Learning public ministry in public: Judith Guy interns in Greensboro congregation

October 11, 2015 -  

Since early August, House Scholar and MDiv student Judith Guy has been immersed in an internship in congregational ministry at First Christian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. The full-time internship will last nine months. She sought the internship opportunity, which is principally funded by the Disciples Divinity House, to further develop pastoral leadership skills. She also wanted to explore the place of writing among the arts of ministry. Judith Guy found an ideal mentor in Lee Hull Moses, an author of several books, the congregation's senior minister, and a DDH alumna (and current President of the Board of Trustees).

In addition to shadowing Ms. Hull Moses, Ms. Guy has been helping with adult Christian education, leading a small group, sharing pastoral care calls, leading worship, and preaching once a month. She comments, "I am learning how to reflect and then, based on those reflections, do ministry. I am learning from Pastor Lee how to listen to God through the voices of the community and help them hear this message. I am learning how to learn in public, which inevitably means to fail in public, and still continue in public ministry. In essence I am learning ministry and I am so grateful."