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Dr. Robert L'Hommedieu Miller Plymouth, Massachusetts September 17, 2000 I am truly honored to be part of this celebration since I am a minister of religious education because of Bob Miller. In 1956, I had entered my junior year at Tufts University .My philosophy professor suggested that I ask the dean of the theological school if I could take some religion courses at Crane since I had taken all those that were available "on the hill." By some good fortune, the dean of the school was not in and so instead I had a conversation with Bob Miller who was then the Professor of Religious Education at Crane. My call to the ministry of religious education was an unexpected gift of grace, an invitation from Bob who simply asked "Have you ever thought of ministry?" I had never considered ministry; I had never met a woman minister. Bob was first a professor, then a mentor, and finally a close colleague and trusted friend. He was a demanding, dedicated teacher who challenged his students to think beyond traditional boxes. He expected us fu own our own learnings, going so far as to have us grade ourselves -an unknown practice at Tufts in the' 50s. He was a creativeteacher, skilled in process, with a keen insightful mind. He was dedicated to religious education and had a clear vision of what it could mean in the life of the church. Not surprisingly, his ideas about teaching and religious education did not sit well with some ofhis colleagues and students. Nonetheless, he planted firmly in my mind the concept of education as a life-long process that shapes and reshapes who we are and who we hope to become. He truly understood the deepest meanings of what it is to live and be in community .He understood the joys as well as the risks of opening oneself up to the possibilities of growth and change. For me, Bob lived these words of Parker Palmer: "The courage to teach is the courage to keep one's heart open to those very moments when the heart is asked to hold more than it is able so that teacher and student and subject can be woven into a fabric of community that learning and living require." Bob truly believed in tht? sacredness of the educational process. Bob also lived out the Universalist social gospel. When I was a student, he offered me an opportunity to run his campaign for the Danvers, Massachusetts school committee. I would even get three credits if he won! I didn't accept; I used the "I'm too busy" excuse, but I suspect that I was terrified of losing. However the very fact that he thought I could do it stayed with me. Not many years later, I chaired three school committee campaigns in the Town of Needham. In fact, Bob won his election and served on the school committee for many years. This is but one example of his commitment to social change. Most religious educators know first-hand the meaning of living on the margin. After all, religious education does not receive the same status as other aspects of ministry. Bob taught us to be proud of our calling and strongly challenged any student who felt that his class demanded less than their best. Bob was decisive, compassionate, committed, feisty, and prickly. He did not suffer slights or put-downs lightly. He had a keen mind, deep insight, and penetrating perception. He never failed to call a shot as he saw it. Many who never knew Bob have been influenced by his generous contributions to our movement and to religious education. Teaching often defies description. At its best, it transforms us and our relationships. It demands that we be passionate about what we believe to be at the heart of the educational experience. Bob imbued his teaching with all this and more. Denise Levertov writes: A certain day became a presence to me. There it was confronting me -sky , air, light, a being. And before it started to descend from height of noon, it leaned over and struck my shoulder as if with a flat sword, granting me an honor and a task.Thank you Bob for granting me an honor and a task. I shall surely miss you, but your guiding presence will live in my heart forever . Rev. Roberta M. Nelson September 16, 2000 |
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