Once upon a time there was a cohort of students who knew it was time to respond to God’s call in a concrete, loving and meaningful way. The students came to seminary at Garrett-Evangelical and discovered a swirling, invigorating environment of ideas, theories, theologies, proposals, hypotheses and thoughts. The meaning and love were evident, but the concrete aspect of responding to the call seemed elusive. So, day after day, the students came to the Field Education Office and told their stories of what they envisioned ministry could be. The stories were full of dreams and experiences, doubts and hopes, and decisions and questions. The students and the Director of Field Education began to make connections between their stories and God’s Story, and planned together how these might come together in an expression of ministry and service.
One student’s story included the need for discernment between the call to ordination as a United Methodist Elder or Deacon. He was given the opportunity to serve as a field education student in a congregation that had both a Deacon and an Elder to help him find clarity.
Another student wanted to serve in an English speaking congregation so her skills in evangelism could blossom in a new language. She was placed in a congregation she hoped for, with a bilingual pastor who could assist her in the transition from one language to another.
Four students seemed to have similar desires for learning about pastoral care. Their past experiences drew them to the ministry of chaplaincy, but they had not had the opportunity to try it out. These students went to a local retirement center where they learned from seasoned chaplains how to serve elders during a crucial time of life.
Then there were students who were called to ministries of social justice and outreach. They sought to bring the sacrament of communion in an embodied way, by being with people in the midst of their greatest need. They were drawn to baptize people with love and compassion outside the structure of the church. These students explored and found expression of their God-given calls in street ministry, after-school youth programs, legislative advocacy, broadcast ministry, college campuses, international mission sites and ex-offender programs.
The students came from east and west, and from north and south. Their stories were compelling. Many were amazed at how vibrantly God’s Story was already in progress when they arrived at their field education sites. Many were overwhelmed at the amount of effort and time needed to bring Good News to the world. All of them were thankful that they were part of God’s Great Story in concrete, loving and meaningful ways.
May all God’s people live happily ever after.
Rev. Dr. Ann L. Rosewall is the Director of Field Education and Vocational Formation and Church Leadership at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
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