SC Connecticut News

When Myles-Amir Riley ’25 M.Div. boarded a plane on May 28, it marked the beginning of his first trip outside North America. Like many people from the Detroit area, he had taken a jaunt or two over the Canadian border, but this was his first time flying outside the U.S. No, he wasn’t embarking on a European summer or a Caribbean getaway—he was headed to Hong Kong to participate in a YDS summer course offered in partnership with the Divinity School of Chung Chi College.

“I wanted to experience a culture that’s vastly different from what I’m accustomed to in my daily life,” Riley says. “As a seminarian in the U.S., we are often taught that our expression of Christianity is westernized. I wanted to understand more deeply what is meant by that.”

The 12-day travel course, entitled Urban Spirituality and Theology, appealed to Riley because of its focus on the intersection of the sacred and the city—especially because he plans to minister in an urban community one day. Riley’s academic interests, which center around urban renewal through the lens of pastoral care, also aligned well with the course themes, which included exploring how urban spirituality shapes the civic spirit of a city. “Hong Kong is known for being a very multi-religious city and region and has a reputation for cultivating interreligious and interfaith tolerance,” he says. “It seemed like a great place to learn about effective ministry.”

YDS has longstanding international exchange programs allowing students to spend semesters at partner universities in Cambridge (UK), Germany, Oslo, Hong Kong, and Jerusalem. However, many students face obstacles participating due to degree requirements or financial constraints during summer breaks.

According to Jan Hagens, director of YDS’s international student exchange programs, many students hesitate to spend an entire semester elsewhere since they typically spend only two or three years at YDS. Additionally, degree program requirements can make it challenging for students if they spend an entire semester abroad.

In response to these hurdles, YDS launched its first abbreviated summer travel course in 2024: Urban Spirituality and Theology travel seminar attended by Riley in Hong Kong. These courses allow students significant benefits of studying abroad over two weeks during summer. Participants’ airfares, accommodations, and course costs are subsidized through YDS’s Latourette Fund.

Following faculty recommendations, Hagens plans to expand this program including destinations in Latin America and South America. A travel course to Kenya is planned for summer 2025 under Assistant Professor Kyama Mugambi's guidance from Kenya. “Africa and South America are places where Christianity is growing so these are very exciting opportunities for our students,” Hagens says. “Christianity is global; it’s enriching for our students seeing how faiths take shape worldwide.”

Hagens credits faculty members with regional connections helping organize student experiences abroad: Mugambi (Kenya); Chloe Starr (Hong Kong); Erika Helgen (South America).

Throughout his time in Hong Kong alongside more than 20 seminarians including seven fellow YDS students mostly from Myanmar Nepal Philippines among others Riley explored local sites attended lectures delved into political landscapes interfacing spirituality religion throughout history sampled local foods met residents learned nonprofits walked vibrant streets

“My peers felt we received gift from Hong Kong listening studying coming together being truly wowed by this experience wouldn’t trade it” One memorable experience was trip eco-community Nam Chung sharing vegetables food cooking after meal everyone dances sings together

“It incredibly special meeting new people learning traveling opportunity know neighbor break bread”

Cohort traveled Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist temple known bronze cast statue Guan Yin providing serene backdrop reflection prayer

“Visiting monastery reinforced idea God everywhere while Buddhist sacred site immediately came mind Psalm 23 fascinating sense call personal devotion artistic depiction spirituality different context”

First trip abroad cultivated love travel lasting lifetime shaping molding ways unexpected formative inspiring ministerial scholarship pursuits nexus theology arts anthropology recommending studying abroad much discovered