Why Christian? Conference
in Chicago, IL
Fredrick Buechner Spiritual Writers Worskshop at Princeton Seminary
I graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 1988. Since then my faith has grown and changed largely due to Continuing Education Conferences, theological reading, personal prayer and conversations and study with clergy colleagues.
​
The Festival of Homiletics has been one of the most interesting, challenging and inspiring conferences I have attended. The focus is, of course, on the art of preaching and how to bring the word of God to life in compelling, current and thoughtful ways. I try to attend this conference every other year to keep my preaching fresh.
​
The “Why Christian” conference in Chicago a couple of years ago asked a question that I periodically ask myself. Given all of the abuses of Christianity and all of the destruction, bigotry, homophobia and racism done in the name of Christ, why am I still Christian? The answer is simple and clear, because the Jesus I know in my heart and the Christ I believe in is what I find at the core of the gospels. This deep faith calls us to be inclusive and loving and accepting of a diversity of people who are all beloved children of God.
​
On my recent sabbatical I discovered the joy of online learning. A class about Spirituality and the Senses taught by a professor at Hamilton College encouraged me to explore how sight, sound, taste, touch and smell are interwoven with faith. A Spiritual Photography course taught by Abbey of the Arts in Ireland has helped me to see the world through new eyes. And a Harvard class “Religious Literacy: Traditions and Scriptures” has helped me to remember and appreciate the Holy in many different religions.
​
As a member of the Contemplative Spiritual Direction Cohort 2 through the Alcyon Center in Maine, I learned about the importance of silence and contemplation in Spiritual Direction as well as experiencing heart-centeredness in a new way. We engaged in Spiritual Direction in conjunction with issues of addition, death, grief and woundedness as well as during times of discernment, call and joy.
​
God invites us to always learn and grow. I hope to always be continuing my education and allowing God to shape my faith in new ways.
NYE Mission Trip learning about Food Deserts in Cleveland, OH.
Contemplative Spiritual Direction
Training Cohort at the Alcyon Center
"Why do people in church seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? … Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us to where we can never return.”
​
—Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters (New York: Harper & Row, 1982), pp. 40-41.