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Grace Place
When given the opportunity to write a profile on The Grace Place Sabbath School, I was surprised at how difficult it was to describe. Of course I have my own reasons for loving GP. but none of them sounded like I thought they should when I had to put them into words. For that reason, I asked the class members to help me describe Grace Place. Ted Hamilton said, “I had the opportunity to attend a week-long leadership development program recently. We were told that the purpose of the week was to ‘Ask questions, tell the truth, and love one another.’ It strikes me that this is the purpose of Grace Place as well.”
The Grace Place is a diverse Sabbath School class. In fact the diversity of GP plays a significant role in defining its unique personality. Barbara Varro stated, “There are many points of view in our class, but they reflect real life, not just pat answers that are expected. I appreciate those who are real and express life from their vantage point.” Grace Place members vary greatly in age, personality and, more significantly, in the paths they’ve taken on their journey toward Heaven. Tom Hardin said, “What I enjoy most about GP is the feeling of comfort with myself as well as others. Many of us have traveled vastly different roads, in and out of the church, to get to where we are today. No matter how off course we may have traveled, we’ve arrived, and no one sits in judgment. To me that is GP’s precious quality.” Jane Zeismer added, “I feel free to express any idea or opinion without the chance of being criticized.”
Rather than having one teacher, The Grace Place has several members who take turns leading the discussion each Sabbath morning, which, Dale Zeismer calls “good and sometimes lively.” Although the GP leaders are always well prepared and able to guide thoughtful discussions on any topic, I have a feeling none of them would necessarily approve of being called a “teacher.” Because of the willing participation of the Grace Place members, who each bring their own thoughtful insight to our discussions, the class tends to teach itself with only minimal guidance. Mark Kurzynske said, “In GP you are given the opportunity to hear both sides of a question and how Adventist theology is often derived. The debate centers around how the SDA point of view hits the mark or could be better defined.”
Grace Place usually uses the Sabbath School Quarterly, but only as a starting point. GP discussions frequently veer into areas only tangentially related to the quarterly’s focus. Grace Place members like to think, and they like to question. Rob Stevenson stated about GP. “There is a true desire to find truth there. If finding truth is stepping out of convention and looking at an issue from another perspective, it is safe to do it in the Grace Place.” Indeed, many times the dynamic of the class itself defines where we end up. Yet no matter how controversial the discussion may be, there is a pervasive attitude of acceptance and a willingness to listen that guarantees a thoughtful, yet comfortable atmosphere of study and worship. Ted Hamilton said, “No question is inappropriate or off-limits; we are all seeking the truth, but no one of us has the whole package; and every one of us is loved, accepted, and forgiven.” And Rob Stevenson called Grace Place “a place where the spiritually wounded can voice their pain and find healing in a non-judgmental forum.”
Dale Zeismer did a great job of summing up Grace Place. He stated, “When Jane and I arrived at Madison Campus Church five years ago I came into Grace Place and thought I could take a seat without being noticed. The problem was that the class was small, and I felt at home immediately. The approach to the lesson was such that even though I had not studied, I could take part in the discussion from the beginning. The class members were open and accepting and I made my first church friends there. Some of the members are deep thinkers and I have heard some really great and different ways of looking at my own spiritual thoughts. Many people contribute to the discussions, not just a few. The class is a good way to meet new people. The members are family.” If you’re looking for a Sabbath School to call home, Grace Place would love to have you!
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