On Seminary, Identity, and Going to Jail

[For the seminary newspapers]

I'm Le Anne. I'm a 29-year-old, female, white, spiky-haired, loud-laughing, trouble-making, fun-loving, seminary student. I grew up Lutheran, am a Presbyterian candidate for ordination, attend a UCC seminary, take human rights classes at CTU, have a degree in Christian-Muslim relations, dine at the Divinity School, and party with the Unitarians.

I'm a final-year ministry student at Chicago Theological Seminary, and co-chair of the Student Senate. I am student pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Woodlawn. I am also coordinator of SeminaryAction and the new Center for Faith and Peacemaking here in Hyde Park, which organizes new religious leaders as well as young global activists (our current website is www.seminaryaction.org).

And I'm planning on spending part of spring term in prison.

I'm preparing for civil disobedience, or 'crossing the line,' at this year's public witness to shut down the SOA in Columbus, GA ( www.soaw.org).

And, I'd like you to come and bear witness as a seminarian also--there are plenty of things to do there even without getting arrested.

I went to SOA rallies in college and again in seminary, and decided last year that I would attempt civil disobedience this year. Oddly enough, it is a sluggish year for seminarians--I don't know that many others are going. I served three years with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Israel/Palestine, Iraq, and the US/Mexico border. I have also been involved with Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Occupation Project here in Chicago. The first part of December, I hope to join the Fellowship of Reconciliation interfaith peacemaker delegation to Iran. I have constantly been looking for ways to blend my life as a human rights activist with my life as a seminarian. I am grateful for friends who continue to encourage me along the way.

I am going now, in seminary, because it is a cause I have believed in for so long and an action I feel I have put off long enough.
I am going now, in seminary, because I believe that nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience is an important part of my formation in ministry.
I am going now, in seminary, because I have fewer responsibilities to others now than I will once I graduate, financial and otherwise; and my faculty has been willing to walk with me in this process.
I am going now, in seminary, because my church and my candidacy committee are also willing to walk with me in this process.
I am going now, in seminary, because I was a human rights worker in Iraq before I came to seminary, and I worked with the families of prisoners in Abu Ghraib.
I am going now, in seminary, because I have friends who have come to seminary, who were once tortured, and are now refugees, and our country is responsible. The SOA is one big way in which our country is responsible for torture.
I am going now, in seminary, because religious leaders have been tortured and killed by the SOA.
I am going now, in seminary, because last year we were only 6 Congress votes away from shutting down this terrible place, and I believe my arrest will inspire others to 'inspire' those remaining Congresspersons to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.
I am going now, in seminary, because the American Academy of Religion conference is in Chicago next year and I can't go to SOA then.
I am going now, in seminary, to witness to other seminarians that it can be done.

There are a few things I'm worried about before going. My greatest concern right now for civil disobedience is raising the money for bail, which is now $1,000. I am trying to ask my communities for support. I am also nervous that I might end up with more than a month or two in prison, but I have found friends who will help me with my work at the Center if I do go into prison for a longer time.

I'm looking forward to joining the 8th Day Center for Justice bus, and I'm looking forward to getting to know as many folks as possible who are working for peace in Chicago. I am excited by the De Paul University students who have organized busloads to attend. I am excited by the monastic orders, religious communities, and other religious leaders who attend every year.

If you, as a seminarian, or as a person preparing for ministry, feel called also to attend this year, let me know at info@seminaryaction.org. If you need transportation, contact 8th Day Center or DePaul at the details below. It's doesn't cost too much for the hotel and bus. It doesn't take that much time away from your classes, and it's at the beginning of Thanksgiving Break. You don't have to get arrested: you could join the die-in, the drum circles, the puppet crew, or just told a cross with the name of someone who was killed by an SOA graduate and say, 'Presente!' Be present, and remember their presence. Be present with tens of thousands of other people who will come from all over the country to protest our government-sponsored torture school. Be present with people from all walks of life. Be present for those who can't be present.

It's not too late to sign up. If you haven't gone before, it will change the way you look at ministry.

DePaul bus contact: Sarah Gelsomino sarahgelsomino@gmail.com
8th Day bus contact: Stephanie Dernek stephid2@gmail.com

peace,
Le Anne