M.DIV. STUDENT PREPARES FOR MINISTRIES OF MUSIC AND ACTIVISM

When M.Div. student Suzanne (Suzie) Hager (they/them) began sensing a call to ministry, they lived more than 500 miles from their hometown in Sterling, Mass., having moved to Pittsburgh when their husband began graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. At the time, Suzie worked as a private music teacher while also balancing up to four other jobs to make ends meet. So when they looked for seminaries to attend, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary was not only the closest theological school but also the best fit. They appreciated the Seminary’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, social justice, and ministering to the local and global Christian community.

Now in their second year at PTS, Suzie has found the Seminary to be a home away from home. “It is a place where I can engage in meaningful discourse and learn broad subject matter about the Church, Scripture, and spirituality. I have been able to grow into a better version of myself through supportive friendships, and especially supportive administrative staff who have helped me every step of the way,” Suzie says.

However, were it not for scholarships and grants from PTS, Suzie would not have been able to afford pursuing their M.Div. The financial aspect of attending graduate school would be challenging. In addition to working several jobs and being married to a graduate student, Suzie still carried debt from their undergraduate education, where they earned a bachelor’s in music education.

Fortunately, through Pittsburgh Seminary scholarships and grants Suzie was able to attend their first year with no cost. “I would not be able to attend PTS if it were not for the financial aid package provided,” Suzie admits. “It allowed me to have my dreams and goals accomplished.”

Those dreams and goals are still coming into focus, but will certainly include music ministry. Suzie says the most ideal role would be as a minister of music, but they are staying open to other possibilities, including serving in activism and pastoral care for the LGBTQ+ community. They hope to eventually return home to New England, where they and their husband are both originally from.

Suzie is grateful for the financial aid they have received at Pittsburgh Seminary, and is an example of the far-reaching impact of financial gifts. Suzie says: “If you are considering supporting students at PTS, then you are supporting the future of the Church. Many incredible individuals hear God’s call and just need the opportunity to make it happen. Your gift can be the difference that will change a life, rippling into helping other Christian communities.”