New Students at VU in Richmond
This past weekend, I had the privilege of joing the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University for their new student opening service and orientation.  We had real church there, with a stirring message from Dean Kinney, praising God in prayer and song, and brief introductions from the faculty.   Graciously, STVU offered me a chance to address challenges in Ecumenical learning today, and to introduce the Consortium.

I met and spoke with a number of  students and faculty through a followup "table fair" with other organizations.   Students were very interested in the use of other libraries, Consortium courses in special areas, certificate programs and the chance to take courses closer to home (as many commute). Above all, they sought to learn and grow professionally and spiritually wherever God lead them--in part echoing Dr. Kinney's message of following "invitation," "preparation" and "destination" in being called to a new place.

STVU students are spirited, smart, and very real in their devotion to the Lord's calling.   I found myself renewed and challenged in my own sense of vocation and walk with Jesus. 

Consortium Students Today 

This past week students came from many of the Consortium schools to attend the Student Ecumenical Prayer service and orientation at Catholic University and surrounding religious study houses.

There was a lost bus, a lost friar, and some last minute arrangements, but the prayer service offered a great unity of song, prayer, and preaching (which I was honored to do and enjoyed).   A bit of Greek around the variations of "oikos" in Ephesians 2 for the newly initiated among the Lutherans and Episcopalians and Catholics was great fun.  

Above all I am struck by how students seek a chance to pray and learn together.   Students imbarked for over 20 religious study houses among Dominicans, Franciscans, Whit Friars, Sulpicians, the De Salle house, the Maronite seminary, and more.   A special thanks to the Benedictines, Paulists and Theological College for taking in extra guests!  Students reported great table fellowship, deep conversations about call and ministry, and in some cases opportunities to pray Compline.  

I heard call stories of moving from Phd's in physics to a call for orders in one Catholic  community, strong "external calls" from home congregations and college peers among a Lutheran brother, and the nurture and spiritual growth of a cradle Episcopalian that finally lead to seminary.   This was but a taste of the evening.

Entering students are already primed for international, cross cultural, and interdenominational encounters when they arrive--many with their own ecumenical narratives (or those of famlies), and brimming with skills to network, collaborate, and learn across all kinds of boundaries....   I wonder, to what degree are their schools equally primed?

Meeting New Students

In the last two weeks, I have had the joy of meeting new students in most of the Consortium Schools. Already I see that today's students are often ecumenically shaped just as they are socially networked. I have visited them:

*  at a retreat for Leland students (with the largest entering class ever);

*  at the orientation for Howard students (committed, inquisitive, and ready);

*  at the orientation for Dominican House students (15 student brothers, and 30 plus others);

*  at a patio reception for Wesley students (large, diverse, and multi-talented group);

*  at the orientation for WTU students (men and women, religious and lay ready for study);

*  at the orientation for Catholic University STSR students (academic, pastoral, pontifical and other degree students)

One thing I ask each of the student groups is whether or not we live in a "post-ecumenical age," and to test that claim by recounting their own ecumenical narratives. Quickly, by conversing with a partner, most students realize they have been influenced by a variety of traditions of Christianity (sometimes within their own tradition--as Catholic, Baptists, and others come in many forms), and often through the influence of Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, or Orthodox mentors and family members. We live in ecumenical streams, so I encourage students to continue to swim in that current, in a more intentional way through their studies.

The Consortium is here to aid that journey--through cross registration, borrowing and research at other libraries, through student events and conversation, and more! For those who "get the bug" of Ecumenical or interfaith studies, we also offer Certificates in Ecumenism and Muslim-Christian studies, that help concentrate course work in these fields. Welcome to all the new students--not only to your school, the Consortium family, but the Lord's work of building relationship that promote unity and understanding.