“Christian Activism…must be preceded by theological reflection in order to provide what R.H.Tawney described as a ‘clear apprehension of the deficiency of what is and the character of what ought to be.’” Stephen Charles Mott, A Christian Perspective on Political Thought. [italics my own]
To allow the character of Christ to consume/fill/overtake our present deficiencies…what ought to be.
A paper written for Medieval Church History (forgot to post it back then!): Read the rest of this entry »
A paper written for a Foundations of Leadership course: Read the rest of this entry »
A paper written for an American Church History course: Read the rest of this entry »
Helen‘s words to her “Papa”:
“The way that I like to think of you on your birthday, my dear Papa, is standing out among the flowers utterly lost in thought, but with such a warm and appreciative smile on your face that the buds start out and every plant blossoms just because it is so sure of your sympathy.”
I have chosen to do my extensive research project for American Church History on Helen Barrett Montgomery, a prolific 19th century author and the first female president of the Northern Baptist Convention (later became the American Baptists of which i am a member). I’m reading some autobiographical stuff published posthumously and came across this in a letter that she had written home in 1880 during her freshman year at Wellesley College:
“…perhaps this ambition to be thought smart and to lead the class is not a good ambition after all. It’s hard though to be willing to take an average place when one longs to be first…Dear people, don’t please put all sorts of wonderful qualities to me which exist only in your dear fond hearts. I hate to disappoint you all but i know my own limitations. I can never be more than one of the average. Not that I would change it if I could for I know that there must be a beautiful dear thought in the Father’s heart for me and that He needs just me and no one else to fill some chink in His great building. I feel content if I can only so conquer myself as to be able to do some good to others ” (italics added).
With that kind of humility so young…no wonder God could do SO much good through her!
“To look in freedom at God and at reality, which rests solely upon Him, this is to combine simplicity with wisdom. There is no true simplicity without wisdom and there is no wisdom without simplicity.” Bonhoeffer, Ethics.
Spring Quarter begins this Monday. This week has been my “break”…the beginning part of which i spent painting and cleaning and doing yard work (though i am, at this moment, blogging from San Jose at the BibleTech conference with Sean).
My classes this quarter will be
1) American Church History
2) Christian Ethics
3) Foundations of Leadership
American Church History will be my fourth class with Dr. Charles “Charlie” Scalise. He is, without a doubt, one of the best teachers i have ever taken a class with. Charlie is an expert in his subject matter, follows a clearly defined lecture format which allows for plenty of Q & A during which he references numerous authors and works for further investigation while deftly fielding questions spanning over 2,000 years of history. He also continually encourages students to let their own voices be heard with his now familiar, “Welcome to the conversation.” He is also a generous comments (generous as in “This essay could be improved by…”) but rigorous task-master concerning our written work, reminding we lowly seminarians that all our work should be “in the process of publication.”
Though all my life i have loved school, only a few teachers have stood out:
1) 3rd grade: Mrs. Evans, who would reward good behavior by reading to us from one of my favorite story books, Clematis by Earnest & Bertha Cobb.
2) 6th grade: Mrs. Slocum, Social Studies, who ran a summer “Social Studies Camp” on the history of Massachusetts with a field trip EVERY DAY!! Freedom Trail, Plimouth Plantation, Old Sturbridge Village, etc…
3) Mrs. Balcomb, my piano teacher, who put up with me as a private student for 17 years!
4) Mr. Weisse, high school band and chorus, who we knicknamed “Joe Jazz.” He is a BIG reason i went into church music as my vocation for 25 years.
5) Consuelo Stewart, a math prof who made an 8am Statistics class super fun (and i am NOT a morning person…so that is saying something!).
6) George Hairston, whose gift of rhetoric could make a 4 hour class seem like 2 : Preach it, Prof!
7) And now, Charlie Scalise, who has cultivated in me a deeper love of listening to and learning from the voices of our Christian past. Thanks, Charlie!
…like my husband, Sean, and I are, no doubt you have your own methodology for getting your fix. Our order of procurement goes something like this: