Seminarian Spotlight Emily Woodard Y


ears ago, as a young mother not employed outside of the home, I had the opportunity to audit a few classes at Erskine Theologi- cal Seminary. My older brother was auditing classes and encouraged me to sit in with him on a lecture. I began with Systematic Theology and, while my family ties drew me into the classroom, it was the content that kept me engaged and interested. As


my eyes were opened to the Bible in a new way, I grew in my personal and spiritual life and in my understanding of Scripture and Christian doctrine. During those same years I began to lead a women’s Bible study in my church. The experience of teaching and the work of study-


ing and preparation challenged and stretched me but quickly came to be something I greatly enjoyed. After a few seasons of auditing classes and teaching Bible studies, my family life changed somewhat and, with two children now old enough to attend school, I started to work part-time. While working in a medical office and later in a law firm, I often wondered what I should do with the rest of my professional life. I contemplated further education in the medical field, but it seemed God wasn’t opening doors in that area. My college education and earlier medical experience, combined with the connection I had with a friend, had led me to the job in the medical office; the skills I developed there, along with another relationship with a friend, led me to the job at the law firm. And it was there that I worked with an attorney who was not only an elder at our church but, providentially, was also involved in the search for a new Director of Women’s Ministry. Looking back, it is encouraging to see God preparing the different steps along the path that led me to my current job, working in Women’s Ministry at my church. Those years of teaching women’s Bible studies and Sunday school classes, along with a deep love for our congregation, gave me an excitement about this new adventure in Women’s Ministry. After two years in what I initially called a “dream job,” I still felt excited, but in many ways also in need of more equipping and training. It was this need for equipping and the desire to grow in my ability to serve God and His church faithfully that led me to enroll in a master’s program at Erskine Seminary. Theological training has been invaluable in providing the skills necessary for me to critically engage with all sorts of ministry situ- ations. In my staff position at church, I often receive inquiries from members of our congregation about particular books, authors, and speakers. So much material is created for and marketed toward evangelical women, and while some of it may have huge success, it is not always doctrinally sound. Seminary has given me more of the Biblical and theological framework needed in order to rightly handle the Word of truth and carefully articulate why I believe something is incorrect or potentially dangerous for someone’s spiritual life. Additionally, I have found that as a woman employed by the church, I


am often asked questions by other women who, for a number of possible reasons, would rather not ask a male minister. I have been approached about a variety of issues—from sexuality, parenting, and divorce to the order of the worship service and even phrases used in the creeds. While I would never presume to take the place of our pastors (my answers more often than not include the phrase “you should talk to a minster about this”), my seminary education has prepared me to respond with more confidence and clarity in a number of these situations. The classes I have taken have not only been intellectually stimulating


and helpful in my ministry context, but they have also been a blessing to my spiritual life as well. Although I have professional reasons for pursu- ing a seminary education, I can also say with certainty that this experi- ence would be valuable even if I were not employed by a church in full- time ministry. As I have come to know more about God, I have also come to know Him in a deeper and fuller way.?


Emily Woodard is the Director of Women’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C.; Women’s Ministries Spiritual Life Chair for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Erskine Seminary. She and her husband Robby have a son and a daughter.


Erskine Theological Seminary 12 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


Erskine Seminary


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