SSU ALUMNI: YOU&ME

"Knowing' is a part of 'loving' rather than the other way around."

~N.T. Wright

How did you come to know of SSU?

As alumni, what were your experiences of other students coming along side of you and helping you to know that you belong, to offer you a felt sense of love, and of community? Do you know you still belong in our SSU community? You are still wanted and needed to participate in the giving and receiving of love and knowing.

I spent far too many years living outside of community. When my faith began to erode in the

early 2000s, I shut myself off from community. The doctrine I had been led to believe had let me down, and I froze. I started to thaw my belief in love as I discovered attachment theory and love science, but I was still so very confused and let down by my old faith orientation. I froze my faith for over 20 years until I found the Open Table Conference which led me to SSU. Freezing and thawing and rediscovering seem to be a common story at our school.

SSU has given new life to this old soul of mine. For me, it has been the courses and curriculum, and in particular the teachings of Ron Dart. I have discovered that many alumni and current students audit Ron Dart’s classes just to keep lingering there - to keep on learning. The presence of these current and past students lingering in the SSU community, has let me know that I can stay and linger here too. I continue to learn that I have community here, and so do you. You too still have community here at SSU.

I saw on Facebook that Marisa Lapish started an SSU Alumni Book Club, and I joined. There I discovered alum, Stephen Mitchinson's book, Dying for Life. So many things about finding Stephen ministered to me. His book. The fact that he is a palliative care physician. A doctor! A medical doctor here doing a second degree! This book club is a hub for the presence of our SSU alumni at our school.

Then there are Brian and Peri Zahnd! Peri is an alumna, and she and Brian are such an

inspiration on a global stage - even they continue to give back to our school with their presence.

And there’s our leadership. Brad Jersak, who is so very kind and loving, and inviting us in, all of us, new and old students. And then, Andrew Phillip Klager who is also so kind and helpful. Both lead us by their example by demonstrating the friendliness and inclusiveness of our school.

I met my dear friend, Annie Abernethy, in the summer of 2023. In June of 2024, she invited me to her graduating cohort online discussion on "Prophetic Imaginations: Unlearning Dominion." This was another discovery for engaging with the students and alumni of our school, our community.

Once again, another encounter, crafted by the alumni, to remind me I belong here; we all belong here.

Maybe we truly are an island of misfit toys (most likely we are). Many of us had to discover a path to lead us to a new understanding of the Holy Three, while in our own wasteland, or wilderness, or broken religious seat. But somehow you found SSU, just like me, and like so very many others. All of you alumni found SSU before those behind you - people like me - who are still budding our new view of self and others and God. And all of us newbies are greatly benefitted by the presence of those who have gone before us, our alumni.

I found SSU because I needed a way out of my wasteland. Didn't you? And the alumni I have

met have encouraged me and have become my friends on the trail. So, I will say to you alumni, consider how you may stick around awhile longer, linger in this SSU community where you are still wanted:

• Join the Alumni Book Club; it's free. We just finished Peri Zahnd's book "Every Scene by Heart," and we will be reading my book "Love and Love's Energy," this fall.

• Audit all of Ron Dart’s courses, I dare you! Or Brad's courses, or one of your favorite profs!

• Attend SSU events.

• Volunteer to recruit for SSU at events in your community. 

• Ask Marisa if you can present something, or write something, or volunteer in some other way. 

Remember why you first came, and know that we newbie SSUers need you in our community. Being active as alumni is valuable. Your influence is valuable, your friendliness, and your continued presence strengthens the truth of the message of our school: we are included in the same heart of Love as everyone else.

Thank you for what you have done for our community so far, and please do reach back in. You are wanted here, still.

"We are all just walking each other home."

~Ram Dass

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Tara Diane Boothby is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta Canada. "Love And Love's Energy" is Boothby's debut publication. Boothby is one of the founders of Sojourn Psychology, where she has been in private practice since 2006. In addition to providing psychological care for clients she has taught for the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and consults and supervises a variety of mental health professionals to practice experiential attachment focused therapy. She is a wife and mother, and is passionate about Psychology and Theology. Currently, Tara is working toward her M.A. in Theology and Culture at St. Stephen’s University.