The Seabury Institute Story
How It All Began
In 1992 a planning committee of the Board of Trustees conceived the idea of developing an institute that would sustain its own life but belong to the corporate structure of the seminary. This institute would be an arm of the seminary that would create programs to promote church growth and be directly connected with parishes. In 1994 the committee's idea was birthed as the "Seabury Institute" with the mission "to challenge the Church to grow in faith and numbers by carrying out research and development projects in partnership with parishes." Arlin Rothauge was hired the following year as the first Executive Director of the Institute.Advanced Studies in Congregational Development Came Next
There was some question about whether there would be sufficient interest in a degree program to launch the first studies in congregational development, but soon after the program was announced to the public eighty priests and parish leaders applied for admission. The first half of those accepted began their studies in the summer of 1995, the second half the following summer. In 1998 the first of this group received their degrees: seventeen students received the Doctor of Ministry degree and one student was awarded a Master of Theological Studies degree. The success of this initial endeavor led to the recruitment of a third class which began its studies in 1998. A new class began the following summer, a fifth class began in 2002, and the next class is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2004. Over one hundred ninety students have enrolled in one of the Institute’s nine classes including three extension sites; seventy-seven students have earned graduate degrees and another seventeen students have received certificates of advanced studies in congregational development.As Programs Developed Staffing Needs Also Grew
In the beginning Arlin Rothauge’s only assistance came from his wife, Earlene, who served as the first administrator of the programs. In 1998 John Dally, Assistant Professor of Christian Communication at Seabury, came on board half time as director of the developing extension programs, and other faculty of the seminary began to share the advising of thesis projects. A half-time administrative assistant was also added. After Arlin and Earlene announced their retirement in 2000, John Dally was appointed Executive Director and Peggy Pearson was hired to assume full-time duties as Administrator and later in 2003 assumed the role of Assistant Director. With John moving into the director’s chair, Meredith Woods Potter, Director of Academic Affairs at the Seminary, moved into the half-time position of Director of Extension and was appointed Lecturer in Congregational Studies. As all of the Institute’s programs continued to grow, Sophia Hinshelwood was hired as part-time administrative assistant and later became a full-time member of the Institute team as Program Coordinator.The Programs Move Out Into The Dioceses
By 1996 dioceses had begun to develop interest in working with the Seabury Institute to make it possible for some of the Institute’s programs to be offered locally. In July 1996 the Diocese of Texas formally invited the Seabury Institute to begin an evangelism institute in Houston. A generous donation from a lay person in the diocese made this initiative possible. Twenty-seven students began the Texas program, which became known formally as Seabury Institute Southwest. Classes were held in the facilities of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. Students in the Texas extension took classes in Texas as well as a summer residency in Evanston. The success of the Texas venture soon spread to the East Coast and in the fall of 1999 eighteen students began study at Seabury Institute Mid-Atlantic. Classes took place at the Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland. In 2001 conversations began with the Diocese of Arizona which led to the opening of the third extension site in spring of 2002. As the programs have developed it has become increasingly clear that parishes benefit the most when both priests and parish lay leaders undertake advanced studies in congregational development. For this reason the Seabury Institute is increasingly committed to building on its offerings of lay leadership development and training programs through congregations, judicatories, and regions.Other Programs and Initiatives
In 1998 a summer program for deacons, called “The Reflective Deacon,” was held. Part II of this program was offered the following summer. The Diocese of Southern Ohio through its Procter Fund provided a grant to the Institute to develop educational resources for leaders of new church development. The first event was held April 12-13, 2000 at the Procter Conference Center, where sixty-eight church leaders participated in Right Start: An Introduction to Church Planting for Diocesan Leaders. In the same year, in cooperation with the National Episcopal Health Ministries, the Seabury Institute offered a summer course to prepare leaders for Health Ministry and Parish Nursing. This course was repeated in the summer of 2001.In late 2003 the Seabury Institute entered into a two-year consulting agreement with the Diocese of Minnesota to provide graduates of the congregational studies programs to serve as consultants, offering their experience and expertise in the areas of: congregational size transitions, new church plants, effective community outreach, healthy models of church leadership, new models for church community, and multicultural ministry.
During the week of June 21-25, 2004, the Seabury Institute made its D.Min. elective course offerings available to the wider public. Lay and ordained leaders were invited to participate for continuing education or academic credit. The venture was met with resounding success.
As new programs and initiatives are considered, the Seabury Institute continues to be mindful of its mandate to carry out research and development projects in partnership with judicatories, and regions that impact the lives of congregational leaders, congregations, judicatories, regions and the wider Church.
The Seabury Institute:
• is rooted in the recovery of God’s mission instead of the church’s
• is committed to healthy conflict negotiation as a spiritual discipline
• offers systems thinking in place of critiques of individuals and groups
• encourages vision backed by strategy instead of problem-based planning
Posted at January 9, 2005 07:17 PM
