A Lifetime of Commitment: An Interview with Jenny Weber
When Rev. Jenny Weber (G-ETS 1997) was approached by Garrett to create a student scholarship in her name 13 years ago, she didn’t have all the money she needed. Few lifelong pastors do. And yet, Rev. Weber knew that she felt called to invest in the next generation of ministers so she worked with Garrett’s development office to create a legacy plan, combining both gradual donations over time and a will commitment naming the seminary, so another student could attend seminary debt-free. “I was one of those fortunate scholarship recipients,” Rev. Weber says. “I’m so deeply grateful for that, especially as I hear about so many others who grapple with such large debt. As a recipient of such generosity, I was raised in a family who taught me that giving back is part of what we do
This personal window has given her an intimate look at the kind of transformative ministry a Garrett scholarship can enable. She has served as a parish minister across a wide variety of congregations—urban, suburban, and rural alike—and eight years ago also co-founded the Morning Retreat Center in Hampshire, Illinois. In this most recent call, she has created space for other people to find restoration. “I’ve led women’s retreats, guided people through different prayer practices, organized grief groups and more,” Rev. Weber explains. “The Center is in a country farmhouse—a cozy space where people can come to rest, read, pray and find what they need. We just create the space to ensure they have what’s necessary to do that.”
It’s fitting, because space to sit, reflect, and study is also a gift that seminary scholarships enable. Seminary education is a rigorous experience under the best of circumstances and it’s even more difficult when students must work part- or full-time to match the cost of tuition or take on debt that will limit their future choices. This is particularly true for the increasing number of Garrett students who are second-career ministers, international students, and first-generation college graduates—groups that face more difficulty to afford a masters-level education. “It can be so stressful when you’re in the midst of wanting to learn and grow if you’re also worried about finances,” Rev. Weber notes. “I hope this scholarship helps folks do their education in a timely manner and be able to begin their call.”
In addition to alleviating financial anxiety, reducing students’ monetary pressures also helps them take full advantage of seminary learning that happens outside the classroom. “When I was at Garrett, some of my favorite memories were attending community meal in Loder, spending time freely in conversation,” she says. “I was in a covenant group, as well. That feeling of connectedness is so important—forming friendships, just being able to hang out, learn, and grow.” These informal networks are also essential to sustain the ministries students pursue after graduation, particularly in early career years. “It’s crucial to have that support from people who understand what we’re going through as clergy,” she confides
While it took years to build the money needed to sustain a scholarship, Rev. Weber found other ways to nurture Garrett students while she donated funds. “I’ve been so blessed to be the field education supervisor for several students,” she shares. “Garrett’s focus on practical, hands-on experience is such a strength of the seminary. Particularly working in Chicagoland, it creates a diverse context that informs students as they learn everything from caring for homeless populations to preaching.” One blessing Rev. Weber feels she received from her own field education were lessons about the administrative side of parish ministry, so she tried to share that gift as well. “I felt equipped around finances and stewardship, as well as working with different committees,” she says. “I tried to offer back that truly well-rounded experience.”
Too often philanthropy is portrayed only through the lens of major gifts and one-time endowments, but Rev. Weber’s experience testifies to the incredible benefit that comes from intentional giving through both a lifetime of sustained gifts and a deferred gift through her will . “I want students to have the same foundation of a good education and community life. That’s what helps you think, learn, and grow,” she shares. “As a minister, I’ve witnessed all the ways people commit themselves to living and serving, not just with their financial contributions, but also with their talents.” Financial contributions do enable institutions to expand the scope of their mission, however, and Rev. Weber is thrilled that long years of preparation will now bear abundant fruit in students’ lives. “We’re in this together,” she says, “and the world needs their ministry.”
Have you considered the legacy you want to leave? Thoughtful giving and estate planning, like Rev. Weber’s, allows you to support the people and causes most important to you—while ensuring that your values live on. Whether through bequests, charitable gift annuities, or other planned giving options, you have the power to make a lasting impact. To learn more, go to PlannedGiving.Garrett.edu or contact Shane Nichols, Assistant Vice President for Development, at [email protected] or 847.866.3866.
