Eric Johnson

Answering The Call

(originally published Fall 2008)

By Cindy Oatess, Editor

I have a bad heart – a loving heart, but a damaged heart – so being startled isn’t necessarily a good thing.

And I was really startled when I learned that Hyde Park currently has eight students in seminary. I thought, “Eight students at once! You’ve got to be kidding. Most churches would be thrilled to have one in seminary, but eight!”  

But, as I am continually reminded, Hyde Park United Methodist is not your typical church.

To add to the shock value, I learned where the students are studying:

  • Ted Crass, Harvard Divinity School
  • John Helmstadter, Yale Divinity School
  • Eric Johnson, Asbury Theological Seminary
  • Amy Stewart Green, Toby Bonar, Chris Allen, Miranda Harrison-Quillin and John Tschanz, Duke Divinity School

Eric Johnson, Hyde Park’s director of worship and media arts, will graduate from Asbury Theological Seminary in May after four years of attending classes, working full time and raising a family. He served as interim youth director from October 2006 to April 2007, after 14 years of volunteer service with our youth.

Eric describes the church as “An environment that encourages questions, exploration, spiritual formation and deep study. I’ve always had a lot of staff and pastoral support – even before I worked here.”

Miranda Harrison-Quillin came to Hyde Park as a third grader. She attended Sunday School, sang in the children’s choir and attended Warren Willis camp in Leesburg for 10 summers as a camper. She also served two years as a counselor. Miranda is in her first year of seminary at Duke.

Miranda’s call to ministry developed over time. “It wasn’t one specific thing – I just received a bunch of little nudges and whispers from God. From my years in the children’s and youth ministries, and even now in my early adulthood, Hyde Park has been an encouraging and challenging place where there are people ready to help me along the way,” Miranda explained. I think Hyde Park serves as a great example of what a healthy church with strong, creative leadership can look like.”

Amy Stewart Greene

Amy Stewart Greene’s road to seminary began in eighth grade. While attending church across town, her friends were heading to youth group at Hyde Park. She followed, and when she fell in love with the youth program, her parents followed too. Amy attended Duke Divinity’s three-week youth academy while in high school and fell in love again. Amy will receive Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work degrees in two years.

“Hyde Park has been a constant reminder and example of a real, loving community,” Amy said. “Having Hyde Park as my home church reminds me why I study and what a healthy, thriving congregation looks like.”

Toby Bonar feels similarly about Hyde Park. After joining in 2000 and participating in many small group opportunities, Toby discovered he had spiritual gifts – in addition to his musical gifts – that could be put to use in ministry. Although he practiced law and held a position of leadership within an insurance brokerage, “I knew that was not what God wanted of me,” Toby said.

“I’m grateful for all the love and support of the Hyde Park family,” Toby said. “The church really embodies a priesthood of all believers and encourages its members to get involved in the church’s many ministries.” Toby will graduate from Duke in 2010.

What more, you ask, can we do as a home congregation?
In addition to offering financial and practical support, according to Toby, “The Hyde Park UMC family can continually pray for us and encourage others to serve out of their giftedness. Who knows, the encouragement may just inspire more and more to seminary.”

Now that would make my heart feel good.

 

Originally published in Hyde Park Life Fall 2008   |   See archive