Inside Perkins!

The Inside Perkins event is anything but boring.
In the course of a day and a half, the friendly and curious staff and students managed to fit the "seminary experience" into a manageable amount of time.
Herbert Coleman, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, and Tracy Anne Allred, Director of Student Services, worked together along with the rest of their staff to create an event that would fully encompass everything that Perkins believes in and has to offer, and they succeeded. I have never experienced a program that has been so well run and organized.

The day began with our choice of classes.
Hmm, which to take: an introduction to a really confusing in depth lecture on the United Methodist Doctrine? Or perhaps a class discussing the really confusing 'basics' of Theology?...
UM Doctrine it was!
As I walked to my seat in the class room, at least three different people asked if I wanted to take their pop-quiz for them. Did they not see I was heading for the back of the classroom?
Their fear of this quiz was enough to make me nervous about the level of difficulty at which this professor taught. As prospective students, we were encouraged to take the quiz for ourselves (by the students, and probably for the purpose of having someone to sympathize with them. Gladly!)
As we were waiting for people to finish up, I was humbled by the realization that not only are people called to Seminary, but it really is an academic placement that one has to earn. And that can be scary. Especially to someone like me who enjoys school but has never really been very good at. When talking to current students, they all mentioned how much reading and how many papers are involved in this spiritual phase of their lives that it's so hard to keep up.
However, all of them mentioned great ways to aid in the course load such as study groups, mastering the art of "skimming," and of course, going to the professor and simply asking for help. I witnessed the sympathy that comes from the teaching staff for people who have busy lives, who have to work and take care of families; they are understanding and supportive of all of their students and they want them all to succeed. Hearing that was a big source of comfort that began to ease my mind.
(And I'll have you all know that I got five of out seven correct on that quiz, thank you very much!)



Then it was Go time!
We were officially introduced to some of the Perkins staff and we met the Dean.
Dean Lawrence is a pretty cool guy. Not only did he introduce himself, his school, and his hopes and dreams for the future of the church, but he asked us to do the same. There were ten of us in the group and he took the time to get to know each of us and relate to us individually. I appreciated that and could tell he had a genuine heart.
During this time we were also introduced to a 3rd year Masters of Divinity student that shared her story of traveling abroad through the Global Theological Education program that Perkins offers.
Let's talk about this for a moment:
Perkins has an incredibly strong involvement when it comes to outreach and education that promotes diversity. Programs like the Global Theological Education offer multiple immersion courses in places like Africa, France, Israel, and more where students learn to lead their future congregations to think more "culturally" and "competently."
Perkins also has several certificate programs that add specialties to the various degrees offered. Hispanic Studies, Pastoral Care, Urban Ministry, Gender Studies...see what I mean?
These programs along with their array of organized interest groups, add to the future of what will most certainly be a continuously growing, beautifully diverse Church.

As the day continued, the community aspect of this school was made known. We worshiped in the Perkins Chapel with currents students and ate lunch with them.

Through out conversations with these people, there was one constant theme: Spiritual Formation.
The concept of Spiritual Formation is so important to Perkins that is has become a requirement for your degree- or as they like to call it, a "mandatory opportunity."
We sat down with the members of one of the classes and they raved about it! Through different forms of prayer and spiritual practices, they explained how the class and the fellowship from their classmates has begun to prepare them for their own ministry.
This spoke volumes because in the midst of such a busy society, it's important to take time to make sure that we are taken care of and I believe the only way to have spiritually healthy congregations is to be spiritually healthy ourselves.
And also because it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with Sabbath-ing...

I gave a sermon at the church I was interning at this past summer and I used the passage from Ephesians 4:
¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
I thought it was funny when this was the scripture Dean Lawrence opened us up with when we came into Prothro Hall, but it describes what the students said to me.
At the end of the last day, I finally scrounged up the courage to just flat out ask what the students thought the theological stance of Perkins was.
Cricket, cricket.
Then finally one student answered by saying that she didn't think there was one specific side of the spectrum that Perkins associated with. She said that for her, one of the best parts of her school was that she was in constant connection with students, professors, and faculty that all believed different things about God and had a wide range of religious views and that is what connects them. It helps them to learn and to grow.
Isn't that what the kingdom of God should be??

The rest of the time was spent talking about more logistical things.
We took a lovely tour of the Southern Methodist University campus, explored housing options and financial aid.
Let me tell you something- this staff, particularly Mrs. Allred, broke down the seminary expenses so well that even I (a non-numbers kind of chick) could understand it! Not only that but she and the rest of the staff have countless opportunities to find you money so that you can explore your call. Let them help you. They love to do it.

As this was my first official visit of Seminary Tour, I was so blessed to be in a group with such amazing people.


Here's your shout-out, Deneen! (And Steve, too!)
I have to be honest and say that this school has set the bar for the other 12, but I am so excited to press forward with my travels.

I learned so many things about Perkins School of Theology and this is what will stick with me:
Perkins focuses on context; the context of God and of the people it's students will one day serve.
Perkins is a school committed to your call, not to dictating what your call should be.
Perkins is a place to explore what you believe and to understand why you believe it.
Perkins embraces diversity and promotes opportunities that help create diversity.
Perkins is a wonderful place!