Marquand: WHAT WHAT!!!

Keeping the count alive: four days until you arrive. Who’d a thunk it? I want to take a little time away from planning to introduce you to yet one more amazing person. Last year, I had the pleasure of singing the Marquand Chapel Choir, a group that helps with Wednesday’s Sung Morning Prayer routine in Marquand and also performs the anthem at the Eucharist service each Friday. My director was fantastic. He made schmucks like me sound like we had a voice. I was truly bummed to sing for him at graduation, knowing he was leaving.

Then, news came that this great man was staying in New Haven. Better still, staying to work at Yale. Cherry on top: he had been hired to hold the position of Patrick Evans, who was on sabbatical. So, without building up his amazingness too much, an interview with the man who will help lead music at Marquand, ¬¬¬Colin Britt!

Q: Colin, you’re taking on a new role in our community. How do you envision that role?
A: I serve as acting director of chapel music, and I also provide/supervise some of the logistical work in chapel. I deal with bulletin creation, some of the music copyright record keeping, and some work in the space itself, such as furnishing music resources and moving instruments.

Q: Nice, safe answer. Why are you here and not elsewhere?
A: A good place to start is the fact that I am coming directly to this job after a year as Marquand chapel choir director, where I developed a strong relationship with Marquand and grew to love the people here. So when I was approached about the job it seemed like a natural continuation of that work, and a good opportunity professionally because it’s a renowned institution with a very successful musical program.

At the same time, I had become so attached to the spirit of the place, the people, and the worship community. Last year I found myself not only attending the choir services, but if I possibly could I would go just to find a sense of balance.

Q: You are changing from one role on the Marquand Team to another, more visible role. Do you think this will be a difficult transition?
A: One thing that I liked about Patrick’s and my relationship last year is that he gave me a lot of freedom and liberty with choosing music, and he didn’t attempt to involve himself in how I directed. He let me do the job, while offering to act as a sounding board for ideas. I appreciated that because it allowed me the freedom to discover how I could best contribute to the worship style. So I was well-prepared for this position.

That said, it is a transition because I’m now more involved in the planning. Before, I had very limited involvement in choosing hymns or leading song, and for the most part I was one of many involved in planning. This will be a much more involved and more present role in the community. From a logistical standpoint, it’s a lot more work preparing bulletins, arranging music, etc.

Q: You now hold the position of potential boss of the new Marquand chapel choir leader, Michael Sansoni. You both were in school together, and you and Michael co-led the chapel choir. Now that you have more technical authority, will you lord over Michael?
A: Good Lord, I don’t Lord over Michael.

Q: What is your vision for this year?
A: From a musical standpoint, I believe that what Marquand does best is provide an open and welcoming space for all who attend, and one of the ways that it does that is through the act of song. And because singing is so central in Marquand, and because music from all over the world is used in such versatile ways, I feel that two goals for this year will be to continue that communal act of joining together in song and to explore more styles and genres.

My biggest goal for the year is to continue what has been started and led so expertly by Patrick and the music team, while finding ways that my particular voice can contribute in a unique way.

Q: Many people on the blog have spoken about the centrality for many people of Marquand to the YDS experience. Can Marquand live up to the expectations?
A: Absolutely.


Q: What is the greatest challenge to Marquand for this year?
A: Our challenge is to maintain the very successful ecumenical worship and the role that the chapel plays in our community, and to contribute to this legacy without carbon copying it. That’s both liberating and challenging. Siobhán and Patrick leave big shoes to fill, but we’re bringing to these roles our own unique strengths, experiences, and personalities. I, for one, do not own any Hawaiian shirts. (To see the contrasting styles of Colin and his predecessor Patrick, see the shot to the left.)

Q: How open, then, are you to student input for music?
A: Very open. One of the ways Marquand works is that it’s an opportunity for students to be directly involved in planning worship services, and there are many ways that can happen. Hypothetically, if a student preacher is giving a sermon for a worship service, they will be asked if there are particular music selections they want involved. If the music is appropriate—context, language, etc.—chances are we can use it in some way. That being said, we probably don’t want ‘Here I am Lord’ sung five times in one week.

Q: How would you advise new students to enter/treat the space of Marquand?
A: I hope they will find it welcoming, but expect to be challenged in their understanding of the possibilities of what worship can be. I also hope they will feel empowered to find new ways to share their own voice in the community.

Q: Any plugs for music?
A: If any students are looking for ways to be involved musically, there are several outlets. The two choirs that perform regularly are the chapel and gospel choirs. Gospel rehearses every other Monday evening (first service is the 14th of Sept), and Chapel choir every Sunday evening.

Also, if a student regularly plays a musical instrument in their worship community, they should contact me if they want to offer their gifts to our worship services. My email address is colin.britt@yale.edu .

Q: You are a fashionable man, do you have any advice for students?
A: Marquand has been, and will continue to be, a come-as-you-are community. So bring your own style and what you’re comfortable in, but the shirts and shoes rule might apply.
Q: So pants optional?
A: Actually, shoes are more optional than pants, now that I think of it. And would you tell all my friends from high school and college that you think I’m “fashionable”?

Q: Last thoughts?
A: The most important thing to remember about Marquand is that we want people to share and give to the community from their own traditions as they are comfortable, and that while not everything that happens in the chapel will be familiar, it’s our goal to welcome everyone and offer something new to every person who comes in.

"Life Somewhere:" Furnishing Your New Haven Home

I don't know about you, but when I moved to New Haven, I gave away the majority of my furniture, because it wouldn't fit in my U-Haul Trailer. When I arrived at my new apartment, I didn't have a bed, a desk, or any living room furniture. Sure, I could have gone out and bought all new furniture, but I was now on a graduate student budget (which tends to preclude shopping sprees). However, there are some options to easily (and cheaply) furnish your new home, whether it's in stately Bellamy Manor or East Rock, which Alex and I heard referred to as "the ghetto" yesterday (for the record, if houses routinely sell for over $100,000, I don't think you can classify a neighborhood as a ghetto).

For those of you with a little ingenuity, there's an Ikea in New Haven (450 Sargent Drive). Some people cite this as a reason to consider New Haven a city. Still, I think the possums (which I, too, have seen; the world's biggest possum lives in a tree near my garage) and bears may call that into question. Regardless of whether you're now living in a city, we have a stalwart outpost of Swedish do-it-yourself home projects that will offer you cheap furniture and housewares.

People in New Haven are beginning to clean out their closets. Look for tag sales going on throughout the city when you arrive (depending on where you're from, you may know these as "garage sales" or "yard sales").

Freecycle and Craigslist are always options.

Finally, there's the BTFO Give Away Room, located in the basement of scenic Fisher Hall. Current and former students have donated their gently-used items, which you'll be able to pick up during BTFO. There's some great stuff down there, for the record. Also for the record, Alex and I will not help you carry stuff out. We carried stuff in; it's up to you to get it out on your own (or with help that is not us).

Marquand...say WHAT!!!

Hey all:

Now it's my pleasure to introduce you to something that many people have talked about in interviews: Marquand Chapel. Marquand is the main chapel at YDS, and every weekday at 10:30 it holds an ecumenical service. As students you will have an active role (if you wish) in leading, participating, and planning services. YDS has a million and seven ways to get involved, and a thousand and six ways to worship. From 10:30am - 11:30am, and again from 12:30pm - 1:30pm every day, there are no classes scheduled on Holy Hill. Instead, we worship and eat together.

The 10:30am Marquand service is ecumenical, and takes a very different form each and every day. The only constants are that Wednesdays are always sung morning prayer, and Fridays always feature a Eucharistic celebration of some kind. Lets take a gander at what went on one random week in the past (direct from the Q Source, our weekly newsletter that hasn't been updated online since 2009):

Monday: "The Healing Balm of God's Word through Song and Dance" Liturgical Dance led by Kathleen Turner with the YDS Liturgical Dance Workshop and the CT Chapter of National Liturgical Dance Network
Tuesday: Quaker Meeting led by YDS fellow Sarah Ruden
Wednesday: Sung Morning Prayer: Songs of the Americas led by Patrick Evans
Thursday: A Bright Week Service in the Byzantine Tradition
Friday: Community Eucharist for the End of Term with Emilie Townes, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, preaching, and Dale Peterson, Dean of Students, presiding.

When service is done at 11:00, there is Coffee Hour in the Common Room. Grab some tea, coffee, an apple or doughnut, perhaps a granola bar, and talk with friends for a bit.

At 12:30pm we have "lunch hour." This is a great time to catch up in the refectory, meet with professors, go to The Carts down the hill a bit, or take part in a meeting. As the Div School does not have classes at this time, groups on campus usually try to hold meetings at this time. Often, this means eating and working at the same time.

Marquand, Coffee hour, and lunch hour for me are some of the greatest things about YDS for me. Other than BTFO (shameless plug), these have helped me feel a sense of community more than other events. Day-in, day-out, knowing that time is set to be with my colleagues and professors and staff support is both comforting and liberating. I look forward to seeing everyone there!

A BTFO Update

You should be receiving this in your e-mail inbox soon, but in case the e-mail that you registered for BTFO with is no longer working, we're posting this on the blog as well.

Greetings!

In one week, we’ll all be gathering at the Divinity School for BTFO! We’re both very excited about this, and we can’t wait until you get here. As you may have read on the blog (btfo2010.blogspot.com), we created your small groups last week. From this point on, we’re putting the finishing touches on the week’s programming.

We’ve just got a few reminders for you.

1) Registration begins at 2:30p.m. on Monday. This should take a few minutes; you’ll pick up your information packets and name tags, register for a mailbox, and have your picture taken by the Dean of Students’ Office. This means that some of you will have to show up before 3:45…

2) Please bring a water bottle and reusable dishes. YDS has made a commitment toward environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship. We’re trying to cut down on the amount of disposable plates, cups, and utensils that we use during BTFO. Remember, if you’re bringing reusable dishes, you’ll get to be first in line at all of our meals. We will have a limited supply of dishes and silverware in the Give Away room, which will be handed out on a first-come-first-served basis.

3) Dress in layers. It’s almost fall in New England, which generally means hot days and cool nights. We will be out on the Quad after sunset, and it will cool down rapidly. Plus, Niebuhr Hall (where we will be having panels) is affectionately referred to as “the icebox.”

4) Family members are welcome at most BTFO activities, including meals. We’ll be providing childcare from 8:45a.m—5:30p.m. Tuesday—Friday. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate any more children, so if you have not RSVPed for childcare yet, your best bet is the Yale babysitting service (www.yale.edu/babysitting). If you have RSVPed for childcare, make sure you bring your insurance and primary care physician information with you when you check in at BTFO registration on Monday.

5) Finally, if you’re going to be in town Sunday, August 22, the McDougal Center and Hall of Graduate Studies is sponsoring a $9 all-you-can-eat meal for new graduate and professional students (that’s you!) at Thai Pan Asian (1150 Chapel Street). Just look for the McDougal Fellow handing out wristbands at the door, and tell him or her that you’re a new Divinity student.

Peace,

Josh Rodriguez
Alex Peterson

IT: Connecting with Yale

Good afternoon, everyone.

One week from now, all your smiling faces will be sitting in the Common Room, happy-go-lucky and carefree. Perhaps.

I will admit that since the blog on Dale Mail, several people have asked about technology and connecting. Being rather clueless about technology (this is my first blog, still have never Tweeted, still fondly remember my Mac LCII for its bulkiness and unwieldiness that allowed me to figure out what to do as it took 5 minutes to start up), I have turned to outside help. Meet Josh Kammerer, who will walk you through connectivity. He went through Hebrew with me, and in that struggle, a trust was formed...he won't steer you any more off-base than I would, I can assure you of that.

"I, Josh K., your resident student, Durkheimian Techno-shaman (aka Student IT Tech), would like to provide you with some techno-rites that you can use to protect yourself against the wrath of the technology gods. If you follow my ritual prescriptions to a “T,” you won’t have to worry about getting struck by lightning,1 being overtaken by technological pestilences (computer viruses), succumbing to severe seasonal technological famines (computers operating very slowly), being attacked by the temple guards (getting fined by the RIAA), or remaining cut off from the blessings of the technology gods (severed from access to our blessed networks).

That being said, I’m going to provide a series of four pdf files to help you identify the necessary steps you need to take to prepare yourself for the Fall, which is, by the way, when all Hell breaks loose on earth (that was a cheesy Biblical joke for those who were paying attention).

When you arrive for BTFO, I will be manning a table somewhere, using my shamanic giftedness to appease the gods and get you connected to our networks (Stage 1 Connectivity). But for me to be able to do my job, I need you to read what I’ve just written and take the following steps. If you fail at any of these steps, we won’t burn you as a heretic on the Peace Pole (even though Denys Turner might like to); however, we might ask you to bake us cookies after we get you connected."

File one: The Gods, in fact, are crazy--preparing yourself to connect to Yale's networks before arrival

File two: How to foil a foreign spy--how to access Yale's resources remotely

File three: Tips and tricks to avoid getting eaten by the Kraken--general stuff about Yale computing

File four: How to catch a digital leprechaun--getting connected to Yale's encrypted (and preferred) wireless network, once you arrive

P.S. This is Alex again. Try these steps, they are designed to make it easier once you arrive. If they don't work, then try again (I know I mess things up, don't think you don't). If it still doesn't work, wait until you get here, and we'll go from there!

Village on a Hill: Introductions: Dean Emilie Townes

Good evening, all:

After almost a week away on vacation to Nebraska (no cell reception and a broken computer...so I really had the chance to actually be away), I returned this week to my wonderful BTFO job. Seriously, we're less than 10 full days away from BTFO. I for one am thrilled, and anxious. Best way to deal with anxiety: get busy. Josh and I have been working hard, and we hope that you'll enjoy the results.

Here is one of the last installments of my 'Introductions' section. Dean Emilie Townes is a person you will all know soon (if you don't recognize her name already), and is a wonderfully kind person who cares a tremendous amount about the students. I can say that about nearly everyone at the Div School, of course, so understand that the same comments apply to all I've interviewed thus far. But still. So here you are, my interview with Dean Townes.

Q: Dean Townes, you’ve studied at U Chicago and Northwestern, and taught at Union. Why do you find your home at YDS?
A: I always function on ‘call.’ All my teaching jobs have been because it has been clear to me that God is calling me to this place at this time, and the same is true here. It was a surprise, I was not planning on ever being at Yale, it was not on my radar screen, but when the first call came from Dean Bartlett about teaching a course on “black something” I was like ‘sure.’ I did, and found there were students interested in what I taught. I also found myself teaching here rather than simply managing the classroom, which is what I was doing at Union. I’m a teacher, and I need to be where I’m a teacher, and Yale became that place. There are faculty here that I can work on projects with, students that are interested in looking at structures behind the issues and how we can be faithful responders to the good and bad in society, and I thought this oddly enough has become home. I look forward to coming in to school and seeing what will happen each day. I often say to staff in emails to staff: life here is never dull. We may be New England proper, but we are not dull.

Q: What do you hope for this year?
A: We recently started a long-range planning and self-study process for reaccreditation, and I look forward to seeing what we find for our future, what we will look like. Harry has asked us to see what we want to be in 2020. How will we get there? How will we keep doing the assessment and evaluation? We are building a process where the whole school is involved, not just a few people meeting in secret. And much like any other institution at Yale, we have a lot going on, and not a whole lot of people who know all that is going on. Wouldn’t it be great to know at one moment all that is going on? I think we could make wise choices what this means for education, the church, individuals, and how we can be really live into being hearers and doers of the Word in the fullest sense, as opposed to kinda hearing, kinda doing. We can really be engaged. This year is a year of reflection and I’m looking forward to it. I’m not sure I’ll say the same thing in December, but right now it’s exciting.

Q: What about students here makes you laugh? Shake your head?
A: Yale students at Div School tend to be exceedingly earnest—and I use that in the best sense of the word. I find that endearing in the student body, that most of you come here because you are trying to figure out what you’re supposed to be doing, and how faith and religion plays or does not play into that. You ask hard questions of yourselves and teachers, and on your best days you actually listen to each other. When I watch that unfold in chapel, or class, or the halls, or wherever we are gathered, and see the best part of that, it is endearing. To watch that unwillingness to compromise because it’s the easy way, when I see you searching for the truth in this, and how we get there: I find myself smiling when I see those moments.

Now, when you’re not doing that I’m not smiling, and wish you would chill out and be more gracious. The staff takes a big hit when you’re not being gracious, but when you’re at your best it’s quite delightful to behold.


Q: Do people take themselves too seriously here?
A: Yes. Yes. Yes. This is a school with far too many type A personalities, from faculty, staff, students, admin, you name it, we tend to be type A. Luckily, my parents were both college administrators and teachers, and they taught me from example: if you can’t amuse yourself at what you do sometimes, you’re in trouble. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, realize that nothing should be so serious that we can’t see the humor in any day, then we’re in trouble. So yeah, you take yourselves too seriously. You’re too grade-driven. It doesn’t make you better students, or content students. We worry as faculty about how you take grades too seriously and don’t enjoy learning, which defeats the life of the mind. Learning should be a great joy, not drudgery. One of my happiest moments is being able to sit and read a book just to see what an author is saying. You can do that and be in a class… believe me, it is possible! My hope is that some of y’all will take a chill pill. I know that phrase is out of style, but it’s the only one I can think of that’s printable.

Q: What is the most common question from first years, and what do you answer (just to get it out of the way)?
A: How do I get an H? is the question more than any other one. The answer: always do your best work. That doesn’t guarantee an H, but that’s how you get one. In other words, I follow Socratic thought, because there’s no answer to that question. There are too many faculty and different things required of different disciplines, that there is no set answer. Pay attention to faculty on first day of class, when the syllabus is being discussed. If the professor is speaking for more than a few minutes about it, you better pay attention, because they’re trying to tell you something, including what constitutes excellence in the class.

Q: Where is your favorite place on the quad?
A: Marquand. It’s where I go to center myself every day. If I’m on campus, I’m in chapel at 10:30, and I build my day around being in chapel. This place can be such a pressure cooker that I need that time where what I’m doing is trying to be closer to God—as opposed to the next task, or the next meeting, or the next class. Just simply being. And the chapel changes so much during the course of the day because of how the sun moves across the chapel; it can be so many different things. It’s a place of quiet mystery, and I appreciate that.

Q: Any advice for incoming students? Fashion tips? Places to eat?
A: I don’t’ give fashion tips. I give fashion tickets, but not tips. One of my favorite places to eat on a student budget is Mama Mary’s Soul Food on Whalley. Lots of food at Mama Mary’s, you can get two or three meals’ worth of food on a plate. It’s cost effective, and because they now practice healthy cooking (not lard or pork seasoning), it’s even reasonably healthy. Friendly, good food, and you determine how much food by the size of the plate. Right across the street is Edge of the Woods Grocery Store, so you want to be noble and get really healthy food you can go across the street for that later in the same trip.

Q: Anything else?
A: I think it’s this: don’t stop asking questions. Be an active part of what happens at BTFO, but you just get so much info over the course of a week, that at the end it sounds like Snoopy (wah wah wah). Continue to ask questions after BTFO—even during BTFO! People don’t mind repeating themselves for those trying to understand. This is not an easy school to know what you need to do, so asking questions is one of the best things available to you.

We Sorted That

After two days, several sharpies, lots of Sorting Hat jokes, and pie, Alex and I, with help from the beautiful and talented Melissa Pucci, have created small groups. Wouldn't you like to know if you were placed in Gryffindor?

Don't worry; you'll find out soon enough.

"Life off the Hill:" Kids in New Haven, Part 1

Today's post comes courtesy of Terri Bays, a second-year M.Div. student and mother of two. In her former life, Terri was a professor of Medieval Literature at Notre Dame, where she also coordinated Open Courseware efforts (which she still does in her spare time). Terri is seeking ordination in the Episcopal Church and is a postulant in the Diocese of Northern Indiana. Since Alex and I are ill-equipped to discuss the ins-and-outs of things kids like to do in New Haven, Terri has provided some excellent suggestions (and has offered to provide more at a later date).

Okay, so you’ve arrived in New Haven, you’ve got about 1/3 of your boxes unpacked, and already your kids are complaining that they’re bored out of their minds, and why did you drag them all the way to this place from wherever it was you dragged them from anyway, and they miss all their friends. . . You’ve gotten all sorts of notices about plays and concerts and galleries, but what’s there to do around here for the 12 and under crowd?

Plenty, that’s what. But let’s start with the essentials. In order to get your kids to even discuss the question of what they want to do, you need some ice cream. Fortunately, New Haven has lots of options, like the old fashioned scoops at Clark’s Pizza at 68 Whitney. The décor isn’t much, but just down the block is Phelps’ Triangle, a teensy little park where my eldest daughter ate her very first ice cream cone. If Super Premium ice cream is more your style, head over to Ashley’s at 280 York Street, or if you prefer gelato, there’s Nica’s Market at 603 Orange Street. My kids (5 and 13) vouch for all of these, so the choice among them really depends on your mood.

Okay, so now that your kids are speaking to you again, you can make some decisions. Is everybody stir-crazy? Take them to East Rock Park at 41 Cold Spring, which has everything from playgrounds to hiking trails to playing fields. If a stroll through a converted estate grounds is more to your liking (think dog-walking, kite-flying and frisbee throwing), try Edgerton Park at 75 Cliff Street. Edgerton Park is also where the police department stables its horses, so if you’re lucky, you might get to see New Haven’s finest on the hoof.

Too hot for the park? How about some dinosaurs? The Peabody Museum of Natural History* is just the right size to do in a day. Look for the Triceritops on the front lawn! If you want something a bit more up-to-date, there’s the Whitney Museum and Workshop on up the road at 915 Whitney in Hamden (at the north end of East Rock Park). In case you’re wondering, it is named for that Whitney, Eli, inventor of the cotton gin and lots of other things. The museum focuses on experiential learning, so expect lots of hands-on stuff.

If you have time to venture a bit out of town, the Shore Line Trolley Museum is just over the Q-bridge at 17 River Street in East Haven. You can ride a trolley out to the trolley barns where they have restored nearly 100 trolley cars from around the world. It’s also worth checking out the Connecticut State Parks, since the state is covered with little parks featuring waterfalls, castles, beaches, hiking, covered bridges and more!

View Kids' Stuff in New Haven in a larger map

*I, Josh, highly endorse Terri's suggestion of the Peabody Museum. Their dinosaur exhibit is impressive, and kids love the place (I also love the place, because, really, all that's needed to make me happy still is dinosaurs). Admission is always free with a Yale ID (as is admission to any of Yale's museums) and the Peabody waives admission fees every Thursday.

“Life of the Hill:” The McDougal Center

Alex is on vacation this week, which means that I’m working from home. That said, I’m watching TV as I write this post, and since it’s primary season in Connecticut, I’m seeing some pretty entertaining attack ads. I’ve also been drinking coffee since I got up this morning, so this post is either going to be incomprehensible or the most brilliant thing you’ve ever read. You have been warned.

As I’ve said repeatedly throughout my series of posts this summer, YDS is a great place. If you’ll permit me a sports analogy (and even if you won’t, I’m going to make it anyway, since the Texas Rangers currently have the biggest division lead in major league baseball): YDS is your clubhouse. It’s a place where you can relax and be equipped for your life at (and beyond) Yale. However, if you want to play baseball (or enjoy your time at Yale), you’re going to have to venture beyond YDS. Yes, stepping up to the plate (which is somehow a metaphor for being involved at Yale beyond YDS, don’t ask me how, I’m going with the coffee right now) can be scary, but who knows, you could end up leading major league baseball in hits, just like Josh Hamilton (which, in Yale terms, probably means you’re managing GPSCY, as a recent YDS alumni succeeded in doing [again, I’m riding high on caffeine and the fact that the Rangers have a shot at the playoffs this season]).

Unfortunately, I can’t figure out how to compare various resources at Yale to the bases, so I’m going to have to drop my mixed metaphor (much to your relief, I’m sure). However, one of the resources that you should be aware of is the McDougal Center. The McDougal Center is run out of the Hall of Graduate Studies by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, but it exists to serve the entire graduate and professional community at Yale.

In its most basic form, the McDougal Center is a common room located just off the HGS dining hall. Here, you can take advantage of internet access, a large selection of periodicals, board games, and a piano that is kept in better tune than the one in the YDS Commuter Lounge. There’s also the Blue Dog Café, which describes itself as a “gourmet coffee bar.” (However, unlike our own Holy Grounds, you can’t purchase things with an IOU at the Blue Dog).

The McDougal center also runs a computer lab, a children’s play area, health supplies and information (which I have learned means condoms, not band-aids, fyi; you generally have to carry your own band-aids around Yale), and music practice rooms.

Beyond these physical resources, the McDougal center organizes events for the G&P community. These range from family-friendly outings (a Fall staple is apple-picking) to bar crawls (the first of which will be held Saturday, August 24). McDougal also sponsors the “First Friday at Five” happy hour each month, charity casino nights, an annual winter ball, speed-dating, discounted tickets to concert’s at Toad’s Place, and pre-game events for The (Harvard-Yale) Game (which is in Cambridge this year, so these may be limited to a bus service). The McDougal Center also works with the Chaplain’s Office to organize service projects through the Yale Day of Service series.

Online Course Information Is Up!

Several of you have asked about classes, and here's the best answer I can give you so far: Online Course Information has launched. This will let you preview the Fall's course offerings, although you still won't be able to register until September 1. For the record, we're listed under Divinity School, not Religion.

Introductions: Bill Goettler

August is nearly upon us. Unbelievable. Second year is about to start for me so I'm about to reminisce (this is my blog, so it's about me for a second). One of the first memories I have of being at YDS was actually Prospective Students Day. After Chapel, at Coffee Hour, I was talking to a (seemingly) random Presbyterian minister. Quick smile, witty, and knew all the students. As a schmoozing prospective (and Presbyterian) trying for any assistance in getting into Yale, I was trying to talk this guy up.

This guy was Bill Goettler. Bill serves as co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church in New Haven with his wife, Maria LaSala. He is also the Asst. Dean for Assessment & Ministerial Studies at YDS, meaning he oversees much of preparation for ministry--MDiv ears should be perking up. He's a great resource, and has a great office if you want to chat and lament such issues as why Presbyterians have to take learn Hebrew and Greek and take lots of exams while Episcopalians just have to be able to stand incense and cross themselves at the right time to be ordained.

So below, an interview with Dean Goettler:

Q: What is your role here?
A: My role here is to work with every MDiv student to develop a portfolio and an approach to academic and personal life that will help them move through their degree in a purposeful way, and then to lead them into a midterm conversation ½-way through their three year program. This discussion takes place with them, their advisor, myself, and other mentors. Its intended to be a deeply significant conversation about where they’ve been and where they’re going. After that, each student continues that process of conversation and growth through graduation.

Institutionally, my role is to help YDS go through program-outcomes-assessment, which means self-reflection and assessment about how well we are meeting our goals for MDiv students. That’s done with faculty standing committees (which include students). It sounds boring but it’s actually really cool to think that the school takes very seriously that kind of self-reflection. The faculty talk to each other about this project, and then they continue to revisit their goals and check in on how they’re doing. You might think a school like Yale might not do that kind of self-reflection, but in fact we do, and it’s a great asset for this institution.

Q: Why do you find yourself at Yale?
A: I was drawn by the chance to work with MDiv students at Yale as they figure out what is ahead for them in ministry and in study. And that’s really fun; our students are interesting human beings with a whole range of life experiences behind them. Over three years, it’s a delight to be in on their movement toward ministry, and to be a part of their communal and individual journeys.

The whole job offers an aspect of ministry that came as a surprise to me after two decades of parish ministry. I love it.

Q: How did this surprise come to you?
A: I spent 10 years teaching Presbyterian polity and helping with Supervised Ministries here at Yale, and I guess it went well because I was invited to have a larger role. My wife, Maria (who is also co-pastor with me of First Presbyterian Church) and I figured out some ways for me to take on that larger role and stay involved with the local congregation. I am able to continue to practice ministry in a church and also engage students. That’s not something one can plan for in a professional life, so that was the surprise.

Q: Students come in from many denominations and places on their spiritual journeys. There are a plethora of churches in this area. Are there home churches for people during their time at YDS?
A: Some churches draw more students than others. I’ll use my church as one example. Sometimes one chooses the church because of proximity (First Presbyterian in a 10 minute walk from campus) and sometimes it’s history (a good number of students and faculty attend First Pres), and sometimes it’s denominational (we are the only English-speaking Presbyterian Church in New Haven). It’s a fun, very progressive community, near enough to the university to bring many people: undergrads, grads, Ph.D. students, young professors, old professors.And then lots of other people who have no connection to Yale at all.Every year we lose 20% of active congregation as the academic turnover and changeover takes place. In the fall, new people always show up! That adds a vitality and a sense of urgency to the church’s life and ministry that Maria and I enjoy. There are many factors that go into finding a home church, and I encourage people not to settle too early or too easily. Visit five churches, minimum.

Q: What has surprised you about YDS?
A: In ministry studies work, the open-hearted willingness to engage the questions I ask, both from students trying to figure out the intersection of academic/spiritual/personal life, and enthusiasm of faculty to take part in that discussion. Faculty at Yale are sometimes portrayed as focused solely on their academic work. They are indeed involved with that here, but they are enthusiastic as well about the growth of students, and the effort to train ministers…it probably doesn’t hurt that the Dean has long said its important for them to be involved as well!


Q: What do you think is underutilized by YDS students?
A: YDS students do not take courses downtown nearly enough. The degree requirements make it difficult to imagine taking courses in the broader university (downtown). But there is a huge and wonderful university just blocks away, and that is the most underutilized part of YDS. Have you taken a course downtown?

Q: No, but I will this semester.
A: Good. It’s crazy not to do that. If nothing else, sociologically not to meet people who are not Div school students, and to fail to engage the many people who are from the other schools and disciplines and perspectives is a detriment to your work at YDS.

Q: What do we as students often miss out on in New Haven?
A: It’s too easy to live in a student bubble. This is a very interesting and complex city. There are huge opportunities to learn beyond the walls of the university, and to engage people who are wise and have lived through the struggles of a northeastern city. Those folks offer profound ministries and witness to the goodness of this community.

Again, I recommend going to at least 5 churches, including some churches that are very different than your own tradition. That’s my pitch. Get to know people outside Yale, outside your denomination. It makes living here more real. Our church has an after-school program that is always looking for more volunteers. Columbus House does great ministry with homeless people, and almost any church has links to other community organizations.

Q: What has you most excited about the upcoming year?
A: There are 81 new MDivs, and I’m excited to get to know them. Seventy are reaching their midway point in the degree, and I am really excited for the upcoming discussions. It’s quite amazing, the 70 who have completed their first year will bring in pastors, Bishops, directors of non-profits, etc. who will sit in a circle and have these really wise conversations about the hopes and dreams of the students and give their best counsel. This began as part of an experiment three years ago, and it really works. It’s well worth the effort people put into it. I’m excited for those things.

Q: Is there something students should be aware of before they come?
A: The Nica’s vs Romeos debate. These are the two terrific Italian delis, a couple of blocks from YDS. But you must choose your favorite.This is one of the hardest decisions to make: where to eat. Now it’s been thrown into a vortex because of Orange Street Market. So now there are three Italian Delis that are down the street, any one of which would put a great smile on your face for lunch. The drama is how the three delis are related to one another, the great love lost between them and their owners, and how this feud has led to the three stores.The problem is that you cannot ask the owners of any of the three because they will not tell you. It’s left up to the gossip of the street to learn the sordid tale.

Q: So can you fill us in on the sordid tale?
A: I won’t say anything if it’s going into print. The word on the street is still that Nica’s is the best, but I think Orange Street Market will rise fast this fall. Café Romeo’s (a fourth option) is the real newcomer, a few blocks farther down the road. It’s a different flavor, it almost doesn’t belong in New Haven—more Brooklyn style coffee shop. It’s not really a true deli, and their coffee costs too much.

Q: Any fashion tips for the incoming class, something they should know about?
A: The tall, thin man look will continue to be popular. If you are that, no one will know your name for a time; you’re going to be interchangeable with many others. There have been students who tried to bring in the beard, but it’s not really caught on. I think mostly because of the pictures of the students in the hallways from the 60s and 70s that give such opportunity for laughter.

A Public Service Announcement

This past year, the YDS community made a commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of the environment. We've started a farm, and we have ceramic plates in the refectory as an alternative to plastic ones. As part of this commitment, Alex and I will be encouraging you to bring your own reusable plates, cups, and utensils to the meals during BTFO.

We know that some of you will have just arrived in New Haven when BTFO begins, and that you won't have had time to unpack your dishes. Others of you may not have cars and can't just run out to Wal-Mart or Target to buy tupperware. With that in mind, we will a limited number of dishes for you to use (but we'll also ask you to wash them yourselves). We also have some plates and utensils donated by former students in the BTFO Give-Away Room, which we'll make available on a first-come, first-served basis. If we have to, we will use disposable paper plates, but we'd really rather not.

As an incentive for those of you who bring your own plates and utensils, you'll be first in line at all of the meals. If you decide to bring tupperware instead of a plate, we'll even let you take any leftovers you want home with you.

The moral of this story is to make sure that you pack some reusable dinnerware and a water bottle in an easily accessible place. Here at YDS, we feel that responsible stewardship of the environment is a theological issue (rooted, among other places, in Gen. 1.28-30). Please help us to become better stewards as a community.

Plus, look how happy the family in the picture is about their tupperware. We want you to be this happy during BTFO (although probably less medicated and dead on the inside).

Annand Redux

Good morning, all! Thought it would be a good idea, after extolling the virtues of Annand a few days ago, to introduce you to some of the people who will lead the small groups for you. So...


Julie Kelsey has been a spiritual director for over twenty years. She is an ordained Episcopal priest and has spent most of her ministry doing parish work, most recently serving as rector of Grace and St Peter's Church in Hamden. She is especially interested in retrieving the language of theology, integrating theology and the study scripture, and making this language meaningful in daily life. Care for the entire person - body, mind and soul - is of paramount importance to her. Julie loves jogging, hiking, reading, singing, classical music and theater. She currently serves as Assistant Dean of Students for Pastoral Concerns at YDS.


Bari S. Dworken is a lay leader serving in numerous roles at Congregation B'nai Israel in Bridgeport where she has been active for more than twenty-five years. A graduate of the Lev Shomea Spiritual Direction Program, she has served as a spiritual director for several years with individuals and groups and at YDS. Bari holds a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts and works as an Educational Consultant in Organization Development concentrating in the areas of team building, conflict resolution, diversity awareness and strategic planning. She recently retired from the faculty of the University of Connecticut and works part time as a Hospice Chaplain. Bari is passionate about social action issues, interfaith study and involvement, learning from the natural world, traveling and "walking" with others on their spiritual journey.



Dawn Stegelmann is an Episcopal priest who was ordained in February 2009. She is the curate at Trinity Church, Southport, CT. She graduated from YDS/BDS in 2008. A grateful beneficiary of the Annand Program, she has a special interest in spiritual direction, pastoral care and healing ministries. She has spent years as a facilitator of small groups for men and women. Topics have included spiritual formation, parenting, bereavement, marriage, life-threatening illnesses, suicide and aging. A 20-year resident of Darien, CT, Dawn is a wife and mother of three sons. She loves the outdoors, international travel, reading and writing.


Jane Stickney was ordained for ministry by the UCC in 1977. An Episcopal priest since 1987, she has served in large and small parishes. She received an STM in Spiritual Direction in 1987 from the Center for Christian Spirituality at General Theological Seminary, and served on the GTS Summers staff as a small group supervisor between 1991 and 1997. Jane has served as an Annand Mentor since 1994 and became the coordinator of the program in 2005. Her husband is a UCC pastor and interim ministry specialist. Jane is a weaver and has taught in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Wesleyan University: Psychology, Spirituality, and Celtic Art. She is interested in the value of creativity in a healthy spiritual life.


Judy Stone is a 1970 graduate of Yale Divinity School. She has been an active lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. Judy continues to be a member of a Spirituality Group that has met weekly for 25 years, reading classics of Christian and other religious traditions. She has been part of a church choir for a number of years and preaches occasionally. Judy recently retired from her career in social work, working with children and families. Midway in her career she earned a master’s in Social Work from UCONN in 1993 with a focus on casework and group work. She is intrigued with the connection between some of the therapeutic approaches from her training and traditional spiritual exercises. She finds groups especially helpful personally and professionally, and enjoys hiking, travel, cooking and art work.


Susan Fowler: “When I was seventeen, I sat on this rock and committed my life to God. I had no idea what that meant, nor even how I would live it out, but my desire was deep, and helped me intuit those paths that were “right” for me as life presented its challenges and choices. Looking back now over a 30 year body of richly fulfilling ministries as diverse as educator in college and community settings, ordained parish pastor, community leader and social justice advocate and spiritual director, I see that my unformed yet faithful YES to God awakened me to myself, to others and to the universe in ways that articulated my identity and cultivated an ever-deepening sense of transcendent meaning and purpose. Now, as a college professor and spiritual mentor, I am blessed to companion others as they awaken and embrace God’s invitation to live their own lives in authentic and life-giving ways.”

Div Dictionary: Annand Program

Annand (n): Program offering spiritual direction, small groups, workshops, and scholarships for retreats in order to support student work/life at YDS

When you arrive at YDS, it is likely that you will come with some preconceived notions, and either healthy or unhealthy baggage. The issue is partly to recognize that these exist, partly to identify them, and partly to try and either embrace them (if they’re correct…however THAT’s defined) or move past them if they’re not. The Annand Program is sponsored by one of Yale’s partners on the Quad, the Berkeley Divinity School. The Berkeley Divinity School has a major focus on the preparation of Anglican students for church work, but simply viewing it as that is a mistake. They hold weekly services (open to all), daily worship (open to all), and a weekly dinner (again, open to all).

One of the truly ecumenical works of theirs is sponsorship of the Annand Program, named for former Dean James Annand. Students have the opportunity at YDS to take part in group and individual spiritual formation, under the direction of trained leaders. From the Berkeley Divinity School website: “The goal, as described by Professor Emeritus David Kelsey, is ‘to understand God truly,’ and it has long been the ethos of the entire Yale Divinity School to foster such a knowledge and love of God as its core institutional mission.” Annand is an attempt to support and equip students for their work at YDS, whatever that might be.

The first year, you take part in a small group program that is designed to meet once a week for a semester. People come with their ideas and goals for spiritual formation, and the group proceeds to attempt to support one another through experience and shared learning. Now I get to admit some of the baggage I brought to YDS. I had serious issues with the notion of prayer practice, and also about sharing the specifics of my view of religion. There are a lot of reasons for my qualms and feelings, but I entered my group skittish/wary-as-hell.

There were 8 in my group the first semester, from very different places, and heading very different places. I immediately learned several things. 1. we all have baggage. 2. Annand is, thankfully, not in any way shape or form group therapy or anything of that ilk. 3. understanding someone’s story, really taking the time to meet them on their ground, then engaging them, is in itself an amazing prayer practice.

While most groups end after a semester, mine was given permission to continue for the entire year, so we could explore more. All of this was free. Once a week, this place became for some a respite from the stress elsewhere, for some a place to be more open to differences, for some a place to explore commonalities, and others a time set aside for the Divine. We tried various practices: solitary walks, Enneagram, mediation, Ignatian prayer, poetry, song, etc., while also just trying to create a smaller, safer community. Whatever reasons people had for coming, it was a useful experience, and one I am quite thankful for.

Ok, off my ‘I love Annand’ soapbox. After the first year, you are given the option (again, free of charge) to meet for one-on-one spiritual direction. This is required for all Berkeley students, and encouraged for all other students. As I’ve not taken part in that (rising 2nd year and all), I can’t speak to it. But it’s there for you when if you want it, if you complete the first year of small group.

I cannot encourage you enough to consider this program. It is not for MDivs only, although I've couched my terminology a bit toward that framework. In my group, we had 5 MDivs and 3 MARs, and I think it's usually about 50/50. If you have more questions, please feel free to email Jane Stickney, the director of the Annand Program, at: annand@yale.edu

“Life off the Hill:” A Southerners’ Guide to Surviving a New England Winter

I’ve gotten several e-mails asking about weather-related concerns, mostly dealing with what clothes one needs to survive winter in New Haven. Apparently, y’all assume that since I’m from Texas, I, rather than Alex, will be able to understand your concerns and fears better, since Nebraska becomes a frigid wasteland with much more regularity than Texas. Of course, what you haven’t considered is that my relative inexperience with actual winter weather might have caused me to overreact and spend last winter wearing thirteen layers of clothing and huddled around a space heater.

Lucky for you, it didn’t.

However, that brings up a good point. I’ve just returned from vacationing back in the southwest (Texas and Oklahoma [which is actually much nicer than my hatred of all things OU has lead me to believe], specifically), and little in the southwest prepares you for a winter in New England. In fact, it’s hard to find a good winter coat down here. In Texas (or at least parts of it), we’ll get a cold snap for a few days, but it always warms up by the third day or so. Roads might ice over once or twice a year, but snow that sticks around more than a few hours is practically unheard of. What this means that that those of you who are currently living in a warm climate aren’t going to be able to buy clothing and outerwear that’s actually appropriate for New England until you get here.

Yes, even Lubbock, Texas, a warm city that’s surrounded by flat farmland for hundreds of miles in every direction has a ski shop, so wherever you live, you can buy clothing that’s advertised to be good in a cold climate. Still, you should bear in mind that there are no ski slopes in New Haven, and that you want very different things from a ski jacket and a coat to wear while you’re walking to class.

So how does one buy a New England-appropriate coat? Well, first off, you should wait until September or early October. During those months, many department stores will have pre-winter sales, which means that you can get a nice winter coat for up to 50% off. My winter coat came from Macy’s, and by applying for a store credit card (which has an usurious interest rate and has never been used again), I was able to gain another 10% off the purchase, getting a $250+ coat for a little over $100.

Second, try and take a Connecticut native with you when you go shopping. Despite what you may have heard, Yankees are friendly in their own, special way, and it should be easy to find someone from the Div School willing to help you out. My first instinct was to buy the heaviest coat I could find. When I’d made my campus visit, I’d asked around about the weather, and I was told that it “only” got down to seven degrees the previous winter. People meant that to be reassuring, but there’s still no “only” about seven degrees for me. However, my friend Sharon (who is from Connecticut) pointed out that I would be wearing other layers and that the temperature wouldn’t hover in the single digits for the entire winter. With her help, I ended up selecting a reasonably thick coat which had a lining which could be removed, depending on the temperature.

Remember, you aren’t moving to the arctic; you don’t need a parka.

Beyond a coat, you’re going to need winter footwear. The winter in New Haven tends to be wet and rainy, rather than outright snowy, so you’ll need shoes which will keep your feet dry. Galoshes of various types are popular. Puffy snow boots are probably overkill (although I always wanted a pair as a child). In a move which proves that moving to Connecticut has made me more Texan, I ordered a pair of cowboy boots, which I now swear by as the best possible winter footwear. It’s true; if the uppers are weather-treated leather and the soles are rubber, you’re not going to find shoes that keep your feet dryer while offering good traction. Still, I recognize some of you don’t want to look like you’re heading to a square dance or ho-down. These or these might be more your style.

Some people swear by long underwear, and I certainly received several pairs from well-meaning family members. However, I only wore the bottoms once, and I’m very much a wimp about the cold. You’ll probably be able to pass.

The real trick is to remember that winter will one day be over. It can be cold and wet, but it will eventually turn to spring. Armed with an umbrella, a wool coat, and good shoes, you’ll be fine.

Div Dictionary: Certificates

Div Dictionary: Certificates

Certificate (n): additional piece of paper you get as you graduate indicating you have focused on a particular area, group, or topic.

So you’ve arrived at YDS. You love your classes, professors really turn you on intellectually, your classmates and you all get along swimmingly. Life is perfect.

But still, there is something tugging at you. This could be the Presbytery/Oversight Committee/Bishop at home, who really wonders what EXACTLY goes on in the ecumenical setting of Yale. Will you be fully prepared for ministry, he/she/they ask? You dutifully share your course schedules, replete with great syllabi and topics. Still, they’re a bit leery: why did you not go to __(insert school affiliated with your denomination that is theologically in-step with the Presbytery/Committee/Bishop). They want proof that you’re not just frittering away your time at Yale taking underwater basket-weaving.

Or perhaps you look at all the classes you plan to take the next two or three years and say “goodness, amazing, but how will that look for that dream PhD or job application?” You want to keep taking the classes, but want something that will really ratchet it up a notch.

Well, never fear. Mother Yale has heard you in advance, and is ready for whatever it is tugging at you. Yale Divinity School offers a number of Certificates. In-house, these include the Institute of Sacred Music’s Certificate in Church Music Studies, the Certificate in Lutheran Studies and Anglican Studies(typically done by … shocker … Lutherans and Anglicans, but in no way limited only to people in those denominations!). There is also a Certificate in Reformed Studies among others, which makes sense since the Jonathan Edwards Center is housed here, and Edwards studied here. The Reformed Studies Certificate even has a facebook page, making it perhaps the most tech-savvy of the certificates.

Students taking part in one of these certificates have course requirements specific to each certificate, so I won’t even try to explain it all: check with the contacts for each certificate. Most have various colloquia in addition to specific classes, which is a great way to meet outside of class to discuss issues (one of my favorites was Dr. Bruce Gordon leading discussion on Calvin and Servetus in Bill Goettler’s home over pasta and wine). PLUG FOR BTFO: the certificate programs will all be discussed during BTFO, with the opportunity to meet the faculty/staff heading the various projects!

Now, besides the in-house certificates, there are a wide range of other options for certificates from other schools. Popular ones include certificates from the school of forestry, Development Studies, Security Studies, and health. This is the result of some nice collaboration between the various Deans and recognition that an MAR/MDiv might benefit by having a certificate showing their focus on religion and ethics was actively and intricately tied to international Security Studies issues. Check with each school to see if they have a certificate, and requirements. NOTE: this often means some/a lot of extra coursework, and can eat up your electives, but it can be well worth it. Most that I’ve seen require at least 6 classes in that particular field, chosen with the aid of an adviser they will assign you, and some require 2 years of graduate-level language in addition, for a total of 10 classes. Again, worth it, but you need to be prepared and organize your class schedule well.

I hope that if you’ve felt the tug (I felt it from multiple areas), then the certificates can help free you up, put people at ease, and allow life at YDS to be constantly perfect.

Village on a Hill: Introductions: Jeremy Hultin

Village on a Hill: Introductions: Jeremy Hultin
Good morning all. Yesterday I had the chance to play soccer for the first time since Hebrew took over my life the first half of the summer. It reminded me of an interview I did with one of the professors who plays soccer and basketball with us, Dr. Jeremy Hultin. He's been referenced a few times on this blog, so I thought it would be a good idea to share his thoughts, not just those of others. So below, an excerpt from my interview with Assistant Professor of New Testament, Dr. Jeremy Hultin.

Q: First and foremost on everyone's mind (I'm sure): would you say that you attended Ohio State University, or THE Ohio State University?
A: I think it’s THE Ohio State University, but that has only changed recently, and to be honest I’m not into that.

Q: Well, I’m not sure if that’s good to hear or not. Now, the first place that people usually turn to find out about professors is the website. Your profile says that your interests include a “current project” about the early Christian views of obscene speech. How did you find yourself studying that?
A: Well, I really need to get that updated. I think that profile is about seven years old at this point. As for the project on obscene speech: it’s already been turned into a book. The long story is that it’s hard to find a dissertation topic in NT because nearly everything has been covered. My interest was piqued when a friend at seminary asked why I dropped the f-bomb so much. I wondered why it bothered him so much: what did the Bible say? What would obscenity mean in the ancient world? Yet when I looked in the scholarship…nothing.

Q: So you turned it into your dissertation, and what did you find?
A: This topic was a hole in the scholarship, so it was a perfect topic. It was even more perfect for me because there are a lot of interesting stories about foul language in the Ancient World. Some groups were certainly opposed to obscenity, which was defined differently in different groups. But it also went the other way: some Christian groups insisted on using foul language because they saw it as something that was more natural.

Q: So why are you find yourself here at YDS?
A: I like the challenge of teaching at a Div school. I like to think about it how to use the resources from early Christianity in an intellectually responsible way that addresses the needs of the church today. I’m proud of the project the Div school has in terms of how to prep people to engage the world, to come up with resources in scripture for the various challenges the world faces. It’s stretched me, and I hope I can help stretch students. It would be easy simply to say ‘Paul said this, this is what he meant, and let’s leave it at that whether it’s a good idea or not.’ It is more challenging to say ‘Paul said this and how on earth can we use it constructively in 21st century America?’ Those issues, those ways of approaching work is what makes being here great.

Q: You have been on Sabbatical all year. What are your feelings going into the new academic year?
A: I’m excited about teaching again. The other day some student engaged me on the Quad for about half an hour. And I was reminded of the joy of teaching bright students about these topics. I am teaching a class in the fall on Jude and 2nd Peter--which is what I’ve been working on this Sabbatical. I am really hopeful for that class. I hope to turn the classroom into a collaborative environment. It’s going to be great: bright students working with me. We’ll jam, take the work, divide and conquer. I’m looking forward to that.

Q: And can anyone take this class?
A: Anyone can do it, so long as they are strong readers of Greek. Those who took the Summer Intensive and did well can do well in this, or those who have a lot of preparation before coming here.

Q: What else turns your crank at Div school?
A: First, I’m very impressed with the range of experiences students have when they come. People working in really profound jobs all over the world come here and interact in the same classroom. And when a class is at its best this makes discussion so exciting. Someone who just came from three years working in Ghana, sitting next to a retired nun, sitting next to a guy who was a NYC attorney, all looking at 2nd Corinthians. The range of ideas and applications can be really invigorating.

I also really appreciate the times in chapel where people come together, where it really gels as a community.

I think that I’ve been most proud of students/felt luckiest when I’m teaching a class, and feel that I would be blessed to have these people as my pastor: smart, intellectual, insightful, godly. How blessed these people will be for others. If I can help people sort out some part of the Bible on the way to that vocation, it feels like a pretty neat thing to be a part of.


Q: I was surprised when I got here at the number of young professors here. I don’t know what I expected, but it seems like many of the great professors here are all really just beginning to engage their careers. As one of those professors, what do you think about it? Am I wrong about that impression?
A: You’re not wrong. I’ve been here seven years, and since then there have been a number of great hires of young professors: Chloe, Willis, Scott, David, Joel, and more. Personally, I like it, because I feel like it’s really cool when the people you work with are also the people you ride bikes with and do picnics with and live life with. It contributes to the concept of community, and makes it easier to be with the people about your age who you really enjoy being with.

(At right, a picture of Dr. Hultin with Dean of Yale Divinity School, Dr. Attridge.)

Q: Is there something about YDS that students don’t always take advantage of?
A: When I went to seminary I was excited, but my seminary had an unreasonable workload, so sometimes I wish I had had an academic mentor. Someone to give tips on what to read, to tell me when I’m running down a rabbit hole.

I think people don’t always take advantage of their advisors. While it’s opaque to me sometimes as to how advisors are chosen for students, in my limited experience students can underutilize their advisor. They should feel free to get advice beyond just ‘what class should I take’. It should be an opportunity for a relationship. The advisor-advisee relationship can be a place where one can get advice or find an open ear, some institutional memory of where to turn. Take the opportunity to find the resources needed you need. I ache when I hear someone say at the end of a year, or God forbid two or three years, that they felt alienated by something someone said or did. But rather than seeking that person out, or looking for understanding, they simply withdrew and let their feelings simmer.

Q: Any final advice do you have for students?
A: I think I would challenge students to really try to get to know and understand students and faculty whose outlook might seem different from their own. We’re dealing with issues that matter a lot to people, that can be hard to be subject to criticism. It can be a tendency for some to look at a potentially difficult situation, and move away from it, go find people who agree with them, and just ignore those they don’t agree with. It’s easy to do that, to not engage the issues. There is a missed opportunity for learning—which is the main purpose of this institution—when this happens. I would advise people to try and find out why people see things different. No matter a student’s future vocation, they will be working in the world in some form. They are bound to meet people who are of different sensibilities, and if someone has not become comfortable working through this before coming here, it’s an important skill set to learn at YDS.

Village on a Hill: Introductions: Doreen Generoso

Hello all! The heat wave has passed finally. It hovered around 100 degrees for a few days here, and I have to admit I was antsy. It took me a few days to understand it, but here's the best way to describe it to you. New Haven/Northeast people have no idea how to act in heat. It reminds me of the one time it snowed in San Antonio during my undergrad experience: everyone acted like it was no big deal, they puffed out their chests and put on a good face. But there was a great deal of strain in people's eyes--they were just on edge more than usual. It was the same here. Snow, ice, sleet are no problems up here, but the thought of a marginally hot day was something they couldn't handle.

Needless to say, I'm glad it's over. So pleased, in fact, that I'm going to post another interview (sorry, I really struggled to find a segue into this post after that random rant, and this is all I could do). This week's interviewee is Doreen Generoso, our Financial Aid Assistant.

NOTE: She did everything she could to make sure I didn't get a photo of her, even to the point of claiming that the website "might not" have a picture. But it most certainly does! In partial deference to her, I will not put up a photo on the blog, but GO HERE to put a face to the name.

Q: Doreen, why are you here? Not in the metaphorical sense, but practically why have you made YDS your home?
A: I got here because about 30 years ago I started working in financial aid for the Graduate School. It has been part of my blood for 30 years. I stayed home and had kids, but when I came back to work I started here and this is what I know and that’s how I got here, and why I’ve been here for 13 years.

Q: So tell me a bit about you family, your kids…
A: I have three children, one son and two daughters. My son is a recent grad of SCSU. One daughter is in her last semester at SCSU, majoring in History, and she hopes to teach. My last daughter is in her 3rd year at SCSU, and she will be going to Heidelburg as part of a Study Abroad program in the fall.

Q: Good lord, with all those connections, why are you not at SCSU?
A: Well, my grandfather retired as Yale’s chief of police, and I have two sisters working at Yale, so Yale has been my whole life.
Q: So the family blood contains a lot of enforcement: law enforcement as well as financial enforcement?
A: (Chuckles) I suppose it does.

Q: What is the biggest joy of your work?
A: Knowing that I’m able to help students afford and get through this program. Without financial assistance students aren’t able to be here. If I’m the tool, the conduit that allows them to be able to get through the program, that’s why I’m here.

Q: What is the most trying thing about your work?
A: Not having enough money to go around (smile).

Q: What is your favorite place on the Quad?
A: My favorite place on the quad… Marquand Chapel because everyone is in there for one common reason and it’s joyful, soothing, and community comes together there.

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Gone with the Wind.

Q: Josh has posted the pros and cons of the two nearby movie theaters on the blog. What would you choose?
A: The Criterion. It’s smaller and closer.

Q: What is the most common question you get asked?
A: It depends on the time of the year. For back to school, it’s ‘how quickly can I get my refund’. The answer is: students should make sure they’re set up for direct deposit on the SIS website. Second, when the loan is applied to the student’s account roughly 3 days before classes start, they need to go back and request the refund on the website. This will usually come in the first week of classes.

Q: To end on some fluffy questions: What can you just not get enough of?
A: Friends and family.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve:
A: My biggest pet peeve for students is that they are in a centralized location in New Haven, and they don’t take advantage of their location: 2 hours from skiing, NY, Boston. With so much to see and do in the Northeast, it bugs me when a student comes here and sees nothing else.

Q: What advice do you have for new students?
A: Pay attention to email. Open your snail mail and actually read it (laughs), and be sure to check your student mailbox.

Div Dictionary: CPE

CPE (n): Clinical Pastoral Education, a hospital chaplaincy work/study program which many YDS students do during one of their summers or during the school year.

CPE is offered at many schools, and is nothing unique to Yale. However, the potential value it has makes it very worthy of discussion on the blog. CPE is usually one of the first ways that students can practice the pastoral education they’ve been learning formally and informally at YDS. Usually this takes place in a hospital setting: I imagine it’s a bit like being a 3rd year Med Student in some ways. You are respected for being there, for being who you are, you wear various forms of clothing that signal you out as a chaplain, you get all the stress and few of the perks.

Students spend about half of CPE time in classes, group sessions, and other educational settings trying to prepare for situations that will occur and working very intimately through situations that have occurred. Again, most take place at hospitals, so dealing with trauma, ER units, shootings, death of children, passing of those who have led full lives, and everything in between. The other half of their time is spent serving as actual chaplains.

From the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education's website: "Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships." Lots of jargon, not a lot of substance, I know. I will say that a lot of my friends say that they learned more about themselves and their education during CPE than in the classroom. I’ve not done it yet, so I’m running with that.

Now the nitty-gritty: many denominations require a unit of CPE to be done before being ordained, so check that out. If it is not required, it is still most likely highly recommended, and perhaps part of an either/or requirement with a general internship. Many students take CPE because it simply is that beneficial to others and them, and it builds a great skill-set. YDS does pay CPE students, so taking it during time at YDS can be helpful, although they only pay $3,100 and the credits for the course (which is great in my opinion but I’ve heard some people lament the low numbers). Another option is to take CPE during the school year, where you would do 10 hours a week instead of 40+. In practice, that’s an exception here at YDS, but those who have done it that way indicate to me that they find it incredibly valuable as well.

Final thoughts: CPE, LPM (later post) and most internships/summer programs begin to be discussed at the end of the first semester. Do not worry about where you will do your CPE when you get here, there is time to think, to search, to reflect, and to ask many many questions of people before you even apply.

Note: those two images at the beginning are a bit odd next to one another, I realize. The first I found on my search for "chaplain" and the second when I searched for "CPE chaplain". Apparently, the first is part of the "Black Templar Space Marine Army" as part of some gaming thing. See here to get a full explanation.