So, the blog is getting a bit of a facelift. Many of my upcoming posts are going to focus on what I’m doing in the kitchen and how that intersects with my idea of Communion, faith, and the neighbors I cook for and eat with. Look for the first of those in the days ahead, but before that, a small “life update” is in order.
Some of you might recall around this time last year I started my pursuit of my Doctor in Ministry (DMin) degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. You can read that post HERE if you want to see how that came to be. I was excited for PTS for multiple reasons; attending a theological school that was associated with Mister Fred Rogers was a huge plus and the distance was something that would allow Lauren and Violet to make the 2 week stays with me (it was only an 8 hour car ride which we saw as “doable” with a toddler). Pittsburgh’s location worked well too as a midpoint in our drives to Michigan. When we journeyed there last January I was nervous with anticipation to meet my fellow cohort members. These were people I had envisioned getting to know over the next 3 years as we journeyed together on our way to researching and completing projects towards our passions and particular ministry contexts.
High hopes for sure.
And then, Covid.
The pandemic ushered in a change of how my DMin journey was going to be experienced. My cohort moved to “online only” for our summer session as PTS and staff were asked to adapt on the fly. It was done as well as it could be. I can remember thinking as we completed assignments and long days on Zoom, “Wow. I really wish we were in a classroom to unpack this.” Again, I commend PTS and its leaders for suspending any sort of in person gathering. It was the right decision to make and I was relieved to know that I didn’t need to worry about traveling during the pandemic.
As we finished up our final session there was talk of what 2021 might hold. Like many in my cohort, there was hope we’d get to meet later in 2021 if the number of Covid cases dropped. However as record numbers began to climb as winter drew near I personally saw this as being very unlikely. It was during the season of Advent where I began to take an “inventory” of where I was in the program. Obviously things were not going the way I expected. The learning environment was one thing, there were other factors too. The cohort model of learning at PTS had a strong emphasis on community and relationships. I was in need of those components as I didn’t attend and wasn’t connected to PTS prior, I didn’t live in Pittsburgh or the surrounding area, and I wasn’t Presbyterian (or raised Presbyterian). While I enjoy being different, even on the fringe of spaces/bubbles at times, all these factors really left me feeling extra isolated. Was I really going to go through a program, one I hoped would be relational, with the possibility of not building community with my cohort for another year? By that time, I would be on my way out of the program and while my work would be meaningful I wasn’t so sure about the connections I would take away with me.
All of this was coupled with PTS doing an inventory of its own too. Structural changes were taking place that would (will) impact the schools future.
I weighed it all and...
I started reaching out to other theological schools with DMin programs.
It was during Christmas break after many talks with their admissions team, talks with mentors, and especially Lauren, I decided to transfer to Mercer University and complete my studies at the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology.
While McAfee is taking the same precautions as PTS, I felt the relational aspects it offered would benefit me immediately and later on down the road after my time there ended. McAfee has Baptist “roots,” Something I appreciate as my Baptist identity has grown in its understanding over the last several years. While I wanted to get away from my “Baptist bubble” by attending PTS, I actually missed being in a space where Baptists were present in some form (shocker I know). This was a move towards reconnecting and my determination to affirm the affiliation and identifier more fully; I’m Baptist dammit! For better or for worse, depending on the day of course. And while McAfee is a Baptist school in its heritage they boast a diverse denominational body of students. Plus this is a Georgia Baptist institution. If you think the difference between GA and NC (NC, where I attended two Baptist-heritage universities in Campbell and Wake Forest) isn’t significant enough just take a look at how the two states do BBQ.
I rest my case.
It’s familiar, but not the same.
While I’m looking forward to seeing what opportunities await me at McAfee, especially professors I’ve admired from afar, I sincerely will miss those I had the privilege of meeting and studying alongside during my year at PTS. When I approached them with my decision I received nothing but their fullest support and affirmation. Their presence and words to me diffused any awkwardness I thought might be there. They created a sacred space for me to speak freely, to listen, and to be heard. For that I can’t thank them enough.
So here’s where we are and where we hope to be going.
Perhaps by late 2021 the family and I will be making our way South as “Georgia will be on our minds.”
Pray for us that V takes to liking her car seat better than she does now cause it’s a long haul from VT.
Cheers,
tBSB