The Class of 2014: Uziel Hernandez Martinez and Heather Dorr

As we prepare to welcome our incoming class in a few weeks, we wanted to spend some time with our newest alums - the Class of 2014 - and their reflections on their time at Garrett-Evangelical.

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Uziel Hernandez Martinez
Master of Divinity

My time at Garrett-Evangelical has shaped my ministry and calling in many different ways. First, Garrett-Evangelical gave me tools to think, analyze, and do critical theological reflection in ministry and academic settings. Second, Garrett-Evangelical placed me in ministry situations which helped me see, understand, and better use strengths and weaknesses in my ministerial and academic abilities. Third, Garrett-Evangelical helped me grow into a better person socially, academically, and spiritually by participating in the student life of the seminary.

Finally, Garrett-Evangelical helped me creatively discern my calling to ministry. As part of this discernment, I am especially thankful for the experience at Garrett-Evangelical of preaching at a student-led chapel service during Hispanic/Latino(a) Latin American Week in the fall of 2013. My hopes for the future are to work in full-time ministry, gain experience as a minister in the church, and pursue ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church within the Northern Illinois Conference.

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Heather Dorr
Master of Divinity

My experiences at Garrett-Evangelical have made me into a theologian. Before coming here, I would not have given myself such a title, but I now understand that everyone thinks theologically and is a theologian. Through all of my classes, I learned vocabulary that helped me to speak about when and how I see God at work in the world, and I have learned the importance of being able to express my theological views.

My own theological viewpoint is quite relational. Our relationship to God, God’s relationship to us, and our relationships to one another are all connected. This has clarified my calling on how to be in healthy, loving relationship with God and with others. My time at Garrett-Evangelical has given me tools for how to cultivate this work within a ministry context with both practical and liturgical leadership.

I was just commissioned by the Iowa Annual Conference and have been appointed to serve as pastor at Eagle Grove United Methodist Church. I hope to bring creative ways to express faith and new ways to see God, and I am looking forward to all that I have to learn in this new context.