The J-Term Experience

January Intensive, also commonly referred as J-Term.

A 2-week, buckle down, hold on tight, period where students take one class that meets every day, with some readings and written assignments being done before the class initially meets and a final assignment usually being due a few weeks after the class has ended.

o It requires discipline to stay on top of readings.

o It requires focus to absorb a great deal of information in a short amount of time.

o It requires caffeine and some kind of food substance to stay awake.

o It requires a warm jacket for those cold winter walks to class every morning

It truly is an intensive course.

However there are some great benefits to the J-Term classes:

o You get a 3 credit hour course out of the way in 2 weeks as opposed to 13 weeks

o You only have to worry about the work for one class as opposed to 4 or 5 classes

o You get a chance to know your fellow classmates better after spending hours together in the same classroom

This year was my first time taking an intensive course of any kind and since I am 1. Not a morning person and 2. Not a fan of the cold, I decided to ease into the J-Term experience by taking an online course at Garrett-Evangelical, another first for me at seminary. I had taken some online courses in my undergraduate work and I know that the key to a successful online course is the professor putting in as much time into developing the course site as the professor expects her/his students to put into the course. Thankfully, the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical who teach online courses know what they are doing. My J-Term class was by far one of the best online classes I have ever taken and while I may not have gotten to know the people in my class, I did get to know the two other individuals in my discussion group fairly well for having never seen each other face to face.

J-Term was by no means an easy time because it was online. Despite having the flexibility to do my readings, watch lectures, and post on the discussion board at different times in my day, it still required me to be disciplined in staying on top of course work, keep focus to really take in what I was learning (and not be distracted by Facebook, YouTube, and the other wonders of the internet), and a blanket since it was still a little chilly in my apartment.

Intensive courses are a unique experience, whether taken online or in the classroom. While it may, at times, seem crazy to try to do the work of a 3 credit hour course in the span of two weeks, I have a feeling that when I’m able to take 12 hours next fall instead of 15, I will come to appreciate J-Term even more. Maybe next J-Term I’ll try out the classroom experience, just don’t be surprised if you see me with a giant cup of coffee every morning!

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Tasha Sargent is a first year MDiv student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She regularly blogs at http://thethousandmilejourney.wordpress.com.

The Blessings of the Leadership Scholars

"I am always thanking God for you. I thank God for the grace give to you in Christ Jesus. I thank God for all the enrichment that has come to you in Christ. You possess full knowledge and you can give full expressing to it, because in you the evidence for the truth of Christ has found confirmation. There is indeed no single gift you lack..." [I Cor.1:4-7]

Almost ninety strong, the Leadership Scholars of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary offer amazing gifts of leadership and service to the community. Coming from diverse backgrounds and places, they have a vast array of interests, experiences, skills and passions. These they offer in an amazing bounty of services which benefit the entire gathered community. While preparing to be bold leaders in the church and the world, they are modeling such leadership to Garrett-Evangelical. It is a sign of understanding that the significant scholarship award received due to their leadership potential is matched by equal gratitude; knowing that the ability to be and continue at Garrett-Evangelical is made possible by the largess of others, calls for reciprocity in sharing their gifts freely.

You will find Leadership Scholars active in the whole life of Garrett-Evangelical. This fall they gave, on average, more than 20 hours of volunteer service to the school. Hooray for them and for all of us who are the beneficiaries! While it is impossible to note every particular gift, these are the summarized areas where leadership was offered:

• Chapel as they serve as technicians, greeters, assistants, worship leaders, band members, bells, choir members and more.
• The Women's Center (WomenIMAGES) is strengthened by their leadership and innovation: establishing connections with students' spouses and children, offering story and play times, bringing speakers for bag lunch times, furthering the dialogue among women preparing for a variety of ministries, planning for women's worship, and more. Conversation partners with spouses of international students provided a unique opportunity for mutual learning; some 24 women are involved in this activity.
• The Center for the Church and the Black Experience finds extensive leadership offered in the development of programs and opportunities for dialogue and reflection.
• Leadership Scholars supported The Latin/a Hispanic Center as it hosted a human rights activist who spoke about her situation in Mexico.
• The Student Theological Conference relies on Leadership Scholars as they are critical to its success. An added benefit is the interaction it affords with student colleagues from other seminaries.
• The Admissions Office is blessed by the Admissions Ambassadors who offer hospitality to prospective students who visit campus. As well, the Recruitment Ambassadors connect with students from their undergraduate school who are considering seminary.
• The Student Council, in its year of reorganization, benefits from the leadership in revision of the constitution as well as in serving as officers and committee chairs. In a year of transition with the Student Center as it is housed off-campus in the Coffee Lab, Leadership Scholars folk offer leadership in the ongoing programming in that setting.
• Service projects such as Eliza Garrett Day are enhanced by the leadership of Leadership Scholars students. Others participate in Beatitudes Society as they explore the call to justice.
• The new "Let Us Pray" group enjoys leadership from Leadership Scholars. Another new venture begun (by the Women's Center) is that of knitting prayer shawls; the first was given to one going on active military duty.
• Leadership in the Christian Educators Fellowship group and preparing for the Deacon Week gathering is offered by Leadership Scholars.
• Hospitality at Garrett-Evangelical is strengthened by the gifts of Leadership Scholars who help with community meals, receptions and other occasions welcoming guests to the school.
• Technical gifts are plentiful with Leadership Scholars: photography, videotaping, web design and enhancement, barcoding and other library tasks, assisting faculty with materials are a few of the skills/gifts offered.

A common activity shared by all Leadership Scholars is the offering of time to participate in the Phonathon, sponsored by the Alumni Office. Leadership Scholars called alums to thank them for their ministry, pray with them, invite their prayers for the school, ask for continued financial support. Many noted how good it was to learn and enhance their skills in this area... one likely to be used in later ministerial efforts! Others offered the gift of working to update and enhance records.

Finally, all Leadership Scholars are careful to pen their appreciation to their specific donors who made their scholarships possible. This act of hospitality is incredibly important, not only to demonstrate gratitude, but to model an appropriate response to the Gospel precept that "to whom much is given, much will be required." [Luke 12:48] Our Leadership Scholar students give much... and Garrett-Evangelical is blessed. Thanks be to God for you all!

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Dr. Elaine M. Amerson is the Special Assistant to the President at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

What Makes Garrett-Evangelical Great

I chose to attend Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary because of their emphasis on social justice, cross-cultural education, and a strong desire to prepare students to go out and make the church relevant for a divided world. It has been my experience that Garrett-Evangelical not only appreciates diversity of staff, student, and curriculum – Garrett-Evangelical thrives on it. I’ve never been in a classroom before with a full spectrum of gender, race, age, and experience. It makes the seminary experience unbelievably rich.

I feel called to ordained ministry and am very interested in urban ministry. Garrett-Evangelical takes full advantage of its access to one of the biggest cities in our country, Chicago. Through events, speakers, classes, and field education, any student at Garrett-Evangelical has the opportunity to jump head first into all the diversity of the city has to offer. I’ve expanded my experience with the Kingdom of God, specifically in my field placement at Chicago Uptown Ministry, thanks to Garrett-Evangelical.

We are currently living in a time of uncertainty and misunderstanding. Economic and social instability of today are minute compared to the effects they have on the furthering of our ignorance and distrust toward others we do not understand. Though my own faith, I am challenged to love instead of judge. Religion today is a reason and a vehicle to stay grounded in the love and presence of God, and to trust that all faithful people want peace, justice, and mercy. Because of our faith we can be reminded to put down the stones we were about to throw and use them as stepping-stones to a greater good and the kingdom of God.

Churches need to get real and start responding to the needs and concerns of the people. There is a disconnect between the ideals preached within the church walls and the actions of people outside of the church walls need to be recognized. This disconnect causes people to ask, “So now what?” People come to church looking for the love of God. People stay in churches when they feel like they’re doing something real to spread that love of God. Churches need to take a stance in the concerns of today: political, social, and cultural.

Garrett-Evangelical understands this and responds in turn. Garrett-Evangelical makes preparing their students for the transformation of the Church its utmost priority. They are constantly developing classes using feedback from students and United Methodist Boards of Ordained Ministry in order to improve the student’s experience. Garrett-Evangelical is a good school. But what makes Garrett-Evangelical great is the fact that it wants to be a good school, and the faculty and staff are willing to listen, willing to change, and willing to act in order to prepare students for the holy work of ministry.

Whitney Starkey is a second year Masters of Divinity student.