Tweeting Mission

Alas the cohort members have arrived and we've begun to catch up over a community dinner tonight and tomorrow classes begin. During most of the day I was preparing readings for Mission I with President Bliese. Having completed two books, I embarked on a day of the third text which Bliese said we should enjoy like a fine wine...I raised the stakes and invited the Twitersphere (my Twitter network) to join in.

Here's how it worked. I quoted key concepts and particularly well crafted statements from the readings on Twitter and then watched it spread. While there is overlap for sure, over 2836 people received the tweets. Theology is a public endeavor, and it is part of our call to proclamation. From the mash up below you can see the ReTweets and the coverage.


Respondents:
Christina Auch (North Carolina) - M.Div. DL Cohort from the airport in transit here.
Makeesha Fisher (Colorado) - Magazine Editor/Designer
Heatherlyn (Minnesota) - Singer/Songwriter.
Emergent Village (North America) - a generative friendship of missional Christians

How does the Seminary engage Social Media? (Talk amongst yourselves...use the comments feature).

e-Debauchery

Hello.

Welcome. You’re here. You’ve arrived at the information super highway. And you’re competent with this whole “internet” thing. I bet you’ve noticed a surge in the blogging activity here too: we seminarians need to keep ourselves occupied during the summer. So, here’s a question for you: have you heard of this “Facebook” thing? /sarcasm off

Ok. All sarcasm aside – it’s interesting to see how many people from seminary are using this web based tool. It’s quite useful for networking, but this isn’t to say that there isn’t plenty of e-debauchery. It tends to serve as a distraction or deflection in class. It’s also a means of one making personal what otherwise what would be inaccessible: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, et cetera. It’s also a means of one advertising personal one’s achievements or personal follies.

One can advertise everything from one’s political views to one’s religious beliefs. Here’s something to consider: the next time you make use of Facebook – gander at your buddies’ religious views. What do you expect? Facebook (much like Youtube commentary) is basically the public bathroom wall of the internet. You’ll bear witness to a veritable crop of views, but likely will come across many sullied, world-weary, “settled” college age kids that take the opportunity to advertise their distaste (and sometimes hatred) for established religion. I suppose that as Christian leaders and educators we can learn from these jaded views, but it takes discipline to resist retorting to such inflammatory commentary. Remember: don't fight fire with fire.

I sincerely hope you have a good night.

-Dan

A Live Blog from the SD Synod Assembly

I am sitting in the back of the Elmen Center on the campus of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We are just getting into the whole business of discussing and passing resolutions. There is palpable tension in this room of 749 people (by the most recent official count). I do not have my neat packet of red, green, and white cards - as I am a visitor here working with the youth delegates. Instead of readying my voting cards, I'm at a table in the back labeled Advisory/Visitor, listening and trying to type fast enough to do this live blog. We are, of course, talking about the ELCA Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality. Resolution 6, which is in discussion, seeks to reject the statement and affirm current teaching documents.

Opposed to resolution

"...I urge you not to support resolution number 6. This is not the first time the Christian Church has wrestled with asking What does God want us to do?....I think we really need to wrestle with a new vision here..."

In favor of Resolution

"...This decision will have serious repercussions, not only within the ELCA, but will have serious repercussions with our ecumenical relationships across the world and with other Lutherans..."

Opposed to resolution

"...we realize these people [the people who differ with our opinion on that issue] are also making their decisions based on study of the bible...The social statement says we respect one another and we honor one another, we just can't agree on this....it is a truthful and faithful document as to where we stand right now..."

In favor of Resolution

"...our culture today is duping millions into thinking that our fundamental identity is our sexuality...our fundamental identity is a child of God..."

Opposed to resolution

"...I wonder how many people who are opposed to to passing any homosexual have ever known any homosexual person enough to say more than their name and their sexual preferences?...we have gotten to know each and realize we are the same sinful people..."

In favor of Resolution

"...I have struggled with this issue for close to 35 years...it has left me in an awkward place...it [the sexuality statement] does not give me guidance on sexuality for my children...it does not help me help others in discernment..."

Opposed to resolution

"...Scholars who read carefully agree that we cannot agree...we are not of one mind, Biblical scholars are not of one mind, as to how to interpret the Biblical text..."

Opposed to resolution

"...We're not ready, I don't know if we'll ever be ready because we do not agree. Resolution 6 will cut 1/4 of our members off...and hurt our ability to minister to each other..."

Bishop Dave Zellmer: "There is a division of the house." [hand count follows by elections committee]

[brief break to look at photos of synod staff's grandchildren and check out some parliamentary procedure details]

"green 362, red 238, abstentions 12"

Resolution 6 is carried.

Scence from the Bible, as reported in the New York Times

I've been following Nick Kristof of the New York Times for several years now. His unending reports of life and death in the two thirds world and challenges posed to the "first" world have been formative for my theological education as I've been called to meet the pathos of daily life with the life of faith. How does my faith, confession, world view, ideology, etc. meet the world and meet my neighbor?

Well, that might take a while. For now, I'd like to share this blog piece from Paul Bowers, a student from the University of South Carolina, who won the "win-a-trip with Nick Kristof" contest. In his last post, titled "Scenes from the Bible" Paul shares:

Christianity brings something invaluable with it: hope. Many of the heroes of the faith, from Moses to Martin Luther King Jr., are the people who saw their neighbors in tough circumstances and helped them find a way out. Christianity is not just about finding a better world after death; it means we can start building a better world today.

Read more, here.

Summer Seminary Studies

What’s that? The title doesn’t lie: this is a summer of seminary study. Yes, that’s quite a bit of alliteration. School is out, but for me – it’s in full session. I can’t stand having downtime. So, what have I been doing this summer so far? I’ve been trying to make myself the most attractive candidate for graduate school (namely doctoral programs) that I can. Here’s what I’ve got going on:

1. Teaching myself French

2. Reviewing Akkadian, German, Greek, and Hebrew

3. Studying for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

4. Taking a “guided reading” class

5. Working as a student researcher

6. TAing for an online class

7. Preparing for fall semester independent studies

8. Researching and building networks with further graduate schooling

Sounds busy, right? Well, it is. Sadly, I keep feeling like I need to do more. The more that I learn about doctoral programs, the more sober I become. There’s much that needs to be done. We seminary students cast a wide net when we apply to doctoral programs, but are likely only to catch a few keepers. I’ll continue to keep myself occupied and certainly hope that you do the same. Have a good weekend. Keep busy.

-Dan