The European Chapter of Asbury Alumni
“It’s a thing!”
So said one of the European Asbury Alumni following the inaugural three-day retreat of the European Chapter of Asbury Theological Seminary Alumni. Recently, a European cohort of just over 30 church leaders graduated from the Asbury DMin programme. For many of these individuals, the DMin was profoundly formative and significantly impacted their lives and leadership. Many of those leaders testified that it was both the relationship with Asbury and the experience of being a like-minded group of church-planting pioneers journeying together that helped make the programme so meaningful. One person wrote, “…Asbury started it, and Asbury enabled it and without the opportunity and support that Asbury provided, I would not have DMin.”
The whole thing felt to many like a move of God —a move that was more than just about the three-year programme. And so, the vision for a European Chapter of Asbury Alumni was born.
Hannah Patton, Andy Bawtree, and Sami Lindsey are coordinating the Chapter with fantastic support from Stephen Hance and Tammy Cessna. The team came up with the following aims for the Chapter: supporting alums in their ministerial development as they grow into senior leadership roles; promoting opportunities for alums to exercise influence within their denominations and wider contexts; providing a forum for continuing scholarship, research and idea exchange; creating a safe space where emerging senior leaders can receive peer support and guidance; and Inspiring others to pursue theological education at Asbury, as a place of spiritual depth, academic excellence, and global impact. The Chapter is open to the 30 church leaders from the cohort who have recently graduated from the Asbury DMin, as well as many others who have graduated previously or will do so in the future. The hope is that if effective in Europe, this model could be replicated around the world. With these aims in mind, the idea of an annual retreat was born.
In May, alumni gathered for two nights in a beautifully renovated farmhouse surrounded by stunning English countryside west of Birmingham. We were joined by Stephen Hance and Tammy Cessna from Asbury. The Alumni attending were a mix of those who had recently graduated and those who had graduated in years past—one had graduated 44 years ago. For some, it was an obvious decision to attend; for others, it was less so. However, by the end, everyone agreed that the retreat was “a thing!” One attendee wrote afterwards, ‘What a great retreat. I’d forgotten how much I love being part of the Asbury family. I hope there’ll be more chances to be together…I feel like something really strategic is happening here.”
It was a time to withdraw from the stress of ministry and spend three days in a peaceful setting. We shared some great food, a time of rest, physical and spiritual re-creation, vulnerability, and sharing. We received some fantastic biblical and theological input from the Rev’d Dr John Valentine, which provoked much deep and stimulating reflection and discussion. We had some spacious times of worship and praying for one another. Additionally, Tammy reinforced Asbury’s commitment to its Alumni and inspiringly reminded us of the vision and values that had led us all to sign up for the Asbury DMin programme in the first place. Overall, it was a wonderful time spent together in the presence of God.
Our hope is to establish an annual rhythm of a retreat and six-monthly Zoom calls. As the rhythm beds in, we hope that many more of the European Alumni will engage. Finally, in the words of one retreat attendee, “May this be the beginning of something beautiful and honouring to God!”
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