At the time this article appeared, Aleshire’s prediction was one of the most hopeful commentaries I had read regarding our country’s economic situation. I had not considered possible the notion that the sudden economic downturn had the ability to unite schools. It was difficult to imagine seminaries reaching out to one another in an attempt to help when they themselves were in need of rescue.
Of course, Aleshire was referring to seminaries literally uniting (i.e. merging their respective endowments into one and forming a single institution), yet there was something profoundly optimistic about the implicit idea that the unparalleled challenges facing our seminaries present us with a unique and timely opportunity to strengthen our unified mission as theological schools. Financial burdens have rocked independent institutions to the core, prompting administrators to repeatedly ask the question “Is this program/position/department absolutely essential to our mission?” However, like personal transformation, institutional transformation occurs most readily in a state of weakness, when we feel like we’ll snap in two if any more pressure is applied to the already oppressive burden on our backs. These vulnerable times call for simple questions with tough answers: What is our fundamental mission? And are we being faithful to it?
Yet what may prove more valuable than answering these questions within our own schools is wrestling with these questions alongside the schools with which we share a common mission (as well as a common burden). For this reason, I have been working with the administration at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as well as with the student body presidents/moderators from other Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries, to organize the first Seminarian Leadership Summit, an event that will allow current seminarian leaders to work side-by-side with seminary administrators as they jointly reflect upon the common mission uniting every seminary affiliated with the PC(USA).
The Summit is scheduled (pending funding) for March 12-14, 2010, in Austin.
In addition to reflecting upon our common mission, the discussion at the Summit will be guided by the seminarian leaders’ reports on the dominant issues facing their respective campuses. Issues will likely include: how Presbyterian seminaries foster greater unity as they become increasingly more ecumenical (as well as how our campuses themselves can be strengthened and enriched through increased diversity); Sabbath-keeping; stewardship of resources; how seminarians can build up the mission of the church through social and political action; leadership and vocation; stress and healthy ways to cope with it; and evaluating the degree to which our seminaries are listening to the needs of the contemporary church.
While organizers at APTS are still very much in the planning phase, the spirit of commitment is high among the PC(USA) student body presidents/ moderators and their enthusiasm is motivating those involved. I have found them all exceptionally helpful when offering input and exceedingly patient as plans continue to unfold.
Another significant factor contributing to my desire to help organize the Seminarian Leadership Summit is the impact the course “Leaders for a Connectional Church” has had on my overall seminary experience. Participating in this course last January at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville allowed me to explore the denomination’s organizational structure with seminarians from Columbia, Louisville, and McCormick seminaries as well as with denominational leaders. Working together as seminarians in this context was such an enriching and energizing experience that while I was in Louisville I began mulling over possible ways to organize a future event that would foster connectedness between seminarians. But it was not until the financial crisis hit home, as it were, in March when APTS was forced to make significant budget and staff cuts that the idea for Summit distinctly began to formulate and present itself as an actual reality.
It is difficult to comprehend the degree to which many of our seminaries are being forced to sacrifice. But amid such sacrifice we have been gifted with the opportunity to gaze into the future together with the hope that while we are broke we are not broken; in fact, we are unified under one common mission: the compelling lordship of Jesus Christ.
Aleshire’s comment underlines that the time for unity is now!
Kaci Porter is the 2009-2010 student body president at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas.
