Any time someone gives so generously from such passion to a worthy cause I am called to reexamine my own stewardship of resources entrusted to my care. However, during these difficult financial times this tremendous gift made me gasp, not unlike many on the University of Dubuque campus did on Tuesday of this week. I arrived in Dubuque yesterday with a delegation of Committee on Theological Education (COTE) members along with Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk and Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Council. The glow from gift was shining bright and many remained stunned, as I did, about the magnitude of it and it’s transformational nature.
Linda and JoeChalpaty have made this contribution to build a fine arts center, renovate student housing, and endow three faculty chaires including one at the UD Theological Seminary.
I shook hands with Mr. Chlapaty last night, a UD alum and current chair of their Board of Trustees. He talks about humility in light of this gift. The Rev. Dr. Jeffery Bullock, President of UD, talks about it in theological terms. “There is something holy about it and beyond our ability to comprehend.” Humble holiness…. what a beautiful thing to witness!
That spirit of humility and holiness; deep stewardship of a mystery grounded in the good news was just as clear last night at the annual Faculty Hall of Fame dinner. Three awards for excellence in teaching and advising were awarded and those faculty members spoke. An English teacher who coaches soccer and teaches a Bible study, an aviation professor who takes on way beyond her fair share of advisees, and a librarian who recently edited a newly released history of UD. Child of the Church: Univ. of Dubuque 1852-2008 is the most comprehensive history of the University to date… and even now it is being rewritten in amazing ways. Thanks be to God!
I was asked to give the benediction at the dinner and after thanking UD and quoting David LaMotte, offered a prayer something like this:
“I have a lot of hope for the future. I have a lot of faith things are going to work out fine. I have a lot of dreams for a better world. I have a lot of work to do if I am going to make them mine.” We have a lot of work to do in service to God. So may we go now giving thanks for a connectional church, for colleagues (board, staff, students, and faculty), for classmates, confirmation classes, a clear call in service to God, this university (college and seminary), and especially the gifts of those we have honored tonight (John, Polly, and Samuel). And may the love of God, the communion of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of Christ be with us now and always. Amen.
May we find ways to give of ourselves in transformative ways today and the days to come.
Lee from Dubuque, Iowa
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