At home in Wilbur

Hello Friends -

Lars and I are finally getting settled here in Wilbur. With the help of the church we have bought a small house. Most of our furniture arrived last week. We were heartbroken at what was lost and what was broken. I did not choose a moving company well and the whole thing was a disaster. But we are thankful for everything that did make it. Lars and I have been busy painting and unpacking boxes and the house is finally looking like our own. It feels like it has been years since we had our own place.

Things at the church are going well. The ordination service on the 24th was wonderful and very moving. I looked at Bitty when I was giving the benediction and she was crying which made me cry and I totally messed it up. Oh well. The church provided a lovely dinner afterwards. They had decorated the tables and men in red vests served. It was great. With people there from my lives in Kennewick, Moscow, and San Anselmo it was quite the event for me.

My first Sunday was a communion service. Everything went well (no spilling of juice) until I said "will the servers please come forward" and no one stood up! There was a bit of miscommunication. But you know me, I shrugged it off and made some joke and before long I had some servers at the front.

This is my third weekend of worship and tomorrow is my first funeral. I am really jumping right in. Tragic death of a young mother in town and they were not church goers. At this point I feel good about my prep but we will see how things go tomorrow.

I am loving small town life, the cool air, and the fall colors. Lars is still looking for a place but I am confident God has something for him here.

Miss you all . . . love and blessings . . . Pastor Heather : )

Rising from his deathbed

Dan sent out an email to the SFTS Singers claiming that "barring unforseen circumstances" rehersal will take place next Monday.


Good to hear he is feeling better.

Greetings from the future

As the sun has set here in Switzerland, I bring you greetings from the future - Tuesday evening. I'm now settled into the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey outside of Geneva, and am working my way through the busy two-week orientation. We officially begin classes on Monday, October 16 - at which time I will have been in Geneva almost two months!

This year, the graduate school of ecumenical studies has about 35 students, of which 10 are masters students here through June 2007 (I fall into this category). The rest of the folks are just here until February, but for now we're all in the mix together. There is one other American, a woman from (in her own words) "Texas and Oklahoma," from the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, finishing her last semester at Philips Seminary. The rest of the student body is made up of people from all over the world. We interestingly seem to have a divide between gender and geography: about one third of the students are women, and all of them are from the U.S. and Europe (including former Soviet states), except for one woman from Korea. There are no men at all from North America or Western Europe; all are from former Soviet states/Eastern Europe and Africa, save one Korean, one Egyptian, and one Haitian. We are still waiting to see if two other students show up - a woman from Nigeria and a man from Cuba. We come from all kinds of traditions - Reformed, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical. Today the Presbyterians led afternoon worship: me, the two Koreans and the Egyptian. At the request of the Korean students, we put together a service centered around peace (given the recent nuclear tests in North Korea), and it was something else to hear Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers," read in Korean and Arabic and then recited by the congregation in English. We've fallen into a pattern of saying the Lord's Prayer, each in our own languages, at every chapel service (currently twice a day). There is nothing like hearing that prayer offered in many tongues - it washes like waves of water over the gathered community.

This post is getting long, but I should also mention my other big adventure this week: attending the meeting of the Presbytery of Europe last weekend. The Presbytery of Europe, which is comprised of all the Church of Scotland churches in mainland Europe, meets twice a year and rotates around to various cities. The last time they met in Geneva was six years ago, so I figured this was my big chance to attend since it might be another six years before they make it back to Switzerland. The big difference between presbyteries in the Church of Scotland and the PC(USA)? To approve motions (called "deliverances") by consensus, they stamp their feet on the floor instead of voting.

I hope that in coming weeks I can post some photos of life at Bossey, as it is an absolutely beautiful fall. From the yard we can look across the huge lake to the Alps on the other side. But fear not - soon enough, winter will kick in and I'll be writing you about icy Swiss mornings.

I miss you all!

More news on Dan

From Jana:

Dear Friends,

Over the weekend, Dr. Daniel Hoggatt was released from the hospital and allowed to go home. Since Dan is still being treated for a pulmonary embolism, it is important that he continue to rest and that we maintain as much of a “quiet zone” around him as we can manage. While it is difficult to restrain ourselves, it is still important for Dan to receive no calls or visits.

As was announced last week, Dan’s classes will be cancelled through the 13th and will resume a regular schedule on the 16th. Thank you for your concern. Dan very much appreciates your prayers and your cards. We will keep you posted on what we hope will be a speedy recovery.

Jana Childers
Dean of the Seminary

Dan Hoggart is Ill

This from an email written and sent out from Jana Childers today:

Dear Friends,

This morning I visited Professor Dan Hoggatt in the hospital where he is being treated for a pulmonary embolism. He is resting comfortably and being well supported by friends and family. Testing is going on to determine the best course of treatment, but we hope that Dan will be allowed to go home in the next few days. Dr. Hoggatt is very grateful for the community’s concern and prayers, however he has been advised that visitors and phone calls are not appropriate at this time. If you would like to send a note or card to his home address, he will, of course, be very glad to receive them there. But please do resist the (understandable) temptation to pick up the phone or stop by. As you can imagine, if all of us who love Dan did that, he would get no rest at all.

Dan is now on campus - call or email me or anyone else for his address. I deleted it from the note - afterall, this is still a public web page...

Dr. Charles Marks and Dr. Greg Love will be keeping in close touch with Dr. Hoggatt. Those who would like to receive updates on Dan’s condition are welcome to contact Charles or Greg – or, of course, the Dean’s Office.

For many of us the news of Dan’s illness is very disturbing. The illness he is struggling with is a serious one. However, Dan has asked me to reassure you that he is in good spirits, has confidence in his doctors and is buoyed by your prayers.

We will let you know how things progress as we get further news.
Meanwhile, thank you very much for your concern.
Jana Childers
Dean of the Seminary

More observations from where I am

There is a field between the subdivision where we live and the freeway. It lies fallow. I've seen pictures taken from the air of this neighborhood back in the 50's - when the freeway was still being built. We live atop a former orchard and next to the field and us are the remains of that place. Now, the land grows whatever each of us places in it and the field lies fallow - but I don't know why. I don't know who owns it but I'm told the county comes and plows it to knock the grasses back down.

Yesterday I decided to go out and walk it. The land is clay and my steps have to be uneaven in order to negotiate the large clods of ex-mud turned over by the infertile plow. It didn't take long, five or ten minutes and then I was at the other end looking back toward the corner of the houses where I had walked out and away from suburbia groomed. It seemed small and far away. Below my own shoe prints in the dust I saw deer and rabbit tracks and perhaps a mountain lion or perhaps just a dog. There are mountain lions near by. Then, a couple more steps and I'm back out on Fulton Road - another farming place becoming something else but still remembering what it was. Cars speed by me on their way to and from that river of travelers called 101 and as I walk it, I think what it must have been like when this road was just a country lane. I pass an old farmhouse that looks like it is being used to house farmworkers. There is a kitchen garden and on the edge of it, a distance from the house, someone - perhaps homesick - planted a now well established cacti. Are they still here to see it?

Last week I was in Chicago but no leaves had yet turned. I remarked on this to a mid-westerner who thought the whole thing too early. Perhaps it is.

In the meantime, I've been learning something new about home-grown tomatoes. Their taste changes - it becomes less bright, less "good" and more old, more wet, as the garden turns away from summer. This is ironic as the majority of the tomatoes are starting to finally ripen. I now cut them up, boil them down, and freeze for future use in mid-winter sauces and soups when we will have a deep longing for the taste of August.

What are you noticing?

Examination Process

Like the 60’s Dylan song, “the times they are a’ changing.” Since GA and the PUP report, all presbyteries must take steps to clarify their standards for examining candidates and ordinands and their standards for clergy transferring into their boundaries. Some presbyteries have already taken this step: an example is the document “Essential Tenets” put together by San Diego Presbytery. They adopted this in 2003. Several presbyteries, usually those leaning toward a more conservative theology and politics, have adopted or “co-opted” this document as a standard. This 30 page document includes six pages of recommended questions for candidates, and is quite clear about theological positions that it does not affirm. Here’s a link to that document: http://www.presbyterysd.org/reports/etrdmaster.pdf

In Cascades Presbytery, Presbytery Council held a brief hearing on September 16, inviting comments and viewpoints on a motion made at June presbytery changing the process of how candidates and incoming clergy should be examined. Following the hearing, the council will begin work on preparing its recommendation to be presented to presbytery in November. I expect that this same process is going on in most presbyteries. The process, in Cascades and elsewhere, is very political, and there are several competing agendas at work. The hearing itself went very well, with good dialog and input from several points of view.

Since a lot of us reading this blog are PCUSA candidates, we need to know about these changing processes and standards, both in our own presbytery and in presbyteries we’re seeking calls in. The field has become more complicated to navigate (read that “dancing in a minefield”). Just because we’ve passed ords doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. Congratulations to Heather, along with bandaids and an icepack for the bumps and bruises she picked up this weekend in her trials.

A couple of weeks ago I met with a subcommittee of COM in a presbytery in which I was interviewing. The examination was based on the San Diego “Essential Tenets” document—they’d told me to expect that about two weeks before the interview and emailed me a copy of the document (first time I’d seen it). The interview lasted about two hours, almost all taken up with theological questions from that document, plus additional questions that came out of the Trinity and PUP reports to GA. It was a hard session. Those of you who took Greg’s oral exams (I didn’t) may have had good practice for something like this.

Does anybody have updates on what’s happening on this in other presbyteries?
Peace and Blessings,
Bob


“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane”, Jimmy Buffett
“Let’s make the best of the situation” Eric Clapton

Aaron Retuns

Okay West Wing Fans - Aaron Sorkin is back and while Studio 60 is no West Wing its still pretty interesting - at least on the first viewing. I taped it (Aimee - do you need me to save these tapes?) and watched the opening with the mute/slow down and repeat controls in my hand.

Sorkin likes to keep using characters from show to show to movie and back again (Martin Sheen as Chief of Staff in American President? Nahh, didn't work) so its a little odd to see Danny the Reporter now the director in the booth (like right, he was going to get fired?). Josh is still Josh even if they changed his name and his hair a bit, and hes not so manic but I kept thinking - where is Donna? And I watched friends for way too long to be able to accept Matthew Perry as a different person but hey, time will ease these confusions. *

Okay - the fact that I'm writing about this clearly means I have just a little too much time on my hands this morning but under the theory that if we only posted to the blog when something big is happening we'll hardly ever post I'm going to prattle on a bit more.

Opening scene has the director of studio 60 doing a Network rant - interrupting a comedy sketch ala Saturday Night Live that was set in the Oval Office - ummmm, any references to West Wing here? Any rants a certain producer who was fired for caring too much about scripts and writing might have wanted to get off his chest? Poooleease - setting this rant with the white house oval office as the backdrop was just a little bit obvious – and amusing.


*speaking of crossing TV worlds, the good guy Secret Service head dude on WW played a corrupted evil congress person on Gena Davis's Presidential show and that was just wrong.

The Ring of Fire

Friends - I have jumped through the final flaming hoop - emerging singed but successful. My Trials of Ordination were rigourous to put it nicely. I was on the floor right after a long argument regarding examening minister members on the floor to insure a homogenous Presbytery. Lots of tension in the room which soon became directed at me. Lots of questions - and lots of people who didn't know how to ask a question at all. I had to ask for clarification multiple times from multiple questioners. I stumbled on "Is Jesus the only way to Salvation" and gave in. My final friendly question was "So what DO you think about substitunary atonement?" I wouldn't budge on that one and at that moment knew I was going down in a blaze of glory. I left the room and burst into tears - convinced I had come this far only to fail at the last step and loose the church I had already begun to love. It was awful. Then the invited me back in and said I had passed. In the end I felt bruised and beaten - hardly celebratory for the final step. I felt terrible - what a let down - what an experiance. This was by far the most difficult step of the whole ordination process begun 4+ years ago. By the grace of God I have made it through. - Heather

Bittersweet

Hey all! The first part is from Jana -- the 2nd part is from me! It's a bit long but please keep reading -- and thank you all for everything!
I miss you!
love, steph

Sarah Knowles, I'd love to talk with you! Remember a LONG time ago when I asked you a question out of the blue about RCA?? Maybe it makes sense now??

Dear Friends,
It is my bittersweet duty to let you know that Stephanie Croom will be leaving SFTS in December to accept a position at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. The news is bitter for those of us she will be leaving behind. She has been a wise counselor to students, a trusted colleague to coworkers and a beam of pure North Carolina sunshine to all who knew her here. We will miss her mightily. At the same time because we have come to know and love Stephanie as well as we have -- we are very happy indeed for the joy, adventure and opportunity this change will bring into her life. Later this semester we will find an appropriate time and way to face up to our good-byes and celebrate Stephanie and Jim.

Meanwhile, Stephanie has provided the following note which fills in the details of this story. We are grateful for the love, sweat and tears Stephanie has invested in our work and community. Please do join me in telling her so!
Jana Childers
Dean of the Seminary

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am writing to share some wonderful news with people I care about most, my family at SFTS (or beyond, as the case may be)! Last spring, I was offered a position with Western Theological Seminary (Holland MI) as Associate Director of Formation for Ministry! I have known the director of the program (Matt Floding) for seven years through my participation in the Association of Theological Field Educators (ATFE) and the PCUSA caucus of that group, PTFE. Matt sent me a position description in the Fall of 2005 and asked if I knew of anyone who might be interested in the position.

In January 2006, I attended the FaithTrust Institute with Marie Fortune in Daytona Beach; the folks from Western Theological Seminary were also there -- Matt Floding (director of the formation for ministry team and dean of students), Theresa Lattini (pastoral theology) and Leanne Van Dyk, the dean of WTS. After that gathering in Daytona, Matt was meeting with the steering committee of ATFE in San Rafael (coincidentally??) and stayed at our apartment, giving him a chance to do some laundry and meet Jim. Long story short -- Matt really opened my eyes to the possibility of applying for the position. At his invitation, I submitted an application and visited Holland and the WTS campus in April. While there, I met with faculty and students, interviewed with the president and the dean and came home to prayerfully consider their offer to come and be a part of the Formation for Ministry team.

It has been a long process -- I knew before our spring semester was over that I would be leaving SFTS. My feelings are mixed -- SFTS has been my home for 11 years and I absolutely love being here. It will not be easy to leave. However, the timing is right personally -- closer to my home state of North Carolina, same time zone, too! We are buying a house -- and have narrowed our choices to 3!! Professionally, the program at WTS "fits" my understanding of theological field education and although not a PCUSA seminary, a sister institution in the Reformed tradition!

Jim and I truly believe that this is a call for me -- he is very supportive and excited about the move (he loves cold weather!). The plans are that I will complete this semester which ends December 15, while Jim expects to remain here for a while in the position he began in June. We'll be moving house and Sam (the cat) in December to our new address during the Christmas vacation and I will start at WTS on January 1, 2007 by getting on a bus with the junior class and going away for a week-long retreat!

You have all been companions, colleagues and consultants along this incredible journey. I cannot begin to thank you enough for everything -- but I will try to do so as our days together in this place and time come to a sweet ending.
With a heart full of love & gratitude,
Stephanie

Time Passes

I was back on campus yesterday for the Redwoods Presbytery meeting. We started with worship in Stewart Chapel - at the normal chapel time so I saw teachers and students and it felt normal plus a few dozen extra people I did not know. And then it was time for the students and teachers to leave for class and I didn't.

And that almost felt like normal.

It was a poignant moment of transition that I didn't feel until after folks had left and I looked around and realized that I was sitting among strangers. I know a number of Redwoods people, but most of the people in that room were strangers to me. Given enough time, I could come to know many of them, their stories, their joys, their struggles. But I don't know how much time I have among them. I don't know where I'm going. All I have is this inbetween time. Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and you and I, heading out to destinations unknown... When do we need to act and when have we acted too soon?

There is a creek near my home. This morning I went to sit beside it with my bible and my book of common worship, the personal prayer edition. Job lamaents his abandonment by God, Lazares dies and its a metaphore for Jesus's own upcoming death and the Word is preached all over the Mediterranian and elders are strengthed and comissioned with prayer and fasting. As I sit silently watching leafs, each taking its turn to gracefully take flight until it touches the surface of the barely perceivable moving water, I notice a deer on the other side of the creek watching me. Together we sit in the morning sunlight. How much does a deer note the change in seasons? What does time mean to it? Is a deer's life a true eternal zen moment of now? Or do deer also dance in the love/life that pulses underneath everything? There are three spider webs gleaming in the sideways morning light to my right. Then the deer snorts three times three, turns and leaps away. Two more deer emerge into my view to leap and run and to follow the first.

Creator, created, creating.

----------------------------

A couple of random changes to note:
The Chinese resturant that closed for the eternal remodel has or is about to reopen. An art studio has opened in that big brown office building next to the knitting store. Two of the stores (gem & fig garden) have reopened but it looks like the chocolate shop has closed.
There is probably more, but that's all I could see driving through the downtown area - which involves avoiding all the other cars, bikes, pedestrians, etc.

News from Wilbur

Hello friends - Lars and I had a wonderful weekend in Wilbur. We looked at houses on Saturday and have picked out a small fixer-upper. Hopefully we can make it our own soon. Had a potluck with church members on Saturday night. It was a joy to meet people, share great food, and try on being their pastor. I think all had fun. Sunday went well. I really enjoyed worshipping with the congregation. There was a lot of joy and excitement in the air. The sermon went well. We went next door to wait for the vote which was a little nerve racking but happily we returned to positive news. I was voted in by a large majority! Lars and I are thrilled and I really feel so good about this. The church community and I are a really good match. Now all I need is to survive those pesky Trials next weekend! - Heather J

Heather just bee-ing

Hello Friends - Finally I am figuring out how to post on this thing . . . I think. My summer was a rough one. CPE took a lot out of me. After my first week the chaplain at the hospital I was working at left after 10years. It was several weeks before we had anyone else and then he was replaced by someone who was not CPE certified and had VERY minimal experiance. Once again - no time to be the student. I had to be the chaplain at that site from day 1. It was a bad experiance and I feel like the program let me down . . . but I made it.

Above you will see pictures of me in the last week of CPE conquering my fears! After you tell someone their son is dead, bees just seem less scary. Though anyone who knows me will be able to tell that is a really forced smile! My CPE supervisor, Wes, (the one good thing about CPE) keeps bees as a hobby and was showing Lars and I a good time!

Well, after the end of CPE and my week at the Oregon Coast I guess I am ready to face the rest of my life. Lars and I are headed up to Wilbur this weekend for the big meet and greet. Saturday is house shopping and potluck, Sunday the sermon (Mary and Martha) and THE VOTE. I hope they like me. Keep us in your prayers.

Blessings, hugs, I miss you all . . . . Heather J

Change Happens

This was read to and sent out to folks at SFTS this morning:



From: Phil Butin
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 11:13 AM
To: All Staff and Faculty
Subject: Administrative Transition

Dear Faculty and Staff,

For the past 11 years, Scott Schaefer has served the seminary with distinction as Vice President for Administration and Finance. He has been a crucial transitional figure across three seminary administrations, in a very challenging period of SFTS history. He has carried out his work with deep love for the seminary and the church, with faithfulness to each President he has served, with exceptional pastoral sensitivity, with remarkable helpfulness, and with deep dedication. He has been a crucial advisor and colleague in leadership to me, and has been an invaluable source of crucial knowledge and information about seminary administration during the early years of my presidency. I hold him in the highest regard.

Over the past several years, Scott and I have been in prayerful discernment over the leadership configuration that will be needed in the areas of Administration and Finance for the next decade of the seminary’s life and mission. In the course of this discernment, I have determined that new leadership will be required in order to take the seminary to the next level in the coming decade. Scott and his family have made plans to move to the Seattle area sometime this fall, as they seek God’s new calling for them in that area of the country, which they have come to love. When this time arrives, we will celebrate Scott’s stellar contributions and our gratitude for him and them in a variety of appropriate ways.

We will be in close communication with the seminary community about these plans as they develop. In the meantime, Scott intends to continue to serve the seminary as faithfully as he has in the past, working with me on a strong and intentional leadership transition. I trust that we will all hold Scott and his family in our prayers, and that each of you will find ways over the coming weeks to express your deep appreciation to him for the many incomparable contributions he has made to the seminary and its mission.

Sincerely,

Phil Butin
President

In addition, I have heard that Jo Rippert has resigned.

Leaving Church

So I flip on Fresh Air as I start to clean the kitchen and discover that Terry is interviewing Barbara Brown Taylor - one of my preaching goddesses. It turns out that Barbara has a new book out about why she stepped out of parish ministry - Leaving Church - a Memoir of Faith.

The interview is very challenging - and its online at the NPR Fresh Air site. She talks about becoming burned out as a parish minister, she talks about losing God in the busyness of church. She talks about the loss of her identity as a parish minister and there is still grief in that for her.

You can read more about the book at BBT's website.

I ordered it - if anyone else has it or is interesting in reading/talking about it, let me know.

I'm preaching this sunday and so far my theme is Rest, Sabbath, "Come Away with Me." But its only Monday, who knows what it will be by Friday. I want her book now but I'm still so cheap I ordered to arrive in a week or too...

BTW I preached last sunday at Broadmoor PC down in Daily City. This is James Kosko's internship site. He and Mary were there last week as well, their first sunday back since he graduated. I fell in love with Broadmoor pretty much the moment I walked in the door. These are sweet people - and faithful to this place and to each other. I hope they find their designated pastor soon!

James and Mary look great. James is looking a congregations around the west coast - from outside of Seattle to basically next door to Marin. Mary says there is about a total of 50 new faces on campus with 40-something in the core M.Div. class. The new folks at the Lloyd Center and Spiritual program seem to be well received - and there are rumers of a blog already started among them.

Isn't it odd to be thinking of someone else now living where we used to live? Or more to the point, living where our friends used to live?

Nine hours ahead of SFTS

It's Sunday night here on the other side of the Atlantic, and I'm settling into life in Switzerland. I arrived yesterday morning (though my luggage took a later flight) and attended worship this morning at the English-speaking Church of Scotland. The church meets in Calvin's Auditoire, a smaller building next to St. Peter's Cathedral that was used by Calvin for lectures and, I would imagine, ensuing theological debate. John Knox was also pastor here for some time. Inexplicably, the website seems to have no historical information about the church, but here's the link anyway:

http://www.churchofscotlandgeneva.com/

and there's a teeny bit of history here:

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/switzerland/geneva-auditoire-calvin.htm

I had a bone to pick with the sermon I heard this morning. It was decent in both message and delivery, but it started by claming that understanding and following God are more complicated now than in the Old Testament when things were clear. I imagine both Chaney and Coote would deny that premise.

Anyway, greetings from Geneva, birthplace of the Reformation.

Zachary Weems 1st Birthday party

Now that I've gotten the hang of it (sort of) Here are some pictures from the celebration of Zach Weems first birthday party.

BEFORE


AFTER

Pictures from John's ordination/installation at LOPC

They gave him an office and everything!














SFTS folks help John celebrate.

Good News and Challenging News For Women

The Marin IJ website reports that the Rev. Dr. Cornelia Cyss Crocker has been called to Two Rock/Tomalis. Cornelia has served as adjunct falculty for the Spirituality track and worked at First, San Anselmo. This is good news for her and for Two Rock/Tomalis. The installation will be Sept 10th at 3 pm at Tomales.

On the other hand - the New York Times has run a piece on the challenges women face getting into the pulpits of congregations with 350 or more. We face a future of small, struggling congregations or associate pastor only at the larger ones. This cuts across denominations. The quote that most frustrated me: “When we met with the search committee in Louisville, people on it said to me, ‘We really didn’t want a woman, because we know that we’re dying when we get a woman,’” the Rev. Lucia Oerter said of her experience at John Knox Presbyterian in Louisville three and half years ago.

And then there is this:

A Presbyterian minister in Northern California, who asked not to be identified because she did not want her congregation to know she was looking for a new post, said she received 65 rejections when applying for a job in the mid-1990’s. Over the last two years, as she has sought to move to a larger church, she said she has been passed over by 15 churches, even though her own church is thriving and she teaches preaching at a prestigious seminary.

Setting aside the desire to play the parlor game of who-is-this-unidentified-minister, this actually gives me a little bit of comfort as I receive yet another thanks-but-no-thanks letter. Its not necessarily about me, Anitra, but me, a woman. Thats a level of rejection that is a little easier to deal with but at the same time frustrating of course. It also re-enforces my awareness that I'm going to have to get very creative if I want to be ordained.

Cornelia is a very bright and talented woman. She deserves to be teaching in a seminary or working in one of those 350 member + congregations. Two Rock/Tomales is very lucky to have her. I hope she finds joy in her call, and I believe she will - but is this the best option women with her skills and talents get?

At any rate - Read the article for yourself (free, just requires registration).

And yippee for Cornelia and Two Rocks/Tomales!

Fall Ord takers

Please keep the following people in your prayers as they begin Ords tomorrow (Friday)

Peter Barnes-Davies
Michael Chang
Peter Choi
Joy Church
Meghan Davis
Nate Dreesman (Fuller student)
Edward William Elissabake (??)
Bob Evans
Robert Hattle (writing in Albuquerque)
Dani Holland
Ben Jung
Simone Kim (Princeton student)
Anni Mingin
Ellen Patterson (writing in Washington)
Linda Powers
Heidi Skidmore
Thom Taylor
Wendy Taylor-Clyde (??)
Nick Valadez