On Saturday, May 12, Seabury awarded eight Diplomas of Anglican Studies, three Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development Degrees, and one Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, at its 154th commencement held in the chapel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America headquarters in Chicago.

CHICAGO, Illinois, May 8, 2012—On Saturday, May 12, at 10:30 am, the Most Rev. Frank Griswold, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, former bishop of Chicago and Seabury adjunct faculty member, will preach at the 154^th commencement of Seabury Western Theological Seminary. The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, bishop of Chicago and a Seabury trustee, will preside.

The doctor of divinity honoris causa will be awarded to Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce, bishop suffragan of Los Angeles, and Bishop Andrew M.L. Dietsche, bishop coadjutor of New York. Bruce holds a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Congregational Development from Seabury, a master of divinity from Claremont School of Theology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California at Berkley. In 2009, she was elected seventh bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, becoming the first woman to be elected bishop in that diocese. Prior to her election to the episcopacy, she served ten years as rector of St. Clement’s by-the-Sea Church in San Clemente, California.

Dietsche holds a master of divinity degree from Seabury and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he majored in studio art. Prior to his 2011 election as bishop coadjutor of New York, Dietsche served as the diocese's canon of pastoral care for ten years. His first day of work for the diocese was September 12, 2001, the day after the attack on the World Trade Center. From 1990–2001, Dietsche served as rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd in West Springfield, MA.

Seabury's Interim President Dr. Robert Bottoms and the Rev. Dr. Gwynne Wright, board chair, will present three eDMin in congregational development degrees and eight diplomas of Anglican studies to graduating students. The Rev. Roger Albert Ferlo, Ph.D., D.D., president-elect of Seabury and Bexley Hall, will attend the ceremony. A luncheon reception will follow.

On Friday, May 11 at 4:30 pm, Seabury will also host a panel discussion with Paul Nahirney, Tom Thoeni and John Palarine, three students who will be awarded the DMin in congregational development the following day. Evensong will follow at 6 pm.Commencement Eucharist and Friday Evensong will be held in the chapel of the ELCA at 8765 W. Higgins Road in Chicago. The commencement reception will be held at Seabury, located on the sixth floor of the building. To RSVP, please call Ron Fox at 773-380-6781.

Seabury’s theological education—from single classes to certificates and doctoral degrees—embodies generous Christianity and is open to the intellectually and spiritually curious. For church leaders, for seminarians and for seekers, Seabury’s innovative programs are rooted in the Episcopal tradition and presented with academic rigor. Find out what’s next at www.seabury.edu

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"What do you need permission to do to make real the love and mercy of God and Christ?"  Last Epiphany, Bishop Jeff Lee asked that question at The Great Awakening in Chicago and asked people to write their own permission slips.

Check out Seabury's new blog for a sample of what people wrote, and read reflections from Bishop Lee, Diana Butler Bass, Brian McLaren and Tripp Hudgins. Check back for an upcoming post by Roger Ferlo.

Bishop Frank Griswold, former presiding bishop, former bishop of Chicago, and Seabury adjunct faculty member, will preach at Seabury's 2012 commencement Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 am. Bishop Jeff Lee, bishop of Chicago and a Seabury trustee, will preside.

The doctor of divinity honoris causa will be awarded to Bishop Diane Bruce, bishop suffragan of Los Angeles and Bishop Andrew M.L. Dietsche, bishop coadjutor of New York.

Seabury's Interim President Robert Bottoms and the Rev. Dr. Gwynne Wright, board chair, will present DMin in congregational development degrees and diplomas of Anglican studies to graduating students. A luncheon reception will follow.

On Friday, May 11, Seabury will also host:

4:30 pm: Panel discussion with DMin in congregational development graduates Paul Nahirney, Tom Thoeni, and John Palarine

6 pm: Evensong followed by a reception

The Evensong and Commencement Eucharist will be held in the chapel of the ELCA at 8765 W. Higgins Road in Chicago. The reception will be at Seabury, located on the sixth floor of the building. To RSVP, please call Ron Fox at 773-380-6781.

On March 27, the Seabury and Bexley Boards of Trustees announced that they have unanimously voted to federate and to elect the Rev. Roger Albert Ferlo, Ph.D., D.D., currently of Virginia Theological Seminary, as the Federation’s first president.

COLUMBUS, March 27, 2012--At historic meetings this month, the boards of Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Chicago and Bexley Hall in Columbus unanimously voted to federate and to elect the Rev. Roger Albert Ferlo, Ph.D., D.D., as the Federation’s first president.

Seabury's Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development, offered in partnership with Church Divinity School of the Pacific, prepares leaders for innovative and effective congregational ministry.

When you enroll, you'll embark on a three-year program of critical and constructive theological reflection, community organizing, handling conflict, family systems, entrepreneurial leadership, vision and creativity, nonprofit management, congregational health and vitality, and living the Gospel in today's diverse and challenging world.

Learn more about the program and read about its graduates. Apply by May 1 to begin in June. Questions? Talk with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

It is nearly time for us to bid farewell to Seabury's campus in Evanston. On January 6, please join us both to say goodbye to our old campus and to bless our new space:

Friday, January 6, 3 pm

Holy Eucharist in the Charles Palmerston Anderson Chapel

 of St. John the Divine on the Seabury Evanston Campus

at 2122 Sheridan Rd.

The Rev. Elizabeth Butler Jameson '97, preaching

The Rev. Gywnne Wright '04, presiding

   Enter the parking lot at Seabury off of Garrett Place. Parking

   will be available in any open space that is not marked RESERVED.

   Parking is also available in the Northwestern Parking lot at Haven

   and Sheridan.  NU has generously waived parking restrictions for

   this event, other than places specifically marked RESERVED.

Friday, January 6, 4:30-6:30 pm

Open House at the new Seabury

5:30 pm Blessing of the Chapel and Offices

8765 W. Higgins Road, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60631

 Directions to 8765 W. Higgins from Evanston

After the Open House, join us for The Great Awakening.

On December 20, Seabury relocated to space at the Lutheran Center, the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Chicago. Our new address and phone number:

8765 W. Higgins Rd Suite 650
Chicago, IL 60631
office: 773-380-6780
toll-free: 800-275-8235

The boards of Seabury Western Seminary and Bexley Hall have appointed a joint search committee to seek a single president for both institutions. Suggestions of names and applications are due November 11.

“The president we seek will have an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to manage change and think creatively,” said the Rev. Dr. Gwynne Wright, chair of Seabury’s board of trustees and co-chair of the search committee. “We invite applications from non-traditional applicants as well as people with experience in academic theology.”

View the position profile, including a committee roster, here, and view a statement about the Bexley Hall Seabury Western partnership here.