tablet
the
AKONI brings Brad Braxton back to Wake
By Scott Looney
Staff Writer
Tomorrow AKONI
sponsors one of Wake For-
est University’s Worship
in Wait services where the
Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton will
be preaching.
This academic year
has already featured re-
nowned speakers such as
Barbara Brown Taylor in
inside the Worship in Wait series
and while Braxton con-
this issue
tinues that tradition, this
service will also be special
because it commemorates
2 Lunch with the the fiftieth anniversary of
Provost: Update on the Winston-Salem Sit-In
Search for Dean Movement that began on
February 8, 1960, when
3 Community in Review: Carl Wesley Matthews
Mugabe’s Religions of sat at a segregated lunch
counter in downtown
Africa course and Wake’s
Winston-Salem.
Wide World of Theater Typically AKONI spon-
sors a special chapel
4 Common Thread, service on the Tuesday
Worship Bulletin before Ash Wednesday
each year during Black
and Upcoming Events
History Month. Accord-
ing to Diane Horton, serv-
5 Top Ten Divinity School ing AKONI President, the
Commercial Slogans service was established to
remember the ancestors,
to acknowledge “the great
6 Superbowl Commer- cloud of Black witnesses
cials and DivVine from the Continent and
Diaspora who surround
7 Photography and us.”
In keeping with their
the Lectionary
emphasis on history and
the importance of mem-
A branch of the WFU School of Divinity
February 22, 2010
ory, AKONI comes from
a Yoruba term meaning
“Valiant Ancestors.” AKO-
NI is excited to celebrate
more recent ancestors in
the historic Sit-Ins. They
are also excited to bring
in a speaker who has per-
sonal experience with
AKONI. Braxton is a for-
mer AKONI faculty advi-
sor.
Braxton has taught
at Vanderbilt University
Divinity School and our
own Wake Forest Divinity
School where he taught
homiletics. He has also
served most recently as
the Senior Minister at the
Riverside Church in New
York. He has an expertise
in the Bible’s role in con-
temporary culture and has
spoken in pulpits ranging
from Westminster Abbey
to a number of churches
and divinity schools in
North America.
The service is one as-
pect of AKONI. Horton
describes their goals as
Keeping you informed
Volume 5, Issue 9
an organization hoping to
aid African-American stu-
dents.
“Fully integrated into
the life of the Divinity
School, AKONI seeks to
provide a platform for
articulation, exploration,
and education regarding
the experiences of black
theological students in
a predominantly white
institution, with particu-
lar attention to theologi-
cal education and its re-
lationship to the black
religious experience,
the Black Church as an
expression of black reli-
gion, and the social, reli-
gious, and political needs
and concerns of the black
community.”
According to Horton,
AKONI creates these
links by encouraging the
academy, black churches
and the black community
to dialogue between each
other. In addition, AKONI
hopes to help in creating
a “liberating, just and hu-
mane world for all people
as an expression of faith.
“Our hope is that AKO-
NI will contribute mean-
ingfully to the ongoing
formation and prepara-
tion of black students for
ministry in communities
of faith, community orga-
nizations, and continued
theological education.”

Provost Tiefenthaler dines with students and answers
questions about searching for the new dean
By Charles Smith to be able to announce
Copy Editor their selection sometime
in April. Tiefenthaler
On Wednesday, Feb- particularly emphasized
ruary 10, SLC and Akoni the importance of the
hosted a lunch with Pro- nominations she re-
vost Jill Tiefenthaler in- ceived from the Wake Div
tended to inform the en- community. Once the
tire Wake Div community particulars of the search
about the ongoing pro- had been addressed, the
cess and purpose of the conversation turned to-
search for the new Dean. wards a discussion of
The lunch was set up as the particular vision and
a question and answer intention behind the
session, which provided search.
the community with the Tiefenthaler remarked
opportunity to communi- that the search commit-
cate openly with Tiefen-
tee is looking for a can-
thaler concerning the didate who is a leader
search. Many of Provost
in theological education
Tiefenthaler’s responses and who can form work-
were quite illuminating.
ing relationships with
According to Tiefen- the outside community
thaler, the search com-
in general. While the
mittee is progressing committee is searching
well. They have some-
for a candidate that has
what narrowed the appli- an ecumenical perspec-
cant pool and are hoping
tive, Tiefenthaler did say
The Fine (and not so fine) Arts
By Laura Foley
Staff Writer
Page 2
that they would like the
candidate to be able to
dialogue well with par-
ticularly the Baptist tra-
dition. This does not
mean that the candidate
has to belong to the Bap-
tist tradition necessarily,
but the candidate must
have a working knowl-
edge of Baptist practic-
es, beliefs, and politics.
The committee is also
looking for someone
with an entrepreneur-
ial flare. The provost is
very invested in growing
the Divinity School over
the next ten years, which
includes adding more
faculty, improving facili-
ties, and increasing the
number of students. The
new dean will be charged
with providing some of
the funding and support
for this growth.
Lunch with Provost Ti-
efenthaler was informa-
tive and helpful. Moving
forward, the community
should have a good un-
derstanding of the focus
and intent of the search
committee and we can
trust that they have our
best interests at heart.
 Page 3
community in review
Ancestors, legacy and religion: Dr. Mugabe returns to teach
Religions of Africa course at the Divinity School
By Ben Wright
Staff Writer
Every spring, Dr.
Henry Mugabe leaves
his post as President of
Baptist Theological Sem-
inary of Zimbabwe and
ventures on the 8000-
mile journey to WFUSD
so he can share his insid-
er’s perspective with its
students. In the three-
week night and weekend
course, Religions of Afri-
ca, students learn about
the continent’s three-
fold sacred landscape
composed primarily of
Wake’s Wide World of Theater: Div. students take the limelight
By Guy Aiken
Guest Writer
Are you a frustrated ac-
tor who has ended up in
the pulpit? Do you have a
streak of vanity and ego-
tism you find unseemly
for life in the church?
Do you simply like, or
even love, theater? All of
Wake Forest’s full-scale
theater productions hold
auditions that are open
to the entire Wake Forest
student body – which in-
cludes you and me and all
of our divinity and gradu-
ate peers. I have now act-
ed in three of Wake’s the-
ater productions, one of
which was a Department
of Theater show (Son-
nets for an Old Century)
and two of which were
student shows (The Tiny
Closet and The Mistakes
Madeline Made). Theater
is essentially meritocratic:
no matter how unknown
to the Theater Depart-
ment you might be, if you
Islam, Christianity, and
traditional religion(s).
The course surveys
ways in which colonial-
ism and missionaries
have affected the con-
tinent as well as ways
in which Africans have
adapted Islam and Chris-
tianity to make the tradi-
tions something unique-
ly their own. Students
learn about the impor-
tance of ancestors and
legacy in the African un-
derstanding of relation-
al being. Class lectures
are complimented by
have a talent for acting or
singing or dancing – or all
three – you stand to get a
part.
The department and
its two main stages (the
Mainstage and the Ring)
are housed in Scales Fine
Arts Center, which sits
just across the parking lot
from Wingate and has an
electronic marquee on its
facade. Scales also houses
the Department of Music
and the Dance Program.
If you ever want to see
audition and performance
notices, just walk over to
Scales and look around
inside. The box office for
the two theaters is in the
documentaries and oth-
er media that bring real
faces to the concepts
and practices covered
lobby of the farther wing,
just inside the glass doors.
Whoever is working the
box office will show you
the theaters if you want to
see them.
I introduced myself to
the theater folk this fall
by taking Contemporary
Drama as an elective and
by auditioning for a show.
The students and faculty
embraced me immediate-
ly and warmly. They are
impressively professional
but not the least bit stand-
offish or intimidating.
And they positively love
to see new faces at audi-
tions. I feel a part of their
community; I am working
in the course. Students
also engage in presenta-
tions based on course
readings and produce a
research paper on the
approved topic of their
choosing.
Using a continent
composed of thousands
of languages and ethnic
groups as its material
for study, Religions of
Africa serves as an at-
tempt at exploring what
this locale’s distinctive
approaches to faith can
teach the rest of the
world.
with theater major Brittni
Shambaugh to produce a
play in the Lower Audito-
rium at the end of April
– The Last Days of Judas
Iscariot. It will star our
very own Ellen Sizemore
and Kris Hutchinson. I am
doing the historical and
theological research for
the play (for which I will
get IDS credit).
The Theater Depart-
ment will put up two more
main shows this year, The
Threepenny Opera (songs
in original German) and
the comedy Moonchil-
dren. In the fall the senior
theater majors will direct
a series of one-acts, and
the auditions will be open
to all Wake students. And
the department is consid-
ering The Grapes of Wrath
for its 2010-2011 season,
among other plays. Please
feel free to email me for
further information on
Wake’s theater world:
aikeg9@wfu.edu.
 Page 4

Common ThreadSeaming the Creative Soul

A different kind of
Valentine
By Debbie Collins
Guest Writer

In Professor Craig At-

wood’s Theology class,
during Shelley Adams,
Becca Craig, and Allison
Hoyt’s excellent pre-
sentation on liberation
theology, we pondered
Jesus’ comments about
the poor.
Since it was Valen-
tine’s week, their pre-
sentation invoked Cu-
pid, but a different sort disciples, “’Blessed are
you who are poor, for
of ‘fellow’: Q-pid (Q for
Questions). Is Jesus cor- yours is the kingdom of Worship Bulletin & Upcoming Events
rect—will poor people God’” (Luke 6:20); poor,
“always” be among us? not “poor in spirit,” per
Matthew 5. Why is Mat-
(Matthew 26:6-12).**
thew and Mark’s Jesus Today at 4 p.m.: Provost Jill Tiefenthaler
What do we make of this
even more troubling so opposed to rich peo- address for Annenberg Forum, Carswell Hall
statement: “ to those ple, when John’s Jesus
who have, more will be never utters the words Tomorrow, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. in Wait Chapel:
‘camel’ and ‘eye of the
given; and from those
needle’?
Dr. Brad Braxton leads Worship in Wait service
who have nothing, even
what they have will be Since February 14,
consider how many ‘val- Monday, Mar. 1 in Dr. Jung’s class at 2 p.m.:
taken away’” (Mark 4:25).
Does that even apply to entines’ are in these Lecture from Dr. Robert Audi, Professor of
‘haves’ vs. ‘have nots’? Gospel stories, focus- Philosophy and Gallo Chair of Ethics, Notre
ing on ones Jesus typi-
When a “lawyer,” per
cally sends. (Hint: the Dame, room 203. Dr. Audi will address the
Luke (sorry John Carter),
asks Jesus how to live mention of Simon-the- philosophical/theological issues related to
forever Jesus replies, leper and “Mary”--per forgiveness.
sell everything you have John--alerts us that Je-
sus is fraternizing with
and give the proceeds to
those darn Marginalized
Next Week, March 2-3: Phyllis Trible Lectures,
the poor—to get bling- Brindle Recital Hall.
bling in heaven (Matthew People again. He simply
19:19-21//Mark 10:19- won’t stay away from
26). Isn’t Jesus encour- the riffraff!) Call this

The Trivial Inquisition

aging quid pro quo? question an arrow from
Some answers lurk Q-pid: are the disciples
in the larger context right; should the oint-
ment have been sold
of surrounding verses.
Some verses lead to and the proceeds donat- Q: Who proposed to a
more questions, e.g., ed to charity? Wouldn’t significant other
that be a ‘loving’ thing
why does Jesus tell his
to do? on Valentine’s Day?
Answer to “Which div. student has a dog named
after a famous theologian?” SECOND YEAR
ANNE JONES
 tablet
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a branch of the WFU School of Divinity
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top 10
Melissa Guthrie-Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
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Staff Writer
Div. School Promotional Slogans
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(see page 2 of this Tablet!)

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Christa Chappelle Brian Layman
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8. Div. school coffee hour - good to the last

drop now that we have Krankies...

7. The best part of waking up is...Art of

Charles Smith Scott Looney Min. II small group.
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5. Getting a ticket in Q lot...

so easy a caveman can do it.
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Artwork & Photography Editor Staff Writer/Photographer
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papers - don’t leave home without it

3. Scott Looney - strong enough for a man

but made for a woman

Barrett Wooten Laura Foley

Staff Writer Staff Writer/Graphic Artist 2. Student loans - it’s not a going problem,
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 Page 6
Who watches the Super Bowl anyways? A Recap on the commercials
By Barett Wooten favorite Golden Girl get cial where the little boy tremely brief ad that di-
Staff Writer thrown around like a slaps his mom’s boy- rected viewers to learn
ragdoll in a Brett Favre, friend in the face. more online . . . Boo.
As we all know, Super
Wrangler-like backyard Much Ado About Epic Fail: The biggest
Bowl Sunday is the big-
game of pigskin. Just Nothing: The hype sur- loser (yes, that is an
gest advertising day of
when I thought I had rounding Tim Tebow’s awesome show) of this
the year. The final NFL
reached my apex of su- pro-life commercial year’s Super Bowl was
game of the season was
per laughter, Bud Light sponsored by “Focus on not Peyton Manning’s
viewed by 106.5 million
unveiled an instant clas- the Family” was seem- ego; it was Denny’s. Not
people and surpassed
sic. This commercial ingly omnipresent lead- only did the restaurant
the M*A*S*H series finale
begins with a group of ing up to Sunday night. company spend MIL-
for the all-time rating re-
scientists discovering There were protestors LIONS of dollars to place
cord. Naturally, I’m not
that there is an aster- writing into CBS asking several different ads
even sure who won the
oid heading directly for the company to pull the throughout the game,
silly game, but I do have
Earth that will destroy commercial. The sports they also used their ads
my reactions to some of
the planet. Upon this media talked endlessly to give away free food.
the best and worst multi-
realization they initiate about the impact this I’m no David Hume or
million dollar commer-
a wheels-off, frat-tastic 30-second plug would Adam Smith, but this
cials.
party that includes a have on Tebow’s ca- plan seems pretty risky
The Favorites: The
woman riding the tele- reer. This was the one to me. Spending mil-
award for most hilarious
scope like a mechanical commercial I was really lions on commercials
commercial came down
bull and two cowork- looking forward to see- that tell over 100 mil-
to a tie between Betty
ers impulsively making ing, and it was a pretty lion people that you are
White for Snickers and
out. The shock value of big letdown. There was giving away a breakfast
the Bud Light astronomy
this commercial is clas- no controversy (unless with the street value of
commercials. Call me
sic Super Bowl, and I you think that the 6’4’’ $5.99? I just don’t get
biased, but there was
soaked in every drop. 240 lb demigod tackling it. Better luck next year
nothing more shockingly
Honorable Mention: his own mother is a con- Denny’s (if you’re still
funny that watching my
The Doritos commer- troversy). It was an ex- in business)!

Q: What is your all-time favorite commercial?
The snickers commercial about Gheorghe Muresan cologne.
Here is the link...it is a remnant of growing up in the era of
ESPN pre-internet. My brother and I would watch TV for hours
on end just to catch this commercial. -Jon Redding
This Nissan commercial. It’s so outrageously weird that I laugh
every time. -Andrew Garne�
One of two Li�le Caesar’s commerecials: “Slap the Baby” or “I
taught my dog to say I love you.” -Bob Stillerman
I have 2 favorites. One was a Sprint commercial that aired
during Super Bowl XL (I think), in which two guys are in a
locker room bragging about their new phones, and one of them
displays his phone’s “crime deterrent” feature. The other was a
Doritos commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI (again, I
think), in which a man is checking out at the grocery store, buy-
ing several flavors of Doritos, and the cashier gets increasingly
turned on. -Ward Page
Michael Jordan versus Himself (Gatorade Commercial 2002)
-Kris Hutchinson
Budweiser frogs. Especially after the addition of the lizards.
-Derek
Etrade when they wasted 5 mil on a commercial with a chimp
dancing on a table. -Paul
The first Budweiser commercial with the frogs. -Oliver
This commercial goes back to my childhood days in the 60s and
early 70s. It’s a Life cereal commercial:
Child 1: what’s this stuff?
Child 2: some cereal. You gonna try it?
Child 1: I’m not gonna try it -- you try it?
Child 2: I’m not gonna try it. Hey! Let’s give it to Mikey.
Child 1: He won’t like; he hates everything.
They push the bowl of cereal to the younger brother who eats it
up.
Child 1: Hey Mikey!
Child 2: He likes it!
It’s become a family favorite, even for my children. Anytime
we are given something unfamiliar to eat someone always says:
What’s this stuff? And the dialogue is on. - Cindy Good
 Page 7

Photo by Ashley Cyre

Staff Writer N ow about eight
days after these
sayings Jesus took with
as they were leaving him,
Peter said to Jesus, ‘Mas-
ter, it is good for us to be
him Peter and John and here; let us make three
James, and went up on dwellings, one for you,
the mountain to pray. one for Moses, and one
And while he was pray- for Elijah’—not knowing
ing, the appearance of what he said. While he
his face changed, and his was saying this, a cloud
clothes became dazzling came and overshadowed
white. Suddenly they them; and they were ter-
saw two men, Moses and rified as they entered
Elijah, talking to him. the cloud. Then from the
They appeared in glory cloud came a voice that
and were speaking of said, ‘This is my Son, my
his departure, which he Chosen; listen to him!’
was about to accomplish When the voice had spo-
at Jerusalem. Now Pe- ken, Jesus was found
ter and his companions alone. And they kept si-
were weighed down with lent and in those days
sleep; but since they had told no one any of the
stayed awake, they saw things they had seen.
his glory and the two men
who stood with him. Just Luke 9:28-36