Andi Voinovich's blog

Fall is here and full schedules are back. I don't know about you, but sometimes summer, even though I'm no longer in school, feels like a sabbath from overscheduling. The sun is out and so are we, taking time to vacation, to play, and to rest. Then fall hits and school and regular programming restarts.

When I was an undergraduate student at Bowling Green State University, I had one of the coolest jobs on campus! I worked as a student leadership assistant for the Center of Leadership, creating and facilitating leadership workshops and retreats for student organizations. I learned so much from this job, made friendships that continue to this day, and had unique opportunities because of that role.

Throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to have some truly incredible teachers. With their help, I've grown in the classroom and as a person. One teacher I will never forget is the professor who taught Histories of Queer Activism when I was a college student at Bowling Green State University. At some point during that semester she shared that from a young age she had sensed a call to serve as a pastor, but as a young adult in the 80s and 90s didn't believe a church would hire her as an out lesbian. When she shared this sense of call it made so much sense.

Fiduciary responsibility. Until a few years ago, this was a phrase I had never heard. When I became a trustee for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, suddenly, I had some "fiduciary responsibility" for the institution. Along with the other trustees of the seminary, I was responsible for making decisions that supported the financial stability of the school. While some people understand finances and money very well, this made me nervous.

What is the meaning of your name? Where did it come from? Was it given to you to honor someone from the past? Did you choose it with great hope for the future? Names can be powerful.

Have you ever had a wild idea? One of those ideas that’s completely out of your comfort zone, but something seems to be pushing you towards it? When I think of this feeling, this movement towards something new and different, I think of the Holy Spirit. Each year when we honor Pentecost we honor the wild, unruly, intuitive whisper that brings us out of our comfort zones and away from actions of self-preservation towards community building that we might not otherwise have ever dreamed about.

A week ago, I finished up my time as a trustee for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in the best sort of way - with commencement! What a joy to celebrate the incredible students who graduate from the seminary and all of the faculty, staff, family, and friends who have supported them along the way! This year was particularly special. First, along with honoring the 2022 graduates, we also celebrated the class of 2020 and 2021 who were not able to have in-person celebrations at the time due to Covid.

This Sunday is Mother's Day. Many will gather to celebrate the mothers in their lives. Stories will be shared, cards will be given, and hugs will happen. Yet, this won't be the case for everyone.

Answers. So often we are looking for answers. As a clergy person, I am often expected to be an expert on many things: what the Bible says; where to find different resources in our community; how to reach out to our neighbors; what is "cool" to youth and young adults; what happens to us when we die; and so much more. Many people are seeking answers. I think too, with those answers is a desire for certainty, for security, for a promise that things will be ok.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Together we'll worship, celebrating with a palm processional as we honor Jesus moving ever closer to the cross. Holy Week is an emotional week with ups and downs. We begin with this joyful parade, celebrating alongside the disciples and the people of Jerusalem until we make it to Thursday.