Deeper Conversations at Calvin Seminary
As Calvin Theological Seminary enters a new academic year, it does so while still dealing with the ongoing effects of a global pandemic, economic hardships, and vital justice and equity protests.
“In many ways, it can feel like we are being overwhelmed by the convergence and interrelatedness of these three challenges. At the same time, we believe God is using these times to create the context for more and deeper conversations and learning for us as individuals and as a community,” said Jul Medenblik, president of the seminary.
Even prior to this summer, he added, Calvin Seminary has been working on what it means to do "Life Together” as a diverse community of faith.
“As our efforts in developing intercultural competency have expanded, we have witnessed a growing desire to focus on this area,” he said — adding, “If we are going to deepen our efforts, we need good coaching, and we need to develop our capacity for trusting conversations.”
With this in mind, this past summer the Calvin Seminary executive leadership team discussed the matter of engaging two persons for such work — Pastors Dave Beelen and Denise Posie — who have already been serving within the seminary community in various capacities.
“We are delighted that they have both agreed to serve in this area of diversity, equity, and inclusion discipleship,” said Medenblik.
Beelen recently retired after 38 years of full-time service at Madison Square Christian Reformed Church — a diverse community of faith in Grand Rapids, Mich. Posie recently retired from work with the Christian Reformed Church in North America as director for leadership development..
“Both Denise and Dave see this work as an ongoing calling for them with corresponding joys, sorrows, and opportunities. They hope to provide a picture of how persons from various backgrounds and gifts can team together to serve each other and us well,” said Medenblik.
Beelen will continue in his vocational formation work as a mentoring specialist at the seminary with additional time devoted to working in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Posie will enter into this work as a diversity, equity, and inclusion discipleship coach.
"The addition of the phrase ‘discipleship coach’ is deliberate,” said Medenblik. “We want to affirm that our work in this area is part of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we desire to emphasize that our approach is to be framed as biblical, theological, pastoral, and practical. Denise and Dave also see themselves as ‘coaches’ in these conversations."
Posie said she is excited about joining the Calvin Seminary community in the capacity of a coach.
“I thank the executive team for its decision to expand and advance the development of intercultural competency,” she said.
“I think this is an excellent tool for helping us to know what it means and looks like to live in a Christian community in ways that honor God and each other.”<
The discipleship coaching role, she said, “aligns with my sense of calling, passion, life experiences, training, and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.”
Since 2016, she has been involved in leading two formation groups and engaging with faculty, staff, and students in a variety of ways at the seminary.
“I said ‘yes’ to this new opportunity because I appreciate Calvin Seminary's hard work and efforts in preparing servant leaders, and I look forward to working with our team,” she said.
Beelen said he is eager to team up with Posie to do this hard work of reconciliation. “Denise and I already know and appreciate each other, so teaming up with her is a great fit,” he said. “Good teammates make the hard work of reconciliation fulfilling and fruitful.”
Speaking of fruit, he added, his father, Marvin, a CRC pastor, planted seeds for seeking equity among people in Beelen’s life when he was 13 years old.
“On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was killed, and, while watching the news reports, I saw my preacher-father weep,” recalled Beelen.
“Those tears were seeds that have grown into a lifelong commitment to assist in bridging the divides in the (church) of Jesus Christ..
“Often what breaks our hearts is an indicator as to what breaks God's heart. And God, through Jesus, is a broken-heart healer. I look forward to serving Calvin Seminary in God's design to heal.”
As part of the diversity, equity, and inclusion discipleship process, the seminary has hosted groups, read books together, and started to use the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as one avenue for growth in intercultural competency.
In fact, in the seminary’s most recent employee engagement survey,intercultural competency was identified as the number-one need to be addressed by both faculty and staff. Posie and Beelen will join Margaret Mwenda, chief operations officer; Jeff Sajdak, dean of students; and Chris DeMan, strategic initiatives manager, as persons trained as IDI consultants. In addition, Posie and Beelen will enter into the life of the seminary community in various ways and capacities.
"We know that this work and journey is done in steps,” said Medenblik. “We also consider this work a matter of discipleship where we need to be encouraged and challenged. Denise and Dave bring a biblical, theological, and pastoral grounding, and that is what CTS and the church so deeply need. We are grateful for their desire to serve the church and the CTS community."
