The most recent episode of Callings features a conversation with Geoffrey Bateman, professor of peace and justice studies at Regis University. He is also a NetVUE faculty fellow and NetVUE scholar and has written extensively on the topic of supporting LGBTQIA+ students in their vocational journeys. In addition to serving as one of the faculty advisors for the Queer Student Alliance at Regis, he also leads Brave Space Trainings for the Queer Resource Alliance. His recent scholarship includes the essays “Queer Vocation and the Uncommon Good” in Called Beyond Ourselves: Vocation and the Common Good and “Queer Callings: LGBTQ Literature and Vocation” in Cultivating Vocation in Literary Studies.
In this conversation with hosts Erin VanLaningham and John Barton, he describes his vocation as “the consequence” and “the effect of all of the things that have happened” rather than a goal to which he is drawn. He has approached the process of discernment by asking the question, “Who do I want to be on this campus?” That questioning led him to serve as associate dean for student support and experiential learning for five years in addition to his role as faculty member.
Geoffrey defines attending to queer vocation as “making sure that the work that we do [. . .] truly is welcoming and inclusive of the experiences and the identities and the ideas and the attitudes of our queer students.” He discusses strategies for mentoring them and building inclusive practices in vocation work, both in classrooms and across campus. He prompts us to value what we share while also attending to difference and the “things overlooked or even harmed” by the normative common good. By taking action in local environments, listening for shifts in professional pathways, and honoring all facets of identity, educators can help individuals and communities to flourish.
From 2012 to 2019, Geoffrey served on the board of The Gathering Place, Denver’s only daytime, drop-in shelter for women, children, and transgender individuals experiencing poverty or homelessness, and he now volunteers there weekly. As part of the practice of vocational exploration, “walking the talk” by connecting to community groups and organizations can build resilience and foster relationships with those on the margins, supporting the well-being of all.
Click here to listen to the episode featuring Geoffrey Bateman titled “The Uncommon Good.”
Stephanie L. Johnson is the editor of Vocation Matters.