When I made the decision – or I probably should say, when God pushed me into to the decision – to go to seminary, I had been working in mortgages and reinsurance for five years, so it was a decision to go back to school as well as a career change. All of that said, I had it easy. I was blessed with a Kern Scholarship to attend Denver Seminary, and was able to supplement it with core Presbyterian classes from Dubuque Seminary’s online program. When it comes to decisions I have made, it was both the hardest decision and the easiest. It was the hardest decision, because it seemed like such a huge departure from who I was and where my life had been headed. But it was the easiest decision, because once I acquiesced, everything just fell into place like puzzle pieces, which had never happened so seamlessly in my life.
Looking back to my time in seminary, there is so much that I am eternally thankful for. First, I am thankful for Denver Seminary. I know a lot of Presbyterians turn up their nose or become skeptical to think that one could get a great theological education at such a “conservative” school, but that label tells little about my personal experience. Sure, there were challenges from time to time with professors or students with differing theologies, but I think my compassion, empathy and tolerance are better because of those people and experiences. Denver Seminary built up my biblical foundation with expansive and challenging Old Testament and New Testament classes. I loved my Greek and Hebrew classes; they were challenging and exciting! I felt like I was cracking a code to understanding the Bible more fully, and I still do when I read the Bible in the original languages. Not only that, Denver Seminary offers great practical theology classes that prepared me for ministry. And even more than that, our scholarship group met regularly so I had eight built-in friends and their spouses. Denver Seminary’s education also requires M.Div. students to engage in individual learning — character and ministry contracts that, together with mentors, help build skills outside the classroom. I still recall and draw upon many of these individual studies, and I am grateful for those relationships with my mentors who taught me so much.
Beyond sounding like a walking alumni advertisement for Denver Seminary (but I’m not apologizing), I am forever grateful to the support of St. James Presbyterian Church in Littleton, Colorado, where I was under care in the Presbyterian process during my time in seminary. At the time that I chose to attend Denver Seminary, I was attending a non-denominational church. One of the pastors there was very supportive of my decision to go to seminary, but I knew I wanted to pursue ordination in the PC(USA) because of my theological beliefs.
So, at the same time as the rest of my life was changing, I went church shopping. God led me to the perfect place, even though I had to go three times before I was sure. On my third visit there, a smiling young dad shook my hand and asked me about myself. I told him I was moving to Littleton the next weekend and would be attending Denver Seminary in the fall. He told me that was wonderful and to let him know if I needed any help moving. He (and really his whole family) would become one of my mentors during my time in seminary, as would the amazing associate pastor at the church. But, it did not just stop there. This church truly cared for me. I got involved in children’s ministry and youth ministry, and they supported me even though they must have known that there was a high probability that I was going to leave in three years. Of all my seminary experiences, my church family is my most cherished. And, because of my internship over the summer at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arvada, I felt like I got two for the price of one. Again, I was only there for a short time, but they embraced me fully.
When I talk to others about their seminary experiences, they often lack engagement with a local church. I am so grateful that I had two churches that were willing to let me preach and teach and learn along with them. St. James had me help lead a new members class and be part of a women’s Bible study. Trinity let me preach many Sundays in the summer, help lead worship and visit and serve home communion to members. And, St. James gave me such a loving, prayerful and gracious send off when I preached my last sermon before I left to serve my first church in Illinois. My biggest take away from seminary is not my education, although that was amazing and needed, but my relationship with the church that carried me through all the way. If I could do it all over again, the only thing I would change would be to be more grateful and thankful for those churches and the pastors, staff and members who allowed me to partner in ministry with them so sincerely and, on their part, sacrificially.
JULIE RAFFETY serves as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, New Jersey. Julie is a violinist, aspiring writer, snowboarder, runner, identical twin and crazy about popcorn.
