Bidwell to receive 1st Brite Ph.D.
By Nyshicka Jordan
Staff Reporter

For five years, Duane Bidwell has gone through course work, exams and writing a 400-page dissertation. But now his hard work must be put through another test.

In order to become the first student to ever earn a doctorate degree from Brite Divinity School, Bidwell will have to pass the process of defending his dissertation to members of Brite faculty today.

Bidwell said he is nervous because he’ll be presenting to a community of scholars that he respects and has known for a long time. He said it is a humbling situation because they will decide if he becomes their professional equal or not.

Howard Stone, professor of pastoral theology and pastoral counseling, said he has plenty of complements for Bidwell’s work.

“Duane Bidwell is a top student and I am certain his work will be looked at favorably wherever he goes,” Stone said.

David Gouwens, Brite interim dean, said Brite offers two doctoral programs that both began in 1998. One program is biblical interpretation and the other is pastoral theology and pastoral counseling, which is Bidwell’s discipline.

Gouwens said he is happy that the program’s potential is being met.

“We are beginning to fulfill the program’s goal of providing highly-qualified people in research and teaching for the church,” Gouwens said.

David Balch, interim director of the doctoral program, said the school has been trying to raise the quality of the institution and that the doctoral programs will help bring recognition to the institution. He said Brite is the only Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Divinity school that offers a doctoral program.

“This is both an achievement for the school and the church,” Balch said.

Ten students began the doctoral programs in 1998, Balch said. He said there are currently 23 students in the doctoral program and five in the Master of Theology, which is a pre-doctoral degree.

Bidwell said being the first graduate is an honor.

Once he has earned his degree, he said, he is looking forward to a break and more time with his family.

“I have had to ask my wife and son to leave too many times to get writing done,” he said.

Although the break will be nice, Bidwell said, it will be small.

In addition to being a student, husband and father, he also serves as a pastor part time at First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport, lectures at Brite and works as the acting administrator of Brite’s Pastoral Care and Training Center. The center provides individual, couple and family counseling through a faith perspective.

He said the center’s purposes are what his degree is about.

“For me, this degree isn’t about being able to call myself doctor,” he said. “It’s about being able to provide the best care for people in the world.”

He said his time at Brite, where he also earned his Master’s of Divinity degree in 1997, has been valuable.

Nyshicka Jordan