An Interview with Elizabeth Strickland
By Janine C. Hagan and Beth Strickland
Beth holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary and has worked in Christian Education and Youth Ministry in the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church. She is currently living in the Northern Virginia area and in her own way, combining coffee and spirituality at StarBucks.

Janine: Beth, I first met you several years ago in Princeton, New Jersey, at one of their Forums for Youth Ministry. I then sensed a kindred spirit with lots of energy and enthusiasm as well as a delightful sense of wonder. I then learned a little about your life and background. Will you tell us something about your family-and-faith story and a Christmas memory that stands out in your mind?

Beth: Sure, Janine. When I was born, my father was a senior high youth minister in Texas, so I’ve never really known a time when I didn’t know God’s love or presence in my life (not to say there haven’t been times when I didn’t feel it as clearly…). I grew up going to church, being in choir (singing, hand bells, etc.), going to Sunday School, youth group, etc. I was confirmed into the United Methodist Church in the 6th grade.

When I got to college, I tried the little church within walking distance of Converse ~ I didn’t have a car ~ but it was so different from the larger United Methodist churches we’d been in and being 18, I think I brought the median age of the congregation to maybe 70, so I stuck with the Student Christian Association on campus for my religion. After college, I moved home for a while and went to church where my father worked as a permanent Deacon in charge of the program ministry. I sang in the choir and loved that, but something was missing for me.

So after a lot of debating in my head and even having some discussions with my parents, I decided to find my own place. That place was the Episcopal Church. For me, the combination of scripture, reason and tradition was wonderful, and the diversity present in the Episcopal Church, especially the ones I’ve been in, really made me feel at home. I was confirmed into the Episcopal Church in April of 1995.

Shortly after my confirmation, I felt a call to lay ministry, specifically Christian Education. I talked with my priest and she immediately got me involved in that capacity at Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville. After a couple of years of that, I decided to go to seminary, a journey which took me to Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. After two years, I received my Masters in Theological Studies and began working as a Director of Christian Formation at a church in Raleigh, NC.

After two years, my call specified to one of youth ministry, so I began a search for a position in that field, which led me to Illinois. There, in the Diocese of Chicago, I became involved in the Happening community and found a whole new family. That experience plus attending the Episcopal Youth Event in Laramie, WY really clarified for me how my spirituality just fits with the Episcopal tradition.

Unfortunately, my parish was unable to raise enough money to keep my position funded, so I had to find a new job. That led me to a church in Manassas, VA. I worked with their youth for about seven months, but it was apparent that it was not a good match theologically for either myself or the church, so we “parted ways” in a mutual fashion. I took a break from church for a while, partly for the rest and partly to do some self-exploration.

I’ve been struggling with who I am for a while, and in the last year, have finally been able to clarify and name for myself what that’s been about. I am a lesbian. I think somewhere inside I’ve always known, but it took a while to actually say it. If anything, it’s deepened my relationship with God because for the first time in my life, I’m really being who God created me to be.

I’m lucky that I have a family and friends who love and are supportive of me. My father’s even been working on making his church a Reconciling congregation since before I came out to he and my mother, and now it’s even more personal for him. The biggest thing that this has done for me is bring me back to the Church. I’ve recently begun attending St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Washington, DC and really feel centered again. It’s where I’m supposed to be and I’m fully who I’m supposed to be.

As for a favorite Christmas memory, I remember one Christmas when we were in Asheville, NC, we were having our associate minister, Nancy, and a family friend “Pop,” over for Christmas Dinner after the Christmas Eve service. That winter was exceptionally cold, to the point that the power was sometimes affected. I was riding with Nancy, and as we turned into our neighborhood, everything was dark. We had no power or heat. When Daddy got home, he and Pop went to the church to borrow some kerosene heaters, and we had turkey sandwiches (thankfully the turkey was already cooked) by candlelight and kerosene heater. It was a magical, if cold, night.

Janine: Thank you for being so willing to share yourself with us this way. I can only guess at how this struggle must have changed your life and faith experience. I find it interesting that by becoming more “real” with yourself and others, that you have found a more “real” relationship with the church and with God.

Since our meeting, I have kept track of you as you have made many of these transitions. I know that you spent time involved with youth ministry, but have also worked with children. I keep thinking about that “sense of wonder/openness” that I felt with you and how that is so perfect with children as well as youth. Will you please share something about that experience?

Beth: I transitioned into working with children primarily because I love the Northern Virginia area and wanted to stay here even after the position in Manassas didn’t work out. I also love the wonder of childhood. And the position at KinderCare was open. I started out working with the threes, but have since shifted over to the infant room.

Seeing these children grow and discover new things about themselves and their environment constantly reminds me of how God is always working, always creating. There’s nothing like watching a child take her first steps and then seeing the wonder and excitement on her face as she realizes what she’s done. And knowing that God’s in charge of all that… I feel like I’m ministering to the parents and the children just by loving them. I don’t have to say anything about God to show them God.

Janine: I know that Crossing Jordan is absolutely your favorite TV program. Why is this?

Beth: Well, I started watching Crossing Jordan when it first premiered in 2001. I had loved Jill Hennessy’s work on Law & Order and was intrigued with the premise of the show…a medical examiner trying to find answers not only for the families of those she worked on but also for herself. She’s a flawed character ~ not perfect by a long stretch.

What I found when I watched more and more of the show is a multi-leveled show where even if it’s not overt, there’s some deeply spiritual stuff going on. Questions of life, of purpose, even of destiny/calling. It’s a crime drama, but the characters are real and deep…constantly evolving. I love that. And I love that it’s a show that doesn’t always go for the easy answers.

Janine: This issue of ecumininet™ online! is about Promise and Prophecy as well as Advent and Christmas.Tell us what you think about these topics, either separately, together, or in tension.

Beth: For me, promise not only means a pledge, but also a possibility. No matter what may happen, there’s the promise of something more, something beyond. Even if it’s just a little pinprick of light, there’s promise there. A chance to start anew, to grow. Promise may be very obvious, or it may be subtle. And I think it’s different for each person. That can make it hard to explain or describe.

Prophecy is a foretelling, a foreshadowing. Sometimes it’s little more than a feeling. Sometimes it’s something overtly said. I think for me, the most recent example is a job possibility that I’m looking into. I’ve gotten involved with an organization and was looking up the address to attend a thank you celebration for those of us who worked the banquet they recently had. When I was looking for the appropriate link, my eyes fell on the “employment opportunities” link and I clicked it, only to see the position I’m in process of applying for. Other than the Holy Spirit nudging me, I don’t know what caused me to look on the page, and I don’t know what happened, but I feel like it’s definitely a case of being where I need to be when I need to be there.

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