CTS has a rich history of partnership with the United Methodist Church. For much of its history, the seminary has employed a part-time Director of United Methodist studies who oversees the education and preparation of students affiliated with the United Methodist Church. This Director also works with the Dean and Faculty of the seminary to develop programs, experiences, and resources to ensure United Methodist students receive the preparation for graduation and ordination their denomination requires.

This year, CTS has made exciting plans to expand the faculty and reaffirm our commitment to serving United Methodist (UM) students by seeking a Professor of United Methodist Studies who would also serve as the Director of UMC studies to join the faculty in summer 2024. The position will be full-time and is tenure-track, and applications and nominations are currently being accepted. In addition to teaching students as a faculty member in the School of Theology, the Director will provide theological support to UMC pastors in the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Seminary students seeking to be ordained in the United Methodist Church must fulfill specific coursework in their MDiv degree program to fulfill denominational requirements in accordance with the Book of Discipline. They navigate requirements pertaining directly to their seminary degree coursework and church requirements for ordination. In the past, UM students at CTS have had the ability to take the classes that are denomination specific at Garrett Theological Seminary through an agreement between the two schools. This allowed UM students to take those denomination specific courses from a UM professor. The part-time Director of United Methodist studies at CTS has provided group and individual support to those students.

The United Methodist educational requirements for seminaries are set by the University Senate, a group within their General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. As of the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, seminaries not directly affiliated with the United Methodist Church will be required to employ a full-time faculty member who is United Methodist in order to accept and provide seminary education to United Methodist students.

Rev. Meredith McNabb, who currently serves as the part-time Director of United Methodist Studies at CTS in an interim capacity, is excited about CTS’ decision to expand the role to a full-time position. “This is an exciting year at CTS as we prepare for a full-time faculty person to serve as Professor and Director of UM Studies. Serving in this interim role in a very, very part time capacity alongside my work at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at IUPUI and as the Associate District Superintendent for the Central District of the INUMC, I’m glad to offer my best—but I can see how having someone knit fully into the community and able to integrate academic work and UM connections will be transformative,” McNabb shares.

Rev. McNabb believes CTS is a great option for UM students considering seminary. “In my UMC roles, I’ve always dearly valued the partner seminaries like CTS: the UM students attending partner seminaries get to learn from and with people whose traditions can stretch and deepen their experiences beyond UM insider-talk. United Methodists are ecumenical by nature, and this kind of formation, these kinds of relationships make us all better in a time of such cultural division and so much distancing from organized religion.  What better way to prepare for ministry in the era that’s emerging than to learn alongside a diverse cohort of classmates?” she asks.

As Professor of United Methodist Studies, the new professor will teach the required courses in UMC Polity, Theology, and History in accordance with University Senate regulations. They will also provide support to United Methodist pastors at the Annual Conference. That support could come in the form of a pastor-specific course, an ongoing theological conversation with pastors, or some other offering designed by the professor and the pastors.

As Director of United Methodist Studies, they will coordinate programs beyond the regular curriculum that will help build a strong United Methodist ethos on campus. Such programs might include recruitment events, worship and fellowship opportunities, visits to campus by United Methodist leaders, participation by students in regional and national UMC events, covenant groups, etc. They will monitor United Methodist resources available in the Seminary library and elsewhere on campus, identifying new resources and books essential to UMC students and faculty on campus. Finally, they will monitor student learning outcomes related to United Methodist theology, history, and polity, and respective district ordination requirements, to assure that United Methodist students at CTS are prepared for ordination exams and United Methodist ministry.

The person who fills this new role will meet with each CTS student who is part of the United Methodist denomination each semester, providing encouragement, support, and guidance. They will serve as an invaluable resource connecting those students to denominational information and resources.

When asked about the new role, CTS President Dr. David M. Mellott said, “Our values so closely align with the UMC, and we believe expanding our faculty to include a United Methodist professor is such an important step for the CTS community. We are invested in finding someone to fill this role to ensure CTS remains a top option for UM students seeking seminary degrees.”

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“I believe great leaders carefully plan for their succession, and enthusiastically bless and endorse the next generation of leadership. There is a transition, but I am not done yet because the new Compelling Preaching Initiative has grown directly out of the success of the PhD program, and through it we will be able to impact exponentially more preachers and communities as we continue to proclaim the beauty and the power of African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric,” shares Thomas. 

The PhD Program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric would not exist without the visionary leadership and foresight of Dr. Thomas. A renowned homiletician and published author, Thomas served with distinction as the senior pastor for two remarkable congregations (New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, IL and Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, TN) before joining CTS. Dr. Thomas built the PhD program from the ground up, establishing it to ignite a renaissance to revive Christianity in America in the 21st century. CTS President Dr. David M. Mellott shares, “Dr. Thomas has become integral to Christian Theological Seminary, both as a member of our community and as a part of our very identity. His efforts to invest in the next generation of preachers, both as practitioners and as scholars, are unprecedented in scope and impact. There are few individuals who have worked as tirelessly as he has to spread awareness of the beauty of African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric and to teach its methods to preachers around the world.”  

Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in 2016, the PhD Program welcomed its inaugural cohort of students in January 2017. The program’s mission is to cultivate practitioner-scholars who are deeply connected to the church and the academy, equipped with a critical understanding of the history of African American preaching and other sacred rhetoric forms in the United States. It also focuses on the theologies that inform this history and practice, the distinctive skills involved in African American preaching and sacred rhetoric, and the transformative gifts these traditions can offer to the wider global church. With 26 students currently enrolled across three cohorts, the program is on track to produce its first graduates in the coming year. 

Rev. Dr. Courtney V. Buggs joined the CTS faculty in 2019, as a Louisville Postdoctoral Fellow.  In 2021 she was appointed to the CTS regular faculty as Assistant Director of the PhD program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric, and Assistant Professor of Homiletics. Buggs’ interest in the study of preaching began as she served faith communities in the United States and abroad, across Pentecostal, Methodist, and Baptist traditions and in multi-faith military chapel settings.  Her research interests include ecumenical preaching practices, women and preaching, womanism, and critical pedagogy.  Buggs has published journal articles and a book chapter, all related to preaching.  She has also published denominational resources and writes theological reflections for local churches. Prior to entering formal theological education, Buggs served in the United States Air Force for almost 22 years as a commissioned officer.  A graduate of Louisiana Tech University’s ROTC program, she earned a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology.  Buggs went on to earn an MPA from University of Oklahoma, a Master’s in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, an MDiv from Candler School of Theology, and a PhD in Religion-Homiletics from Emory University. 

When asked about Dr. Buggs taking the reins of the PhD program, Dr. Thomas shared, “The first time Rev. Dr. Buggs preached in the CTS Chapel, the place shook from the power of her words and ministry. I want the world to know the high quality and character of the person that this baton of leadership is being handed to and how excited I am to see her success and the program’s continued growth. I am absolutely confident that Dr. Buggs will take things to the next level and the program will live on for generations and generations to come.” 

Dr. Nick Peterson will become Assistant Director of the PhD Program. Peterson received his PhD from the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College in Africana Studies and Business Management as well as a Master of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He has taught courses on religion, philosophy, worship, theology, preaching, and race at schools including Morehouse College, Lancaster Theological Seminary, and Penn State University – Berks. His dissertation, On Being an Issue of Delores: A Meditation on Black Faith in an Antiblack World, explores how black faith engenders intramural care practices, which he refers to as black-on-black care. He suggests this transformative care contends with and sometimes exceeds the constraints of antiblackness. 

The upcoming retirement of Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. His transition from Director of the PhD Program to Director of the Compelling Preaching Initiative is demonstrative of his commitment to remain visionary and creative to the very end of his illustrious career. The CTS community, forever indebted to his transformative leadership, celebrates this transition and eagerly anticipates the wealth of knowledge and guidance he will continue to bestow upon our students. 

Dr. Thomas recently interviewed Dr. Buggs for the Legacy Preaching Series. During the conversation, the two also discuss Dr. Thomas’ retirement plans and how Dr. Buggs’ experience led her to this new role. You can watch the full interview video below.  

If you would like to send a note of congratulations to Dr. Thomas and/or Dr. Buggs, we invite you to do so by emailing ph********@*ts.edu 

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Bryan Votaw, LMHC, LPC, ACS
Clinic Director, CTS Counseling Center

“People exist who are so intolerant of pain or frustration (or in whom pain or frustration is so intolerable) that they feel the pain but will not suffer it and so cannot be said to discover it…the patient who will not suffer pain fails to ‘suffer’ pleasure”
(W.R. Bion, 1970, p. 9). 

In recent years, particularly since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been common to see campaigns that seek to address the “stigma” that surrounds mental health in the community. I have even seen words like “eliminate”, “destroy”, or “end” be used in association with the proposed solution to respond to this “stigma”. And yet, as psychoanalysts Joan and Neville Symington (1996) note, channeling the work of British Object Relations psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion, often “the symptom is a cover for the truth” (p. 4). In today’s society, mental health stigma remains a significant barrier to the well-being and support of individuals facing mental health challenges. Despite efforts to address this issue, the persistent stigma surrounding mental health necessitates a reevaluation of our approach. We must dive into the complexities of mental health stigma, exploring a thought-provoking perspective that challenges the notion of simply eliminating stigma. The “symptom” (the stigma) may be pointing to a deeper truth that we should endeavor to understand so that we might seek to transform it.

It is beyond the scope of this writing to provide an exhaustive solution to addressing mental health stigma. Instead, I would like to argue that our attempts to resolve the issue (issues really) are misguided. The stigma is something that cannot merely be eliminated because it emanates from within ourselves and our psyches. Synonyms for the word “stigma” include “shame”, “disgrace”, and “humiliation”. From a therapeutic standpoint, these are some of the most challenging internal phenomena to address. They are often defended by destructive and persecutory internal dynamics that keep us from feeling and thinking about said phenomena and therefore modifying or metabolizing them. Often, we attempt to “evacuate” these internal elements because they overwhelm our capacities to think and maintain equilibrium. Sometimes folks will say that you must fight fire with fire, but how can we eliminate persecutory phenomena through persecutory means? In this case, if it’s an eye for an eye – everyone goes blind.

Instead, it is my challenge that we must conceive of how to collectively tolerate, bear, and suffer these persecutory elements that exist within ourselves TOGETHER and place less on the individual to triumphantly overcome and defeat said forces. We are ALL vulnerable to experiencing mental health concerns regardless of race, gender, sexuality, creed, religion, socioeconomic status, or privilege. Of course, one’s privilege often is positively correlated with one’s access to treating said concerns. But this is not a “you” or “them” problem. This is a “we” and “us” problem. If it is a “you” or “I” problem, then that simply becomes too much for the individual to bear, and of course, we will seek ways to evacuate the pain and (hopefully) try to stay afloat. But it might very well result in relapses and seeking predictable comfort in ultimately destructive means of coping.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb recently approved $125 million to help finance mental health efforts in the state of Indiana. While this is a good step forward, it is not clear to me that we have the infrastructure to support the mental health needs that our communities face in the present moment. Many of my colleagues who work in community mental health clinics across the State tell me about the exorbitant number of clients that they treat and how understaffed their clinics seem to be. Unless one is in danger of acute mental health crisis, it is not uncommon for clients to only be able to see their therapist at intervals ranging from once a month or even longer. Can lasting change really take place with “treatment” happening in such infrequent intervals? A study conducted by the Healthforce Center at UCSF suggests that, in California, there will be 28% fewer therapists and 50% fewer psychiatrists in the workforce by 2028 compared to the rate of current service utilization combined with unmet needs (Coffman, et al., 2018, p. 7). If this trend is also true for Indiana, what will happen to the rates of wait times for treatment and untreated mental health concerns? And what impact will that have on our communities at a broad level?

To be clear, individuals who are in need of clinical mental health care need access to appropriate treatment. And to ensure that we have a workforce that is capable of meeting these needs, we need more individuals to enter the mental health field. We need training programs that are equipping their students for the emotional toll associated with conducting this work. We need jobs in the mental health profession to pay wages that are congruent with the cost of the education and training that is required to meet the needs of those who need our help. Insurance companies need to better incentivize providers to join their insurance panels to better ensure that individuals can utilize their health benefits to seek mental health services (e.g. paying a living wage and having equitable contractual terms).

But before we continue to address the “stigma” of mental health from an external vantage point, we must decide individually and collectively if we want to know the truth of what exists within ourselves. We must be willing to confront and suffer our own pain and vulnerability and not simply view it as something that other folks deal with, something to be swept under the rug, or something at which to dispassionately throw money. Do we REALLY want to address OUR mental health problem? Wilfred Bion (1962) writes: “The choice that matters to the psycho-analyst is one that lies between procedures designed to evade frustration and those designed to modify it. That is the critical decision” (p. 29). Will we seek to collectively suffer this stigma or will we continue to avoid the pain associated with addressing it with concerted efforts?

As we confront the enduring challenge of mental health stigma, it is imperative that we approach the issue at hand with a fresh perspective and collective commitment. By recognizing that stigma originates from within ourselves and our psyches, we can shift our focus from eliminating it to collectively tolerating and bearing the internal elements that perpetuate it. This requires us to confront our own pain, vulnerabilities, and biases, fostering a culture of empathy and understanding. Simultaneously, we must address the systemic issues that hinder access to mental health resources, such as the shortage of professionals and inadequate infrastructure. Only then can the stigma begin to be “modified” (or “suffered”) in a way that could lead to tangible and sustained change.

References: 

Bion, W.R. (1962). Learning from experience. London: William Heinemann Medical Books, Ltd; Reprinted London: Routledge 2019.

Bion, W.R. (1970). Attention and interpretation. London: Tavistock Publications; reprinted in paperback, London: Maresfield Reprints, H. Karnac Books (1984).

Coffman, J., Bates, T., Geyn, I. Spetz, J. (2018). California’s current and future behavioral health workforce. Healthforce Center at UCSF. https://healthforce.ucsf.edu/sites/healthforce.ucsf.edu/files/publication-pdf/California%E2%80%99s%20Current%20and%20Future%20Behavioral%20Health%20Workforce.pdf
Symington, J. & Symington, N. (1996). The clinical thinking of Wilfred Bion. London: Routledge. 

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“It is an honor to welcome such an accomplished scholar and highly esteemed leader to our team during this exciting time in our history,” shares CTS President Dr. David M. Mellott. “Dr. Lozada brings a wealth of experience in theological education, New Testament studies, Latinx studies, and seeking innovative solutions to societal issues. His life and career embody CTS’ values, and his commitment to centering marginalized communities will further expand accessibility to the degree programs and resources we offer as we grow to meet the world’s need for transformative leaders.”

Dr. Lozada brings extensive leadership experience to his new role. During his time at Brite, he has been a leading voice in addressing hermeneutical and theological implications regarding how the Bible is employed and deployed in ethnic/racial communities. He serves on the board of the Hispanic Summer Program, guiding its efforts to shape the next generation of Latinx theological and ecclesial leaders, advises the board of Pathways Theological Education, an online program affiliated with the United Church of Christ, and serves as a member of the CPE Professional Advisory Group at Baylor Scott and White Health All Saints in Fort Worth, TX. He has also served extensively in leadership roles for the Society of Biblical Literature.

“Joining Christian Theological Seminary is exciting,” says Dr. Lozada. “It is an honor and privilege to join this esteemed theological school and to serve its faculty, staff, and students and the broader community. I look forward to working with the leadership team and the Board to promote academic and theological excellence and enhance student learning, and I am delighted to work with President Mellott in advancing the values and mission of CTS. I am honored to have been chosen for this new role and look forward to working with all my colleagues to make a difference in the world today.”

Lozada’s leadership, scholarship, and teaching focuses on hermeneutical and justice issues. Past courses he has taught include White Supremacy and Immigration, Historiography and Christian Nationalism, New Testament Interpretation, and Borderlands Travel Seminars. He is the author of Toward a Latino/a Biblical Interpretation and co-editor with Fernando Segovia of Latino/a Theology and the Bible: Ethnic-Racial Reflections on Interpretation. Currently, he serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biblical Literature and Catholic Bible Quarterly.

Dr. Lozada holds a PhD in New Testament and Early Christianity from Vanderbilt University, a MTS from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a BA in Religious Studies from John Carroll University. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Puerto Rican parents and is Catholic with a commitment to strong ecumenical and interfaith relationships. Lozada is married to Wendi Lozada-Smith and the two share children Nico and Ana.

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A native of Long Island, New York, Charlie became a Sycamore upon his transfer to Indiana State University in 1970 and has identified as a Hoosier ever since. He met his beloved spouse Carol in college, and the two have been sharing adventures as a married couple for over 47 years. Charlie and Carol have a four-legged family member in their toy poodle Juliette. The two are avid international travelers who love to explore new cities and find hidden joys off the well-worn tourist path.

Charlie lights up when asked about Indiana basketball legend and fellow Indiana State alumnus Larry Bird. “We lived in Terre Haute after we got married, and we saw every single one of Larry Bird’s home games. When I was President of the Alumni Association at ISU, the athletic director asked me to get Larry to sign 10 basketballs for an auction. I was successful in that effort,” he says. Charlie did more than tracking down basketballs in that role; he served on three successful search committees for a new President, Vice President, and Dean for the School of Business. Lifetime membership in the ISU Alumni Association was founded during his tenure as president.

Ask Charlie about his personal interests and you are likely to hear a story about one of his many guitars, but only after humble protests that his musical background is just a hobby. Press a bit further, and you may be lucky enough to hear a story about Charlie’s teenage days playing bass in a band that won battles of the bands and toured with Dick Clark’s traveling show as an opener for the likes of Bread and the Supremes. You will almost certainly hear about his dear friend Curt (lead guitarist of the band) whom he has known since they were 11 years old and still talks to daily.

Charlie’s talent for connecting support to visions he believes in runs in the family. His father Paul was the oldest of 10 immigrant children whose parents came to the United States from Italy through Ellis Island. Paul quit school at 13, but never let it keep him from progressing in his life and career. He continued his education by frequenting the local library branch, reading and writing his way to his high school equivalency. Paul DeMaio retired to a small community in Florida. Upon realizing the town did not have a standalone public library, he campaigned and advocated until a dedicated public library was built – a place he believed was critically important to lower and middle class youth, a place where people could follow his example to access education (and now vital computers) in their own quests for success and a meaningful life.

This story is merely one of many that embody Charlie’s passion for education, connecting people and institutions who share a common mission, and growing support for causes he believes in. When you boil down all the amazing stories, you find this is the central tenet of Charlie’s work: relationships. From his relationship with his wife to his ability to connect with locals in his travels to his relationship with childhood friend Curt, every story he tells is marked with names and personal details of the people he’s met along the way. When asked what most excites Charlie about joining the CTS team, he shares, “I like the idea that my efforts will make a difference. We have an opportunity to build a strong base of support, and I really believe passionately in the mission of the institution and the base of donors that believe in achieving that mission. I have to believe in that shared mission – otherwise I can’t do the work.”

Professionally, Charlie worked for Marcraft Corp for 26 years, twenty as VP of Sales and Marketing. He worked as the Executive Director of Alumni Affairs for Indiana State University and Vice President of Development for the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation. For the past 7 years, Charlie has been a consultant working with faith-based institutions on capital campaigns. In his role, he spent significant time getting to know congregations, not only raising campaign support but also building genuine relationships.

Charlie offers us this sentiment as he begins his journey with CTS: “Many people think development is about big events – it’s not. What it really comes down to is getting to know donors and building meaningful, long-term relationships.” Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Charlie DeMaio.

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Gayle and her husband Jerry have a delightful pet goldendoodle named Grover Washington. They have been members of the Light of the World Christian Church (DOC) for almost 30 years. In her free time, Gayle enjoys gardening and working on her beautiful landscaping. She and Jerry are both avid golfers and enjoy traveling to watch golf tournaments around the country. The most beautiful golf course they have visited is Payne’s Valley Golf Course in the Ozarks town of Hollister, Missouri – the first public golf course designed by Tiger Woods. Gayle also enjoys reading, especially in fellowship with her book club “The Reading Queens.” An eclectic reader, she loves everything from historical fiction to thrillers to love stories. The first item on her bucket list is to visit family in France and travel around Europe.

When asked what she is most looking forward to in her new role at CTS, Gayle shared, “I’m looking forward to putting my faith and spirituality to work in fundraising. I believe that putting the two together promotes a philosophy of generosity.”

Gayle’s first day with CTS was September 1st. You can meet her and see pictures of Grover Washington in the Advancement office. Visitors will learn quickly what coworkers already know – Gayle is a fantastic addition to our team, a caring listener and conversationalist, and a wonderful asset to the CTS community.

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In addition to her role on the ATS Board, Dean Gunning Francis also serves on the Board of Directors for Peace Learning Center. Peace Learning Center (PLC) was created by a team of individuals hoping to reduce violence and increase kindness in our communities. Their governing body of individuals from the Indianapolis area helps to hold PLC’s work in alignment with its mission: facilitating community learning that acts as a catalyst for peace, equity, and justice that works towards their vision of a healed world where strong and caring communities strive together to fully live in peace.

To learn more about the ATS and its member schools, go to www.ats.edu.

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A ”displaced Buckeye,” Seeger grew up on the North side of Indianapolis and attended Hamilton Southeastern schools before earning an undergraduate degree from Eastern University near Philadelphia. “My faith background is as eclectic as my personality,” Seeger said. “As a Christian Mutualist, I strongly value my personal experience of God’s reconciling love and truth growing up as an interdenominational Christian, but I recognize others’ diverse experiences of that same love and truth are mutually valid and important to the tapestry of faith community.”

Returning to central Indiana after her time at Eastern, Seeger enrolled in the MDiv program at CTS in 2014. “I felt a strong call to ministry in a non-traditional, non-clergy way,” she explained. “For this reason, I focused my studies on prophetic leadership, community impact, and interfaith relational engagement.” Electing not to pursue ordination, her studies prepared her well for non-profit management.

After graduating from CTS in 2017, Seeger worked for United Way and Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County. “The truth is,” she said, “I never really left the CTS community, and I’ve always been looking for the right opportunity to join the staff. CTS has amazing values, a strong mission and vision for impacting the world by preparing leaders, and an incredible community culture I look forward to joining.”

Seeger now lives in Fishers with her wife Sam, daughter Frankie, dog Sydney, and ornery cats Fred and George. Outside of work, you can find her reading World War 2 historical fiction, playing pub trivia or board games with friends, and spending time with family.

“I’m passionate about the inherent worth of all human lives and standing with the marginalized to challenge systems of oppression,” she said, which is part of why she is so excited to join the seminary staff. “CTS is such a singular institution in its unique ability to balance faith-based theological formation with a practical application of social justice; this combination sends community members out into local and global contexts with the promise of immediate community impact. CTS is a beacon of hope in a diversifying world that can show mutual respect to many without losing sight of what makes differences beautiful. At CTS, you are welcomed to participate in community and celebrated for participating as your fullest, truest self.”

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A CTS alumnus, Ray rejoins the CTS community and brings a lifetime of music performance, music ministry, and music direction to the role.

Ray was born and raised in Louisville, KY, to a family of musicians. He began playing piano at age 5, later adding the trumpet, clarinet, and violin, among other instruments. An accomplished musician, by age 11, he was teaching music, directing, and accompanying the youth choir at his home church. Ray went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, where he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, participated in the Northwestern Marching Wildcat Band, and directed the Northwestern Community Ensemble.

Along with his wife Elizabeth and sons John III and Matthew, Ray moved to Indianapolis in 2006 when he began serving Light of the World Christian Church as Minister of Worship Arts and Media. Having received the call to preach not long before, at the encouragement of Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin Jr., Ray eventually enrolled at CTS and graduated with an MDiv in 2018 before receiving ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2021.

“Being a student at CTS unlocked a wonderful season of learning and growth for me,” he said, recalling especially his time learning from Prof. Frank Thomas and Prof. Allan Boesak. “I was challenged socially, academically and theologically. In 2014, there was great social unrest in our country, and racial tensions were very high, which in many ways shaped my experiences at CTS. As a Christian institution of higher learning, CTS grappled with the turbulent times and we did not shy away from having difficult conversations.”

Excited about reconnecting with the CTS community and his new role, Ray said, “The CTS chapel experience holds a special place in my life. It is a place where I have found peace and solace in the midst of doing ministry. It has been a spiritual fountain and a safe space for me, and I am glad to take on the challenge of service in such a great ministry.”

Join the CTS community for weekly chapel services on YouTube or Facebook Live.

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The VP of Finance and Operations is a key member of the senior management team at CTS, directing financial, business, and operational functions. This role maintains oversight of the accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, human resources, payroll, IT, legal compliance, audit, grant management, student and counseling client billing, financial aid (Title IV), Title IX and Clery Act compliance, risk management, student housing, endowment and asset management, security and emergency planning, and facility management.

Logan brings considerable experience to the role from a long career in higher education. He earned a BS in Business Administration/Economics from Erskine College and an MBA from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and, in 2019-2020, he was a NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) fellow. After graduating from Erskine, Logan began his career by serving his alma mater in admissions and financial aid. He then moved to The Citadel where he worked for 23 years, eventually serving as its Associate Vice President for Finance before coming to CTS.

As he was wrapping up his time at The Citadel, Logan said that he “placed a great deal of focus and prayer on the type of institution that I wanted to head to next.” He saw at CTS the opportunity “to be a part of an institution where I could be a positive force and resource for students, faculty, staff and friends.”

Having served the community since May, Logan has quickly found at home at CTS. He said, “I love being a part of a mission driven institution that is a positive force for good in both the church and society. The importance that CTS places on making an impact beyond our campus makes me proud to be a part of the organization. I believe that my responsibility is to put the resources in place, and account for them appropriately, so that our students, faculty, and the work of the church can take center stage. Finance and operations is a service unit to support the important work that is being done here.”

Getting settled permanently in Indianapolis, Logan is excited to get more involved in church and community life. Prior to his relocation, he was an active member of Grace Cathedral Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and a member of several civic and professional organizations, including the Charleston CFO Council and the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers Audit Committee. A self-described “mediocre golfer,” he also loves spending time with his family, especially his three grandchildren, who live in Birmingham, Alabama.

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