Qiyamah A. Rahman on front porch of daughter, Kaleema's apartment building in Jamaica Queens, MA
Kaleema Haidera Nur, 3rd year law student at Northeastern University - walkig down the street where she lives in Jamaica Queens, MA
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Kaleema painting in her studio apartment. We were doing some powerful conjuring! Look out folks!
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Kaleema's studio apartment that proves she is a humble and struggling law student. She is preparing for her last internship at the Inter American Human Rights (something something) in Costa Rica!
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Two angels in the back yard!
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Qiyamah enjoying the last of Boston's summer weather
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Be sure to get my good side!
I have been on somewhat of a "break" due to a combination of technical difficulties as in, "I can't figure out how to post my digital pictures." Additionally, I have been so busy with life and classes, engaging in enhanced spiritual practices as well as survival issues that it has been difficult to make time for my blog. But I'm back.
These pictures were taken in Boston, MA the weekend of interview with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee on September, 28, 2007. I hung out with my daughter Kaleema and indulged my inner artist with some art and conjuring time.
Facing (and Passing) the MFC: A First-Person Account
by Qiyamah A. Rahman As I prepare for my next milestone, my ordination on October 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, I am reflecting on the fact that I will have experienced two major milestones in my ministerial journey less than a month apart. I recently met with the MFC and received a one on September 28, 2007 in Boston, MA. After such an intense buildup and what seemed like endless days and nights of muddling through what was supposed to be my plan of study, the conclusion felt almost surreal. These were my feelings that I noted immediately after the interview, standing in the foyer of Picket and Elliot where we met. I was talking with my daughter who had managed to find her way unbeknownst to me, to congratulate me. It seemed unreal that just less than an hour earlier I had been speaking to my assigned chaplain, Reverend Carlton, a fabulous chaplain. To finally have it all behind me just felt unreal. Afterwards, my daughter and I went for a marathon viewing of two feature back-to-back movies, preceded by dinner and drinks to toast my success.
So, what worked and what didn’t with the MFC process? What didn’t work was not preparing well in advance with dates and locations of continuing education, workshops, seminars, conferences and trainings that I would have to identify on the competencies section. I could easily transfer course work from my transcripts but this other information was packed away in my storage space in Atlanta. You will want to create a systematic way to compile this information over the years well before you put your MFC packet together. I have some suggestions, but space and time will not allow me to provide those details.
What worked:
Mock interview-This process was invaluable and gave me feedback that I am convinced allowed me to shine in my actual interview. This is also the place where you can receive feedback on your sermon and whether it is working or not. The feedback to cut mine, put more of myself into it and slow it way way down was invaluable! I also blew the RE questions and history questions in my mock and that alerted me that I really needed to focus on those areas. The fact that I was showing up as a “teacher” rather than a minister in several instances was again, important feedback that I worked on correcting.
Spiritual practices – You will want to increase your spiritual practices, what ever they may be. I found that doing so centered me and mobilized my energy and integrated body, mind and spirit. If we are unable to rally our inner and outer resources to facilitate our ministerial journey and in the time of our greatest need, then how can we do it for others? Thus, you will want to have identified your preferred spiritual practices long before you are scheduled for the MFC and begin to hone them for times such as these.
Sample Packet from a Friend – Two individuals shared their packets with me. Only ask your closest friend(s). These packets often contain the most intimate and vulnerable glimpses into a persons life, as well as information that you are not aware of. So only ask someone you are really close to. I will be eternally grateful to the individuals that shared theirs. I will be happy to share the outline. The one on the UUA website can be downloaded but you cannot work directly on it. I will be happy to send the outline since I now have it on my hard drive.
Consultation – Although no one informs you of this, you can request a review of your MFC packet and a subsequent consultation with David Pettee, Ministerial Credentialing Director. He will review your packet either prior to the deadline or immediately after you submit it. I am so glad I contacted him. He spotted a couple of things of concern. I was able to edit my packet to reflect his feedback. David knows what the MFC is looking for. We don’t. So utilize his expertise. You do not want any surprises, particularly around anything controversial. Also, the packet you receive from the UUA Administrator will reflect the complete packet including all your transcripts, RSCC letter, CPE Evaluations, Internship Evaluations, Letters of Recommendation, and any other information that has been placed in your file. Something like changing ones mind about an internship that was approved by the MFC and then doing a different internship got flagged in my file. David brought that to my attention and I was prepared to give an explanation about the change. If you have anything controversial in your file then the consultation with David will be very important. Because of the challenges around maintaining fellowship outside of the United States I even talked with David about this decision in the event that the MFC raised question. In other words, there should be no surprises!
MFC Packet – Be thoroughly familiar with your packet. I cannot stress this enough. The MFC reads every single line. Something said to me in confidence that I repeat to you, “If they (MFC) sees smoke, they will assume there is fire and they will investigate any concerns or questions they have.” I was asked about what appeared to be a discrepancy in my transcripts. It was four years ago. I didn’t even recall the incident and they had to remind me of the details before I could respond. They also asked me about a comment that my Internship Supervisor made about my ignoring a reporting protocol and another related incident. They asked me about these issues in relationship to how I deal with authority. By the way, know that you can challenge your CPE supervisor’s evaluations and the final versions will possibly be revised. When I realized they thought that they might be seeing someone that had an issue with authority I had a moment of panic and was entertaining bluffing my way through. Instead, I decided to go with the truth. I told them it was my perception that sometimes some of my supervisors gave us duplicitous tasks that appeared to be busy work and that I sometimes resisted that. Furthermore, I supposed that could come across as resisting authority but that as an adult learner there were times I needed to give them a reality check about their expectations and that I viewed myself as a mutual player in this learning process.
Acquire a Spiritual Director – Some psychology programs require all graduate level students be in therapy as part of their training. As seminarians, I think we are well served by having someone that is helping us think through ministerial formation and other things of a spiritual nature as a good sounding board and to challenge us on our blind spots. The MFC did not ask me if I had a spiritual director, but I have heard of others that were asked this question. Besides, it will look good if they pick up on anything of concern. It demonstrates your maturity, pro-activity and insightfulness. You can also use your spiritual director to help work through any anxiety you might have about your pending MFC process.
Sermon - This is the day to shine and let your minister self be fully present and show up. I think the sermon sets the tone so choose a topic that really sets the mood and demonstrates who you are. I had the most difficulty around this, and made several false starts before I landed on my topic. I was asked for a copy afterwards for the file. I had made last minute changes and had to send it to them afterwards.
First Question – Like the RSCC interview, you provide the first question. There are several strategies, use it to shine and wax eloquently; use it to proactively address something that could be controversial and that you want therefore to be able to take the offensive on; use it for a “deficiency” that you know exists that you want to be able to address and that you have made great stride on.
Notifications and Thank you cards- Send thank you’s to the MFC and emails to the world shouting your good news. And if you got a 2 and you know you are a minister, then buck up after you have a good cry, work with your spiritual director and Meadville staff and prepare to show the MFC that they are wrong! If you get a three, and you know they are wrong, then prove them wrong. I know one person that . . . Ok, that’s another story!
Blessings!!
