Alban Weekly for Monday, 23 June 2014 "The Seminary Class of 2014" by Susan Nienaber

Alban Weekly for Monday, 23 June 2014 "The Seminary Class of 2014" by Susan Nienaber
I sat down recently with two new friends, Vanessa Williams and Joelle Anderson, recent graduates of Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. As an older, mainline Protestant clergywoman speaking with two much younger women—one African-American and the other Euro-American, both graduating from an evangelical seminary. I was curious about the worldview of two young women in their 20s. I wanted to hear their concerns about church and culture and their views on controversial topics like the ordination and marriage of GLBTQ persons.
As a member of the class of 1987 (the first class at my seminary where women finally reached 50% of the incoming students) I remember wondering what my first appointment would be like as an ordained United Methodist. I remember telling my district superintendent I was open to being the first clergywoman to serve a particular church. I worried about whether or not I would have “the right stuff” to step into leadership at that level. And I worried about cranking out the weekly sermon. Back then, we weren’t talking about the impact of shifts in our culture on established congregations, the coming “death tsunami” of the Baby Boomers in 2019-2050, the rise of the “nones,” or the need to re-evangelize America.

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Listen to our conversation by clicking the triangular “Play” button below.
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Please bear in mind that we recorded this from my living room, so you will hear a dog barking and ice clinking in our glasses as we enjoyed our ice tea. I know you will enjoy the conversation!
Intro to 2:15
2:15 - Susan looks back
5:06 - Joelle: personal history and current challenges
12:18 - Vanessa: personal history and current challenges
20:00 - If you had seminary to do over again…?
24:18 – J & V talk about the value of authenticity
32:42 – New ways to evangelize, what’s the point of Sunday morning?
36:40 – Some generational downsides
38:49 – Gay/Lesbian ordination & same sex marriage
47:54 – Heterosexual marriage
52:52 – Wrap-up
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Susan Nienaber is a former Alban consultant who consults with congregations on church development and assessment. She and her colleagues in the Congregational Consulting network provide the wisdom, resources, and support that Alban members have come to know and trust.

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Three former Alban Consultants will present material specially designed for small congregations.  Each of the three learning modules will address a key aspect of small church vitality.  The three presenters will lead a fourth module that will help teams of clergy and lay participants plan for their return home and the incorporation of their learning into the life of their congregation.
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