Hendrix College names new chaplain
CONWAY — The Rev. Judith J. Whitney has been named chaplain of Hendrix College following a national search.
Whitney was recommended by a committee of Hendrix alumni, clergy, faculty, staff and students, and Bishop Gary E. Mueller, Episcopal leader of the United Methodist Church for the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Whitney succeeds Hendrix Chaplain J. Wayne Clark, who was named associate vice president for development and dean of the chapel in April. Whitney has served as interim chaplain since Clark’s appointment.
Whitney is a 1996 graduate of Hendrix and received her master’s degree, with a concentration in pastoral care in campus ministry, from Boston University’s School of Theology. She served as chaplain associate for Boston University’s Marsh Chapel and later as pastor of Hunter United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
She returned to her alma mater in 2002 to serve as program coordinator for the Hendrix-Lilly Vocations Initiative (now known as the Miller Center for Vocation, Ethics and Calling). She was responsible for creating and implementing co-curricular programs, mentoring a ministry exploration group, coordinating seminary visits, leading international and domestic mission trips, overseeing scholars in service work, planning and implementing vocation conferences and visiting scholars, and creating and leading a weeklong ministry-discernment opportunity for United Methodist youth. She was named associate director of the Miller Center in 2009.
In 2005, Whitney was named assistant chaplain and was responsible for assisting the chaplain with preaching and worship planning, leading a women’s Bible study, creating and implementing a weekly Christian Fellowship group, pastoral care and mentoring candidates for ordained ministry.
She was awarded the 2005 Francis Asbury Award for Fostering United Methodist
Ministries in Higher Education from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. She was named associate chaplain in 2013.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to serve Hendrix College as chaplain, and I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of Rev. Jon Guthrie, Dr. Rock Jones and Rev. Wayne Clark,”
Whitney said. “Since 2002, my role in the Hendrix Miller Center for Vocation, Ethics and Calling has allowed me the privilege of serving in the ministry setting of a church-related, liberal arts college. The work has nurtured my passion to serve and walk alongside students, staff and faculty. I’m excited by the opportunity to be a voice on campus to advocate for faith commitments in the context of a student’s journey in uncovering gifts and engaging the community.”