During the season of Pentecost, sometimes called “Ordinary Time”, we are looking at some women who are remembered in the Episcopal lectionary of ‘lesser saints’. These women, by living out their daily lives, inspire us to live our Christian faith more fully in our day-to-day worlds. Last time we met Evelyn Underhill, a mystic, writer, and pacifist. This week we meet a teacher who broke ground in many ways; and inspires us to make a difference right where we are.
Adelaide Teague Case was born in St. Louis, MO on January 10, 1887. She grew up in New York City in the last decade of the 19th century. She graduated with a BA from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania in 1908 and obtained her Master’s 11 years later. While working toward the Master’s degree, Case worked as librarian at the national offices of the Episcopal Church in New York City and taught at the NY Training School for Deaconesses. After achieving her MA, she taught in the religious education department of Columbia University’s Teaching College while working toward her own PhD. She got her doctorate in 1924 and continued to teach at Columbia. Her work centered on creating a more child-centered model for education, opposed to the teacher centered model in use then.
On September 22, 1941 Case was named Professor of Christian Education at the Episcopal Theological School (ETS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was the first woman to be a full-time faculty professor at ETS. Case died on June 19, 1948 in Boston. Her life was dedicated to her teaching, and toward practicing her faith in a life of prayer, thanksgiving, and communion.
Adelaide Teague Case believed that Christianity has a unique roll in transforming the human family through reconciled relationships. She lived her own belief that Christian faith is meant to make a difference in the world. She inspired her students toward peace in a world that saw much conflict during her lifetime, including two World Wars. Many remarked, “She was a true believer in Christ and you saw him living in and through her.”
The Gospel
appointed for her remembrance on June 19 encapsulates her faith. “He said to
them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the
bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be
disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with
ears to hear listen!’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear;
the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given
you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have
nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’” (Mark 4:21–25)
Adelaide
Teague Case used her gifts of teaching as a lamp to light the way for women to
obtain tenured positions at colleges. She also changed the way religious
education was approached so that children could be more engaged in the
learning. People saw Christ in her life and work.
Case poured herself into her life’s calling of teaching. We can do nothing less than offer our gifts and calling to God’s use. As the Gospel notes, “the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.” As we offer our gifts, we are given more ways to use them. Case’s life of learning and teach can inspire us to use and offer our gifts without fear that they are ‘too small’ or insignificant.
The collect for June 19 says, “ Everliving God, who raised up your servant Adelaide Case, whose compassion and commitment to peace inspired generations of students: Grant that we, following her example, may serve you in our vocations, laboring for your reign of peace, through the companionship of Jesus Christ, your Saving Word; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
What are your
gifts?
Do you ever
think that they are too meager or not important enough to make a difference?
How does
Adelaide Case’s story inspire you to use what you have today?
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/case-adelaide-teague
https://standingcommissiononliturgyandmusic.org/2010/07/19/july-19-adelaide-teague-case-teacher-1948/
