Wesley Journal A Publication of the Wesley Theological Seminary Student Council
ORIENTATION
Vol. 68 Issue 1
The Team WESLEY JOURNAL STAFF Editor: Julie Hagen Assistant Editor: Lawrence Rebelo Contributors: John Langenstein Photography: Claire Coker Lisa Helfert, Lisa Helfert Photography Charles Wesley Thomas Coke Francis Asbury STUDENT COUNCIL President: Ellie Crain Vice President: Sean Gray Secretary: Cassandra Lawrence Treasurer: Sara Sadler Parliamentarian: Everett McAllister Executive Committee Members: Lamika"LaLa" Weiss Marcus Jean Elected Representatives: Nathaniel "Nate" Choung Jon Deters Kirk Freeman Adrian Graham Rachel Koehler Heidi Mills Lawrence Rebelo K. Vanessa Rodriguez Alfredo Santiago K Scarry Rashad Shabazz Christian Van Dyke Holli Vining Olivia Warren Lamika "LaLa" Weiss Lenora Whitecotton
On the cover: "The Last Supper" by Catherine Kapikian, founder of The Henry Luce III Center for Arts and Religion. Installed in the Wesley Refectory, January 2019. "The Last Supper" is the culmination of Kapikian's vision and years of craftsmanship by countless Wesley students, faculty, staff, and visiting artists.
Faculty Advisor: Rev. Dr. Emily A. Peck-McClain
The Wesley Journal is a publication of the Wesley Theological Seminary Student Council. The Editor is responsible for the content. The views expressed are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wesley Theological Seminary or the Student Council.
Wesley Journal Vol. 68 Issue 1 February, 2020Â
from the editor
And Here We Are. It’s a phrase that’s creeped into our lexicon over the last year, and somehow it’s not quite as annoying to me as “it is what it is,” last year’s contribution to the heretoday-gone-tomorrow collection of overused phrases. Somehow, it seems like a truth-teller of a phrasea reality check. It orients us in the present, which is what this issue of the Wesley Journal is all about. Whether you are brand new to Wesley as student, staff, or faculty; or you’ve been here a while, there’s something for you in this issue.
Lawrence Rebelo explores the role of theology in the public square through Wesley’s Center for Public Theology Immersion to February’s hotbed of American politics: Iowa. We have our own elections for Student Council in the Spring and we’ve included roles and responsibilities of each office, plus a timeline for nominations and voting. Dean Philip Wingeier Rayo reflects on “The Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation through Separation,” and how the growing divide in the UMC could impact theological education.
And, John Langestein looks back at his own orientation to Wesley with fondness. Orient yourself to a new semester. Open up your fresh notebooks, or start a new folder on your laptop for each class. Grab a cup of coffee and relax with The Journal...because next week, you probably have a paper due.
Julie Hagen, Editor
I just spent 11 days on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota for my intercultural immersion. While I was there I heard so many stories of the Lakota people. We talked about so many of the ways the United States government abused and continues to abuse Native people. While I certainly heard pain in these stories, I also saw the beauty of resilience. The Lakota have a phrase, “Mitakuye Oyasin,” which means “we are all related.” Across the world and in our own cultures, we all have phrases that mean similar things - we’re all in this together, ubuntu, “let’s make this a bi-partisan effort,” but what does it mean?
What are we orienting ourselves toward? There is so much division in the world around us. I have found, through Frederick Buechner's quote, that Wesley is a place that empowers and emboldens us all to find the place “where the world’s deepest hunger meets our deepest gladness,” which seems like the perfect place to begin to understand which way we should be orienting ourselves. As we enter into this new semester, we are continuing the journey of orientation together. Orientation does not mean that we all go out into the world and do exactly the same thing, exactly the same way.
from the student council
Orientation, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is the determination of the relative position of something or someone. If we are to take the sacredness of each other literally, our orientation in life should be directed toward love. Growing more perfect in our love of God and neighbor gives us the opportunity to bring this love to life, to really live into the meaning of “Mitakuye Oyasin.” In many ways, Wesley is just like any other academic institution. More than that though, we are a family here. We, the Student Council, hope that you continue to experience the relatedness and the love that we all share together on this campus. Happy New Year!
Ellie Crain, President
foretelling
Mark Your Calendar
got answers?
February 8: 7-9pm Ecumenical Trivia Happel Room/Caldwell Hall Catholic University of America Pull out last semester's study notes and join area seminary students for Pub Trivia hosted by the Student Board of the Washington Theological Consortium. Food, Fellowship, Fun. And the price? FREE. All are welcome. Pro-tip: pair up with a Dominican Brother if you want to win.Â
study buddies
February 10: 4:30-6:30pm Bess Jones presented by Gente Latinx Need help with your academics? Join upper class members of Gente Latinx Seminarians Association (GLSA) for dinner to discuss study/reading tips for Spring Courses. All are welcome. Please feel free to contact GLSA: GenteLatinxSA@gmail.com
table talk
February 11: 12:15pm February 25: 5:15pm Bess Jones
The Association of Black Seminarians is hosting conversations around current events that are connected to the black seminarian experience during Black History Month. All are welcome. Meals will be provided.
foretelling
Month at a Glance
february 5pm in Elderdice: movie screening, "Harriet Tubman" 18: hosted by Plumbline 19:
5:05pm in Bess Jones: student council meeting Wesley Student Council
5:15pm in Bess Jones: Plumbline meeting Plumbline Photo by Max Kleinen on Unsplash
27:
march 18:
5:05pm in Bess Jones: student council meeting Wesley Student Council
5:15pm in Bess Jones: Plumbline meeting Plumbline Photo by Max Kleinen on Unsplash
19:
april 1:
5:00pm in the Refectory: Community Easter Dinner Wesley Student Council
"It’s as much a part of Wesley as the Jesus statue blessing passing traffic."
Remember Your Orientation... For many of us here at Wesley there are two things that defined our first impressions of the school. The first is Chip Aldridge’s reassuring voice discerning our call faster than we ever could, and the second is Dean Lee’s speech during orientation. Here we learned how to read academic literature, what to expect from our classes, and, of course, the seed bed which we were now being planted into. It’s as much a part of Wesley as the Jesus statue blessing passing traffic. Today I bring you an exegesis of those lessons we all received that day. Specifically, as I come to the close of my own Seminary journey, I hope to show how true the words of Dean Lee were. If you are new to Seminary, or have been through the long haul, I hope that what follows will resonate with you. Around the pages of this Journal, let us form a community in solidarity, united in the sleeplessness and the carpal tunnel of a Seminarian community.
Lesson 1: Mark your Readings Well Remember that first semester of seminary? Remember how despite the warnings of Dean Lee we proudly poured through the works of Bruggemann and Powell with the reckless abandon of people who craved knowledge. Now let us remember how reading week naturally arrived and we could no longer find our books. We knew they had to be somewhere, but in the madness of our fifth study session of the day they have been displaced. Are they in the ice box? Did we put them in the oven beside our fourth frozen pizza of the week? Perhaps, if we allow ourselves to ponder the philosophy of this moment, the book was only ever a poor imitation of the true form that is, “book.” In reality of course, it is always on a table or a couch that we forgot we own. The work in our classes is intense, and reading a treatise on the Incarnation would be fine on its own, if you did not also have to tackle the complete works of Jurgen Moltmann and write a paper on the use of the cohortative הin Genesis. How different our life would be if we believed Dean Lee at orientation – reading smarter, not harder.
Lesson 2: Exegeting Ourselves – A Disproportionately Serious Section of this Article Remember the first time you heard about the two creation stories in Genesis from Dr. Hopkins? Or about the real context in which Paul wrote the epistles from Dr. Works? We all have a moment when seminary pushes us to a place where we have to ask questions that are bigger than we ever thought we could handle. We are not the first to face this. One of the first stories we hear in seminary is from Dean Lee. A story of a professor bold enough to jump on a table and tell the class that God shook his butt at Moses. Scripture is not always delicate, theology is not always comforting, but when we pull away the assumptions that block our sight of it, we almost always discover something brighter. If nothing else we learn to look out for the words “Hineini!” or “Splagchnizomai!” in our Hebrew and Greek bibles.
People may not understand “Jesus School,” and Uber drivers may always take you to American University instead, but the truth is that this school becomes more than just a few buildings. The people we meet, the connections we make -they last long after we leave these halls. As time goes on, the winding tunnels under Trott and the gentle slope of Kresge become home to us. Looking out at John Wesley’s statue we know that we are where we ought to be.
Lesson 3: Growing Together Have you ever told someone you’re a seminarian? Seen the empty look of eyes that do not comprehend? Then comes the inevitable question, “So you do like Bible studies and stuff?”
We are planted in a seedbed, so I was told. We branch out, we change, we learn. Reaching toward the light that is knowledge and piety, we become something we never thought we could be. We become Elders, Deacons, and Licensed Local Pastors.
Wesley is a community. Wesley is a family. Wesley is something that makes its home in our hearts and refuses to move. Enjoy your time here – every sleepless night studying, every difficult class, every classmate you just don’t understand. These moments, when reflected upon, are almost always precious. Even the hardest parts of our time together become something new, better, reconciled through the community we make and the Spirit that moves us.
We become non-Profit managers and any and all other kinds of ministers in the world. Take the challenges now, be fearless in pursuit of what is right and best. Take on the fullness of all you have learned and be transformed. In Conclusion As you make your way through classes this semester. Whether you are in you first semester or you last. Look to the bell tower, to KG-01, to the chapel. All these places that marked our first memories of Wesley. Take hold of these symbolic places. See how you have grown, and remember where you once were. Remember your orientation and be thankful.
feeling stressed or overwhelmed? We get it- it's hard to maintain a good life balance while you juggle classes, papers, church, PM&M, family and all the things. Remember marking off a Sabbath day during Spiritual Formation, then using that time to eat dinner? Wesley has pulled together a wide range of pastoral care and mental health resources to address your needs. Visit the "Student Links" section of "My Wesley" and scroll to "Pastoral Care/Mental Health" for referrals or contact: Lisa C. Banks-Williams M.Div., MSN, PMHCNS-BC Program Coordinator for Student Care lbwilliams@wesleyseminary.edu 202-885-8626
John Langenstein (MDiv '20) is trained in Chemistry and Religion but seems to have chosen the latter. He is a candidate in the United Methodist Church called to rural and justice ministries.
...and Be Thankful
Immersed in Iowa (January 9, 2020) A Quiet Chaos A voice from the PA system of my Boeing 737-900 aircraft announces: “We are 20 minutes until touchdown, hunker down, it is going to be a bumpy landing”. I open the window shade in aisle thirty-five and look down on the flat Midwestern landscape. Cornfields, farmhouses, and new suburban developments are tiny dots from my vantage point. Within the confines of my own head, I wonder to myself if the people who occupy the land below me know that there is a storm coming. There will be snow in the days to come in Iowa, but that is not the kind of storm I am talking about. I am talking about a storm that will have far greater implications and will be much more hectic.I am talking about a “storm” that will begin in Iowa on February 3rd with the Iowa Caucus and will culminate with the general election on November 3rd.
Wesley Center for Public Theology Over the duration of nine days, nine seminary students led by Prof. Mike McCurry & Rev. Rochelle Andrews from Wesley’s Center for Public Theology set out to see what role leaders of faith & faith communities have in the midst of this “storm”.
Wesley Theological Seminary’s Center for Public Theology aims to help church leaders and seminary students explore the connection between faith and public policy. Wesley adjunct professor, Mike McCurry, is the current director of the program but may be better known in Washington as the former White House press secretary during the Clinton presidency from 1995-98. Rev. Rochelle Andrews is the assistant director of the program and holds both an M.Div. from Wesley and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. The Questions The question for those of us on this trip to Iowa became a twofold question: What is the role of a theologian in the public square in today’s political climate? And what skills are needed to orient herself/himself in today’s divisive political climate?
During our time in Iowa we heard from various faith leaders, including: Sister Simone Campbell, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Rev. Rob Schenck, Dr. Cornel West, and Rev. Dr. William Barber II -- to name a few. These leaders represent a spectrum of Christian denominations, including Catholic, Evangelical, and Baptist. We heard from politicians who are people of faith. We had conversations with people who were running for both local and national office, including presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. We heard from organizers, reporters, and a host of other people. There was a common theme among the folks when it comes to what role they think people of faith and specifically Christians should play in power politics. Time and again we heard about the importance of being a witness and siding with the marginalized. The first two days of our immersion experience were spent at the Vote the Common Good conference. The goal of Vote the Common Good is to promote the common good by connecting politicians, pastors, press, and people to vote for a change on election day 2020.
One of the first speakers we heard from was public speaker and spiritual writer, Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove. Wilson-Hartgrove is a leader in the Red Letter Christian movement and the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. He spoke directly to our current political climate and said, “The current administration claims to be protectors of religious freedom, but that could not be farther from the truth”. The role of the public theologian is to call out hypocrisy and falsehoods when we hear them, even when – and especially when - they come from the highest office in the land and affect the most vulnerable among us. We must be faithful witnesses to the person and work of Jesus Christ as we engage in the political process. If we think to ourselves, “I don’t think Jesus would have done it that way,”we should rethink how we are engaging in the political process. If we are not being faithful witnesses to the Gospel we are not doing our work as public theologians. One of the most memorable quotes of the Vote the Common Good conference came from Larycia Hawkins, PhD.
Dr. Hawkins was infamously terminated from her professorship at Wheaton College for wearing a hijab to teach. She chose to wear a hijab during Advent to express her solidarity with the Muslim community as they were experiencing tension in the U.S. due to the current political climate. Dr. Hawkins said about the role of the public theologian, “We must dare to see with the eyes of our heart, realizing that everyone is made in the image of God. If we did this, we would act differently because Jesus changes who we see. We have to seek out the margins, not because we have anything to bring, but because we have ourselves, empty hands and poverty of spirit”. The public theologian must make the issues of the afflicted, of the marginalized – central to their political philosophy.
Barber said, the fact that there are “140 million poor people in this country has nothing to do with a scarcity of resources but rather it was to do with a scarcity of wills, but if we rise together we can change that.” There is power in numbers, and the reverend emphasized this as he urged people of faith to rise together to help the most vulnerable in our society.
On one of the last nights we had the opportunity to hear the Rev. Dr. William Barber II speak at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in downtown Des Moines. Barber is the chair of The Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival. Their motto is “Fight Poverty not the Poor”.
The last person I want to lift up who spoke not only about the need to be a faithful witness but also the need to lift up “the least of these in our society” is candidate for president Pete Buttigieg. 2nd year M.Div student Sean Gray was able to ask “Mayor Pete” a question during a campaign event. Sean asked, “How has your faith impacted your campaign”.
Buttigieg spoke comfortably about his faith and how it impacts his campaign’s ultimate concern about the most vulnerable in our society. More often than not, our political leaders are people of faith – the role of the public theologian is to encourage politicians and public officials to talk about their faith because our political discourse is better for it.
Rev. Dr. William Barber II speaking in Des Moines, Iowa What skills are needed to orient herself in today’s divisive political climate?
The role of the public theologian is to be a faithful witness to the Gospel and to uplift the marginalized. What skills are needed in our divisive political climate to navigate the storm of power politics?
What skills do public theologians need in today's political climate? 2nd year M.T.S. student Marcus Smith: “We need to be intentional about how we treat folks. We should be prepared to respond to unconscious bias, many times unintentional bias.” 3rd year MDiv Student: K Scarry: “The Public Theologian needs to be able to hold complexity especially in this moment in time.” 3rd year MDiv student Jason Perkowski: “People of faith involved in the public square need to be able to reach across lines that have divided us so that we can make the common good for all.” Center for Public Theology assistant director Rev. Rochelle Andrews: “We must learn to hear and act.” Andrews notes that “having business management skills has been helpful. Often times people think that those hard skills are separate from being in ministry but in the work of public theology they absolutely go together. Understand where you are weak and find people who are strong in that area so that your team is holistic, which means you have to put your ego away.”
The Final Word Each morning Prof. McCurry led a devotion. On the last day he said, “if we’ve learned one thing, we have learned that there are good people doing good things.” Whether it be the local food pantry in Des Moines, or the Beloved Community initiative in Iowa City, it is obvious that the work of God is being done so that our political process and our government can be more equitable for all involved.
Lawrence Rebelo (MDiv '21) is a certified candidate for ministry in the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Lawrence is the assistant editor for the Wesley Journal, member of student council, and a librarian here on campus.
Public Theology in Action: NCSS National Capital Semester for Seminarians is a semester-long, intensive program of study in ethics, theology and public policy. Seminary students from across the United States come to Wesley in Washington, D.C., for the spring semester. NCSS gives you the chance to: study the intersection of faith and politics, Interact with policy-makers, engage in community organizing work with faith-based education and advocacy organizations and dive deeper into specific issues at the intersection of faith and politics. Application Deadline for the May term is March 1, 2020. Details: https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/ncss/
student council election timeline The Wesley student body elects officers and representatives annually each spring semester to serve the following academic year. Nominations and elections are conducted electronically through the Wesley student email system.
January 29-February 4, 2020: NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR WESLEY STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS Executive Officers include President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Nomination forms are distributed by email. You many nominate yourself or another student for any officer role. February 12-19, 2020: WESLEY STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICER ELECTIONS Election ballots are distributed by email. You may submit one ballot using your Wesley ID number. February 26-March 4, 2020: NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR WESLEY STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Ten (10) student council representatives are elected in the spring. Nomination forms are distributed by email. You many nominate yourself or another student for student council representative. March 11-17, 2020: WESLEY STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS Election ballots are distributed by email. You may submit one ballot using your Wesley ID number.
roles & responsibilities The purpose of the Student Council is to promote the common welfare of the student body. The Council aims to act as the voice of the student body by providing an open forum where concerns can be raised before they become problematic issues. The council also works with the Wesley administration, faculty, staff and community to ensure a supportive academic climate, and recommends changes in policy, practices and procedures which impact the student body.
PRESIDENT:
The president is the spokesperson for the Council to the faculty, staff, and administration. Presides at all meetings, signs all legal documents, chairs the Executive Committee, calls special elections to fill vacancies, and appoints the Parliamentarian. Appoints committees to investigate and/or handle student concerns. Has the deciding vote in general and Executive council sessions.
VICE PRESIDENT:
The vice president shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and act as the official voice of the Council to the campus. Serves as chair of the Communications Committee and oversees the Editor(s) of the Wesley Journal.
SECRETARY:
The secretary takes the minutes of the meetings and provides copies for all members. Writes all necessary correspondence within and for Council business. Responsible for all on-campus correspondence including maintaining council bulletin boards and the posting of public notices from the council. Serves as the Chair of the Hospitality Committee.
TREASURER:
The treasurer maintains an accurate record of all income and expenditures of the Council and reports on such at each meeting. Affects payment of all expenditures. Serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE:
Attend all student council meetings and serve on one or more standing committees: Elections, Finance, Communications, Hospitality, Constitution and Judiciary Review, Student Care.
The Protocol : How It Might Impact Theological Education
-a reflection from Dean Philip Wingeier-Rayo
Editor's note: this reflection first appeared on "From the Dean," a regular blog appearing on Wesley's website: wesleyseminary.edu/from-the-dean/ I would like to begin this reflection with a clarification that the “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.” is just a proposal that will need to be approved by the General Conference delegates in May, and thus, these ruminations are merely hypothetical. However, it comes with a great deal of weight given the broad representation and constituencies of the 16member team. So as the 2020 delegates to General Conference discern how they will vote on the proposed Protocol, as well as the other plans, I believe that it is fair to consider what the implications of the plan for the various branches and ministries of the church— including Higher Education. As one who has taught in higher education and theological education for over 20 years—both inside the United States and abroad—and currently serves as dean for one of the 13
United Methodist seminaries, I am very concerned about the pending division in the UMC, and in particular how a separation might impact theological education and the development of future leaders. I believe that leadership development is the lifeblood of any organization—especially the church. If you need evidence for the importance of good leadership, just look at the transition that occurs every July 1st in any UM church during appointment season. Upon the arrival of a vibrant and visionary pastor attendance and vitality increases and you observe the opposite trend when that same pastor is moved. If we are unable to recruit, train and equip a steady stream of young clergy, then the church is in big trouble whether it divides or remains together as a big tent.
degree and are wondering what the payoff will be. When I taught undergraduate at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina and recruited prospective students at career fairs and open houses, the parents (who ultimately pay) want to know what is the future for my son or daughter in this field? The federal government has put a lot of emphasis into the STEM fields, and since elementary school our children have been told multiple times that the future is in technology, computers and artificial intelligence. So the parents and prospective student alike will ask: What is the cost-benefit of this career path?
Once a student finishes undergraduate they most likely already have taken out loans before even considering a graduate Young people are faced with degree. the enormous cost of studying an advanced
According to a 2019 Christian Century article the average MDiv graduate in 2018 carried $54,600 in student loan debt. Given the average UM pastor earns $44,396, it would take a longtime to pay-off that debt. The decline of the UMC has also seen a decline in the Theological Education Fund that has provided scholarships and subsidized seminary education. The ordination process in the UMC is also very rigorous, making a guaranteed appointment much less certain for a seminarian entering candidacy. These economic realities do not make ordained elder a popular career path for anyone. Now infuse the uncertain future for the UMC and the controversies surrounding the ordination of LGBTQ persons and same-sex marriage, and we are really shooting ourselves in the foot. I know personally of a promising cis-gendered 2018 graduate of our seminary that immediately following the special session of the 2019 General Conference wrote his conference’s Board of Ordained Ministries and discontinued his candidacy. The exclusive language in the Traditional Plan did not personally impact him,
but he discontinued the candidacy process out of solidarity with those who were excluded. We also had several seminary applicants call and withdraw their application for admission last spring following the special session. In spite of our president’s stand against the Traditional Plan, these young people did not want to study at a seminary that was affiliated with a denomination that had a discriminatory stance on homosexuality.
This does not bode well for denomination that will need good leadership to move through the proposed separation and messy aftermath. Young clergy are also our best bet to invite and evangelize their peers— who comprise most of the “nones” and “dones.” Yet young people are underrepresented both as clergy and in our governing process. Young people under the age of 35 comprised only 7% of delegates.
"...these young people did not want to study at a seminary that was affiliated with a denomination that had a discriminatory stance on homosexuality." Not surprisingly, the UMC is experiencing a sharp decline in the number of young clergy (defined as 35 and younger). According to a report by the Lewis Center for Church leadership the figure has dropped from 2385 in 1990 to 785 in 2018. This is a decline in real numbers and also a drop in the percentage of young clergy of all UM ordained elders from 11 to just 8 percent.
Yet they made their collective voice heard by delivering a statement that was read on the floor of the special session that stated: “Over and over, bishops and delegates have told us from the floor here, they don’t want us to leave, but with all due respect, you are not fighting to keep us here.” None of the 16-member negotiating team were young, nor did anyone claim to represent young adults.
So how will the Protocol impact the recruitment and retention of young people? Fortunately, we have a God who continues to call people young and old to the ministry. In spite of all the trends, our fall 2019 incoming class hard an increase in first-year 20 something students. Students at various stages of life feel God’s call to serve and want a quality theological education to prepare them for ministry.
to our students to have various opinions, theological beliefs, and worldviews represented in the classroom. It is important for students to exposed to people who are different from themselves as part of the formative process because it prepares them for the diversity that they will find in their parishes and ministry settings. If students are only exposed to doctrines and beliefs with which they agree,
from a spirited debate exploring different theological perspectives. We produce more informed and better prepared candidates for ministry when we have thoroughly discussed human sexuality and can put a human face on the issues. At our seminary we have international students from the Central Conferences with a more traditionalist view of marriage staying in residence halls, eating in the refectory, sitting in class, and singing in choir together with persons who identify as LGBTQ. I have taught classes where students debate biblical interpretation and theology together during a 3-hour class session, yet continue to love, respect and go on to be life-long friends. It can be a powerful experience for a traditionalist who has never met someone who identifies then it creates an echo chamber and they will be ill- as LGBTQ to sit in class together, worship together prepared for the diversity of in chapel, and graduate beliefs out there. together—even if neither one changes their For example, I have taught theological stance on the classes where we have issue. The same is true for discussed human sexuality someone who identifies as and had traditionalists LGBTQ to meet and study debate in a loving way with together with someone persons who identify as LGBTQ and their allies. Many from the Central students who are undecided Conferences with a traditionalist view of or haven’t been exposed to marriage. these ideas greatly benefit
"It can be a powerful experience for a traditionalist who has never met someone who identifies as LGBTQ to sit in class together, worship together in chapel, and graduate together..." What would the impact of the Protocol be on theological education? First of all, I would like to share that while the separation plan may bring an end to decades of division within the UMC, I lament much of what would be lost if the Protocol is approved. In more than 20 years of teaching I have discussed human sexuality with students in and outside the classroom and I believe that it is beneficial
There is no substitute for vehemently disagreeing with someone who you ultimately love and respect as a person. I have also found that students who disagree on human sexuality may actually agree on other doctrinal or theological issues, such as the doctrine of creation, Christology, and the mission of the church, among other beliefs. Some people who identify as LGBTQ actually come from traditional churches in the Bible Belt and the deep faith instilled in them during childhood has been a source of strength in the midst of rejections from the church and family. If the Protocol were to be approved by General Conference in May, I hope that the different branches of Methodism can still provide theological education opportunities that allow our future leaders to study together. Moreover, behind one’s beliefs on human sexuality there are underlying theological differences. Often one’s belief on marriage is related to theological method—for example the question of authority. How does one come to a theological stance on marriage and covenantal relationships? What is one’s position on biblical authority?
How does the Wesleyan Quadrilateral inform one’s beliefs on marriage, the family and other social issues? If the Protocol were to pass, are there ways that theological students can be exposed to those who have a different theology? If students are not exposed to those who believe differently in the classroom, how will they be prepared to the theological diversity in their parish and ministry settings? While it is difficult to generalize and one should not stereotype,
The traditionalists and progressives may also represent different liturgical and worship styles that represent the diversity of our Wesleyan tradition. It is important for seminarians to be exposed to different worship styles in preparation for ministry. Some of the larger megachurches may leave the UMC, while the smaller congregations stay. The traditionalists tend to be more White, while US-based persons of color will most likely remain with the UMC.
"I believe that it would be tragic if the seminary classroom would lose its diversity (in all its manifestations)...." there also may be other underlying socio-economic differences between those persons who decide to remain in the UMC vs. those who spin off as traditionalists. Generally speaking, I believe it is safe to say that the traditionalists are predominantly more rural and the progressives more urban. The traditionalists reside more in the South and the Midwest, while the progressives live more on the coasts and major urban centers.
It remains to be seen what the Central Conferences will do, but I pray that the 13 UM seminaries can continue to be blessed with international students that enrich us with the gifts and realities of the global church. If the Protocol were to pass, would students self-select into seminaries of like-minded persons with regard to class, region, worship preference, churchsize and even race? Would their denominations predetermine which seminaries qualify as adequate
ministerial training? I believe that it would be tragic if the seminary classroom would lose its diversity (in all its manifestations) that would rob students of the opportunity to be exposed to those who believe differently and come from different backgrounds. On the positive side, if the Protocol were to be passed, then many persons who identify as LGBTQ and their allies, who are currently in a holding pattern, may move forward toward their call to ministry.
they will be asked to do something against their conscious--whether it be perform a same-sex marriage or be within a denomination that allows it.
Some students begin seminary believing one way and conclude in a very different place. Isolating our future seminary students could have the effect of cutting off the work of the In conclusion, it would be Holy Spirit. As seminarians my hope that as delegates graduate, they will serve in discern how to vote on the churches and communities Protocol, and if it passes, that where they will need to we keep diversity within our work with those whom seminaries. Some seminaries believe differently from may attempt to line themselves. This is a life skill themselves up with a that must be practiced, and particular camp, or position seminary is the ideal themselves to benefit from a learning community. As split, Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”
"Isolating our future seminary students could have the effect of cutting off the work of the Holy Spirit." Removing the restrictive language in the UM Book of Discipline would make it clear that persons who identify as LGBTQ can pursue ordination without their sexual identify being a factor in their preparedness for ordained ministry. Allies of the LGBTQ community would have a clear conscious of serving in a denomination that does not discriminate based on sexual identity. It would also allow those potential students who hold traditionalist view toward marriage to not feel that
however I would hope that any spin-off denominations will still recognize and send their students to any of the United Methodist seminaries so that the future leaders in the Wesleyan tradition can continue to build relationships, study, learn and grow together. We are all on a journey. Seminary students may have an idea of where they want to go, but God—through the Holy Spirit—is guiding all of us.
Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo holds his doctorate in Theology, Ethics and Culture from Chicago Theological Seminary, a M.T.S. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a M.Th. from Seminario Evangélico de Teología in Matanzas, Cuba.
student organizations Association of Black Seminarians
Promotes cultural awareness, integrity and a historical perspective of the African-American and African cultures for the WTS community; and also promotes community cohesiveness by way of academic, political, social, and worship activities. ABS at WTS Faculty Advisor: Dean Asa Lee
Gente Latinx Seminarians Association
GLSA serves as a Latinx public witness through the promotion of public service and cultural awareness of the Latinx community. Photo by GenteLatinxSA@gmail.com Max Kleinen on Unsplash Faculty Advisor: Dean Philip Wingeier-Rayo
Korean Student Association
KSA seeks to foster a second home for international Korean students and a wider understanding of Korean culture, language, and issues facing ethnic subgroups within the Wesley community. Wesley Korean Student Association Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kyunglim Shin Lee
Of Sacred Worth
An organization committed to advocating for and expressing the sacred worth of the LGBTQ community. Of Sacred Worth - Wesley Theological Seminary Faculty Advisor: Dr. Veronice Miles
Plumbline
An interfaith social justice organization dedicated to service, education, and advocacy that seeks transformative change -- for its seminarian members, for our communities, and for the world. Plumbline - Wesley Theological Seminary Faculty Advisor: Dr. Beverly Mitchell
Washington Theological Consortium
The Washington Theological Consortium is a community of theological schools and partners from diverse traditions pursuing ecumenical dialogue, interfaith understanding, and educational collaboration to better equip clergy and laity for ministry. Washington Theological Consortium Student Board Reps: Julie Hagen, Adrian Graham
Wesley Fellowship
Committed to fostering, enhancing, and creating space for fellowship, service and hospitality within the Wesley community with events that are open to any member of the Wesley community. Wesley Fellowship Faculty Advisor: Dean Asa Lee