News & Events
In Memoriam: Dr. Wilber B. Wallis (1912-2008)
It is with great sorrow that we announce the recent passing of one of the Seminary's founding fathers and a great man of faith: Dr. Wilber B. Wallis, who went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Dr. Wallis, who had been in declining health for several years, died peacefully in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 95 years old. The entire Seminary community grieves with Dr. Wallis's family and friends at the loss of this faithful servant of God, yet we rejoice as well that he is now face to face with the Savior whom he loved so much.
Dr. Wallis was a wonderful example of how God's grace flows through his servants to bless and build up his people. When he became a founding member of the Covenant Seminary faculty in 1956, he had already had a full and illustrious career as a pastor, scholar, and administrator. He pastored the West Philadelphia Bible Presbyterian Church from 1941 to 1942, before serving four years in the United States Army (1942-46). After his military service, Dr. Wallis spent nine years on the faculty of Shelton College (1947-56), following which time he came to St. Louis to help get the fledgling Covenant Seminary off the ground. Specializing in eschatology (the study of "last things"), Dr. Wallis taught in the Seminary's New Testament department until his retirement in 1982, when he was granted emeritus status.
Because of his extensive knowledge of the Bible, Dr. Wallis was often asked by friends and colleagues to identify certain passages of Scripture without being given the exact citations; very seldom was he stumped. A man of deep prayer, Dr. Wallis was also known for his comprehensive knowledge of the Greek language and his insight into the unity of the Old and New Testaments. His personal commitment to students over the years made him a favorite source of thoughtful, practical wisdom, as well as a revered figure in Covenant Seminary's history.
Dr. Wallis also used his considerable teaching gifts to benefit students at various overseas schools where he taught and lectured throughout his long career. In addition, he served as a translator of the book of Acts for the New International Version of the Bible, and was a contributor to the five-volume Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible and the NIV Study Bible. Along with his wife, Marie (who preceded him in death by several years), Dr. Wallis co-authored the book Troop School for Christian Soldiers, a manual for instructing children in the Christian faith.
In addition to being a respected scholar and teacher, Dr. Wallis was also a dedicated churchman. His life reflected in many ways his core belief of service to God and to his people. He served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society and was active on the board of the American Institute of Holy Land Studies and on the Credentials and Examinations Committee of his Presbytery.
Dr. Bryan Chapell, president of Covenant Seminary and a former student of Dr. Wallis, notes, "I have seen firsthand how powerfully the Lord used this man for the sake of his Kingdom. He was well known for his rare combination of wisdom, gentleness, fairness, sympathy, and spiritual discernment. His love of God's Word and his passion for prayer made him a tender teacher whose influence on the many pastors and ministry leaders he helped to train was profound."
Dr. Wallis is survived by his children, Wilber B. Wallis Jr., Judith Wallis Alexander, Grace Wallis Marsh, Ruth Wallis Herndon, Deborah Wallis Binnie, 13 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. On behalf of everyone at Covenant Seminary, we extend deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of this remarkable man. Though he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, we celebrate his life of faithful service and look forward to the day when we will be reunited with him in glory.
A memorial service for Dr. Wallis will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, at The Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2143 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63131.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wilber B. and Marie C. Wallis Scholarship Award Fund at Covenant Theological Seminary, 12330 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Professors and Alumni Involved in New ESV Study Bible
In October the new ESV study Bible will be released and nearly one-fifth of the Bible study notes were contributed by current or former Covenant Theological Seminary professors or graduates.
Current Professors Involved in the Project:
- Brian Aucker
- Joel, Micah, Haggai
- Old Testament Charts and Timelines Consultant
- Hans Bayer
- Mark
- David Chapman
- Hebrews
- The Roman Empire and the Greco-Roman world at the time of the New Testament
- Archaeology, Ancient History, and the reliability of the New Testament
- New Testament Archaeology Editor
- Daniel Doriani (adjunct professor)
- How to Interpret the Bible
- C. John Collins
- OT Editor
- Psalms, Song of Solomon
- The Theology of the Old Testament
- How the New Testament Quotes and interprets the Old Testament
- Kenneth Laing Harris (graduate/visiting instructor)
- Exodus, Proverbs
- Old Testament Charts and Timelines Consultant
- Greg Perry
- Old Testament Charts and Timelines Consultant
- Jay Sklar
- Leviticus
- Robert I. Vasholz (professor emeritus)
- Hosea
Graduates and Former Professor:
- V. Philips Long (former professor)
- Joshua
- Max F. Rogland (graduate)
- Ecclesiastes
- Andrew Stewart (graduate)
- Song of Solomon
New Lifetime of Ministry Courses for 2008-09 Are Here!
Looking for a short, practical course to help you minister the gospel more effectively to your flock, your family, or your friends? Wanting to become a more informed church officer, ministry leader, or congregation member? Seeking to grow in your faith and help others do the same through a better understanding of the Bible? Then Covenant Seminary's 2008-09 Lifetime of Ministry series is for you!
These convenient weekend and week-long classes offer great opportunities to enrich your life, enhance your ministry, and encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Best of all, the courses are a great deal—any LOM course can be audited (non-transcript audit) for a minimal fee of $25 per credit hour; and they are free to Covenant Seminary alumni, students, faculty, and staff not taking them for credit.
Check out all the LOM course offerings for the coming academic year. You'll find classes on such helpful topics as Movies and Madness, Gospel-Centered Parenting, Ancient Near Eastern Backgrounds of the New Testament, Strategies for Urban and Center City Church Planting, Gospel-Centered Spirituality, Youth Ministry Across Culture, Your Unique Ministry Style, Small Groups, and many others.
Two special LOM offerings are free to everyone, though registration is required:
- The Fall 2008 Francis A. Schaeffer Lectures, will focus on the topic Taking Citizenship Seriously: Christian Responsibility in Today's Political Context.. Our guest speaker is Dr. Jim Skillen, president of the Center for Public Justice in Annapolis, Maryland, who will address the issue of Christian faithfulness and responsibility in the realm of politics—a timely and lively subject as we head into the 2008 presidential elections. Also featured will be Mr. John Hancock, president of John Hancock and Associates, a former state legislator and former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party. The lectures will take place October 3-4.
- The 2008 Covenant Seminary Preaching Lectures will feature Dr. George Robertson, pastor of historic First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia, and adjunct professor of practical theology at Covenant Seminary. This is an excellent opportunity to hear one of today's finest Bible teachers speak about the principles and practice of preaching. The lectures will take place October 7-8.
Mark your calendars now for the LOM classes that interest you—and register online today to reserve your place. For more information, give us a call at 1.800.264.8064.
More about the Lifetime of Ministry series
Register for LOM courses online
Other continuing education opportunities
Free seminary course downloads
Support Covenant Seminary on the Internet
What if Covenant Seminary earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or what if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support the Seminary? GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the institutions and charities its users designate. In addition, GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37% of each purchase to your favorite institution or cause! Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter "Covenant Seminary" as the organization you want to support. And be sure to spread the word!
Post Alumni Updates on the Alumni Portal!
As of June 1, alumni can post updates about their families, ministries, and lives on the Alumni Portal! Log in and click the "Submit Update" link. Your update will be posted soon after (we reserve the right to edit messages for length and clarity). Select updates will be used in Covenant magazine each quarter.
New! Covenant Seminary's Alumni Facebook Group
Join Covenant Seminary's Alumni Facebook group and be the first to hear of upcoming gatherings and events, watch videos of professors, upload pictures, and complete ministry surveys for a chance to win faculty publications!
Free Counseling for Students and Community
Free counseling is available at Covenant Seminary for students and members of the community. This service is provided by MAC students who are in the internship portion of their degree program, and is offered from August to April (although summer sessions may also be available at times). These counseling sessions are confidential, supervised by members of the counseling faculty and other counseling professionals, and take place in offices at the Seminary. This program currently has a wait list, as the existing counseling interns are preparing to graduate. If you are interested in this service, please call 314.392.4208 to be placed on the wait list until a new counselor is available.
New Pastoral Mentorship Program Begins
In a recent informal survey of men who have had successful ministries -- that is, they have weathered seasons of conflict and confusion and are still proclaiming the Gospel faithfully -- nearly every man indicated that he could not have done it without the support, encouragement, and friendship of another pastor -- a mentor. Yet, seminaries all across the country are graduating class after class of pastors who enter the ministry alone, with no close friends, confidantes, or mentors.
Covenant Seminary's Alumni Office is looking to begin the MENTOR (Ministry Enrichment Through Ongoing Relationships) partnership with pastors, in which graduates in their first five years of ministry would be partnered with pastors who have eight or more years of experience in the ministry. This volunteer program will draw on the experience, wisdom, and guidance offered by older pastors to younger ministers of God's Word. The hope is to develop deep and abiding relationships that will foster a lifetime of fruitful ministry.
If you are willing to participate in this program either as a mentor or recent graduate, e-mail Joel Hathaway, director of alumni and church relations.
Portal Access for All DMin and MDiv Alumni Now Available!
All Covenant Seminary graduates with DMin and MDiv degrees now have access to the Alumni Portal and the growing benefits that it offers -- including the ATLAS Serials Database of religious and theological journals, an e-mail forwarding service, and regular updates concerning alumni-related events. To request your Portal ID and password, please go to: https://portal.covenantseminary.edu/login/cePortalForgotPasswordAlumni.asp and click the "Request ID/Password (Alumni Only)" link.
Covenant Seminary Helps Sponsor Calvin Quincentenary Celebration
Covenant Theological Seminary has joined Calvin500.org as an official sponsor for the celebration honoring the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, to be celebrated in 2009. The celebration will culminate in multiple conferences in Europe and the United States during that year. Dr. Bryan Chapell, president of Covenant Seminary, will serve on the Calvin500 Presidential Council to implement details of the international commemoration. In addition to Dr. Chapell, other Covenant Seminary faculty members are involved in planning and publishing efforts for the event.
Please visit www.Calvin500.org for more information.
Events Calendar
