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