Image Courtesy of Mary John Dye
My father, the Rev. Dr. James A. Shepherd, devoted his whole ministry to being an untiring advocate for Asbury Theological Seminary. The Shepherd family home was in Wilmore beginning in 1919-- 4 years before the Seminary began. We have been Asbury people the whole way.
My father served 74 years under appointment as a Methodist minister in the Kentucky Conference. He did not get his MDiv from ATS because the reputation of the seminary was poor in the Kentucky Conference. Asbury was known as a “step down” theological education in the 1940’s and, in the early 1950’s lost its accreditation. Many students of his generation who got an MDiv from Asbury had to do further academic work before they were ordained. Boards of Ministry in many conferences found the Asbury grads had received inadequate academic training. Daddy went to ATS for a year and then, as many students did, transferred to a United Methodist School. When he returned from Drew with a respected MDiv, he went to work on building up the seminary and using his influence in the conference on behalf of the seminary.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Shepherd was a tireless advocate for Asbury Theological Seminary who helped build the school's academic reputation, writes his daughter, the Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye. (Courtesy Photo)
As an Asbury advocate, Daddy was “all in”. He worked tirelessly to build bridges of respect for ATS through the years. When he was on the cabinet, he filled all his many student appointments with Asbury men. (They were, at that time, all men). His ATS pastors – given a chance—proved themselves as fine Christian leaders. Both on and off the cabinet, Daddy was able to convince other superintendents to appoint ATS students. Often they were skeptical but, on the basis of Daddy's recommendation, gave Asbury students a try. Over and over again, Daddy was delighted when his ATS recommendations were fruitful. More and more and the positive bridges grew.
ATS benefitted greatly from the bonds of respect that my daddy built for them with the UMC. Daddy never got tired of recommending Asbury men for appointments. He was quick to recommend ATS as a place for students to attend. He hired and recommended ATS faculty for church positions and speakers. He consistently spoke on behalf of ATS in the Kentucky Conference. The Seminary rebuilt its reputation and flourished and Kentucky Conference churches were well served. Win-win.
Heartbreaking does not even begin to define the sadness I feel that ATS is no longer a UMC-approved seminary. Many people will reflexively blaming the University Senate for their action. As someone close to ATS and the Asbury family, many will not know how much Asbury has changed. I understand that, under the circumstances Asbury chose to cultivate, the University Senate made the only responsible decision possible.
ATS has never been a United Methodist Seminary. Through the years, it has been a school where people from across the Wesleyan denominations found mutual respect, integrity, fellowship and solid educational training for their differing denominations. Students from the Free Methodists, Wesleyans, Salvation Army and multiple other denominations all attended there and received respectful and accurate backgrounds in their denominations. Of course, there are differences. Asbury has historically treated those differences with clarity and respect. Tragically, that ended in recent years as discrediting and demonizing the UMC became the driving force for disaffiliation. The turn away from Wesleyan fellowship and good will included not only disagreement – but spreading misinformation and outright falsehoods.
The doctrine of the UMC is exactly the same as it has always been – handed down by John Wesley himself. But Asbury’s disagreement with two statements in the current Social Principles eclipse--for them-- all commonality and heritage. The passion and urgency to magnify those differences is unprecedented and tragic. Given Asbury’s determination to discredit the UMC, there is no way even the most pro-Asbury person could have confidence that any UMC student now would receive a fair representation of our denomination. The University Senate fulfilled its important function of approving schools that will give fair and honest background and understanding of UM history, politics and doctrine. Right now, with its UMC antagonism, Asbury is no longer reliable to provide that education.
One of the greatest gifts of Asbury is the emphasis on entire sanctification— on holiness and, in John Wesley terms, “moving on to perfection”. I am praying that this longtime signature spiritual goal will not be lost. I pray that—at some point—the over-riding call to holiness will bring the Seminary back to its Wesleyan roots. The need to attack, demonize, criticize and discredit is inconsistent with their holiness goals. As the fervor and raw pain of disaffiliation passes, it is my prayer that ATS will recognize that, in the passion of social issues, they left their own spiritual roots.
We are big on repentance in Asbury circles and listening to the Spirit. I am praying those trusted wellsprings become lifelines of a quickening of conscience, spiritual repair and, in time, reconciliation. Never before in ATS history that I know (I am 76) has the seminary held an antagonistic position against another Wesleyan denomination. As they have cultivated this critical stance, they not only wounded the United Methodist Church. They have wounded their own integrity. That’s the heartache for me.
My father died in 2016 and I miss him every day. Yet, I am very glad he is not alive to see the school he advocated turn into an anti-UMC hotbed. It would break his heart.
Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is a retired clergy member of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This post is republished with permission from her Facebook page.