Although I have chosen a path in academia, which tends to be thought of as a very abstract, unpractical field, I love the art of preaching--an assuredly practical matter. I have loved preaching for some time. Even when I was "just a girl" at a conservative Southern Baptist Bible college, I willingly endured the patronizing pats on the head in my preaching classes because I loved it. (And, maybe because it was something "off limits" to me, I treasured the time I got to study it even more.)
For me, communicating Scripture to the gathered people of God is one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks to be performed within the Church. I know that for others, acts of service or mercy or leading congregational prayer provides the same fulfillment. But, for me, nothing compares to preaching.
It was a joy for me, then, when I attended
Truett Theological Seminary and discovered that they took seriously the task of training
all their M.Div. students to preach the Word--male and female. I was privileged to study preaching for three semesters under
Dr. Joel Gregory. Through his tutelage, I realized that preaching, when done well, is a dynamic combination of several fields I love: biblical studies, theology, pastoral care, and communication.
At the end of my time at Truett, I was shocked and dismayed to be chosen for an award in preaching. And, when I say I was shocked, I'm not being falsely humble or disingenuous. I was truly shocked. Although I enjoyed preaching, I had always looked upon it as a sort of "guilty pleasure"--something I might enjoy, but certainly couldn't
admit to enjoying and certainly couldn't do
in public, in front of
real people. Even though by this time I had left my conservative views on women in ministry, in my heart and mind, preaching was still off-limits to me because I was "just a girl."
Imagine my anxiety, therefore, when I discovered that the award came with the honor and responsibility of preaching to a special chapel service at the seminary! Dr. Gregory graciously did his best to assuage my anxiety and I prepared and delivered a message that I felt suitable for our students. (If you're interested, you can actually read a copy of the manuscript for that sermon
here).
During the four years I spent at Truett, I was blessed to have a number of articles published, both in journals and book-length works. This was a tremendous privilege for someone at my stage of education and overall academic experience. Also, you just can't underestimate how important such early publishing experience is to future academic life. (And, to be completely frank, it was a great thrill to see my name in print!) Even so, now that I have almost three years of hindsight, I can honestly say that preaching the chapel service at Truett was, without a doubt,
the highlight of my time in seminary. It was the "mountaintop experience" of my graduate studies and something I'll treasure always.
Still, as I reflect on that experience, I can't help but feel a bit melancholy. Preaching for Truett Seminary was the first time I preached in a public forum to a gathering of God's people and it was the last time I did so, as well. And, as far as things go for now, it seems as though it is going to remain this way for some time to come.
Recently, I've wondered to my husband whether or not I ended up choosing a life in academia, at least in part, because I couldn't find a place for myself as a woman within the Church. Actually, we've had the conversation several times. I don't know for sure if this is so, but its definitely possible. From an early age--about 15 years-old, if I remember correctly--I wanted to be a pastor/preacher. But, slowly, I let go of this aspiration and turned my attention to something else I was good at: research, writing, and teaching. And, that is my chosen path for now.
I don't believe that God has a "perfect plan" for my life. I believe I'm given a certain amount of freedom, within my calling to love Him and embody His Kingdom, to do what I want with the gifts and skills I've been given. So, I take full responsibility for the choices I've made and the direction I've chosen for my life's work.
Still, there's a constant (albeit, small) niggling sadness within me, especially on Sundays, that I'm not participating in the proclamation of God's Word on a consistent basis. Call it ingratitude. Call it wishful thinking. Call it immaturity. Call it female "rebellion." Call it whatever you want. All I know is, its there. I want to preach. I love to preach. But, for now, I wait on the Lord.
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