200 Years and Getting Stronger

It is with humility and pride that I have served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Moravian Theological Seminary. When I took the position in 2000, many told me it was a “call” to serve — a new idea for me. Maybe they were right, since this experience has been one of the richest in my life. I’ve gotten to connect with many people and communities who have caused me to think more, give more, and care more. I’ve had a chance to influence and observe significant change, growth, and achievement at the Seminary.

Now, as I turn over the leadership of the Board of Trustees to my accomplished board colleague, Wilma Lewis, a member of Faith Moravian Church in Washington, D.C., let me use the Moravian “motto” to engage you in a few critical ideas about the Seminary of which every Moravian should be aware as we celebrate our bicentennial.

In essentials, Unity: I’d like to assert that having an accredited Moravian Theological Seminary (MTS) is one of those things that is essential to the identity of the Moravian Unity. As long as there is a Moravian denomination, the Seminary must be there to train pastors and to allow theological debate to occur in a thought-provoking, nurturing, diverse environment. MTS’ primary role is to train pastors for the Moravian Church, working in concert with the various provinces on whom we depend to identify and approve candidates for ministry. It also plays a critical role in the Lehigh Valley, offering pastoral training, pastoral counseling, and other programs to a broad denominational constituency. All of this is done with a clear grounding in our mission: “…to prepare men and women for effective leadership and service in congregational, counseling, teaching, and other ministries. The Seminary is rooted in the Moravian faith tradition — centered in Jesus Christ, grounded in Scripture, ecumenical in spirit, committed to community, and focused on missional leadership.”

In non-essentials, Liberty: Exactly how the Seminary establishes and accomplishes its goals is a non-essential. We need to perform really well and be connected to the congregations we serve; we need to understand what people want and need to experience from our graduates; we need to react to environmental, societal changes quickly. That said, we need you to be engaged, questioning, and supportive. What people want and need varies depending on the person, the congregation, the geography, past experiences, and personal priorities. Understanding the obvious dichotomies and differences of opinion is a primary catalyst for action. For me, it is all about listening, making calculated judgment calls, making choices, making informed decisions… and then getting on with getting on. MTS leadership needs the liberty to effectively balance the drumbeats from all those whom we serve — always listening for new ideas or things that need to change or things that must not change — while never losing sight of our primary role and mission.

In all things, Love: We welcome debates. They make us stronger. Is the Seminary conservative/liberal enough? Does it provide adequate leadership to the Church at large? Is it tough enough/too tough? Why do some programs enhance Lehigh Valley constituents, and not the Moravian Church at large? Why isn’t all the energy of the Seminary focused on enhancing the Moravian pastorate? What happened to the “Mobile Seminary” program? These questions are necessary and formative. We listen to those questions to help us make choices. Some of these questions can be divisive; and for MTS to make a positive impact, we must acknowledge differences and look beyond them to forge common bonds that unite us despite our differences. After all, our primary service is to our small denomination; and in that role, we simply can’t afford divisiveness that drives division and/or separation. The Moravian Church has too much to offer the world. We need to channel our energies on effective leadership, on service, on mission, on ministry to and love for one another.

In recent years, Seminary faculty and staff have been out among you asking questions about what you need in your pastors; and your answers significantly influenced our recent curriculum revisions. We’ve engaged a number of you in our feasibility study for raising money as we approach an ambitious comprehensive campaign. Seminary Trustees engage local congregations in discussions about what the Seminary is doing to provide leadership in the Moravian Church. Each year, the Seminary leadership and faculty teach, preach, and lead retreats for congregations and gatherings throughout North America and the Unity. They regularly participate as leaders and delegates at camps, convos, conferences, and Synods throughout the Church. When you see anyone from the Seminary at such an event, feel free to speak about how the Seminary can best serve the mission and ministry of the Church. And if you don’t see anyone in person, feel free to contact us anyway! The Seminary wants to be responsive to congregational concerns. If you don’t see someone in person, contact the Seminary Dean, Frank Crouch . If you want to be added to our publication distribution lists, contact our Director of Marketing and Communications, Jane Burcaw.

Today, the Seminary is growing the student body, enhancing the quality of education, and focusing on the outcomes we want our students to achieve after they graduate. Success breeds

• greater expectations: congregations expect graduates who can both serve and lead, counselors who are both competent and wise;
• greater needs: for example, students graduate with excessive debt, leaving them financially vulnerable as they begin their life of service; and
• greater challenges: nurturing the educational and spiritual needs of increasingly diverse and larger student bodies; discerning the direction(s) we should go to serve God and the mission of the Church.

Two hundred years of history and the quality of our programs give us the freedom, the right and the courage to meet the challenges placed before us. We are in an enviable position: to witness to the world; to develop pastors and counselors who can serve individuals, communities, and congregations well; to be a force in theological thinking and leadership training within the Moravian Church worldwide; to serve the needs of the greater Lehigh Valley. We dedicate ourselves to continuous improvement and growth. But we need you to guide us, to give us feedback, to pray for us, to use us, to support us, to help us. What better time than the bicentennial to assure we increase the value of the Seminary throughout our world?
In essentials, Unity;
in non-essentials, Liberty;
in all things, Love.

Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth has served as Chair of the Seminary Board of Trustees since 2000. Raised in the home of Moravian missionary parents, Harry and Gertrude Trodahl, Lyn had a 30-year career with IBM working around the globe in various managerial and executive capacities. She continues to serve as an executive consultant.