After years of praying about and planning for a new theology and Christian ministry building, those visions finally became a tangible reality on Friday, March 2, as ground was officially broken on Smee Hall

With gold-plated shovels in hand, PLNU President Bob Brower, along with members of the Board of Trustees, donors, and religion professors marked the location of the new facility, on the adjacent corner of Ryan Library, across from Prescott Prayer Chapel. The building will encompass some of the existing structure, where the Wesleyan Center currently exists. It will be a central location that will provide support to pastors in the region through the Center for Pastoral Leadership (CPL), as well as preparing those who plan to pursue a career in the church through the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.

“As we break ground, we come to this moment and place with excitement and commemoration on all that God has allowed us to do,” said Brower.

PLNU provost Dr. John Hawthorne, Gary and Debbie Smee, board members Dr. Melvin Rich and Carol Van Buskirk, Chairman of the Board Dr. John Calhoun, Women’s Auxiliary President Kathi Kietzke, CPL Director Dr. Norm Shoemaker, and professors Dr. Brad Kelle and Dr. Robert Smith also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.

The facility will be known as Smee Hall, thanks to a generous $1M donation from Gary and Debbie Smee. In this commitment, it is Gary’s desire to honor his grandfather, Dr. Roy Smee, and Mr. Bud Smee, both longtime members and Nazarene church leaders. To date, more than $1.6M has been committed toward the project. Plans are for the building to be constructed and operational by the spring of 2008.

For more information, or to donate to the project, visit http://www.pointloma.edu/smeehall.

For more photos, visit the gallery.





Eric Yates
Media Relations Officer
(619) 849-7186
eyates@pointloma.edu