CONTINUING
EDUCATION
It was just
Rev. Kristina “Kris” Mares
M.Div., summa cum laude, 2015
Pastor, Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, Salisbury, NC
Coordinator of Missional Engagement, Uwharrie District of The UMC
What I learned at Hood Theological Seminary that day, and have
continued to keep as a practice since then, was to be fully present
in the activity I was doing at the time. No more multi-tasking. No
more trying to listen in class, while texting a friend, while making a
grocery list. No more watching a movie with my kids, while reading
for class, while checking social media.
When I study for seminary, I study.
When I have coffee with someone, I listen.
I remember sitting in a one-week intensive class, watching a video by
photographer Dewitt Jones. He talked about his travels for National
Geographic and how the scenes he captured and the people he met impacted
his perspective on the world.
Jones talked about an interview with a life-seasoned woman known for her
weaving. When he asked her what she thought about when she was weaving,
the five words came. Five words that have stayed with me and changed me.
When I weave, I weave.
As a chronic multi-tasker, those words hit me straight in the heart
and gut. While attending seminary at full-time status (9 credit hours a
semester), I also pastored a small rural church, volunteered with a local
moms organization, was married and parented five children. My life as
a seminarian was busy. My husband also traveled four days a week for
work, so weekend family life was on me. I was a great multi-tasker. But
those five words...
When I weave, I weave.
Here was a woman who had lived life twice as long as I had. She
was an “expert” in her field. And at the time of the interview, she was
caring for a sick family member. She had a lot going on, too! But those
five words…
When I weave, I weave.
churchexecutive.com
When I am with my family, I play.
When I weave, I weave.
Those five words changed my approach to seminary, pastoring and
life. Living with the wise words of the weaver, helped me graduate
seminary with honors. The class schedules, with weekday and
weekend options, paired well with pastoring and family life. The low
tuition rates (and scholarship opportunities) allowed my family to pay
cash for the training I needed to be a better pastor and administrator.
The professors understood that although students were in seminary to
learn and be challenged, we also needed to care for our families and our
congregations and ourselves.
I remember one instance when I did not “weave” very well. I had a
preaching project due, and one of my children became ill. Several doctor
appointments invaded my time to study and prepare. I emailed my
professor, and he said I would still present on the appointed day. I wasn’t
ready, and my mind was with my child, not on preaching for class.
I got up and completed the task. Poorly. It was painful.
That professor held me accountable for the assignment and kept the
class on schedule so that all could have their opportunity to preach.
At the end of that class session, he pulled me aside and told me to take
another week, perfect the sermon and delivery, and let him know when
I was ready to try again. Grace.
Accountability and grace permeate the campus of Hood Theological
Seminary. It is a place that held me accountable to a higher standard
of preaching, pastoral care, theological understanding and ministerial
practice. And even though life was busy and hard, Hood was a place
where I found a deep sense of grace. But those five words...
When I weave, I weave.
C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n – H o o d T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y • CHURCH EXECUTIVE
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