Class Notes

Dr. Bernard T. Lomas (BD) passed December 24, 2020 at the age of 96. As a clergyman, he served several churches in Ohio and became Senior Minister of Epworth Euclid Church in Cleveland, a showcase cathedral and one of the largest churches in the Methodist denomination. He was very active in the Cleveland community chairing an assembly of Fortune 1000 CEO's to improve the city's quality of life. He also converted a 5 star hotel into a one-of-a-kind senior living residence. In a time of strong anti-government and anti-establishment sentiment, he founded the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service to foster positive political participation. In that same period, he established The Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management to attract, train, and equip students for successful careers in business. He was then Counselor to the President of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., where an endowed fellowship remains in the Lomas name at the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom. While at Heritage, he met with, offered ideas, and authored writings for three sitting U.S. Presidents.  Posted 1.6.21

Dr. James A. Sanders (BA, BD'51) is a distinguished leader in New Testament scholarship, and has helped shape a more expansive biblical worldview for several generations of seminarians and the mission and work of ecclesial bodies. He is a living testimony to the vibrancy of biblical studies and to its relevance for contemporary issues on matters such as gender/sexuality, Jewish-Christian relations, and global Bible studies.  Dr. Sanders was professor of intertestamental and biblical studies at the Claremont School of Theology (CST) from 1977 to 1997, while concurrently professor of religion at the Claremont Graduate School. Prior to going to Claremont Sanders was professor of Old Testament first at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester NY (1954-65) and then at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York City (1965-77). He has overseen the publication of The Dead Sea Scrolls Catalogue and Index used by scholars around the world, and with West Semitic Research at the University of Southern California has published a diplomatic edition of films of Leningradensis (Eerdmans, 1998), the oldest complete Hebrew Bible in the world taken by the Center's photographers in Leningrad/St Petersburg in 1990.  Posted 10.13.2020

Dr. James A. Sanders (BA'48, BD) is a distinguished leader in New Testament scholarship, and has helped shape a more expansive biblical worldview for several generations of seminarians and the mission and work of ecclesial bodies. He is a living testimony to the vibrancy of biblical studies and to its relevance for contemporary issues on matters such as gender/sexuality, Jewish-Christian relations, and global Bible studies.  Dr. Sanders was professor of intertestamental and biblical studies at the Claremont School of Theology (CST) from 1977 to 1997, while concurrently professor of religion at the Claremont Graduate School. Prior to going to Claremont Sanders was professor of Old Testament first at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester NY (1954-65) and then at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York City (1965-77). He has overseen the publication of The Dead Sea Scrolls Catalogue and Index used by scholars around the world, and with West Semitic Research at the University of Southern California has published a diplomatic edition of films of Leningradensis (Eerdmans, 1998), the oldest complete Hebrew Bible in the world taken by the Center's photographers in Leningrad/St Petersburg in 1990.  Posted 10.13.2020

Bishop Joseph A. Johnson Jr., (BDiv, PhD'58) became the first African American to be admitted to Vanderbilt University in 1953. He went on to become the first African American to graduate, receiving the Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1954, and the first to receive the Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1958. In 1971, he was elected to the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and two years later preached at the Divinity School's Cole Lectures.  Learn more about Bishop Johnson and the Bishop Joseph Johnson History Project.  http://bishopjosephjohnson.org/  Posted 10.13.2020

Dr. Chris E. Hauer Jr. (BD) 89, died February 27. On June 15, 1955, Chris and Lena Elizabeth ("Liz") Buchanan were united in marriage. Chris was a prolific author. He was published on topics as wide ranging as music, philosophy and theology, theory of liberal education, and modern history, but his scholarly research concentrated on Biblical history, Jewish studies, and archeology. He co-authored An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds with his colleague, Dr. William Young. One of Chris' most satisfying avocations was research regarding the architecture of Sir Chistopher Wren, which he and Dr. Young parlayed into a book on the history of a Wren church that was transported from London and reconstructed in Fulton in the late 1960s (A Comprehensive History of the London Church and Parish of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury). Chris was elected as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (London) and was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Winston Churchill Memorial. Chris and Liz returned to Huntsville upon their retirement from Westminster in 1996.  Posted 10.13.2020

Bishop Joseph A. Johnson Jr., (BDiv'54, PhD) became the first African American to be admitted to Vanderbilt University in 1953. He went on to become the first African American to graduate, receiving the Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1954, and the first to receive the Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1958. In 1971, he was elected to the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and two years later preached at the Divinity School's Cole Lectures.  Learn more about Bishop Johnson and the Bishop Joseph Johnson History Project.  http://bishopjosephjohnson.org/  Posted 10.13.2020

Reverend Lloyd H. Dunham (MDiv), 89, passed Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. He served the Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady, NY before switching to the United Church of Christ and serving at the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, NY. He was the senior pastor for many years at Second Congregational Church in Greenfield, MA.  Lloyd was drawn to Unitarian Universalism. He was most comfortable among UU's in Ormond Beach and attracted to a group who were founding a new UU Church in Daytona Beach and became charter a member. Lloyd was a pulpit guest in a number of UU and UCC congregations in Central Florida while often speaking at CUUC where he served that church as president for three years.  Posted 1.5.21

Rev. Ernest Eugene (Gene) Efird (MDiv '60) of Little Rock Arkansas, left his earthly life and returned to his creator on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the age of 90.

Gene was born on December 17, 1932 to Ernest Miles and Jewel Hall Efird in Little Rock where he was raised along with his sister Jo Anne. He attended Little Rock Public Schools and graduated from Little Rock Senior High School in 1951 after serving in the Concert Choir, as a cheerleader, and being a member of the wrestling team.

Gene and his family were active members of Forest Park Methodist Church, now St. Paul United Methodist Church. Gene loved to spend time hiking around the area near his family’s Cantrell Road home, and spent many hours in contemplation among the trees in the hills and creek now known as the Kingwood neighborhood. At a young age he answered the call to ordained ministry.

He began his studies at Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas, while serving nearby churches. After graduating from Hendrix in 1955 where he had been a resident of the boarding house known as The Robin’s Nest; he spent a year in Oakland, California building cars for Chevrolet.

In the Fall of 1956, Gene began his Divinity studies at Vanderbilt School of Divinity in Nashville, Tennessee. That Fall, while walking to the Wesley Foundation, he met a young nursing student, Gwendolyn (Gwen) Lapham, from Islip, Long Island, New York. They quickly fell in love and married in Islip, in June of 1957. They honeymooned that Summer while working at Camp Winslow.

They then moved into the parsonage of Owen’s Chapel Methodist Church, outside of Nashville, where Gene served as the pastor for two years. They lived in Nashville during the school year of 1959-1960 while Gwen worked at the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Gene finished his studies. One of Gene’s classmates, Rev. James Lawson, had been recruited by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to lead the students in the Nashville Student Movement and the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, in the Nashville area, where they began the Sit-ins in the Spring of ‘60. After the school expelled Lawson for “encouraging others to break the law”, Gene and other classmates took the non-violence training and joined the sit-ins, including a protest at the school’s administration building which was covered by national media.

After Gene and Gwen left Nashville in May of ‘60 Gene served the Methodist Church at Des Arc. Following a time at Pullman Heights Methodist Church, in Hot Springs, the family moved to Grady where Gene was both the pastor at the Methodist Church, and a Chaplin at Cummins Prison. Gene began to be concerned about the incarcerated men and worked to expand Spiritual services there. He saw a need for rehabilitative opportunities for these individuals and began connecting with people who could help make this a reality.

He started the Arkansas Release Guidance Foundation while serving the Tillar Charge and, in January of 1968, the family moved to Little Rock where Gene was able to open the New Life House. He continued this work until January of 1975 when he began serving Henderson United Methodist Church, in Little Rock. Following that appointment, Gene served the UMC church in Sardis, and subsequently the England-Keo charge, before beginning his last appointment, Capitol View UMC in Little Rock.

Additionally, Gene, for many years served as a part time Chaplin at VA Medical Center.

Gene was a consummate reader and consumer of information, especially on the topics of Theology and History. He had a vast library of beloved books. Gene and Gwen loved the outdoors and Gene was very talented in camping skills. Gene and Gwen took many trips together, including a 60th Anniversary trip back to all of their old places, and enjoyed their retirement at the family home in the Kingwood neighborhood, right next to the creek in which Gene had wandered as a young man. They were married for 65 years.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, and his parents. He is survived by a daughter Wendy Lynne Efird, of Little Rock; a daughter Debra Sue Efird (Pete Cvietusa), of Denver, Colorado; a son David Gene Efird (Helen Baldridge), of Little Rock; his sister Jo Anne Efird, of Little Rock; and grandchildren Josie Lenora Efird, Lucas Adams Efird, Audrey Grace Cvietusa, and Miles Owen Cvietusa. He also leaves behind a sister-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of good friends!

A service celebrating his life will be held next month at his boyhood church, St. Paul United Methodist Church, in Little Rock.

His family misses him, but is so grateful for his life, well lived, and all of the people he touched! Posted 05.17.23

Lt. Col. Joseph C. Way (BD), analyzes fundamental questions about God, Jesus, and humanity in his latest book, Getting Right with God.  Read More: 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ordained-minister-analyzes-fundamental-questions-130000590.html   Posted 11.10.2020

The Reverend Joe H. Moore (BD)  of Dover, TN, died March 8 at his residence. He was born November 7, 1927 in Hustburg, TN, son of the late Putman and Ressie Arney Moore. Mr. Moore retired after working 40 years as a United Methodist minister.  He was 92. Posted 10.13.2020

Reverend Dr. Thomas W. Ogletree (PhD) is a United Methodist clergyman and a distinguished scholar of theological ethics and Christian social ethics. His lived commitment to social justice stretches back more than five decades to his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Ogletree's dedication to civil rights includes his participation as a Vanderbilt student in the Nashville sit-in movement to integrate lunch counters. He was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee while working with James Lawson, John Lewis, Diane Nash and other social justice activists. Later, as a Vanderbilt professor, he supported school integration through his advisory board role with Concerned Citizens for Improved Schools. Ogletree taught as a theologian at Yale Divinity School before his retirement in 2009, and before that at Drew Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary. He served terms as dean at both Yale and Drew and is a past president of the Society of Christian Ethics.  Posted 10.12.20

Dr. James L. Crenshaw (PhD)  was born in Sunset, South Carolina. He majored in English at Furman University, graduating in 1956 with a bachelor of arts. Four years later, he received a bachelor of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Crenshaw earned his doctorate in religion in 1964 and taught at Atlantic Christian College and Mercer University before returning to Vanderbilt in 1970. He taught on campus for 17 years before going to Duke University, where he became the Robert L. Flowers Distinguished Professor of Old Testament. Crenshaw has been awarded fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Society of Religion in Higher Education and American Council of Learned Societies, among others. He was named a Pew Evangelical Scholar in 1996.  After becoming an emeritus professor, Crenshaw moved back to Nashville, where he has taught in the  Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning  at Vanderbilt.  Posted 10.12.20

The Reverend Dr. Fred Craddock (PhD)  revolutionized the art of preaching. Learn more about Dr. Craddock.  https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/27/us/craddock-profile/  Posted 10.12.20

Reverend Charles "Chuck" Davis (MDiv), 93, of Berlin, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Chuck was formerly employed as the head of Social Services for the Town of Berlin and was well known as a Pastor in the Berlin area and as a State of CT Police Chaplin. (Posted 1.5.21)

Forrest Lammiman (MDiv '69) is now almost retired after 39 years as a lawyer (Iowa, with High Distinction) prefaced by 5 years of teaching Religious Studies and Philosophy after obtaining his Ph.D. from Yale. He is blessed with 47 years of wonderful marriage to his beautiful wife, Barbara, and a beloved relationship to his daughter, Kirstin. They live in Chicago along the lake. Lammiman practiced business bankruptcy law and business litigation here and in Milwaukee for this almost one-half of a century. He was in many of the biggest Chapter 11 cases in the country for many years, and like the favored worker in Ecclesiastes, found joy in his labor under the law's sun.
Lammiman treasured his time and learning at VDS, which elevated his personal faith and intellectual background in many ways, with the help of wonderful mentors such as Lee Keck, Jim Laney and Walter Harrelson. Despite some health problems (to be expected as I near 80), I am a happy man and lucky to have been so blessed. Posted 05.17.23