Today is the first day of summer! As you can imagine, Tony misses traveling to preach and teach, especially at Ocean City Tabernacle. He is especially excited about the recent, joyful graduations of several Campolo Scholars. Last week we shared about Saroj and today I’d like to tell you about another very special graduate.
Campolo Scholar Karen Bennett graduated with a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary.
Karen Bennett is from Harleysville, PA, and began Palmer Theological Seminary as a Campolo Scholar with a calling to “bring imagineering to the church — a union of engineering, pastoral leadership, and prophetic wisdom to encourage and build up a beloved community in Christ.”
Karen is an active member of Souderton Mennonite Church, where she completed her Theological Field Education requirement and has preached numerous sermons as a Pastoral Intern.
Karen was an enthusiastic and engaged Campolo Scholar who participated in and contributed to our weekly Campolo Scholar Fellowships and other program events and forums. Karen is also an outstanding scholar and worship leader who was recognized with three awards:
- Wilbur T. Elmore Prize in Church History: Established in memory of Dr. W. T. Elmore, Professor of Church History, Eastern Baptist Seminary, 1925-1935. Awarded for best papers in Church History.
- United Methodist Church Worship Award.
- The Hoyt L. Hickman Award is presented annually to a graduating senior who has exceptional ability in liturgical scholarship and/or exceptional ability in leading worship. It is sponsored by the Order of St. Luke, a dispersed ecumenical order composed of laity and clergy focused on sacramental and liturgical scholarship, education, and practice.
Karen has expressed her interest to stay involved with the Campolo Scholars program and continues to serve as a chaplain at Nemours Children’s Hospital and is in the interview process with several churches.
Your faithful support makes it possible for Karen and other Campolo Scholars to pursue God’s calling in their lives to ministry in the Church.
As our fiscal year comes to an end on June 30th, we have been blessed by two donors offering a total match of $30,000 for the Campolo Scholarship Fund!
Your gift will be doubled towards our goal, will honor Tony’s life and legacy, and will support the returning and incoming students who are a part of a growing cohort of Campolo Scholars.
Please take the opportunity NOW to give a gift to the Campolo Scholarship Fund. Thank you for your partnership with the Campolo Center for Ministry.