Revamped MLK Day to integrate race issue with classroom work
By Anne Horst
GC will continue its annual tradition of celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. with a special convocation and Monday class sessions addressing issues related to King's life as part of an all-campus study day next Monday.
During the last four years, classes were suspended for
Martin Luther King day in order to focus on African-American studies through
speeches, workshops, films, and concerts. This year the study day planning
committee is integrating multicultural materials and issues into regular
course work. All but 11 a.m. classes will meet as usual.
Vice president for multi-cultural education Zenebe Abebe believes the themes in King's life are worthy of special focus at GC. "We need to continue to promote social change in non-violent ways, which is at the heart of King's thinking," he said.
"As an Anabaptist educational institution, the concept and philosophy of peace and justice must always be in our class rooms, not only when we have the study day."
Professor of History Rachel Waltner Goosen said integrating the study day with regular classes gives professors more opportunity to use their own creativity to celebrate King's legacy within their subject areas. Also, students will realize they don't have to drop everything for a day to give attention to civil rights and justice issues. Rather, they can learn about them within their regular academic context.
An extended convocation will highlight the MLK memorial day beginning at 10 a.m. in the Church-Chapel. Dr. William E. Pannell, professor of preaching and practical theology and dean of chapel at Fuller Theological Seminary will speak.
Pannell has spent his life in evangelism and preaching. He said of his convocation address, "I propose to articulate some areas where we have yet to complete our ethical task: economic issues, issues relating to violence, expressions of hate and racism from the streets of Goshen to the ideologies of race mongers in Idaho, the on-going threat of syncretism among North American believers."
Pannell grew up Sturgis, Mich., and recalls preaching in several Mennonite churches near Goshen and Elkhart. He is now affiliated with the Christian Assemblies denomination.
Professor of Bible, Religion and Philosophy Don Blosser was a visiting scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary last spring. He said of Pannell, "He's a creative, entertaining, reflective speaker. I'm really excited to have him come."
Pannell holds two undergraduate degrees, one with an emphasis in Black history studies. He has also completed a master's degree in social ethics and a doctorate of divinity degree from Malone College, (Canton, Ohio).
Pannell has written numerous books and articles on race relations, black religious history, evangelical minority leadership, and preaching. His articles and essays have appeared in scholarly journals, textbooks and magazines such as Sojourners, Gospel Herald, Christianity Today, American Scientific Affiliation and Leadership Magazine.
Pannell will also preach at College Mennonite Church at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and speak to Blosser's Biblical Literature class.
In addition to the convocation, GC professors are planning various ways to bring race and African-American studies to the classroom for the MLK Study Day. Topics will range from examining the historical impact of African-Americans on the U.S. economy to surveying African-American authors, artists and musicians.
For example, in the Biological World, Associate Professor of Biology Mary Linton plans to give a short history of Western science's mismeasure of racial characteristics.
Although the workshops in past years engaged up to two-thirds of the campus, the committee hopes more people will remember King in classes on Monday.
Martin Luther King Study Day Courses Open for Visitors
9 a.m.
War, Peace, and Nonresistance, David Hostetter -- Professor Emeritus Atlee Beechy will discuss "Martin Luther King, Mennonites and the Civil Rights Movement." In Ad 20.
The Arts, Judy Wenig-Horsewell and Doyle Preheim -- "Against the Odds: The Harlem Renaissance" Ad 28 video shown again at 12 p.m. in VA 22.
1 p.m.
History of American Childhood, Rachel Goossen -- "My Sojourn at the Martin Luther King Center in Atanta," by guest Duane Goossen in Ad 21.
2 p.m.
Principles of Economics, Del Good -- Conversation with Dr. William Pannell on economics of race. In NC 17.
Music Department -- Conversations with Tony Brown and Lisa Bergman, "Making it in the professional world of music" in NC 19
3 p.m.
Anatomy and Physiology, Margaret Payne -- "Disparate Health Care," presentation and discussion led by Paulette Chaponniere, director of Maple City Health Care Center. In SC 006.
7 p.m.
Anabaptist/Mennonite History, John D. Roth -- "Anabaptist Visions and Realities." At 8 p.m. Daniel Grimes of Philadelphia will share about his experience as a 3rd-generation African-American Mennonite. In Ad 28.