First Week, Days Three and Four

Day three was the "Day of Service" and began early. Before 8 AM a school bus had already been loaded with students, faculty and staff and was on its way to Le Sueur county; an hour or so south of the Twin Cities. That county was hit by at least three tornados on August 24th. Help was needed to clear debris from farm fields before harvest.

At 8:30 AM another group gathered in chapel for worship lead by the new campus pastor, John Mann and me. At the conclusion of worship we commissioned this group as missionaries and sent them forth into service at People Serving People. People Serving People is a temporary homeless shelter in Minneapolis serving the needs of men/or women and families and unaccompanied youth.

By 9 AM the campus had reverted back to its summer time quietness.

Day four and the final day of first week ended with a Boundaries Workshop; a new requirement for all students. I was asked to help facilitate a small group as part of the workshop. As I listened to the presentation I kept thinking, I wish someone would have told me this when I was in seminary. The speakers dealt with vital topics around the theme “What does it mean to be a public Christian leader?” Two main topics were highlighted:

1) Power dynamics--in the classroom, with parish supervisors, and with minors and vulnerable adults.

2) Self-Care—maintaining healthy habits: physical exercise, nutrition, devotional time, finances, family and friendships, hobbies, a mentor, etc.

I appreciate the seminaries putting time, effort and requirement toward this topic. I know unfortunately it is done in part to help students and the seminary avoid law suits, but more importantly it is to help students truly be healthy and faithful leaders in the church.

I thought First Week was very successful and I hope the new students received enough information to “enter in” to this new chapter in their lives. Let class begin!