New Reverend Takes on Old PEA Traditions
Traditions like the opening assembly, Meditation and Evening Prayer are characterized each year by the notable presence of Reverend Robert Thompson, who is on administrative leave. In his absence, students have had mixed reactions to the rituals without him. Reverend Thompson, commonly referred to as “Rev,” was appointed in 1987 and was a member of the class of 1972.
Religion instructor and Rabbi Jennifer Marx Asch delivered the opening prayer at opening assembly last week. Reverend Heidilee Heath has taken over Thompson’s previous duties in Phillips Church, including the weekly protestant service and officiating Meditation and Evening Prayer. Reverend Heath is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, and also serves as a part-time Associate Pastor for a congregation in East Derry, N.H. “I am honored to be joining the Exeter community at such an important chapter in the life of the school and students,” she wrote in an email.
“We’re supposed to be a group of people who are tolerant, accepting and willing to embrace the flaws in a person.”
Students noted differences at the year’s first Evening Prayer on Tuesday night, at which student musicians and seniors Kevin Elaba and Chris Nivera performed. Along with the presence of some administrative members, two campus safety officers stood in the side doorway for the duration of the service. Additionally, more lights were on than had been in previous years.
Reverend Heath also broke from tradition and did not follow the methodology many students were used to from Reverend Thompson’s Evening Prayer services. For example, she did not say “Welcome to Evening Prayer,” as is the custom, at the beginning of the evening. In addition, she left most of the candles burning at the end of the night, instead of snuffing them out.
The changes in Evening Prayer disappointed many students. “I felt the magic of EP took a blow when we were forced to keep the lights on in the back. Gone were the times of floating in darkness, feeling like you could be alone in that huge church, the only sound Rev’s booming voice flowing over you,” upper Chase Ryan said. “Seeing everyone around you removes a large part of the meditative state I felt when I attended EP prep year ... attending the service last night actually made me feel stressed,” he added.
Some students felt that the tradition of Evening Prayer was fundamentally altered. Students anonymously posted in the Facebook forum “Bus Ride” that “the magic of EP is gone” and that it was a “trainwreck.” Ryan echoed those sentiments, feeling that newer students were robbed of the full Evening Prayer experience. “It was a shame for our new students to see such a beautiful tradition in a way that showed it no justice,” he said.
However, other students felt that the audience, not the lack of Reverend Thompson, accounted for the unorthodox EP experience: there were intermittent bursts of laughter throughout the service, and the crowd was louder than usual.
Responding on Facebook to criticism of the evening, senior Peter Chinburg said, “EP may never be the same, but it will never resemble anything close to the tradition we love unless we are better audience members, and set a better example,” Chinburg said.
Other students were appreciative of Reverend Heath. “She is trying to fill the big gaps that Rev Thompson left behind, and I appreciate that,” Elaba said.
Chinburg was also thankful for Reverend Heath’s efforts. “[Reverend Heath] did her best with what I can only imagine was a very limited amount of knowledge regarding this special and unusual tradition,” he said.
Those who were critical of the service disappointed Nivera. “We’re supposed to be a group of people who are tolerant, accepting and willing to embrace the flaws in a person. It just seemed like people were angry and frustrated that EP wasn’t exactly the same as it always was; of course it’s not going to be, because [Reverend Thompson] was not running it.”
Heath acknowledged the difficulties of change in an email to The Exonian, saying “Change in any form can feel hard, but I hope the students will know that I’m on your team and here to help support you in any way I can.”
The various reactions to changes on campus has made it clear that Reverend Thompson’s departure has impacted Exonians.
“I think Rev’s departure strikes a chord in all of us. Whether it be because you miss Rev because of his beautiful voice, or condemn him for his actions, there is no doubt that the Exeter community will change because of his absence,” Nivera said.