A more expansive view: a blog about encounters with Presbyterians and seminaries

New Life Blooming All Over

The resurrection stories in the gospels each includes eyewitnesses to the good news of the new life of Christ.  No longer dead but alive and, as Matthew's account says, "going ahead" of the disciples. 

The last few weeks I have been aware of our seminaries leading the church in many exciting ways that gives me hope that our new life in Christ is real and tangible in the world we now live.

I see that new life...

• in so many of the news stories that the Presbyterian News Service reports to us on our seminaries.
• as Louisville Seminary appoints Cliff Kirkpatrick, the retiring Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) to a professorship of Ecumenical Studies and Global Ministries.
• when leaders of Rabbinical Schools and Presbyterian Seminaries gather to imagine how we all could form better interfaith leaders for the future.  This was done in cooperation with the PC(USA) office of Interfaith Relations.
• as professors from one of our seminaries are invited to be plenary speakers at another one of our seminaries.
• as I anticipate the april 9-11 gathering of over 100 volunteers in Dallas, TX who serve as Theological Education Fund Seminary Support Network members.
• in the participation of national and local church leaders from across the country in what may be one of the largest alumni and friends gatherings at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA April 6-8.
• when I recieve an invitation to the May 7 inauguration of the Rev. Dr. Brian Blount as Professor and President at Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education.
• as I am in conversation with the Rev. Dr. Sara Juengst, former professor at Columbia Theological Seminary and christian educator, the recipient of the 2008 PC(USA)/ Committee on Theological Education Award for Excellence in Theological Education.

Christ is risen!  Christ is risen, indeed!

Thanks be to God!

Lee in Louisville

Lenten Practice

As the lead staff person for the Committee on Theological Education I am privileged in a number of ways. Working directly with the members of the Committee itself, both the GA elected members and the Institutional Members, the presidents of our PC(USA) related seminaries. Visiting and being a partner with our schools, their staff, faculty and especially their students. Playing a liaison role in the Presbyterian Center and with national staff and entities is also my joy! During the Lenten season I have one of my greatest privileges, signing the paperwork for the distribution of gifts from congregations to our seminaries through the Theological Education Fund.

In 2007 over $2,000,000,000 was given by almost 2000 congregations and dozens of individuals and groups to support our schools and the church for generations to come. These gifts come with prayers for the future strength and vitality of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). With each dollar Presbyterians are faithfully putting into action their hope in Christ through the work of our seminaries. What was given in 2007 is sent to the schools in 2008. This also includes some endowments and trusts that Presbyteries over the centuries have designated for this ministry including the Theological Schools Endowment Fund.

It is an honor to serve those of you who gave, and those who receive. Ultimately, it is our corporate ministry and life in congregations that benefit from these invested funds. Thanks be to God!

I invite you and your congregation to make a "for generations to come" investment through the TEF in 2008! Maybe your Lenten meditations will sustain you at the table, at the cross, all the way to the empty tomb, and into the future God is providing for us all!

Sharing hope for holy gifts during this holy week,

Lee in Louisville.

Seminary Board Chairs Collaborate!

In 1993 the General Assembly approved and endorsed a report from the second Special Committee to Study Theological Institutions in the PC(USA).  Among the recommendations was one for PC(USA) Seminary presidents.  The Committee and GA recommended that gather annually on their own for the mutual benefit of all.  That recommendation was whole-heartedly embraced and the presidents began meeting in 1994, often with their spouses.  This meeting comes at their own expense with the assistance of their institutions.  This meeting is in addition to being full members of the General Assembly's Committee on Theological Education that meets three times in a two-year period.  The benefits are great including the nurturing of collegiality among these leaders in the church and the academy.  As early as 2003 the board chairs of the seminaries were invited to join the presidents and the benefits blossomed even larger.  Other seminary staff began to gather, leading themselves in collaboration and cooperation with the staff in the Office of Theological Education. 

This year another group began to gather as colleagues and partners on their own and with staff resourcing from the Office of Theological Education, the chairs of our PC(USA) Seminary Boards of Trustees.  These dedicated volunteers are sometimes invisible in the pastoral formation ecosystem.  Yet, as I learned again, they are essential and excellent partners.  The long-time chair of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dot Ridings pictured above, made this dream a reality.

In 2007 the Chairs met gathered with their presidents and, at that time, decided they could learn more from one another.  This past weekend eight of them gathered in Louisville for three days.  Mark Hostetter of Auburn, Art Ross of Union-PSCE, Jack Isherwood of Pittsburgh, Mary Lee Fitzgerald of Princeton, Peter Whitelock of San Francisco, Deborah Block of McCormick, Pam Kidd of Louisville and the outgoing chair of Louisville and "dean" of this group, Dot Ridings.  Bill Scheu of Columbia had planned to attend but could not make it at the last minute.  Others were interested as well but the timing did not work.

They met at the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville and at Laws Lodge on the LPTS campus.  Dean and Rebecca Thompson hosted the group for dinner one night.  Linda Valentine and I spent time with the group to help give them a feel and understanding of seminary connections to and with the General Assembly Council, the Committee on Theological Education, and our COTE project to support schools through the Theological Education Fund, and to the PC(USA) in general.  Carol Lytch, Presbyterian minister, PhD, and Assistant Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools also made very helpful presentations to the group.

But it was their conversations with each other that really seemed to mean to most.  In the end, they wanted more time to share and listen... to learn from one another.  Peer learning is what the ATS encourages.  Peer learning in action.  That's what I experienced: theological education leaders being educated.  Forever committed to being ever more excellent and taking their trusteeship seriously because it matters to the seminaries, but more than that, it matters to the Church of Jesus Christ. 

Thanks be to God for PC(USA) Seminary Board Chairs and to the Boards and institutions they lead!

Sincerely, Lee

Louisville, KY