Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Seminary Updates
The biggest news that I have is that last week I received my first acceptance letter to one of the seminaries to which I applied - Princeton Theological Seminary. This is the oldest, biggest and some would argue the most prestigious of the PC(USA) schools, so getting accepted there bodes well for my chances of getting accepted elsewhere.
The next school that I expect to hear from is Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Their admissions board was meeting this week, so I'm anxiously visiting my mailbox daily. I had a chance to visit APTS a few weeks ago for a Discovery Weekend with about two dozen other prospective students and had a great time. I really liked the school, the people that I met and the city of Austin. I can definitely picture myself there.
My applications to Union Presbyterian Seminary(Union-PSCE) and Columbia Theological Seminary were the last to leave my hands, but all four are completed and now I'm in the waiting for answers stage. I'm also now busily filling out financial aid paperwork, scholarship applications and getting into the thick of the nuts and bolts of paying for going back to school.
Princeton today sent me notice that they are offering me a grant that will cover tuition so that leaves me basically with my living expenses to obtain if that is where I decide to go.
Many people are asking what my first choice is, and I'm not entirely sure. I have yet to visit Union-PSCE or Columbia, so I don't want to jump to conclusions before I have a fair way to compare the schools. I'm visiting Union-PSCE next week. I was supposed to go back in early February, but their Days for Discovery was snowed out. I haven't scheduled a trip to Columbia, but am working on finding a suitable time to visit. From what I know thus far, I will be happy at any of these schools.
The other news on the ordination/seminary front is that I participated in my career counseling that is required by the Committee on Preparation for Ministry through my Presbytery. This was basically a psychological evaluation to determine if there are any red flags that the committee should know about that would need to be monitored while I am under the committee's care or worst case if there is reason to stop the process altogether. I haven't seen the report yet, but was told before leaving that there was no reason not to move forward. I didn't have doubts about that, but there is a certain amount of anxiety involved in being evaluated that way. It was quite an intensive process. I was mailed a pre-program package with lots of forms, essays and standardized testing to complete prior to going to New Jersey where the testing took place. I also had to get reference letters and a physical from my doctor prior to the testing. The testing involved more standardized testing when I arrived at the center and about seven hours of interview/conversation over the span of two days. I also had several hours of homework after day one to reflect and write about things that we discussed during the first day. I do not hope to do this again anytime soon. It serves a very important purpose but man oh man, that was something. It is never a bad thing to be introspective and understand yourself and how that will impact your ability to be successful or potential pitfalls that you should be aware of in your ministry, but that much in such a short time span is INTENSE.
The center where the testing was held is in Princeton, so I was able to stay with friends who live in town (Sara and her sister Laura) and I got to see several people who I met at a youth leader conference last year. I also had a chance to have coffee with a recent PTS graduate who I had never met in person, but have corresponded with online, so that was fun and helpful. We met on campus and walked into town, so I briefly got to see the seminary and imagine myself there during this visit. I'll be there again for several days in the end of April for the same youth leader conference, so I will get more time to do that and really check the school out again.
I'll keep everyone posted as news develops and as I get closer to making a decision, but it is really starting to look like I'm going to be back in school soon.
The flip side of this exciting possibility is that it will mean relocating and leaving the job that I love and moving away from family and friends. I won't be gone forever and I'll be visiting often. But I love the youth in my church so much and hate the thought of leaving the program at First of Annapolis. They are a big part of the reason why I am continuing on this path though. Because I love my work so much, I want to further pursue my education and be better equipped to do what I love to do. It is in the faces of the teens, their parents, and the congregation of FPC Annapolis that I see Jesus and in their voices that I hear God calling me to make this my vocation.
In Sunday school last year we were having a discussion about Jesus calling the disciples and I raised the question about what the families must have thought when Simon, John and James "dropped their nets" and set off with this itinerant rabbi called Jesus. I always pictured everyone a bit miffed when they left, but thanks to a NOOMA video that we had just watched entitled Dust and a comment made by one of the youth I now have a different opinion. This young man said something to this effect - "I'm sure that they would miss them, but they probably recognized what an honor it was to be asked to study under the rabbi (Jesus) so they were more proud than anything else." I hope that is how folks look at what I'm choosing to undertake, not with a focus on what I'm walking away from, but with a focus on what I am walking towards.
The next school that I expect to hear from is Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Their admissions board was meeting this week, so I'm anxiously visiting my mailbox daily. I had a chance to visit APTS a few weeks ago for a Discovery Weekend with about two dozen other prospective students and had a great time. I really liked the school, the people that I met and the city of Austin. I can definitely picture myself there.
My applications to Union Presbyterian Seminary(Union-PSCE) and Columbia Theological Seminary were the last to leave my hands, but all four are completed and now I'm in the waiting for answers stage. I'm also now busily filling out financial aid paperwork, scholarship applications and getting into the thick of the nuts and bolts of paying for going back to school.
Princeton today sent me notice that they are offering me a grant that will cover tuition so that leaves me basically with my living expenses to obtain if that is where I decide to go.
Many people are asking what my first choice is, and I'm not entirely sure. I have yet to visit Union-PSCE or Columbia, so I don't want to jump to conclusions before I have a fair way to compare the schools. I'm visiting Union-PSCE next week. I was supposed to go back in early February, but their Days for Discovery was snowed out. I haven't scheduled a trip to Columbia, but am working on finding a suitable time to visit. From what I know thus far, I will be happy at any of these schools.
The other news on the ordination/seminary front is that I participated in my career counseling that is required by the Committee on Preparation for Ministry through my Presbytery. This was basically a psychological evaluation to determine if there are any red flags that the committee should know about that would need to be monitored while I am under the committee's care or worst case if there is reason to stop the process altogether. I haven't seen the report yet, but was told before leaving that there was no reason not to move forward. I didn't have doubts about that, but there is a certain amount of anxiety involved in being evaluated that way. It was quite an intensive process. I was mailed a pre-program package with lots of forms, essays and standardized testing to complete prior to going to New Jersey where the testing took place. I also had to get reference letters and a physical from my doctor prior to the testing. The testing involved more standardized testing when I arrived at the center and about seven hours of interview/conversation over the span of two days. I also had several hours of homework after day one to reflect and write about things that we discussed during the first day. I do not hope to do this again anytime soon. It serves a very important purpose but man oh man, that was something. It is never a bad thing to be introspective and understand yourself and how that will impact your ability to be successful or potential pitfalls that you should be aware of in your ministry, but that much in such a short time span is INTENSE.
The center where the testing was held is in Princeton, so I was able to stay with friends who live in town (Sara and her sister Laura) and I got to see several people who I met at a youth leader conference last year. I also had a chance to have coffee with a recent PTS graduate who I had never met in person, but have corresponded with online, so that was fun and helpful. We met on campus and walked into town, so I briefly got to see the seminary and imagine myself there during this visit. I'll be there again for several days in the end of April for the same youth leader conference, so I will get more time to do that and really check the school out again.
I'll keep everyone posted as news develops and as I get closer to making a decision, but it is really starting to look like I'm going to be back in school soon.
The flip side of this exciting possibility is that it will mean relocating and leaving the job that I love and moving away from family and friends. I won't be gone forever and I'll be visiting often. But I love the youth in my church so much and hate the thought of leaving the program at First of Annapolis. They are a big part of the reason why I am continuing on this path though. Because I love my work so much, I want to further pursue my education and be better equipped to do what I love to do. It is in the faces of the teens, their parents, and the congregation of FPC Annapolis that I see Jesus and in their voices that I hear God calling me to make this my vocation.
In Sunday school last year we were having a discussion about Jesus calling the disciples and I raised the question about what the families must have thought when Simon, John and James "dropped their nets" and set off with this itinerant rabbi called Jesus. I always pictured everyone a bit miffed when they left, but thanks to a NOOMA video that we had just watched entitled Dust and a comment made by one of the youth I now have a different opinion. This young man said something to this effect - "I'm sure that they would miss them, but they probably recognized what an honor it was to be asked to study under the rabbi (Jesus) so they were more proud than anything else." I hope that is how folks look at what I'm choosing to undertake, not with a focus on what I'm walking away from, but with a focus on what I am walking towards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
