The answer comes by way of an anguished but hopeful response to a terrible tragedy.
Widowed early, John Trent had only his daughter, Susan. Susie had a bright mind and wonderful wit, but had been born with serious health issues. John’s mission in life was to provide Susie with the best medical care as well as opportunities to explore both her potential and the world. He supported her education at the University of Virginia and Hollins University, which led to a teaching position at Virginia Western Community College. John traveled with Susie around the world going as far afield as China, and Susie did her part by learning several languages.
John was devastated when Susie died of medical complications in 1999. Faced with a life of unwanted solitude, he made a decision born of Christian hope. Having built his estate for his daughter’s support, he entrusted that estate to the congregation he loved, Second Church of Roanoke. Wanting to do for others what he no longer could do for his daughter, he offered her estate to promote theological education. Upon his death, the Kittye Susan Trent Fund was established.
Through this fund, a dream born of gratitude and frustration became reality. George C. Anderson, pastor and head of staff of Second Church in Roanoke, realized he had been blessed by a sort of connectionalism that shaped him through the force of persuasion and the law of love. He recognized the seminary training at Union-PSCE, early mentors who guided him: a pastor father, supervisors during seminary, a pastor and head of staff at his first church, and more experienced peers as key to his development as a pastor. Two longtime study/support groups, one of which began in seminary and laypersons in various congregations he served made continuing contributions to his ministry. Having been so well nurtured, Anderson sought a way to help promising ministers who are not always so fortunate and who sometimes feel like newly hatched turtles scurrying to get to the ocean before being devoured by birds of prey. Newly ordained ministers are expected to be authorities in, and are held accountable for, areas of church life for which they are not adequately trained. Just as lawyers learn theory in Law School but learn Law in private practice, could there not be a program in a congregational setting that would provide resources to ministers?
Encouraged by Union-PSCE’s accomplishments designing innovative programs that bridge the school-parish gap, Anderson approached Ken McFayden, professor of ministry and leadership development at Union-PSCE, seeking a partner to help design a symposium for a small group of newly ordained ministers who would be “embedded” in a congregation. In addition to seminary professors, the symposium would rely heavily on experienced pastors and laypersons. Ken embraced the vision, and he and George, in consultation with another pastor and head of staff, Ed McLeod of First Church, Raleigh, N.C., and with the then-president of Union-PSCE, Louis Weeks, and its faculty dean for the Richmond campus, John Carroll, to develop a plan for a symposium.
The first Kittye Susan Trent Symposium for Newly Ordained Ministers came together on March 28 through April 2 of this year. The Trent Fund covered all costs for participants who were selected through an application process. Each participant received a modest stipend to assist with travel costs, lodging and meals.
Participants gathered for an opening meal and worship on March 28. Seminars during the six-day event focused on worship, preaching, continuing education that sustains vocation, congregational care, Christian education, spiritual practices and character development, missions, staff leadership, strategic planning, conflict management, misconduct issues, stewardship, congregational budgets, financial development, personal finances, the state of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and effective ministry in the midst of ecclesial turbulence.
Event leaders included active pastors (heads of staff and associate pastors), retired pastors, a church business administrator, a church treasurer, seminary faculty members, the president of a university, the partner of a law firm, a financial advisor, a district manager of a large company, and the editor of the Presbyterian Outlook. Each of these leaders offered wisdom toward the strengthening of ordained ministry for the edification of congregations.
In their evaluation of this symposium, participants commented on the quality of content throughout the event, some suggesting an additional day to allow more discussion of the dynamics of congregational life and worship, strategic planning, missional theology and the emerging church, self-care disciplines to remain fresh in ministry, and officer training for leading the church in a changing world. Furthermore, participants began to explore how they might utilize technology to continue supporting each other in ministry, and the feasibility of reuniting next spring for study and mutual support.
Communication between participants and leaders has continued beyond the conclusion of this symposium with expressions of gratitude for the hospitality of Second Church and for the care and wisdom of the seminar leaders. As one participant commented, “This Symposium bridges the gap between seminary and practice. Second Presbyterian Church, in partnership with Union-PSCE, has created a model for Presbyterian connectionalism in the best way: sharing the wisdom of fruitful ministry, caring enough to invest in the church’s future, and creating a community of renewal. They, with seasoned pastors and other church leaders, cared enough about the church’s future to invest tremendous time and energy in giving vision, skills, and spiritual renewal. And they created a community in the Spirit’s leading that generated support and the challenge to grow unlike any I have known.”
So why might congregations throughout our denomination care about a symposium that was born of a partnership between Second Church (Roanoke) and Union-PSCE?
Because we are a connectional church.
