Rev. Collins talks about what brought him to SoCal, his passions, and his hopes for CST.
1. Please tell us about yourself. God’s call has led me a long way from the farm in Centralia, MO I once called home. Originally called to congregational ministry after studying history and computer science, I attended Phillips Seminary and was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tahlequah, OK in 2010. Moving on to Chicago and then Washington state, I’ve served as both settled and transitional pastors in UCC and DOC congregations. I’m [currently] a member of All People’s Christian Church in Los Angeles, where I’m blessed to share around Christ’s table with a diverse group of people committed to fostering God’s justice in our community and beyond!
2. What brought you to CST? My partner, Rev. Dr. Yuki Schwartz, is a member of the CST faculty. When we moved to California, I happened to arrive with the skillset and experience CST needed to equip classrooms for teaching and learning simultaneously online and in-person. The rest of it kind of snowballed from there. In my short time here, CST has become an incredibly rewarding chapter in my ministerial journey. 3. What is your role at CST? My title reads “Educational Technology Specialist & Worship Coordinator,” but my work ranges from supporting classroom technology and online teaching to facilitating community worship to instructing in Field Education courses to supporting student community and spiritual life and then some. I never worry about having dull moments at CST. 4. What are you most passionate about? Cardinal baseball is my first great love, although I just enjoy baseball. I fancy myself an amateur composer but need to practice the piano waaaay more than I do. When not reading for work, I particularly enjoy science fiction and history. I love cooking – almost as much as the eating! If you ask me for some non-faith-related, life-changing recommendations I’d say: catch a Postmodern Jukebox concert, read the entire The Three-Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu, check out America’s Test Kitchen and try any recipe, and catch the Cardinals and Cubs on opening day – in Chicago. 5. What is your hope for seminary students? Or the hope for the future of seminary? My hope for our students is that they will continue growing into the amazing leaders they are so clearly called to be – and so many of them are already wowing me now. If the students I’m privileged to serve are any indication, the futures of the many faith traditions represented here are bright.
As for CST, with so much changing for us and for theological education throughout North America, I hope we can keep up with the energy, courage, and commitment I see our students bringing to the table. We have an opportunity to reimagine theological education, spiritual formation, and leadership development. As our students push the boundaries of what it means to be faith (and faithful!) leaders, I hope that CST will exceed the boundaries of the traditional ‘school of theology’ to become an even more vibrant and transformative place for equipping tomorrow’s leaders. As Rev. Sekou sings, “what a time to be alive, the revolution has come,” and I hope we’re in the thick of it!