'A New Expression of the Same Calling'
Having served as a minister of a large congregation for the last fifteen years, Angela Herrera Koren, MDiv ‘10, is becoming a therapist, which she sees as a new expression of the same calling.
Angela Herrera Koren, MDiv ‘10
Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque (Albuquerque, NM)
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Describe the work you do today:
I have been a minister of a large congregation for the last fifteen years. The work has been deeply meaningful. Now I am ready for a simpler life. I am wrapping up a Masters in Counseling and preparing to change careers. I'll be working as a psychotherapist and clergy coach. I see this as a new expression of the same calling.
How has your HDS degree influenced your career journey?
As I shift into work as a therapist, I find that I am better prepared than many of my colleagues to address matters related to religion and spirituality, including: healing from religious harm, the interpretation of religious traditions and texts and ways to apply them in an individual's life, religious "landscapes" and options of which individuals may be unaware, existential questions and angst, and questions about the meaning of life and the pursuit of a meaningful life. I am also familiar with ancient figures and stories relating to many of the issues that challenge people today, which reminds us that we are not alone and our problems are not outliers.
What career advice would you offer to current HDS students?
Follow your passion and be open to many possible ways of living out your vocational calling!