Building a Community of Hope Through Faith · 2019. 4. 16. · hope. This edition of Seed & Harvest...

Seed & HarvestTRINITY SCHOOL FOR MINISTRY SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Building a Community of Hope Through Faithpg. 6

Summer InterTerm 2019pg. 14

Critical Connectionspg. 8

Healing the Soulpg. 9

SEED & HARVEST2

Seed & Harvest

3 From the Dean and President4 Deans’ Corner5 HealingaHeartThroughHope6 BuildingaCommunityofHopeThroughFaith8 Critical Connections9 HealingtheSoul10 HopeontheBorder12 TrinityNews14 SummerInterTerm201918 AlumniNews20 FromOurBookshelf22 PreachingasaMessageofHope24 OnlineDegreeisaVictoryofFaith,Perseverance, and God’s Will25 TranslatingtheGospelfortheBodyofChrist26 WhyDoesTrinityNeedDonations?

Unlessotherwiseindicated,ScripturequotationsarefromThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version®(ESV®),copyright©2001byCrossway,apublishingministryofGoodNewsPublishers.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved.

Special thanks to The Rev. Christopher Klukas and The Rev. Dn. Geoffrey Mackey for editing assistance on this issue.

IN THIS ISSUE

PRODUCTION [email protected]

Executive Editor TheVeryRev.Dr.HenryL.ThompsonIII

[email protected]

General Editor Ms.MaryLouHarju

[email protected]

EditingMs. Deanna Hall

Layout and Design Ms. Alexandra Morra

S O L I D E O G L O R I A

Dean and President TheVeryRev.Dr.HenryL.ThompsonIII

[email protected]

Academic Dean Dr.ErikaMoore [email protected]

Dean of [email protected]

Dean of Advancement and Church RelationsTheRev.AidanSmith [email protected]

Dean of Students and Director of Alumni RelationsTheRev.Dn.GeoffreyMackey

[email protected]

Seed & Harvest is published biannually by Trinity School for Ministry, www.tsm.edu. Free subscriptions are avail-able through Trinity’s Development Office. Quantity orders of Seed & Harvest are usually available upon re-quest. Reprint permission: Where copyright is stated, you must contact the copyright holder. In most cases, Trini-ty will grant permission to reprint items published here provided that they are reprinted in their entirety, credit is given to the author and to Seed & Harvest, Trinity’s web address and telephone number are included, and a copy of your publication is sent to Mary Lou Harju at Trinity.

All contents ©2019.

VOLUME 45 | NUMBER 1

MISSION STATEMENTTrinity School for Ministry is an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition. In this fractured world, we desire to be a global center for Christian formation, producing outstanding leaders who can plant, renew, and grow churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.

To this end we are forming Christian leaders for mission.

SPRING/SUMMER 2019 3

Dear Trinity Family, Recently one of my grand-daughters was preparing for surgery when one of the medical team informed her that she has a genetic marker for a low clotting factor in her blood. While the doctors reas-sured us that we need not be

unduly alarmed, it got me thinking about markers, and even spiritual markers. Are there characteristics that predispose one to unbelief?

In my almost forty years as an ordained clergyman, and forty-eight years as an intentional follower of Christ, I would say there is one definite marker: the absence of hope. Hope is listed as one the three greatest virtues at the end of 1 Corinthians 13:13 when the apostle says “So now faith, hope and love abide….” We frequently hear sermons on love as the greatest virtue. Likewise, we hear many instructive sermons and talks on faith. But in my experience, we re-ceive far less instruction, either devotionally or academical-ly, on the topic of hope. Even as I began writing this letter, I looked at five or six commentaries on the verse above. I found each one shockingly superficial and unhelpful. There is a possible reason for this, and I believe the apostle Paul understood the complexity. First, hope is both a means and a destination. Second, it is possibly the hardest virtue to embrace and manifest in our lives. Third, it is arguably the quality above all others that demands humility of spirit.

It is a means as well as a destination in the sense that one must affirm that there is hope in order to embrace hope as a means for living through the pain and reality of life itself. Thus, the apostle Paul said that we must first trust in the God of hope in order to yield ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit that makes us hopeful. Winston Churchill described his fellow prisoners and himself when they were imprisoned in the Staats Model School in Pretoria during the Boer War: “In the end, if there is no hope that a prisoner will lose his shackles, he may lose his mind.” (The Hero of the Republic, 187). When he escaped he ran headlong into his own fears: “‘I realized with awful force that no exercise

of my own feeble wit and strength could save me from my enemies.’ Finally, desperate and nearly defeated, Churchill turned for hope and help to the only source he had left: his God.” (220)

Hope is hard to manifest in our lives because the opposition we face is real and our fears clamor to overwhelm and para-lyze us. When the prophet Jeremiah spoke to God’s people, he did not minimize what they faced but instead described the suffering awaiting them in great detail. His gloomy as-sessments became known as jeremiads, and yet his promises of hope and of a new heart for the people (see chapters 29 and 31 especially) gave hope that was substantial. Ultimate-ly, he invited the people of God to hope for the future if they humbled themselves before God and embraced his promise to them.

Trinity School for Ministry is a seminary that recruits and trains leaders who will bring real and substantial hope to a world that is discouraged due to corrupt moral leaders, greedy politicians, and confused spiritual leaders. When many, even in the Church herself, are inclined to yield to the spirit of cynicism, critical judgements of others, and condemnation of others through a culture of ad hominem attacks, Trinity School for Ministry is forming leaders who sustain life by calling others to the hope of life in the God of hope. This edition of Seed & Harvest is pointing to how our alumni, faculty, staff, donors and students are bringing sub-stantial hope to a world and a church that sorely needs it. As we are ever wont to do, we invite you to join us in praying for and lifting up leaders who bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the world.

In Christ, the Hope of the World,

From the Dean and President

The Very Rev. Dr. Henry L. Thompson III Dean and President

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom 15:13)

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Hope

OneofthegreatjoysofbeingonstaffatTrinityisaccompanyingstudentsfortwoorthreeyearsastheypreparefortheirfutureministries.Ihave

hadtheprivilegeofwatching12graduatingclasseswalkacrossthefrontofthenavetoreceivediplomas.Eachyear,itiswithasenseofjoy,pride,andyes,hope,thatwewatchanothergroupofwomenandmencelebratetheiraccomplishmentsandcommencetheirnewministries.Hopeforthefutureofourchurches.Hopefortheworld. Yet,aswelookaround,neithertheworldnorthechurchappeartobeplacesofhope.ThiswasbroughtintoourownbackyardlastOctoberasahate-filledgunmankilled11andinjuredsevenatthehistoricTreeofLifeSynagogueinPittsburgh.Orwhen,inDecember,analtercationatanAmbridgegasstationlefttwodead.OrwhenwelearnthatourbrothersandsistersinChrist—ourdearfriends— sufferpersecutionandmartyrdomaroundtheworldatthehandsofthosewhosetthemselvesagainstourLordandhisgospel. Nordoesthechurchseemtofareanybetter.Whatdenominationhasbeenimmunetoscandal?Whatparishhasnotstruggledwithdissention?Whatpastorhasnotstruggledwithdoubt?Whatministryhasnotstruggledtomakeendsmeet?AndasStone’spowerfulhymnputsit,thechurchis“byschismsrentasunder,byheresiesdistressed.”1 Andyet,fortheChristian,hopeisnotmerewishfulthinking.Norisitakindofreasonableassurancethatifwegetenoughpeopleallpullinginthesamedirectionwecaneffectpositivechange.Hopeisaparticulartheologicalvirtue.Itisacallingforallofus.Ourhopeis“sureandcertain.” Ournaturaleyesseemanyreasonsfordespair.

1. Samuel Johnson Stone, “The Church’s One Foundation”2. Good Friday Liturgy, Book of Common Prayer 1979, p.280

Buttheeyesoffaithcanseetheeverpresenttruth:

Things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and … all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made….2

Sowedohavehopeintheministriesofourstudents.Aswehearfromouralumni,welearnoverandoveragainofthepowerfulandmovingwaysthatGodischanginglives,healingdiseasesofbodyandmind,reconcilingenemies,andgrantinghislife-givingSpirittothosewhowereformerlydeadintheirtrespasses.Butourhopeisnotmerelyinthecharacterofourstudentsortheexcellenceofourprofessors.Rather,itisinthecallofGodtotakepartinhisworkinthisworld,the“ministryofreconciliation”(2Cor.5:18)thathehasgivenus.Andthatisfargreaterthananyofuscanconceive.WhatagreatprivilegetobefellowworkersinGod’sharvest!ForweknowthatitisGodhimselfwhoisworkingouthiswillamongandthroughusforhisowngoodend:

Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, nor shall the fierce devour the small; as beasts and cattle calmly graze, a little child shall lead them all. Then enemies shall learn to love, all creatures find their true accord; the hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord. (Carl P. Daw, Jr.)

DEANS’ CORNER

by The Rev. Dn. Geoffrey MackeyDean of Students and Director of Alumni Relations


by Mary Lou HarjuDirector of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations

When I was six weeks old, my father died at the age of 40. He had a heart attack that was probably a result of undetected heart disease.

The good news is that, even with a new baby to care for, my mother lived through her grief, three years later marrying the man I had the privilege of calling Dad. The bad news is that being diagnosed with a heart murmur as a child and a bicuspid aortic valve in my 20s confirmed that I had likely inherited something from my father other than his cheekbones.

On January 30th of this year, at age 54, I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I began writing this article in late December at a time when I was very frightened about this surgery, even though I was told that there was a less than one percent risk of anything going wrong. And I allowed my fear to feed my tendency toward anxiety. My hope that my life might return to some kind of normal in 2019, after my dad died last February, had quickly faded upon learning that surgery was needed. I felt like I was never going to get a break! But God, who is the restorer of our hope when we allow it to fade, is so good!

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” ( PSA LM 2 5 :5 N IV )

One evening before my surgery, a relatively new friend who recently underwent open heart surgery called me. He shared, at my request, what he thought to be the worst part of the process; quite frankly, it didn’t sound as horrific as the worst scenario I had created in my mind. But his words that really hit home were these: He said, “Mary Lou, I have heard you tell others a countless number of times to trust God. It is now your turn to trust him.” At first I felt admonished. Until I remembered the

theme of this issue, Restoring Hope. I realized that my friend had just restored my hope through reminding me to turn this over to God; my God who is devotedly faithful in restoring peace to my soul in the midst of my self-induced anxiety—when I remember to ask him for his help. I also remembered that this same friend had called me from his hospital bed a few days after surgery to tell me how blessed he was feeling. What amazing trust and hope he exhibited!

Fast forward: I’m pleased to share that my surgery was a success and I was able to return to work after only five weeks! The total success of my surgery reminded me that I should not question God’s timing. I’ll admit that I had felt angry when I learned that I had to have heart surgery at a relatively young age. But there was more than one reason that the surgery was to be now: the surgeon found an undiscovered problem with my aorta that would have eventually caused an aortic aneurysm, and he was able to fix it during the surgery. Who knows if the aneurysm would have been detected in time otherwise? Trusting God’s timing was one of the many things that he taught me through this process.

Why am I writing about this in an issue of Seed & Harvest? It is to encourage you to think about the ways in which God has been faithful and has restored your hope when you’ve allowed yourself to lose it. He sends people into our lives at a time when we need them or their stories. He brought me to Trinity in 2017, knowing that I was going to need the people, the prayer, and the community that Trinity offers in the next few years. And my prayer that God was going to use this surgery to not only heal my heart, but to also heal me in a way that perhaps only he knew I was broken was answered in so many ways. The healing of my less than hopeful spirit has already begun. And my hope is restored that my life is not just going to return to normal in 2019, but that it is going to also be full of the joy and peace that comes through believing.

Healing a Heart Through Hope

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InasmalltowninnorthwesternPennsylvaniacalledGuysMills,thereisapost-secondaryChristianschooldedicatedtoequippingpeopleforalifetimeofservice

toGod’skingdom.Theyservetheirspiritualcommunitybypreparingstudentstobehumble,joyful,mission-driven,andChrist-centered.

SoundsalotlikeTrinity,doesn’tit?Itis,infact,aconservativeMennoniteschoolcalledFaithBuildersTrainingInstitute.

TrinitystudentKyleStoltzfusservesasCommunicationsCoordinatorandupcomingAcademicDeanatFaithBuilders.HeispursuinganMAR(MasterofArtsin

Religion)degreethatwillhelphimbetterservetheschool.“MennonitesareapartofthegreaterChristiantradition,”heexplainedofhisfaith.“WeflowoutofhistoricalChristianityandfindourrootsthere.StudyatTrinitywasappealingbecauseoftheirrootednessinthegreatertradition.”

StudentsattendingFaithBuilderscanchoosefromoneofthreeareasofstudy:teacherpreparation,Christianministries,orgeneraleducation.

MennonitesvalueChrist-centeredserviceforthehome,churchandcommunity.Itisimportantforthemtohaveeducatorswhocanhelpreinforcethis.“Ourfirst

Building a Community of Hope Through Faith

by Deanna HallCommunications Assistant


generationofstaffandfacultyisaging,”heexplained.“Wehaveaneedtopreparethenextgenerationofqualifiedteachersandleaders.”

OneofthosefacultymembersandalsothecampuspastorisJohnCoblentz,fatherofTrinitystudentJoshCoblentz.JoshisalsopursuinganMAR.StoltzfussaidJosh’sstudiesatTrinitywillbeanassettoFaithBuilders.

ManyMennonitepeoplearenavigatingawayfromfarmingandamoreruralwayoflifetotheprofessionalworld,Stoltzfusexplained.OnegoaloftheInstituteistoteachstudentstobesuccessfulinanever-changingworldwhilekeepingtheirloveofGodatthecenterofalloftheirlifedecisions.

FaithBuildersalsooperatesaprivateChristianschoolforchildreningradesonethroughtwelve.

“ThisschoolisasourceofhopeintheMennonitecommunity,”Stoltzfussaid,bypreparingstudentsforentryintoafaithfulandskilledadulthood.

“ThetownofGuysMillshasbeenlargelyisolatedandneglected,”hesaid.“Theschool,bringsnewresourcesintothetown,andwetrytobedeliberateaboutmeetingtheneedsofourneighbors.”

One goal of

the Institute

is to teach

students

to be successful

in an ever-changing

world while

keeping their

love of God at

the center of

all of their

life decisions.

Kyle and Marlene Stoltzfus with their three children

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Weallwanttofeelconnectedtosomething—ourfamily,ourfriends,ourcoworkers,andourchurchcommunity.Butforthosewithmental

illness,makingtheseconnectionsisnotalwayseasy.

TrinitystudentAbbyOpalwantstogivehopetothesepeoplewhootherwisemayfeellost.

“Severalyearsago,Godlaiditonmyhearttoministerwithinthe mental health community,”Abbysaid.ShereceivedherMasterofArtsinReligionfromTrinityin2011andisnowworkingtowardaMasterofDivinitydegree,andis a candidate in Care towardsordinationintheEPC(EvangelicalPresbyterianChurch.)

Aspartofherstudies,Abbyvolunteersatthe Mental Health AssociationinBeaverCounty(PhoenixCenter),locatednearTrinity,whichprovidessocialization,support,andadvocacyprogramsforpeoplewithmentalillness.SheisalsocurrentlyservingontheBeaverCountyMentalHealth/IntellectualDisabilityAdvisoryBoardtotheBeaverCountyCommissioners.

“Thereisastigmathatcomesalongwithhavingamentalillness,”she

said.“Andbecauseofthat,sometimespeopledon’tfeelliketheyareconnected;theymayfeelliketheydon’tbelonganywhere.”AtthePhoenixCenter,clientscandropinformeals,activitiesandsupportgroupsinasettingthatissafeandwheretheyarenotjudgedortreatedaslessbecauseoftheirstruggles.

“Sometimesthat’sallpeoplewant,istofeelaccepted,”shesaid.

AbbyhasstartedaspiritualitygroupspecificallyforwomenthatmeetsatthePhoenixCenter’s“Ladies’Lounge”wheresheeducatesparticipantsaboutGod,faith,hope,andforgiveness.Shenotedthatwomenwithmentalillnesscanbeespeciallyhardonthemselves.Sheencouragestheladiestofocusonthetruthinsteadoftheliesthatweoftentellourselves,andhopesthatitwillbeincorporatedintotheirself-careplanforwhentimesgettough.“Wealltellourselvesthingsthataren’ttrueandbelievetheliestheenemytemptsuswith.However,whenyouhaveamentalillness,thiscanbeintensified.AsChristians,withorwithoutamentalillness,wehavethegiftofbeingabletofindinScripturethetruthtorefutethelies.InScripturewealsoareremindedthatwefitinGod’splan”(Jer29:11).

Abbyhasalsoestablishedaministry,“Let’sTalkAboutMentalHealth,”atherchurch,FirstPresbyterianinthenearbytownofBeaver,PA.TheministrydesirestoglorifyGodbyservingasasupportandeducationresourceformembersofthecongregationandlocalcommunity,andhelpingtobreakthestigmaandshamesooftenassociatedwithmentalillness.Throughthequarterlyseminarstheyaddressavarietyofmentalhealthtopicsforpeoplewhomayhavelovedonessufferingfrommentalillness,aresufferingthemselves,orjustwanttolearnmore.“Thepeoplewhocometoourquarterlymeetingsnotonlywanttotalkmoreaboutmentalhealth,buttheycometofindcommunityandrelationshipwithothers.Asaministry,wewanttohelpbridgethegapbetweenthechurchandlocalcommunity,proclaimingtheloveofChristanddirectingpeopletowardtheresourcesthatareavailabletohelp,”shesaid.

Critical Connectionsby Deanna Hall

Communications Assistant

“FOR I KNOW THE

PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,

DECLARES THE LORD,

PLANS FOR WELFARE

AND NOT FOR EVIL, TO

GIVE YOU A FUTURE

AND A HOPE.“

(JER 29:11)

(L to R) Joanne Koehler, executive director of MHA; Abby Opal; Cindy Straub, MHA


Notallinjuriessustainedinwararephysical.AsaMarineplatooncommanderinIraqandAfghanistan,TheRev.WesJagoe(MDiv2017)has

beeninvolvedinsomeviolentcombatsituations.

“I’vebeenshotat…seenpeoplegetkilledbyIEDs.Itbreaksyoursoulandviolatesyourownbeliefs,buttheLordalwaysprotectedme,”Wessaid.

“It’s a privilege to hold someone’s soul in your hand, pray with them, and watch the healing begin.”

- THE REV. WES JA GOE

Aftereightyearsofactiveduty,whilelivinginNorthCarolina,WessaidhewassearchingforaChristiancommunityofwhichhecouldbecomeapart.HebegantakingclassesonlineatTrinityin2014.

“IalwaysthoughtIwouldbeinministryofsomesort,”hesaid.HisfatherPaulisa1989Trinitygraduate,andcurrentlyservesasahospicechaplaininGreenville,SC.

AlthoughWeswasawayfromcombatsituations,hesaidthathebeganexperiencingfeelingsofanxiety.Eventhoughhehadneverbeenphysicallywoundedinbattle,thememories,guilt,andshameofsomeofhisactionsweighedheavilyonhisheart.Hewassufferingfromaformofpost-traumaticstressknownasamoralinjury.

Helearnedaboutahealingprayerretreat,TheWelcomeHomeInitiative®,forveteransandtheirspousesfromallwarswhohaveservedincombat,andaredealingwithPTSD,combatstress,andmoralinjury.

“WhenIfirstattended,IthoughtIwasjustgoingtheretolearnsomecopingskills,”hesaid.Aspartoftheprogram,participantsareencouragedtotalkabouttheirstressfulsituations.Wesrecalledreadingaloudanactualletterhehadwrittentohisfamilyyearsearlierbeforeheadingoutonacombatmission.Readingthatletter,hesaid,wasextremelycatharticforhiminhishealingprocess.“IfeltthepresenceofGod,andmyburdenseemedtobelifting.”Hedescribeshisexperienceas‘profoundlyhealing.’Somuchso,infact,hehasbecomeateacherandprayergroupleaderfocusingonmoralinjuryattheretreats.“It’sverypowerful.Peoplearehealedduringthisexperience.EvenpeoplefromwarslikeVietnam,whohavekepttheirstresshiddenforalltheseyears.”

“Ithinkmoreveteransaredealingwithmoralinjurythanweknow.Somepeopleholdthebeliefthatjustbecausetheymaynothavebeenphysicallyinjured,theirtraumaisless.Butthat’snotthecaseatall,”hesaid.

“Itisanhonorformetohavetheopportunitytoofferhopetotheseveteranswhostruggleemotionallyeveryday,”Wesadded.“It’saprivilegetoholdsomeone’ssoulinyourhand,praywiththem,andwatchthehealingbegin.”

TheRev.WesJagoecurrentlyservesasCurateatSt.Peter’sAnglicanCathedralinTallahassee,FL.

Healing the Soulby Deanna Hall

Communications Assistant

The Rev. Wes Jagoe in military uniform

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HOPE ONTHE BORDERby Deanna HallCommunications Assistant

Photo by Anna Kraft Photography


Imaginelivinginacountrywhereeconomicand/orsocialconditionsaresobadthatyouwouldriskyourlife,andpossiblythelivesofyourchildren,totravel

totheUnitedStatesinsearchofhope.Thejourneytakesdays,evenmonths,oftenonfoot.Youareunsureofyourpersonalsafetyorwhereyournextmealwillcomefrom.

Nowimagineyouarriveattheborderseekingasylum,areprocessedthroughUnitedStatesCustoms,andtoldyouwillhavetoappearbeforeanimmigrationjudgewhowilldeterminewhetherornotyoucanlegallystayinthiscountry.Nowwhat?Wheredoyougo?Howdoyounegotiatethelegalsysteminacountrywhereyoudon’tevenspeakthelanguage?

“It’sveryhumblingtohavetoaskpeopleforhelpwitheverything,”saidDanBehrens(MDiv2016).Heandhiswife,Rebekah,areworkingtohelpimmigrantscomingacrosstheMexico/TexasborderthroughtheoutreachministryTrinityontheBorder,aministryoftheAnglicanChurchinNorthAmerica.BehrensservesasMissionaryCurate.

“Thesearesomeofthemostvulnerablepeople,whohaveriskedeverythingtocomehere,”Behrenssaid.“Andweneedtoremembertheyarehumanbeings,withreallives,andrealstoriestotell.”

TrinityontheBorderprovideshealthcare,pastoralandsacramentalministry,andotherservicestothepooranddetainedasylumseekers.ThereisavibrantChristianlifeatTrinityontheBorder,offeringEucharisticworshipanddailyprayer.BehrensspendsmuchofhistimeteachingEnglishclassesatLaPosada,atransitionalshelterwheretheimmigrantscanstayshort or long-term,dependingontheirneed.

“There’salotofweightintheirdecisiontomakethisjourney.Theyknowhowdangerousanddifficultitisgoingtobe,buttheychoosetocomeanyway.I’veheardstoriesofchaosandevendeathintheirhomecountries.Whiletheystaywithus,theyknowthattheyaresafeandbeingwell-fed,whilegettingthespiritualsupporttheyneed,”hesaid.

Althoughhesaidhedidnotenvisionhimselfdoingthistypeofwork,headded,“MywifeandIhaveaheartforpeoplewhofeeldisplaced.Theimmigrationissuejustgrabsourhearts.”

Dan and Rebekah Behrens

Dan and Rebekah having dinner with a refugee family

Photo by Anna Kraft Photography

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TRINITY NEWS

TrinitySchoolforMinistrywassaddenedbythenewsthatSydneyMurphyhadpassedawaylastNovember.ShewasapassionatefollowerofChristandservedfaithfullyontheBoardofTrusteesofTrinitySchoolforMinistry,constantlychallengingtheBoardandtheFacultytoreachfarther,higheranddeeperinthemissionofChrist.WhentheBoardwasseekingGod’sguidanceforthelastcapitalcampaign,shewaiteduntiltheboardwasfinishingtheirdeliberationsanddiscernmentinprayer.SheannouncedthatsheandherhusbandMikewouldcommitto10percentoftheamounttogetthecampaignstarted.Tearsfilledtheeyesofboardmembersastheyrealizedwhathadjusthappened.Shewasapowerfulinstrumentofbothchallengeandencouragement.

SheandMikealsoinspiredTrinity’sformerDeanandPresident,JustynTerry,toinauguratetheworshipandsong-writingseminarsintheInterTermsthathavebecomesopopularinrecentyears,touchingthelivesofmanymusiciansandworshipleadersacrossthecountry.Herministrytouchedmepersonallyatamomentofcrisisinourownfamilystory.Ourson,Christopher,hadfallen89

feetfromawhitepinetreethathewascuttingdownasanarborist.IaskedtheBoardmemberstoprayforChrisasweagonizedthroughweeksofhisrecovery,uncertainwhatthefuturewouldhold.Sydneycommittedherselftofastandprayfervently.ShortlythereaftershecametothenextBoardmeetingwiththreewrittenpagesofwhatGodhadgivenherinprayeraboutourson.TearsfilledmyeyesasIreadthosewordsandreflectedontheimages.Whatmovedmemostwastheprofoundandhardworkshehadputintointercessionforourson.Thatwasalsocharacteristicoftheprayershegavetotheseminaryonaregularbasis.Asdescribedintheobituarywrittenbyherfamily,shewas“atruestudentoflife(with)…anunquenchabledesiretoexploreandlearnnewthings,challengingherselfandthosearoundhertoalwaysbethebestthatwaspossible.”WeshallmissSydney’spresencehereonearth.WegivethanksforherfaithfulanddevotedservicetoChrist,andparticularlyforhersupportofthemissionofTrinitySchoolforMinistry.MaytheLordcontinuetoblessherasshegoesfromstrengthtostrengthinHispresence.

Sydney West Murphy March 10, 1950–November 3, 2018

Mission Conference 2018InconjunctionwiththeStanwayInstituteforWorldMissionandEvangelism,TrinityhosteditsannualMissionConferenceinNovember.Thisyear’sthemewasMinistering in a Muslim Context,withTheRev.Dr.PervaizSultan,principalofSt.ThomasTheological

CollegeinKarachi,Pakistan,asourkeynotespeaker.Eventsincludedaninternationalpotluckdinner,HolyEucharist,Dean’sHour,LeadershipFormationGroups,MissionAwarenesspresentationsandEveningPrayer.

by The Very Rev. Dr. Henry L. Thompson III Dean and President


The Rev. Aidan Smith Appointed Provost ofTrinity Cathedral

AcknowledgingtheroleofTrinitySchoolforMinistryasasendinginstitutionformissionaryleaders,weproudlyannouncetheappointmentofTheRev.AidanSmith,deanofadvancementandchurchrelations,asProvostofTrinityCathedralin

Pittsburgh.HewillbemissedimmenselybytheentireTrinitycommunity.

AsProvostunderBishopDorseyMcConnell,Aidanwillberesponsibleforallparishpastorresponsibilities.

AidangraduatedfromTrinitySchoolforMinistryin2014withaMasterofDivinitydegree,andhehopestograduatewithaDoctorofMinistrydegreein2020.ThroughouthistimeatTrinity,servinginmanycapacitiesduringthelastseveralyears,hehastirelesslycontributedtotheschool’sministry,ensuringthatallareasunderhisleadershiprespondtothecurrentandfutureneedsoftheschool.

“WearesogratefultoAidanforhisoutstanding workatTrinity,particularlyforhisenergeticworkinreinvigoratingthevariouspartnershipinitiativesoftheschool,increasingbothresidentialandonlineenrollments,buildingtheCommunicationsdepartmenttoallowforin-houserecordingofonlineclassesandpromotingthecommunicationoftheschool,anddevelopingstrategiestoensureongoingfinancialstabilitythroughfundraising,”saidLaurieThompson,deanandpresidentofTrinity.“Inpartbecauseofhisleadership,AidanisleavingTrinitySchoolforMinistryinapositionthatispoisedforfuturegrowthandexpandedministry.”

New Stanway DirectorInFebruary,Trinity’sBoardofTrusteesunanimouslyvotedtonameTheRt.Rev.Dr.GrantLeMarquandthenewDirectoroftheStanwayInstituteforWorldMissionandEvangelismandProfessorofMission.LeMarquand,formerBishopoftheHornofAfrica,is

currentlyservingasavisitingprofessoratTrinity.

“Granthasadeepconcernandcompassionforthedisenfranchised,”saidDr.ErikaMoore,Trinity’sAcademicDean,ProfessorofOldTestament,andDirectorofPartnerships.“Hehasawealthanddepthofexperienceinmissiononboththeglobalandacademicstage,alongwithanacademicacuityandcuriosity.HeistrulyablessingtotheTrinitycommunity.”

TheStanwayInstituteprovidesinstitutionaladministrationandoversightofprogramsandactivitiesthatcontributetowardformingChristianleadersformission.

“Trinityhasalwayshadmissioninitsblood,”LeMarquandsaid.AsDirectoroftheStanwayInstitute,hewantstomorefullyinvolveTrinityfacultyandstaffintheprocessofformingstudentswhoarepreparedformissionworkathomeorabroad.“MissionisthepurposeoftheChurch,”hesaid.“WeareinstitutionalizingitinawaythatishealthyforourstudentsandtheglobalvillageofourfellowChristians.”

THERE’S A TRINITY APPFOR THAT!

Available now.

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ST 550 Lutheran Confessions (Lutheran Focus, 2-weeks – 1/2 days)The Rev. Dr. Maurice Lee

AclosestudyoftheconfessionalwritingsoftheLutheranChurchasgatheredinthe

BookofConcord.ThecoursewillfocusontheroleoftheConfessionsaspublicdoctrineoftheLutheranChurch.ThemajortheologicaltopicsintheConfessionswillbestudiedinrelationtothewiderChristiantraditionwithaneyetotheirecumenicalandpastoralimplications.Classicandcontempo-raryLutherantheologianswillbeconsultedforinsightintowhatitmeanstobea“confessionalLutheran”inparticularplacesandtimes.(Prerequisite:ST540)

PT 670 Introduction to Lutheran Liturgy (Lutheran Focus, 2-weeks – 1/2 days)The Rev. Dr. Amy Schifrin

TheworshipofGod,Father,SonandHolySpiritisatthecenterofourlifetogetherasHis

people.ThroughWordandSacrament,GodcomestousthatwemightrendergloryuntoHim.ThiscoursewillprepareseminariansforpastoralliturgicalleadershipinLutherancongregationalsettings.TheLutheranBookofWorshipwillserveasatemplateforpracticumsinbasicliturgicalskills.

PT 550 Homiletics (2-weeks – 1/2 days)The Rev. Dr. Amy Schifrin

ThiscourseintroducesstudentstothebasicskillsnecessarytomovefrombiblicaltexttohomileticproclamationwithinaEucharis-

ticRite.Emphaseswillbeonbasicwritingskillsandoraldelivery.Studentswillbecomefamiliarwith20thand21stcenturyhomiletictheoriesandtheirdoctrinaloriginsastheybegintodesignanddeliversermonstocontemporaryChristianassemblies.Theywillhavemultipleopportunitiestopreachandreceivefeedbackwithintheclassroomsetting.

CH 680 Theology and Writings of Martin Luther (Lutheran Focus)The Rev. Dr. Mark Mattes

ThroughreadingsignificanttextsofMartinLu-therandimportantsixteenthcenturyconfes-

sionalstatements,studentsareintroducedtomajorthemes,events,andfiguresofthereformationera.Therelationshipbetweenearliertheologicalmovementsandcontemporarylifeareexploredespeciallywithafocusonministry.

DM 900 Listening and Trusting (DMin only)The Rev. Dr. Jack Gabig

Thisorientationcoursewillintegratetheology,spirituality,andmissiology,andgiveattention

tothepracticalapplicationofthecourseworktotheneedsandministerialcontextoftheindividualstudent.ThecoursewillalsoservetobuildupacommunityoflearningamongthestudentsoftheenteringDMinclass.

OT 700 Hebrew Exegesis (2-weeks)The Rev. Dr. Don Collett

ExtensivetranslationworkinvariousgenresoftheOldTestamentincludinghistoricalnar-rative,propheticspeech,andpoetry.Students

aretaughthowtousethestandardreferencegrammarsandadvancedlexicons.Thecourseisdesignedtopreparestu-dentsforfurtherexegeticalworkintheOldTestament.(Prerequisite:BL630orBL631andBL632)

NT 700 Greek Exegesis (2-weeks)The Rt. Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand

This intermediate course in New Testament exe-gesis offers students the opportunity to increase their skills in reading, interpreting and apply-

ing the text of the Greek New Testament. The course includes practice in reading and exegeting actual passages of the Greek New Testament. (Prerequisite: BL 650 or BL 651 and BL 652)

SUMMER IN TERTERM 2019

June 3-7, 2019

WEEK ONE


NT 624/924 The Gospel of MatthewThe Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland

ThiscoursefocusesontheGospelofMat-thew’sliteraryandcanonicalargument,engagesthehistoryofinterpretation,and

considersitstheologicalandpastoralimplications.AswestudytheGospelwewillencounteranumberofmajorissuesintheologyandministry:forexample,thepersonandworkofChrist,thenatureoftheKingdomofHeaven,therelation-shipbetweenlawandrighteousness,andaChristologicalreadingoftheOldTestament.Allinall,wewillseehowMat-thew’sGospeliscarefullyshapedtoshowthatJesusreenactsIsrael’sstoryasthetrueIsraeliteandsofulfillsIsrael’sscripturalhopes.

ST 900 Evangelical Theology (DMin only)The Rev. Robert Sturdy

Thiscoursesetsouttheessentialsofevangel-icaltheologyandappliesthemtoChristianministryincontemporarypluralisticsociety.

ItaddressesthesupremeauthorityoftheBible,theuniquepersonandworkofJesusChrist,thelordshipoftheHolySpirit,theimportanceofpersonalconversionandthereforethepriorityofevangelism,andthevitalroleoftheChurch.Italsodefendsthesepositionsfromsecularcritics,bothmod-ernandpost-modern.

CH 725/PT 925 Retrieving the Church Fathers: Scripture, Theology, Worship, and Spiritual Practice (AEF Class: Mon-Wed, AEF Conference)The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Warren

Across Christian traditions, the 20th century saw a marked turn toward the insights of ‘pre-critical,’ and in particular, patristic exegesis as a resource for contemporary theology, worship, and practice, a process which has only picked up steam in the first part of the 21st century. This process of resourcing and retrieval of the church fathers has inspired new initiatives in scriptural interpretation, liturgics, sacramental theology and practice, mission and evangelism in a number of different contexts. This course offers an introduction to these theologies of retrieval across several Christian traditions and what the initiatives inspired by these retrievals might mean for the contemporary church.

PT 675/975 Family Systems TheoryThe Rev. David Lee Jones, ThD

Thiscourseexaminesecclesialorganizationsandhowclergyfunctioninthem.Studentsareintroducedtosignificantwritingsinthefield

ofBowenfamilysystemstheory.Thecoursehelpsstudentsfocusoncriticalself-reflection,“differentiationofself,”andonanalyzingpersonalexperienceandpastoralleadershipinlightofsystemstheory.Studentscraftfamilygenogramsandannotatedtime-lineswithaviewtowardsconnectingtheirfamilyoforiginissueswiththeirindividualstylesofpastoralleadership.Studentsalsolearntoemploysystemstheorytoassessandevaluatecomplexorganizationalsystems.

ME 725/925 Lesslie NewbiginThe Very Rev. Dr. Leander Harding

Alookatthetheologianandmissionary-bishop,LesslieNewbigin,whowasfamousforhisbooks,includingThe Gospel in a Pluralistic

Society.Hiscross-culturalworkandecumenicalconver-sationsledtotheformationoftheChurchofSouthIndia,wherehebecameoneofitsfirstbishops.


Audit a Master's Level Course | $200

To register, visit:www.tsm.edu/interterms

June 10-14, 2019

WEEK TWO

SEED & HARVEST16Trinity

School for Ministry

presented by: Trinity

School for Ministry

The Robert E. Webber Center

for an Ancient Evangelical Future

Reclaiming the Christian Tradition for the Life of the Church Today


THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEWJUNE 10 & 11

InthisclasswewillsituateMatthew’sGospelinitshistoricalcontext,consideritsoverallstructure,ma-jorthemes,andhowtheGospelhasbeeninterpretedthroughouthistory.Followingthat,wewillbegintodelveintotheinterpretationofMatthew1-7,alwaysseekingtokeepinmindthetheologicalandpastoralimplicationsofwhatwe’restudying.

NON-CREDIT COURSES & EVENTS

To learn more and to register, visittsm.edu/conferences-and-events/


CATECHESIS: BUILDING BELIEVERSSATURDAY, JUNE 8

Mostfamiliesandpastorswouldagreethatfamiliesarethebuildingblocksofahealthycongregation.Theretendstobeabreakdownsomewherealongthewaybetweenthedesireonthepartofchurchleadershiptoequipparentsandtheday-to-dayrealityoffamilieslivinginourfrenziedandfracturedculture.Similarly,parentswanttoprovidepositivepracticesathome,butareoftenatalossastohowtodoso.Thisonedayseminarwillfocusonfamiliesastheheartandhopeofthechurchbylookingatsomeverypracticalwaysforequippingpastors,parents,andchildrenforactivediscipleship.

Trinity

School for Ministry

presented by: Trinity

School for Ministry

The Robert E. Webber Center

for an Ancient Evangelical Future

Reclaiming the Christian Tradition for the Life of the Church Today

The Gospel of MatthewJune 10 & 11

2-Day Course | The Rev. Dr. Orrey McFarland

BUILDING BELIEVERS

Saturday, June 8, 2019The Rev. Dr. Winfield Bevins &

Dr. Robin Turner

The Old Fashioned Way

SEED & HARVEST18

ALUMNI NEWS

MOVES & TRANSITIONSAs of February 2019

TheRev. Daniel Behrens (MDiv2016)hasbeencalledtobetheMissionaryCurateatTrinityontheBorder,Harlington,TX.

TheRev.Dr. Hillary Bercovici (MDiv1983)retiredfromcongregationalministryonJune1stbutremainsinactivepracticeasapastoralpsychotherapistandspiritualdirectorinGreenwich,CT.

Sincereceivingherdoctorateineducationfouryearsago,Dr. Cilla Bercovici (LS1983)hascontinuedtoserveasthemathspecialistandheadofthemathdepartmentforpre-kthrough6thgradeatSacredHeart,Greenwich.

TheRev. Katherine Noel Collins (MDiv2013,STM2016)wasordainedtotheDiaconatebyTheRt.Rev.MarkZimmerman,BishopoftheAnglicanDioceseoftheSouthwestonSaturday,September22,2018attheChurchofSt.Clement,ElPaso,TX.

Lynnae (MAR2018)and Caleb Douglas (MDiv2018)welcomedtheirthirdson,JoelDavid,intotheworldonJuly28,2018inNewYork,NY,whereCalebservesatImmanuelLutheranChurch.

Joseph Ferritto (MDiv2017)hasbeennamedateacherofchurchhistoryandLatinatAugustineClassicalAcademyinMechanicville,NY.

TheRev.Dr. David Kyle Foster (DMin2001)recentlybegananewpodcast,“PurePassion”fortheCharismaPodcastingNetwork. Hecontinuestoworkwithhisministry,MasteringLifeMinistriesandPurePassionMedia.

TheRev. Rick Gillert (MDiv2017)wasordainedtothePriesthoodfortheACNAJurisdictionoftheArmedForcesandChaplaincyonNovember10,2018byTheRt.Rev.DerekJones.

TheRev.Addison Hodges Hart (MDiv1987)hashadanewbookpublishedbyCascadeentitled The Letter of James: A Pastoral Commentary.

TheRev. Jonathan Henson (MDiv2018)wasordainedtothepriesthoodbyTheRt.Rev.ClarkLowenfield,BishopoftheDioceseoftheWesternGulfCoastonFriday,October5,2018attheChurchoftheApostles,Houston,TX.

TheRev. Mark Hottel (MAR2016)wasordainedtotheDiaconatebyTheRt.Rev.RonaldJackson,BishopoftheAnglicanDioceseoftheGreatLakes,onNovember10,2018atLakewoodAnglicanMission,Lakewood,OH.

TheRev. Brian Hughes (MDiv2012)andhiswifeMandy welcomedtheirson,TheodoreAndrewSimeon,intotheirfamilyonSeptember26,2018.

TheRev.Cletus Hull (MDiv1989)haspublishedanewbookentitled The Wisdom of the Cross and the Power of the Spirit in the Corinthian Church.

TheRev. Wesley Jagoe (MDiv2017)wasordainedtothePriesthoodbyTheRt.Rev.JohnA.M.Guernsey,BishopoftheAnglicanDioceseoftheMid-AtlanticonNovember18,2018atSt.Peter’sAnglicanCathedral,Tallahassee,FL.

TheRev. Kimberly Karashin (MAR2018)wasordainedtotheDiaconateonDecember1,2018byTheRt.Rev.DorseyMcConnell,BishopoftheEpiscopalDioceseofPittsburghatTrinityCathedral,Pittsburgh,PA.

TheRev. John Kirby (MDiv2018)wasordainedtothepriesthoodonSaturday,January12,2019byTheRt.Rev.JohnGuernsey,BishopoftheAnglicanDioceseoftheMid-Atlantic,attheChurchoftheResurrection,Lutherville,MDwhereJohnservesonthepastoralstaff. Johnandhiswife,Ali,welcomedtheirdaughter,AveryJanette,intotheworldonSeptember10,2018. TheRev. Lauren R.E. Larkin (MDiv2007,STM2011)wasrecentlyacceptedtotheUniversityofAberdeenPhDprogram.

TheRev. Nicholas Marziani (DAS1994,DMin 2004) has announcedhisretirementasPastoralAdministratorofSt.JamesRomanCatholicChurch,St.Augustine,FL,aparishhefoundedsevenyearsago.

TheRev. Dan Morgan (MDiv1993)wasinstalledasRectorofSt.Luke’sMinistries,Copley,OHonSaturday,December8,2018.

TheMostRev. Héctor (Tito) Zavala Muñoz (MAR1989,DMin2004)wasinstalledasfirstArchbishopoftheAnglicanChurchofChile,astheChileandioceseswereinauguratedasanautonomousprovinceoftheAnglicanCommuniononSaturday,November4,2018.

Erica and Zac Neubauer (MDiv2017)welcomedtheirfourthson,KentGardner,intotheworldonDecember27,2018.

Jeffrey Alan Minshall (MDiv2011)diedunexpectedlyonSeptember4,2018.AmemorialservicewasheldonSaturday,September16atSt.Timothy’sAnglicanChurch,Spring,TX.

Jack Richards (MAR2008),thehusbandof Rosa Lee Richards (MAR2006,STM2012,DMin2015),passedawayonJanuary7,2019. AmemorialservicewillbeheldatWestPoint,NYinthespring.

REQUIEM

KEEP IN TOUCH!Let us know how about your moves and transitions. We want to know how the Lord is working in your lives and share it with the rest of our community. Send emails to [email protected] and written correspondence to: Trinity School for Ministry - Alumni311 Eleventh St.Ambridge, PA 15003

TheRev. Robert Osborne (MDiv2018)wasordainedtotheDiaconatebyTheRt.Rev.GregoryBrewer,BishopoftheDioceseofCentralFlorida,onSeptember8,2018attheCathedralofSt.Luke,Orlando,FL.

TheRev. David Pennylegion (MDiv2016)hasbeennamedRectorofSt.Aidan’sChurch,Windsor,ON. DavidwillcommencehisnewministryonMay1,2019.

TheRev. Gregory Alan Pfeifer (MDiv2013)wasordainedtotheDiaconatebyTheRt.Rev.MarkZimmerman,BishopoftheAnglicanDioceseoftheSouthwestonSaturday,September22,2018attheChurchofSt.Clement,ElPaso,TX.

TheRev. Sara Dulaney Phillips (MDiv2006)wasordainedtothePriesthoodbyTheRt.Rev.JamesRussellKendrick,BishopoftheEpiscopalDioceseoftheCentralGulfCoastonDecember1,2018atSt.Mary’sbytheSeaEpiscopalChurch,Coden,AL.

TheRev. Matthew Rivers (MDiv2018)wasordainedtothePriesthoodbyTheRt.Rev.MarkLawrence,BishopoftheDioceseofSouthCarolina(ACNA)onNovember27,2018at St.John’sChapel,Charleston,SC.

Kelseyand Aaron Rowley (MDiv2018)welcomedtheirson,Dietrich,intotheworldonDecember18,2018.

TheRev. Jeremy Shelton (MDiv2018)wasordainedtothePriesthoodbyTheRt.Rev.MarkLawrence,BishopoftheDioceseofSouthCarolina(ACNA)onDecember1,2018atSt.John’sParish,John’sIsland,SC.

TheRev. Jacob Brent Stewart (MDiv2018)wasordainedtotheDiaconatefortheACNAJurisdictionoftheArmedForcesandChaplaincyonNovember10,2018byTheRt.Rev.DerekJones.

TheRev. Hans Tolpingrud (MDiv2017)andhiswifeAnnewelcomedtheirdaughter,ZyskaMaria,intotheworldonSeptember29,2018.

TheRev. Brandon Wickstrom (MDiv2017)wasordainedtotheDiaconatebyTheRt.Rev.BrianThom,BishopoftheEpiscopalDioceseofIdahoonOctober12,2018atGraceChurch,Nampa,ID.

TheRev. Jacob Worley (MDiv2004)hasbeencalledasRectorofSt.Andrew’sChurch,FortWorth,TX.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

BACCALAUREATE May10,2019|5PMSt.Stephen’sChurch,Sewickley,PA

GRADUATION May11,2019|10AMSt.Stephen’sChurch,Sewickley,PA

19

SEED & HARVEST20

From Our Bookshelf

FoundationsforChristianMinistry

NOW AVAILABLE!

AllthreevolumesarenowavailableforpurchasethroughtheTrinitySchoolforMinistryBookstore.Buythethree-volumesetand

get20%offyourpurchase.Orderbycalling724-385-8038.

Discovering the New Testament by Leslie and Lynn Fairfield with Peter Walker

The Foundations for Christian Ministry

seriescontinueswithDiscovering the New Testament.Thisbookwillintro-duceyoutotheauthors,texts,histor-icalbackgrounds,andcoredoctrinesoftheNewTestament.Storiesfromfirst-centurylifewillhelpyoutobet-terunderstandthesettinginwhichtheNewTestamentwaswritten.QuestionsforBiblestudyandgroupdiscussionwilltakeyoudeeperintotheteachingoftheNewTestamentandhelpyoubetterunderstandhowitappliestoyourlifeinChristtoday.Through Discovering the New Testa-ment, youwillgrowdeeperinyourfaithandbebetterequippedforalifeofserviceandministry.$21.99

Discovering the Old Testament by Stephen F. Noll with Erika Moore

Discovering the Old Testament is designedtodelve

intoahistoryofsalvationandlifewithGodasexpressedintheOldTestament.ThethirdvolumeintheFoundations for Christian Ministry se-ries,thisbooklooksatmajorthemesandeventsintheirrelationshiptoJesusChrist.OurinteractionwiththeOldTestamentisintendedtohelpusinalifetimeoflisteningtoGodspeakthroughhiswrittenWordandapplythatWordtoourlives.$21.99

Confessing the Faith by Ray Smith with John H. Rodgers

InConfessing the Faithyouwillbepresentedwiththegreat doctrines

oftheChristianfaith—theessentialteachingsofScriptureandtheChris-tiantraditionfromtheapostlesdowntothepresent.AndyouwilllearnthesedoctrinesastheyhavebeengenerallyreceivedandcommunicatedwithintheAnglicantradition.ThisbookisofferedinthehopethatyouwillbestrengthenedinyourfaithinGodandable,whencalledupon,toconfessyourfaithbygivingarea-sonedanswerforthehopebywhichyoulive.$21.99

A Restless Age by Austin Gohn (MDiv 2019)

InthetimeI’veknownAustinGohn,I’veheardalotabouthisministrytoyoungadults.Ineverclassedmyselfamongthem.WhenheaskedmetoreadabookhewaswritingonAu-gustineforthosesameyoungadults,Iagreedtoreadit—butashisfriend,nothistargetaudience.Iwasshockedtofindmyselfinnearlyeverypage.

A Restless Age: How St. Augustine Helps You Make Sense of Your Twentiesisabookyoushouldreadif(1)youareayoungadult,(2)youhavefriendswhoareyoungadults,(3)youministertoyoungadults.UsingAugustine’sancient Confessions asawindowintoourcontemporarytimes,Gohnbringsusthroughthequestionsthatplaguethisgenerationtotheirsole,unchanginganswer.

Review by Deanna Briody (MAR 2017), Graduate Writing Tutor and Facilitator of Partnerships

Austin Gohn andDeanna Briody


Paul and the Trinity: Persons, Relations, and the Pauline Lettersby Dr. Wesley Hill

Acolleagueoncesaidtome,“Ijustmetyoursisters.Inowunderstandwhoyouaremuchmoredeeply.”Iappreciatedhisobservation—theThompsonfamilystoryisnotjustaboutoneperson,butrathertheunfoldingofinterrelationshipsovermanyyearsandplaces.WhilethissimpleillustrationdoeslittletodescribetheprofounddepthsofDr.Hill’sexcellentwork,itdescribesthestartingpoint.IncitingthescholarNilsDahl,Dr.Hillsetsupthepremise:“GodtheFather,JesusChristand…theHolySpiriteachhaveadiscreteidentity,andyetnoneofthethreecanbeadequatelydescribedunlesstheinterrelationshipamongthemistakenintoaccount”(26).HilldivesintothespecificsofPaulineviewsoftheTrinitybylookingatkeypassagesandilluminatinghowtheologiansandexegetesgowrongwhentheyneglectthemutualityembeddedintothenarrativeofsalvation.Neartheendofthebookheconcludes,“Ihavetried…toshowthattheconceptualcategoriesof‘personsinrelation,’developedsorichlyinthefourthcenturyandthefollowingtheologicaleras,mayenablethosewholivewiththemtolivemoredeeplyandfruitfullywiththefirstcenturyapostlehimself”(171).IfinishedthebookinspiredbywhatIhadread.Dr.HillmakesmewanttoreadmyBiblewithfresheyesandheart.

Therefore I Have Hopeby Cameron Cole

DuringourrecentvisittoTheCathedralChurchoftheAdventinBirmingham,ALweencounteredmanydimensionsofapowerfulanddiverseministry.ManytherewereexcitedbytherecentpublicationbytheirDirectorofChildren,YouthandFamily.CameronColehaswrittenaneasy-to-readworkthatcanbeimmediatelyappliedtotheworsttragediesoflife.Threeitemsjumpedoutformeinthispreciousbook.First,weallmustface“myworst”asColedescribesit.Forhimitwasthelossoftheirbelovedthree-yearoldson,Cam.Hewrites,“mydreadfuldaydreamshadbecomeareality…herewaswhenIwouldcurseGod,resignfromministry,andpursuealifeofself-interestasabitter,faithlessman.ButtheLordputawordinmymouththatsurprisedme…GodgavemefaithandhopewhileIstoodsquarelyinmyworst”(17).TheseconditemcamefromhisdiscussionofProvidenceandawell-meaningchaplainwhosaidGodhadnoinvolvementinatragiccaraccident.Themotherofthedeadsonreplies,“Don’tyoutakeawaytheonlyhopeIhave”(93).Third,thebookspeakspowerfullyofadoptingJoyasthe“newsong”ofourlivesaftertragedy.Thisbookisamustreadforthosewhohavefacedunspeakabletragedy,butperhapsitisevenmoreimportantforthosewhohaveyettoface“myworst.”

From Our Bookshelf

THE DEAN’S PICKS

The Very Rev. Dr. Henry L. Thompson III Dean and President

AllbookscanbepurchasedthroughtheTrinitySchoolforMinistryBookstore!

Visitwww.bookstore.tsm.eduorcall724-385-8038.

SEED & HARVEST2222

The Rev. Dr. Amy C. SchifrinPresident, North American Lutheran Seminary (NALS)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

(Isaiah 43:1b) OnthefirstSundayofeverymonthIaminprison.Letmequalifythat.OnthefirstSundayofeverymonthIampreachingandsharingtheEucharistintheAlleghenyCountyJail,downtownPittsburgh.Iamneverwiththesamecongregationtwice,asthejailministryteamsarerotatedthroughthedetentionpodsandinmatesaregenerallyinthecountyjailfornomorethana90-daystay.Theymightbeawaitingtrialortransporttoapenitentiary,ortheymightbeservingashortsentence.Wemeetinagymnasiumwithbarewalls,beatenplasticchairs,andlocksonthedoors.Andjustlikeonthe“outside,”attendanceisvoluntary. Ilovepreachingintheprison,andIlovemeetingeachnewassemblywhoiseagertohearawordofhope:awordthatwillgivethemlife;awordthatwillgivethemawaytosurviveinableakanddepressingenvironment;awordthatwillhelpthemtoseeGod’sbeautyinthefaceoftheircellmate,theirguard,orevenintheirownfacewhenthey

haveachancetolookinamirror;awordofhopethatsayswhereveryouare,inwhatevercircumstances,God,yourheavenlyFatherhasnotandwillnotstoplovingyou.Ilovepreachingthiswordthatsays,whenandifyouleavetheprisonsystemandseektolivebenevolentlyontheoutside,thosewhotrustthatGodhasraisedJesusfromthedead,i.e.,thechurchthatgathersinhisnamewillbeheretohelpyou,toteachyou,towalkwithyou,torebukeyouwhenyougoastray,tocomfortyouwhenitallseemstoohard,tolistentoyouwhenyouareexhausted,tocheeryouontherightpathwhenyourold“friends”areluringyoutothewrongone,tounderstandthatwhateversinsanyoneofushascommitted,noneofusismoreworthythananyother.WeallliveinthesamehopethathewhohasraisedJesusfromthedead,willdosoforallofhisbrothersandsisterstowhomhehasgivenhispromise.“Donotfear,forIhaveredeemedyou….” Forme,thepreachingGod’sholywordinacountyjailisasignforusall,sinnersofeverystripe,thatnomatterwhatfearswelivewith,nomatterhowfarwehavegoneastray,nomatterhowmuchwehavemanagedtohidefromourco-workers,ourspouse,orevenfromthelaw,theGodwhoseesallandknowsallwantsbetterforus.Hekeepsshoweringhisloveuponusthroughhislivingwordbecausehe keeps hopingthatwewouldhearandbedrawntohim.Thisis,ofcourse,whereourhopelies,inthepreachingofhimwhohasovercomeall,evendeath,JesusChrist,ourLord.

The Rev. Dr. Rich Herbster Director of Presbyterian Studies

AmongthemanifoldtormentsinflicteduponvictimsoftheHolocaustwasonedesignedtodestroyanysenseofmeaningorpurpose. Ordersweregiven

todigahole. Whentheholehadbeendug,ordersweregiventofilltheholeinagain. Theoutcomewasdespair. Weweremadeformeaningfulaction;weweremadeforpurposefulexistence. Failingthis,wedespair. Suchdespairistheantithesisofoneofthethreetheologicalvirtues:hope. Inthemidstofpain,grief,anddeath,weneedhope. Thegoodnewsiswe’vebeengivengoodnews:agospelofhope. Preachingisviewedinmanydifferentwaysin our day. Theword“preach”itselfisoftenusedwithnegativeconnotations,synonymouswitharrogant,judgmentalbrowbeating. ButpreachingintheNewTestamentsenseofthewordiswonderfullypositive. Itisadeclarationofgoodnews. Anditisfilledwithhope.

Paulcharacterizestheproclamationofthegospelasoneofhope. Hewrites:“WealwaysthankGod,theFatherofourLordJesusChrist,whenweprayforyou, becausewehaveheardofyourfaithinChristJesusandoftheloveyouhaveforallthesaints—thefaithandlovethatspringfromthehopethatisstoredupforyouinheavenandthatyouhavealreadyheardaboutinthewordoftruth,thegospel thathascometoyou”(Col1:3-6NIV). Theproclamationofthegospelisaproclamationthatisoneofhope. Andthathopecausesfaithandlovetospringforth. Hopeisintegraltotheproclamation,anditisfruitful. Thekindofpreachingwemostneedisgospelpreaching. Andgospelpreachingisgoodnewsofhope. Ifourpreachingisn’tcharacterizedbyhopeproducinggreaterfaithandlove,we’vestrayedfromthebiblicalmodel. Ourgeneration,nolessthanthatoftheapostleoftheGentiles,isdesperateforthatkindofpreaching.

FACULTY PAGE

PREACHING AS A MESSAGE OF HOPE


Since opening its doors more than 40 years ago, Trinity School for Ministry has grown in its desire to be Evangelical in faith, Catholic in order, and Spirit-driven in mission.

There is an urgent need for theological seminaries positioned to recruit and equip pastoral leadership that will sus-tain and develop orthodox churches that plant, renew, and grow congregations that make disciples of Jesus Christ.

To achieve this, Trinity accepts only the finest leaders who have strong academic capability, are passionate in their commitment to biblical theology, and are missionally focused.

TRINITY IN A SNAPSHOT

Trinity is unique in calling students to study in a community located between the Appalachian culture to the south, the Midwestern culture to the west, and the Mid-Atlantic and New England cul-tures to the east.

This special setting has become a point of attrac-tion to students from all over the globe, going as far as the Diocese of the Arctic in the North, the Prov-ince of Chile in the South, the Province of Myanmar in Asia and many provinces in Africa.

Today, representatives from the three main movements of the Reformation are

present at Trinity

Some of the nations represented by the Trinity community:

AVERAGE AGE OF A TRINITY STUDENT (BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND ONLINE)

GRADUATES CAN BE EXPECTED TO OFFER 30 TO 40 YEARS OF ACTIVE, EVANGELICAL MINISTRY TO THE CHURCH.

Anglican/Episcopal Lutheran

Presbyterian

Other

60% 16%

5%

19%SingaporeThe NetherlandsKenyaMyanmarKoreaHondurasAustraliaBrazilCanadaChileColumbia

EgyptUKNigeriaRwandaTanzaniaUgandaUSAGhanaIsraelNew Zealand

SEED & HARVEST24

ONLINE EDUCATION

Forme,educatedfirstasanurse,andthenasaprofessionalsinger,thecalltoordainedministryin2006wassurprising.Ridiculous.Thiswouldbemy

thirdcareer.Thelogisticswereridiculous,too.AsingleparentformanyyearsIhadlimitedresources.Ihadresponsibilities:ahospitalcasemanagementjob,afamily,andamortgage.

Nevertheless,IwasdirectedbymyBishop,JohnGuernsey,toattendTrinity,eventhoughHowardUniversitySchoolofDivinity,VirginiaTheologicalSeminary,WesleyTheologicalSeminary,andReformedTheologicalSeminary,areallintheD.C.areawhereIlive.TheopportunitytoattendTrinityasadistancestudentwasthefirstopendoortoGod’scall.BishopGuernseyapprovedtheMasterofArtsinReligion,withemphasisonchurchhistoryandtheology.Asitwas,thisdegreewouldtakemeeightyearstocomplete.Itriednottobailoutatthatnews.Thankfully,TrinitydistanceadvisorsrecommendedthatItrynottolookdowntheeight-yearroad,buttotakeeachsemester,oneassignment,andonegradeatatime.GodwasmakingitplainthatIneededtotrusthimwithallofthis,particularlythepaceofprogress.MarthaGiltinan,instructorinpastoraltheology,calledit“spiritualformation.”Burnoutattheseven-yearmarkwasundoubtedlymorespiritualformation.

Iwasgratefulfortheweeklycheck-incallsandprayersofRussWarren,BarbaraKnecht,andGeoffMackey.TheirministrywastheregularconnectionthatpersonalizedTrinity.JuneInterTermswerewonderfulopportunitiesforgaininganothersemester’scredits.Theyalsoofferedmuch-neededfellowshipandnetworking,notonlywithotherswhowerestudyingasIwas,online,butwithinstructors,andwithstaffIknewonlybyemailorbyphone.

GraduationfromTrinityinMay2017,wasavictoryoffaith,perseverance,andofGod’swillovermine.ThisdegreerepresentstheverybestinstructioninChristianorthodoxy.Whenneeded,therewaspastoralsupportandprayerfromprofessors.Thisistrue,whethercoursesaretakenoncampusoronline.Otherthantheinherentlack

offace-to-faceinteractionwithclassmatesandprofessors,thereisnodifferenceinthequalityofinstruction,courserequirements,andhighstandardsforachievement.IbelieveseminarystudyatTrinityisrigorous,bydesign.TheperseverancethatAugustinespeaksofasagiftfromGodisagracenotonlyforthesuccessfulcompletionofaTrinitydegree,butforallfutureministry.God’scallisrelentless.Hisstandardrequiresourpersonalbest.

IwasordainedtothetransitionaldiaconateinNovember2017andordainedtothepriesthoodinJune2018.I’vebeensupplyinginmyparishandinotherparishesandcommunitiesintheNorthernVirginiaarea.Thetransitionhasbeensurprisinglysmooth.Meetingallofthosewritingdeadlineswastrainingmetoorganizeresourcesandthoughtsandtimeforthedevelopmentofsoundtheologicalthinking,deliveryofsermons—andthoseconversationsduringchurchcoffeehours.

Trinitypreparedmewell.TheprioritiesofprayerandacademicchallengegavemethecoinoftherealmforordainedministrythatglorifiesGodandproclaimshisgospel:trustinGodandlivingtheancienttruthsofhisWordandSacraments.

Susan Rockwell (MAR 2017) is the assisting priest at Christ the Redeemer Church in Clifton, VA, and the Chaplain-in-Charge of Anglican/Episcopal Services at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, VA.

“Do not feel surprise at being schooled amid toil:

you are being schooled for a wondrous destiny.”

-AUGUST INE OF H IPPO

by Susan Rockwell (MAR 2017)

Online Degree is a Victory of Faith, Perseverance and God’s Will


InitsvisionofbecomingaglobalcenterforChristianformation,TrinitySchoolforMinistryisdeterminedtoparticipateintherealizationofGod’sdesireforthe

ChurchinLatinAmerica.AtTrinity,wearedaringtodreamwithaChurchunitedinfaith,love,andhope.AChurchwhereoursharedbeliefinthestoryofredemptionpersuadesustoforgiveaswehavebeenforgiven.AChurchinwhichthelovethatwehavebeengivenismaterializedinthecontinualdisciplineofregardingothersmorehighlythanourselves.AChurchwhereallmemberswait,inhopefulexpectation,forthesunriseofChrist’skingdom.HowfaristheChurchinLatinAmericafromthisdream?Theinitialpicturecouldcauseonetoloseheart.

TheGospelarrivedinLatinAmericawrappedinforeignclothes.Manyofussuccumbedtothetemptationofgivingprimacytothosegarments,forgettingthattheirmajestycomesnotfromtheirremarkablemanufacture,butfromthepersonwhoworethem.Inourerror,wehaverejectedourkingtocastlotsoverthegarmentsofreputation,numericalgrowth,self-definedpurity,andstrategicliaisonstothe“truechurch”—definedaswhicheverwavesourpolitical,economicortheologicalbanner.Thus,ourinabilitytodiscernbodyfromfabrichasobstructedthedevelopmentoftheChurchinLatinAmericatothisday.

Toaidintheremovalofthisobstacle,Trinity’staskinLatinAmericahastodowithequippingtheChurch

1.AndrewF.Walls,The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith (Maryknoll,N.Y. :Edinburgh:OrbisBooks ;T&TClark,1996),44.

sowecandiscernwhatisessentialtotheGospel.Onceequipped,theChurchwillbeabletodiscoverandarticulateChrist’smanifestationthroughherownparticularities,restatingthemessageintermsthatmakesensewithintheLatinAmericanContext.SuchanendeavoriswhatAndrewWallshasidentifiedasanintricateworkoftranslation.Thisisnotmerehumanlaborbecause,asWallshaswritten,thewhole“Christianfaithrestsonadivineactoftranslation:‘theWordbecameflesh,anddweltamongus’”(John1:14).1

Trinity’sworkoftranslationflowsfromtheimitationofthemaster’sownrenderingofdivinetruth.Hiswayofcommunicatingcamenotasanimpositionofheavenlystructures.Instead,hebecamethedescriptionandembodimentofthelifeGodintendedforhumanity.Trinity,wantingtobefaithfultothisspirit,willcontinuetopayattentiontothevoiceofGod,encodedinthespecificidiosyncrasiesoftheLatinAmericanpeoples.OurhopeisthattheworkthatGodhasentrusteduswillyieldthefruitoffreshexpressionsoftheeternalcharacterofGod.Weareawareofthetitanictaskahead,butwetrusthimwhosewordislifeabundant.Webelievehimwhohastoldusofatime—beyondtime—wheneverylanguagewillsing,inunity,thewondersofGod’slove.

Pictured above: Bishop Francisco Duque presented a recognition certificate to Trinity School for Ministry for their dedicated involvement in the formation of Episcopal Columbian clergy.

Photo by Edilson Suárez

Translating the Gospel for the Body of Christby Davíd Zamora-Ramirez

Facilitator of Trinity’s Online Spanish Program

SPANISH ACADEMIC PROGRAM

SEED & HARVEST26

Why Does Trinity Need Donations?

by Jack WalshDirector of Planned Giving

DEVELOPMENT

T rinitySchoolforMinistryhasbeenoperatingsuccessfullyformorethan40years,sowhydotheyaskmeandmychurchfordonations?

Thisisaworthwhilequestionweareaskedfromtimetotime.Theanswerhasseveralaspects.

First,wearereliantontheAlmightyandTriuneGodandweprayforourprovisionofdaily bread.Bydaily bread Imeanthecharitablegiftswhichsupplementtuitiontofundtheeverydayoperationsoftheschool.Wedependonhimandwewantmostofalltohonorhiminallwedo,includingthewaywegetandusemoney.So,weneverforgetthatGodisincontrol,andthisministryis,andalwayswill,remainprofoundlydependentonhimforeverything:goodincomingstudents,wiseleaders,reliablephysicalfacilitiesinwhichtodothiswork,andcertainlyforgenerousdonorpartners.

Second,allseminariesarespecialtygraduateschools,andnearlyallofthemhavenomorethanafewhundredstudents.Smallschoolsofanykindstruggletocoverbasicoverheadofrecruitingandretainingfaculty,buildingandmaintainingreliablebuildingsandstaff,andthebasic“stuff”ofrunningaschool.Trinityisnoexception.Butseminariesalsohavethespecialchallengeofproducingalumniwhowillbepaidverymodestcompensationfortheirlaborsaftertheygraduate.Twokeycorollariesofthisfactarethat(1)mostseminaryalumnidonors,asmuchaswelovethem,willgenerallybemodestdonors,and(2)seminarystudentsusuallyhaveverylittlecapacitytotakeonstudentdebt.

Allofthisimpliesthatsomeothersourceoffinancialsupportissimplyessentialforseminaries.Alookathowotherschoolsfunctionbearsthisout.Someschools,suchasRomanCatholicseminariesandsomeLutheranschools,establishtheirseminarieswithinthedenomination,allowingchurchresourcestobeusedtosupporttheformationoffutureleaders.Trinitywasfoundedasanentirelyindependentcharitableorganization(501c3)in

servicetothechurch,sothisapproachisnotanoption.Someseminariesoperateasminordepartmentsofhuge,prosperousuniversities,andthusbenefitfromthesupportoftheentireenterprise.Duetoourindependence,thisalsoisnotanoptionforTrinity.

Athirdgroupofseminarieshaveaccumulatedmassiveendowmentswhichproducesignificantincomeeachyeartosupportasignificantportionoftheschools’budgets.

Formostofitshistory,TrinitySchoolforMinistryhasbeensupportedwithannualdonationsbyfaithfulandgeneroussupporters,who,yearafteryear,havegiveninlargeandsmallsumstosupportthisministry.Somehaveevenleftbequeststotheschool.AfairlylargegroupofthesefolkscameoutofthecharismaticrenewalintheEpiscopalChurchduringthe1970sand1980s.However,werealizethatwecan’trelyonthissamegroupoffriendsandsupportersforever.Inordertosecurefuturefinancialstability,weknowthatwemustbuildnewrelationshipswithprospectiveandotherexistingdonorswhowillalsobesupportiveandgenerous.

Basedonallofthis,Trinityhaslittlechoicebuttoalsobuildsomelimitedendowmentfunds,particularlyforscholarships,whichwillhelpreducesomeofthefinancialburdenofsustainingTrinityuntilwecanincreasesupportfromneworexistingdonors.

Trinityasksforyourgenerousfinancialsupport:firstofallbecauseweloveandtrusttheLord,andthusdependonhisBody,theChurch,topartnerinthiswork;andsecondofallbecausethestructureoftheschoolsimplyrequiresthatsourcesoffinancialsupportbeyondstudenttuitionandalumnigiftsareessential.

GodhasgivenusauniquevocationasanindependentevangelicalAnglicanseminary.PleaseconsiderdonatingtodaytohelpusfulfillthemissionthattheLordhasgivenus.


GOD HAS CALLED YOUImagine the Possibilities at Trinity School for Ministry

Whetheryouhaveacalltoparishministry,missions,orlayleadership,TrinitySchoolforMinistrycanhelpyoupreparetoansweryourcall.

Residentialandonlineprogramsavailable.

[email protected] | 1-800-874-8754

MASTER OF DIVINITY

MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGION

MASTER OF SACRED THEOLOGY

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

CONTACT US

“WhenLydiaandImadethedecisiontobringourfamilytoTrinity,formationthroughprayer,study,andcommunitywasavitalaspectofourdecision.Inprepara-tionforministry,IknewthatIneededaplacethatvaluednotonlytheformationofthemind,buttheformationofthewholeperson.MorningandEveningPrayerhavebeeninvaluableinshapingthespirituallifeofourfamily.Thethingsthathavebeenlearnedherewillcontinuetoshapetherestofourlives.”

TrinitySchoolforMinistry 311EleventhStreet|Ambridge,PA15003 phone:1-800-874-8754or724-266-3838 fax:724-266-4617|www.tsm.edu

WHY TRINITY?See what our students are saying!

Bill ClarksonMDiv Student

Steven BraunMDiv Student

“ThemainreasonKatieandIcametoAmbridgeandTrinityisthatwewerelook-ingforaworshippingcommunityinwhichwecouldbeformedandpreparedforwhatevertheLordhasinstoreforus.WhenIcamefor“BeaSeminarianforaDay,”everythingthathappenedstartedwithaprayer—everything.IknewthisiswhereIneededtobe,eventhoughlogistically,thiswasthelastplaceIplannedtogo.Obvi-ously,God’splanswerebetterthanmine,andwearebothsogratefultobehere!”

VISIT US!Be a Seminarian for a Day

Thursday,October10,2019Thursday,November14,2019

Formoreinformation,visitwww.tsm.edu/visit

Dates subject to change

Building a Community of Hope Through Faith · 2019. 4. 16. · hope. This edition of Seed & Harvest...

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