Hello, and welcome to The Humanist Seminarian blog. My name is Everett Howe, and as I am writing this I am just starting my second year as a part-time low-residency student at Starr King School for the Ministry, a Unitarian Universalist seminary in Berkeley. I am also just starting a two-year part-time ministerial internship at Throop Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, California, under the supervision of Rev. Tera Little.
All this is in addition to my role as a husband and a father of two children, one just starting college and one a junior in high school. And in addition to my career as a research mathematician.
A research mathematician?
Yes. I’m still trying to work out what a calling to ministry might mean to me — but I know for sure what a calling to mathematics means. I’ve known since I was about 8 that I wanted to do math, and I’ve devoted a lot of energy and the majority of my life to answering that call. I’ve taught at universities, I’ve worked at a think tank for 20 years, and I’ve published a few dozen research articles in math journals.
So what’s all this about ministry? Well, I guess if you stick around here, you’ll find out… as will I.
I should mention that there is already a well-known Unitarian Universalist blogger with a Ph.D. in math — his is in algebraic geometry, mine in arithmetic geometry. So I have a lot to live up to.
The Humanist Seminarian 
I’m intrigued by your being a part-time low residency student at Starr-King. What does that mean? Are you able to fit in classes around your other commitments? What degree, goal, or career are you working towards?
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Some classes can be taken online — some are online only, and some have a classroom component that distance students can participate in via video-teleconference software. Also, their are intensive classes offered in January and August; these are classes that meet every day, 9–5, for three to five days. Before coming to Berkeley for an intensive, you read all the course material; then you meet with your teacher and classmates for the week at school; then, after you get home, you write up whatever final paper is required. These types of classes are why I can continue to live in San Diego with my wife and kids.
During the semester I have been working 60% time at my math job — that’s how I fit in classes around other commitments.
I’m aiming to get an M.Div. degree, and then (eventually) to be ordained and fellowshipped as a UU minister. What kind of ministry I will do after that is not clear to me yet… could be parish, could be chaplaincy…
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