M.Div. Student Mitchell Stecker seeks harmony and understanding with his background in music and his experience in many Christian traditions.
Who’s that guy playing the organ and piano all the time in Hicks Chapel for PTS worship? You might know that it’s Mitchell Stecker, an M.Div. student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary about to enter his third year. But what you may not know is that Mitchell is also a composer of music, a Belgian-trained carillonneur, and once worked as the director of chapel music and carillonneur at The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina. This passion for music is just part of what brought him to study at PTS.
“Even as a child, I always felt at ease, at home, in the church,” Mitchell says. “I’ve spent a lot of my life ‘dwelling in the house of the Lord,’ so to speak.”
Many Houses of the Lord
Or more accurately, many houses of the Lord. Mitchell’s spiritual journey began in a Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania. Upon his family’s move to Florida at age 10 he was introduced to The United Methodist Church. After drifting away from religion in his early teen years, in high school Mitchell became drawn to Catholicism while volunteering at a hospital. Later, as a college student at the University of Florida, he worshiped and sang in the choir at an Episcopal Church, and almost became a postulate (candidate for ordination) in the Episcopal Church. Now, Mitchell is back to being a United Methodist, and is the director of music at Mt. Lebanon UMC. And by studying at a Presbyterian seminary, he’s engaging with yet another Christian tradition!
A Unique Calling
This tour of Christian denominations may seem like spiritual wandering, but Mitchell sees a deeper purpose to it all. “I think God’s calling me to something atypical,” he says. “I don’t yet know exactly what that will look like, but my dream is that somehow God will use my gifts and passions to connect the Episcopal Church and The United Methodist Church. I feel called to dwell in both traditions, and I’ve been taking this time to discern how I will do that.”
Mitchell still hasn’t decided the Christian tradition in which to pursue ordination. But those who know church history recognize that Episcopalians and Methodists share an Anglican heritage and a similar theological tradition. Mitchell hopes for the day The United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church will enter into full communion with one another. This has been discussed but has not yet come to fruition.
Seeking Harmony
In the meantime, Mitchell seeks harmony around the PTS campus, in the classroom, and in chapel worship. He says:
“I’m energized and surprised at how diverse and interesting my classmates are. Here we have people from a wide cross section of traditions and theological commitments, and it’s great to engage with all these folks. And I appreciate all of the professors here—they’re dedicated teachers but also serious, devoted Christians. So they know how to balance academic rigor with grace and understanding extended to their students.”
Mitchell recognizes that harmony in the classroom doesn’t always mean theological agreement. He admits to having many “spirited” theological discussions about Calvinism with his classmates and professors. Though not always ending in agreement, these discussions allow for greater understanding across traditions and a more clear articulation of each person’s particular theological commitments.
Teaching Shape-Note Singing
Mitchell has also helped introduce shape-note singing for students at PTS. He meets with others on Tuesday evenings when classes are in session to teach shape-notes. Introduced in late 18th century England, they are a musical notation to facilitate congregational singing. Mitchell hopes that offering a chance for people to learn shape-notes at PTS will help his classmates lead congregations into more vibrant and spiritually rich singing.
Unlike musical notes, Mitchell’s specific call to ministry has yet to take shape. But he knows God is preparing him to promote harmony and understanding between Christians in such a way that joyful noise will be made unto the Lord.