2019 News and Events

December 9 is the late registration deadline for United Methodist certification courses offered at Perkins beginning in January 2020, including courses in Christian Education and Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry and Spiritual Formation.

Craig C. Hill, dean of Perkins School of Theology, will lead a day-long course, “Servant of All: Status, Ambition, and the Way of Jesus” at the Houston Lay School of Theology from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on February 22, 2020 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston.

Rev. Katherine Glaze Lyle, a longtime Dallas-area pastor, receives the 2019 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

All prospective degree and non-degree students are invited to attend Inside Perkins, a free information session offered by Perkins School of Theology, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.

A Spanish-language version of Ted A. Campbell’s film, Five Waves Over Dallas (Cinco Olas sobre Dallas) will premiere at Casa Linda United Methodist Church on Monday, December 2, at 7 p.m. The documentary tells of the overlapping migrations that shaped the Dallas area over the past 250 years—from the earliest native-American tribes to today’s global diversity.

As they have every year since 1959, members of the SMU community will be joined by friends from around Dallas for Advent worship on Thursday, December 5– but with one key change. This year there will be just one service, at 6 p.m., rather than two services as in past years.

Learn about hybrid graduate theological education during a special information session set for Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Houston, Texas. The program, which offers the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.M.) degrees, meets students where they are—spiritually and geographically—through hybrid courses and one-week intensives on-site in Houston.

Prospective students considering graduate theological education at Perkins School of Theology will have the opportunity to attend a seminar with TV travel host Rick Steves, enjoy lunch and conversation with two notable agents of social change, and will hear from current students during the Nov. 12 “Inside Perkins” event.

Are you discerning your call to ministry? Are you considering graduate theological education? Join us as we explore the possibilities of a life-changing experience at Perkins School of Theology during “Inside Perkins” on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Hong Kong Protests: A Messianic Movement,” a panel discussion examining the current situation in Hong Kong, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall on the SMU campus.

The annual award is presented to a layperson in the United States who exemplifies an exceptional commitment of service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world. Awarded first in 1993, the award has been presented to more than 45 distinguished laypersons throughout the years.

A look at “Spirits, Spirits & Spirit: Exploring ghosts, goblins, and the spiritual realm” is the focus of Theology on Tap, a gathering for Houston-area young adults, set for Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kindred, 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston 77006.

Perkins School of Theology has established a partnership with the nonprofit Project Transformation National to provide a preferred pathway for Project Transformation interns and alumni considering a graduate theological education at Perkins.

The award recognizes Perkins graduates who have demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support for the goals of Perkins and Southern Methodist University, outstanding service to the community, and exemplary character.

The Perkins Baptist House of Studies will host Amanda Tyler, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, for two events on Thursday, Oct. 3.

“Reboot: The Congregation as Youth Worker,” a new initiative of Perkins School of Theology designed to equip entire congregations to serve in ministry with youth, has announced the selection of 18 diverse congregations to form its initial (starter) cohort.

One of this generation’s leading scholars in homiletics will be the featured speaker at the third annual ArkLaTex (Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas) Lectures in Preaching on Monday, Oct. 7 at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Texas.

All prospective degree and non-degree students are invited to attend Inside Perkins, a free information session offered by Perkins School of Theology. In addition to receiving a first-hand look at the range of educational opportunities offered at both the Dallas campus and through the hybrid Houston-Galveston Extension Program.

Read Dean Craig C. Hill's sermon, "What's Love Got to Do With It?," preached during the Aug. 28 worship service, which also recognized new faculty and staff.

Even though the summer heat still rages, the feeling of fall is in the air, as students at Perkins School of Theology return to their studies and the Fall 2019 semester gets underway. The Houston-Galveston Extension Program kicks off on August 19 and classes begin on August 26 for students at the Dallas campus of SMU.

Renowned Indian novelist Chandrahas Choudhury will come to the SMU campus on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 for a half-day interdisciplinary conference focused on Indian literature and its role within our global community.

Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is pleased to announce that Dr. Ángel J. Gallardo has joined the faculty and staff as Associate Director of the Intern Program. Dr. Gallardo brings a rich range of experiences to this new position. Most recently, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU in 2018.

TV host and travel author Rick Steves leads the lineup of distinguished speakers for Perkins’ annual fall convocation, “Mission Quest: Finding Your Place in God’s World,” November 11-12 at Highland Park United Methodist Church and on the campus of SMU. This annual event offers two days of lectures, workshops, dialogue with speakers and participants, Bible study and worship.

Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is accepting nominations for its 2019 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. The deadline to submit nominations is Monday, Sept. 2.

The application due dates are fast approaching for all Fall 2019 master’s degree programs at Perkins School of Theology. The submission of applications for the Houston-Galveston Hybrid Program must be completed by Friday, June 30. Applications for the Dallas campus programs must be completed by Wednesday, July 31.

Perkins School of Theology will present “The Wit of Alyce McKenzie & The Wisdom of the Bible” at the two-day Houston Lay School of Theology, Aug. 16-17, 2019, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 5501 Main Street in Houston.

Perkins School of Theology will present “The Wit of Alyce McKenzie & The Wisdom of the Bible” at the two-day Houston Lay School of Theology, August 16-17, 2019, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 Main Street in Houston.

The Rev. Dr. Schubert Ogden earned broad renown as a United Methodist theologian — writing challenging books and articles, winning top honors and fellowships, and eventually becoming the subject of younger scholars’ analysis.

The Art of Resilience will address the current social climate as well as public policies impacting Latino/a families and communities and how those policies test human rights commitments and the democratic process. The event will bring together the work of theologians, scholars, artists and community members.

What can preachers learn from advertisers? For starters, advertisers know how to cut through the noise in the marketplace. There are also creative processes used by advertising firms that can jump start sermon preparation. “Preaching and the 30-Second Commercial” is a workshop offered by the Center for Preaching Excellence at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology.

On February 26, 2019, the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted the “Traditional Plan,” which continues to exclude “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ordained ministry and prohibits clergy from officiating at same-sex weddings. This decision has given birth to a great many uncertainties, but at least one thing is absolutely clear: it in no way changes our institution’s historic stance of inclusion.

Perkins School of Theology-Southern Methodist University will offer a Spanish-language Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree to a second cohort of students beginning in the fall of 2019. The advanced Master’s degree is a non-residential program designed for experienced full-time pastors or Church/academic leaders. Once selected, the next group will follow the same path as the first cohort of seven students, who began in the fall of 2017 and will graduate in May.

The 2019 Perkins Theological School for the Laity, a three-day event focusing on the Bible, theology, and spirituality is set for March 28-30 on the Southern Methodist University campus. A free evening lecture will feature the Rev. Dr. Andrew Zirschky, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary.

Perkins School of Theology is honored to announce John M. Esquivel as the recipient of the 2019 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award. He will be recognized at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2018, during the opening worship service of the three-day Perkins Theological School for the Laity in Perkins Chapel.