Now I Know Why
A few months back I wrote a post about a ministry I was working called Cigars and Theology. At the time I felt like I needed to drop it as a project, but I just could not bring myself to give up on it. Now I know why.
We had a meeting recently out on the patio on my seminary campus. Part of the struggle of building momentum had to do with the inclement weather and necessity to be outside for a cigar oriented activity, We have had to move venues a lot over the course of the winter looking alternatively for shade, and heaters, and rain protection in various outdoor environments. So even though I didn’t want to meet at a place which was religiously associated, it was the only comfortable place to which I had access.
This was reported to the vice president for disciplinary action.
Not because of the smoking. No, smoking is allowed, so is drinking. The problem was that C&T is not a registered student group and did not have a building reservation to sit outside on the patio. Without a building reservation there could be no way to assure that the smokers are more than 15ft from an entry way (for instance)
So I quite literally went to the principle’s office for holding a rogue Bible study on a seminary campus. I felt a sense of embarrassment, but not because I’d gotten into trouble. I was embarrassed that at a place that disciplines people for starting to many Bible studies I had not been in trouble more.
I had half a mind to try to go down for it. Make a big federal case of it, force the school to file paperwork that says “Ryan is guilty of reading the book of Ruth in community without our permission” if I could get a public reprimand for it I could frame it and hang it on my wall.
Cooler heads prevailed and I simply spoke frankly with the Vice President, who is now implementing changes in the discipline policy. Of course I was sly in the way I did it, having first leaked to several students what was going on and stirred the pot a bit.
Now I know why C&T needed to go on. At least one thing was yet to be done with it, and now that it has things look healthier and momentumier into the future.