Claremont Lincoln University

In conversation with Jon Hooten, Special Assistant to the President for the University Project and Ph.D. candidate:

Claremont Lincoln University and Claremont School of Theology may be tucked away in an idyllic setting in sunny California, but they are in no way removed from issues of social justice. Claremont Lincoln University and Claremont School of Theology offer a vast array of degree tracks in, among other subject areas, Interreligious Studies, Muslim Leadership, Practical Theology, and Ministry. Among a host of pioneering initiatives, such as the recently launched Initiative for Engaged Ethics, the Center for Engaged Compassion, and the Center for Global Peacebuilding, Claremont Lincoln has recently partnered with Rockhill Farm, which was established in 2009 in Bakersfield, Central Valley, CA .  This groundbreaking collaboration embodies the spirit of engaged social justice that is a hallmark of the Claremont name. As an outgrowth of their relationship with Rockhill Farm, Claremont Lincoln established the Rockhill Institute, which offers community-based theological education through rigorous intellectual training, spiritual awareness, and political organizing to service underprivileged communities. Fernando Jara, one of Claremont’s M.Div. students, founded Rockhill Farm to rehabilitate male drug and alcohol users (primarily ex-criminals) through a ‘boot camp’ model. Their motto speaks volumes about their dynamic mission, which seeks to work alongside its participants as they journey toward recovery and self-discovery: “Courage. Self-mastery. Empowerment.” The program encourages reentry and residency through fitness training programs, theological study (now with Claremont faculty members!), developing analytical reasoning skills, and assisting with the maintenance of a farm–including the business side of the industry. This project exemplifies the valuable cooperation between dedicated faculty and inspired students that can build bridges toward achieving social justice that reach beyond the classroom, into communities in need.

Fernando Jara speaks:

Interview with Forward Thinkers: California’s Everyday Leaders

Seeds of Change Interview

Claremont and Rockhill, as narrated by Claremont M.Div. candidate and President of Rockhill Inc., Nora Jacob:

“The men of Rockhill Farm have already been receiving a superb biblical education five days a week from my fellow M.Div. student and Rockhill Farm founder, Fernando Jara.  What’s most exciting to me about the Rockhill Institute is that its students — who include all the men of the Farm — are now being challenged to apply their learning not only to their own lives (transformation from the inside out, personally) but also to the possibilities of making positive changes in their community (transformation from the inside out, societally).  On February 12, 2012, Fernando and I co-founded a new congregation, RockHill Disciples of Christ, in Bakersfield as another, complementary way to focus social justice work in the Central Valley.  Bakersfield is California’s 9th largest city and has had major problems with drugs and gang violence. Fernando and the men have connections throughout all levels of the community there, and the church outreach is beginning to take shape, again, to make a positive difference from the inside out.  The single most touching moment I’ve experienced — as co-pastor of the new church, pastoral care provider to the men of Rockhill Farm, and President of Rockhill Inc. — was rehearsing the men of Rockhill Farm to serve as Deacons for the new church.  Each had to confront the question of ‘worthiness’ for service, and each had to answer it for himself.  Imagine someone who’s working in various ways to heal his own life, then standing up and saying, ‘YES, I am worthy in God’s eyes!’”

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The DivInnovations series represents an exciting new collaboration that State of Formation and the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue are embarking upon in an effort to capture dynamic research, initiatives, partnerships, and projects (particularly interfaith in nature) at seminaries, divinity schools, and graduate theological settings in general across the nation. We will be posting profiles of institutions both on the State of Formation blog through this account and in each issue of the Journal. We invite you to be in touch about nominating your institution for a profile by emailing our liaison and profile developer, Sophia Khan.