I've had a difficult time planning today's Welcome message.

Part of the difficulty is the milestone of 100,000 known deaths attributed to COVID19. A greater part of the difficulty is the painful cry for justice being heard again across our country because of the brutal murder of George Floyd. Also, I am in a moment of personal transition.

How do we understand the accumulated grief of now more than 100,000 lives lost, in less than 4 months, here in the United States to this pandemic? And the lives of others around the world who have died from this virus are no less precious to the God who has called us each into being – and named us as precious and good.

All of you who will be leaders in faith communities will experience the importance of our Christian rituals around dying and death: The naming of a life well lived. Acknowledging the loss that loved ones are feeling. Our hope in the promise of resurrection. This season of social distancing has challenged all of us, and seminaries will add this inimitable situation to our preparations for worship and pastoral care.

Black.Lives.Matter. This past week my heart has been seized by the rising tide of protest for racial justice. I am very proud of current Wesley Seminary students and our alum's across the country who have been on the front lines of prayerful and peaceful challenges against toxic and unjust systems. Please join me in surrounding them with prayer. "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst for righteousness . . ." (Matthew 5:6).

Finally -- It has now been announced within our Wesley Theological Seminary community that I am stepping out of my position as Associate Dean for Admissions. I will still be deeply involved in helping new students for Fall 2020 begin their studies and I hope that there will be a way to greet many of you when you participate in Community Life Orientation on August 28th. The Admissions staff: Recruiters Elijah Ferebee and Liz Pruchnicki, Enrollment Counselor Marci Matthews and Enrollment Director JaNice Parks will continue to do their very best to assist you under the skilled and creative leadership of Vice President Beth Ludlum. Among them is more than 30 years of experience within Wesley Seminary.

Our Summer Term at Wesley started May 18th and about a half-dozen classes have begun. There are still at least 12 classes which are all 100% on-line and are yet to begin. You can still apply and being studies this summer or in the Fall term which begins August 31.

With gratitude – Chip Aldridge, Associate Dean for Admissions

PS – You still have the opportunity to join two of our of Biblical Studies faculty, Dr. Denise Hopkins and Dr. Carla Works, for a webinar this Thursday evening from 6:00p to 6:45p, register here.