A thick sheet of ice blanketed a majority of the state in just twelve hours. Nearly 400,000 people lost electrical power, 100,000 in Louisville alone. After the storm Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson reported 129 fires, 479 downed power lines, and 236 damaged trees. Schools, restaurants, and other businesses ceased operations. Hot coffee could have been sold by the ounce at the price of gold.
On the morning after the storm, neighbors slowly emerged from their homes. Felled trees and other debris littered the streets and sidewalks. The sound of generators hummed like a constantly nagging swarm of insects. Almost instantaneously, and without coordination, a cooperative effort to clean up and dig out from the storm began. Groups gathered at one home and then another, trimming branches of downed trees and stacking them in the easement for pick up. Driveways and walkways were cleared; neighbors visited and cared for elderly residents. Our neighborhood, which looked like a war zone, became an opportunity for neighbors to love one another and offer peace to a hurting part of the world.
My neighborhood’s experience in the aftermath of the ice storm reminds me of the cooperative efforts that have been the norm for years in Presbyterian Theological Education. Our independently-governed seminaries, working together with our denominational efforts, continue to collaborate with, empower, and enrich the mission of all partners. Mining the minutes of the Committee on Theological Education (COTE) gives examples of what is happening.
During the recent market malaise, our seminaries were largely prepared to weather the economic storms. For generations seminaries have raised funds, invested those dollars well, and responsibly managed money entrusted to their care. They have emerged from their board, faculty, and leadership meetings with their sleeves rolled up and ready to bring greater clarity to their mission and programs. But they need our help.
If seminaries still depended on denominational support as their primary source of support, most of them would be closed by now. The Theological Education Fund provides only about 1-3% of seminary budgets. Our denomination’s plan to support our schools through congregations choosing to designate about 1% of their budget, has fallen short of the need.
Instead, almost all the schools rely upon a conservative draw from their endowments to support operations. Growth in educational programs and services over the last few decades has been tremendous and our Presbyterian schools, by and large, are some of the strongest theological institutions in the nation. Keep in mind that these endowments are not slush funds or checking accounts. They are economic generators that insure the stability of our schools, even during tough economic times.
Most inspiring has been the love embodied in the midst of the schools working in collaborative, integrated ways. Presidents and board chairs of the seminaries are now meeting annually. Admissions officers and other staff are able to tell the story of their sister institutions as well their own. A new PC(USA) Seminary View book has been produced by my office in collaboration with the schools. Numerous COTE Task Forces are drawing up bold plans for defining the seminaries’ role in meeting the new and changing leadership needs in the PC (USA) and funding those plans. Like neighbors emerging on the street, theological education leaders in the PC(USA) are showing up to help where there is the greatest need.
Especially promising is a new project among field educators from Reformed seminaries led by Susan Fox at Union-PSCE. They are developing an online network and resources for supervised ministry programs. When implemented, this network could lift the geographical limits on seminarian internship locations and better equip mentors and supervisors. COTE is funding this project through the 2.5% of the TEF set aside to encourage cooperative projects.
During the ice storm I was deeply moved to see a Buddhist family, who had not lost electricity, extending a drop cord across the street to their Catholic neighbors. The refrigerator, a heater, a light or two and maybe a few other appliances were powered by this small, yet significant gesture. What was a small gesture to the one was an enormous gesture of love to the other.
We Presbyterians have good reason to give thanks to God. Our seminaries are “showing up” and sharing with their sister institutions. If we find new ways to make even small efforts to join with them, the results could be enormous. Our seminaries are worthy of our strong support. Even when ice storms come, we are NOT the “frozen chosen!”
Lee Hinson-Hasty, a member of Coastal Carolina Presbytery, serves as coordinator for theological education and seminary relation for the General Assembly Mission Council and as lead staff for the PC(USA) Committee on Theological Education, Louisville, Ky.
