[Dialogue] A small network mystery and needed research

[David Dunn]

This is David Dunn forwarding a message on Betty's behalf. She came across
an interesting paper fragment (perhaps a lecture, perhaps a sermon...)


Betty Pesek wrote the first week of January '07:

A friend of mine is working with the Archives of the Institute of Cultural
Affairs and the Ecumenical Institute in Chicago and has come across a very
fine part of a talk, sermon, or meditation about one's calling. It is
without a name or date. There is a mention of your seminary in the document
and I am trying to help her locate the author and perhaps the rest of the
document.

This paragraph may give you some area in which to search:

"As Abraham responded to God's call to leave his home for a new land, so the
time has come for me to respond to God's call to leave our beloved church
for a new ministry‹the full-time writing of religious books. I have been
offered the position of Distinguished Writer in Residence at Pittsburgh
Seminary.

There are many books I want to write on the impact of God on everyday life,
from a novel on the ministry to a 365-day devotional book to finishing my
book on Emerson, written years ago, which has been accepted for
publication..."

An earlier paragraph about turning points that contribute to one's awakening
to hear God's calling gives the clue that his "wife Jan's recent death" and
the fact that he would "turn 60 within months" had been such a point for
him.

Could you please send me a list of your Distinguished Writers in Residence
so that I might further research the author of this document? During the
1970's and '80's the Ecumenical Institute worked with hundreds of local
congregations across the United States. This person more than likely was
working with the Institute in some capacity. Perhaps someone will recognize
the name. If not, we can further try to research one who wrote books on
Emerson or whose wife's name was Jan.

Thank you for your assistance in helping our project with its documentation.

Sincerely,

Betty Pesek



[Footnote from David]

You can download a 650k pdf file with the two scanned pages that Betty hopes
you can help her identify:

http://homepage.mac.com/dmansel/filechute/Hearing_Call_of_God.PDF

Cheers, David


---
David Dunn
740 S Alton Way 9B
Denver, CO 80247
hm: 720-221-4661
cell: 720-314-5991
icadunn at igc.org