Fuller Theological Seminary

FOR much of his career studying scripture, professor David Scholer of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena puzzled over a line from 1 Thessalonians: \o7Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. \f7He resisted a part of the verse: How did one "give thanks in all circumstances"? In tragedy? Sickness?

For some ministers, the most advanced technology used in a church service has been a wireless microphone. But with people growing savvier about computers, home theaters and the Internet, Fuller Theological Seminary is trying to find ways to make spiritual connections through high tech. "Many people who come to church browse YouTube for two hours in the morning," said Fuller President Richard Mouw.

Noel Snyder, who is studying at Fuller Theological Seminary to be a Presbyterian minister, was doing homework in a cozy, light-filled second-floor nook of the Pasadena school's new library. It's a great place to read, he said, and nearby are shelf after shelf of the books he needs to research potential sermons. "I used to study at home, but now it's easier to concentrate and focus here," said Snyder, 28, a Michigan native.

When the Rev. D. Kinoti Meme, a Methodist minister from Kenya, isn't steeped in his PhD studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, he's busy ministering to Chinese American youngsters at an Alhambra church. That's just the sort of cross-cultural opportunity Meme had prayed for before he came to study peacemaking at Fuller's School of Intercultural Studies.

Nearly six decades after its founding, Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena is among the world's largest seminaries and one of the most influential training centers for Christian leaders. Now, the campus is embarking on a 10-year, $79-million expansion to provide adequate housing for students and their families and more space for teaching, study, worship and performing arts. About 1,800 students from 70 nations study at the Pasadena campus.

The woman behind the name tag nancey murphy looks marooned, albeit cheerfully. even in a swirling sea of misfits--a New York Academy of Sciences conference on Madison Avenue--she stands out. She has green eye shadow, dumpling features, eyes that hum on the edge of surprise. Eventually a scientist from Denmark wanders over to ask a collegial question, which she answers--but in a herky, Captain Kirk cadence, as if she's replying by satellite.

One of the nation's leading evangelical Christian seminaries has launched a federally funded project for making peace with Muslims, featuring a proposed code of ethics that rejects offensive statements about each other's faiths, affirms a mutual belief in one God and pledges not to proselytize. The $1-million project, initiated by Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, is being hailed by both sides as a pioneering attempt to ease continuing conflict.

Thanks for the coverage of the new "post-conservative" movement centered at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena ("Jesus With a Genius Grant," by Alan Rifkin, Nov. 23). However, I think the article missed precisely why Fuller reflects post-conservatism--namely the uncoupling of conservative Christianity from the old Protestant work ethic. The new knowledge class of academics, psychologists and "interculturalists" highlighted in the article has invaded the religious institutions of the old business class.

I commend you for publishing the extensive article on Fuller Theological Seminary, and in doing so revealing Pasadena's best-kept secret ("Jesus With a Genius Grant," by Alan Rifkin, Nov. 23). As a former student and now a member of the faculty for close to three decades, I found the piece fascinating and futuristic, while tending more toward a clever parody than an authentic profile. The genius of Fuller is not so much its ability to balance exotic philosophy, ideological ethics and artsy dialogue with contemporary culture.