Community is Essential

Friends:

One of the important dimensions of theological education is community life.
I was reminded of this at the first two student orientations I attended–last Thursday at Virginia Theological Seminary and yesterday at Howard University School of Divinity.

At both campuses I shared lunch with students and faculty. New students are seeking to get to know one another and the faculty members. There are forming a community. At other times they are praying together. I am happy to be a part of this process.

This is very important. Theological education concerns itself with the formation of the total person–intellectual, pastoral and personal. The personal formation often occurs in community interactions.

As I mentioned in my last posting, I am introducing their Consortium Student Board representatives to the new students–and thus indicating that the Consortium is part of the wider community of formation.

Peace,
John