The Clarion March 31. 1994 fagft J
Lecture Series
Rev. A1 Staggs illumnated the life of Dietrich Bonhoener
by Christopner roro
International Life Editor
Brevard College hosted A1 Staggs
on March 22 and 23. “A View From the
Underside: The Legacy of Dietrich
Bonhoeffer,” was presented in an one-
person stageplay.
Reverend Staggs is a pastor of
Woodland Baptist Church in San
Anionio, Tex. The play is an
examination of the life of Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, a German minister who
spoke out against the Nazi treatment of
the Jews.
For this action, Bonhoeffer was
jailed by the Gestapo in April, 1943
until his death on April 9, 1945.
“Bonhoeffer is the best contemporary of
true Christianity that we have to
examine,” Staggs claimed following his
performance at Dunham Auditorium.
The performance was set in a
simulated prison cell with Bonhoeffer
(Staggs), examining his own
Christianity and the choices he made.
Much of the information came from
Eberhard Bethge’s biography of
Bonhoeffer. “He stood true to
Christianity even if it meant the loss of
his own life for standing up to the
Nazi’s,” said Staggs.
The basis of Bonhoeffer’s
involvement was that he saw a
government-controlled religion that
persecuted the masses and forced
political power in the name of
Christianity. This is much of the same
reason that Reverend Staggs claims he
A1 Staggs
continues this form of ministry. He
believes that the same atmosphere of
political persecution via religion exists
today in the United States.
“You have the fundamental right-
wings such as Pat Robinson and Jerry
Fallwell and Southern Baptists who
wrap themselves in the American flag,
demand their interpretation of
Christianity, which is the same as the
Nazi’s.! was watching a televangelist
last week in Minnesota who before the
end of his program had tied the entire
Waco, Texas, incident to Clinton.”
Reverend Staggs has a Master of
Theology from Harvard Divinity School
and is currently a doctoral candidate at
Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary at Austin Texas.
BC offers a variety of religious organizations
i _ ^ ^ ic «
by Kim Button
Clarion Co-Editor
On campus and in the community,
BC students are sharing their faith with
others through religious organizations
and outreach programs. Brevard College,
which has United Methodist Church
ties, sponsors a religious organization
that is active on campus. Many students
have also started their own religious
groups so that they can have fellowship
with others of their faith.
Brevard College says
goodbye to Olivieri
While these organizations are
primarily for the students’ benefit, they
are also very active in helping others on
campus as well as in the Brevard
community.
Wfesley Fellowship is sponsored by
the college, through the chaplain, in
cooperation with the United Methodist
Church. They meet every Tuesday at 5
p.m. in the Chaplain’s office.
Christian Student Fellowship
(CSF) is an interdenominational group
which meets every Thursday at 6 p.m.
in the private dining room in the
cafeteria. Its members are active not
only on campus but in the community
as well.
Every Monday at 9 p.m. CSF has a
prayer time in the game room in the
Student Union. They have organized a
town devotion where they encourage
people on the sffeets in Brevard to come
to a devotion at night. Members are also
volunteering at the Sharing House,
which is similar to the Salvation Army,
visiting older adults at College Walk,
and baby-sitting at the Episcopal
Church.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
(FCA) meets every Wednesday morning
at 10 a.m. in Boshamer Gym.
There is also a campus worship
service every Wednesday night at 6:30
p.m. at the United Methodist Church.
Each organization would welcome
anyone who is interested in attending
the meetings.
by Henry Stepp II
Clarion Photo Editor
If you were not at B.C. for the
1992-1993 academic year, then you may
not fully appreciate the job Aurora
Olivieri has done at her post of Student
Activities Director.
On Saturday, March 12, Aurora was
married to Manuel Insignares beneath a
new moon in Asheville. “He (Manuel)
is the most wonderful man in the
world!,” Olivieri commented. The
newlyweds will live in Duluth, Ga. The
couple decided to move to Georgia
because Insignares works as an engineer
in the Atlanta area.
Olivieri began the job as full-time
Student Activities Director at the start
of this academic year. This post was
held part-time by an R.D. on campus.
Beforehand, Olivieri worked for the
college as the Resident Director in West
Beam during the 1992-1993 year (note:
West Beam was a woman’s hall then).
Olivieri said the thing she will
miss about B.C. are the students. “The
students at BC are the greatest. I have
been continuously impressed with their
bright hearts and minds.” Olivieri has
also enjoyed “listening to your
students) concerns and helpmg
events that bring us all together,
certain that Aurora will be missed.
(the
plan
It is
Aurora Olivieri