Psalm 61

It's been almost a month since my last post.
I'm forever sorry!
Since the beginning of this year I have found myself to be feeling a little more overwhelmed than normal. I think it's because of this weird transition that I'm preparing for: the shift from student-who-is-figuring-it-all-out to adult-who-should-have-her-stuff-together-by-now.
The amount of worrying I have been doing is more than normal, more than healthy, and also more than useless- we all know what the good ol' Bible tells us about that one, right? (Read: Matthew 6: 25-27)

Last week was one of the best weeks I've had in such a long time.
The Bible study I have been attending this year, Sunagó, invited me to lead their study on James 4.
It was the first time in almost two and a half years that I have accepted a leadership position like that. 
When I was leading Tuesday night, I was terrified but exhilarated all at the same time and it left me on a Holy Spirit High like you would not believe.
Later that week I had my first "big girl" interview for a job in an area of work I've been interested in for a while.
Also terrifying and exciting, and I walked out with a make-shift internship!
I spent the weekend with friends, catching up on sleep and school work.
It was good.

Then the start to this week was like a smack in the noggin with a 2x4.
The worry and concern have all set back in and I'm finding myself... overwhelmed;
By the prospect of what the future holds and whether or not I'm doing all I need to get there.
I used to always wonder how those crystal balls would work if they were real.
You know, the ones that fortune tellers use?
Would there be an exact image of the various happenings in our life?
Or would it just show the outcome? Like the final scene in any given story.
Could we ask it a specific questions and know the answer within seconds?
That would be really nice right now.
But since I'm 22 years old and the hope that magic would help me to see into my future subsided when I realized Santa and the Easter Bunny weren't real, I have to do the grown-up thing and have faith.
In times of hardship I've always been more of a pray-er than a scripture reader but I have found Psalm 61 to be a comfort to me today.

I'll be posting more frequently now- I think that is one of my (better late than never) Lenten selections.
I hope you all are finding peace and reflection in your own choices for this season, too.


I leave you with peace, blessings, and this reminder:

Duke Divinity School

I live in Columbus, Ohio.

One day it's 66 degrees outside and people are running around in shorts and sandals and then, within 24 hours, we're bundled up like this

because outside it looks like this:

I wish that I was being dramatic.
So when I found out that I was going to be able to retreat to the South, to North Carolina to visit Duke Divinity School, for ~30 hours, I was PUMPED. Anything to beat the bipolar weather we have been having around here.
OF COURSE we would get there and it would be 33 degrees, and a "blizzard" would be in the works (or to us MidWesterners, "flurries.")
Despite the weather, our visit to Duke was pleasant and informational.

We began our day with a worship service.
Always one of the best parts of these visits, this experience was quite different than what I've been a part of before. It was a very formal, morning prayer service that included sung call and response liturgy and Psalms. This service is held every morning and evening at Duke and they consider this to be an extremely important part of their seminary experience.
The structure of Goodson Chapel put us in the perfect mood to participate in a worship practice that was traditional and formal- it was a definitely different and almost intimidating; but isn't that how we grow? I enjoyed it very much.

After we finished with worship, we all gathered to meet with Dr. Robert Moses, the Admissions Recruiter for Duke Divinity. He welcomed us with warmth and hope and gave us so much information about Duke and the things that it has to offer.
While still a seminary, Duke should be known for its highly academic nature. Dr. Moses let us know that Duke is one of the only seminaries that turns people away, that they have limited spots within their Divinity school and it is a competitive journey to obtain one of those spots. From the beginning, they are very upfront about how their students are held to a higher standard and that with that comes a lot of work.
But they're not stiff, they like to have fun:

I don't know why, I think this is hysterical, though.

Funny's aside, Duke University itself is a highly esteemed research school so once you've become a part of the Divinity School, you're a part of the larger Duke community and the Durham community as well. Community is something they value and help to maintain in groups such as their spiritual formation groups that are required for all Masters of Divinity students.
One of the awesome things about being so integrated within the University's community is the opportunities for dual-degree options. It is possible for almost any degree program through the university to be worked into and beside your seminary degree.
Think about all of those possibilities to really hone in on a specific kind of of ministry!
Speaking of kinds of ministries, Duke has a hand in both rural and urban ministry opportunities which is one of the bonuses of being in the Durham area. 

That was all in one sit-down session.
Wowza!

Next, we sat in on a class about the Exegesis of John.
It was an amazingly informational, discussion based, spirit-led session.
After the class was finished, a couple of the students came to us and introduced themselves.
The conversation that followed reinforced something inside of me;
It was as if a giant cloud that had been blocking my view had disappeared and everything was clear as crystal.
The point of this tour, the point of visiting all of these schools is not to find "the best one."
And this blog is not meant to be an outlet for me to "rank" them in any particular order. I've been asked this many different times by various faculty members, staff, students, prospectives, so I just want to clarify.
It's really important to me that you readers understand that I have been attempting to be as unbiased in these posts as possible.
If I have discovered anything in my travels, it is that the most beautiful, wonderful thing about these schools is that they each have their own identity.
Each school has amazing strengths.
They encourage the learning of the Word, a relationship with Christ, and facilitate the ability to grow in a healthy environment surrounded by people that will support them regardless of who they are, where they come from or where they are going.
And yes, each school also has things to work on.
But no one school is better than another and none of these schools are less than another.
There is a school made for each kind of person and it is not my job or my intention to mentally place anyone or tell you what school is best for you- only you can discern that for yourself.
My only hope is that my experiences can provide insight and just give you new information to chew on that you didn't know before.
I thank the student that initiated the conversation that prompted me to explain all of this;
and I'm grateful for the reminder that helped me see so clearly as to why I'm doing this.
John Wesley says it best in a quote that is proudly displayed in the halls of Duke:

God is with us no matter where we go.
And that is the best thing.

We got a tour after that for some decompression time.
Let me just tell you, the architecture alone is enough of a reason to visit Duke.
Even on a dreary day it was hard not to be amazed by the beauty in the campus.
So I'm giving you LOTS of pictures :)

After having to pry us away from the campus, Corey and I ate lunch with two current Duke Divinity students, one of which is part of an awesome FaceBook group that I'm a part of that serves as an open space to discuss our calls and ask any questions we might have.
UMC World = tiny.
Thanks for sharing your time with us, Darcy and John!

During the financial aid portion of the visit, we were able to discuss the normal things: scholarships, housing, etc, etc, etc.
However, I want to mention something that is important but might not be mentioned enough.
Certification.
Certification in the Candidacy program within your conference is a magical thing.
Not only will being an official Certified Candidate help to guide you through the important questions and thoughts that we should be asking ourselves as future/current seminarians, but it will also give you MONEY.
Yes. $$$$$.
The amount will vary from conference to conference but if you're looking to attend one of the official 13 United Methodist Seminaries, and you're Methodist, then this is totally worth it.
I highly encourage you to talk with someone about what the next step in the process is for you.
They also told us that Durham is one of the most affordable places to live and that because of their required field placements, everyone if guaranteed to receive money towards their education.

Duke is a place where those who seek further knowledge of Christ through rigorous academics and strong community can go and be successful.
Duke holds value in tradition; in the roots that we came from and the legacy that has been left for us as a Church.
Duke strongly believes in the integration of worship into the daily lives of their students and faculty.
Duke is a wonderful place :)

The plan for February is something new!
I've been asked about Asbury Theological Seminary many times by the people I've met during these visits.
Just a quick clarification, Asbury isn't one of the "Official 13."
Listen to me. I've definitely been around a Big 10 school for too long.... [GO BUCKS!]
When I was an intern with the West Ohio Conference, Asbury was one of our stops.
I don't think I retained enough information myself from the short visit there, so I've invited two of my favorite people to guest blog and give you some information about the school.
Reverend Brian Jones is the Associate Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Marble Cliff, OH. I have a super soft spot for this church and I'll tell y'all more as to why later.
Anyways, Pastor Jones is an Asbury grad and is definitely proud of it!
Katie Miller is a recent Ohio State graduate and a current seminarian at Asbury. Katie was an intern the same year I was and she also accompanied me to visit Garrett-Evangelical!
Two people, two perspectives, about the same school.
That post will be up in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out.

 Blessings & peace to all :)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

As the last part of my (incredibly long, drawn out) college career is underway, naturally I've been thinking about the next steps. But I've also been reflecting on where I thought I was going to be and those memories make me laugh.
If I remember correctly, the first job I ever truly desired, with every passionate fiber of my being, was to be a waitress.
Picture this:
Little Amy running around the house at holiday meals, apron tied around her waist, notepad and pencil in hand.
"What would you like to driiiiiiiink??"
And then dutifully reporting back to my mom & godmother in the kitchen.
Now I can't remember if I actually followed through in retrieving and then serving the requested orders to my other family members, but hey, the thought was there.

Little Amy; Big cup.

The next dream came when I was a little older with a little more of a firm grasp on reality- the kind of grasp that told me being a waitress wouldn't sufficiently satisfy my love of shoes.
I dreamed of being an interior designer.
I loved to create things, spruce things up and give color and life to places that needed it. I think the only reason I liked to play with Barbies when I was young was to set up their houses.
Embarrassing Amy Fun Fact # 1.
I like to think I had good taste (& that I still do ;P) but soon enough I realized that I have no math skills.
Seriously.
None.
So working with dimensions, equivalencies, and area were probably not best suited to my skill set.
Oh well.

What did you want to be?

Next week I'll be beginning the mentoring stage of the candidacy process here in the West Ohio Conference. To prepare, we've been asked to write out our call stories. I think back on when that time in my life was so clear and it was in an instant that being a waitress or being an interior designer or whatever it was, it all fell away and something new began to take shape.
Things change.
Sometimes, most times, without knowing when or where. They just do.

We have to go with the flow (and if you know me even in the slightest, you'll know I am not the "go-with-the-flow" kind of chick.)
Being a waitress, an interior designer, a monkey trainer, a parent, a teacher, an astronaut, whatever you want to be is important because it's something you want, something that you and your heart desire.
We just have to remember to always be open to things that aren't in our direct line of vision.
That can be scary, exciting, and sometimes just plain insane but that's how we find the doors that open us up to so many new and wonderful experiences.

So January's visit has been set.
drumroll, please & thank you:
Duke Divinity School will be the 10th stop on this adventure!

First, I should give my disclaimer--
I have scheduled and then un-scheduled (which is how I like to say, "I bailed" in the attempt to make it sound less awful!) with Duke THREE times.
Boo me. I know.
So providing that mother nature doesn't send any freak snow storm to the mid-west before Thursday, we'll be there. PROMISE.
For this trip, I have recruited one my dearest friends, Corey, to make the drive with me.

@ the House of Heroes concert in October!

Corey is currently in his Senior year at Thomas More College in Kentucky where he is getting a one-up on me and a head start to his career in ministry by studying Theology. He is looking to further his theological education at one of the Methodist seminaries as well and Duke is on his list!
We're Jesus friends, tattoo friends (much to the chagrin of my father- love you, Daddy!), and best friends.
It'll be another whirlwind trip (down on Thursday, back on Friday) but it'll be fun.


Prayers and blessings to all of you & keep an eye out :)

The Methodist Theological School in Ohio

I forgot.
I did, I really just completely forgot about writing this post.
Between Christmas, family time, a theft at my on-campus house, the New Year and the traumatic experience of having seen Django (not really, go see it. Just not after you’ve eaten), I’ve been so preoccupied.
My SINCEREST apologies.
But thanks to Nick Works from Wesley Theological Seminary for reminding me- that’s accountability, people!

So….The Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
I know it well. I believe the first time I ever went there was when I was 17? Maybe 18 years old. I had just joined a task force of MTSO seminarians, staff and a few other lay people that had decided to focus on young adults in both the ministry and the Church as a whole. That is when I had the privilege of meeting April Casperson who is currently the Director of Admissions at MTSO.
She is one of two “April's” that have been mentors to me over my journey of discernment. Her ability to remain neutral and diplomatic through my search of schools is not out of the ordinary because while she believes in and represents the beliefs of MTSO, she also recognizes the excellent quality in all of the schools.

Alright, so unfortunately, I have no pretty pictures to pad this post and to keep your attention ;)
My visit was at night.
In the cold.
After a loooooooong day.
However, if you go over to their website, like most others, they have the most colorful, gorgeous pictures of different areas of campus.
The campus is a stand-alone in the sense that it is not affiliated with any other university. It is located just 20-25 minutes North of Downtown Columbus, right next to a golf course! (Although I don’t think membership is part of the tuition package ;) )
There is an area for educational buildings and an area for housing, the norm. But it’s hilly and green and no matter what season it is, somehow it still manages to look like the scene came straight out of a brochure. As I was being shown around the buildings, I noticed flyers handing from bulletin boards and doors promoting some kind of LGBT event that was being held there. I asked April about it and she proudly spoke of how she felt as though MTSO is a great place for not only those that are members of the LGBT community to feel accepted, but it’s also a place where those who are allies for the LGBT community are encouraged and able to offer their support and aid in raising spiritual awareness of equality. 

I’ve been to this school. A lot.
In fact, when I was an intern with the West Ohio Conference during Summer 2011, this was the first stop in that seminary tour. During that visit we stayed in the commuter dorms (people, it’s like staying in a nice hotel!), met with the President, JayRundell, and conversed with students that provided us with a lot of insight into what it’s like to be at MTSO. A lot of the information that I have about this school has been evolving over the years. During my visit in November, I was able to sit down at dinner with April to talk about all things logistical and everything in between.
The demographics of the school are getting younger with a more diverse range of gender, denomination, and ethnicity. Awesome!
They offer degree AND non-degree programs so that you can educate yourself and be like, a Super Lay Person (they should hand out a cape instead of a diploma, huh?) and they also encourage their cross-cultural experience so that we can learn to integrate our teachings into our real lives.
We were able to talk about scholarships, which I know I haven’t gone into great detail about from the other schools, I’ve kind of made y’all fend for yourselves with thatt. However I’ll fill you in on The Harding Scholarship that MTSO offers. It is the top merit scholarship available for this school and from what I have seen so far, it is one of the largest scholarships available (plus stipend) of any of the schools.
I know it’s hard though. We see the word “merit” and some of us are like, “well, NEVERMIND!"
Trust me, I know. 
Keeping my GPA (and in tandem, my motivation) up has been nothing short of arduous, but if you can reach it, maintain it, then it will be so worth it to you! 
Do not fear, as with the other schools, they have multiple other non-merit based scholarship options that will help you get through.
At dinner, I also learned that Garrett-Evangelical and MTSO are joining forces to improve and expand the educational experiences of their students. This is BEYOND exciting and a great example of how we can work together for the betterment of the future of the church.

After we ate and chatted, I sat in on one of the night class: Multi-Religious America taught by Dr. Paul Numrich. I saw many familiar faces in that classroom and I just want to say I'm proud of all of you!
This was an intense class, though…at least for my pre-seminary brain ;) And for it being an evening class is was filled with students! Despite the larger number, which still didn’t exceed 50 I would guess, there was still a great amount of discussion that went on. I liked that.

Now folks, I’m trying my hardest to be as non-biased while writing this particular post, and I hope I have succeeded in doing so.
I know amazing theologians that are products of The Methodist Theological School in Ohio’s educational programs and with it being so close to home, it’s impossible not to think well of it.
MTSO is an inviting place that challenges and strengthens various areas of ministry.

MTSO encourages higher education as a door that leads to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.
MTSO is a space where who you are is just enough, and what you bring is exactly what is needed to grow.
MTSO is a wonderful place :)

So it’s been an entire year since this journey has started. 
And I’m not done like I had hoped to be.
Close, but not quite there.
What’s that saying? “We plan, God laughs”? Yeah.
9 schools under my belt with 4 more to go.
I’m not sure where I’ll be visiting next, but as soon as I know, you’ll know!
Now, I don’t normally ask for prayers, I’ve never felt super comfortable about asking others to take on my own “stuff”; but it’s a new year with new goals.
So this is me, asking you to just pray for me as I try to balance school and travel and the life of a twenty-something.
And know that I’ll continue to pray for those of who are discerning as well; those of you that are asking God, “yes?” or “no?”; or even just those of you who are struggling to balance your own “stuff.”
This is the only way to make it through life: together.

Blessings.

5 minutes

Hello to all of you!
I know it's been a while since I've been on here but don't fear, I did actually make it to MTSO this time!
Because of finals and that whole you know, Christmas thing, I haven't been around much to write it's post but I will providing the world doesn't end tomorrow.
Sorry.
Bad joke.

Anyways!
Because it is the season of giving I wanted to make a blog about that. But when I heard about the work that some people that I know are doing, I thought I'd highlight them.

Rocky and Nate have been dear friends to me. I met Rocky at the West Ohio's Annual conference this past Summer as he was doing the same internship I participated in the year before. The two are peas in a pod, they're intelligent and fun, and they are holy men.
They, along with others, gave their time and their efforts during this Winter Break to help with the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in Jersey. They started up a blog to keep all of us back home up to date with the progress being made.
Hmm, a blog...They just like to be like me ;)

Now, I was just informed that there was some kind of bet going on amongst their group out there that said if enough people checked out their blog, Nate would jump into the ocean at midnight for 5 minutes.
If you ask me, 5 minutes isn't long enough but I don't have time to keep replacing friends so 5 minutes will have to do.


Check out their trip HERE,
and remember that this season is all about gifts;
Gifts that we are blessed with in abundance so that we may then go and bless others.


God is good :)
Merry Christmas!

Wesley Theological Seminary

If there is anywhere to be on Election Day, it’s in Washington D.C.

So how cool was it that I had the opportunity (completely unintentional!) to be in the midst of all of that while being able to make the trip to Wesley Theological Seminary.

This trip I took with one of my roommates, Erin, who is an amazing person with a passion for social justice. 

It was a whirlwind, less-than-36 hour trip and we loved every second of it!

This visit was a scheduled program called Windows on Wesley that happens every month (correct me if I’m wrong, Wesley people!) You can find the information and registration on their website here, or you can call admissions and they’ll hook you up. I usually recommend individual visits simply because you can be selfish and ask as many questions as you want and get all the attention (come on, you know it’s true) but I highly recommend that if you’re interested in Wesley that you take advantage of this program. 

Even though there were 10+ other people from Appalachia State (shout out to y’all!) and a couple other individuals, easily raising our group to 20+ people, the Wesley staff was able to take and answers questions while covering everything else, fully.

A quick side note: I ran into someone I had met during my visit to Garrett-Evangelical Seminary in April!- Tura, it was great to see you again!

And people, if this is not proof that the Methodist world is verrrrrrrrrrrry tiny, I don’t know what is!

We were welcomed and introduced to all of the wonderful Wesley staff. Nick Works, the Director of Recruitment, began by explaining the ideas of the school as well as thoroughly breaking down the outlines of the different degree programs. Mr. Works said that first and foremost, Wesley is a community. He said that thought the degree that you’re pursuing while in seminary is a large part of why you’re there, it may not be the more important.

Yeah. Think on that one for a little bit.

While you are in school here, you are able to take classes “across faith lines.” That is to say that you have the opportunity to not only learn from professors who teach about other religions but there is also have the chance to arrange to take classes from different religion’s institutions such as the Islam school. Wesley has a partnership with American University that is located right next door to WTS’s campus. This is definitely something worth looking into if you’re interested in studying another subject along side whichever of the three theological degrees you may choose. Dual-degrees rock!

Also, for you non-UMC people out there, Wesley has developed relationships with churches of other denominations so that when your do your field work you won’t feel limited.

Whew! Was the enough of an overview of the logistics?!

What happened next really took me aback.

In our information folders we were provided with an insert where we were asked to reflect on our discernment and exploration of our call.

Now, I know this shouldn’t have surprised me after all this is like, Jesus school, right?

But to be so intentional about making sure the Spirit was with us throughout the day was really special to me. It was a centering moment and all too often we get caught up in the specifics that we forget to be present with God.

There were two different scriptures we were given and I just want to share this one with you guys:

1 Kings 19:4-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” ⁶ He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

⁷ Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

⁸ So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

¹¹ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Think on that one, too…

Mooooooving on.

Next on our agenda was a student panel of a cross-section of Wesley’s student body. These are always exciting to listen to because you hear it from the horse’s mouth about what it’s like to be at their school. Students across the board said that this was a place rooted in spirituality with a balance of academic and spiritual development with a focus on social justice. During our time there it seemed as though there were endless connections available and being made to the “real world.” It wasn’t just this little seminary bubble, but it was active in its community.

One student said that when she was discerning where she was called to study, she had to ask herself what city she wanted to live in. This is SO important and often overlooked! But you have to be able to be comfortable where you are since this is going to be the next 3 (at least, let’s be honest) years of your life.

Many of these students shared with us that they began their journey thinking and wanting to be in the local church but as once they got to Wesley they felt a stronger call to missional work.

Our calls are ever shifting, people. Better that we accept that now, huh? Haha

“There is a strong diversity of community here.” I still remember standing at the Wesley booth at Exploration last year and having their representatives say that to me.

And they’re not kidding.

For as crazy as the weather has been for the East coast over the past month or so, we were blessed with one of the prettiest days we could have asked for on a November day. Here are some pictures of the campus:

As you all know, experiencing the worship life of each of these schools is my absolute favorite part of these visits so I was really looking forward to the service that was held in their Oxnam Chapel. It was beautiful to look at, peaceful to experience and the sermon (Election Day appropriate) was encouraging as far the Church was concerned.

The Spirit was present. 

 

After we had lunch with different faculty members and students, we were given our choice of classes we wanted to sit in on. I can’t for the life of my remember the name of it (I mean, we couldn’t eve find the room without getting lost) so if someone remembers, let me know!

It was a really interesting class, I do remember that! The discussion was based around a field trip they has taken to the art museum in D.C. and I thought it was awesome that they were taking advantage of the great culture in the area to support their class materials.

I think it was the first time I felt like I could actually utilize my degree and apply what I’ve been learning for the past four and a half years (yes, I’m on my Victory Lap!) I felt myself making connections that I haven’t in any other setting before.

That was EXCITING.

I’m sure my parents are thrilled to read this, too ;)

The final step of this visit was about housing and financial aid.

You know, the fun stuff…

I really can’t stress enough how well explained all of this was. It was laid out in paper form in a way that made is seem appealing and manageable and not daunting in the way that we all know things like this can be.

Money is always available. I’ll never stop saying that. Whether you’re Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal- there is money for you our there, and Wesley will help you find it!

A special thank you to Chip Aldridge, Nick Works, and Patrick Barrett for all of your help. It was so nice meeting you all.

If you readers need help or have questions, these are the guys to call. They know their stuff and want so much to help you find where you’re supposed to be.

Wesley is located in a city, as President David McAllister-Wilson said, that is full of idealistic people looking to get stuff done.

Wesley is place where people are non-partisan but not disinterested in the polities of theory.

Wesley is a place that asks, “what are you doing here?” and “What are you made to do?”

Wesley is a wonderful place :)

Now I know you won’t believe when I tell you that my next stop is The Methodist Theological School inOhio, but REALLY! It will be!... barring a zombie apocalypse or a Black Friday related injury.

Many blessings to all of you!

Drew Theological Seminary

I’ve always had a soft spot for New Jersey.

For one, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons? OBSESSED.

Second? My mom’s a Jersey girl & we have family there. (See picture! I talk about her enough, I might as well introduce her to y'all! :) )

& third, how beautiful is it?! Breathtaking!

So this trip to Drew Theological Seminary was lovely just like the state in which it is located. 

 

Madison is home to Drew University, the school that the seminary is a part of. It is a beautifully old campus that was spacious and green with old stone buildings (even one that was used as a model in the Harry Potter movies! WOWZA!) And though it was rainy and humid the day of my visit, it didn’t take away from the beauty of this campus.

During our tour, given by the ever kind and helpful Gerard, a Drew student himself, we were exposed to every part of the land. As I said, the buildings were antiquated in the most beautiful way. Even the brand new student center was amazing! (Which may or may not have something to do with the fact that there’s a pub right inside…that’s your call.) I’ll let the pictures speak for the rest of it.

The day we visited was one of the days leading up to Drew’s reading week, which also happened to be National Coming Out week. If you’re not familiar with this festivity, it’s a celebration of a day on which those who identify and claim membership of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered community or who are in support of them as allies, are encouraged to support fellow participants and to remember the journey that they walk daily. This event is celebrated nationally and serves as a kind of rite of passage for its members.

This Chapel service at Drew was quite the experience in the celebration of the LGBT community.  The worship leaders led us in creeds that highlighted the values and mindsets of theirs. Mark Miller led us in worship, and some of you who are big in the UMC world will know what a great gift his music is! The sermon was given by a recent Drew grad and communion was also student led. Lots of student involvement as you can tell and that’s always a great thing to experience!

After the service we were able to eat lunch with students and hear about their individual experiences at Drew. The unanimous voice said that they were incredibly happy at their school but that it didn’t come without a lot of self-reflection and introspective work. I respect that.

The class we attended was called "The Kin-dom of God and Social Change" taught by Melanie Johnson-Debaufre.  An explanation is probably needed for the title of this class. At Drew, they don’t believe in assigning a gender to God. For example, if you were to say God the Father, it is expected that you also acknowledge God the Mother. In the case of this class, the word Kingdom implies a masculine association so they dropped the “G.” The class itself was filled with great content and great conversation amongst the students. Small group interaction was highly encouraged and the fact that it was a class of 10-12 people, that was completely do-able.

This was a very different school and the students and faculty will be the first to admit that and they’ll say it with pride.

Drew is a place that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what it means and what it looks like to be of the Christian faith.

Drew is a place where those who are seeking to be pushed and challenged can come and find an education and teachers that aid in reconstructing their theology.

Drew has an amazingly diverse student population that is encouraging and loving and active.

Drew is a wonderful place :)

So I’m the better half of the way through this tour (ahh!) and my next stop is in a couple weeks at Wesley Theological Seminary in the nation’s capital- Washington D.C.!  Keep an eye out- and hopefully I won’t have to make y’all wait so long this time!!