ministry while completing my M.Div., something I would not have been able to do as a full-time, on-campus student. Learning from and with a diverse group of professors and students - in faith, theology, and culture - provided for a challenging and enriching program that expanded me in my own way of walking in the world, in my encountering others, and in loving my neighbor. My ministry was enhanced as I learned to sit, walk, and run with others and in an environment that had my spiritual and academic growth in mind as they pushed me to dig a bit deeper and go a little further. I am better equipped to live out my call as part of the body of Christ and to faithfully serve, seeking to always ‘do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before God.’” TEVITA UESI, M.DIV. ’18 , is the first person of Tongan heritage to be ordained in the DOC and is now serving as the lead pastor of the First Tongan Christian Church, co-located with Granger Community Christian Church, in Salt Lake City, Utah. This community is the only Disciples congregation with roots in the island nation of Tonga. Tevita reflects, “By learning from professors of different faiths and religions, CST helped me prepare for ministry. I really appreciate the mission CST holds as an interfaith and ecumenical institution. To learn from different perspectives allows dialogue without condemnation of the other, but rather reaching out and working together to bring a better tomorrow.” A talented musician, Tevita’s first career was as a middle school music teacher, so singing with his siblings and former students was one of the joys of his ordination service. He says, “The ordination was unforgettable! I reunited with friends and family from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Tonga and had the privilege of singing with my siblings and former students again. It was also such a joy to have my home church and home pastor, Rev. Vinnetta Golphin, host the event, and to have Rev. Daphne Gascot Arias of Downey Memorial Christian Church preach a profound message from Micah 6:8. I feel relieved reaching this point, yet still so much is required and expected for what is to come.” BELVA BROWN JORDAN , Dean of DSF Claremont as well as CST’s Associate Dean of Curriculum and Assessment, says, “It is an honor to serve the church as a Disciple within the CST community. I can think of no better place to witness Disciples students and alums learn and embody our ecumenical and interfaith commitments. What we learn here we take with us when we go out as citizens of the world. This relationship, spanning more than 60 years, will span another.”
One of our longest relationships – one spanning more than 60 years – is the relationship between CST and Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF). In fact, this relationship began before our groundbreaking in Claremont and has grown into a strong, decades-long partnership in educating religious leaders for the transformation of the world. DSF PRESIDENT JON BERQUIST said of the partnership, “Legend says that in the early planning for a Disciples Seminary Foundation, the denomination had the location narrowed down to three places. When CST chose Claremont, we did too. So, our beginning is tied to CST’s beginning in Claremont. And since CST announced its possible move to Willamette, we’ve been clear that wherever CST goes, DSF goes. In fact, our constituencies in Oregon are eager for us to move north.” Of course, not all the DSF community is happy about a potential move – most often pointing to the lack of diversity in Oregon. However, Berquist argues, “The demographics of a city have never reflected who we are; we are intentionally multicultural. Ministry used to be very tied to location. Not anymore. Ministry is very networked around the country and beyond, and our graduates have a much bigger ministry than their location – they’re making a difference all over.” Two CST/DSF graduates who are making a difference beyond their local communities are “firsts” for the Disciples of Christ whose stories are also connected through a passage from the Hebrew Bible: Micah 6:8. It says, “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” (CEB) LORI TAPIA, M.DIV. ’17, was recently named Disciples’ first female National Hispanic Pastor. In this role, Lori works with more than 200 Hispanic churches across the US and Canada – developing resources relevant for Hispanic Disciples and congregations; strengthening connection across local, regional, general, and ecumenical relationships; and focusing on the leadership development of young adults, clergy and laity. At CST, Lori was a hybrid student who served as a full-time pastor in Arizona and as the interim National Hispanic Pastor. She says she transferred to CST because of the hybrid program and because of the partnership with DSF.
To learn more about Disciples Seminary Foundation, please visit www.dsf.edu.
“The hybrid program provided the opportunity for me to continue to be fully immersed in
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