The Close: A Young Woman's First Year At Seminary

by Chloe Breyer

Set in the context of the Church Year, The Close is an enthralling account of one young woman's spiritual journey. It is both a personal meditation on faith, in the spirit of Kathleen Norris's Cloister Walk, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes story of a graduate student's first year, in the mode of Scott Turow's One L. Raised in a liberal, interfaith home, Breyer, responding to an inner call to a spiritual vocation, began her training at New York's General Theological Seminary in 1997. She describes her intense immersion in daily prayer, the rigors and rewards of the academic program, and the challenging tension between secular and spiritual that marks her training, including working as a chaplain at Bellevue Hospital. She probes the day-to-day meanings of such profound issues as exaltation, enlightenment, and redemption, illuminating the unique experience of a young person of faith preparing to live and hoping to thrive in a secular modern world.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2000

Reviews

[Carly Trask-Kuchta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was bad. It started out rocky, but included some lovely liturgical analysis that my eschatology-loving heart was super into, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. However. It went downhill quickly into ignorant whining that vacillated on the edge of problematic. Toward the end Breyer starts commenting on whether theologians/ministers should bother with the mentally ill because they might not be able to "grasp" the Savior. Double yikes. I like the effort she put forward into creating a memoir based on her first year of seminary whilst integrating the liturgical season of the Episcopal Church, but she misses so many marks.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find this the most revolutionary read, but I did really enjoy it for a perspective on what a denominational, Christian seminary is like, and I did find the emphasis on formation she gives (and finds in seminary) inspiring me to be more intentional in my own faith practices and community.

[Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me by someone in my first theology class for my M.Div program. It isn't truly the same as seminary, but with the life changes that i'm experiencing, he felt that it would be helpful. It was a very quick read... but good enough. It helped me realize how much i could never be a part of a religion so rich in tradition (i'm not a fan of arguing about how to do the eucharist and other miniscule amounts of a mass... but to each their own) and i have no desire to be a priest... it did make me aware of some of my own fears that i'd been hiding and offered some simple but very true advice about how to do ministry and how to truly interact and relate to people without causing offence. nothing amazing about the book (though for some reason, there is a part where she shows a man's very simple prayers and how earnest they were...and it made me cry) but helpful for someone at a transition like me

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that Chloe and I had similar encounters with Walter Wink (she reflects several times on his work with nonviolence). Also, I liked the last chapter ("Pentecost") and its chronicle of her experiences as an assistant chaplain at Bellevue--I wish there had been more time spent on her time there. I also wish she had explored her childhood growing up in a Christian-Jewish interfaith home and how that influenced her sense of call into ordained ministry as an Episcopalian priest. I think the most spiritually moving thing about this book for me was Chloe's meditation on the significance of an incarnational God. One neat thing about this book is that Chloe parallels her journey as a first-year seminarian with the seasons of the church year, explaining each season and how the observances it marks relate to her growth.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's straightforward, funny, and insightful into the goods and bads, ups and downs of being a first-year seminary student. I appreciate Chloe's open honesty about her struggles (as well as joys) she encountered and what God taught her in the process. Great read!

[jana Blazek · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've just re-read this after completing my first year at seminary. it's very interesting how similar... and yet how different... the parallel experience are. (my seminary people are definitely much cooler than hers!)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book challenged my thinking on many levels -- will be interesting to see parallels or differences as I continue my own journey.

[Megara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Close is an enjoyable, interesting, light read about Chloe Breyer's first year at General Theological Seminary in NYC.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a spoiled little girl. So the Lord isn't my personal savior? Really? Why are you in ministry? Daughter of a Supreme Court justice.

[Helen-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at what it was like for a young woman from a non-religious background to realize that she had a calling to the priesthood, and then to experience learning to be a priest at General Seminary in New York. Her timing was not optimal - she started two days late because of a delayed return from her honeymoon! Her descriptions of her fellow classmates, her class work, learning Greek, learning the liturgy - at first seeming unimportant compared to social justice, but becoming important as a support to social justice work - all are described with humor and clarity. Of interest perhaps to Episcopal nerds, but also to readers interested in how people are "formed" into a profession.