Calling

All Christians share the broad call of Christ as expressed in the Scriptures to be ambassadors of the Gospel. Individuals also receive a unique call to steward the gifts they've been given, to serve the people in their lives and to be accountable to the significant issues of their time. While pursuing the meaning of this unique calling is a lifelong process, we believe that a true sense of purpose can be gained by taking time to reflect on the specific challenges in one's own life. These challenges can then be pursued with a sense of personal freedom and clarity, rather than in a haphazard fashion dictated by culture. The Academy exists to help its Fellows discern their calling and then to pursue it with passion, creativity and excellence.

Theoretical Context

Fellows spend a significant amount of time at the Academy reading and discussing some of the foundational ideas of the Christian faith and modern society in order better understand the role they are called to play. The rigorous curriculum includes readings from Christian thinkers such as Augustine and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who have thought and written extensively about the meaning of Christian life. Fellows come to see the role personal gifts, struggles, doubts and triumphs have played in shaping their own identity.

Fellows contrast the Christian perspective of purpose with modern secular philosophies. Curriculum readings include influential atheists such as Albert Camus and Bertrand Russell. Through discussions and assessment of the impact they have on society, Fellows seek to identify ideas they have been influenced by and make clear judgments on the authenticity of personal thought patterns.

Scripture is interwoven throughout the theoretical portion of the curriculum to ground the thought life of the Academy in a Biblical framework.

Personal Application

A crucial event in the life of the Academy occurs in the fall term when Fellows develop and share their life stories. This is a chance for each individual to trace how God has worked throughout their lives, through the places they have lived and people they have known, through healthy and broken relationships, professional successes and failures. Hearing the life stories of everyone in the community develops deeper appreciation for one another and God's work of redemption.

In the spring term, Fellows have two opportunities to apply the theory of Christian life and thought to a pressing issue in their field. First, Fellows undertake teaching a class period to introduce others to their own areas of expertise. Fellows are encouraged to invite a guest speaker to complement their teaching time. The second opportunity, which begins in the fall term and culminates in the last several weeks of the program, is the personal research project or Question for Research and Evaluation. In this context, Fellows can tackle an idea that they may never have time again to deal with given the intense time pressures of practicing their profession.

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Mentors

From the time a Fellow is accepted into the program, the Academy staff works to identify a personal mentor that can offer personal and professional advice in the direction each Fellow is headed. Mentors serve as a sounding board for ideas as they are developed, a reviewer for the personal research project, and a reference for future career opportunities. On many occasions these mentorships grow into encouraging personal relationships that last well beyond the Academy. Past Academy mentors include:

  • Dr. Francis Collins - Director of the Human Genome Project,
    author of The Language of God
  • Al Sikes - Former Chairman of the Federal Communications
    Commission (FCC) and media executive
  • The Hon. Ed Meese - former US Attorney General and special
    advisor to the President
  • Ann Holladay - Trustee of the Trinity Forum Academy and
    The Trinity Forum, dedicated to combating modern human slavery
  • Cherie Harder - President of The Trinity Forum, former White House
    special Assistant and Senior Counselor to the Chairman of
    the National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Dr. David Powlison - author and faculty member of the
    Christian Counseling & Education Foundation
  • Jerry Eisley - Director of the Washington Arts Group, owner of Foxhall Gallery
  • Harty Gardner - former Treasurer of Mobil Oil

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Reflection

In the pace of modern life, the possibility of living an examined life passes very quickly. The price paid is often lives that feel shallow and empty. Several components of the Academy experience help Fellows pause from the busy day-to-day of Academy life in order to gain insight on how to live purposefully and to strategically engage culture.

Silence and Solitude
On regular intervals Academy Fellows observe days of literal silence and solitude. After morning worship, Fellows are encouraged to limit their speaking for the rest of the day and seek out a place to be alone. During that time Fellows have a quiet space to seek God, reflect on their learning and make decisions about how to pursue their calling in the community and beyond.

Weekly Writing
Each week, Fellows compose a response to the curriculum and the life in community. These written responses are meant to help Fellows make connections between their lives and their learning, to express questions and doubts that arise, and to begin to layout a framework for how to best approach the challenges they will face. Over the year, the writings provide a documented journey through the most important ideas, revelations and points of growth for the community.

Discussions with Director and other Fellows
Some of the most critical learning at the Academy occurs outside the classroom as Fellows spend time discussing their thoughts and plans with the Academy director and other Fellows. A close community of trusted friends provides a range of perspectives on personal decisions and future plans.