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Victoria Callahan Giger always planned to be a pastor. She felt the call early, at age 14, when she heard Nadia Bolz-Weber preach at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering. “I had wondered before if I could become a pastor but there were a lot of complicated questions surrounding women in ministry for me, because I had only met male pastors previously,” she recalls. “Until then, I was under the impression that to be a pastor you had to look a certain way, talk a certain way, and have a specific personality.”
She started working toward her goal and, like so many students, knew that Princeton Theological Seminary was the place for her from her very first visit. She was impressed with the community atmosphere, and the honest and genuine feedback she received from the students she met. Throughout her time in the MDiv program, she truly embraced that community as a member of the deacon program, by serving on the executive board of the Lutheran Group and the Women’s Center, and becoming moderator of the Student Government Association.
But Callahan Giger’s long-held plan recently changed, after serving as a hospital chaplain last summer in the eating disorder unit. “I was so fulfilled by my time in the hospital, leading spirituality groups and meeting with patients one-on-one,” she says. “I realized that I would thrive in an environment where I can intentionally meet with people one-on-one every day.”
That’s why, this summer, she’ll pursue a master’s degree in social work (MSW) while working full-time in a Lutheran church to earn her ordination. At the same time, she will continue to serve as a resident assistant at WomanSpace, a local nonprofit organization for individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence, which will also fulfill her field education placement for her MSW. In this role, she answers hotlines and helps coordinate transportation, safe housing, and other services for victims and survivors. “As I think about my call, there’s a feeling of peace and hope, and when I’m working in these spaces it feels right like it’s where I’m meant to be,” she says. “That intentional time with people is holy, especially in our busy world. There’s a power in that, and it can be a healing experience.”
Though her plan has shifted, Callahan Giger still hopes to be a part-time pastor in a smaller congregation that may not be able to afford a full-time pastor, even as she pursues a full-time career in social work. “Sometimes, God knows you have a plan and decides to shake it up a little bit,” she adds. “The theme of my time at the Seminary has been to embrace the unexpected and live into that.”
