Those of us who have had some experience of theological education in a sense live out of that experience for the rest of our lives. Each experience is unique, of course. I showed up at the University of Chicago Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary at a time when those two schools, along with two others, constituted the Federated Theological Faculty. My bags were barely unpacked when the FTF dissolved and the four schools went their separate ways. Entering students had to decide with which institution to cast their lot. I chose the divinity school, but continued to pay my bills and enjoyed my friendships at CTS, and on graduation day received a diploma from each. Ever since I have been a grateful observer of denominational and independent seminaries and university divinity schools, an occasional visitor and teacher, board member, fund raiser and cheerleader.
There is an 80 percent chance that later in this century a megadrought will plague the American Southwest for decades, according to a study released by researchers at NASA and at Columbia and Cornell universities. The drought will be caused by reduced precipitation and changes in evaporation rates. The researchers say other factors, such as the El Niño weather pattern, could interrupt long periods of severe drought. The researchers say there is time to reduce the factors contributing to climate change (Washington Post, February 12).