9.24.2016
On September 23rd after completing the first meeting of the ABC Creation Justice Network in Sherborn, MA with 9 other kind souls committed to resourcing and advocating American Baptists to healing the earth from all sorts of environmental threats, I was ambivalent about stopping by my seminary, Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) that announced last year that it was going to sell its campus and move to Yale Divinity School in New Haven. I was still upset with this decision and felt that it was too rushed. It just happened that this was also ANTS annual reunion weekend.
When my niece Judy picked me up in Sherborn, I told her I was unsure I wanted to go up to the “Hill,” a casual name for the seminary. She urged me to go because she had already read about the seminary’s decision in the Boston Globe. She somehow knew I needed closure. When I arrived in Wilson Chapel that was built after I graduated, I was spotted by a number of people right away. Alyce Grant who attends Twelfth Baptist in Roxbury reminded me that I was Dan Janey’s dorm mate for 2 years at Gordon. I asked her to share my best when she sees Dan. President Martin Coperhaver shared it was good to see me and I quickly but kindly conveyed that I would like to have a conversation with him because I want to be a supporter and an advocate for the seminary’s decision rather than a critic. He obliged and said he would call me. I met Kent Harrop, pastor at FBC, Beverly but knew him when he was at FBC, McMinneville, OR and we both served as trustees at ABSW in Berkeley where Lauren graduated with her M.Div. I met Patrick, an African American seminarian who was at FBC, Boston when I preached at the church’s 352nd anniversary in June this year. He reminded me where I met him and he wanted me to share his regards to my nieces, Judy and Carol who were there.
The closing worship of the reunion was a simple service of the “Stations of the Quad.” Led by students, alums, faculty and staff, we started in the chapel, went outside and shared memories in front of Davis Hall representing classrooms where learning and discussions took place. We moved to Dabney to remember the administration building where we paid our bills. We went to the Trask Library where we benefitted from the wisdom of Christendom. We stopped in front of Sturtevant Hall to represent all the dormitories and the fact that we had a dining room rather than a refectory. At this point, VP Sarah Drummond noticed that I was there and shared her appreciation that I came. We moved down the quad and stopped at Noyes Hall that served as the student union and a large gathering space. I still remembered we would referred to “Noyes” as our theological conflict since it was neither “No” or “Yes.” It was here that I received the 2014 “Spirit of the Hill” award, the only non-degree annual award that ANTS give out. We finally returned to the chapel where we celebrated Holy Communion.
I took pictures of each stop to remember. I went to Fuller Hall and took a picture of our honeymoon suite on August 12, 1972 known as Fuller 21. I took a picture of the President’s House where Roy Pearson lived but Joy and I sat on his steps on the first morning of being married over 44 years ago. Perhaps coincidentally or providentially, the brick that Roy Medley and ABCUSA purchased in my recognition when I became ABC president that reads: “Rev. Dr. Donald Ng, ABCUSA President, 2014-15” was sent back to me in Sausalito just days before I traveled to Boston. I went over to the brick pathway that connects Dabney with Noyes and noticed that the dedicated bricks were all replaced with plain red bricks now. This was a sign that the campus will no longer be.
Unexpectedly, I met Bill Stayton who graduated in 1963, eleven years before I did. Bill worked with Joe Leonard on human sexuality education for the ABC and is still a member of Central BC in Wayne, PA where Greg and Lauren attended pre-school. I inquired if Cathy was here and discovered she was socializing on the quad. Cathy was our kids’ music teacher at their Sugartown Elementary School in Malvern.
I texted Dave and Judy to let them know that it was time for my departure from the seminary not knowing that Dave and Michelle were in the car just across the way. At the family pot-luck dinner gathering where Carol, Warren, Tatum, Tony, Judy, Dave, Michelle, Matt, Angie, Don, Kaitlyn, Nick and my sister-in-law Linda were present, we again talked about family histories, gathering family heritages, updating family trees, and the remaining hope of traveling to China to visit our Ng village. At this time, Carol is very interested since she has not been along with her two daughters. Tony is interested to take Esther back to visit her village. Dave and Judy may be interested as well. I advised them that if they can agree, I would reconsider and travel with them.
Dave has contacted my cousin Andy Lee in NJ, my mother’s younger brother’s second son who along with his two sisters, Joanne and Juliette would literally spend summers with us in Boston. They used to live in NYC Chinatown. Andy has sent back an updated family tree of his family based on the initial work that my brother Richard did in his own calligraphy. From Carol, Judy and Tony, there is a strong desire to recapture their personal and family histories. Their father Richard died when they were pre-teens. When my brothers Philip and Steven suddenly died, my mother from unresolved grief threw out many childhood pictures to help herself to cope. And the house at 16 Boulevard Terrace probably still has many boxes of old things but these things are difficult to retrieve at this time. I think that in our current stage of physical capability, this task of de-cluttering is not only timely but transforming to recover memories. We will see. I also plan to reconnect with my cousin Andy Lee and that side of the family.
From this very short visit to Boston, I am now filled with the challenges of retrieving old things, sharing memories, and reconnecting with family members. I guess for all people, there is a time for this under God’s provision.
After being dropped off at Logan, I typically would visit the United Club to use the restroom, pick up a couple of papers, drink some illy coffee before getting to the gate. As I was leaving the men’s room, Ron Arena was there! He was at the other urinal. Amazing! We took a selfie to send home and when he and Jane are out in SF over the Thanksgiving weekend, we plan to get together. Over these compressed less than 24 hours, I was privileged to many years of histories that both define who I am today but extend me to believe there is still yet a tomorrow to live.