On the Hill

I'm writing this at the end of my first week at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS), where I'll be spending June, as I continue with my doctoral program in leadership.

As you can see from the picture to the right, the seminary sits on a low hill in a valley between two higher hills. It's located just south of downtown San Anselmo, CA., a site it has occupied since 1890.

SFTS is a Presbyterian school, and a part of a nine-seminary consortium that is called the Graduate Theological Union. The other eight seminaries are all located in Berkeley, CA in the East Bay, near the University of California Berkeley campus. One of those other seminaries is my own - the Episcopal Church's West Coast seminary - the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

The SFTS buildings that actually sit on the hilltop reflect late 19th century era of it's founding, with 16' ceilings, 12' doors, and high windows, all of which reflect the monumental architecture of the time.

Classes are held in Scott Hall, the building to the left, and mostly take place in the morning, Monday through Friday. Such a schedule might seem fortunate - allowing for free afternoons - but there is so much reading that most of my time is spent in the library of Geneva hall, which sits on the pinacle of the hill above Scott.

It has been a very full first week, not the least because I arrived a day late because of Rachel's father's death. As most of you know, he died on the flight out to Maine - a horrendous and traumatic experience for Rachel, who was sitting next to him as he got increasingly sick, and - as a hospital chaplain - had a pretty good idea of what was happening and of her powerlessness in being able to help. I want to thank you for your prayers and thoughtful cards and comments - it is very hard not to be with Rachel as she grieves his loss.

I think it is not a coincidence that, when my phone rang at 3:21 a.m. on Saturday, May 30th - a time where the content of such a call is never good - I had been reading one of the books assigned for my class called "Trauma, loss, and grief in pastoral and theological settings" and, in particular, the chapter titled "When death comes unannounced."

That class has been impressive, as has my other main focus for these four weeks, a study of the eighth century B.C.E. prophets - Amos, Hosea, Michah, Isaiah - and especially the social setting that led to their prophecies.

This Sunday I will be attending St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. St. Gregory's has a reputation for wonderful liturgy - I'm looking forward to it!