NYTS president preaches at historic American Baptist congregation

Stelton Baptist Church

(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: MONDAY, SEPT. 6, 2010) – New York Theological Seminary President Dr. Dale Irvin preached at the Stelton Baptist Church, Edison Township, on Sunday, Sept. 5th. "This is a wonderful, historic congregation, which has continually operated since 1689, making it the second-oldest church in New Jersey and the tenth-oldest in the United States," Dr. Irvin said.

As well as holding historic significance to Dr. Irvin, Stelton also holds personal meaning to the NYTS president, who earned his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and Doctorate from Union Theological Seminary, in Manhattan. Dr. Irvin was invited to preach at the church immediately following the retirement, on Aug. 31st, of the church's long-time pastor, the Rev. Kathleen Cardy-Tice, who attended NYTS during the 1980s. She was pastor at the church for 11 years, and is relocating to Minnesota in the wake of her retirement, to pursue a career in spiritual direction. "Kathleen Tice was and is a trailblazer in so many ways," Dr. Irvin said. "And this church has so much meaning to her."

Dr. Dale Irvin and Rev. Tamara Davis

Pastor Tice credited Dr. Irvin with being a motivating force behind her career in ministry. "Dr. Dale Irvin has meant so much to so many people in their journey into ministry," Pastor Tice said. "I have been blessed not only to have Dale as a professor in seminary, but as a friend in the years after." During the Sept. 5th service, it marked the first time after Pastor Tice's retirement that the church's new interim pastor, the Rev. Tamara Davis, presided over the congregation.

"It was a real honor to meet Dr. Irvin and to hear him preach," said Davis, who recently received her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. "It's rare to get a chance to hear someone with Dr. Irvin's passion, experience and background in ministry."

Rev. Kathleen Cardy-Tice

Stelton was one of the first churches to form the Philadelphia Association, constituted in 1707. Subsequent to its founding, that association evolved into the American Baptist Churches-U.S.A. denomination. As a result, Stelton Baptist, while being an ABCNJ church, existed before its own denomination. Yet, in the more than three centuries of the church's history, Pastor Tice was the very first woman to preside over the congregation as its spiritual leader.

"It was a great honor for the congregation to get the opportunity to hear Dr. Irvin's sermon," said Charles Holt, a deacon at Stelton who sits on the Church Council. "At this time of change, someone of Dr. Irvin's stature coming to the church and preaching meant so much to everyone."

The Rev. Dr. Miles Austin is Stelton's moderator. He concluded, "Stelton holds a unique place in history, but it remains as it always has been – a house of God and home to a congregation seeking to grow closer to the Lord. It was very moving that Dr. Irvin would come here, at this moment in the congregation's sojourn, to share his words and faith with us."

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.

New Grad: NYTS was a vital part of a spiritual journey

By Jim Purcell

In graduating from New York Theological Seminary on May 15 with a Master's of Professional Studies, it marked the conclusion of four years of work. For most of that time, I worked full-time, about 50 hours per week as a newspaper publisher. However, because classes were held at night, in Riverside Church, Manhattan, it made earning the degree possible.

Why seminary, though? And, why was it New York Theological for me? For most of my life, I was either a soldier in the Army or a newspaper writer, editor or publisher. My life had little, if anything, to do with the church. Nevertheless, in theory I was a Baptist throughout this time.

When that something that calls one strongly back to faith happens, though, it is something that cannot be ignored. I was not exactly a traditional student when I began seminary. At 39 years old, it was scary to think about entering a rigorous program at a Master's level. Then there was the fact I would have to commute to Manhattan from Central Jersey, about an hour and a half each way.

Still, I tried it at New York Theological, a class at a time, not really paying too much attention to a 'program' at first and being more concerned about enjoying the classes and everything they did in cultivating my faith in God. The student body was diverse, not only culturally and racially, but insofar as their educational and professional experiences. All of that made things more interesting. And, the professors were not only expert in their fields but motivating and inspirational, from a variety of faith traditions. It made the commute and the many hours of studying worth it.

The reality of life is that people learn hard life lessons, and hopefully those lessons teach compassion along the way. None of us are perfect in their faith or in any other way. Yet, in finding a call to vocation during mid-life, it takes an institution that is prepared to address students on that level to make the experience spiritually meaningful, and not just work toward a degree. At NYTS, work toward my MPS was marked by countless hours of studying and a journey that was remarkable.

My return to the church corresponded with my journey in seminary. Together, NYTS and my home church, Stelton Baptist, in Edison, New Jersey, transformed not only my career path but, more importantly, the person I was.

Sitting among my classmates at graduation was very special, because most of them are not unlike me – they had careers and families when they entered seminary, and they dealt with many obstacles in order to be earning their diplomas that day. Still, each of us did it even if we arrived to the same point by different routes. Indeed, it was and is the journey that has the real meaning.

Jim Purcell is a licensed ABCNJ minister, who divides his time between working for his Edison Township home church and in an Ocean County nursing home. He is currently in-care for ordination and working toward his goal of chaplaincy. As a hobby, he operates the religious blog Faith Outside the City.