For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:

Can you remember a time when you experienced an imminent death?  Remember the uncertainty and sorrow you felt at the loss soon to occur?  Maybe it was a time when a loved one only had a matter of days or hours of life here left to live.   You could feel deep inside you the dread of the coming loss.  Maybe you have gone into battle and wondered if you would survive.  You were scared and fearful of what might happen and then when you did experience loss it was of a buddy who just seconds before was alive standing right next to you.

On June 30, 1863 near a town called Gettysburg in the state of Pennsylvania, many people were probably feeling this same dread.  On this date the Confederate Army, under the command of Robert E. Lee, was marching upon Gettysburg from the north and the west.  At the same time, the Union Army, under the leadership of George G, Meade, was marching north.  Both sides knew it was not going to be long until the shooting began. I am sure most men, as all soldiers do before they go into battle, were fearful that this would be their earthly end.

Much like is was 154 years ago today at Gettysburg there will be a death tonight on the outskirts west of town. At the stroke of the midnight the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG) will be no more.  For all intents and purposes it will die.  This grand and glorious institution that has trained women and men to become pastors, chaplains, deacons, and other leaders of the Lutheran, and other faith traditions, will be no more.  After 191 years of dedicated service, the signs stating “The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg” will come down.  There will be a death and it will affect many.

Since I first heard the news of the coming death of my alma mater I have felt at least three of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ “Five Stages of Grief”; denial, anger, and depression.  It is indeed a sad day for me, one that I have dreaded.  The sadness is compounded in the simple fact that many of my close friends and colleagues will lose their jobs tonight.

While there will still be a seminary that sits in the same location in Gettysburg the name will be different, the curriculum will be different, and there will be many other changes coming.  I am not saying change was not necessary.  To continue as things were was not feasible.  The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) and LTSG are combining to become the United Lutheran Seminary with campuses at both former locations.

I write this today because I want folks to know that the grief I, and many of my fellow graduates, feel is real and it hurts.  I have learned, both in my pastoral care classes at LTSG and while serving a year-long residency of Clinical Pastoral Education at the VA Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, that we as humans must give ourselves time to grieve.  I also learned that as clergy I should not push those with whom I am ministering with to try to get over their grief.

No, I have learned that grieving can take a while and perhaps is a life long process.  Quite simply put, Jesus grieved over the loss of those he loved and he did not get over that grief in one day.

So I will grieve in my way, I will visit my alma mater and view her from the various locations on the battlefield as I did when I lived there in community.  I will walk the surrounding battlefield and remember my four years there.  I will cherish my memories of the people I met who have now become good friends.  I have those to help me in my grieving process.  I also have my faith.  Faith that God has a plan and I cannot see what it is yet.  However this is grieving time.

While I am not ready to jump on the ULS bandwagon yet I am not saying that day may not happen in the future but as the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes states there is a time for everything.  I take great comfort in this fact.

The title of this blog post comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1.  For me today is a time to mourn and that is perfectly fine, no matter how long it takes.

Thank you Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, I will never forget you.

 

So Now What?

Sounds like a good question after a week of being introduced to so much new and valuable information.  What do I do with the numerous new modes of social media I have learned about these past five days.  Do I use it all, some of it, none of it?  What to do?

What I usually do here in Gettysburg when I am contemplating a question that needs an answer is to take a walk.  I wanted so much to take a walk today, to no only exercise like my doctor has strongly suggested, but to get outside in the fresh air.  We have been having rather pleasant weather here in Gettysburg this week so I wanted to get outside to stretch my legs and think after sitting indoors all week.  However since it was raining when I got out of class the walk had to wait until another day.

While I couldn’t get out for my walk I still wanted to think of ways I could use social media in my communicating with others, not only now in 2013 but also in a future parish setting.  One of the most important things I have learned about using social media is to be genuine in all my social media interactions.  I don’t think this will be difficult for me because I have always tried to be genuine in my dealings with others.  What you see with me is what you get.  I don’t play games nor do I put on airs.  I am the same at school, in a church setting, or sitting in my living room at home.  I understand genuine.

Just as I know I cannot be all things to all people I know I will not be able to use all the social media I have learned about this week all at once.  I will have to pick and choose what I feel will be most helpful in getting my message out.  Since I believe that my message is to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I will have to pick and choose carefully.  Now I feel equipped to make those decisions.  Of course I won’t be making those decision alone.  I will have help.

Think I’ll take a walk and pray.