How Have You Proclaimed The Good News?

Go now and proclaim the gospel,
not just through words but deeds –
through what you say,
what you do,
and who you are.
May others, as they meet with you, meet with Christ,
and know his living presence for themselves. Amen
-Nick Fawcett, England

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself grateful for the people who have proclaimed the gospel to me by simply being who God calls them to be. They are the ones who know that sometimes words fall short, but the ministry of presence does not. They are life-long learners, acknowledging there is always room to grow in the love of God and neighbor. They are co-creators with God who won’t settle for the world as it is, so they continually strive for the kin-dom of God. They reach out to those who are considered by society as ‘less-than’ and, in doing so, they meet Jesus. They study, teach, preach, serve, listen, inspire and learn so that the Bible and theology aren’t used as weapons for harm, but for the flourishing of all life.

It is because of these people – many of whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting both at Garrett-Evangelical and on the road recruiting for the seminary – that I continue to be inspired and passionate about what I do. As the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, I have the profound privilege of walking alongside prospective students as they share their call into ministry, while communicating with them the myriad of ways life as a Garrett student can enrich, inform and strengthen their call to be who God has called them to be.

Here are a few of the things I’ve learned and for which I am thankful:

• Campus ministries are alive and well with students who are passionate about putting their faith into action. Whether it is through serving the ‘least of these’ in their communities, participating in mission trips, or taking the time out of their busy schedules to discern and discuss the connection of their faith to their everyday lives, these students are preparing to make a difference in the world.
• Garrett-Evangelical is committed to living out our mission through practicing what we teach and preach. We may not always get it right, but we strive to be a seminary of and for the church. How do I know this? While I am only in my first year at Garrett, it is evident to me that we don’t simply talk about diversity and the global church; we continually seek out ways to engage in multi-cultural conversations and contexts, widening our understanding of who God is. We don’t simply teach about the ways in which we need to be better stewards of creation; we are renovating our residence hall to be LEED certified with geo-thermal heating and cooling and teaching courses on ecology and theology. Spiritual Formation is not simply given lip-service; we are raising money for endowing the Rueben Job Chair in Spiritual Formation, the first chair of its kind in theological education.
• Our alumni/ae have been prepared to be bold leaders for the church, the academy and the world. Whether it’s through forming an intentional ecological Christian community while serving a local church, providing resources in Christian education and youth ministry, creating sacred spaces through art and liturgy, speaking out against the injustices of our times, or leading a multitude of churches as bishop, our alumni/ae are not satisfied with maintaining the status quo, but continue to find new and creative ways to follow in the way of Jesus.
• Garrett-Evangelical is committed to provide on-going education not only for our own alumni/ae, but for all clergy who are interested through our MDiv Plus program which provides a two-year church leadership certificate program in conjunction with Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, along with clergy coaching opportunities.

There is much for which I am thankful! Becoming a part of the Garrett-Evangelical community and getting to know our faculty, staff, students, alumni/ae and prospective students – has renewed my hope that the gospel is alive and that there are many people ready to be the hands and feet of God in a world that desperately needs to hear the good news.

Where have you heard, seen, experienced the gospel proclaimed? How have you proclaimed the good news? During this season of Thanksgiving, may we be mindful of the ways in which God is at work in our lives, our communities, and our world. And may we live with intention as the people whom God calls us to be.

---

Rev. Becky J. Eberhart is the Assistant VP of Enrollment Management at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Once Upon a Time...

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.

Words of Wisdom

My name is Kay Burlingham and I am the director of annual giving and alum relations at Garrett-Evangelical and am in my thirteenth year of employment. A real highlight for me every fall is when students join me in sending out fall phonathon calls. It has become such a tradition that some recent graduates have been known to answer their phone by saying “the leaves are falling I bet this is Garrett-Evangelical calling."

Students gather with me in a classroom in October for two weeks during evening hours and together we dial out across the country collecting gifts and promises, prayer requests, recent family news and joyful surprises from seminary graduates from classes 1950 thru 2010. This fall I added one more item for each student to ask for - words of wisdom and/or advice. The older alums were quite generous and supplied us with quite a few pearls. Here is a smattering of what we received as we ended our calls with, “before I say good night, do you have any words of wisdom or advice for me tonight?”

“…had a wonderful time. Fellowship was important. My wife and I had a great time in Christian Education class during seminary. When you get out, take every advantage you have in getting to know people and helping people.” L. W. class of 1950

“Study hard. Keep Christ-centered.” W.T. class of 1951

“Don’t talk so much about the gospel, just live it.” P.G. class of 1952

“Keep your head above water. Don’t study too hard, and don’t take yourself too seriously.” G.W. class of 1953

“Dwell on people.” J.M. class of 1954

“Be true to your faith and be creative.” R.P. class of 1955

“A grateful heart goes with a heart that loves God.” W. P. class of 1955

“Hang in there!” M.R. class of 1956

“Live in the community you serve.” L.H. class of 1956

“That’s your job.” S.H. class of 1956

"Be open to opportunities. Keep your mind open to possibilities.” C.B. class of 1957

“Don’t waste any time getting your papers in!” A.B. class of 1957

“Study hard.” J.J. class of 1959

“Most of what you do will be teaching.” K.W. class of 1971

“Hang in there!” E. L. class of 1972

“You will learn more in a parish than at seminary. Enjoy the seminary, I did. But it doesn’t teach you about loving people.” N.S. class of 1972

“Embrace, enjoy, and suck it all in – and then take it all with you. I am thankful every day for that life changing experience.” L.D. class of 1973

“Take it all in.” B. A. class of 1978

“Just keep doing the good work you are doing.” H.A. class of 1978

“Stay with it, be persistant. Don’t let obstacles deter you.” E. H. class of 1983

“Learn to make coffee.” M. H. class of 1991

“You are not in the real world, you are at Garrett-Evangelical. Garrett-Evangelical is a world of its own. Enjoy it! Stick with it.” V.P. class of 1996

---

Kay Burlingham is the director of annual giving and alum relations at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.