Jennifer Phillips ’73

I arrived at Wellesley, a shy foreign-born kid from a politically and religiously conservative family, and started attending services at the Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Paul Santmire was chaplain; the Vietnam war was grinding on. He challenged us to be “Protean” people: nimble, brave, adaptable to change, ready for public service, and willing to work and sacrifice to move humanity and peace forward. He interpreted Jesus as a political and spiritual model. I was shocked; my family saw spirituality and politics as separate.

I went to his office to chat. He listened carefully and laid out a reasonable argument for the two as deeply connected. I became part of the Chapel community, and soon I was picketing a local company manufacturing anti-personnel mines!

Through religion courses, my understanding of the Bible deepened. I recognized my call to ordained ministry—not a change of religion, but a conversion of heart and mind.