Welcome Summer Seminarians

One of the key pieces of our church’s identity is being a place where faith is nourished, and servant leaders are grown and sent out. This summer we look forward to welcoming three new seminarians for the second year of our Summer Seminarian Fellows Program.

Because of a generous grant, St. John the Divine can house and host three Episcopal seminarians to work and learn ministry alongside us. They will have opportunities to preach, serve liturgically in our services, learn pastoral care from our gifted clergy and lay volunteers, teach our youth and young adults, discover how a large parish operates, and receive an inside look into the life of a healthy and vibrant Episcopal church.

Zachary Berry
I am a rising middler in the M.Div. program at Duke Divinity School. Although I am originally from Aiken, South Carolina, I am currently a postulant for holy orders in the Diocese of Tennessee. My favorite way to spend time is hanging out with my friends, but I also enjoy traveling, shotgun sports, and classical literature.

Q: What excites you most about becoming a priest?

I think the thing that excites me most about being a priest is getting to celebrate the Eucharist. I see it as both an immense responsibility and a precious gift.

Q: Who is your favorite theologian, and why?

Although his work is considered more popular than academic, C.S. Lewis has had more of an influence on me than any other theologian. His books Miracles, The Great Divorce, and Till We Have Faces have especially had a profound impact on my theological thought.

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island with only a television, what is the one show or movie you would want with you?

If I could only bring one movie or show with me on a desert island, it would have to be the BBC’s Father Brown. Since I’m an Anglophile, a history buff, an aspiring priest, and a fan of a good mystery, this show appeals to me on many levels.

Matthew Waterman
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and studied for a bachelor's in music from the University of Toronto, before going on to study for my Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Wycliffe College. Since graduating in 2020 I have worked as a youth and children’s ministry pastor while preparing for a vocation to the priesthood. My passion in ministry is to see people find joy in the Lord through his word and to care for them with the compassion of Jesus Christ. I am honored to be a part of the Summer Seminarians Fellowship at St. John the Divine and look forward to serving in Houston.

Q: What excites you most about becoming a priest?

What excites me most about becoming a priest is helping people grow strong in their faith by believing the promises of Scripture and seeking God's glory in every area of life.

Q: Who is your favorite theologian, and why?

My favorite theologian (it's hard to choose one) has been Martyn Lloyd-Jones, because of the way he brought an awareness and concern for what was happening in the world into his preaching.

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island with only a television, what is the one show or movie you would want with you?

Hmmm … probably a movie with great music, so I would say The Prince of Egypt or Amadeus.

Wesney M. Dubic
I am a junior seminarian at Nashotah Theological Seminary. I am from the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. My sponsoring parish is the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke’s in Orlando. I was born in Port au Prince, Haiti, and moved to the United States in 2001. I am a cradle Episcopalian and love to serve God and his people. Over the last decade, I served as a missionary in Honduras. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and traveling.

Q: What excites you most about becoming a priest?

What excites me the most about becoming a priest is to be able to share the good news of Jesus Christ to his children. Jesus is offering himself, so we can have salvation and eternal life. All this is at no cost. The are no strings attached or fine print. In a broken world, the good news of Jesus Christ is necessary because he is the only true peace.

Q: Who is your favorite theologian, and why?

Since I started seminary, my new favorite theologian is Nicholas T. Wright, better known as N.T. Wright. As a New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright brought a new perspective on how to engage the Gospel. His way of working through theology and explaining the Christian life can transform a life. I have read a few of his books, and I am working through his collections. Also, in the past couple of weeks, I have been listening to a podcast called, Ask N.T. Wright Anything. Understanding his views and position on certain matters has been helpful. I believe that N.T. Wright is one of the greatest theologians in the 21st century, and there is a lot I can learn from him.

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island with only a television, what is the one show or movie you would want with you?

If I was stuck on a desert island with only a television, I would want the movie Ben-Hur.