As the dark chocolate coffee cupcakes bake for tomorrow's UCO Prayer Meeting, I thought I'd write the blog post I've been putting off for the last month. Next year, I will not be working for UCO. Instead, I will begin my studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in their master's of divinity program. Read on if you'd like a sense of what it's like to discern the call to seminary.
First of all, I think God has an incredible sense of humor. Never in a million years did I think the Lord would call this broken, sinful person to professional ministry. The discernment process really began last September. I had recently moved to Shadyside, and started attended Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Dr. Barnes, our senior pastor at the time, was preaching a series of sermons on the subject "Who am I?" It was a very timely sermon series because I was pondering the exact question myself. I remember sitting there listening to his sermon going I am a Christian. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to proclaiming the good news, but I don't know how to merge my Christian identity and my professional identities? I remember reading the back of the bulletin and seeing that Dr. Barnes also taught at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Huh. I thought. Maybe this is worth looking into?
I put off this inkling of seminary as long as I could. October, November, and December flew by in a haze of UCO Retreats, staff training days in Michigan, and AmeriCorps training and orientation at the Carnegie Library of Homestead. But by Christmas Break I could put off the inkling no longer. I was running on empty, pouring out more of myself than I had to give to my "big" kids and my "little" kids. Despite my weariness, I became convicted that the Lord created me for ministry but that I lacked the education to serve him to the best of my abilities. Begrudgingly, I scheduled a visit to the seminary.
My seminary visit in early January was fairly typical. Sorry to disappoint, but the heaven's didn't open up with a myriad of angels beckoning me to seminary. I sat in on a class, met some current students, and learned that I needed to file my taxes immediately to receive the most financial aide possible. I left the campus not even sure if I would apply. But I decided I might as well, since they seminary was willing to wave my application fee.
Applying to graduate school while working full time is not for the faint at heart. It's almost like a part-time job in and of itself. But submitting the paperwork is the easy part of the seminary discernment process. My acceptance letter came in the mail in mid-February. Then the fun part of the seminary discernment process begins: do I go or not?
I agonized over this decision for months. I prayed for direction. I consulted with Christian men and women whom I admire, and who know me well. At a certain point it became clear that the Lord was inviting me to seminary, but the decision was mine to make. When I thought about it practically, it makes more sense for me to go know when I'm young, poor, and single than it does later in life. I love school, and can't wait to be back in a classroom. I accepted PTS's offer of enrollment, and am very excited to begin classes in the fall.
So there you have it. I hope my testimony inspires you if you're in the process of making a big life decision. I'm grateful to those of you who've been praying for me during this challenging time. I want to especially thank my church, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, and my housemates for anchoring and encouraging me during this process.
If you have any questions, want to know more, or want to send me an encouraging word, shoot me an email at rebecca.l.depoe@gmail.com.
God Bless You!
