A first year students class schedule can be insanely limiting. A presbyterian going for ordination limits this schedule even further and add to that that I graduated college so long ago that the paperwork and instant recall needed to test out of many intro classes and you have a first semester that is largely out of your own control. That said, I am LOVING this semester and would love to take you on a tour of my first classes....
1. Old Testament Orientation
This is the big cattle call classroom scene you always see in "coming of age" or "back to school" classes. I had one class this size in college and it was a senior level class that was popular with couples. It's team taught by two knowledgeable doctors and a team of amazing ph.d candidates. So far it's basically an old testament reading with the commentary track on. It's format isn't my favorite type, memorization and timed exams, but the material and the personalities sharing it make it all worth it.
2. Systematic Theology
This class is in the same cattle call classroom but with significantly fewer students, this means we all sit hilariously far apart and make things much more difficult on the doctor teaching us. But the doctor teaching this class is absolutely awesome to listen to. He rants and raves and bunny trails a good deal, but for something like systematic theology that can often seem so cold and isolated, it's nice to see it instantly applied to the world as we know it and the concerns within.Getting this sort of structure of theology will help catch me up in the higher level, narrower focused classes. It's a writing and reflecting heavy class which is smack dab in my skill set.
3. Speech Communication for Ministry.
This is our small, moving, loud, hilarious class. I taught public speaking in the past, and you can't test out of it even if you are Billy Grahmn, so I was dreading it. But it's just a nice co-op of students with a theater nerd professor there to help you where you are at instead of a general track for us all as it's mostly made up of group exercises that are then dissected in meetings with the professor. I love it and have my heart set on ta'ing it in the future!
4. Darwin and Theology
The one "personal" class I could take, I only had room for one class that I could take that wasn't mandated by syllabus, denomination or dumb luck. It came down to Darwin or MLK, and MLK classes where on Mondays. Sorry MLK. This class is hands down my favorite. It is significantly more reading and it is almost all weighted on a single paper, but it is fascinating and interactive. The doctor teaching this class is world renowned and has a super-villian accent with a super-heroes heart for his students. You can't beat it. It's also nice to have pro-Darwin ideas taught from a historically christian perspective. Our professor had to call out from a class and our substitute was an expert on the theology of cyborgs. There is nothing about that that isn't full-volume awesomeness.
5. Introduction to New Testament Exegesis.
This is my greek reading class and is frankly the hardest for me to get excited for because my greek is already dulling and that makes this class much more difficult to stay afloat in. That said, the doctor teaching this class carries the class well, her outlook and teaching style makes this class much more fun then the chore it could very easily be. It's an important skill and theres lot's of good stuff in it, but reading greek means once again pulling the lever that shocks me instead of the one that dispenses the treats. Thankfully it seems the looming being in a lapcoat is kind enough to get me through it.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Origins
I had planned to make this blog a running deposit of thoughts and ideas as I proceed through my seminary journey but sweet merciful crap was summer language hard.
I think I've worked harder in the class for a barely "pass" grade then I have in any class I was working for an A+++ in. But anyhow it's behind me and all those wonderful heady posts about starting seminary will instead be a quick list to catch you up on what I would have written if not caught up in a thousand ways to say "destroy" in greek.
1. I carry the GREEN water bottle. Upon checking in and signing up, I recivied a green water bottle from the seminary. This served two basic functions: hydration and marking me as a n00b. This was good, people seemed to be much more paitent with me and helpful when I carried said water bottle than when I didn't. It may be nice to come up with a way to mark new people for the community, but I'm pretty sure the Nazi's like to mark people by class and a good rule is "if the nazi's did...don't". So instead I'll just continue to introduce myself as "I'm Kevin. Still new."
2. Being in the right place. There are so many little signs and wonders that remind you in that being in seminary is the right place for you. Many of my observations about this have revolved around chapel. I have overheard such things as "Man, I'm fried. Let's go to chapel.". For reference we sing hymns and listen to sermons in chapel. Think an abbreviated church every day. This is what counts as restful and restorative for us folks and I think that's a good sign. Upon picking up one of the knew hymnals that shows a good step forward for hymnals and their use by pastors, I overheard someone behind me comment "These new hymnals are sick dude, I can't wait to use them.". You sir, are right where you should be and have reminded me that so am I.
3. Majority and Minority can be so subjective. Coming from a amalgalmation of christian traditions, being a darwinian christian can often be difficult in christian communities. In one class I heard someone remark "I'm a young earth creationist with a literal reading of genesis and yes I know, I'm starting to think I'm the only one here.". this is the exact opposite experience I and many of my peers of had. It seems Seminary can be Bizzaro world sometimes. But like you realize you yourself are a Bizzaro and needed to return to this home you hadn't known you left.
4. Over Oriented. Our orientation has been long and intrusive. For summer language it's doubly so as orientation is repeated twice with little to know difference in material. All the material is useful, don't get me wrong, but each piece is useful for some individuals in the class, but I have yet to hear anything that was really valuable for all. make them optional and I think you'd get less people doing their reading assignments and "stepping out to go to the bathroom." Mandatory, repetitive, simplistic summer camp activities just serve to unify the students in their disdain for being treated like children. I wish we would have done lanyards so I had something to show for my time. Getting your social calender filled, learning to use a intuitive website and learning how to cite are all fine things if you need them, they're a bit of a burden if it's keeping you from other lifegiving work for school, family and soul.
I think I've worked harder in the class for a barely "pass" grade then I have in any class I was working for an A+++ in. But anyhow it's behind me and all those wonderful heady posts about starting seminary will instead be a quick list to catch you up on what I would have written if not caught up in a thousand ways to say "destroy" in greek.
1. I carry the GREEN water bottle. Upon checking in and signing up, I recivied a green water bottle from the seminary. This served two basic functions: hydration and marking me as a n00b. This was good, people seemed to be much more paitent with me and helpful when I carried said water bottle than when I didn't. It may be nice to come up with a way to mark new people for the community, but I'm pretty sure the Nazi's like to mark people by class and a good rule is "if the nazi's did...don't". So instead I'll just continue to introduce myself as "I'm Kevin. Still new."
2. Being in the right place. There are so many little signs and wonders that remind you in that being in seminary is the right place for you. Many of my observations about this have revolved around chapel. I have overheard such things as "Man, I'm fried. Let's go to chapel.". For reference we sing hymns and listen to sermons in chapel. Think an abbreviated church every day. This is what counts as restful and restorative for us folks and I think that's a good sign. Upon picking up one of the knew hymnals that shows a good step forward for hymnals and their use by pastors, I overheard someone behind me comment "These new hymnals are sick dude, I can't wait to use them.". You sir, are right where you should be and have reminded me that so am I.
3. Majority and Minority can be so subjective. Coming from a amalgalmation of christian traditions, being a darwinian christian can often be difficult in christian communities. In one class I heard someone remark "I'm a young earth creationist with a literal reading of genesis and yes I know, I'm starting to think I'm the only one here.". this is the exact opposite experience I and many of my peers of had. It seems Seminary can be Bizzaro world sometimes. But like you realize you yourself are a Bizzaro and needed to return to this home you hadn't known you left.
4. Over Oriented. Our orientation has been long and intrusive. For summer language it's doubly so as orientation is repeated twice with little to know difference in material. All the material is useful, don't get me wrong, but each piece is useful for some individuals in the class, but I have yet to hear anything that was really valuable for all. make them optional and I think you'd get less people doing their reading assignments and "stepping out to go to the bathroom." Mandatory, repetitive, simplistic summer camp activities just serve to unify the students in their disdain for being treated like children. I wish we would have done lanyards so I had something to show for my time. Getting your social calender filled, learning to use a intuitive website and learning how to cite are all fine things if you need them, they're a bit of a burden if it's keeping you from other lifegiving work for school, family and soul.
Monday, July 2, 2012
First Day
All cleared and set for my first day of seminary. First up: Summer Greek. Take the hottest time of the year, my hardest subject to learn and cram them together to hopefully crank out some understanding.
Or at least a C. Pass/Fail can save us.
Learning Greek so far has been an adventure, it's bounced between "pffft, I learned that in elementary school" or "that's impossible, you should kill yourself."
Maybe I need new friends. My daughter gave me a hug while dressed as Batgirl this morning and told me "good luck! go school!". So I think I can ride that daddy buzz all day through whatever may come my way.
Or at least a C. Pass/Fail can save us.
Learning Greek so far has been an adventure, it's bounced between "pffft, I learned that in elementary school" or "that's impossible, you should kill yourself."
Maybe I need new friends. My daughter gave me a hug while dressed as Batgirl this morning and told me "good luck! go school!". So I think I can ride that daddy buzz all day through whatever may come my way.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)