12.09.04

Beth Smith

Seminary student works to become deaconess

Erskine staff member Beth Smith is resigning as circulation manager of McCain Library and taking a teaching job in Greenville.

Smith, a student at Erskine Theological Seminary, is working toward becoming a deaconess in the United Methodist Church and believes her new job will be a good fit for her as she moves closer to that goal.

"I will be teaching at the Palmetto Boys Shelter in Greenville," said Smith, a former high school teacher. "I have always loved teaching and to be able to continue my passion as I work for the Lord is just a tremendous blessing."

Smith said the shelter is part of the Miracle Hills Ministry and assists boys from 10 to 17 years of age. "It is a Christian program with Bible study and prayer," she said. "I never dreamed that I would be lucky enough to teach during my ministry."

The United Methodist Church (UMC) Board of Global Ministries describes deaconesses as laywomen who "affirm being called by God to lifetime service through the church," and are "committed to Christ," "dedicated to mission," and "committed to ministries of love, justice and service."

Deaconesses are also to be "professionally trained in their chosen field" and "complete theological and missional studies." Smith is working on that last requirement at Erskine Seminary.

"Beth took my Women's Studies class and was one of the most enthusiastic students in the class," said Assistant Professor of Christian Education Dr. Jerdone Davis.

Davis said Smith, known for her sense of humor, displayed some of her other gifts during a group teaching assignment in which each group was responsible for researching an assigned topic and presenting it to the class.

"Beth proved herself to be a great leader as she participated in that assignment," Davis said, adding, "Her role-playing in a skit created by her group proved her excellence in thespian skills."

Dr. Gareth Scott, who serves as United Methodist director of practical ministry at the seminary, said he has met Smith and is "moved by her love for the church." Once Smith meets her educational requirements and receives approval from the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, she will be commissioned as a probationary deacon, he said, noting that "deaconess" is an older term.

Smith said the process she must undergo includes an application with a religious statement, official copies of all transcripts and six references and a one-week seminary class at the UMC's Global Ministries headquarters in New York, where she will be interviewed and evaluated for acceptance into candidacy.

"While it is a long, tough road to travel, Beth will do well," Scott said.

"Once candidacy begins you are required to complete four more graduate level courses in religion — Old Testament, New Testament, Methodist Doctrine, and Missions in the Methodist Church," Smith said. She plans to take more courses at Erskine Seminary.

"Once my program is completed I will be commissioned by the United Methodist Church in my ministry," she said. "This ministry is different for all of us.

"You must pursue your mission at least 20 hours a week, whether it is volunteer or paid work. Another stipulation is that your work must not be confined to one church or group.

"The new job fits the criteria for my commission exactly," Smith said. "I will be teaching at a critical needs center in the community in a Christian-led job."

Smith became a lay leader in the Methodist Church and her minister introduced her to the deaconess program. She was interested enough to write for information. "But it wasn't time," she said.

"This summer, I became interested again and when I wrote for another package of information, they invited me to a 'Discernment and Awareness' conference in Mississippi," she said. "There were 20 women chosen from the United States to attend. I was very honored to be called and it was one of the best decisions of my life."

Smith said she knew God was calling her to serve, but also knew she was not to be a minister. "I thought maybe it would have something to do with my sculpting or my drama," she said. "However, in His infinite wisdom, He allowed it to be through my teaching, which is my specialty and my professional field of study."

God's timing was a surprise to Smith. "I thought it would be around two years before any changes would come in my life," she said. "But God's time is not our time and just before Thanksgiving the job presented itself to me and the plan for my future took shape."

She did not expect to be saying goodbye to her friends at Erskine so soon. "I have never had such a bittersweet experience," she said.

"When I came to Erskine four years ago, I was in need of a sanctuary," she said. "McCain Library became my spiritual and emotional resting place. All my new ministries — drama, dance and sculpting — have come to life while I have been here." Last year, one of Smith's sculptures was accepted for display in the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in New York City.

She praised McCain Library Director John Kennerly and said the library staff has "strengthened me and cared for me each day."

Smith said she will miss the student workers she has supervised in the library, as well as other college and seminary students, professors and staff members who have touched her.

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