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    • Biology Major
    • Education Major
    • English Language and Literature Major
    • History Major
    • Interdisciplinary Major
    • Religion Major
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• Faculty
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Stephen D. Cole
Head of Religion Division
Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy
BS Bryn Athyn College, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School

267-502-2614
stephen.cole@brynathyn.edu

After more than 20 years as a pastor, Stephen Cole came to college teaching in 1999. His research interests lie in cognitive science and the philosophy of symbolic forms.

Andrew M. T. Dibb, Dean of Theological School
Assistant Professor of Religion
BA Bryn Athyn College, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School, BTh, MTh, DTh University of South Africa

267-502-2582
andrew.dibb@ancts.org

Andrew Dibb came to the Bryn Athyn College in 2002 after serving as a pastor in Johannesburg, South Africa. He teaches religion and Christian church history, with special interest in seeing the doctrines of the New Church in the context of those of the Christian Church. In addition to teaching in the College, Dr. Dibb also teaches in the Masters of Divinity and Arts programs in Academy of the New Church Theological School. Recent areas of research include a history of the New Church in South Africa and a paper comparing the doctrines of Michael Servetus and Emanuel Swedenborg.

Scott I. Frazier
Instructor in Latin, Hebrew and Religion
BA Bryn Athyn College, MA Villanova University, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School

Scott Frazier specializes in theology as well as the sacred languages of the Word (Old Testament, New Testament, and the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg). In addition to teaching Hebrew, Latin, and religion, Mr. Frazier works for the General Church of the New Jerusalem as a translator of Swedenborg's theological works. He is especially interested in the intersection of theology, ancient history, and popular culture.

"Go and wash in the Jordan seven times" (Elisha to Naaman, II Kings 5:10).

Grant Odhner
Instructor in Theology
BS State University of New York-Plattsburgh, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School

Grant Odhner, currently on the faculty of the Theological School, brings to his teaching many years of experience as a pastor. One of his pastorates placed him as headmaster of a church elementary school, giving him the opportunity of teaching religion and doing curricular work related to it. His "first love" is the beautiful theology of the New Church, which names and describes a God whose love and goal are simple and compelling, and whose wisdom in approaching these goals is unassailably reasonable, to those willing to consider with the eyes of faith. He feels privileged to teach a course on this God, "The Doctrine of the Lord." Another love that creeps into everything he does is that of nature and natural history.

Walter E. Orthwein
Assistant Professor of Religion
BA University of Missouri, MDiv Andover-Newton Theological School

Walter E. Orthwein came to Bryn Athyn College in 1990 after 13 years as a pastor of the Oak Arbor New Church in Troy and then Oakland Township, Michigan.  He continues as an assistant professor of religion in the College, teaches in the Theological School, and serves as visiting pastor to the Central Pennsylvania New Church Group.

Prescott A. Rogers
Assistant Professor of Religion
BA Franklin and Marshall College, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School, MA Temple University

Prescott Rogers has taught theology and religion at all levels, from elementary school, through secondary school and college, to graduate seminars. He has, as well, expertise in education, history, and sacred languages. Many graduates remember him not only as the one who taught them about religion and marriage, but also as the one who officiated at their weddings and baptized their children. Currently he has been teaching the courses "God, Man, and Creation," "Eastern Religious and Philosophical Thought," and "Religion and the Home."

Ray J. Silverman, Chaplain
Assistant Professor of Religion
BA St. Lawrence University, MDiv Academy of the New Church Theological School, MAT Wesleyan University, PhD University of Michigan

267-502-2519
ray.silverman@brynathyn.edu

Ray Silverman serves as college chaplain and assistant professor of religion. He is the editor/reviser of Helen Keller's Light in My Darkness (1994, 2000), and has co-authored with his wife, Star, Rise Above It: Spiritual Development through the Ten Commandments (2000, 2005). In addition, he has published over twenty articles, including a study of James Joyce's Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, and The Anti-Sectarianism of Henry James, Sr. Ray is a Fellow in the Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education (University of Delaware).