(Published April 1, 2020)
Welcome to our third Wednesday with Wesley newsletter
Like all of our churches, Wesley Seminary has stepped into some new ways to worship, maintain our daily activities - like classes and meetings, and be community with one another. For our Admissions Office, we've found these weekly Wednesday emails a good way to share the ways in which our seminary, in Washington DC, is trying to stay spiritually connected while socially distancing.
I am in a Facebook group called TTDTUIS - "Things They Didn't Teach Us In Seminary". It is mostly clergy, and prior to this month it was where someone might lament about learning as a new pastor, how to restart a church's ancient heating system, or complain about being reprimanded for not having coffee ready for the Women's Circle.
Since the middle of March, the questions in this group have taken a serious turn. How to visit members when hospitals are quarantined? Alternatives to palms being handed out on Palm Sunday? A graveside service limited to five persons? The COVID-19 days have changed our ways of being church and doing the tasks of ministry.
Neither Wesley Seminary nor any theological school can quite prepare us for a season such as this. But in seminary, a solid grounding in the use of scripture, embedded theological lenses to view the moment, and practice in tasks of ministry give us a foundation of readiness.
Of course there are TTDTUIS. There are also the things we do teach - which help you face a time such as this with prayer, salt, yeast, vinegar, insight, spice, sweetness, steel, wisdom, words, silence, and grace - grace and more grace.
Persevere in hope, comfort one another with love,
Rev. Dr. Chip Aldridge, Associate Dean for Admissions
Student Preaching at Wesley
This week we share a message from Wesley Master of Divinity student and ordained Baptist preacher the Rev. Lamar McIntyre.
Wesley began the Student Preaching Initiative Fall 2018. The student preacher initiative at Wesley affords students an opportunity to integrate and practice what they are learning as a result of their studies at WTS, demonstrate their passion for ministry through preaching and worship leadership, and share their gifts with the WTS community. It also provides us another opportunity to honor the rich diversity of the Wesley community and of our worship traditions.
Student Council/Community Life Online have joined forces to present to the Wesley Community, Wesley Happy Hour.
Each week a Faculty or Administrator will share a favorite hobby or spiritual discipline, followed by informal conversation and Q&A.
Happy Hours will be available on Zoom and in Facebook Live, Tuesdays at 5:00PM EST
- March 31 Dean Lee (Sharing about his love of Legos)
- April 7 Rev Dr Petrin (Fan of the Great British Bakeoff so let's talk about baking and food)
- April 14 Chip Aldridge (Sharing about his love of origami & will include a quick tutorial)
- April 21 Dr Carla and Nick Works (Sharing their favorite travel stories.)
Dr. Rick Elgendy, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology
Listen to Dr. Rick Elgendy speak on the blessings of difference, a struggle originating pre-biblical times and aptly related to the path forward now.
Connect with Us Online at an Open House!
Virtual Open House
Window on Wesley this week and next! (Click on the date to register)
- view the campus virtually, chat with faculty and current students, learn about Masters degree options and specializations, explore financial aid, find out how you can balance life, work and ministry while earning a Masters degree
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EST
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EST
We continue our theme of Hope with a message entitled the same, from Wesley Master of Divinity Student ('20), Kasongo Butler.
Apply today and begin your online study at Wesley!
Summer course registration set to launch on 04/02/2020.
Please remember that during this time, We are praying for you and with you. Be safe and healthy, Beloved Community.
Want To Try A Class At Wesley?
Join us for a class and experience studying at Wesley! View the summer 2020 course preview and more...
