Class of ’75 Conversations

Mike Safley, Ray Gooch, Bob Redmond & Phil Motley

“Friendships Forged at Duke: A 50-Year Journey” Four Duke Divinity School classmates, originally five before one’s passing a few years ago, have maintained their friendship for over half a century. The group - Mike Safley, Ray Gooch, Bob Redmond, and Phil Motley, discussed their diverse career paths across North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky, serving in roles ranging from pastoral ministry to chaplaincy, university administration, and even work at a military equipment manufacturer. They credited Duke’s field education program and Duke Endowment placements at rural congregations and at institutions like Murdoch Center and Central Prison as profoundly formative experiences that taught them vital lessons about pastoral care and human dignity that shaped their ministries. Faculty members, including Moody Smith, Stuart Henry, Harmon Smith, Fred Herzog, Lloyd Bailey, Roland Murphy, Carlisle Marney, and John Hanks, left lasting impressions through their compassion and willingness to mentor students beyond academic settings.   Throughout five decades, they’ve continued gathering for meals and fellowship, describing themselves simply as “brothers” whose bond remains strong despite the passage of time.

Molly Levin Beck

“From Retail to Ministry: Molly Levin Beck’s 50-Year Journey of Faith and Service” Molly Levin Beck graduated from Duke Divinity School in 1975 but initially worked in retail for 38 years, including positions at various stores and eventually Cokesbury Christian Bookstore, before responding to a call to ministry. After Cokesbury closed in 2013, she began serving part-time as minister of congregational care at Millbrook United Methodist Church, where she had been a member since 2000. During her time at Duke, she formed lasting relationships with faculty members such as Harmon Smith, who showed extraordinary care when her father passed away in 1974, Robert Cushman, and Roland Murphy, who, in short order, knew students’ names and faces. Levin Beck’s journey reflects a gradual response to a call she made to God in high school, taking decades to fully embrace ministry while developing gifts of compassion through retail management and customer relationships. She now serves as a Stephen Minister, focusing on pastoral care through hospital and home visits, prayer, and the ministry of listening. Her story illustrates how diverse life experiences, including managing store closures with sensitivity, prepared her for meaningful ministry work that centers on caring for people during difficult times.

Arthur McClanahan

"Telling the Story: A Life in Ministry, Community, and Communications" Dr. Art McClanahan reflects on his journey, remembering the sense of community at the Duke Divinity School, the influence of faculty, including Dean Thomas Langford, Dr. Stuart Henry, and Dr. Robert Cushman. Field education positions included as a middler serving in the first Divinity School student intern cohort at Duke Chapel, along with two first-years, his home church, Christ Church, in Manhattan, and the then-rural Fletcher’s Chapel, which shaped his understanding of parish ministry.  At the same time, he edited student publications, was Student Representative Assembly president during his senior year, and played trombone in University ensembles.  After graduation, his parish ministry at churches in Northport, Sayville, and Fairfield blended pastoral care with community engagement—serving as chaplain to fire and police departments—and communications work, broadcasting daily radio segments, and earning a doctorate in instructional technology and media. In crisis moments, he supported ash-covered parishioners who returned home from the Twin Towers area on 9/11 and later did some chaplaincy work at The Pile with Port Authority police.  In 2005, he transitioned from parish ministry to become Director of Communications for the Iowa Annual Conference, where he led a team that supported local church programs, was active in mission engagement, and covered everything from natural disasters to clergy crises over 15 years. One of his most challenging assignments came while reporting on Superstorm Sandy.  UMCom sent him to Sandy Hook, Connecticut, the day after the tragic school shooting, where his previous relationships allowed him unique access to give voice to the grieving community with respect and compassion.  Art concludes that his life has been fundamentally about "telling the story" through various media—a calling that was grounded in his Duke Divinity School experience, and expressed through decades of ministry that wove together pastoral care, community service, music, and communications.

Mary Hurmence

"Breaking New Ground: Mary Hurmence on Being Among the First Women in Duke's M.Div. Program" In this episode of Class of '75 Conversations, Dr. Art McClanahan talks with Mary Hurmence. She was one of four who arrived at Duke Divinity School from Minnesota.  In their conversation, Mary and Art reflect on their formative years at Duke Divinity School, emphasizing the strong academic foundation, supportive community, and meaningful field education experiences they received.  Mary talks about the challenges and opportunities of being among the early women in the M.Div. program and how the school fostered an inclusive spirit despite the cultural tensions of the time.  She also spoke about the importance of faculty mentorship and the ways Duke encouraged personal and spiritual growth alongside theological training.  Mary expresses her appreciation for the Divinity School’s commitment to diversity and leadership development, something that has been a hallmark over the years.  They agree that Duke Divinity School remains well-positioned for the future, continuing its vital role in shaping thoughtful, compassionate leaders for the church and the world

Harry Quiett

"From Pulpit to People - Harry Quiett’s 50-Year Journey in Ministry and Social Service” In this episode of Class of '75 Conversations, host Dr. Art McClanahan talks with fellow 1975 Duke Divinity School graduate Harry Quiett about his diverse 50-year career spanning parish ministry, nonprofit leadership, and social advocacy.  Harry’s journey took him from Methodist churches in North Carolina to working with Bill Moyers at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, then to a 13-year tenure at a Unitarian Universalist church in Washington, D.C., followed by leadership roles at the Whitman-Walker HIV/AIDS Clinic and eventually 20 years as Chief Ministry Officer at Volunteers of America.  Throughout the conversation, Harry emphasizes his passion for translating complex theological concepts into accessible language for everyday people, a mission he continues through his retirement website, holyhillbilly.org [http://holyhillbilly.org]  He reflects on influential Duke professors like Roland Murphy, Harmon Smith, and Lloyd Bailey, who shaped his approach to ministry, particularly the importance of bridging the gap “between the pulpit and the first pew.” Harry shares his consistent commitment to grassroots social action and his belief that effective ministry requires making theology relevant and understandable to ordinary people facing real-world challenges.