Melissa Bemis Madara '04, Emily Chapman '05, Philip Huston '05, Mark Montgomery '05

It is not unusual to find recent McMurry graduates enrolled at seminaries across the country. However, it is unique to find four recent graduates from a small university like McMurry enrolled at a particular seminary at the same time. Mark Montgomery `05, Melissa Bemis Madara `04, Emily Chapman `05 and Philip Huston `05 are all current students at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. They represent four of the nine recent McMurry graduates presently enrolled in seminaries across the country.

Through the years, McMurry University has excelled at preparing students for a career in the ministry—a legacy that continues today. “My classes [at McMurry] were academically challenging, which prepared me for the challenging work of seminary,” Mark said. Melissa echoed that sentiment. “McMurry transformed me from a mediocre student, who managed to slide through high school with good grades only because I knew how the system worked, into a student who was passionate about learning and genuinely desired to excel,” she said. Philip agreed. “McMurry challenged me to engage primary sources and write at a level that prepared me for the seminary program,” he said.

In addition to the preparation for theological training, all four students appreciate the broad-based liberal arts education they received. Emily said, “Taking a wide variety of classes in different disciplines has been essential to me in seminary. Theology brings together concepts from so many other areas, so having a variety of experiences is helpful.”

All four students also credit the McMurry community and their participation in extracurricular activities as essential to their McMurry experience. Melissa states, “Through involvement in a myriad of clubs and organizations, McMurry also taught me how to relate to people, a good pastoral skill that is not taught in seminary.” Philip agrees. “The religious life opportunities at McMurry were also beneficial for my preparation for seminary. Both the opportunities on campus and in the community gave me valuable experience for practical and theological application.”

Also vital to their experience was the influence of faculty and staff members. Emily credits the influence of Tim Kennedy, campus Chaplain, and Vanessa Roberts, Dean of Students. “They were constantly supportive of me as I applied and prepared to leave for Duke. I am so thankful for their friendship.” Mark also valued the influence of McMurry’s chaplain. “Tim had a huge impact on my life. He affirmed my call to ministry and nurtured that call by putting me in a leadership position in the religious life department.”

Melissa credits Dr. Phil LeMasters for teaching her how to “process life in a theological manner,” and former McMurry faculty member Laura Ellis, who helped her bridge a gap between the two disciplines of religion and music, allowing her to “learn how to best allow the wisdom of one to speak to the other.”

It is clear that all four students not only value the education they received at McMurry, but cherish the relationships they formed as a vital aspect of the McMurry experience. Mark states, “The McMurry experience helped mold me into the person I am today. I am highly indebted to the McMurry community.” When asked what she valued most about her time at McMurry, Emily responded, “Mostly, I continue to value the relationships that formed with students, faculty and staff.” For Philip, that question had a very easy answer, “The most valuable experience from McMurry was meeting my wife, Diana.”

After graduating from Duke, all four students plan on returning to Texas and New Mexico to serve the United Methodist Church as ordained clergy. For one of them that will begin very soon, as Melissa graduates from Duke on May 12 and has been appointed to serve as Associate Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.