Written by: United Theological Seminary August 3, 2018

REFLECTIONS ON A NEW ZEALAND TREK: A METAPHOR FOR MINISTRY

REFLECTIONS ON A NEW ZEALAND TREK

A METAPHOR FOR MINISTRY

By Kathi Austin Mahle

UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

UNITED METHODIST WORSHIP

APRIL 21, 2017

As I opened the Banner, the quarterly publication of St. John’s Abbey, the beautiful picture of a sun-drenched scene and the words from Sirach 42:22 leapt out.

“How beautiful are all God’s works,

delightful to gaze upon and a joy to behold”

Immediately I was transported back to the beauty of the landscapes of the south island of New Zealand! From mountains and waterfalls, lakes and towering glaciers to lush rainforests with a multitude of ferns, and pastures filled with sheep, God’s works filled us with awe and joy! Just three weeks ago Thursday we completed the Milford Sound Track– a 33.5-mile backpacking trek over five days. We traversed through rainforests by rushing rivers and carved-out lakes, over a misty, cloud-shrouded, windblown mountain pass and down the steep, rock-filled other side, ending with a ½ marathon distance hike and a magnificent cruise on the Milford Sound the final day.

This trek was by far the hardest physical thing I have ever done in my life! (Of course at 72 I am not as agile as I once was!)

I had lots of time to think during those five days – wondering if I would make it or succumb right there in the wilderness of New Zealand! But, my body worked ok although slow, and my spirit stayed energized. I am reminded of a chant on a disc I have – “make sacred space and be reminded of who you are – spirit and body.” Truly this was a time of making sacred space and claiming who I was – both spirit and body!

I received Dr. Subramanian’s request to preach when I got home. I decided that this experience was really a great metaphor for ministry. So here goes. Basically gentle, lush green at first, the trek was much like living into the call to ministry and then preparing theologically in seminary – becoming grounded biblically, exploring new avenues of theological interpretation and ways to view the world, and developing spiritual practices in the Wesleyan tradition. Then the trek became increasingly challenging: like the ups and downs of ministry – long parts of fairly flat terrain, then encountering surprises both good and bad along the way and finally finding joy and peace gliding serenely on Milford Sound as it stretches out to the Tasman Sea.

The specifics: Day 1 and 2

Starting out with the easier walking through a lush river valley and enjoying the diversity of creation from the grandeur of great waterfalls to the minute marshy lowland plants all seemed new and exciting. Becoming acquainted with fellow journeyers and learning the routine of the trek is much like ministry in the first years: a time of discovery and challenge – being open to the new things that come along; celebrating the diversity of people on the journey in each new congregation and setting. Learning the ropes of ministry and discovering that I didn’t have all the answers to the hard questions of parishioners and especially confirmands! I learned that people seldom did things as I expected or wanted, but that was ok once I realized that the Holy Spirit was working in their lives as well. Learning the craft of ministry including preaching, the rhythms of ministry and of the liturgical year. During this part of the journey I also learned that I was not alone – as I developed close relationships with colleagues and mentors and discovered new ways of doing ministry to fit the context. I also learned that God was an ever-present companion on the journey as I was stretched and tugged and dared to risk! (Like crossing the many suspension bridges along the Trek)

The assurance of Jeremiah 29.11 has been in the background of my ministry journey: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope!” This verse or a paraphrase keeps me going!

After that very long Day 2 10 mile walk, and each day after, respite came in arriving at an inviting lodge every night, with luscious warm food (already prepared), a glass of wine to relax aching muscles along with a wonderfully warm shower and a good night’s rest on great beds. In ministry we need times of respite. We need to care for ourselves and take time out to renew: each day, regular retreat times, vacation times. We need time to exercise and strengthen the body for the journey. Times to be by ourselvs with God, and times to be with family and friends. We can’t keep going without feeding our souls and our bodies.

Day 3

This was absolutely the hardest. Up over a mountain pass shrouded in cloudy mist and then down the other side. We are on a journey.

The journey metaphor is not a casual one. It’s an ancient and biblical one. The life of faith is indeed a journey. All journeys have difficult stretches. Skies become dark, the landscape bleak and barren and rocky. We come across new and challenging circumstances that we can’t avoid or control. We never know what lies around the next bend. We take a break for lunch in a warm shelter and then go on. And we wonder if it is worth it or if we are on the right path. Sometimes we can’t really know.

At times ministry is easy and fun, but sometimes it is really, really hard! We encounter situations with families, unexpected death, conflict within the congregation while maybe at the same time you are dealing with hard times in your own family and you think you just can’t cope. We are tired and worn out. We are depressed.

And then the clouds lifted and we were confronted with a clear blue sky and wonderful mountain vistas and stunningly white glaciers. So, too, in ministry we are gifted with insight or a clarifying, supportive word from fellow journeyer and the scene changes and we trudge on down the mountain knowing God is with us!

At some point on this journey, I asked God for a sign – a sign to let me know I was not alone on this ordeal! (which it was by this time!) The sign came in the form of wonderfully enchanting birdcalls. Whenever I needed encouragement, I listened for those wonderful birds calling back and forth – throughout the 33-mile trek. Then at some point climbing up the mountain trail, I realized the birdcalls had stopped. Had God abandoned me? I looked around. We were in alpine terrain! No songbirds could survive up here! I looked down and in this mid-fall time, there were alpine plants still blooming with little white flowers. My heart felt full! Here was another symbol of God’s creative persistent presence!

In this faith journeying in ministry, we need to pay attention to where God shows up. Because God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/Sophia or whatever name we use for the Holy One, does show up in amazingly wonderful ways. Sometimes it is meeting a stranger walking down the street or in the presence of a person who interrupts your well-planned work-day.

Or God shows up in the person who walks/hikes/treks with you, encouraging you. On this very difficult third day, it was my husband Steve, who in almost all – no all – of our 50 years of marriage – never stayed with me on hikes. He was always way ahead of me. He would wait until I caught up and then off he would go again. But not on this trip. He was my encourager, my companion, and my picker up, when I slipped or stumbled with my short legs over those really big rocks! We all need one or two or three people we can count on – whether it be a partner or dear friend or spiritual guide or colleagues who accompany us, most especially during the very hard parts of our ministry journey.

Day 4

The longest day in miles – 13.5 – ½ a marathon. As the path was basically down hill and relatively flat, I had a chance to note in more detail the rainforest surroundings – identifying good hiding places for the Hobbits since this was their territory after all. But we also were hiking with a group of people who hiked at our speed. We had opportunities to listen to their stories and continue previous conversations while at the same time supporting each other on the trek. Ministry is first and foremost relational and hearing stories are gifts of grace.

I also noted the roots underfoot that needed negotiating. They reminded me of the boundary water portages and then of Rev. Clem Peterson, a mentor in my first appointment. Coming back from a canoe trip, his meditation at the memorial service for a dearly beloved member of Richfield church used the metaphor of the interconnection of roots – in life and in creation. This memory conjured up the interconnections we have in ministry – especially United Methodist ministry. I reflected on all the connections in my ministry and where they have led and nurtured me. This connectional aspect of church historically has been one of our greatest strengths and one that is currently stifling us as we struggle to redefine ourselves as a denomination in light of the calls for biblical inerrancy and disciplinary orthodoxy countered by calls for biblical obedience.

During that marathon-walking day, Steve encouraged us to rest and I said no – we just need to keep on keeping on. And so it is with ministry – we keep on keeping on. This is where the encouragement given to Timothy by his mentor is important. We are all gifted in our ministry. We are called to cultivate and use our God-given gifts. We are called to put them to use in Christ’s ministry in the church context and beyond the walls in community and in the world. To become “real Christians” as Wesley admonished. We are called to practice social holiness in this era of political challenge. We are called to find ways for both lay and clergy together to learn new ways of doing ministry through theological education and the discovery of practical tools so we can live out a faith-based activism.

Day 5

A morning cruise on the Milford Sound was the culmination of a very arduous trek. That day we had no backpacks. No walking but to the ship. No rocky paths, no obstacles – just smooth sailing. Sometimes in ministry we get those days – sunny skies, calm waters and we rejoice and celebrate! We count our blessings and give thanks for all life. Resurrection life. As Bishop David Bard said in his Easter message to the Michigan Episcopal area: “Resurrection hope and joy are not a denial of difficulty, but rather a trust in the God of Jesus Christ and the power of God’s love to work with and through the difficulty. God’s love is the power of new life. God’s love is stronger than death!” That, my friends, is the good news of Easter! That is the good news of ministry!

Thanks be to God!

Kathi Austin Mahle is Vice Chair on the Board of Trustess at United. Kathi is a retired minister with the United Methodist Church and an alum of Beloit College ’67 in Beloit, WI.

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June 5, 2026

Academics Announcements Arts Faculty theology and the arts

Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis to Be Appointed Inaugural Occupant of the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, June 5, 2026 — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is elated to announce that Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis will be appointed as the first-ever occupant of the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. Until now, he has served faithfully as the McVay Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Social Transformation, as well as Director of the Social Transformation Program. Before joining United, Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis served as a congregational minister in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco, and was Director of Leadership Development for Metropolitan Community Churches, after which he joined the United Church of Christ (UCC). Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis’ ministry includes community organizing and advocacy. He has served as managing director at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) as well as communications director for the Hawai’i Equal Rights Marriage Project, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. He received his PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from Graduate Theological Union in 2017, his DMin from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2003, and his MDiv from Harvard Divinity School in 1990. His teaching experience spans courses at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, Iliff School of Theology, and Pacific School of Religion. As an eminent academic and theologian, Dr. Sabia-Tanis’ scholarship has deepened the study of the intersection of art and LGBTQ+ religious identity. He recently completed writing Queer Spirituality, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity in Contemporary Visual Art, to be released later this year by Bloomsbury Academic. Dr. Sabia-Tanis also wrote the groundbreaking book Transgendered Ministry, Theology and Communities of Faith (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2003; Wipf & Stock, 2018) and authored a chapter in Transbiblical: New Approaches to Interpretation and Embodiment in Scripture (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2025). In 2024, he gave a lecture in the art gallery of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN, on the life and art of Keith Haring. Dr. Sabia-Tanis is himself an artist, and he hones and cultivates the creative expression of the artist-theologians enrolled in his courses. In his announcement of the news to United students, Dr. Kyle Roberts—Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs—connected Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis’ education and qualifications to the field of theology and the arts. “Dr. Sabia-Tanis appreciates and champions the legacy of Dr. Yates and the leadership of United in the area of arts and theology,” Dr. Roberts asserted. “He also advocates for the intersection of the arts with movements for social justice and will bring to his teaching and leadership a synergy of theology and arts, along with his contributions to the education of social transformation at United.” Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, President, commended the news for this esteemed member of the faculty. “The wide-ranging scholarship of Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis will elevate this position as the arts serve as a medium for social transformation.” Established in 2025 by generous gifts from friends, alums, and former United faculty, the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts is an endowed faculty position named after Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates, President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts. Yates joined United’s faculty in 1967, became Dean in 1988, and was made President in 1996. He retired from the seminary in 2005, having led and innovated in theology and the arts, deepened scholarship, and integrated the subject as a pillar of United’s academic programs. Rev. Dr. Yates celebrated the news and is eager to see Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis installed into the chair. He reflects, “I am very excited about Justin’s selection for this role. His studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley will provide an important background to this work. Justin brings a solid understanding of the relationship to the arts in theology, the church, and everyday life. It is not incidental that he is also a practicing artist.” On his appointment to the chair, Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis shares, “United has valued and integrated the arts since our founding. They are critical to how our students are formed, and in the ministries and projects they will lead when they graduate. I am so honored to move into this important role at United and continue the incredible legacy of Wilson Yates. And I'm looking forward to the ways this program will evolve and grow in the coming years.” The installation of Dr. Sabia-Tanis into the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts will be formally celebrated at Fall Convocation on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Details will be announced in the coming months. About United Founded by the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the creative edge of progressive theological thought and leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to educate leaders who, through the eyes of faith, engage in the dismantling of systems of oppression, exploring multi-faith spirituality, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • 651.255.6138 Admissions and Enrollment admissions@unitedseminary.edu

The Barnabas Society: Transformative Legacies Lead to Transformed Lives

Since its inception in 1962, United has been sustained by faithful supporters who believe in transformative theological education. This support—from one-time gifts, to recurring contributions, to stock designations—makes the seminary’s work possible. One group of dedicated donors, members of United’s Barnabas Society, views their commitment to progressive seminary education as extending for a lifetime and beyond. The Barnabas Society recognizes those who have included United in their estate plans. This group of donors is named after Barnabas, an apostle introduced in Acts 14, who provided financial support to his fellow apostles with proceeds from the sale of his land. These gifts typically reflect donors’ values— principles that are aligned with the seminary’s mission, vision, and values. Legacy gifts ensure these precepts are practiced in the classroom and realized beyond the institution’s walls. Gifts can include income-return gifts and beneficiary designations—financial support that expresses the donor’s philanthropic intent while providing long-term stability for United’s mission—and the legacies of their generosity live on in endowed scholarships, faculty chairs, lectureships, and seminary programming. Now in its 35th year, the Susan Draper White Lecture is a beloved annual event that draws leading feminist theologians to the seminary. It was named after the grandmother of United alum Rev. Cil (Priscilla) Braun† (’83), who, with other donors, endowed the lectureship series. Cil and her husband, Jack, the Barnabas Society through a legacy gift that helped support the newly established Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. Cil’s legacy has spanned decades, and her generosity has informed, inspired, and continued to support United students. In 2021, United celebrated the creation of a tenure-track faculty position. Rev. Dr. Andrea Johnson (’17, ’23) and David Fry committed $1.75 million to endow the Johnson-Fry Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies, held by Dr. Munjed M. Murad. As an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Andrea sought to strengthen the seminary’s commitment to Interreligious Engagement, saying, “While we are grounded in our Christian heritage, more and more we are educating leaders in religions other than Christianity. And we need all our religious leaders to be deeply responsive to the realities of religious and spiritual diversity.” An alum and trustee, Andrea knows how United impacts its students and their communities, sharing, “I was transformed by the education I received at United, and [I] am passionate about supporting its future.” At Fall Convocation in September 2024, Dr. Demian Wheeler, director of Advanced Studies, was formally installed into the newly endowed Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies. Former trustees Keith Bednarowski and Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004), who funded the Chair, have been part of the United community for nearly 50 years. In an interview for the Winter 2024 Issue of VOICES, Mary reaffirmed her commitment to United, saying, “I have a very deep faith that this full-of-life seminary will persist and flourish for many, many years. Keith and I want to be part of that flourishing.” The Barnabas Society is growing. In 2026, trustee Therese Pautz and her husband, David Graham, committed to a legacy gift. Reflecting on their decision, she writes, “We support United because it equips spiritual leaders and community healers.” She continues, “Those vocations are essential to every civil society, especially in times of conflict.” Therese and David will be formally welcomed into the Barnabas Society later this year. These are just a few shining examples of the cadre of faithful supporters who have made legacy gifts and transformative commitments. Their support for the sustained life of the seminary reflects their values and belief in the importance of United’s mission in our ever-evolving world. To discuss a legacy plan, contact Rev. Dr. Cindi Beth Johnson, Vice President for Advancement, by email at cbjohnson@unitedseminary.edu or by phone at 651.255.6137.

United Receives Grant from Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, April 23, 2026. In the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) occupation of the Twin Cities metro region since early 2026, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (United) has secured a $30,000 grant to help, as the grant proposal states, “process our experiences of this time, both the blessings and the trauma, so that we can remain effective and compassionate educators and draw on our experiences in a way that expands student knowledge.” The grant, awarded April 2, will fund a two-year project titled “Teaching and Learning in the Midst of Government-Sponsored Violence.” Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Social Transformation, supported by the McVay Endowment, and Director of United’s Social Transformation program, envisioned, proposed, and will lead the project in collaboration with staff. “We wish to explore,” Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis articulated in the grant proposal, “which practices of support are effective for faculty, and other school personnel, that equip us to engage with our students in healthy, meaningful, and productive ways during this time of crisis. Drawing on what we learn, we seek to create a model of care for our seminary that can be of use to other educators who may face unprecedented and protracted times of crisis and violence.” Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis identified these goals: Offer effective support to seminary faculty and staff who have been impacted by Operation Metro Surge, both for the well-being of our educators and to consider how best to support students who have been traumatized by the political situation. Draw upon our experiences as practitioners in justice and peace efforts in the Twin Cities to provide meaningful learning opportunities for our students preparing for ministry and community service. Collect and preserve primary sources related to street activism and chaplaincy, and the life and teachings of faith communities as a resource for teaching about theology, worship, arts, and social movements. Make these materials accessible to a wide audience of educators, with a focus on theological educators and faith leaders. Citing United’s long history of educators acting as public theologians—60+ years of teachers who were also protesters, activists, justice-practitioners, and thought leaders—Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis noted that “this moment offers us the opportunity to live our faith and to transparently share that with our students.” Explaining further, he continued, “The religious imperative to act with compassion and to champion justice, especially for those who are vulnerable, is not simply an academic conversation but an authentic expression of our beliefs and convictions. Loving your enemy and welcoming the stranger are not theoretical questions but ones that demand our concrete and immediate responses daily.” In her grant award letter, Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield, director of the Wabash Center, asserted, “Your project is poised to make a significant impact.” She added, “Thank you for your commitment to strengthening teaching and the teaching profession.” Rev. Dr. Cindi Beth Johnson, Vice President for Advancement—with whom Rev. Dr. Sabia-Tanis collaborated during the proposal process—remarks, “By virtue of our location and in honor of the stellar work that our alums, students, faculty, and community members have done, and are doing, United is uniquely qualified to lead this important project.” With support from the Wabash Center, United’s Leadership Center for Social Justice is working to gather and preserve information about non-violent resistance and resilience efforts that emerged in response to the ICE Occupation in Minnesota. We invite you to be a part of this project, especially those in Minnesota; please click here to submit resources and materials developed in response to Operation Metro Surge. About United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Founded as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to educate leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. About the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion Founded in 1996 through a Lilly Endowment, Inc. “Theological Teaching Initiative” grant, the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion in Crawfordsville, IN, exists to “enhance and strengthen education in theology and religion in theological schools, colleges, and universities.” In so doing, it aims to enhance the “impact of religious leadership on both congregations and public discourse.” Contact Nathanial Green (he/him), Director of Marketing and Communications United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities press@unitedseminary.edu • 651.255.6138