Mees Tielens on Hope in a Dying Church

08/31/23 • 14 min

The Rev. Mees Tielens (MDiv '23), PhD, is a recent alum of CDSP's residential program from the Diocese of California. Tielens spoke to us about the significance of lay leadership, a broad vision of what it means to be bi-vocational in the Church, and what congregations have to offer in a time of increasing religious disaffiliation.

Previous Episode

Hybrid Stories: Joél Muñoz

Welcome to Crossings Conversations. Recently, we asked for stories about the impact of CDSP’s innovative low-residence Hybrid Program. We heard about increased access and flexibility, rigorous theological and spiritual formation, and the power of learning both in the student’s local context and connected to a tight-knit community of peers.

Today, hear a portion of that conversation with a 2021 graduate, The Rev. Dr. Joél Muñoz, Curate at St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Zionsville, IN. He shared with us his experience, which enabled him to pursue studies while also serving as an educator and principal at a local middle school. We are grateful for his time with us

Next Episode

Stephen Fowl on Theology, Teaching, and the Path Ahead for CDSP

Dr. Stephen Fowl is the newly appointed president and dean of Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He spoke to us about his approach to scholarship and teaching, curriculum revision and community formation in CDSP's Hybrid Program, and what he learned as a faculty member and senior administrator in a large Jesuit university.

Crossings Conversations - Mees Tielens on Hope in a Dying Church

Transcript

Jeckonia: This is Jay from Church Divinity School of your Pacific. And I'm here with Mees Tielens, a third-year student at CDSP. Mees, welcome

Mees: Thank You.

Jeckonia: Share a bit about who you are, where you call home and what has drawn you to CDSP.

Mees: So, I am Mees. I’m a third year here. I am originally from the Netherlands. And I moved to the States in 2013. And then California in 2015. And sta