Alums Reflect on Meeting the World’s Needs
07-01-2022
McCormick alums reflect on the impact of their passion and vocation: “How have you found doing what you love intersecting with what the world needs?”
Check out what they had to say about intergenerational dialogue, building relationships, practicing empathy, and offering spiritual care.
“I love doing ministry and building relationships with young people, mentoring them and helping them to discover how their Christian faith and future vocation can impact the most pressing social concerns of our day.
As program director for the ENGAGE Youth Theology Initiative at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, it is my privilege each summer to journey with high school students as they explore the intersections of theology, civil rights history, and the call to build God’s beloved community. I think the world – but especially the church – needs to have better conversations around race and move forward in compassionate and constructive action, letting the Spirit show us what it means to be “one” as Jesus desired (John 17:21), to “love our neighbors as ourselves” (Matt. 22:39), and to proclaim "liberation" and the “year of Jubilee” (Luke 4:18-19).
The ENGAGE program teaches students how they—using the skills and talents God has given them—can become the change they wish to see in the world.”
Rev. Dr. Claire Davidson Frederick, D.Min. 2021
“I appreciate the invitation to reflect vocationally on where our gladness meets the world’s needs. Our world is certainly not short of needs! Present circumstances may remind us of the truth of Paul’s observation that all of creation is “groaning as in the pains of childbirth.” Indeed, the overlapping climate, racial justice, political instability, and public health crises have continued to impact our communities on a grand scale, sparing few. Part of what I love about working as a spiritual care and mental health professional is being able to offer care and containment to those navigating the great catastrophes in our lives. I’m glad for places like McCormick which continue to train up future generations of practitioners who are committed to seeking out not only the world’s needs but the sources of our own gladness – those moments of mirth, and play, when we too are called to life by God.”
Kenji Kuramitsu 倉光健二, M.Div. 2019
“Yes, I am truly blessed because that which I love and have passion for is to have 'concern' and 'regard' for other people, which intersects with what the world needs. We need to be concerned about one another and the environment. I maintain that our care for one another and our universe would reduce many social ills of our day. It has been my experience that 'concern' manifests itself in many forms, shapes, and sizes. Interestingly, 'concern' is a verb or an action word, and it can require a response in opposition to injustice or evil. That response can be active resistance or passive hope. However, 'concern' is more than empathy; it can express mutual agape love that transforms and alters outcomes. I became an attorney because I saw and cared for black people affected by the injustice of discrimination and racism. I love providing quality legal representation based on a person's ability to pay, making legal services affordable or free and accessible to the working class or unemployed person is what the world needs”.
Rev. Robert Sharp, M.Div. 2022
Rev. Dr. Claire Davidson Frederick, D.Min. 2021
Kenji Kuramitsu 倉光健二, M.Div. 2019
Rev. Robert Sharp, M.Div. 2022