End of the Year Perspective
One of the most puzzling questions I get at Westminster is from people who have heard that we have just finished our first year and who ask quizzically (lingering on the first word), “So… are you glad you came to Westminster?” But even more puzzling than the question, is the look on their face when I say “Oh yes, definitely! We love it here.” I sometimes get the feeling that I should feel guilty that we like so much about WTS.
In any place, any school, any church, any job there may be wonderful things mixed together with worrisome things. Some things should be rejoiced over, some things should be overlooked. Some things should be treasured, some things should be forgotten (notice the adept attempt at Hebrew-like parallelism there). So, from the perspective of one year finished at WTS, I offer these remarks.
There were some things that I just thoroughly enjoyed. Such as singing in Hebrew at the beginning of first semester Hebrew (this was upstaged by singing in Hebrew at the end of first semester Hebrew when I could actually understand what I was singing).
I confirmed that I am not a systematician (although I can more fully appreciate this discipline).
I never knew that, in addition to Hebrew and Greek, I would be learning a third foreign language this year: Latin, for my systematic theology classes.
I was thoroughly unprepared for the volume with which people (and usually that means mostly men) will sing hymns. Even in a small group, everyone seems to really sing!
I am grateful for the professors who took time to open their offices and their lives to the students. I marveled that many many of the professors (and the staff and administration) knew my name (although, one honest person admitted that it was easier to remember the female names since there were fewer of us). The ability to talk through questions, receive suggestions for further reading, and hear encouragement was gratefully received and really rounded out the education that happens in the classroom.
One professor in particular impressed me. I didn’t really get to know him as personally as some others. But, he made it a habit to be at every chapel meeting. He prayed regularly with some of the early morning prayer groups. He prayed in the middle of class sometimes when he came to a point that he felt was particularly critical for us. He lived his life in a way that made me respond, “I should listen to what this man has to say in class because of the way he lives his life outside of class.”
My fellow students challenged and amazed me. Some come here at such great sacrifice. The international students in particular bring great perspective to what is important. We were also delighted to get to know several married couples (and single folks too!). We enjoyed talking, laughing, sharing stories (and food). Community is something that is a hot-topic buzzword at WTS. Some don’t think it exists. More likely, those people don’t know where to look or don’t want to invest in it. It takes work. But community building is probably something more critical than most people realize for being prepared for ministry.
I also appreciated two particular men in the administration. One is our Dean of Students. I appreciated his prayers, his standing at the door in the morning to greet us, his faithful leading of chapel (and yes, even the donuts he provided for us). I know he cares about the future pastors and the churches they will lead. I know he wants everyone to be spiritually prepared, not just academically equipped. He takes seriously his pastoring of the students. Our Exec. VP will be sorely missed. He is leaving to pastor a church in Ireland. That will be a fortunate congregation! I could listen to him preach every week (and not just because of his terrific accent). I admire his integrity and his compassion. He inspires me and challenges me to a higher place in God. And at the same time, he cares about his family. He seems to have both perspective and the fortitude to make decisions based on that perspective (although I must say I had my doubts about him when he mentioned my blog while introducing a speaker at the commencement seminars).
I do have some concerns. Top of the list is the corporate spiritual life of the students and faculty. Chapel attendance (not mandatory) is pathetic (sorry to be so blunt). I think the chief culprit is the societal spirit of individualism creeping into the seminary. It becomes obvious that people are driven by their own schedule, their individual needs, their personal tastes. Chapel is only 20-30 minutes a day. It’s in between classes that most of us are already in the building for. If we cannot stop and worship God (for HIS sake, not because WE get something out of it), then something is really wrong. If the very people who are preparing for ministry (and those preparing us) cannot prioritize the God who is calling us, what in the world are we saying is important??? Things can grind to a stop for a few minutes each day. One particular chapel we had a very moving message and prayer time. Those that were in the auditorium sat stunned by God’s presence –it was a holy moment. But we had to rush out and hurry to class. I know that there is a purpose for order and schedules, but every once in a while we might want to slow down and not run past a spiritual opportunity. If more people were in chapel, it would be easier to say “Hey, we don’t want to rush past this time of God working in our hearts… let’s take a few minutes to pray and start class 10 minutes later.” OK, I’ll get off the soapbox.
(oops, back up on the soapbox) There is one other major concern I have, but which I can only mention briefly for now. My mother always taught us that if we wanted to bring up a problem, we should make sure we had a suggestion. So, I’m still thinking this through, but I am wondering about the pedagogy at WTS. I know the content is solid. I’m just wondering about some of the ways that it is communicated, or even more concerned about how it is assessed or evaluated. I’m not saying things are too hard. I think (balanced) academic rigor can be good. Actually, let me digress a little and give a really good example of a class that (I thought) was taught really well. This class had a professor who stated up front that the bar would be high (that’s fine). The readings for the course, while significant, were not untenable. The readings directly related to the content in the course and were whittled down from a much more extensive bibliography (for future reading) to a reasonable list. The course was assessed with three tools: homework assignments (about 10), a significant paper, and a final exam. The homework was basically Pass/Fail…it was a learning tool. There was no pressure to “cheat” off someone else’s work, because as long as you tried to do it, you got the credit. Every assignment was directly related to skills we would need to produce the paper. The paper had guidelines, but lots of latitude too. I think this was my favorite assignment of the entire year (even if I did almost lose the document when I lost my computer hard disk and have to stay up till 4 am the night before the due date to finish it). I ended up really demonstrating to myself that I understood what he was teaching me. I was able to use the paper to show the professor that he had succeeded in communicating the content of the course. The final exam was predictable (in a good way). He had many old exams in the library to refer to. They may have been old, but it was obvious what the main points that he wanted to cover in the class were by the types of essay questions. This allowed us to prepare for that exam. We were met with an exam that kept us writing for 3 solid hours, but which was fair and able to be prepared for. The most important content of the course was on the final. The three means of assessment truly did measure accurately what we learned in the course. I am grateful for the way that course was taught. OK, off the soapbox for now.
In spite of those rants, I am really grateful for everything this year has brought my way. I have learned so much. I have grown spiritually. I have been challenged academically. I have had hours and hours of meditating on God’s character and attributes and being. I have seen both the Old and New Testaments in new ways. I can read Hebrew and Greek. It has been a gift to be here. Overall, I feel like this has been a full and challenging year, yet a sort of sabbatical. In fact, Mark and I are viewing our next few years here as the stored up sabbaticals from our years of marriage which we never took while we were involved in ministry. We are looking to be re-tooled and re-charged for the next chapter of our lives. And right now, WTS is the best place for us to be to do that. I can’t wait for the next semester!
May 26th, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Sorry if I overstepped things by mentioning your blog publicly today, but I thought it was meant to be read by others, and anyway it is so good! Thanks for taking the time to record your impressions and views of what it’s like to be a student at Westminster. It is what we used to call “an illuminative evaluation” when I studied curriculum evaluation back in the 70s. I think that today educationalists talk about using the “soft end” of the evaluation spectrum in assessing courses and programs, and your blog provides wonderful data in that category.
All that you say about course evaluation is very interesting and has been on the faculty’s agenda this year and will be even more in focus in days to come. At our Borad meeting this week, the Board approved MDiv program goals that the faculty prepared this past year. We have outlined goals for the MDiv program based on our core values in the areas of cognitive, competence and character. Now the faculty needs to figure out a way to measure and assess if they achieving these goals. That will certainly mean that we will be looking again at how courses are assessed. I am encouraged that we are now identifying clear character and competence goals as well as intellectual/cognitive goals for students in the MDiv. We say that we want “to form” men and women for gospel ministry and kingdom service. That means that hearts and lives are in focus as well as intellects and minds. All knowledge is covenantal. We don’t really “know” the truth until we live it. And anyway, ministry is as much (if not more) about who you are than about what you know. Your blog has been very encouraging because it gives us some evidence that students’ lives and hearts, as well as their minds, are being affected by their studies at Westminster.
Just keep writing your excellent stuff. It is great feedback for faculty and administrators. You are very kind and generous in your comments. I will pray that your trip to Sudan will be a great experience.
May 26th, 2005 at 10:11 pm
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. Yes, you are right, this blog is meant to be read… I just am sometimes surprised when people actually do.
It was very encouraging to read your report about the MDiv program goals and it calls me to continue to pray for wisdom, direction, and continued grace for the faculty and Board.
Thank you for your prayers for our trip to Sudan. We’ll keep posting updates about that trip.
May 29th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
I felt like I was reading my own thoughts when I read this post. As someone who has paused to have similar reflections - about professors, our education, and chapel (!) - for 6 semesters, it was a blessing to see that others feel the same way that I do.
Karyn, I pray that God continues to bless you and form you through your education and the WTS community throughout your time there. In many ways, I feel like a totally different person than the one who entered the school 3 years ago; it is all by God’s grace and I am thankful for the dramatic ways he has been working in my life!
May 30th, 2005 at 10:50 am
As someone who’s outside all this maelstrom, it’s good to read your words to have a glimpse of what you and Mark are both enduring and enjoying.
June 1st, 2005 at 12:13 pm
Karyn,
Your reflections on your first year at Westminster have been an encouraging and helpful read. I’m beginning study at WTS in the fall and reading the blogs of you and your husband has given me a general idea of what to expect and what to be on guard for. I’m quite excited about the challenge that awaits me at WTS! I’m praying that my time there will be one of both academic and spiritual growth and that I may be able to faithfully act on the knowledge acquired in the classroom, so that I am constantly humbled and in awe of God’s grace, character, and plan. I also look forward to the opportunity to build community and engage in fellowship at WTS, on that note, your comments regarding chapel, etc have made an impact, at least upon me!
Thanks again for your wisdom. I guess I need to start a blog now