Print this articleLetters to the editor
(Re: "Right idea, wrong execution," Kerux Oct. 6, 2006)
Kevin Vande Streek is placing undo responsibility on the seminary when he comments, "We are sending a very poor message when we do acts of service for only three hours one day a year." He has misunderstood the purpose of Service Day. It was simply meant to whet the appetite for service, not to quench it. My day at Safe Haven led by Meg Jenista was an insightful glimpse into one ministry; it was not meant to be a salve to the conscience. Nothing prevents us from marching down to our favorite agency to labor each week except ourselves. Don't blame it on CTS.
Jay Knochenhauer, M.Div.
A few years ago our small group at church decided to do some form of service with our families. Saturday morning arrived and we set out for the Guiding Light Mission ready to do whatever service they needed done. When we got there we found out that the mission was closed for the weekend. No lunches would be served and no one was around to give us any major projects. We ended up doing about an hour’s worth of work making beds and organizing a few shelves of food. We were then served lunch by the five or so resident workers who were very excited to share a meal with us.
We went home from that experience frustrated we were not able to do more. But the more we reflected, the more we realized how much we learned that day. We realized the frustrating part for all of us was the lack of control we had over the whole situation.
Servanthood is about giving up control and putting yourself at the mercy of others willing to do whatever is needed for their good while receiving nothing in return. Service is an attitude of the heart and a means through which God instills in us a Christ-like servant spirit. It is not something you "do."
As I read the article about the Service Learning Day, I recognized the same frustrations our small group had a few years ago. I noticed a great deal of emphasis put on the "service" part, but I wondered what happened to the "learning" part?
Our role as students at CTS is to be learners. CTS is an institution of learning and its role is to provide an environment which opens up opportunities for learning to occur and to help foster and build attitudes and habits of lifelong learning. I believe the Service Learning Day did just that.
Laura Zuverink, M.Div.
Notice to readers
Publication time: Beginning next issue, Kerux will move its publication day from Friday to Monday. Therefore, the next issue of Kerux will be published on Monday, Oct. 23. Kerux will continue to be published weekly.
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