Support Erica On Her Seminary Journey

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”  Mary Oliver

     The answer may come as a surprise to many of you… but maybe not!  It’s been the undercurrent of my biography - the longing for a religious life.  And now I am on this seminary journey planning to make my wild and precious life dedicated to serving God.

I have always had an interest in spirituality and God.   My earliest memories are about the connection I felt with the spirit. This continued through my childhood with studies in Christianity in the Anglican Church.  In my late teens I began studying anthroposophy, a world view put forward by Rudolf Steiner which combines the spiritual and the practical streams of life - Waldorf Education and Biodynamic farming are two examples.  A group of priests worked with Rudolf Steiner for a renewal of religion out of which was born the Christian Community Church.

When I was twenty years old I began working for a Waldorf kindergarten/preschool initiative in Mission B.C. This led to an inspirational year of study in England with Margaret Meyerkort. Thus began thirty five years as an educator where I dedicated my work to the anthroposophical understanding and care of the young child, supporting and mentoring teachers and colleagues along the way.  During that time I also attended the Christian Community Church in Vancouver and have served on the board for the past 5 years.  

With a longing to deepen my understanding and relationship with the movement for religious renewal, in 2015 I spent an amazing week taking a course at the seminary in New York.  The seminary has since relocated to Toronto and I heard of a training there for a Ministries Coordinator, a support person for the church.  I knew my life’s work with the young child was ending and as part of my personal renewal I applied and was accepted into the seminary.  The classes started on Michaelmas, September 2019. 

During the study year I was encouraged by the directors of the program to consider the Ordination stream of training toward priesthood. This has been one of the biggest decisions of my life and I am grateful for the support I received from the Christian Community, family and friends to arrive at the clarity needed to set foot on my new journey.  I have been blessed to experience, in the words of Goethe “the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.”  I was offered, and accepted, the position of interim Administrator for the Toronto Seminary.  I drove across the country in caravan with friends from the congregation and officially took up my new duties.  I am truly grateful to have a job in which I can support the place and the people with whom I am so connected; one of the many gifts along the way.  


The Journey Continues

This fall at the seminary I will begin the second year of studies ‘Walking with Christ’.  Once I have satisfactorily completed it I hope to be put forward to the international church leadership for consideration for ordination.  If the leadership considers me a good candidate then I would begin 6 months of ordination preparation studies. The final decision for ordination comes during that final course.  My journey thus far has been rich, full of personal challenge and growth, as well as connecting more deeply with Christ.  I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to continue the journey for wherever the path leads to from here it will be in service to God. 



Financial Support 

Full time study begins this fall with online Greek classes, Zoom classes, and a research project - so I will be handing my position of interim administrator to a permanent person in late October.  Therefore I am humbly asking for financial support to help me continue and fully concentrate on my studies.  No amount is too small and I appreciate so much the gifts of money, warm thoughts and support I receive!  

The funds will go towards:

Tuition - $9000
Books - $200
Living expenses - $5,800

I will post updates here on the GoFundMe page to let you know how my studies are coming along.

With Gratitude, Erica 


For information about the Seminary and the Christian Community please see the websites below:

http://www.christiancommunityseminary.ca

https://www.thechristiancommunity.org