Nina Fernando, M.A. ’13 , serves as the Operation and Outreach Manager with an organization called Shoulder to Shoulder, in Washington, D.C. Shoulder to Shoulder is a national multi-faith coalition of 35 religious denominations and faith-based organizations committed to countering, interrupting, and ending anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States. Nina says, “ CST helped to prepare me for my work in multi-faith justice organizing. I see faith communities and faith leaders as powerful change agents who hold a great responsibility to live up to their traditions. More than ever, our Muslim neighbors are unfairly and wrongly under attack. The problem is great, and our work at Shoulder to Shoulder helps faith communities and individuals step up alongside the Muslim community.” In addition to Nina’s work with Shoulder to Shoulder, she is an accomplished musician who integrates music into her advocacy efforts. This Fall, she will begin work with OneBeat, an organization that brings together civically engaged musicians from around the globe. She says, “As someone who works to live out the intersection of social change through music and multi-faith advocacy, it has been a privilege to work at Shoulder to Shoulder and still be able to create space to sing. CST fully supported my exploration of integrating my faith with social change and music, and now I get to do that in a new way. I do not entirely know what to expect but I am really looking forward to it.” To learn more about OneBeat visit their website at 1beat.org. To access a free toolkit to help you stand up to anti-Muslim bigotry, visit Shoulder to Shoulder’s website at shouldertoshouldercampaign.org. CST works to develop and nurture courageous and prophetic leaders, and these four alumnae - an M.A., an M.Div., a D.Min., and a Ph.D. - are putting their theological education to work in dynamic, diverse, and interreligious communities.
Jana Milhon-Martin, M.Div. ’16 , serves as a CPE Supervisor-in-Training at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.
Jana says her time at CST was one of the most personally challenging times of her life. Over her three years as a full-time student, she served two parishes as a youth minister and homeschooled her three sons. In Jana’s first semester of classes, her mother, who had been her strongest source of encouragement and support for her studies, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She reflects, “I was actively involved in my mother’s care as she died and the loss of her was emotionally and mentally devastating. Through it all, my faculty modeled a pastoral approach to their instruction that I still draw on in my own practice of pastoral care. They were compassionate about the challenges my complex life created and encouraged me when I really needed it. I felt supported and challenged as I made my way through my M.Div. Truly, my faculty saved me. I would never have made it through grad school without them. I am telling you, if I had millions of dollars, I would give it to CST. I feel utterly grateful for my experience there.” Jana credits CST’s ecumenical and interreligious approach to theological education with preparing her for the demands of working with patients in an urban hospital. She explains, “Academically, the greatest gift CST provided me was the opportunity to get outside the ‘silo’ of my own Episcopal faith tradition and be in dialogue and relationship with colleagues who view the world – and their place within it – in radically different ways. There is an intellectual rigor inherent in a class dialogue where students from diverse faith traditions and life experiences come together and examine ideas. In my work, listening across differences is the mainstay of my pastoral practice.” If you or someone you know is interested in chaplaincy, visit our website at www.cst.edu/ academics/m-div . CST offers an M.Div. in Interfaith Chaplaincy and an M.Div. in Islamic Chaplaincy through our partnership with Bayan Claremont.
CST offers several Master of Arts programs designed to prepare students for various forms of religious leadership and ministry. To learn more visit ww.cst.edu/academics/m-a
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