Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary

We concluded another great year of the Residential Study Program with a joyous Closing Ceremony. Each scholar was presented with a certificate and the cohort surprised us with amazing gifts - a new clock for the seminar room in the shape of a globe and a bottle of fine wine wrapped in a traditional Guatemalan garment. We are grateful for each of these scholars contributions and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Ruth Vida Amwe will start serving as Associate Director beginning June 1.

"Dr. Soojin Chung, OMSC@PTS Director and Search Committee Chair, said Amwe's extensive experience and excellent research record made her the top choice for the role. Amwe's research has centered on Africa and the Black diaspora, and at the intersection of world Christianity, gender, and society. She looks forward to collaborating with Chung on ways to advance conversations about women and gender in world Christianity."

Please extend a warm welcome to Dr. Ruth Amwe! 🎉

Dr. Ruth Vida Amwe Named Associate Director of Overseas Ministries Study Center After a global search, Ruth Vida Amwe, MTS ’19, PhD ’25, has been selected the next associate director of Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary (OMSC@PTS). She begins on June 1.

Save the Date!

We're excited to announce that the International Bulletin for Mission Research is moving to the University of Pennsylvania Press!
Read More - https://www.pennpress.org/blog/international-bulletin-of-mission-research-announces-new-publishing-partnership-with-penn-press-beginning-in-2027/

For our last seminar of the year, Dr. Kerry San Chirico presented on Interreligious Relations. Dr. San Chirico helped us to define interreligious relationships and even guided us through a practice to strengthen future dialogues.

Thank you to all who were able to join us for our Seminar Series throughout the 2025-2026 academic year!

For the final session of Dr. Chung’s “Women in World Christianity” class, we were honored to host Dr. Itohan Idumwonyi as a guest speaker on African migrant women pastors. We also gifted our TA, Israel Gwatana, Hanna Varghese’s painting of the women at the empty tomb as a reminder to keep amplifying women’s stories and voices wherever he goes.

We had the privilege of celebrating our Artist in Residence, Carmelle Beaugelin Caldwell, at Voyage, an exhibition and reception featuring the work she created during her residency at OMSC this year. Through deeply personal pieces, she reflected on her mother’s immigrant journey—an experience marked by resilience, sacrifice, and hope.

In a moving interview, Carmelle shared how this story continues to shape her artistic voice, inviting us all to consider the legacies we carry and the paths that brought us here.

The night concluded Carmelle generously donating one of her pieces to the seminary, presenting it to President Walton. A beautiful moment of art, history, and community coming together.

OMSC is excited to announce our new Lamin Sanneh Research Fellowship!

The Lamin Sanneh Research Fellowship is a highly competitive one-year hybrid residential fellowship. Fellows will have access to our premier research resources and work with designated Senior Scholars with the goal of producing an edited volume based on that year's theme.

We're thrilled to begin our inaugural year with the theme "Women in World Christianity" with Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, Dr. Musa Dube, and Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst serving as our Senior Scholars.

Applications are open until September 1st.

Learn more on our website: https://omsc.ptsem.edu/lamin-sanneh-research-fellowship/

We held our last Lunch and Lecture series of the year with Dr. Claire P. Ayelotan speaking on "Fasting, Deliverance, and Protection: A Rights-Informed, Child-Centered Approach."

We're grateful for all who attended and engaged with Dr. Ayelotan's research and for the continued partnership of the Office of Global Affairs at Princeton Theological Seminary.

This week Dr. Deanna Womack, Associate Professor of History of Religions and Interfaith Studies, Emory, Candler School of Theology, led us in a timely seminar on the Migration Story of Middle Eastern Christianity.

We're grateful for the insightful her scholarship brought not only our Resident Scholars, but to the larger seminary community.