Annual Report 2009

Annual Report
Robert Allan Hill
Boston University
Dean of Marsh Chapel, Professor of New Testament and Pastoral Theology, and Chaplain to the University
January 1, 2009—December 31, 2009
A. Dean of Marsh Chapel: Preacher
1. Sunday Sermons and Services: 47 (see bu.edu/chapel; see deanhill.blogspot.com)
Summer Series: ‘Darwin and Faith’ (10); Autumn Series (16): ‘Two Marks’
2. Special Services 9
(ML King Observance, BU Baccalaureate, BU Matriculation, BU Alumni Weekend, This I Believe, Marsh Matriculation Service, ‘Fall of the Wall 20 Year Remembrance’, Lessons & Carols (2x))
3. Guest Speaking 23
(1/09 Four Seasons, 2/09 Inter Varsity Fellowship BU, 2/09 BU Christian Unity Evening, 3/09 K Darr Bible and Violence, 3/09 BU Service Recognition, 3/09 New Haven Theological Discussion Group (participant), 4/09 BU Academy, 4/09 Harvard Memorial Church Board of Overseers, 5/09 Commencement Address Northwestern University Garrett Evangelical Theological School, 5/09 Lake Winnipesaki, 6/09 Conference Sermon Baltimore Washington Annual Conference UMC Baltimore, 6/09 Wyoming Annual Conference UMC BU Alumni, 6/09 Western NY Annual Conference UMC Prayer, 7/09 Union Chapel, North Hampton NH, 9/09 BUSTH Worship Celebrant, 10/09 Navigators BU, 10/09 ME Moore Installation BUSTH (2x), 11/09 Howard Thurman Center BU Thurman Birthday Event, 11/09 Fall of the Wall Service, 11/09 BU Senior Student Life Staff Luncheon, 12/09 Kingston NJ First UMC.
4. Meetings 441
(Regular 12: Marsh Staff, Marsh Advisory Board, Faculty BUSTH, Faculty Area A BUSTH, Worship BUSTH, Dean’s Council, University Council, University Leadership Group, University Council Student Life Committee, Religious Life Council, BU Chaplains, New England Annual Conference Foundation Board)
5. Visits 571
6. New Chapter Members Received 16
7. New Initiatives: a. Autumn program expansion (see term book); b. Sunday Under Graduate Fellowship, Marsh Forum (4: Bacevich, Koskinen, Brown, Fomby), Student Ministry expansion; c. Completion of Marsh Staff Renewal; d. Ministry\L Whitney Initiatives (goal 200 students in weekly worship in process); e. Music\S Jarrett Initiatives (10 ensembles goal met: Chapel Choir, Chapel Collegium, Inner Strength, Summer Choir, Westerhaus CFA Choir, Seminary Singers, Schola Cantorum, Mustard Seed, Anne Howard Jones Choir, L’Academie); f. R Bouchard\Hospitality Initiatives (goal 300 worship attendance September to May in process; Valentine’s Day and other development work ongoing) g. Revision of Strategic Plan; h. Motives Magazine Volume Two (Marsh Annual Theological Journal); i. 9 Hill Receptions and Open Houses at ‘Deanery’ (96 Bay State Road #10); j. New England Foundation (new 2009); Religious Life Council Overhaul Begins.
8. Baptisms 7
9. Weddings 12
10. Memorials 11
B. Professor of New Testament and Pastoral Theology: Professor
1. Areas A and D Monthly Faculty Meetings
2. Full Monthly Faculty Meeting
3. Worship Committee
4. Annual Faculty Retreat NA
5. 2009 Publications (8) : 1. Sunday Sermons, BU website (Theme: Mark; New England Interlocutor: Boston University History); 2/3. Two Books: Renewal (University Press); Prophetic Preaching on Iraq (Mellen); 4. Autumn Sermons Series : ‘Two Marks’ ; 5. Summer Sermon Series: Darwin and Faith 6. DeanHill’sBlog (blogspot.com); 7. Motives Article: Darwin and the Personalists; 8. BU Today (8/24, Marsh as Icon); 8. ‘Remembering Chalmers’ BUSTH Focus Magazine;
6. BUSTH courses (3): Pastoral Leadership; Pastoral and Spiritual Formation; and The Gospel of John; Lemoyne College (1): The Letters of Paul;
7. World Council of Churches Commission on The Nature and Mission of the Church.
8. Receptions and Open House for BUSTH faculty at Hill Residence
9. SUPE consultant\ Asian Ministry Consultation
10. Member, ex officio, BUSTH Board of Overseers
C. University Chaplain: Pastor
1. Daily conversations, noon time walks, informal discussions—not countable
2. BU Today Articles and Interviews 2
3. BU Matriculation, Alumni Awards, Senior Bkfst, Retiree Luncheon, Commencement, Multifaith Dinner, and Baccalaureate prayers 7
4. Splash, and Religious Life Fair
5. Marsh Board of Advisors (29 persons), May, and October (see folder)
6. Pastoral Counseling 61
7. Committees: Deans’ Council, University Leadership Council and Group, Student Life Task Force,
8. Open Houses\Receptions in 96 Bay State Residence 9
(Staff, Parent’s Weekend, Theological School, October BSR 96, Christmas Party, Oscars, Patriot’s Day Brunch, other)
9. Student Deaths 2009: 2
(Victoria Rubino, Alvaro Roccaro Giamporcaro)
10. 2\month Chaplains’ meetings; 2\month Religious Life Council (significant additional time investment)
11. Books read (a selection): HOME, Robinson; CHICKEN SOUP COLLEGE, E. Hill; CHRISTIANITY FOR THE REST OF US, Bass; OUTLIERS, Gladwell; MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, Blake; SANE INVESTING, Cramer; F SCHLEIERMACHER, Sykes; TWO LETTERS, Schleiermacher; A N WHITEHEAD, Pittinger; L WITTGENSTEIN, Hudson; SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY INTRODUCTION, Neville; AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, P Brown; DARWIN, Hur; THE EVOLUTION OF GOD, Wright; TRANSFORMATIONS, Kilgore; MARK, Marcus; WAR IS A FORCE THAT GIVES LIFE MEANING, Hedges; A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, Maclean; REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, Proust; THE EMBERS AND THE STARS, Kohak; PINE RIVER AND LONE CREEK, Lee
21 General Comments
1. The year has gone smoothly, with many thanks to many people. The residence, 96 BSR 10, works well for us, for entertaining, and as a setting for fellowship and ministry in the heart of the University. The three part role seems to be just right (PPP). 2. Current challenges: Re-development of Boston University Religious Life Administration. 3. Fall worship: 2006 Frostiana series, 2007 Kennedy series of sermons (available on web); 2008 Common Hope (Philippians and Commonwealth Avenue); 2009: ‘Two Marks’ 4. Reorganization of staff and staff meetings (part 1) begun in 2007. Part 2 completed with one vacancy 2007. 5. Two publications in addition to sermons; numerical assessment of chapel web site (52nd of 400 BU web sites in number of ‘hits’). 6. Increasing pastoral counseling (sexuality issues, deployments to Iraq, vocation, relationship); Strategic Plan Conference, Provost and President. Articulation of Chapel mission: ‘our envisioned mission is to be a loving heart for BU, in the heart of the city, and to provide a vibrant worship service for BU, in the service of the city’. 7. Completion of Staff 8. Hence new fall program: Sunday Breakfast (40), Sunday Lunch (60), Monday dinner (50), Tuesday lunch (40), Dean’s Sunday Study (12), good growth in voice, vocation and volume. New National Summer Series 2007 and 2008, with Darwin Series for 2009. 9. Special Preaching 2009: 10. All Fall Sundays except 3 over 200 in worship: 11. BU hosts Monthly Boston Ministers’ Club 12/09; 12. Summer Choir; 13. Significant first level communications improvements (newsletter, web, newspaper, pew rosters, BU calendar, PR menu, Arts Boston, stewardship campaign). 14. From 75 to 99 Marsh donors of record; 15. 2009 Darwin Summer Preaching Series; Staff retreat; Young Adult Clergy Weekend. 16. 25 Christmas Events 2009; 17. Regular presence at BU basketball games; 18. Four Friday Fall Musical Events 2009: Haydn, ISGC, Messiah, Lessons and Carols; 19. Joy: 11/09 NYC ‘Red Hot’ Hockey Game, BU vs. Cornell; 20. Main 2010 Foci: Preacher: a. Expand video/radio voice; b. Meet with remaining (3) US University Preachers (Harvard, Marsh, Duke); Professor: a. Offer Excellent Introduction to Homiletics Course Spring 2010; b. Publish 1 or 2 Books (Songs of the Heart: Meditations from Marsh Chapel is already coming); Pastor: a. Raise Marsh Annual Income to $100,000; b. Establish Robert Allan Hill Foundation; c. Begin Religious Life Administrative Overhaul. 21; Best moment: Preaching 5/15/09 in Ernest Fremont Tittle’s pulpit, First UMC, Evanston, Ill.