One year and a half ago I began a new adventure. Not an adventure in far-away places or unknown fields, but right here at home and with very familiar topics. The adventure lies exploring with my new fellow students.
Last year I was invited to direct the Doctor of Ministry program at the Toronto School of Theology. This invitation invited me not only to a new task, but into a new community of scholars. My companions in the program are clergy and ministers from many churches and settings. Some are priests and pastors; others are chaplains and teachers; some are ordained and some laypeople.
Their ministry is worldwide. One is a pastor of a Presbyterian church in Cairo. Another is a Roman Catholic educator in Nigeria. A third is a Lutheran prison chaplain in El Salvador. One an administrator for the Orthodox church of the United States; another has a similar role in the Jews for Jesus mission here in Canada. Many serve here in Canada, literally from coast-to-coast.
Spending many hours with each one of these students is part of my adventure. Although their studies are added to already very busy lives, they bring a dedication and an intensity to them that is mission oriented. Each one has identified an aspect of their ministry that needs further exploration and a deeper understanding. Their projects address today’s puzzles and problems, in an exciting, challenging and purposeful way.
One student has explored the meaning of the spiritual life for men in his congregation. His intention is to apply his research findings to spiritual ministry for his male parishioners. By exploring how men live spiritually he hopes to be able to offer them help to grow in their friendship with God and to share that friendship with others.
Another student, a professor in a theological college, has assessed the usefulness of a year-long theological reflection class for ministers now working in church communities. The results of her investigation was to discover effective aspects of the class, and those that needed rethinking or change. She intends to incorporate this new knowledge into her formation ministry.
A third student is just at the planning stage of her project, an especially exciting time as the student wonders and ponders the project. She is hoping to explore the influence of the experience of pregnancy on the spiritual life of new mothers in her parish. These are only three out of 50 projects now in process.
Perhaps now you can understand and share some of my enthusiasm! To be involved with fellow students around the world and to be able to share in the planning, creation and results of such dedicated and intense ministry to God’s people is an exciting adventure.