Thank you for sharing. There is so much to be learned. I wish you all the best while navigating through seminary. May you find new revelations to share. 💕
Jenai, I found you through Joy's newsletter, so I am new to your community, and very happy to be here! I resonate with this statement: "But I know I’ll learn how to embody the material when I can live it out in community."
This is my hope as well! I just started a DMin in spiritual formation and leadership at Portland Seminary (part of George Fox U). Their embrace of the value of psychotherapy was a crucial element in my choice. I'd love to connect about my doctoral project at some point if you have time. I got my MA in marriage and family therapy at a seminary, and I write at the intersection of Christian spirituality and a psychotherapy model I use in my work with clients. I hope to offer something to support people in creating safe community for sharing and experiencing God's love. I'm eager to hear what you share as you go through your program!
I just responded to Sally with a long comment, so you can see some of my answers there, but yes my program is 100% online. There is some opportunity to engage in person in Rochester, but I'm not sure if I will be able to.
I do like that they have required Zoom calls. It is not all asynchronous. But Northeastern (NES) also hosts other gatherings (in-person and online) as well as a conference that students are invited to attend.
For me, the community of dialoguing, reading through the same material and wrestling through it with others, was something I really hoped for.
Totally agree on reading in community and then talking through what you've read. The required Zoom calls in your program sound promising.
I just finished my sixth seminary class yesterday and it was the first class where we could choose to sign up for a small group that met virtually in lieu of posting on discussion boards. That was such a game changer for me. Discussion board posts have a bad rep, sometimes with good reason. TBH I hated last quarter's discussion board posts because the "theobrogians" in the class were soooooooo boring.
If you ever find any spaces where women seminarians are meeting online in non-seminary specific settings, I hope you'll share here on Substack. My spiritual director hosts a quarterly "seminary and seminary-adjacent" meet up that I love but am always hungry for even more connection.
It sounds like your seminary offers some amazing classes. Can't wait to hear about them. I just finished Women in Church History and Theology, which was fabulous. Next two quarters are Hebrew, so they'll be a definite change of pace for me.
I am so happy for you and your new quest for a deeper understanding of all things that have to do with being a Christian. I am curious about why you chose the seminary you did. Was it the course offerings? Or was it the degrees offered? Was it the professors? Or was it a statement of faith that the institution has? Was it accessibility? Affordability? Was it because you felt it would provide career opportunities? Do have career goals in mind? I am so interested in all of that. I still ponder embarking on the same educational endeavor.
Also, loved seeing your cover that was rejected. Obviously a lot of thought and creativity went into it. I found it appealing in its appearance.
One, I'm in Houston, but I didn't want to apply to any seminary in the South (for a number of reasons) which narrowed my scope so much more.
Two, I wanted to know that there was representation of marginalized people at the seminary in all areas, which is something I think NES does well.
Three, I loved the course load for the Spiritual Formation program at NES (which you can find here under the Program Requirements tab: https://www.nes.edu/students/student-resources/). The required reading for the courses is also something I looked into and loved. And I really did seek out a Spiritual Formation program. There aren't many offered online.
Four, I loved that Marlena taught in the Spiritual Formation program at NES. And I am a fan of BioLogos and the work that organization does (faith & science) and another professor at NES (J. Richard Middleton) is affiliated with BioLogos. (So yes, to the question on professors.)
Five, it is an ecumenical university, meaning they welcome and invite different Christian traditions to engage which is not something all seminaries do. And I am committed to being and becoming more ecumenical.
Sixth, it was offered online so it was accessible to me. Moving isn't an option for our family now, so being able to complete a bulk of the degree online was important for me. Affordability did also play into it, but I was more influenced by other markers.
And lastly, yes, I do have career goals in mind. I would like to keep writing spiritually and theologically oriented books, so the education helps there, but I also am interested in many of the interfaith chaplaincy opportunities in my area, many of which require a seminary degree.
I hope that helps!
(edit: Also! They didn't require that you include a letter from a pastor with admission, which was also something I was looking for as I currently do not attend a church. But I did need two letters of recommendation from other spiritual leaders to be admitted.)
Wow. I can see how this was a good fit for you. Thank you for taking the time to write back to me. You really did your homework on deciding where to go for your advanced degree. I applaud that. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I’m cheering you on.
Thank you for sharing. There is so much to be learned. I wish you all the best while navigating through seminary. May you find new revelations to share. 💕
Thank you, Lisa. I've been over the moon with my experience at Northeastern throughout the last month and a half. I wish I would have started sooner.
This right here. I feel and understand ALL of this:
It’s that many of us are too tired of holding on to places and spaces not made for us.
Yes and amen. 🖤
Jenai, I found you through Joy's newsletter, so I am new to your community, and very happy to be here! I resonate with this statement: "But I know I’ll learn how to embody the material when I can live it out in community."
This is my hope as well! I just started a DMin in spiritual formation and leadership at Portland Seminary (part of George Fox U). Their embrace of the value of psychotherapy was a crucial element in my choice. I'd love to connect about my doctoral project at some point if you have time. I got my MA in marriage and family therapy at a seminary, and I write at the intersection of Christian spirituality and a psychotherapy model I use in my work with clients. I hope to offer something to support people in creating safe community for sharing and experiencing God's love. I'm eager to hear what you share as you go through your program!
Hey Molly! Glad to connect here. And your program sounds wonderful!
I have the same questions as Sally. Also, is your program 100% online and if so, do you know yet how they foster a sense of community?
I’m in an online program, which I love so much about but it can feel lonely.
Shana! Thanks for asking.
I just responded to Sally with a long comment, so you can see some of my answers there, but yes my program is 100% online. There is some opportunity to engage in person in Rochester, but I'm not sure if I will be able to.
I do like that they have required Zoom calls. It is not all asynchronous. But Northeastern (NES) also hosts other gatherings (in-person and online) as well as a conference that students are invited to attend.
For me, the community of dialoguing, reading through the same material and wrestling through it with others, was something I really hoped for.
Totally agree on reading in community and then talking through what you've read. The required Zoom calls in your program sound promising.
I just finished my sixth seminary class yesterday and it was the first class where we could choose to sign up for a small group that met virtually in lieu of posting on discussion boards. That was such a game changer for me. Discussion board posts have a bad rep, sometimes with good reason. TBH I hated last quarter's discussion board posts because the "theobrogians" in the class were soooooooo boring.
If you ever find any spaces where women seminarians are meeting online in non-seminary specific settings, I hope you'll share here on Substack. My spiritual director hosts a quarterly "seminary and seminary-adjacent" meet up that I love but am always hungry for even more connection.
It sounds like your seminary offers some amazing classes. Can't wait to hear about them. I just finished Women in Church History and Theology, which was fabulous. Next two quarters are Hebrew, so they'll be a definite change of pace for me.
I haven't experienced the theobros yet, but, if I'm honest, I'd love to engage them.
Creating an online space for non-male seminarians outside of a seminary setting is super interesting! I'll chew on that!
I’m looking forward to following your seminary journey, hearing how community is encouraged in an online program, the assigned reading, etc.
I am so happy for you and your new quest for a deeper understanding of all things that have to do with being a Christian. I am curious about why you chose the seminary you did. Was it the course offerings? Or was it the degrees offered? Was it the professors? Or was it a statement of faith that the institution has? Was it accessibility? Affordability? Was it because you felt it would provide career opportunities? Do have career goals in mind? I am so interested in all of that. I still ponder embarking on the same educational endeavor.
Also, loved seeing your cover that was rejected. Obviously a lot of thought and creativity went into it. I found it appealing in its appearance.
Hi Sally! Thanks so much for asking.
I chose Northeastern (NES) for a few reasons.
One, I'm in Houston, but I didn't want to apply to any seminary in the South (for a number of reasons) which narrowed my scope so much more.
Two, I wanted to know that there was representation of marginalized people at the seminary in all areas, which is something I think NES does well.
Three, I loved the course load for the Spiritual Formation program at NES (which you can find here under the Program Requirements tab: https://www.nes.edu/students/student-resources/). The required reading for the courses is also something I looked into and loved. And I really did seek out a Spiritual Formation program. There aren't many offered online.
Four, I loved that Marlena taught in the Spiritual Formation program at NES. And I am a fan of BioLogos and the work that organization does (faith & science) and another professor at NES (J. Richard Middleton) is affiliated with BioLogos. (So yes, to the question on professors.)
Five, it is an ecumenical university, meaning they welcome and invite different Christian traditions to engage which is not something all seminaries do. And I am committed to being and becoming more ecumenical.
Sixth, it was offered online so it was accessible to me. Moving isn't an option for our family now, so being able to complete a bulk of the degree online was important for me. Affordability did also play into it, but I was more influenced by other markers.
And lastly, yes, I do have career goals in mind. I would like to keep writing spiritually and theologically oriented books, so the education helps there, but I also am interested in many of the interfaith chaplaincy opportunities in my area, many of which require a seminary degree.
I hope that helps!
(edit: Also! They didn't require that you include a letter from a pastor with admission, which was also something I was looking for as I currently do not attend a church. But I did need two letters of recommendation from other spiritual leaders to be admitted.)
Wow. I can see how this was a good fit for you. Thank you for taking the time to write back to me. You really did your homework on deciding where to go for your advanced degree. I applaud that. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I’m cheering you on.
Thanks, Sally! I'm always glad to share more!
Fun seeing what your reject cover was!
love this cover! but if a better one worked I'm excited for that too! yay! <3
I liked this one, too. But once I was finished drawing it, I knew it wouldn't work.
Those classes look AMAZING!!!