It warms my heart to see their posts or comments on Facebook and/or Instagram encouraging us alum to continue following our dreams cheerleading us all along the way. All of these professors are such champions for their students in whatever careers we ended up in. Kathleen Chamberlain (English & Lit) who instilled in me a love of reading, a firm foundation in women’s studies, and the tools to better understand intersectionality. Kelly Bremner who served as my advisor and who later encouraged me to chase this calling to serve the church. Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian (Acting), Dr. I am so thankful for the professors who taught me at Emory & Henry: Dr. I remember introducing my hospital chaplain cohort (called an Interpersonal Relationship Group) to the play “Wit” by Margaret Edson and being profoundly moved re-reading that beloved play in a clinical setting. My hope is that I was able to teach the people I met along the way a little something about art, faith, and theatre. I carried with me to each place the skills I learned in both college and seminary. I spent one summer as a college chaplain at Montreat Conference Center before moving to Chattanooga to serve as the Director of Children’s Ministry at Rivermont Presbyterian Church for two years before being called as Associate Pastor (first ordained call) to Rumple just a few short months ago. During my time at Union I served as an intern at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, REX Hospital in Raleigh, and First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, M.D. I am thankful for those internship experiences where I was able to learn those necessary skills in order to make a smooth and seamless transition.Īfter leaving Florida Studio Theatre, I spent one year in Miami working with the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program before attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. There will be deadlines to meet, emails to send, and connections to be made. It was not as easy a transition out of the classroom and into the field as I would have thought. They taught me to ask direct guiding questions in order to better acclimate myself to an office culture. All three taught me about embracing a non-traditional (9-5) work schedule. When I graduated I interned then was on full-time staff as Company Manager at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, F.L. I interned for a semester at Barter Theatre in Directing my senior year. I served as an intern at North Carolina Stage Company in Asheville, N.C. When I read the Bible I ask some of those same questions I ask when reading a play–who is this person in front of me? What is their motivation? And, what does the text say about them either here or in other stories? Then apply it to ministry–what is this text saying about God, world, and self? This calling has carried me far across the east coast serving different communities I never dreamed I would spend time in. I especially think of the importance of these tools for theology in the public square speaking out against injustice and preaching boldly about loving kindness. It taught me to organize my thoughts speaking loudly and clearly. It taught me to be a better coach to people in the art of liturgy and public scripture reading. I am thankful for the tools I learned during my time at Emory that prepared me for seminary and for ministry. So from facing grief to joyful celebration, from understanding the importance of ritual, from learning to articulate clearly, to singing in groups (or virtual choir), to coordinating the nativity service, it is all woven together by foundational classes I took at Emory & Henry in theatre. Reading, researching, and understanding scripts help us to better understand the depth and range of the human experience. My theatre department experience has been a rock and a guide in my call to ministry and in my current role. He currently serves as Associate Pastor at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock, N.C. Reverend Russ Kerr, from Davidson, N.C., graduated from Emory & Henry in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre.
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