Beginnings

I start my blog on a Sunday afternoon. As I write this, I am on the campus of The University of the South where I am an advanced degree candidate in the School of Theology. I am currently taking my first two classes toward a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree. One of the courses is taught by the director of the program who is a distinguished church historian and one of the best lecturers I have ever heard. He can cover an amazing amount of material in a lecture but I leave his classes not feeling overwhelmed but, rather, that aspects of church history having to do with ordained ministry have come together for me. The other is a homiletics class which deals with recent literature on the historical Jesus and, specifically, the rhetoric of Jesus. I have a presentation for one class and a short sermon for the other before I leave "the Mountain" (Sewannee, Tennessee) and have to write a second sermon and a research paper in order to complete the courses and receive my grades. So far, my experience here could not have gone much better. My professors are interesting. My classmates are smart, friendly and also interesting. There is a daily Eucharist at The Chapel of the Apostles (the Theology School chapel) and, of course, Sunday Eucharist at All Saints Chapel (the University Chapel). The combination of intellectual growth, spiritual renewal, and opportunity to make new friends has been a unique experience and one that I do not want to end.