Eastern Mennonite Seminary : 2005 Seminar
Narrative
RENEGOTIATING OUR PLACE
THE CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATION
EASTERN MENNONITE SEMINARY
As Judith Ramsey settled into the flight from Chicago to Washington DC on her way to visit Eastern Mennonite University, she pored over several documents from the two graduate programs she was planning to visit—the Conflict Transformation Program and the Seminary program. Ramsey held a Ph.D. in sociology from an Ivy League school and had taught for nearly a decade at Loyola University in Chicago. During that decade she had discovered the Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition and transferred her church membership to a Mennonite congregation on the near north side of Chicago. Having become increasingly restless with her teaching role in sociology, she was exploring her dream of bringing together two long-held interests: one, the work of peacemaking in an increasingly violent world and the other, a desire to root that work of peacemaking within the Anabaptist/Mennonite faith with which she had come to identify.
She glanced first at the seminary catalog, which contained the EMS mission statement, and was drawn to the comment that the seminary “equips men and women to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, prepared to lead the church in mission with passion and integrity.” The clear reference to the centrality of following Jesus in preparation for ministry appealed to her. As she turned to the EMU Conflict Transformation mission statement, she found a much broader vision, one which “prepares and supports individuals and institutions of diverse religious and philosophical backgrounds in the creation of a just and peaceful world.” She thought to herself, “How might I thrive studying in these two distinct, yet related, programs within the same university?”
As her final flight landed at the Shenandoah Valley Airport, she was met by John Zook, a senior undergraduate student. John shared his perspectives of the two programs she was about to visit. He noted confidently, “The seminary is in this nice new brick building perched at the top of the campus.” He chuckled when he said, “It’s often referred to as ‘the high and holy hill’.” John knew less about the CTP program, but offered that it was “centered in this funky-looking building with a cool blue roof across Mt. Clinton Pike.” “Funny,” he said, “they’re both located on the edge of campus.” John also shared that he gets frustrated sometimes when he sees fellow undergrad students dividing up into two camps---one committed to peace and justice work and the other focusing on spiritual agenda. Janet knew they were approaching campus when John turned on to the aforementioned Mt. Clinton Pike.
Soon Judith entered the blue-roofed building which served as the center of the CTP program on campus. Her host for the CTP part of her visit was Jean Stoltzfus, the codirector of the program. Jean gave Janet a quick tour of the building walking through a Ushaped hallway where, in a matter of minutes, she met most of the faculty members with offices in the building. With one exception, all of their office doors were open and they engaged Judith quickly and casually in helpful conversation. In these brief conversations she heard refrains of the core values of the program she had read about on the flight: respect, community, service, nonviolence, peace-building, spirituality, and shalom. Judith quickly discovered the diversity of the student body as she spotted a class in session along one hallway. The room was filled with students of varying skin color and distinctive cultural dress. When she asked Jean about the composition of the student body, Jean replied, “We have around 100 students with approximately 50 percent of those being international students.” Jean continued, “They represent various faith perspectives and cultures, but it is a delight to see them come together and have a profound impact on each other’s lives as they study together.” Jean went on to point out that the CTP program was also housed in two other buildings, one across a small parking lot, and the other across that now-familiar Mt. Clinton Pike. As Jean ushered her through one of those buildings she noted a small lounge with a TV. Several students were hanging out, watching post-election analysis on CNN in the cramped quarters of the room.
As her visit to the CTP program came to a close, Judith asked Jean a pointed question, “I’m really interested in studying in both your program and the seminary program. What do you see as my major challenge in trying to do that?” Jean responded quickly, “Well, we have the 111-hour, dual-degree program in place. So, the nuts and bolts are there. My guess is that the biggest challenge will be the integration of what you experience in the two programs. At CTP we are training peacemakers for the world. At the seminary they are training pastors for the church. We emphasize practice. They emphasize theory. It’s my sense that we teach inductively. We call it an elicitive method of learning. From what I can tell, the seminary engages the same task deductively using a more traditional pedagogy. Finally, I would say that in our classes you will find people of various faiths, while in the seminary you will have only Christian students to engage.”
Judith mused about this provocative answer to her question as she left the CTP building and entered the small CTP parking lot. She spotted a minivan whose backside was covered with bumper stickers. One read, “Arms are for hugging.” Another, “Let peace begin with me.” As she crossed Mt. Clinton Pike, she had to dodge traffic from both directions. In several minutes she arrived in a much bigger parking lot, which fronted an impressive brick building with a sign “Seminary Building” wedged between the parking lot and the street. Having noticed the bumper-stickered minivan in the CTP lot, she took a moment to read the bumpers stickers in the seminary lot. The one that really caught her attention read: “When Jesus said ‘Love your enemies’, I think he probably meant ‘don’t kill them’.” At first thought she said, “Aha, here’s the integration—Jesus and peacemaking.” But just as quickly, she noted that she could not recall any reference to Jesus in the multitude of bumper stickers on the minivan in the CTP lot.
As Judith entered the door off the parking lot, the first sign she saw read: “Masters of Counseling.” “What is this about?” she mused, as she climbed the stairs. “I thought I was coming into a seminary building.” After a bit of wandering around, Judith found the administrative suite in the Seminary Building and was received warmly by the staff, who ushered her to the office of Sally Miller Yoder, the associate dean. Sally listened carefully as Judith shared her dream of studying in both programs as a way to integrate two important dimensions of her life, Christian faith and peacemaking. During a pause in the conversation, Judith asked Sally, “How do the two programs work together?”
Sally smiled. “These two programs are distinct and have not interacted as much as I think would be beneficial for both, but we have worked hard to make it possible for students who want to take courses in both programs to do so, including the agreement on the dual degree. But there are at least two complications. One is simply the logistics of schedule and registration in both programs; the other is significant uncertainty at a deeper level about philosophical and theological assumptions under-girding our respective programs. Having said that however, we are committed to making it work for students who want to draw from each program’s strengths. We believe we can offer a rich theological grounding for your work. And the seminary community life is strong. At the start of this school year Dean Gingerich challenged us to be ‘a community of Jesus’ disciples.’ It’s my sense that we’ve taken that challenge seriously. So we’d love to have you join us on that journey.”
As her visit with the associate dean ended, Ron Miller, the admissions director, arrived to give Judith a quick tour of the Seminary Building. Judith was impressed—two floors filled with modern, roomy classrooms; a large and spacious lounge filled with a group of students and several faculty members engaged in lively conversation (Judith did note that there was no TV); a quiet chapel characterized by a simple beauty; and finally, the requisite faculty offices. Unlike the CTP program, however, Judith noted that many of the office doors were either closed or slightly ajar. Lights were on behind the doors and so Judith assumed that this faculty group was indeed an industrious and productive one. (Either that or they were really into a contemplative approach to their work) After all, she thought, “in spite of the buzz of warm conversation at several places in the building, there is still a discernable cloistered feel here.”
Judith left the campus impressed with both programs. She liked the people in both, although she sensed they didn’t have much interaction with each other. As she sat in the airport waiting for her flight, she sent an email to both Jean at CTP and Sally at the seminary: “Thanks for taking the time today to share about your program. I was indeed favorably impressed. However, one question continues to haunt me. If I come to study in the dualdegree program, will I be able to integrate what I am learning in your program with what I learn in the other program? I look forward to your reply.”
RENEGOTIATING OUR PLACE
THE CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATION
EASTERN MENNONITE SEMINARY
As Judith Ramsey settled into the flight from Chicago to Washington DC on her way to visit Eastern Mennonite University, she pored over several documents from the two graduate programs she was planning to visit—the Conflict Transformation Program and the Seminary program. Ramsey held a Ph.D. in sociology from an Ivy League school and had taught for nearly a decade at Loyola University in Chicago. During that decade she had discovered the Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition and transferred her church membership to a Mennonite congregation on the near north side of Chicago. Having become increasingly restless with her teaching role in sociology, she was exploring her dream of bringing together two long-held interests: one, the work of peacemaking in an increasingly violent world and the other, a desire to root that work of peacemaking within the Anabaptist/Mennonite faith with which she had come to identify.
She glanced first at the seminary catalog, which contained the EMS mission statement, and was drawn to the comment that the seminary “equips men and women to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, prepared to lead the church in mission with passion and integrity.” The clear reference to the centrality of following Jesus in preparation for ministry appealed to her. As she turned to the EMU Conflict Transformation mission statement, she found a much broader vision, one which “prepares and supports individuals and institutions of diverse religious and philosophical backgrounds in the creation of a just and peaceful world.” She thought to herself, “How might I thrive studying in these two distinct, yet related, programs within the same university?”
As her final flight landed at the Shenandoah Valley Airport, she was met by John Zook, a senior undergraduate student. John shared his perspectives of the two programs she was about to visit. He noted confidently, “The seminary is in this nice new brick building perched at the top of the campus.” He chuckled when he said, “It’s often referred to as ‘the high and holy hill’.” John knew less about the CTP program, but offered that it was “centered in this funky-looking building with a cool blue roof across Mt. Clinton Pike.” “Funny,” he said, “they’re both located on the edge of campus.” John also shared that he gets frustrated sometimes when he sees fellow undergrad students dividing up into two camps---one committed to peace and justice work and the other focusing on spiritual agenda. Janet knew they were approaching campus when John turned on to the aforementioned Mt. Clinton Pike.
Soon Judith entered the blue-roofed building which served as the center of the CTP program on campus. Her host for the CTP part of her visit was Jean Stoltzfus, the codirector of the program. Jean gave Janet a quick tour of the building walking through a Ushaped hallway where, in a matter of minutes, she met most of the faculty members with offices in the building. With one exception, all of their office doors were open and they engaged Judith quickly and casually in helpful conversation. In these brief conversations she heard refrains of the core values of the program she had read about on the flight: respect, community, service, nonviolence, peace-building, spirituality, and shalom. Judith quickly discovered the diversity of the student body as she spotted a class in session along one hallway. The room was filled with students of varying skin color and distinctive cultural dress. When she asked Jean about the composition of the student body, Jean replied, “We have around 100 students with approximately 50 percent of those being international students.” Jean continued, “They represent various faith perspectives and cultures, but it is a delight to see them come together and have a profound impact on each other’s lives as they study together.” Jean went on to point out that the CTP program was also housed in two other buildings, one across a small parking lot, and the other across that now-familiar Mt. Clinton Pike. As Jean ushered her through one of those buildings she noted a small lounge with a TV. Several students were hanging out, watching post-election analysis on CNN in the cramped quarters of the room.
As her visit to the CTP program came to a close, Judith asked Jean a pointed question, “I’m really interested in studying in both your program and the seminary program. What do you see as my major challenge in trying to do that?” Jean responded quickly, “Well, we have the 111-hour, dual-degree program in place. So, the nuts and bolts are there. My guess is that the biggest challenge will be the integration of what you experience in the two programs. At CTP we are training peacemakers for the world. At the seminary they are training pastors for the church. We emphasize practice. They emphasize theory. It’s my sense that we teach inductively. We call it an elicitive method of learning. From what I can tell, the seminary engages the same task deductively using a more traditional pedagogy. Finally, I would say that in our classes you will find people of various faiths, while in the seminary you will have only Christian students to engage.”
Judith mused about this provocative answer to her question as she left the CTP building and entered the small CTP parking lot. She spotted a minivan whose backside was covered with bumper stickers. One read, “Arms are for hugging.” Another, “Let peace begin with me.” As she crossed Mt. Clinton Pike, she had to dodge traffic from both directions. In several minutes she arrived in a much bigger parking lot, which fronted an impressive brick building with a sign “Seminary Building” wedged between the parking lot and the street. Having noticed the bumper-stickered minivan in the CTP lot, she took a moment to read the bumpers stickers in the seminary lot. The one that really caught her attention read: “When Jesus said ‘Love your enemies’, I think he probably meant ‘don’t kill them’.” At first thought she said, “Aha, here’s the integration—Jesus and peacemaking.” But just as quickly, she noted that she could not recall any reference to Jesus in the multitude of bumper stickers on the minivan in the CTP lot.
As Judith entered the door off the parking lot, the first sign she saw read: “Masters of Counseling.” “What is this about?” she mused, as she climbed the stairs. “I thought I was coming into a seminary building.” After a bit of wandering around, Judith found the administrative suite in the Seminary Building and was received warmly by the staff, who ushered her to the office of Sally Miller Yoder, the associate dean. Sally listened carefully as Judith shared her dream of studying in both programs as a way to integrate two important dimensions of her life, Christian faith and peacemaking. During a pause in the conversation, Judith asked Sally, “How do the two programs work together?”
Sally smiled. “These two programs are distinct and have not interacted as much as I think would be beneficial for both, but we have worked hard to make it possible for students who want to take courses in both programs to do so, including the agreement on the dual degree. But there are at least two complications. One is simply the logistics of schedule and registration in both programs; the other is significant uncertainty at a deeper level about philosophical and theological assumptions under-girding our respective programs. Having said that however, we are committed to making it work for students who want to draw from each program’s strengths. We believe we can offer a rich theological grounding for your work. And the seminary community life is strong. At the start of this school year Dean Gingerich challenged us to be ‘a community of Jesus’ disciples.’ It’s my sense that we’ve taken that challenge seriously. So we’d love to have you join us on that journey.”
As her visit with the associate dean ended, Ron Miller, the admissions director, arrived to give Judith a quick tour of the Seminary Building. Judith was impressed—two floors filled with modern, roomy classrooms; a large and spacious lounge filled with a group of students and several faculty members engaged in lively conversation (Judith did note that there was no TV); a quiet chapel characterized by a simple beauty; and finally, the requisite faculty offices. Unlike the CTP program, however, Judith noted that many of the office doors were either closed or slightly ajar. Lights were on behind the doors and so Judith assumed that this faculty group was indeed an industrious and productive one. (Either that or they were really into a contemplative approach to their work) After all, she thought, “in spite of the buzz of warm conversation at several places in the building, there is still a discernable cloistered feel here.”
Judith left the campus impressed with both programs. She liked the people in both, although she sensed they didn’t have much interaction with each other. As she sat in the airport waiting for her flight, she sent an email to both Jean at CTP and Sally at the seminary: “Thanks for taking the time today to share about your program. I was indeed favorably impressed. However, one question continues to haunt me. If I come to study in the dualdegree program, will I be able to integrate what I am learning in your program with what I learn in the other program? I look forward to your reply.”