Birmingham-Southern College to hold Marti Turnipseed march and celebration on April 24

On April 24, 1963, Birmingham-Southern College sophomore Martha "Marti" Turnipseed chose to join seven African-American students at a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s food counter in downtown Birmingham. The other students were arrested, and BSC officials told Marti—a third-generation BSC student—that she had to leave campus. She was allowed to return a year later and complete her degree. She died in 1972 in a tragic car accident. Now the college is...

Birmingham-Southern College announces it will not raise tuition in 2013-2014 academic year

Birmingham-Southern College will not raise tuition or mandatory fees for current or incoming students in the 2013-2014 academic year, officials at the college announced Tuesday, Dec. 18. The move goes against a nationwide trend of skyrocketing tuition costs that make it more difficult each year for students to get a quality college education. BSC’s President, Gen. Charles C. Krulak, said that he has long been concerned about the challenges of paying for college in difficult...

Bama Wesley offers 2012 game day opportunities

This fall, the University of Alabama Wesley Foundation is once again offering an opportunity for Alabama football fans to also support the vital ministry of the Bama Wesley Foundation. Rev. Creighton Alexander, the Campus Pastor of Bama Wesley says, “It’s an exciting time to be on campus at the University of Alabama, especially after such an exciting National Championship season. Here at the Bama Wesley Foundation we have seen God moving in inspiring ways through our students...

Birmingham-Southern College to present Holocaust exhibit and speaker series in February and March

Birmingham-Southern will launch an educational exhibit and lecture series beginning Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, to facilitate a platform for understanding what led to and what happened during the Holocaust, from 1933 to 1945. This is the first time these collections have visited BSC. The exhibits and lectures are free and open to the public. Tours for schools and special groups are available. “Darkness into Life: Alabama Holocaust Survivors through Photography and Art” is one of...

Birmingham-Southern College Faculty issue response to Alabama HB 56

At its November meeting, the Birmingham-Southern College faculty unanimously approved the following response: Birmingham-Southern College nurtures the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual development of students from a variety of backgrounds. We seek to help all students engage in the global community by offering an education that develops understanding and appreciation for the larger world. An international community adds an important and valued dimension to the entire BSC campus. Because...

Birmingham-Southern is back and better than ever

The greatest strength of Birmingham-Southern College resides in its people—in the students, faculty, staff, graduates, trustees, and clergy who breathe life into this community each day. While the individuals in these ranks have changed over the 155 years of the College’s existence, one thing has remained constant: Birmingham-Southern College’s commitment to develop young men and women mentally, morally, and physically and equip them for lives of useful service to the world....

University of Alabama Wesley Foundation announces events to connect with students, parents and alumni

Rev. Creighton Alexander, campus pastor for the Alabama Wesley Foundation in Tuscaloosa, announces a series of events to connect with incoming freshman and other University of Alabama students as well as an opportunity for University of Alabama alumni and parents to build a stronger connection to the campus ministry. Connecting with Students The Backyard Tour with Shane & Shane will take place June 20-23, 2011. Each evening the Wesley Foundation will host a cookout, concert with...

Scholar to present treasured manuscript, lecture at Huntingdon

Montgomery, Ala.—Dr. Oliver Larry Yarbrough, Tillinghast Professor of Religion at Middlebury College (Vermont) and Fulbright Research Scholar, will present a replica of the Codex Sinaiticus to Huntingdon College's Houghton Library as well as a lecture about the gift, "How a King, An Emperor, and a Pharaoh Helped Make the Bible as We Know It," Wednesday, April 6, at 4:00 p.m. in Houghton Library Atrium. The gift will be dedicated in honor of Dr. Yarbrough's in-laws, The Reverend...

Gen. Charles Krulak named 13th president of Birmingham-Southern College; announces he will forego first year's salary

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Gen. Charles “Chuck” C. Krulak, retired commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was introduced today as the 13th president of Birmingham-Southern College. He immediately announced that he will forego his first year’s salary to demonstrate his allegiance to the college and its fiscal health. Dr. Wayne Killion Jr., vice chair of the Birmingham-Southern Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search...

Dr. Andrew Bacevich to Speak at Huntingdon College

Internationally recognized diplomatic and military historian Dr. Andrew J. Bacevich will speak at United Methodist Huntingdon College on Tuesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. in the College's Ligon Chapel, Flowers Hall. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, U.S. historians and political scientists are examining the role of the United States in foreign policy. Col. Bacevich is author of American Empire, a critical assessment of the current wars in the Near East. Part of the funding for his visit...

Message to North Alabama congregations appealing for financial support of Birmingham-Southern College

At the end of January, Bishop Will Willimon and Dr. Andy Wolfe, trustees of Birmingham-Southern College, recorded the following message to North Alabama Conference congregations regarding the current financial situation of this United Methodist related institution and appealing for local church support of the college at this time. Click the video below to hear their message.   Appeal for Birmingham-Southern College from North Alabama on Vimeo....

Rev. Creighton Alexander to become UA Campus Pastor and Director of North Alabama Conference Campus Ministries

Director of the Center for Congregational Development Dr. Tommy Gray announces that Rev. Creighton Alexander will be appointed as the Campus Pastor for the University of Alabama and will serve as the Director of North Alabama Conference Campus Ministries. Rev. Gray explains that Rev. Ken Smith will remain as the campus minister until his retirement in June. However, Creighton will begin his work in North Alabama immediately to ensure a smooth transition after Ken’s many years of faithful...

United Methodist Students Disappointed as Giving Down, More Apply

By Vicki Brown* Nearly 1,000 United Methodists who qualified for a scholarship this year walked away empty-handed, and even more students are expected to be disappointed in 2011 unless giving to scholarship funds increases dramatically. A number of factors have contributed to the problem, said James Harding, interim executive director of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Office of Loans and Scholarships. “First, the applications skyrocketed after we began...

BSC President David Pollick steps down, Board of Trustees name Provost Mark Schantz as interim president

The Birmingham-Southern College Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of President Dr. David Pollick today as the institution's 12th president effective immediately. The full Board of Trustees met on the BSC campus for an overview and discussion of the events that have transpired since April concerning the college's finances. Dowd Ritter, chair of the board and a 1969 Birmingham-Southern graduate, announced that current BSC Provost Dr. Mark Schantz will serve as interim president while a...

New Guidebook filled with details about UM-related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools

A new guidebook that provides a wealth of information about the 121 United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools should help high school students easily compare tuition, degrees awarded, and possible financial aid. The Guidebook of United Methodist-Related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools will be useful for students, pastors, youth leaders, and parents who want to learn more about United Methodist-related educational...

Director of Congregational Development to supervise Campus Ministries

Two conference priorities come together in the strategic decision to bring Campus Ministries under the supervision of Director of Congregational Development and New Church Superintendent Tommy Gray. Bishop Willimon says, “I enjoyed twenty years in campus ministry. God is doing some amazing things among our students. I want to do all that we can to be sure that we are responding to the challenge. One of our Conference Priorities is reaching a new generation and our campus ministry units...

Denman Evangelism Awards recognize clergy and laity reaching a new generation for Jesus Christ

On May 21,2009,  the North Alabama Conference recognized the Conference winners and nominees of the Denman Evangelism Awards. The 2009 Awards specifically recognized pastors and lay persons who are helping young adults experience the transforming love of God through Jesus Christ. The winners were recognized at a dinner at Canterbury UMC in Birmingham.  The Conference clergy winner was Rev. Melody Traylor who was recognized for her ministry through Discovery Ministries. ...

UAB Wesley Students Take Alternative Spring Break

This spring, several students from the Wesley Foundation at UAB decided to skip the beach in order to serve this spring break.  Instead of a week of lounging around in the sun, the students opted to go to the Upper Sand Mountain Parrish where they sacked sugar, sorted supplies for the food pantry and finished up some of the seed packets to get them ready for distribution. The seed packets are given to people in the local community, which in turn, bring some of the crops back to the...

"Panorama" at UA Wesley Foundation completes book drive mission project

Last Fall the Wesley Foundation in Tuscaloosa established a new ministry named "Panorama" for international students and students from the USA. “The mission of this new ministry is to bring students from around the world together to share culture, faith, customs, music, and food,” UA Wesley Foundation Director Rev. Ken Smith reports. “To date, we have had students from 33 countries participate in Panorama.” This Spring semester the group undertook the mission...

Students who need financial help for college costs can now apply online for United Methodist scholarships or loans.

“We believe this new system is much more convenient for applicants,” said Angella Current-Felder, executive director of the Office of Loans and Scholarships at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The online scholarship application went live on Jan. 5. As of March 17, 2009, more than 1,600 applications had been submitted for scholarships for the fall term. Allyson Collinsworth, scholarships administrator, said applications are coming in much faster online than the...