Community Building

At Saint Paul, life in community is a central part of the seminary experience. Community takes many forms, and students can become involved in a variety of ways. Much community building occurs informally as students share the daily activities of seminary life, engage in conversation about the meaning of community, and encourage understanding and openness to diverse cultures, traditions, and histories. Students support one another in conversation, prayer, study, and leisure.

Orientation

New student orientation is an opportunity for entering students to meet one another and begin developing a sense of community. During the day, students will worship together, learn needed information about the Saint Paul community, meet faculty advisors and returning students, and find answers to any questions they may have. We encourage the participation of students' families at orientation.

Peer Partner Program

One dimension at Saint Paul is the Peer Partners program. Intended to make new students' transition into seminary as smooth as possible, this program helps them discover the resources for building solid foundations during their transition period.

Peer Partners are matched with a new student prior to Orientation. The new students meet regularly with their peer partners to reflect on how they are adjusting to seminary spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially.

Community Meal

The community meal is a symbol of the life the seminary community shares. At noon Tuesday and Wednesday, the community gathers in the G. Alan Dunlap Hall-students, faculty, staff, administrators. Frequently, spouses and children of students, visitors and friends purchase their meal and dine with the community .

Around the table, all take time to break bread and talk about what is happening in their lives. In addition, we provide food service at a nominal rate, subsidized by Saint Paul, on Monday evenings and Thursdays at noon when classes are in session.

Spouse Connection

Supporting students' spouses and couples is an area of renewed energy for Saint Paul. Saint Paul's goal is to support and educate couples as they face the special challenges a call to ministry brings to a relationship. Saint Paul sponsors special couples events on campus, as well as occasionally publicizing and supporting quality couples events in the community. Future plans include assisting spouses in outlying areas in meeting others in their vicinity, creating an off-campus support network. For further information contact Susan Sonnenday Vogel, Dean of the Chapel at 816-245-4843 or susanv@spst.edu.

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