Is God becoming a 'divine therapist' for teen Christians?

Kenda Creasy Dean is a minister and professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, as well as the author of "Almost Christian." She also helped to conduct research for a study titled the National Study of Youth and Religion, which included in-depth interviews with at least 3,300 American teens between 13 and 17 years old.

As part of her work with the study, Prof. Dean personally interviewed Christian young people about their faith. However, during her work with the study, Prof. Dean learned that fewer than half of those she interviewed practiced their faith or deemed practicing faith important, and most could not speak coherently about their beliefs. What was discovered was that, for many teenagers, a belief in God amounted to "moralistic therapeutic deism."

Within "Almost Christian," Prof. Dean speaks to teens who can articulate their beliefs about faith, many of whom come from Mormon or evangelical church backgrounds. In general, though, Prof. Dean's book discusses how many teens adhere to a watered-down kind of Christian faith, which relegates God to being a "divine therapist."

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to social justice, multiculturalism, diversity and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Seminary president to preach at historic Garden State ABC church

Rev. Dr. Dale Irvin

New York Theological Seminary President Dr. Dale T. Irvin will be preaching at the Stelton Baptist Church, in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 5th, at the 11 a.m. service.

Dr. Irvin is the eleventh president of New York Seminary. As well as being the seminary's president, Dr. Irvin is also the seminary's professor of world Christianity. Dr. Irvin earned his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from the Union Theological Seminary.

Stelton Baptist Church

Dr. Irvin is also a well-known author, who has written, among other works: Volume 1, Earliest Christianity to 1453; Christian Histories, Christian Traditioning: Rendering Accounts; and The Agitated Mind of God: The Theology of Kosuke Koyama.

"I think this is a rare opportunity for our congregation to get a chance to hear Dr. Irvin, who is truly one of the important voices in theology today," said Min. Jim Purcell, chairman of Stelton's Board of Deacons.

Min. Purcell said there is a wonderful synergy to Dr. Irvin's appearance at Stelton. He said, "So much of Dr. Irvin's work is forward-looking in Christianity. Yet, he is both a preacher and an academic who carefully examines our shared history as followers of Christ."

Min. Purcell explained that, in North America, Stelton Baptist Church holds a special place in Christian history by being the second-oldest church in New Jersey and the tenth-oldest in the United States. Stelton Baptist, founded in 1689, was an early member of the Philadelphia Association, which constituted the very beginning of the American Baptist Churches denomination, during the 19th century.

In addition, outgoing Stelton Baptist Church Pastor Kathleen Tice, who retires from the congregation on Aug. 31st, was a student at New York Theological Seminary during Dr. Irvin's tenure, and remains a close friend.

"I've heard so much about Dr. Irvin, I'm truly excited to hear him speak," said Charles Holt, a long-time member of Stelton and a deacon who sits on the Facilities and Finance Committee as well as the Deacon's Board.

Stelton Baptist Church bids farewell to its first female pastor

Pastor Kathleen Tice attended NYTS before graduating with an M/Div. at Princeton Seminary.

In Edison Township, New Jersey, Stelton Baptist Church was established in 1689 and eventually became a charter member of the Philadelphia Association (which eventually became American Baptist Churches). Though the small congregation is used to being a part of history, an important chapter in its history is ending as a new one begins.

Stelton Baptist Church, Edison, NJ

A decade ago, Stelton Baptist Church called its first female pastor, the Rev. Kathleen Tice. On Aug. 30th, the congregation will bid farewell to Pastor Tice, as she and her husband (the church's musical director), David, depart the congregation upon Pastor Tice's retirement.

Pastor Tice has been a mainstay at Stelton, and also at ABCNJ as a member of several of its key committees, most notably the state denomination's Ordination Committee. Pastor Tice attended New York Theological Seminary and graduated with her Master's of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.

During her time at NYTS, Pastor Tice reflects upon so many friendships there, among them with current NYTS President Dr. Dale Irvin and former Prof. Dr. Norman K. Gottwald.

As part of her future plans, Rev. Tice, a trained spiritual direction counselor, intends to remain active in that field.