About the Center for Faith and Service Accomplishments Name three things you hope to accomplish in your lifetime Based out of McCormick Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, the Center for Faith and Service works to help young people connect their passion for service, justice, and social change with their faith and faith traditions. For more information about the center, visit www.faith3.org How to Use the Discernment Deck The Discernment Deck is intended to help wanderers, seekers, and doers figure out (or discern ) what it is they re called to do. The questions are divided into four areas: Self, Relationships, Choices, and Vocation. Read them to yourself and then reflect on them either alone or with a group. Seminaries that Change the World Each year, the Center for Faith and Service identifies Divinity Schools and Seminaries that engage students and build leaders who are equipped to be effective agents of change for their communities and world. Andover Newton Theological Seminary Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Bethany Theological Seminary Brite Divinity School Calvin Theological Seminary Emory Candler School of Theology Christian Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary Earlham School of Religion Fuller Theological Seminary Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Hartford Seminary Iliff School of Theology Luther Seminary Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago McAfee School of Theology McCormick Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary Sewanee School of Theology Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry Union Presbyterian Seminary Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York The University of Chicago Divinity School Virginia Theological Seminary Wake Forest School of Divinity Wesley Theological Seminary Yale Divinity School Service Programs that Change the World The Center s Service Programs that Change the World identifies and celebrates groups that recruit, hire, and train individuals who want to make a difference in the world, including their own. Most of these service placements last a year, some longer. These programs all share in common a commitment to community living, simplicity and sustainability, social justice, and spiritual exploration. For a complete list of Service Programs that Change the World visit www.faith3.org Center for Faith and Service McCormick Theological Seminary 5460 S University Ave Chicago, IL 60615 www.faith3.org 773.947.6300 ex. 6316 faithandservice@mccormick.edu
Fulfillment Where do you find fulfillment? How important is that to your work life? How important is this (experience?) to your work life? Financial How do your financial obligations determine what options you can pursue? If so, what are you doing about that? "Don t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman What makes you come alive? If you aren t already doing it, why not? What do you need in order to do it? Faith How do you feel the decisions you re making line up with your values and your relationship with God? Causes Is there an issue or a cause that is important to you that you want to engage in? How will you engage in it that cause tomorrow, next year, and throughout your life? Disappointments How do you handle disappointments? How do you grow from them? Identify a disappointment and how it affected you both in the short and long term.
Values Identify three values that are important to you as you think about your life work. Where did they come from? Home Where do you call home? Do you see that changing over time? Family Is family life (parents, siblings, friends) a major factor in your decision-making? How so? Significant Other Do you have or do you hope to have a significant other in your life? How does (or how will) this person impact your career choices? Could you ever see yourself leaving a job you or moving from a place you like to advance his/her career? The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle -Steve Jobs What have you done that you loved? What have you done that you didn t love? How are these experiences helping to inform what you re doing now? Children Are children (your own or significant ones like nieces or god-children) part of your plan? How do you see children impacting your life choices, especially when it comes to your career?
Colleagues Are there people out there that you know you want to work with? Who are they and how do you see yourselves collaborating? How do you begin to connect with them? Advisors/Mentors Identify three people that you know or that you want to know (dream big!) and reach out to them for a conversation (even just by email). A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. -- Albert Einstein When was the last time you tried something new? How did it go? When was the last time you made a mistake? What did you learn from the experience? If you re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello. --Paulo Coehlo What in your life do you need to say goodbye to? Geography Is place important? Is where you live as or more important than what you do? Fun Are your interests and hobbies (biking, surfing, hiking) a determining factor in terms of where you want to go and what you want to do?
Do one thing everyday that scares you. -Eleanor Roosevelt When was the last time you did something that scared you? What did you do? What could you do tomorrow that scares you? Simple Living What is your strategy for developing and maintaining a simple lifestyle? Name simple living practices that you want to develop. Mission Statement Write a six word missing statement about who you want to become. Education What academic programs that you are interested in pursuing? What steps are you take to create that opportunity? Skills What skills are you hoping to develop and what are some places (whether as a job or volunteering) where you can learn those skills? I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'. Maya Angelou How do you see the relationship between making a living and making a life? Are these the same to you, or are they separate? Are your requirements for making a living keeping you from making a life (or vice versa)?
Haiku Write a haiku about what you want to do with your life Credentials Does what you want to do in the world require credentials (a degree, certain training or experiences)? If so, what are they and what are you doing to get them? Childhood Dreams What did you want to be when you grew up? How does that dream reflect who you want to be now? Does it have anything do with what you want to do now? Next Steps Describe three next steps you plan to make in the next month to move your discernment along. Recognition How important is recognition? How do you seek it in formal and informal ways? Inspiration Who are your heroes and sheroes?