The weekend of August 9-11, sixteen incredible Unitarian Universalist high school students came from across the country to explore a calling to professional ministry in our faith. Summer Seminary, the first of what we hope will become a fixture of UU youth ministry for years to come, offered these youth an opportunity to ponder their own sense of calling and mission, learn about the process for applying and attending theological school, and meet with ministers, religious educators and activists to hear about their lives as religious professionals.

• discussion on personal call and discernment, led by Robin Bartlett,
• preaching workshop ("homiletics," as we learned), led by Rev. Gary Smith,
• visit to Harvard Divinity School and First Parish Cambridge,
• exploratory/explanatory worship service that included three different types of worship styles,
• meeting with admissions representatives from Andover Newton Theological School,
• talking with religious professionals Rev. Laurel Hallman, Karen Bellavance-Grace and Jesse Jaeger
• Saturday evening Preach-Off event

I was so inspired and impressed by the dedication to our faith, compassion and vision that these youth had at their fingertips.

Our time together was infused with a powerful spirit of reverence and worship. We sang, prayed, meditated and preached our way through the weekend in glorious fashion. What a spiritually grounding and uplifting experience!

It was a true a privilege to help these youth forward on their path to religious leadership; our faith movement will be stronger for their presence.