Friday, July 30, 2010

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.

Thursday, July 29, 2010



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. CafĂ© 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.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

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.”

Sunday, July 25, 2010


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

Thursday, July 22, 2010

“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.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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.

Monday, July 19, 2010

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.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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.

Thursday, July 8, 2010



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.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

"Life off the Hill:" The Health Plan and You


I’m going to preface this post with a disclaimer: I’m not expert on the Yale Health Plan (YHP). In fact, when I was in your shoes, I knew that I was waiving the plan for my first year, so I didn’t educate myself about it at all. For the record, that’s not a good idea, because unless your spouse or partner has awesome insurance, you’re probably going to end up like me and switch onto the Yale plan with no idea what it’s like. So, consider this my gift to you: the YHP translated into simple English (since I need to read the stuff anyway).

So, when I first went on the Health Plan Website, I found this amazing sounding-plan. However, that plan was for employees, so I won’t taunt you with it. Since we’re not employees (although now I really want to be), you and I will be signing up for this plan, which is still pretty good. The YHP is available in two different areas of coverage, Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage and Prescription Plus Coverage, which must be purchased separately. An entire year of single-person coverage on both plans costs $1836.

At first, I thought this was ridiculous. The only job I’ve ever had that offered health care was at a hospital, so I got good health insurance cheaply (since everything was done in-house). I also got vision and dental (which isn’t included in the YHP, more on that later) for a ridiculously low price. However, my old health insurance had much higher co-pays than the YHP. YHP’s co-pays are ridiculously low—there’s no co-pay for a hospital visit (whereas my old plan featured a $400 co-pay for the first day and a $200 co-pay for the next four, which, given how expensive the equipments in those rooms are, isn’t bad), and the prescription plan only has a $100 deductible (I had a higher deductible for ambulance coverage on my old plan). So, in perspective, while I paid less for my old insurance than I will for the YHP, I paid more if I had to use it. So, for example, the concussion* that resulted in an ambulance ride and five hours in the hospital, which cost me over $300 (no including a $25 co-pay to have my primary care physician remove the surgical staples), would have been free on the YHP (since it would have been urgent care, which is fully covered).

So, here’s the break down of benefits:

Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage provides

  • full outpatient coverage, full inpatient coverage
  • thirty days of rehabilitation
  • sixty days of psychiatric or substance abuse treatment
  • full in- and out-of-network emergency coverage
  • $5000 of dental surgery following “traumatic accidental injury” (which, for the record, does not include chewing injuries, although I can’t imagine what you’d have to chew to result in a dental trauma [nor do I want to])
  • 90% coverage (up to $5000) of medical equipment rentals
  • $5000 of infertility services (this is lifetime benefit, not a yearly benefit)
  • full organ transplant coverage
  • and coverage for podiatric, prosthetic, and speech therapy services in some circumstances.

Prescription Plus Coverage provides “excess coverage.” That means that it can be used to cover expenses not covered in the Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage, but will not be applied until any other discounts/reimbursements have been deducted. It provides 80% reimbursement (up to $15,000 per member per year) after a $100 deductible for the following services:

  • inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services beyond those covered in the Hospitalization/Specialty coverage
  • pharmacy items (including diabetic supplies)
  • and vaccinations.

However, even if you choose not to purchase either of the YHP’s plans, you’ll still receive full primary care coverage through the YHP, which includes routine check-ups, laboratory services, and standard preventive care.

Beginning this fall, Yale is offering vision and dental plans to graduate and professional students (that’s you). The plans were recently finalized, and I can’t find any Yale websites that have the information yet. As such, I’m going to attempt to link to two attachments (Dental and Vision that were sent out to current graduate and professional students last week.

If this all seems confusing and overwhelming, don’t worry; we’ll have someone speaking to you about your healthcare options during BTFO. Just don’t get a concussion before you get up here; it’s really embarrassing and it kills an afternoon. Plus, it will be a much cheaper experience once you’re on the YHP.

*The concussion is a funny story, actually. While I was in the ambulance, the paramedics were trying to determine if I was oriented to person, time, and place (I wasn’t). I couldn’t answer any of their questions, but each time I failed to answer, I told them that I wasn’t really stupid because I was going to Yale in a month. I don’t think they believed me.

Friday, July 2, 2010



"Village on a Hill: Introductions: Micah Luce"

Well, the last full week of Hebrew is complete. My last quiz has been taken, my last test as well (except the Final Exam of course…that’s on Tuesday/Start of My Summer). But in the meantime, Ghana just lost a heartbreaker, so the joyful me has turned despondent. To make myself feel better... I get to post my interview with the great man Micah Luce.

Micah Luce. Also known as “The Funny Man”. 250 points if you can name the movie with a character by that name before the link appears later in this post. He is the manager of the Student Book Supply, the YDS bookstore. Micah is one of the first lines of defense whenever there is a perceived laughter deficiency in the halls. He hails from Memphis, Tennessee, where he went to Rhodes, one of my alma mater's rival schools. A graduate of the Divinity School, he is still very much invested in the life of the Div School outside of the hallways. Below: an excerpt from an interview with the Funny Man himself:

Q: Micah, you’re the manager of the Student Book Supply. How did you get to be where you are?

A: I stumbled into this job as a surprise. I completed an MDiv at a school down South and only headed to New Haven after a 2 year detour in Brooklyn. Believing that I came to YDS to further strengthen my work towards a PhD somewhere, I freed myself from that ball and chain by having the MAR and STM degrees here convince me to do otherwise. Upon graduating in 2008 with the STM, I wasn't quite ready to leave New Haven in search of my true love: cinema management and ownership. While looking for a job in the area, a former YDS employee gently reminded me that the Student Book Supply manager position was going to be vacated by Lisa Huck as she would be taking over the position of registrar. Having appreciated her amazing 20 years of service as the SBS Manager, I hoped to give back to YDS in the same way (Lisa is an MDiv graduate of YDS). Being a generally social creature, I figured the Student Book Supply would be a place that I could learn business and management skills while having the joy of being around such a great group of students day in and day out.

Q: So what is the Student Book Supply?

A: The Student Book Supply is the last student co-op bookstore in the Ivy Leagues. Located right inside the Divinity School doors, we carry textbooks for classes as well as books by Yale profs, Div School merchandise, and thousands of titles on religious and non-religious topics.

One of the greatest things is the membership discount. Students who join the co-op for a yearly $25 fee receive 15% off of all purchases (except clearance items which are already discounted way beyond 15%).

Q: Back to you personally. MDiv, MAR, and STM. That leaves you in a unique position to give thoughts on the three degrees. What did you like best, or how would you rank them?

A: I would say each degree came at a perfect time in life for me and fulfilled different purposes along the way. While each focused on different aspects of Christianity, they were so very different. My MDiv was at a smaller, much more conservative school just outside of Memphis, TN when I was quite a bit younger and thinking I wanted to pursue a life in ministry. I was able to understand the serious giftings, calling, and devotion that must accompany such a life. The MAR was my final crack at strengthening my PhD applications and preparation, but after a year and a half of that degree, I also realized that a life of academics would require the same 3 qualities as a life of ministry. Both of these degrees effectively convinced me that I wasn't ready for either ministry or academics as a lifestyle. Finally, my STM degree allowed me to calm down a bit, think about interests closest to my heart (religion and cinema), and focus on some serious academic work without the pressure of wondering if it was going to be 'good enough' to get me into this school or that school for PhD work. It was a sort of culmination of what I had thought about up to that point, and it continues to be my fondest memories of reading, writing, studying, and conversing in classrooms. The STM was perhaps my favorite, but this couldn't have come without first knowing what I did NOT want. I guess the MDiv and MAR degrees were apophatic education for me. It's also worth noting that the MAR and STM were also strongly influenced by the two years I spent completely apart from academics after finishing my MDiv. Working for a magazine in New York and resting my head in Brooklyn among brilliant and thoughtful friends was an education every bit as important and formative as any time I spent in the classroom.

Q: What a great politician's answer: something nice about everything. What is it like having been a student and now a staff member? Are the two worlds exclusive?

A: They can be as exclusive as one wants them to be. I know that's not what I desire, however, and I'm grateful that school-wide events such as community dinners or daily chapel in Marquand are focused on providing situations where the tenured professor, fourth year staff member, or first year student are all involved in worship, discussion, or eating together. Isn't that more in line with the Christian concept of equality? Neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek? It may be frustrating at times to live as though the 'walls of division' have been broken down among us, but the hard work of inclusivity can really have moments of gorgeous payoff. Hopefully, the two worlds of 'student' or 'staff' are likewise equalized at such moments. One other equalizing force for me may sound banal, but it's actually quite meaningful: the Divinity School Paracleat soccer team. Once we're all out on the field (or 'pitch' for you soccer hipsters), there's a real sense of purpose, fun, and energy. Having played on the team for 9 seasons now, this is a really great part of my experience at YDS. We definitely look forward to defending our championship this Fall.

I find that as the students with whom I shared classroom space are almost all graduated now, these worlds become more apparent for me. Thus I find myself adjusting in relationships among different peoples at YDS, but I would in no way say that this change makes the experiences 'exclusive.'

Q: What advice do you have for new students?

A: You are going to be overwhelmed both at the offerings YDS, Yale, and New Haven have to offer. Take your time and don't let this discourage you. One of the things I find most freeing as I grow is learning to say 'no.' It makes my 'yes' much more powerful. Don't just serve on committees or take classes on a whim. Be patient and thoughtful about how you are involved. But, by all means, get involved! It took me a year and a half to realize that "Cinema at the Whitney" with Yale's film studies program downtown was my absolute favorite thing about all of New Haven (though budget cuts last year brought it to a hopeful temporary end). Take some courses downtown. While life on the hill at YDS can potentially become isolating, you have a chance to get downtown and meet a hundred different people in art, history, science, politics, law, or business programs who are every bit as interested in being ministers as we are at the div school.


Q: Do you have any fashion tips for the new student in search of proper attire? Are man-pris on the comeback?

A: I have no idea why I would be asked about fashion. I find this a bit ridiculous, as my first year and a half at YDS were in full, sloppy revolt of having to dress up for work every day in New York. I also get made fun of for my blue pants, tie clips, and man-pris here at YDS. I guess my advice is 'don't dress like I do.' However, maybe that leads to the best fashion advice, which is dress like you do. I think you should probably save this question for the likes of Jeremy Hultin, Tom Troeger, or Andrea Hart, who all have far superior sense of fashion than I do.

Q: Tell us more about the Student Book Supply, especially if anything new is coming up.

A: One of my favorite things about the job is the freedom that Dean Attridge and Sandy Lynch give me. I have been able to have a really good time giving the SBS a flavor that is somewhat reflective of my own personality while also being able to build on the amazing success that Lisa Huck had during her time as Manager here. We've changed a bit of the look of the place in the last year, but we've also had new offerings (including free popcorn on Fridays, sidewalk sales, and updated clothing styles). I have a few plans in the works this year to also improve our used book selection, a textbook buyback program that will kick off this year, and a few other long-term improvements that are in the works (read: surprises). While I'm always open to suggestions, improvements, and applications, our staff for next year is pretty much established with the fantastic additions of Terry Archambeault (left), Willie Barnes, and Stephen Scarff to the already-brilliant Bebe Dwyer. Each of these students working at the SBS will be a fantastic part of our staff ready to help you the moment you walk into the bookstore, unless, of course, we happen to be having a little too much fun of our own.

p.s. Answer to where "Funny Man" is from: this movie of course!