The Name Aspen Theological Seminary

Aspen Theological Seminary 2323 South Troy Street

Bldg 5, Suite 320 Aurora, CO 80014

(303) 901-3406 officemblewisenterprises@gmail.com

REFLECTIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT: From Our Heart to Yours

As part of my early tenure as the President/CEO of our Aspen Theological Seminary, I am very curious regarding the name. What did the founder, Dr. A. M. Columbus, Jr., have in mind when he decided to name the Seminary Aspen? Insight into this question is found in the 2008 catalog. In this writing, I will incorporate his insights into my own as we gain inspiration, courage, gratitude and generosity through meaning, purpose, and mission of the Aspen Theological Seminary.

Let’s start with a brief definition of contemporary Aspen. It is s identified as the most widespread tree in North America, extending from the Midwest, across Canada, north into Alaska and across the West through to Arizona and New Mexico. They are usually found at the edge of conifer forests in clusters or “clones.”

Under natural conditions we will never see only one Aspen tree. The extensive root system connects every tree in proximity. Its main life force is underground found in an extensive root system which lies dormant for many years until the conditions are just right. Because each tree is considered a genetic replica of the other, the terminology, Clone of Aspens is used to describe a grouping of aspen trees.

In other words, they appear to be independent trees, but they are connected through their root system.

The trees reproduce very rapidly and are not easily extinguished. The oldest living organism is found in Bristlecone Pines and is more than 80,000 years old. Bristlecone Pines is in the Fish Lake National Forest in Utah.

Aspens can survive in any soil, moist and dark or barren. Aspens absolutely need sunshine. This is not negotiable. They grow in all seasons because of the bark which features an inner layer of thin green photosynthetic matter that creates sugars. During hard winters, the green, sugary layer provides necessary nutrients for deer and elk also. Throughout the year, young aspens provide food for moose, black bear, beaver, porcupine, ruffed grouse and rodents .

The soft wood of the Aspen is used to make products like matches, saunas, chopsticks. Although a soft wood, aspen is relatively strong and has been used in unique ways. Most surprisingly, because Aspen contains chemicals like aspirin, it is often used as aspirin

There is another usage of the Aspen which is found in Genesis Chapter 30 beginning with the 25th verse. The Aspen Theological Seminary is named after this tree that is also featured in the Biblical Text, Genesis 30 beginning with verse 25.

Here we read where Jacob took inferior wages in the form of cattle that were speckled. This was inferior because the numbers of these cattle were sparse, and his Uncle Laban stole even from these sparse numbers. Under normal circumstances, Jacob did not have a chance of becoming wealthy in the predicament he found himself. However, with the grace of God these sparsely numbered speckled cattle became a source of great wealth for Jacob despite the oppressive efforts of his Uncle Laban…and wouldn’t you know it, the Aspen Tree (mentioned in this passage as the Poplar Tree) was a part of this transformation.

To make it plan, the speckled calf stripped, and dark calf was chosen by Jacob to become wealthy. However, Laban, his oppressor and his uncle, stole the potential for his fortune. Yet God reversed this predicament with the Aspen Tree and through the miracle of metaphysics worked a miracle in Jacob’s life.

I will share the story briefly…Rachel has just given birth to her second son and the youngest son of Joseph’s twelve. Joseph has decided he wants to return home to his father Isaac and his mother Rebecca and his brother Esau. He goes to Laban who is his uncle and with whom he has been living for at least one score (20 years). He points out how much he has served Laban.

Laban says he does not want Jacob to go because he, Laban, knows he has been blessed by God because of Jacob. Uncle Laban invites Jacob to name his wages and he promises to pay them. Jacob protests pointing out how well Laban has already done because of his (Jacob’s) efforts. He states that he now wants to serve his own household and not Laban’s.

They go around and round on the subject. Jacob realizes he is not going to win this issue. So, Instead of allowing Laban to give him something, Jacob asks to go through all the flocks and remove every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every speckled goat. This would serve as his wages…His payoff. This way, there would be no question about his propriety as his flocks would grow.

Laban agreed (LOL). On that same day Laban stole all the dark colored, speckled, and streaked and spotted female and male goats and instead of giving them to Jacob, Laban gave them to his own sons. Laban and his family (including his sons) move far away, (a three-day journey) from Jacob so that mating would not occur.

…But God and Jacob had a plan, let’s read it verbatim.

“Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink,39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.40 Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus, he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals.41 Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches,42 but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. The weak animals, which were not spotted, streaked, or dark, and went to Laban. The strong ones, which were spotted, streaked and dark went to Jacob.43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.”

There are many many morals to this story. The inspiration that motivated the name of the Seminary is found in the definition of the Aspen Tree and how God used the Aspen Tree to Bless the name sake of Israel.

The bark of the Aspen Tree was used to transform the least of these, the oppressed into flourishing inhabitants of the earth. The Aspen Tree was used to confound the best laid plans of a system structured to guarantee failure of a family that was essential to the substance of an oppressive force. The Aspen Tree was used to remind us that against all odds God can and will prevail.

We see the biblical role of the Aspen Tree, as well as its natural traits, as inspiration for Aspen Theological Seminaries mission statement.

Connection, Nurturance, and Transformation.

CONNECTION: All of us affiliated with the school regardless of our roles as students, faculty, administrators, benefactors, regulators, etc. are connected in our commitment to the school’s success.

NURTURANCE: We continue the tradition of laying the foundation on which future generations will stand.

TRANSFORMATION: Through the Grace, Mercy and Blessing of God, we too will be a transformational force in the lives of the least of these as they emerge into thriving participants in our society.

With Great Love, and Commitment to Excellence,

The Reverend Marjorie B. Lewis, Ph.D., D. Min., President/CEO

Aspen Theological Seminary

2323 South Troy Street, Bldg 5, Suite 320 Aurora, CO80014

(303) 901-3406 mblewisenterprises@gmail.com