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

Location, Location, ... Financial Conundrum

In a May 29, 2009 article in the Boston Globe about area theological schools response to the economic crisis, Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools, as saying "Theological schools tend to be smaller institutions in the higher education world, and it's getting more and more difficult for small higher education institutions to exist or flourish economically." He goes on to name two major factors affecting theological schools - the rising expense of running a school because of increasing expectations for technological and administrative support and the decline of some of the religious denominations that once supported the schools.

Some say we need fewer seminaries noting also the decline in current viable placements for Master of Divinity graduates.

Here's the catch. The hunger for theological education may be greater than ever. In addition to the hundreds who begin the inquiry process with their presbyteries and/or start seminary, there are hundreds more in need of Commissioned Lay Pastor training. Research shows that seminaries do both of these the best and are the preferred or, in the case of an MDiv, the only choice allowed by our current constitution as well as the proposed new Form of Government.

Of course not everyone can readily move to a residential campus or see themselves in a online assisted Mdiv program, like the one offered by the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, our Presbyterian accredited school with such a program.

In other words, geography matters when in comes to selecting a school. The data shows this. Ten years ago Presbyterian inquirers and candidates attended 62 different seminaries and today that number is over 90.

How do we balance the need for more school locations and the financial pinch that makes it harder and harder for our schools to be viable?

I wonder what our priorities are as a denomination on this question? Are we ready to "sell the seed corn" and risk a bountiful harvest or find ways to partner with our schools in new and creative ways that will grow our common future?

A member of the congregation I served emailed me yesterday. She is an Inquirer for ministry for Word and Sacrament. Working closely with her Session and mentored by her current pastor, she plans to visit three or more seminaries soon. We plan to talk over the weekend as she considers her next steps. Considering the above, I’m not sure what to tell this gifted, faithful, energetic, and emerging leader. What would you say?

Lee in Louisville

Margaret Aymer- "Thank You for Meddlin'"

When we make ourselves available to and are authentic with each other amazing things happen.  That’s what the Rev. Dr. Margaret P. Aymer Oget does over and over again.  A professor of New Testament at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary  at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Margaret serves the church, her students and the academy hospitably and prophetically.  I witnessed her hospitality and heard a description of her prophecy yesterday in “Our PC(USA) Seminaries” booth at the Presbyterian Women’s Gathering exhibit hall here in Louisville, KY.

Margaret preached Sunday morning for the thousands of mostly Presbyterian women who convene triennially.  Sandra Fisher, a conferee from North Dakota spotted Margaret in our booth.  I watched as a smile came over her face and she gently stepped toward Margaret.  “I cannot believe I can get this close to you.”  She went on to thank Margaret for the ways in which she was fed by her sermon to do justice for God’s sake.   

Preaching from Mark 2:1-12, Margaret began her sermon this way “The good news of the gospel is that it calls us to a ministry of meddlin,’” Playing off the Southern expression “When one goes from preachin’ to meddlin’.”  It reminded me of how important a role theological faculty play in the life of the Church and especially the PC(USA).  As we remember the impact of John Calvin, on what would have been his 500th birthday, it is good to know his legacy of a walking the talk in the community and larger world is alive and well.  I was, therefore, encouraged that my ministry to help the Committee on Theological Education “preserve academic freedom for the benefit of the church” continues to be important.

All of us, including Sandra, eagerly await the publishing by PW’s Horizon’s Bible Study in 2010-11 on the Beatitudes.  She puts these core Christian principles in conversation with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches’ Accra Confession.

The social media savvy, Margaret also makes herself personally available face to face.  She reminds me how important it is to support our Presbyterian Seminaries.  Mentor, scholar, preacher, musician, prophet, and priest.  “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” (Frederick Douglass) You pray with your legs, arms, heart, eyes, ears, and mind.   Thanks for who you are Margaret Aymer Oget!

Margaret’s publications include “Teaching Christians to ‘Read’: Theological Education and the Church”; “Empire, Alter-empire and the Twenty-first Century”; “What Do the Gospels Say about Sex and the Church?” in Frequently Asked Questions about Sexuality, the Bible, and the Church; First Pure, Then Peaceable: Frederick Douglass Reads James and a forthcoming book, African American Biblical Interpretation: An Introduction with co-author, Randall C. Bailey.  

Lee in Louisville.

Seminarian Authored Book Encourages Eco-Discipleship

One way PC(USA) seminaries strengthen the church is through the volumes of relevant resources that are continually being produced.  Books, articles, curriculum, sermons, bible studies, podcasts and more become the life blood for congregations and church leaders.  The authors of those resources are usually the outstanding faculty at our schools.   However, this month Westminster/ John Knox Press released 50 WAYS TO HELP SAVE THE EARTH: How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference by Rebecca Barnes-Davies, a Master of Divinity student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Barnes-Davies, a deeply committed environmentalist and experienced church leader, released her first book as a guide to Christians and their congregations

I feel sure that “Green Teams” that are formed or are established to lead congregations and their members to be better stewards of the earth will welcome this book.  I agree with Bob Cornwell, a Disciples of Christ pastor and church historian says about the book, “Rebecca Barnes-Davies has done a commendable job providing clearly laid out ideas for making a difference, one step at a time, so that the world we inhabit cannot only survive, but thrive. This is a book that can be used in study groups, in church-self-studies, and simply by individual Christians wanting to make a difference.” 

As interesting to me is the phenomenon that seminarians are not waiting for graduation to be leaders in the church.  Andrew Taylor-Troutman and Josh Andrzejewski are editing, for example, a fairly new online lectionary commentary blog for Union Presbyterian Seminary called Join the Feast.  Students, faculty, staff, alums and friends serve as contributors.

I subscribe to the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Friday faculty sermon podcasts in Caldwell Chapel.  I look forward to reading the 2011 Horizon’s Bible Study on The Beatitudes by Margaret Aymer Oget, Assistant Professor of New Testament at the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center.  Other PC(USA) Seminary faculty projects are also on my literal or digital bookshelf.  However, I may be the most excited about amazingly talented, devoted, and faithful emerging leaders being shaped and formed at our Presbyterian Seminaries who are already leading us as a Church.

Thanks be to God.

Lee in Louisville

Rebecca is the daughter of TEF Seminary Support Network representative for Miami Presbytery and Louisville Seminary Board member, Barbara Barnes and Mark Barnes, pastors of Oxford PC(USA) in Oxford, OH.

Interviews with Rebecca Barnes-Davies about her book can be found here:

Read the Spirit Blog  

WJKRadio Podcast

“Stay in the Loop!”: ENews = Free Holy Land Trip!

Just a few short months ago, David Stipp-Bethune, pastor of Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa, joined the TEF Seminary Support Network.  A believer in the transformative power of a good theological education, David decided to get involved.  He was invited to sign up for an electronic newsletter  in May and actually read it.  I confess that I don’t read all that comes to my inbox, but David did this time.  He noticed that Columbia Seminary was offering a “Pilgrimage of Discernment” through their Center for Life Long Learning that included a trip to the Holy Land. 
David tells the story from there:

To make a long story short, I shared the news with my wife and we decided I should apply.  I consulted with my congregation and heard last week that I’d been accepted. So, thanks (mostly) to the TEF Seminary Support Network affiliation, I'm heading to Israel for two weeks in October/November to discern and see the Holy Land!  Oh, yeah, and it's virtually PAID FOR in its entirety.   Thank you for keeping us in the loop.  I did my best to share the opportunity with folks on Facebook and in my Presbytery, but I don’t think there were other applicants.   Thanks for all you do to support theological education in our denomination. 

Maybe you, too, will find a resource in our PC(USA) Seminary News that will become an oasis for your spiritual journey. Don’t miss another opportunity. Stay in the loop: subscribe today!

Lee in Louisville.