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Noa Bolmenäs, MDiv ’25, developed an affection for church and the role of minister at a young age. Growing up in the small town of Tibro, Sweden, Bolmenäs’ mother and grandfather were pastors in the Covenant Church, and his great-grandfather traveled from village to village preaching.
“Throughout my young life I felt called to ministry and wanted to be a pastor, so my plan was to graduate high school and go into seminary,” Bolmenäs says.
After high school, he looked to the United States and decided to attend North Park University in Chicago, where he studied theology as a way of getting closer to his dream of ministry. He also continued his love of basketball playing for the NPU Vikings, after playing all through high school. It was at NPU that his call to ministry grew even stronger, and he began looking into seminary programs.
“I felt if the time is right and God wants me to go to seminary now, he will find a way for me to do that.”
Bolmenäs chose Princeton Seminary, he says, for its high academic standards, and was offered a seminary fellowship scholarship.
“I knew I was interested in the Old Testament and Hebrew bible studies, and I was entertaining the idea of getting my PhD, so I wanted to be prepared well for that,” he says. “I was also strongly considering ministry as a next step, so I wanted a program that also saw to my spiritual needs. There were some great programs I was interested in, but I didn’t feel they had the academic rigor and focus on spiritual development at the level of PTS.”
Now one year into his studies, he says Princeton Seminary has absolutely lived up to his expectations.
“In the Old Testament department, there is a thoughtful, meticulous focus on both the literary state of scripture and the historical context, where we engage with how the text mattered to the development of the Judaic and Christian faiths,” Bolmenäs explains.
He cites the African American Public Theology course, which focuses on how the literal interpretation of scripture plays a role in the history of African American existence in the United States.
“The aim of public theology is to accommodate our existence through our faith, and this course allows me to examine how I can think theologically in a way that is relevant for issues now.”
I was also strongly considering ministry as a next step, so I wanted a program that also saw to my spiritual needs.
The opportunity for dialogue on campus has also been gratifying.
“I’m interested in religious dialogue and the intersection of studies, which I think we set a good foundation for here, and we have opportunities outside our doors to engage in that,” he says. “It’s fantastic in this small community to have relationships with faculty – to walk closely with people who are into the same studies that you are.”
Bolmenäs says his coursework has been challenging but also very rewarding.
“The curriculum has a lot of requirements but I’m learning a lot about things I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise,” he adds. “Already in my third semester, I’m allowed into PhD seminars that have helped challenge my discernment of where I go from here. And I’ve been challenged regarding parts of the Bible that speak to different things – such as, what to do with conflicting verses or narratives and how to make sense of them in a way that takes them seriously and evaluates them critically. PTS provides a good platform to start engaging with ideas we may or may not subscribe to, while holding them in conversations about the needs of the church and society.”
Though Bolmenäs is not currently playing basketball, he would like to find a way to combine his love of sports with theology.
“I always pictured that my history with basketball would be part of my ministry, because as society grows more secular, it can be challenging to relate this subject matter to kids who may not be interested in religion,” he explains. “Perhaps a potential way of integrating sports with ministry is that we have devoted Christians and non-Christians who engage in sports. It’s certainly within my theological imagination.”
Currently, Bolmenäs is doing a field education placement with the Office of Religious Life, collecting oral histories from refugees, and engaging with social issues. Before he graduates in May of 2025, he plans to submit applications to PhD programs.
“My interest in academia has grown in my time here, from the great experiences I’ve had connecting with faculty, taking part in seminars, and engaging with current PhD students,” he notes. “If I don’t get into a PhD program, I may continue to practice refugee ministry and evaluate my future academic interests.”
