ORIENTATION NEWSLETTER

CHICAGO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY JULY 2014

CTS ORIENTATION NEWSLETTER JULY 2014 PAGE 2

773.896.2400 1407 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637 ctschicago.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The ACTS Consortium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A Student’s Perspective: Angela Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Biking Hyde Park and Woodlawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Classes to Take . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

= most helpful for face-to-face students = most helpful for online students Cover photo: Ayanna Johnson speaks at CTS’ Colloquium on Violence last spring.

THE ACTS CONSORTIUM

Taking classes at CTS is wonderful, but occasionally you might want to broaden your educational experience. That’s what the ACTS Consortium is for!

“ACTS” stands for the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, and the ACTS Consortium is a collection of eleven different Christian seminaries in the greater Chicago area, many of which are located in the Hyde Park neighborhood with CTS.

The ACTS Consortium allows you to expand your academic horizons by meeting new professors and getting an ecumenical education. It also gives you the opportunity to take classes that might not be offered frequently at CTS, such as courses in ancient languages.

ACTS courses are available to face-to-face and online students alike, and CTS students can do more than just regular-semester classes. Where space is available, winter and summer classes and even study-abroad trips with our ACTS partners might be an option for you.

We encourage new students to stick with CTS classes for their first semester, but as your academic career continues, don’t forget that you can take advantage of Chicago’s many schools for your own intellectual and spiritual development. ⯁

CHECKLIST So you’ve been accepted. Now what? By now you should have received a message from me in your personal email account containing important information on how to log in to your accounts and what forms to send in. That message contains all you need to know, but to help you keep track of it all, here’s a checklist of what you need to complete:

□ Access your CTS email and send the Faculty Assistant a test email. Feel free to forward your CTS email to your personal account.

□ Access Moodle and go through the orientation process there.

□ Fill out and return the New Student Information Form.

□ Snail mail a passport photo for your CTS ID card.

□ Send a copy of a government ID, such as a driver’s license.

□ Fill out and return the Immunization Form.

□ Add Orientation Weekend (August 22–23) to your calendar and fill out the Orientation Form.

□ Talk to Howard Nelson about financial aid (optional).

CTS ORIENTATION NEWSLETTER JULY 2014 PAGE 3

773.896.2400 1407 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637 ctschicago.edu

A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE: ANGELA PARKER WELCOME TO CTS . . . NOW WHAT?

Please allow me to extend greetings to all students who are embarking on seminary training for the first time. Whether you are a master’s student or a doctoral student, please allow these few reflections to help you make the transition into the comedic maze of seminary training. I describe seminary training as “comedic” because I want to remind you of the old adage “Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.”

Angela, why are you talking about crying? I am beginning seminary, what do I have to cry about!? In actuality, you probably will not cry. But there will be times when you will question your decision to be here and if you have made the right choice by beginning seminary. So, when these thoughts occur, please refer to my following tips to help you stay on track during your time at CTS.

Tip No. 1: You cannot read everything. Now do not think I am telling you not to read. I am advising you all to learn the art of speed reading. Speed reading does not mean that you read every single word of every single article or book assigned. Your reading list for your classes will be way too long. However, you must learn the art of speed reading so you can ascertain what the author’s main points are and how the author argues to her conclusion. This is essential in seminary.

Tip No. 2: Expect to be challenged. When I entered seminary, I was a good Baptist girl from the South who thought everyone read the Bible the same way I did. One week in

seminary knocks those thoughts right out of your head. As an academic institution, we are charged to challenge the preconceived notions that you may hold dear and force you to ask new questions. You may have thought you knew all the answers to every question about faith, theology, ethics and scripture reading. However, you will learn in seminary that the more questions you ask, the more questions you generate. Be ready for that.

Tip No. 3: Please remain active. You will be tempted to stay in your apartment or library in order to try to read everything on your syllabus. Get outside sometimes! Know that when you step away from your work and engage your body (through exercise, a walk, tennis, riding your bike), your brain still thinks about your academic work in the background. You need that time of refreshment and rejuvenation so you can come back to your academic work with a fresh perspective.

Tip No. 4: If you are a PhD student, scratch everything I just said! No, I am joking (only a little bit, though). For the PhD students that are beginning their programs, please, please, please, think about and make notes for your Program of Study. Ask yourself why you are studying at CTS and begin to formulate your Program of Study now. We PhD students have a habit of taking way too long to complete our degrees. Please keep Tips No. 1, 2 and 3 in your view but remember that you must keep moving along in order to complete your degrees (and get the really cool PhD hat).

Angela N. Parker is a fifth-year PhD student in Bible, Culture, and Hermeneutics with a New

Testament focus. Parker attempts to read the sacred texts through a

womanist/postcolonial lens in order to provide liberation and

transformative interpretations.⯁

CTS ORIENTATION NEWSLETTER JULY 2014 PAGE 4

773.896.2400 1407 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637 ctschicago.edu

BIKING HYDE PARK AND WOODLAWN

Chicago is renowned for being one of the nation’s most bike-friendly large cities. Bicycling is not only great for the environment, but it is a good way to get some exercise and it’s cheaper than driving!

City biking can seem intimidating for those unused to riding so close to cars, but with some basic knowledge, practice, and good common sense, you can learn the urban bicycling skills that will keep you riding for a long time.

CTS has bike racks at both entrances, and there are many bike racks across the University of Chicago’s campus and throughout Hyde Park. In addition, if you’re commuting on bike, our LEED-gold certified building provides showers as part of our commitment to being environmentally conscious.

Of all the streets in Hyde Park, only 55th St. has dedicated bike lanes, but the traffic speeds throughout the neighborhood are usually pretty slow, so it’s really easy for a cyclist to ride in the regular car lanes. If you don’t have a bike or if you need some repairs, the neighborhoods around CTS have multiple options for bike shops, including one right behind CTS.

If you plan on traveling beyond your school to see the rest of Chicago, the city has a bike share program called Divvy, so that’s a great option for some weekend fun. A good way to see the city is the 18-mile-long Lakefront Trail, a beautiful scenic trek along Chicago’s coastline. What are you waiting for? Get out and ride! (But don’t forget your helmet.) ⯁

CLASSES TO TAKE

Many of you have already registered for classes—great! If you need to make changes to your course registration, you can still do so via the Student Portal. For those of you who haven’t registered yet, you may be wondering what to take. Here’s what you can expect to register for in the fall.

MDiv students should plan on taking Introduction to Pastoral Care/Introduction to Pastoral Theology (Mondays at 9:00 a.m. and online), History of Christian Thought (Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and online) and Interpreting the Hebrew Bible (Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and online). MA and MARL students should take the latter two classes.

STM students planning to graduate in spring 2015 should take the Master’s Writing Seminar and at least three electives (four if you’re not planning to take an elective course in the January term).

Others should choose electives that fit their interests.

DMin students will automatically be registered for the Orientation Seminar which meets August 25–29, and will register for their fall electives during that week. PhD students will register after speaking to their faculty advisor in August, but should plan to take Contemporary Hermeneutical Strategies on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m.

A full load is 4 courses per semester for masters students and 3 courses for PhD students, so full-time students will take electives in addition to your required classes.

For future terms, all students will meet with their advisors before registering in order to plan out their semesters in detail. ⯁