Pittsburgh is known for its cold and cloudy winters. But on even the grayest, dreariest days here, the Rev. Natoya Thomas-Smith’s warm and sunny disposition shines through it all.
A native of Jamaica, Natoya admits she misses the sun and beaches of home, in addition to her deep connection to the environment and people of Jamaica. But she has also come to love Pittsburgh and studying at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She is in her first year of the master of theological studies program, and her second year living in Pittsburgh. Her husband, the Rev. Abasilum Smith, graduated PTS in 2023. Due to entering with advanced standing, Natoya expects to graduate later this year.
PTS Offers Customized Tracks
When asked what she likes most about PTS, Natoya says:
“I like that within a given track I have the option of customizing my program to my vocational and educational interests. I also appreciate the Seminary’s commitment to making theological education accessible. The opportunities extended to those preparing for ministry in this community are numerous and relevant to our studies.”
Natoya also enjoys the scholarship of the PTS faculty and the variety of academic interests among them, and is grateful for the support of Seminary staff, especially Registrar Anne Malone, who has helped her in the process of enrolling in courses of interest to Natoya.
From Jamaica to Pittsburgh
Both Abasilum and Natoya are Methodist pastors, and have a 10-year-old son. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh, they served in the Jamaica District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. Both hold theology degrees from United Theological College of the West Indies, and a few years ago Abasilum applied for study leave to attain another degree. Another seminary in the United States accepted him, but the pandemic shifted their plans.
Instead, they ended up in Pittsburgh. Natoya’s brother lives here and works as a software engineer. So they explored PTS as an opportunity to be close to family during their time studying in the United States.
Exploring a Call to Specialized Ministry
Originally, Natoya did not intend to do a master’s program here. She was more interested in doing clinical pastoral education (CPE). Through the Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute, she has been doing CPE with the Foundation of HOPE at the Allegheny County Jail since August 2023.
“I’ve always had an interest in specialized ministry. I enjoy teaching, and I enjoy chaplaincy—I see it as an extension of pastoral care,” Natoya says. “Sometimes we are so saddled with the other duties of parish ministry that we neglect those areas. So, I’ve wanted to engage in specialized ministry, and it’s something I’ve been nurturing for a very long time.”
Natoya isn’t sure if she’ll return to Jamaica immediately upon graduation, or seek other opportunities here in the United States first. She admits to missing pastoral work and the blessing of worship and community life within a local parish. But she feels called into a specialized area of ministry at this point in her life.
Natoya holds a diploma in ministerial studies and master of divinity from United Theological College of the West Indies. But her educational and working background also includes teaching and language studies. She has a B.A. in Spanish language and literature, and completed post-diploma studies in education and training. Natoya has taught Spanish and English in several places as both are always in demand, and when first moving to Pittsburgh she worked in higher education at Carnegie Mellon University.
The Finest Coffee in the World
When asked what she likes about Pittsburgh, Natoya notes the city’s manageable pace of life in contrast to other fast-paced large cities in the United States. When she was thinking of moving here, her brother described it as a small city with large city amenities, and she’s found that to be true.
There is one amenity Natoya misses: Jamaican coffee. Her hometown is in the Blue Mountain area of Jamaica, not far outside of Kingston. That region is best known for producing what Natoya says is the finest coffee in the world. “We pride ourselves on our coffee in Jamaica. So I tell people that I’m very skeptical about coffee elsewhere because we know what fine coffee is. I grew up with my grandparents planting and grinding their own coffee.”
Pittsburgh doesn’t have coffee that fresh, nor are beaches as close by as they are to her hometown in Jamaica. But as Natoya has found, hospitality and laughter travels well. And she shares large doses of both with the community at Pittsburgh Seminary.