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April 18, 2006
diversity at Fuller....
One of the reasons I chose to come to Fuller both the first time and this time is because of the diversity....this diversity presents itself in the form of denominations (over 120 plus represented on campus); ethnic group (about 1/3 of the population is international, with a a great majority being Korean); classes in different languages (primarily Spanish and Korean); women on campus (about half, and yes that makes us diverse for a seminary); to diversity in not only theological views, but political, economic, culture, etc.
Ex. Our MFT cohort just finished a discussion on the diversity in our community and it was a great time for everyone to hear each other's perspective. This is the first time in my life possibly, outside of mission work, that I find myself in the minority as a white male. So I very much enjoy the exchange and it is obvious that we both learn from each other...both minority and majority groups.
Ex. I am sitting in the library, on the top floor, looking at the window of a large group of students circled around a speaker. The speaker happens to be Franciscan priest Richard Rohr who is here speaking at some seminars. But what's interesting that behind him (this is not his presentation) is a wall with signs that read "Jesus and Paul were prisoners of Empire" or "Jesus was a Torture Victim" or "Jesus rode a donkey not a warhorse."
Only at Fuller can such opinions be expressed in a seminary setting, yet dialogue persist, and unity in Christ found, within our diversity as people and opinions.
Posted by rhett at April 18, 2006 12:45 PM
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But what will white guys like me do in the future. Am I destined to only be relevant at a white guy church? Sometimes I get frustrated that because I am a white male I am somehow pidgeonholed into only being suitable for minsitry in a specific context. I think I'm relevant across color lines. But, who knows I guess I'll go watch Dukes of Hazzard. That's a good old boy show.
Posted by: Lars Rood at April 18, 2006 09:01 PM
Lars...we actually had a really amazing discussion this morning in our class...our professor who is Latina asked us about our thoughts on the seminar regarding diversity at Fuller...it was really amazing to hear all the student's responses, especially coming out of the small group time. An African-American woman in our class spoke first, saying that it was really interesting to hear some of the guilt that a lot of the white female students were expressing...it was difficult not only for them to be a women in a seminary, but also to feel guilty about some of their closed perspectives. So the African-American student expressed what she was learning from the majority culture at Fuller, and how it was transforming her view on many things. That really opened the discussion and everyone openly shared, without any tension, without having to feel guilty about ethnicity or race, etc...
Ultimately, everyone decided and stated that they came to Fuller to get the diverse experience...and that the diversity was important to their understanding of psychology, theology, world missions. But what happens is that most people go straight towards their comfort zones..and who can blame them. Sometimes people just felt too tired going through school, studying, being exhausted, and it was just more easy to fall into the comfort groups, which usually meant going towards your ethnic groups which there is familiarity. We all agreed that takes extra effort at times to step out, but everything is lip service unless we move out into action.
Also, we all agree that in our diversity, we were all brought together in our unity for Christ. Regardless of our class, culture, politics, theology, etc...it is Christ who is our center, and who draws us near too each other as we draw near to him.
And we all agreed, that we wouldn't even have this discussion at most other places...and us just being able to be there and express our thoughts with one another was a step in the right direction.
thanks for sharing Lars...
Posted by: Rhett Smith at April 18, 2006 09:41 PM
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