Seminary Without Walls

A WORLD PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK (C. John Weborg)

Merciful God, Creator of all who inhabit the earth, you behold your image and likeness in each of us.
How grieved you must be, even angered, at the suffering your image-bearers in China and Myanmar now endure. While the devastation exceeds one’s imagination, the demand of it defies our comprehension.
Merciful God, awaken in those near and far an unquenchable compassion and an equal outrage wherever injustice permits your image bearers to suffer degradation. May the people who name the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, as their own be like him, emptying themselves for the sake of those who now, like Jesus, have nothing except death and loss.
We pray this through Jesus Christ, who has dominion with you, merciful God, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and always. Amen.

Let me begin with an incident that occurred outside my clinical consulting room on a warm day here in the Midwest. This morning I had driven into the city early to grab a cup of coffee before my day started. I went to my usual place, and as usual, was greeted warmly by a young African American woman behind the counter. As my latte was being prepared, we discussed the Sox’s victory. When we reached a pause, our conversation took what I considered to be an odd, and sad, turn: leaning forward and speakly a little quieter, “what are you mixed with?” she asked. I must have drifted here, I thought, with some anxiety. Was she asking me about the coffee? I looked at her—hoping for some clarification, some clue as to what I had missed. “I beg your pardon” I offered. “What are you mixed with? You’re not from Chicago? Where are your people from? Are you part Indian? Your skin—it’s nice—not too light or too dark. And your hair, your hair is good hair”. “Oh”, I said, “no, I’m not mixed”.

I wondered what other lessons she had learned in her twenty-something years of life concerning color/blackness/her self. I felt sad as I imagined her looking at her chocolate brown skin each morning with her thick dreads reaching her shoulders and her wondering if her hair, her skin—her lovely brown skin–her self—“was good”.

What happens when a black girl encounters a mirror–here, in a place, called home?

Kimberlyn Leary has stated it ever so eloquently, “race is worn and lived similarily and differently by each of us”. Yes. We all wear this highly contested and socially created and perpetuated idea called race. Do we choose how we wear race? Do we choose what we see reflected in the mirror? What happens to the mirror image when we move into blackness? Move with me.

This entry is taken from the blog of Dr. Phillis Sheppard http://womanist-journal.blogspot.com/

Last week pranks, proof read commencement directions, prayers before phone interviews, extra treats for final studying – all are known in the seminary these days. Outside there are ducklings and baby bunnies but no undergrads (they graduated last weekend.) Inside are Pentecostal scarlet chapel cloths (paraments designed and sewn by Lois Weborg) and the sounds of a new song at the closing of class.
Like the sweet spring air, the Spirit is moving around us. As one chapter is closing, we thank God for the gifted teaching, warm friendship and engagement Paul Bramer has given the Lord and Covenanters here for the last thirteen years. We hold him and Marlene in our hearts and prayers as they move to Toronto for a new chapter of ministry and warmth of family. And we anticipate another chapter opening here as Linda Cannell transitions from Gordon-Conwell into leadership among us as Dean of Academic Life. She will begin with new students and new insight, arriving with our returning seminary community in August. We hold her in prayer too.
Like the seminary graduates, we at the seminary are growing into who we are meant to be. We know Who we belong to and who we are. We have wisdom of years of experience and growth in the Lord. Like the students, we have followed God’s calling to resource, guide, pastor, empower, teach, discipline and befriend those called into Christian ministry. God is not done with us yet, even though commencement is at hand!

Dr. Linda Cannell has accepted the Seminary’s invitation to an appointment as the Dean of Academic Life. Dr. Cannell follows Dr. Stephen Graham who accepted a position at the Association of Theological Schools.

Dr. Cannell has most recently served as the Lois W. Bennett Distinguished Professor of Educational Ministries at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  She served from 1990-2006 as Professor of Educational Ministries at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  From 2000-2006 she was the director of the Ph.D. in Educational Studies at Trinity.  She has served widely as a consultant and workshop leader in both the United States and Canada.  She has also taught and consulted internationally.  She has a long interest in the future of theological education and has served as a board member of the Association of Theological Schools.  She has worked for many years with the development and evaluation of curriculum for such companies as Scripture Press and David C. Cook.  Her research and publications are focused on theological education and on children’s ministry.  A native of Canada, Dr. Cannell received her Bachelor of Religious Education from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and a Master of Religious Education and Doctor of Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Dr. Cannell will begin her duties as dean with the new academic year.