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The Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago Pilgrimage
by Melvin Ray Schultz, alumnus
Yet, we were isolated from denominational concerns and activities. Blakemore's Quest for Intelligence in Ministry details the separations from our broader church, a situation which for years had plagued the House. It was initially out of a desire to strengthen ties with the then-termed "brotherhood" that the idea of the pilgrimage developed. After extensive discussions, House Scholar Bill Porter organized a weeklong tour to Cane Ridge, Transylvania College, College of the Bible (now Lexington Theological Seminary), Cincinnati Bible Institute, Butler School of Religion (now Christian Theological Seminary), and the Missions Building that housed our denomination's offices. Sam Pearson and Ray Schultz drove their '52 Chevys. Other participants were Porter, Bob Bates, Charles Brown, Art Long, Clyde Smith, and of course, the dean. At rest stops along the way, passengers rearranged themselves so that the trip enabled the pilgrims to build closer friendships as well as learn more about the Disciples of Christ. In a letter to Ellen, his bride-to-be, Clyde Smith wrote: Now with regard to the trip, It was tremendous. Three things were definitely accomplished. We got to know the Disciples as a functioning brotherhood better; the men of the house got to know each other better; and our relationship with the dean in general was improved. We had lots of good discussions in those hours confined to the cars in travel. Along the route to Indianapolis, the group visited Doyle Mullen, minister of West Lafayette United Church, and Monroe Schuster, who served in Anderson, Indiana. Both House graduates discussed their creative work and congregational ministry. The afternoon's destination was Butler School of Religion. The pilgrims were warmly received by Dean and Mrs. O. L. Shelton, who graciously housed the group that first night. Clyde Smith still fondly remembers the cinnamon coffee cake served by Mrs. Shelton on Tuesday morning. Gaines M. Cook, Executive Secretary of the International Convention (forerunner to the General Assembly) welcomed the group to the old Missions Building on Downey Avenue. The Missions Building housed the offices of the United Christian Missionary Society, the International Convention, and the Pension Fund. Visits were made to each agency. The eight pilgrims proved to be too weighty a load for the decrepit old elevator. Upon pressing the up button, they promptly descended to the lowest level of the basement. Only after offloading half of the human cargo were they able to coax the elevator to ascend again. Since the elevator had settled to the bottom springs of the well, the individuals who were to offload had to climb and be boosted up to the basement floor level. Lunch was enjoyed at the office of the Pension Fund. A quick visit was paid to the Board of Church Extension, located at a different address. The group then set out for Lexington, Kentucky. Along the way they toured the impressive building of the North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana. The structure had been designed by the world-famous architect, Eliel Saarinen, in 1942. J. Irwin Miller, a prominent Disciples layman and first lay person to serve as president of the National Council of Churches, was a member there. House graduate John Bean later served a lengthy distinguished pastorate with this congregation. The entourage also visited the Carrollton Christian C hurch in Kentucky, where John Norton Williams, a recent House graduate, served. In Lexington, the group visited Transylvania College and the College of the Bible. Particularly memorable was the visit to Cane Ridge Meeting House, which still stood in all its simple splendor before the ravages of age, erosion, and weather compelled its enclosure. A n unforgettable visit was enjoyed with William Clayton Bower in his home. Dr. Bower retired as a distinguished faculty member who pioneered in religious education at Chicago. A t seventy-five he was physically diminished but still mentally sharp and an inspiration to the young scholars. Heading north toward Cincinnati the pilgrimage stopped briefly at Cincinnati Bible Institute, an academic institution of the Independent branch of the Restoration Movement. The House Scholars were pleasantly surprised and pleased with the warm welcome they received by these more conservative members of the Stone-Campbell movement. Because of time constraints, an invitation for lunch had to be declined. Even then it was obvious that Dean Blakemore, who would later serve as president of the World Convention of the Christian Churches and the Churches of Christ, was well known and already building relationships with Restoration branches which held a wide variety of theological perspectives. In Hamilton, Ohio, Clyde Smith's mother welcomed the group into her home. After a brief visit the group headed northwest for the long drive to its Chicago home base. The pilgrims were surprised to learn that they were the first such body of Disciples scholars to visit denominational headquarters as a group. They found the experience to be pleasant, rewarding, and beneficial. Denominational leaders were sufficiently impressed to begin plans for visits by Disciples seminarians from across the country. The visits came to be institutionalized as the Disciples Middlers' Conference, later to become the biannual Disciples Seminarians' Conference. In the years to follow, the Seminarians' Conference has brought Disciples seminarians together from a variety of schools and regions in order to familiarize them with the functions and personnel of our denominational offices. It also encourages the development of acquaintances and friendships that will prove helpful in their subsequent ministries. These conferences have increased understanding as well as built bridges between seminary students and denominational personnel with whom they will later work. Eight of us began that journey fifty years ago. ♦ ♦ ♦ |
