|
The Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chaplain for Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary. Hopeton Clennon, Moravian pastor and bishop, will assume this position as of January 15, 2009. He replaces former Chaplain Dave Bennett who left in August after being elected President of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church.
Currently, Hopeton serves as pastor of the Downey Moravian Church, a congregation of over 200 members in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California. He has served in this position since 1999. His upcoming move to Bethlehem will retrace the cross-country route his family took nine years when they relocated to California. From 1995-1999 Hopeton and his wife and 2 children lived in Nazareth, Pennsylvania where he served the Schoeneck Moravian congregation.
A native of Jamaica, Rev. Clennon earned a BA in Theology at the University of the West Indies and a Diploma in Ministerial Studies at United Theological College of the West Indies. A member of the Seminary Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2006, he brings twenty-five years of experience in five distinctly different pastoral settings: two in Jamaica and three in the United States (Washington D.C.; Nazareth, PA; and Downey, CA).
Within the Moravian Church, Hopeton is much sought-after for his wise counsel and leadership at conferences, retreats, camps and synods. In 1998 he was elected Bishop of the Moravian Unity, the highest order of ordination. In the Moravian Church the position of Bishop is not an administrative one, but one of pastoral leadership. A bishop is often considered “a pastor to the pastors.”
The position that Hopeton will assume in January is a shared one, with 1/3 time assigned to the Seminary and 2/3 to the College. When asked what energizes him about serving as Chaplain of the Seminary, Hopeton responded, “the absolute thrill of working with students on the verge of making a huge impact on society. On the one hand, I will be rubbing shoulders with and benefiting from students, lecturers, and administrators who are on the cutting edge of theological exploration. On the other hand, I will be a partner in a new transformational missional movement at the premier theological institution in the Moravian Unity. I have spent over 25 years as a worship leader, preacher and prayer partner in Moravian churches. I am energized by the thought of spending the next phase of my ministry serving with those who will themselves be leading others.”
We are energized by thought of his coming. Hopeton will drive across the country during the second week of January. His wife Shelia, who is a special education teacher, and daughter Danielle, currently in the 10th grade, plan to join him at the end of school year in June. His son, Andrew, will remain an undergraduate at California State University Long Beach with his first visit to Bethlehem over CSUs Spring Break in late March.
We will hold all of the Clennons in our heart as they prepare for major life changes, and look forward to their joining our community.
|
