In 2019, Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, celebrated its 175th anniversary with a special homecoming service. I had served as the associate pastor of that church from 1990-1993. As is often done, they invited previous pastors to return and three of us did. We were asked to speak for only five minutes — and that's not an easy task for those who speak for a living!
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| Courtesy photo. |
When thanking the congregation for such hospitality, I realized how much that congregation has shaped my commitments as a seminary professor. My vocation as a seminary professor is based on the desire to train those who will pastor congregations and, in my classes, I often have students work on Bible studies and sermons that will inspire and stretch congregations — but not demean or berate them. My experience earlier this month reminded me that my appointment to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary may be "an appointment beyond the local church," but the local church (Grace UMC, in particular) remains at the heart of what I do.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries supported by the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment of the United Methodist Church.
It's important to know that I was the first associate pastor, the first woman, and the first African American to serve that congregation. It was a risk for the bishop to appoint me there, but things turned out beautifully. To this day, I am deeply touched by the extravagant hospitality that the congregation extended to me and I expressed my gratitude to them in my remarks.
My hope for the congregation was that they would include those who are different from them in various ways today as warmly as they had accepted me all of those years ago. The day before going to the church, I happened to look at the Grace UMC website. It was so gratifying to see that they had an inclusive statement of welcome there. They were already living out the hope that I had for them! Grace UMC, I do indeed thank God every time I remember you (Philippians 1:3)!
Rev. Dr. Cheryl B. Anderson, Professor of Old Testament, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Ministerial Education Fund is at the heart of preparing people for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The 13 United Methodist seminaries help students to discover their calling through the challenging curriculum. The fund enables the church to increase financial support for recruiting and educating ordained and diaconal ministers and to equip annual conferences to meet increased demands. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
