A New Semester, A Shared Calling

August is an exciting time for Perkins. Classrooms begin to fill again (some on campus, some online), calendars become less theoretical, and the first day of classes arrives with its striking combination of anticipation, possibility, and the usual shock that summer has ended so quickly. We are delighted to welcome a robust class of new students, including those transferring from Memphis Theological Seminary as part of our teach-out and a new cohort of Spanish-language students. It’s going to be a dynamic new year ahead, and the Perkins staff have been working incredibly hard this summer to get everything ready and all students duly admitted and enrolled.
 
As we begin a new semester at Perkins, I am especially mindful that theological education takes place in many settings. For some students, this fall marks the beginning of a new internship - a congregation, hospital, nonprofit organization, or some other community where study and practice meet. These experiences are not simply additions to the curriculum. They are places where vocations are tested, gifts are discovered, and ministry becomes concrete. Even before classes begin, as part of our orientation week, Perkins students, faculty, and staff will step beyond the campus for Ministry Dallas, a week devoted to service, learning, and community engagement. Through encounters with local ministries and nonprofit organizations, we will learn from neighbors who are already doing imaginative and faithful work across the city. It is a fitting way to start an academic year: not only by asking what we will study, but also by paying attention to the communities we are called to serve and the wisdom already present among them.
 
This year will bring important new work for Perkins. Our faculty will be focused on two significant searches: one in theology and another for The Charles Millikan Endowed Chair of Spiritual Care. Each position will strengthen our capacity to prepare students for thoughtful scholarship and faithful service across a wide variety of callings. A new school year always begins with plans and syllabi, but also with possibilities we cannot yet see. So, welcome back to Perkins! And welcome to all who are joining us for the first time.