Eva GeoRene Jones, Rowan County Citizen
♦I saw your article in the Rowan Free Press and thought about my own journey. Quite honestly, I cannot imagine anyone using their time and financial resources to take-on seminary study just for sport. The idea of taking on care of elderly parents in order to do so seems counterintuitive, and from my own perspective, counterproductive to any course of study undertaken at the graduate level. Let me be clear this is strictly my opinion, and in full-disclosure I freely admit it bears taint of bias.
The bias stems from my own experience with the elements of your article: my own parents moved-in to my home and I supported them for the final 8 years of Mother’s life(2000-2008). Their meager income paid a few medical bills and a few early bird meal specials. I worked full-time in order to cover everything else; EVERYthing. Every mortgage payment, every utility bill, every grocery tape, AND the medical expenses NOT covered by their meager income was paid from mine.
During those years, in addition to honoring my mother and father as to the best of my ability, I worked full-time (commuting to RTP, 127 miles one-way) and attended Catawba College part-time, using the old fashioned fiscal-policy of /’pay-as-you-go” system of student financing. The night before Commencement Exercises, was spent in vigil at the hospital, having rushed Mom there by ambulance. Obviously, she was unable to attend graduation: I was allowed something of an extended visit (20 min instead of the customary 5) with her in the critical care unit. I wore my academic regalia and proudly presented to her my hard-earned Diploma. She died three weeks later.
Dad remained in my home until he remarried and moved to Virginia. I continued my RTP job for another year in order to sock-away funds. in the end, I quit and took part-time work in Salisbury to focus on my long-awaited Master’s in Pastoral Counseling.
In 2010, I accepted the responsibility for care-assistance of another elderly family memberl. I do need to work part-time to afford the obligations for which I am responsible. Through planning, continuing to work part-time, and fiscal responsibility, (I do not carry unwieldy consumer crediti-debt) I am able to meet my mortgage, utility, insurance, etc.
In addition to this demanding load, I take time to relax by enjoying a few hobbies, knitting, sewing, lots of cooking — and of late, local politics! Of course, I do not know who you had in mind when you wrote your article, but certain it was not I. A hobby isn’t something for which I’m willing to invest ten years’ time, energy, and money to fund.
Having recently completed the educational components, I am now in the midst of requisite field work hours (per ELCA endorsement rules) as I continue to care for our “Pappy” and work part-time to cover my obligations and pay for my yarn habit! And now I’ve stumbled upon the art of bobbin-lace making.
I would, however, make time on my messy calendar to speak with a few of these individuals which your friend says does “clergy” as a “hobby” because, well, dang it, you’ve got up my curiosity! I would like to hear their stories, you know, straight from the horses’ mouths, just to get the full slate of facts in the matter. Please let me know who these persons are so that I may contact them.
Best regards, feed your sheep, and stay warm. Jo
Jonathan Morris’s Letter-to-the-Editor about Hobby Clergy:
