Hanging At Princeton

Went and hung out at Princeton Seminary for a few days. As most of you know, I am considering next steps in my life and career. God seems to be calling me to be more serious about theological education as part of my quest to move into a position of more full service to the Church. Duke Divinity School is also one of my considerations. But Princeton seemed to have a lot more to say to me. For one thing, they actually had a real campus visit. They put me up for two days. It was a genuine experience that made me feel as if they wanted me there as a student. Also, as a second career student with a family, they actually knew how to talk to me.

I got to hang out with Adam Cleaveland (here's a big conspicuous link to his blog) this morning at breakfast. If you have never visited Adam's blog (I am not sure how that could have happened) then you should. Anyway, hanging with Adam was great. He had encouraging things to say about Princeton. He did blow me off the first time we were supposed to get together because of a blonde. Or was she a brunette? I never actually saw her, but according to sources...

I also got to spend some time with Tony Jones. Here's a link to his bl... Oh, wait, Tony Jones doesn't have a blog. That's right. But hanging with Tony is great. Like 'drinking from a fire hose', to borrow a phrase.

Anyway, the overall experience was great. Got to meet some really great people, hear some excellent lectures, and add one more great choice to my list. More to come...

Comments

[Karen H.]

It's just me picking you apart again. I'm wondering what the connection between "full service to the church" and a theological education are?

[will]

Karen: That's a good question. Actually, nothing necessarily. The more important link is in the phrase 'God seems to be calling me...' I have served faithfully for a number of years without a seminary degree and think that will become more then norm. However, this is something very personal that is part of my journey.

[will]

And btw, I love your questions. As iron sharpens iron...

[Bill]

Yeah, but did they give you lunch?

Glad you enjoyed Princeton.

Karen and Will, I think maybe we need a different kind of seminary, but not necessarily less of it. I think it's completely valid to think that someone who is going to serve specific pastoral roles in a church will be formally trained to do so.

[bobbie]

i hear tony DOES blog, it's just a private one... glad you had a good trip.

[Karen]

As one who is currently in seminary, I think a lot about how much the entire system of theological education needs an overhaul. As time goes on I am disappointed at what a dry and bubble-wrapped atmosphere it can be, often divorced from the community at large. A good look at most seminary curricula shows that future priests and pastors are mostly being trained to think critically, and that such training is often completely unplugged from serious theological reflection and pastoral care issues. I'm certainly not an advocate for less critical thinking since I'm also working on a degree in Church history, but my experience is that there's often a high degree of disunity between our academic and pastoral training.

That being said, I think that seminary training is very important. I just wish it had the power to be a truly transformative experience.

[Brandon]

I believe I saw Adam at a coffee shop at Princeton. He was definitely with a blonde. Whether he blew you off for her is a different story...Princeton rocked.

I'm new to the whole blogging thing. Can someone give me some basic rules/ideas behind it? What is the purpose/intention? Community?

[will]

Brandon: Welcome to the conversation. That is the best I can do as far as rules for blogging. The whole spread of blogging is a natural outcome of ideas that are most clearly presented in The Cluetrain Manifesto, a book that is a few years old now but well worth the read. The rules tend to vary by blog. For mine, I think most people know I honor fair play and ask everyone to be as respectful as possible of other opinions.

As far as the purpose, it seems to me that depends on the blogger. I won't presume to answer for anyone else. For me it represents three things:

1. A Spiritual Discipline - Eugene Peterson has spoken in the past of writing as a spiritual discipline, and that is one of the things that it is for me.

2. Christian Community - Daily I get to commune with Patrick and Bobbie and Zach and Tim. Even though I wouldn't know them if they were staring me in the face, it is a type of fellowship I have come to treasure.

3. Catharsis - Blogging is also, for me, a chance to discuss issues that I am facing in an open forum. Interestingly I am more open on my blog than I am in person. I think that has something to do with the nature of blogging.

[Adam]

Brandon...Will. Umm, yah. So, the blonde that Brandon saw me with at the coffee shop is in fact the same blonde that I blew you (Will) off for Thursday night. Not on purpose though...well, I mean...well, yah, I guess it was on purpose. Man, I'm not *really* a bastard...welcome to the blogging world Brandon.