When Scott Rush ’83 lost his job as a laser company executive at age 56, he decided to move his life in a different direction: religion. He began spending his time volunteering to help people struggling with food insecurity and homelessness as a way to strengthen his South Jersey community. “I realized that, when I was working, I was always focused on retirement,” he says. “When I was doing volunteer work, I felt like I could do it until the day I died.” Rush had considered a career as a Lutheran pastor several times throughout his life, both due to a desire to build community and his religious beliefs. Now, at the age many retire, he’s finally giving it a shot. 

“There is something about the community of organized religion that’s very powerful — congregating and sharing and just being with people,” he says. 

A high-achieving science student growing up, Rush studied chemistry at Colgate, working as a bench chemist upon graduation. He soon realized the role didn’t have the advancement potential he sought, so he moved toward a career in chemical engineering, studying at New York University – Polytechnic School of Engineering. 

But before he leaned into science, Rush was moved by his Colgate core and January term philosophy and religion courses. He had been involved in University Church, but “when I was at Colgate, gay people were not really accepted in the church, in any role,” he says. Rush found solace at the University with Assistant Chaplain Marie Lindhorst, who served as his mentor. “Marie was a feminist,” he says, “and she taught me a lot, really opened my eyes to the power of language … and helped me to reconcile faith with sexuality.” 

Years later, when Rush was laid off and found fulfillment in faith-based volunteering, he worked with an executive coach to plot out career paths he might be interested in pursuing: teaching, social work, and being a pastor. “Within a couple of weeks of trying to do this parallel investigation, I abandoned the other two and started focusing on the ministry part,” he says. Times had changed, and the church was more open to welcoming the LGBTQ community, even at its higher levels. 

He started the process to become a Lutheran minister last January, enrolling in United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. Additionally, he’s already been “entranced,” the first of a three-step process to becoming officially ordained. The next step is endorsement, which he hopes to complete next year. In 2024, when he finishes his studies and the church’s approval process, he’ll be 63. 

“The Apostle Paul’s call to minister came when he was struck blind on the road to Damascus.  For me, it was more like listening to a persistent whisper.  I’m just letting God put me where he wants me to be.”