Orientation!

I just wanted to stop in and say that Orientation is in full-swing and I'm excited...and overwhelmed.  We schedule classes tomorrow, which has me nervous.  At LSTC and potentially other seminaries, you have a rather obvious course schedule.  We take four classes in the fall, one over J-term and four more in the spring.  It looks like, pending no trouble with registration, I'll be taking Biblical Greek, Pentateuch, Church History and Worship.  It seems pretty cut and dry.  I also have to pick a J-term class and I have no idea what to do yet.  We can cross-register at other seminaries, so I need to look into that.

Otherwise, life in Chicago is starting to come together.  I've met some really phenomenal people in my class, as well as other students.  I guess explaining how seminary "classes" work might be helpful.  I'm a junior or first-year.  The order goes junior, middler, internship year, and finally, senior.  The reason why they use these terms is because many years ago, you would do two years of undergraduate, then roll right into seminary. 

I'm an MDiv student, which means Masters of Divinity.  There are also MAM and MATS students here, which are Masters of Arts in Ministry and Masters of Arts in Theological Studies.  These are both degrees that people acquire without the intention of Ordination.  You can also get your MDiv and not be ordained.  There are several Doctorate students here as well.  I couldn't begin to tell you what all of their specialties are!

I met my advisor today, who is actually the director of the Religion and Science program here, called the Zygon Center.  Religion and Science is an emphasis that you can get through your degree.  Meaning, as an MDiv, I can specialize in Religion and Science, Interfaith, Urban Ministry, Environmental Theology, etc.  There may be more, but those are the ones that I've heard of so far.  Religion and Science is looking at not only Creation, but our call as Christians to be good stewards of the earth.  I'm thinking about doing the Interfaith emphasis, because LSTC has The Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice.  We're even having an Iftar meal tonight!  I'm really excited to see where these opportunities lead me.

Sorry that this is brief, but I need to head off to our first Junior Class Meeting!  I heard that we're electing representatives for our class in different committees.  We'll see what that brings!

With peace,
Meredith