"Community of God's People"

By Sarah Kinney Gaventa

The image of a seminary community that was formed in me when I attended Virginia Theological Seminary two decades ago was of a body of people called to a common vocation—in this case, the vocation of Episcopal priesthood—who engaged in a period of educational and liturgical formation to shape us into the people God had called us to be. The path was narrow, deep, and focused. While a deep groove of denominational preparation for Presbyterian pastors is still vibrant at Austin Seminary, the community and formation of God’s people is wider and more complex than I had imagined when I began my work here.

Students come to our door with the same tug on their heart—a desire to know more about God, a desire to grow in leadership—but the paths that they take to get here are infinitely more varied. Our Presbyterian students learn and worship alongside people of faith from more than a dozen different denominations and six other countries.

This tapestry of faith traditions creates an unbelievably rich environment for students to deepen their knowledge and worship of God. As students learn Reformed theology, preaching, and liturgy from our amazing faculty, they also get to learn from each other about the theological ideas that formed each of their traditions. In a world in which people are increasingly isolated from one another, it feels like a small miracle to work in this rich ecumenical, international, diverse community of the people of God.

Members of this community of God serve one another by learning collaboratively and not competitively; by keeping up a community cupboard where students can find canned goods and other necessities; and by showing love and support when another member is having a personal crisis. This community of God serves Austin through volunteer work with immigrants and in soup kitchens; by working in churches as children and youth ministers, worship leaders, interns, and pastors; and by working faithfully in jobs that serve the community while they study. Upon graduation every year, part of this community of God leaves campus to become pastors, chaplains, teachers, social workers, activists, and passionate lay leaders. This community is not insular, but reaches out beyond our walls, to serve all God’s world in Texas, the United States, and beyond!

The Reverend Sarah Gaventa, as dean of students, has a front-row seat (and a job backstage) for creating opportunities for Christian community at Austin Seminary.