Five weeks into Seminary

Here are some pictures of my lovely new home.
(Picture credit goes to Amanda P. and John R.)

I have been a PTS for 5 weeks. I'm sorry about the delay in updating, but for the first little while I was at seminary I could barely keep up with anything.

Seminary.

I am in love.

I LOVE it here. I feel like someone who was starving and who did not realize it until they were fed.

Here is a short list of things that are wonderful about seminary life:

1) Everyone is trying to follow Jesus as best as they know how, consequently most people try to be nice most of the time

2) We have chapel every day (Monday through Friday) and it is ALWAYS good. The sermon quality varies, the music varies, but there is always some part of the experience that I love

3) Princeton is a beautiful place (the town is pretty snobby and upscale, but the university looks like Hogwarts. . . and how could that not be cool??)

4) My classes are GREAT! My professors are some of the best in their fields, and all of the material is super interesting/ relevant to my interests. My classes are challenging, and I love it.

However, seminary is not without its challenges for me. I am currently the only Quaker student on campus, and honestly it gets a little lonely. I am getting very good at explaining my beliefs to people, but honestly, sometimes I get pretty tired of always having to explain myself.

Also I am politically and theologically more liberal then most of the rest of seminary. It doesn't generally bother me, but every once in a while, I wish I could have a conversation about salvation without having to defend what I believe to a table of people who think I am crazy (or heretical). I am beginning to realize how rare Christian universalism is. . .

I am also trying to decide where I want to worship on Sundays. I have visited the nearest Quaker meeting, and I have also been attending a Quaker meeting that is slightly farther away but it part of my Yearly meeting (keeping that connection strong seems important). I have also attended a Presbyterian church and an Episcopal church (won't be going back to the Presbyterians, but the Episcopal seemed pretty cool).

I am not going to lie. . .I love music. And I have a growing appreciation for liturgy. And I find taking communion to be a powerful experience.

If there was a Quaker church near by that would be one thing. . . but as it is, I am not sure where I belong.

I am required to do CPE and also a field education placement as an assistant pastor at a church. I spoke with my advisor and we have decided to place me at a UCC church. I think it will be a pretty good theological match, but part of me wishes I could be at a Quaker church (which wasn't possible).

I feel like an exploration of all of my feelings around my Quaker community would require a separate posting, so stay posted. :)

The Count Down to Seminary

Dear F(f)riends,

The true count down to seminary has begun. I graduated in May, and then I moved to a different part of the country for the summer, but now it is getting close to the time where I will head back to NY, and unpack my boxes, and repack my boxes, and move to a new chapter of my life.

I must say that I am getting a little nervous. In the last six months I have fielded countless questions about my decision to go to seminary, but the one I hear the most often is "why a Presbyterian seminary?" or in other words. Although I have a number of answers that I regularly give, the answer that is closest to the truth is also the least satisfying for the majority of the people I speak to. I am going to Princeton because I am a Quaker, and Quakers do sometimes strange things because they feel that is what God wishes. So the best answer I have is that I am following what I have discerned to be the Divine will. So, so be it. Away I go to Princeton.

On another note, this summer I got engaged to be married. My fiance is also a Quaker (we met at Earlham College) and we will be holding an unprogrammed Quaker wedding in the spring of 2011. We recently met and were cleared by my home meeting, and plans are coming together quickly.

So that is the news for now. I will post again in a little over a month when I begin my studies at Princeton!

So, the update . . . .

F(f)riends,

I would like to apologize for my long silence (I would especially like to apologize to Carolyn E. who kindly put me into her homepage feed :)). I have been in a holding pattern when it comes to graduate school. After sadly separating myself from my 250.00 deposit, I haven't had much to do with Princeton. I did hear from them that they were going to give me a full tuition scholarship, which was a true blessing.

In the mean time I have been writing my senior thesis (Religion majors at Earlham college need to complete a large paper during their senior year and then 'defend' it orally). I wrote on the process metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and the works of Quaker mystics: Thomas Kelly and Rufus Jones. I considered the topic of human suffering and theodicy within the works of these three men, and how they can dialogue with each other. Did I pull it off? More or less, I guess. It did receive top marks and I was please with its progression (the first draft was wretched). If you are interested in seeing the final (not wretched) paper, post a comment and I will send you a copy.

Anyway, this final month of school has been filled with blessings. I received two awards, both for my commitment to ministry and religious leadership (one of which was a graduate fellowship. . .Thank you God!). I have also finished putting together a support (anchor) committee to support my time in ministry. I am really excited about all of the wonderful Friends who have felt lead to serve on that committee. It will be an honor and a joy to work with them. Unfortunately, I think I won't be able to meet with them until this fall, because I will be living in a different part of the country this summer. Some of the other things that have blessed my life: the beautiful Indiana spring, the gorgeous sweaters my mother is knitting for me, the care and support of my professors, the fact that I passed my CPR class and can therefore graduate and an unexpected influx of cupcakes in my life. God is good.

There have also been some challenges. I wrote and edited 30 pages in about 20 hours over two days, and sun burnt (er, lamp burnt?) my hands from spending too much time typing on my computer under my desk lamp. My cell phone is broken (and too expensive to replace) and can now not receive text-messages (a HUGE problem). I spent Easter by myself for the first time in my life and greatly missed being with family and friends on such a sacred and important day. I continuously am challenged with living across the country from my sweatheart (although we visit at least three times a semester). I have also (surprise, surprise) been having a difficult time staying motivated to do my homework. . . .as I keep reminding myself, the cap and gown hanging in my closet won't see the light of day unless I pass all of my classes. . .but still, its hard.

Actually, speaking of homework, I should go and do some. I need to head over the the Friends Collection and do some research on some amazing Quaker Women.

Next time you hear from me, I will most likely be the proud holder of a BA in Religion!

Princeton

So, over Christmas break I made the decision to go to Princeton Theological. I will be starting the three year MDiv program in the fall. Considerable discernment went into this decision (and a great deal of agonizing and loud moaning), and I feel that my decision is rightly ordered.

My next step will be to create an anchor committee of Friends from my Yearly meeting who will be able to support me through seminary (that and figure out how I am going to buy books for this semester since I sent in my 250.00 deposit to Princeton).