The Class of 1964's Recommended Reading for the Class of 2014

At this year's commencement we honored several members of the class of 1964, who were present to celebrate their 50th anniversary of graduation from Garrett Biblical Institute and Evangelical Theological Seminary. As part of their visit, we asked them to recommend one book for those students who were part of the graduating class of 2014. The recommendations are an excellent reflection of the diversity of experiences and theological influences that the Class of 1964 has enjoyed. We hope that you too will add a few of these books to your summer reading list. 

What book would you recommend for the class of 2014 to read?  Tell us in the comments.

Class of 1964's Recommended Books for the Class of 2014:

Speaking Christian 
Marcus Borg

Illuminating the Work: The Making of the St. John’s Bible 
Christopher Calderhead

What A Friend They Had in Jesus: The Theological Visions of 19th & 20th Century Hymn Writers 
Harry T. Cook

Violence in Scripture 
J. D. Creach

Embracing the Call to Spiritual Depth 
Tilden Edwards

The Heart Speaks 
Mimi Guarneri

Lowdown
Jim Hightower

Healing Through Humor 
Charles Frances Hunter

The Word Became Flesh 
E. Stanley Jones

Embracing God 
Dwight Judy

Winning on Purpose; How to Organize Congregations to Succeed 
John Edward Kaiser

Living With Darwin: Evolution, Design and the Future of Faith 
Philip Kitcher

Half the Sky
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

The Bookman’s Tale
Charlie Lovett 

Contemplative prayer
Thomas Merton 

Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Eric Metaxas 

The Source
 James Michener

Healing the Heart of Democracy
Parker Palmer 

Conceived in Doubt: Religion and Politics in the New American Nation
Amanda Porterfield 

Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Lisa Randall 

Learning to Fall 
Philip Simmons

Morning and Evening
Charles Spurgeon

Biblical Eldership
Alexander Strauch 

A Hole in the Gospel and Unfinished 
Richard Stearns

On God’s Side
 Jim Wallis

Grubbing Hoes, Bibles and Gavels
George White

My Bright Abyss
Christian Wiman

The Warmth of Other Suns
Isabel Wilkerson 

I Am Malala 
Malala Yousafzai 

Inventing the Truth, The Art and Craft of Memoirs
William Zinsser 

The Class of 1964: Celebrating 50 Years of Ministry

The Class of 1964 Anointing
the Class of 2014 at Senior
Chapel Held on May 17, 2014

Let’s take a minute and set the time machine for 1964. Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa. President Johnson declares “war on poverty” and introduces federal welfare programs including Medicare. Three civil rights workers are murdered in Mississippi during “freedom summer.” Race riots break out in Harlem and other U.S. cities. The Warren Commission determines that Oswald acted alone. The cost of a first class stamp is a nickel. Color television makes its way into U.S. living rooms. Pop Tarts came out and Nehru jackets are “in” and the Ford Mustang is introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair.

That same year, Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS) and Garrett Biblical Institute (GBI) sent graduates out in the spring to a world eager for good news. These graduates began repairing churches, strengthening churches, and healing church communities. Their ministry took them into prisons, college campuses, and onto battle fields. They served in funeral homes and homes for unwed mothers. They became fundraisers, probation officers, financial counselors, and marriage counselors. They administrated in college admission offices, directed youth camps, marched into Montgomery with Martin Luther King, Jr., slogged through Nicaraguan jungles, taught high school dance, and wrote comic strips. Some went on to pursue additional degrees. Women pastors opened doors for more women pastors. There were radio shows to host and newspaper columns, books, prayers, and poetry to write. As one member of the class wrote, "The theme of what I have been doing can be expressed this way: with many fits and failures, as well as many rewarding moments, I have been attempting to show the Grace of Christ with them, always.”

Today we see they are retired and rewired. We find them pastoring to shut-ins, planting gardens, still repairing churches, taking piano lessons, ushering for art performances, and coaching pastors. While some are hunting for deer and elk others are collecting tools, writing short stories, playing bridge, and still drawing cartoons.

They want to read more books, visit more shut-ins, and continue to have a life of meaning. They want to travel, they want to stay home, they want to enjoy family. They will fiddle with electric railroad trains, study the stars, play golf, sell used books, climb Mt. Everest, visit China, lead spiritual growth workshops, visit cousins in Alaska and nephews in London, cruise the Danube, and plan to live to see their grandchildren graduate.

You can read even more about the members of the Class of 1964 in the Golden Anniversary Memory Book, found below. And may the very best keep coming for the Garrett Theological Seminary and Evangelical Theological Seminary Class of 1964.

A Vision Full of Surprises

ETS and GTS Class of 1964

We were in Evanston, Illinois for the 50th Reunion for my graduation from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. We came a couple of days early for some sight seeing. In the Loop we encountered a crowd outside The Oriental Theater. "Motown - The Musical" was playing. I said to Cathy, "Interested?" "Yes!" "I'll see if there are any tickets." So, on a whim, we scored tickets in the eighth row, center stage, and were treated to a high energy
production featuring the music that shaped a generation. I expected a great show, but what I wasn't expecting was an insight into something that had shaped my calling and my ministry.

Part way through the second act we were treated to one of Diana Ross' signature songs. Soon the whole theater was singing and swaying hand in hand: "Reach out and touch somebody's hand make this world a better place if you can." It was like having church in the theater. As we sang I found myself reflecting on what had brought me to Garrett-Evangelical over fifty years ago: a sense of calling, a passion to learn, and growth in the faith, a desire to share the faith - in a word - reach out and touch somebody's hand make this world a better place if you can.

Garrett-Evangelical was an idyllic place for me: filled with faith and challenge and opportunity. In the classroom, the chapel, and the library I devoured (often struggled) the sources of my faith, and pondered where in ministry I might be led. In the dining room lounge, we talked late into the night about life and faith, shared our stories, our hopes, and our dreams. Along the shores of Lake Michigan, I walked and prayed and wrote.

Returning fifty years later has been a privilege and a gift. Once again I saw my sacred spaces and how they had shaped me. A flood of memories blessed me. What I saw of the seminary today inspired me and gave me hope. The Senior Chapel Service, led entirely by the graduates, was a rich blend of liturgy and music, old and new. I was invited with others to participate in the presentation of crosses to graduates. To each I said: "Wear this cross and remember that evil and death have no power over life and love!" Again I watched the shining eyes of faith that had nurtured me and continues to nurture the faithful in that sacred space.

Commencement on Friday was at First United Methodist Church in Evanston where I had often worshipped and, on one occasion, was privileged to hear and meet The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Our speaker was Dr. Justo L. Gonzalez, a distinguished Methodist historian and theologian. He used as his text Acts 16:6-15 which recounts Paul's vision to "Come over to Macedonia." Expecting to find a synagogue he finds Lydia, and with her begins to build a community. Gonzalez pointed out that when God gives a vision, we don't have to know everything, and, if we just begin with what we know, the future will surprise us. As I watched the graduates receive their degrees, and remembered my own graduation fifty years ago, I thought of Jane Marshall's words:

"Give thanks for the past, for those who had vision, who planted and watered so dreams could come true. Give thanks for the now, for study, for worship, for mission that bids us to turn prayer into deed. Give thanks for tomorrow, full of surprises, for knowing whatever tomorrow may bring, the Word is our promise always, forever; we rest in God’s keeping and live in God’s love."

I had received a vision that would be full of surprises. It was rooted in the call of Christ: "Follow me." It was nurtured by the church where I grew up, and in the seedbed of seminary education where I was challenged and equipped. I was blessed by well prepared teachers and preachers. I was inspired by musicians who took pride in their craft and taught us that good music is a servant of the whole gospel. I was taught to be attentive to scripture and open to the Spirit. I was invited to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God - to reach out and take somebody's hand, to make the world a better place. Fifty years later, with those who had shared my journey, and those who were beginning theirs, I have discovered that the vision is as fresh and alive today as it was then. Thanks be to God.

F. Richard Garland
Garrett Biblical Institute Class of '64
May 2014