WHAT I AM DOING: MA in Biblical Studies at Regent. Its a big undertaking, and has already been an adventure and a source of much talk within the LDS community I am a part of. Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent has one of the largest Christian seminaries in the US, but at the same time is overall a small, liberal arts university that caters to a Christian themed education with about 5,000 students on campus.

WHY I AM DOING IT: After serving an LDS mission at the Church Historic Sites in Rochester, NY, and reading EVERY religious book I could get my hands on (a bit of a break on missionary rules but I felt so privileged to be AT THE PLACE where the Golden Plates were found I could hardly get my hands off of all the Nibley books available to the senior couple missionaries in the basement of the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center and on those lonely days when no one came in, I READ), I knew I had a real passion for religious studies. I had several unique and faith building experiences on my mission addressing large groups of other faiths, including one neat experience with Dr. Robert Millett of BYU (Dr. Millett is the  Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for Church Public Affairs and has strong relations with evangelical groups). Since my mission, I took a job at the University of Utah in International Education, married, and began trying to match my interest in on campus programs (thus, my 12 hours at the U). Each attempt was met with frustration and disappointment as I realized the curriculum of those programs failed to meet my academic interests so I continually felt the need to keep looking...

Moving wasn't an option, since my husband is a student at the U and nearly done with his program and our main source of income was coming from me (I found great pleasure and opportunity in my career field and also didn't want to leave my job). I had been researching different seminaries across the country but was weary of online programs, and then I stumbled across Regent's MA program where half my coursework will be modular (meaning, I travel to campus once a semester to complete my classes). As I read over the Divinity school's website, I felt surges of energy and excitement as I reviewed the curriculum, the faculty members and their policy on women in the ministry (click here to go there) . Upon completing the application I was invited for an interview that was to last about 30 minutes but ran into over an hour. The spirit was strong in that meeting as I discussed my academic and spiritual rational for wanting to participate in this program. Of course, there was dialogue over my being LDS and what that  would mean on a campus of largely southern baptist/non denominational and evangelical persons. The interview was an incredible experience that left my heart racing and my emotions high. A few weeks later I was admitted into the program and thus start my journey this summer.

WHAT I WANT TO GAIN: I have always seen a gap in the LDS community when it comes to dialoguing with and about those of other faiths, particularly other Christian denominations. Feelings of being uncomfortable, hostility, superiority and pride usually set in on both sides when dialogue is attempted. In my professional environment I feel like I am often doing what I call "damage control" on behalf of my faith with those who have been hurt, confused or misled by a well intentioned blundering or over eager LDS person who left the friend not of our faith with a bitter taste in their mouth. I want to bridge this gap. I feel that by taking on this degree in a very unique environment  I will not only deepen my understanding of Christian history, Biblical hermeneutics and practical theology but more importantly I will be in a place that I feel the Lord wants me at this time.

Hurrah!