Originally I had said that I'd be traveling to Methodist Theological School in Ohio, the whole 20 mile drive. However, Summer time has proven to be a difficult time to schedule a school visit since this is their slow season.
So make note, y'all:
Make your visits during the typical school year in order to get the full experience!
Instead, I thought I would throw something new, different, and maybe a bit nonconformist-y in on this tour... a non-Methodist school.
[Insert gasp here]
I was in Chicago last week to accompany my father on one of his national business trips (which really translates to accompanying him in eating really good food and being in my favorite city ever! Tomato, tomah-to.) After hearing about their partnership with Garrett-Evangelical, I decided a visit to Chicago Theological Seminary would be a great addition to this journey.
I'll attempt to paint you a picture of the environment since unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the school itself.
In the middle of Hyde Park, an expansive, green, vibrant area of Chicago not 20 minutes from Downtown, is a newly constructed white-stone building.
We (my mom made this visit with me!) walked into the building and trust me, saying the we were speechless is an understatement...and a miracle on the order of loaves and fishes.
Directly in front of us was a long, bright blue panel of art work with the painted faces of some of the most influential people in all of history.
Ghandi, MLK Jr., Mother Teresa.
Later I would find that these are a few of the people that inspire the CTS community in their mission.
To my left was the most GORGEOUS chapel I have ever seen in my life. A wall of flowing water greeted us before we entered the cool, cozy space and inside was antiqued stained glass that was humbling just to glance at.
I could keep trying to describe all of the amazing things that we were privileged to see that day, but my words could never do it justice.
Moving on.
We met with Lisa Seiwert, Assistant Director of Admissions, to begin our day and she was nothing short of warm and gracious. As was Kim King, Director of Enrollment Management and the students that took time out of their summer schedules to show us around (even if one was a U of Michigan fan ;) Go Bucks!)
The grand tour of their school is not something to be missed.
Staff, faculty, and students take such pride in the multicultural, interfaith history, the multiple examples of eco-green-sustainability, and the symbolism that runs deep from the floors of the first floor through the "green roof" of the 4th.
You really should check out the website to see what I mean.
Or better yet if you're in Chi-town, check it out for yourself.
(And if you see my mom there, send her back! ...Just kidding. But she really loved it there, too.)
Lunch and the conversation that was had was very meaningful to me.
Lisa was thoughtful enough to bring in a student at CTS who grew up in the United Methodist Church. I was able to ask her so many questions about her discernment process when choosing where to go for her seminary experience and what made her choose a non-Methodist affiliated one. She spoke of the location change, from Texas to Chicago (S'no[w] big deal) and of her ability to be her full self, and then to be accepted as such, within the CTS community. But most of all and most importantly for her, she was drawn to the mission and beliefs of the school: the push for peace & justice.
Thanks, Britt!
So while I felt a little rush of rebellion for visiting a school outside of the denomination, I understand now that it wasn't "rebelling," it was "expanding."
CTS is a wonderful place :)
Over the past couple of months I've really been examining what it means to be called to this kind of life.
I haven't gotten very far so don't get too excited.
But I think that I've realized that no matter how much planning you do, no matter how many people believe in you or think you can (or can't) do it, and no matter how much education you receive through seminary, ultimately GOD &YOU have to be the ones who want it; the ones who desire it and are fulfilled by it.
I think sometimes it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of all of that but that's why taking time to reflect is so important. Honestly, I'd be worried about a person who doesn't contemplate whether their call is still valid at any point in their ministry.
You are designed to grow into the great plan available for you.
So you have to go where you are called to go.
Go with the intention of doing Holy things.
And go with the confidence of someone who is being led by an awesome, loving God.
Next stop?
Iliff School of Theology in August. Rocky Mountains, here I come!!
