Final deanship candidate presents Theo school vision

Faculty and students of Drew’s Theological School heard from the third candidate in the running for the position to replace Dean Beach—who is retiring—last Friday. Kathleen D. Billman, in addition to earning several educational degrees, is the author of several articles and chapters.
Billman has a vision for seminary. She would like to see one-on-one interactions with Drew students and the local church, she explained. In order to accomplish this, she hopes to implement “listening campaigns, in which value is implemented and students, as well as the church, speak out of response. I want to find a lot of passion and conviction here at Drew. It’s important to listen to each other,” she said.
Billman stressed that communication is vital for success. “There are multiple conversations that need to take place. There are models of theological education where students don’t leave their own community, you must integrate outsiders,” she said.
Billman received her theological education at Princeton University because, as she said, “I wasn’t a Lutheran. I didn’t discover Drew. When I went to school, I followed where I thought women would be welcome. I got a message of welcome from there, and that’s what I’d hope to accomplish here.”
“I’m from a place that shares very similar commitments with Drew,” she said. If chosen for the position, Billman said she would look forward to, “learning from the faculty, students and staff, as well as continuing and achieving a high quality of academic learning.”
During the discussion, several students addressed the idea of a student-dean forum.
Billman explained she is aware there are several obstacles that get in the way of an open forum between the dean and the students.
Although she recognizes these obstacles, she stressed that she is very open to adopting an open forum policy.
“I would like to figure out what has gotten in the way of this open time before. However, I want to make sure I’m not subverting someone else’s role,” she said.
Also, if chosen, Billman stressed that she hopes to form a positive reputation for leaders that are prepared to go into teaching.
“I would like to put an effort into strategically pitching leaders for a variety of opportunities. I want to find people that walked the path before us, and get them to talk to us,” she said.
Billman explained there are several fundraising philosophies. For fundraising at Drew, the key is to “make the case to people who don’t see how unfunded theological education actually is,” she said.
She recently released her first book titled, “Chaos Theory.”
“The idea came to me 12 years ago, when several theology schools decided to form a society—the Chief Academic Office Society. It was a very serious meeting, and when the speaker joked, add an H and you have ‘chaos,’ I decided to title my book ‘Chaos Theory.’”
Billman is currently on Sabbatical leave for the year.
As Billman explained she is very grateful for this experience, she has decided to “reimmerse” herself in the Greater New Jersey church sect.
Billman is currently serving as a guest pastor for the month in the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, New Jersey.
She explained that being familiar with the area in which Drew is located has led Billman to feel she will be able to “build stronger relationships and enhance communities of Shalom.”
Billman encouraged the seminary to make an honest decision.
She said, “I can’t tell you I’m the best candidate for the position. You will know, the search committee will know. I feel I bring great experience and skills to the position. However, so much contributes to whose best for a school. You know what your community needs.”
She stated that she loves everything about Drew and would be honored to be chosen.
She said, “this place is inspiring and challenging. I just have to trust God’s spirit, that’ll be what happens. It’s well with my soul either way.”