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ONE-MINUTE COMMENTARY
A recent Washington Post poll asked hurricane evacuees in Houston shelters, "How important a role has religion played in helping you get through these past two weeks?" Eighty percent said that religion's role had been "very important."
But the follow-up question caught me off guard: "Has this experience strengthened your religious faith, weakened your faith, or has it made no difference to your religious faith?" Eighty-one percent said "strengthened"; only four percent said it had weakened their faith.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised by these poll numbers. It's a truism, with countless examples from Scripture and history, that faith thrives under adversity. But I'm still inspired that while many evacuees feel abandoned by the government, they do not feel abandoned by God.
On In Trust's Hurricane Seminary Update Page, you can find many articles about how the two seminaries in New Orleans have fared. Both have been damaged — their students, faculty, and administrators scattered — but by God's grace both have plans to begin classes on Oct. 3. Fellow Christians have been generous to both institutions.
I'm praying that in the coming months, we can continue to support the New Orleans seminaries, and especially their administrators and trustees who will have to marshal new courage and wisdom to face unbelievably daunting challenges. In the end, I trust they will share with us their experiences of God's faithfulness in the midst of disaster. I need to hear again and again from people who have found their faith miraculously strengthened in the midst of extreme hardship.
—Jay Blossom
Editor, In Trust Now
POPE'S HOMILY TO SEMINARIANS
As part of the World Youth Day celebration this summer in the German city of Cologne, Pope Benedict XVI addressed Catholic seminarians in a homily, "If You Abide in Christ, You Will Bear Much Fruit." The entire text is available here at In Trust Online.
CHANGING SCENES NOW
Six news items you may have missed
1. TWO NEW ORLEANS SEMINARIES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE
Notre Dame Seminary will resume classes Oct. 3 on the campus of St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will also resume classes Oct. 3, with professors offering classes online and via other formats.
Hurricane Seminary Update Page
2. VATICAN VISITATION OF U.S. SEMINARIES TO BEGIN
Catholic seminaries in the United States are gearing up for visits from evaluation teams appointed by the Vatican. The Congregation for Catholic Education will appoint a team to study every seminary, interviewing faculty and students and giving special attention to celibacy, homosexuality, and faithfulness to church teachings.
Straight to the source...
More...
More on ordination of homosexuals...
3. DALLAS SEMINARY REACHES SETTLEMENT IN MOLESTATION CASE
A 22-year-old man who says he was molested in 1996 by a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate has come to an out-of-court settlement with the school just before jury selection was set to begin. The man claimed that the seminary was partly responsible for his abuse because the school had allowed the perpetrator to graduate in 1992 even though seminary officials knew he had abused another boy.
Straight to the source...
Background...
More...
4. LEGION OF CHRIST SEMINARY VIOLATES ZONING CODE, COURT RULES
In August, a state appeals panel ruled that a conservative Catholic organization, the Legion of Christ, was operating a private college on a 97-acre site in Mount Pleasant, New York. The panel said that the 80-student seminary being operated on the property was in violation of a local zoning regulation, and that the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 did not exempt the seminary.
Straight to the source...
5. NEW SEMINARY SHARING SPACE WITH OLD
The three-year-old Baptist Seminary of Kentucky is renting space this fall from Lexington Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ school. The new Baptist seminary was established as a moderate alternative to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, and has been holding its classes in a Lexington church.
Straight to the source...
6. SEMINARY SATELLITE CAMPUS OPENS ITS OWN SATELLITE
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, is starting a new satellite program, this time under the oversight of administrators based at the school's Charlotte, North Carolina, auxiliary campus. Beginning in February, Charlotte-based faculty will begin teaching in Jacksonville, Florida, renting space temporarily in a local church.
Straight to the source...
More...
FOCUS ON... GOOD FAITH GOVERNANCE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Everyone needs to keep up to date on best practices in seminary governance. In Trust's Good Faith Governance Seminars and Workshops put you together in the same room with the best governance experts so you can soak up their ideas. And you'll glean great insights from peers as well. Best of all, you leave each seminar with an action plan that will help your board increase its effectiveness. Institutions that are charter members of In Trust Inc. receive substantial discounts.
Sign up now! To register, or for more information, contact In Trust's president, Dr. Christa R. Klein at 877-234-3895 or crklein@intrust.org.
FOCUS ON... GOVERNANCE HELPLINE
Trustees and senior administrators who have governance questions can get confidential advice over the phone with In Trust's Governance Helpline. Whether yours is a big problem or a simple need, one of In Trust's experienced mentors will put you on the right path. Four calls a year are free for charter member schools.
Sign up now! For more information, contact In Trust's director of program development, Dr. Rebekah Burch Basinger, at 877-234-3895.
FROM THE ARCHIVE... NEW YEAR 2005 FUNDRAISING SERIES
Earlier this year, In Trust devoted an issue to fundraising. With the new school year in full swing, is it time to take another look?
SUGGEST A TRUSTEE TO PROFILE
In Trust magazine is planning to profile a theological school trustee who has expertise in U.S. or Canadian legislation that affects seminaries. Send a suggestion (explaining why your candidate would make an interesting subject) to jblossom@intrust.org.
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