George Fox Seminary makes a 'Sweet' deal

PORTLAND -- Author, historian and futurist Leonard Sweet has a new descriptor for his book covers: Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University.

The affiliation with the Newberg-based university and its Portland-based seminary was announced last month by President David Brandt.

Sweet is the author of the trilogy of books SoulTsunami, AquaChurch and SoulSalsa, written as third-millennium resources to help leaders come to terms with contemporary postmodern culture. Each has its own Web site and multimedia components, some of which have received national awards and one Grammy nomination.

Working with George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Sweet will interact with a cohort of students in its Doctor of Ministry Degree Program. The program will focus on postmodern church leadership and will go beyond traditional classroom instruction with extensive student participation and high use of computer technology.

In some of the other Doctor of Ministry cohorts, Sweet will teach one of the classes in a module and facilitate one of the program’s semi-annual retreats -- or “advances,” as he prefers to call them.

Sweet also will present seminars that will be open to the public. His March 19 presentation at the university’s Portland Center, 12753 S.W. 68th Ave., will focus on evangelism, while his May 16 visit will examine leadership. Both will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per person, or $30 each for two or more from the same church. For details, phone 503-554-6100.

In addition, Sweet will serve as a consultant to the university and to Brandt several days a year.

Sweet is currently affiliated with Drew University in Madison, N.J., as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism. Prior to this position, he served five years as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the theological school at Drew. Previously, Sweet served 11 years as president and professor of church history at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.

Sweet is the author of 18 books, more than 100 articles, and more than 400 published sermons. Up-coming books by Sweet include Forget the VisionThing: It's All About Voice, Why Be Normal When You Can Be Nuts? and Glory Crowns the Mercy Seat: The Art of Abductive Preaching.

Sweet has held several leadership positions in the United Methodist Church and has spoken at numerous jurisdictional and general conferences, including the 1996 World Methodist Congress in Brazil. He is a consultant to many denominational leaders and agencies and is a frequent speaker at national conferences, state conventions, pastors' schools, and retreats.

Sweet has a master of divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in New York and a Ph.D from the University of Rochester.