- I'm spending the summer in Kentucky this year; I'll be working about 30 hours a week at Starbucks. I've got a couple of days off every week to do whatever manner of nothing that I desire. No classes this summer. It's time for a break. :)
- Whenever I come back to Tulsa, I appreciate the coffeeshops there. Not just because they're awesome, but because they have no equal out here. KY seems to be late on riding the coffeeshop train. There are two main types that I've noticed here so far; the yuppie coffeeshop and the grungy coffeeshop. Unfortunately, there seems to be no middle ground. Also, never have I ever been handed a drink with a rosetta poured in the foam. Not here. Local roasters are difficult to find. The one coffeeshop that I look forward to going to happens to be in the state capital, about 45 minutes away. It's an independent coffeeshop that shares space with a vintage bookstore. I could burn many hours and dollars there. And have, actually. So be grateful, Tulsa-ites; you guys are spoiled. :)
- Attending a denominational church has brought a new perspective to my understanding of how church happens. Something about Saturday Night that I have always enjoyed it its freedom. Freedom to order the service and revel (yes, revel) in alternative forms of worship; freedom to embrace the different, the uncomfortable, and the unexpected. In my current church (a traditional United Methodist congregation), "mixing it up" means that we alter the service order, or pull something different from the book of worship. I frequently wonder if it has ever occurred to them to look for expressions outside the worship book; surely it wouldn't be too hard to find ones that would be compatible with the Methodist tradition. However, this is simply not part of the process. It seems that more effort is spent changing individual words from hymns and other such minutinae instead of pursuing orthodox alternative methods of worship (which, with some prodding, this congregation would appreciate). It simply doesn't occur to the denominational mindset to look beyond the denomination for ways to worship God. Grr.
- I've gotten into Robert Ludlum as an author lately. He was the guy that penned the original Bourne books (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum); and as good as those movies may be, the books are far, far superior. Go read 'em. Of his works, I have also finished The Holcroft Covenant and The Icarus Agenda. High recommendations on both.
- Remember the ORU Honor Code? Asbury Theological Seminary has one too; it's known as the Ethos Statement. However, the Ethos Statement is about to change; for the first time in seminary history, students will be allowed to consume alcohol. Restrictions do exist, of course; the campus itself will remain dry and "moderation and discretion" are encouraged in all other places. The predominant theory is that the school changed Ethos so that enrollment would go up; like so many other places, the seminary has hit hard times. However, even though the student community has called for this change for some time, the denominational old guard (especially Wesleyans and others who believe that drinking is a moral evil) will be sure to disagree. This raises the question for some: did the seminary sell out to the prevailing winds of culture and the spirit of the world under the pressure of difficult times? This I can't say for sure; all I know is that now I can enjoy my occasional Guinness with a clear conscience. Hallelu!
- Theological question for the masses: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Crucifixion and Resurrection? We seem to pay natural attention to the Father and the Son in these events, but what about the Holy Spirit? I'd like to hear your thoughts...
- In an effort to stay more in touch, I am strongly considering adopting other mediums of communication... I picked up a Skype account yesterday, and I am also looking into (gasp, perish the thought) Twitter. Shortly after I get Twitter, I will escort myself out behind the barn and bludgeon myself repeatedly with an old 2x4 for selling out.
- As of late, I have also been making a partially concerted effort to stay up to speed on some television shows. I have finished Season 4 of The Office and am also getting into Castle and Fringe. I also have an interesting amount of curiousity regarding Dollhouse. I'm open to other recommendations as well, except Lost. Don't get me started on Lost.
6.10.2009
Dispatches from the Kentucky Frontier
A few dispatches from the boondocks of Kentucky, brought to you via Pony Express via the interwebs:
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2 comments:
The Ethos statement. Glad its changing. While I was banking I was involved with a few FDIC/State Bureau of Banking audits of lending policies and procedures. One step in their audit was to test whether lenders and credit analysts were following the policies, without regard to their validity. One examiner in particular rings in my ear, "If it is in your policy, do it. If it is in your policy and you don't do it, either start OR change the policy." There is wisdom there.
The state of our Ethos was pitiful. The majority of seminarians are not from holiness backgrounds and had little firsthand exposure to the tradition's history. And since we are all not-moderns, rules don't apply to us if we don't like or understand them.
It is good the institution has decided to change Ethos and I can personally support the sort of language revisions I have heard suggested. I do mourn, however, that a seminary claiming a rich Wesleyan-Holiness tradition would jettison a valuable expression of this pedigree, but the problem was much larger than the Ethos. It was in education. It was the community. It is the culture changing around us. It is making descriptive statements about community with which we freely associate null because I can't limit my freedom for a season. It is refusing to learn from or respect a tradition that is "outdated." It is assuming rules kill freedom. It is assuming freedom is the highest good. It is assuming humanity is significantly different now than 200 years ago. It is assuming tradition is a poorer window on the Kingdom than whatever the newest expression may promise.
Anyway - thanks for this post. Good thoughts.
Thanks Seth for your thoughts re: Ethos at Asbury. You raise some good insights. This is a quite complex issue which has been in process for several years now.
I do need to respond to your assessment of the "predominant theory" about the motive behind the possible change. The review and possible revision in no way connects to the "difficult times" faced by the seminary at this time. This ethos process, as mentioned, has been underway for almost four years now and began in a time of fiscal strength. The process is also in no way connected with enrollment. While I recognize you are not asserting this as your own assessment, be assured it is false.
Finally, the ethos statement process is far from being completed. The process is moving forward and alternate drafts are being considered and debated. It is quite unclear what change might occur. We will see. It is sure to be a good conversation in the seminary community as we reconvene in the fall.
thanks again for writing-- and in the meantime, stay away from that Guinness. ;-)
respectfully,
jd walt
vp for community life
asbury theological seminary
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