In the continuing series of reflections from members of the MHGS community as MHGS begins the process of changing its name to The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, MDiv alumnus Joel Pinson speaks of the symbolism inherent in changing names.

Shakespeare posed the question, “What’s in a name?” and if we take a cue from the Old Testament, we are forced into the honest admission that names matter a great deal. Parents sometimes fret for months over the name they will bestow upon their unborn child in hopes that a good name might speak into their son or daughter something of his or her calling. A name suggests something of a person’s trajectory.

Since I arrived and departed from MHGS, I’ve witnessed more than a few name changes, with each successive iteration more closely approaching the core identity MHGS sought to embody. It began in the late 90s as Western Seminary Seattle when I was a student, then morphed into Mars Hill Graduate School at Western Seminary only to finally settle out as Mars Hill Graduate School. With each change came growing pains, maturation, focus and a sharpening of purpose. Like a child who grows into adulthood, institutions, ministries and schools do likewise. And a good name is supposed to help us remember who we are as we move forward on this journey. Some things never leave us…

Within theology, one of the classic definitions of a sacrament is “an outward and visible sign of an inward, invisible grace”. And although this term is typically reserved for things like the Eucharist or baptism, I suspect names are meaningful and symbolic in a very similar way. My hope is that the grace and hope that helped forge the foundations of MHGS will be embodied and lived out in the days to come. Perhaps in this way, we can be a living sign of the Kingdom.

Rev. Joel Pinson is an Anglican minister, an Adjunct Professor at Colorado Christian University, a musician and a counselor. He lives in Colorado Springs and he loves strong coffee, Tom Waits, solo motorcycle trips, liturgy and his family, though not necessarily in that order.