Southern Stories
Gift of the Spirit
December 10, 2008
The M.A.R. degree program opens many doors within the church, and not just in congregational settings. As Executive Director of the South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers (SCLRC), Dallas Shealy, Associate in Ministry ('00), is putting her M.A.R. degree to work every day as an administrator in the church.
While working in state government for many years, she knew she wanted more out of her career. After trying out two different secular master degree programs, she just did not feel like they were right for her. Dallas never felt called to be an ordained pastor, but she believed that her “gifts of the Spirit” were in administration. So she signed up for a class at the seminary, just to see if it felt right, and not surprisingly it did.
Over the next years, she worked full-time (first with state government, then with Newberry College) and squeezed in as many classes as she could at the seminary until she was finally able to receive her degree.
She continued to put her training to use at Newberry College in Alumni and Church Relations until she found out that James Addy (’70) was retiring as Executive Director at SCLRC. After a period of discernment on whether she was the right type of candidate for the job, she submitted her application to Mel Amundson (’69), Assistant to the Bishop at the South Carolina Synod Office, and David Coffman (’01), Chair of the Executive Search Committee.
While not a required rostered leader position, the search committee quickly realized that Dallas was the right candidate for the job. The committee worked with the South Carolina Synod Office to make this a called position.
Dallas may not have a specific congregation for which to prepare education lessons and sermons every week, but she is constantly traveling and making contacts throughout her state as part of the SCLRC Capital Campaign, Building+Renewing+Believing.
As part of the campaign, Dallas often has the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning and to present her organization at church gatherings.
“I told the search committee that I have never met a microphone I didn’t like,” she says. “Having the theological background to preach and having a biblical understanding of stewardship in fundraising are so helpful to me.” She also credits her degree for her understanding of how to handle and prepare for conflict within a church. Most importantly, she knows that her degree enables her to have immediate connections with pastors, many of whim she knew from taking classes with them at seminary.
“A seminary degree can prepare for a lot of different work within the church.” Dallas believes that the people of the church should encourage young people and those looking for a change in career to consider going to seminary, even if they are not called to be an ordained pastor. She believes in the usefulness of a seminary education, because she experiences it every day in a vital ministry of the church.
