DMin Reflections by Deacon Michelle Collins

Creative writing as a tool for theological reflection first captured my attention when my parents gave me a devotional book as a young child.  Each Bible story was accompanied by the fictional lives of a brother and sister who were learning how to apply the messages of their faith to their daily life.  I discovered early on that creative writing—storytelling, poetry, creative non-fiction and devotional reflections—brings concepts of faith into connection with lived reality.

Public Theology

The first class of the Creative Writing and Public Theology (CWPT) program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) deepened this understanding—from both a creative writing perspective and a theological perspective. Through reading about the history and development of Public Theology, I learned that what I had sensed in my own faith journey, and what drew me to ministry as a deacon, is rooted in a theological approach to responding to the intersection between faith and public life.

In an article titled “Public Theology in the History of Christianity,” Sebastian Kim defines public theology as: “critical, reflective and reasoned engagement of theology in society to bring the kingdom of God, which is for the sake of the poor and marginalized.”

Composition of My Cohort

My CWPT cohort is made up of a variety of students—Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Baptist, Unitarian Universalist and humanist. My context is Canada. Everyone else lives and works in the U.S.

Pastors, deacons/diaconal ministers, ministers, and folks without a ministry title each come to this program because we’re drawn to creative writing. Through creative writing we’re interested in reflecting on our current time and place through a theological lens.

Creative Writing Intensive

The in-person intensive in June, which was a foundation to the overall program, included time each morning to reflect theologically, and time each afternoon to explore that theological reflection through creative writing.  This included exercises like creatively imagining the parable of the Prodigal Son from a different character’s perspective, writing an op-ed piece to a local magazine about a local issue, and responding to a theological concept through poetry.

I found the space and time for writing and reflection invigorating.  I especially appreciated the final writing assignment. Here, I used a theologian’s reflection on how the disrupted sense of ‘home’ experienced by migrants can lead Christians to a deeper understanding of the sacraments — to explore my own story of transience and loss of a home address as an avenue to deepen the church’s sensitivity to queer youth and young adults whose identity is shifting.

Fiction Writing Workshop

My online writing workshop was about fiction writing. We each wrote two short stories.  Through writing these short stories, I was processing deeper themes of identity, family, vocation and relationships.  The stories I wrote were fiction, but my voice, theology and story glimmered through the characters and events I created.

I’m looking forward to the next in-person intensive, where we will look more deeply at the power of storytelling.  As I use the tools of creative writing in crafting sermons, managing synod communications, and creating social media reflections for young adults, the connection between creative writing and theological reflection is valuable.