christian to point fingers saying one stereotyped group is unworthy of full participation in a congregation or church. We need to work together to support each other in our common goals of following Christ's teachings. We should have open hearts, open minds, and open doors. It takes a village/congregation to raise a child of God.