"Called to Mission, Called to Difference" Seabury's Commencement Sermon by Titus Presler, Dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
"Jesus wants to meet me out of my comfort zone!" exclaimed the young American of East Indian descent as he explained to several seminarians why he felt called to South Africa as a Young Adult Service Corps missionary. "Can't you meet Jesus here?" asked an equally young postulant. "Yes, but Jesus wants to get me out of my comfort zone," said the would-be missionary.
Posted June 06, 2005 at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)
Seabury Sermons - Commemoration of James Lloyd Breck
John Dally, Associate Professor of Christian Communications, preached at the April 5th commemoration of James Lloyd Breck. The full text of Prof. Dally's sermon follows below:
Continue reading "Seabury Sermons - Commemoration of James Lloyd Breck"
Posted May 09, 2005 at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)
Dean Gary Hall Announces New Director of Development and New Director of Communications
I'm writing to let you know that I have made two important appointments to Seabury's administrative staff which will take effect May 1, 2005:
First, I have appointed the Reverend Elizabeth Slaughter Butler '97, Director of Development. Elizabeth comes to us from the Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth, Illinois, where she has been on staff for several years, most recently in the capacity as Senior Associate Rector. Elizabeth came to Seabury after graduating from Harvard College and received the Women’s Board Award for Excellence among other honors during her time here. Elizabeth brings vision, faith, intelligence, and creativity to this new ministry, and I believe her unique combination of skills and commitments is precisely the mix that will help Seabury build relationships and increase giving among all the seminary's friends and constituencies.
Additionally, I have asked Connie Wilson, our Associate Director of Development and Alumi/ae Programs to begin her new ministry as Director of Communications on May 1 as well.
Posted March 29, 2005 at 03:15 PM
Professors Wondra and Meyers Lead Discussion on Windsor Report at ARC-USA
Anglicans and Roman Catholics discuss Windsor Report
At the 58th meeting of the Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States (ARC-USA) substantial time was given to a discussion of the Windsor Report and the Primates' Communique in response to the Lambeth Commission's Report. This long-standing and productive ecumenical dialogue held its March 3-6 meeting on the campus of the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.
Dr. Ellen Wondra and Dr. Ruth Meyers, both faculty members at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and members of ARC-USA, led the group of some twenty Roman Catholic and Episcopal bishops, scholars, priests, and lay persons in an overview of the two documents and a sampling of responses thus far from various institutions and groups, ranging from the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops and Executive Council to the African Anglican Bishops Conference.
Continue reading "Professors Wondra and Meyers Lead Discussion on Windsor Report at ARC-USA"
Posted March 09, 2005 at 01:21 PM
Faculty in Action
Seabury’s Rosemary Gooden will attend the Dedication Ceremony of the African American Episcopal Historical Collection at Virginia Theological Seminary on February 24, and will also attend a meeting of the Standing Commission for Ministry Development (of which she is a member) at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Shortly thereafter, Ellen Wondra and Ruth Meyers will be at Virginia Theological Seminary March 3-6 to participate in the semi-annual meeting of the Anglican Roman Catholic Consultation in the US (ARCUSA).
Posted February 22, 2005 at 03:10 PM
Alum Christopher Griffin Named Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow
The Rev. Christopher Griffin, Seabury class of 2002, has been named a 2005-2006 Fellow in the Episcopal Church Foundation Doctoral Fellowship Program.
The purpose of this program is to build the learned leadership of the church by providing doctoral fellowships to outstanding seminary graduates planning teaching careers in theological education in the Episcopal Church in the United States. Chris was nominated by the Seabury faculty last fall, and he learned late last week that he has been selected as one of four Fellows for the coming year. Chris is currently a doctoral student at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he is integrating his theological studies with his work with “at risk” children. In his application for the fellowship, Chris described his primary interest as “constructing a ‘new’ liberation theology that places the stories of oppressed children at its center, next to the Gospels.”
As a Fellow, Chris joins a group of distinguished scholars, including faculty members A. K. M. Adam, John Dally, and Ellen Wondra, our new Dean and President Gary Hall, and trustee Eugene Lowe, as well as Margaret Adam, a Seabury graduate who is a 2004-2005 Fellow.
Posted February 14, 2005 at 05:20 PM
Faculty News
Over and above the Seabury faculty’s teaching ministries, they write books, articles, and reviews; they participate actively in the life of the larger academy and the wider church. Click the link below to see what Seabury's faculty have been doing beyond our walls.
Continue reading "Faculty News"
Posted February 11, 2005 at 09:49 AM
New Website Design
Constance Wilson, Director of the Communications Committee, announced the posting of Seabury’s new web page on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation. Professor A. K. M. Adam and Registrar Micah Jackson joined Connie Wilson to tackle the issue of Seabury’s dated web site and address the problem of easily keeping information current. Utilizing the user-friendly content management program Moveable Type, the team has not only redesigned the appearance of Seabury’s site but also made it easier to update data on a regular, timely basis. Seabury Web visitors who use newsreader clients can now receive all updates to the Seabury site in their aggregator via our RSS feed.
The design of these pages will continue to evolve. The Communications Committee will fine-tune the layout over the next couple of months. As the seminary relies more and more heavily on the dissemination of information electronically, this endeavor was critical. This new site is brighter, easier to search and maintain, friendlier to the Web, and easily adaptable to future changes.
Posted February 02, 2005 at 09:57 PM
Connie Wilson on Mission to Sudan
Posted January 25, 2005 at 10:16 PM
Installation of Dean Hall
Please mark your calendars for the installation of the Very Reverend Gary R. Hall, ninth Dean and President of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary on April 21, 2005 at 5 o'clock p.m.
The installation will take place in conjunction with the Winslow Lectures, April 20-22, 2005. Presenters include Dr. Stephen Fowl of Loyola College in Maryland, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer of Trinity International University, Dr. Francis Watson of Aberdeen University, and Dr. A.K.M. Adam of Seabury-Western.
Posted January 24, 2005 at 09:12 PM
The United Library
Seabury-Western shares the United Library with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, the United Methodist seminary across the street). The library has an outstanding collection of 320,000 volumes and subscriptions to 1,500 periodicals with strengths in Bible, Patristics, Anglican and Methodist studies, Liturgics and nineteenth-century American Protestantism.
Users have on-line access to the holdings of the Northwestern University Library and over half of the holdings of the United Library. Users are also able to access several hundred databases from terminals in the United Library and for those databases on the Web are able to access them outside the library.
Seabury-Western’s special collections include the Hibbard Library of Ancient Near East material and the Hale Rare Book Collection with exemplars of early prayer books on the Seabury side; and the Wesleyana Collection and the Keen Bible Collection of English editions of the Bible located at Garrett-Evangelical.
Posted January 01, 2005 at 09:49 PM
Community Activities
Seminarians Involved in Missions
Continue reading "Community Activities"
Posted December 30, 2004 at 10:55 PM
Seabury Academic and Service Awards for 2005
Awarded during the Eucharist on May 26, 2005, the following annual awards were given:
Continue reading "Seabury Academic and Service Awards for 2005"
Posted December 30, 2004 at 10:43 PM
The Bookshelf
The Bookshelf carries hundreds of items, all reasonably priced. If your favorite item is not in stock, we will order it for you in any quantity. In-stock items are shipped within 24 hours of the receipt of your order. Postage and handling are added as required. Parish accounts are welcome - please inquire.
Books
The classics and the newest works in every field that touches on being a Christian today in adult and children's books - theology, pastoral care, sexuality, spirituality, liturgics.
Books on short and long range parish planning, development and growth - what works and what doesn't!
Reference works from Bible Dictionaries to Bibles - something for every budget.
Continue reading "The Bookshelf"
Posted December 30, 2004 at 10:17 PM
Seabury’s History
The roots of Seabury-Western are in Illinois and Minnesota, in the Episcopal Church’s nineteenth century missionary outreach to western America.
In 1858, James Lloyd Breck founded Bishop Seabury University in Faribault, Minnesota, to provide education from primary school through theological studies for both Native Americans and Euro-American settlers. He envisioned his “School of the Prophets” as the center of evangelism for the about-to-be organized Diocese of Minnesota. The Seabury Divinity School, which emerged, continued its missionary consciousness and, in the twentieth century, developed a distinctly evangelical character.
Continue reading "Seabury’s History"
Posted December 30, 2004 at 08:41 PM
Seabury’s Mission
Statement of Mission & Values adopted by the Board of Trustees, October 15, 1999
The mission of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary is to develop empowered and empowering leaders for Christ’s Church and God’s mission in the world through:
+ practices of learning, worship and community life which transform.
+ distinctive integration of theory and practice with a particular focus on congregational vitality.
+ learning and renewal that sustain leaders throughout their lives and ministries.
Continue reading "Seabury’s Mission"
Posted December 30, 2004 at 08:39 PM
Seabury Facts
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary was created in 1933 by the merger of Seabury Divinity School (1858, Faribault, Minnesota) and Western Theological Seminary (1883, Chicago, Illinois).
Mission:
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary is called to develop empowered and empowering leaders for Christ’s Church and God’s mission in the world through:
+ practices of learning, worship and community life which transform
+ distinctive integration of theory and practice with a particular focus on congregational vitality
+ learning and renewal that sustain leaders throughout their lives and ministries.
Strengths:
+ A strong emphasis on mission, evangelism, congregational development, and leadership education
+ A distinguished faculty of scholars who are active speakers, writers, and teachers for the Church
+ An intellectually rigorous program of learning and teaching
+ The Seabury Institute, a nationally recognized ministry providing a center for research and development in the field of congregational studies
+ Largest D.Min. program of any Episcopal seminary, making seabury a center for lifelong ministerial education
+ A flexible curriculum that is tailored to fit each student
+ A diverse community of faithful people with a central emphasis on rich and varied corporate worship and attention to spiritual formation
+ Institutional cooperation and cross-registration among twelve Chicago area seminaries
+ The United Library shared by Seabury and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
+ Convenient access to downtown Chicago and the entire metropolitan area
Board of Trustees
Salme Harju Steinberg, Chair
Thaddas L. Alston, Vice-Chair
James H. Hawk, Vice-Chair
Eugene Y. Lowe, Jr., Secretary
Galen Burghardt, Treasurer
James W. Gladden, Jr., Chancellor
Gary R. Hall, Dean and President
Robert G. Bottoms
Halsey M. Cook
George E. Councell
Jerry C. Doherty
Mrs. David Ferguson
Peggie Ann Findlay
Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr.
M. Andrew Green
Lane G. Hensley
James L. Jelinek
Katharine R. Koeze
Talbot Leland MacCarthy
Richard N. Morrison
Mary P. Murley
Daniel A. Panshin
William D. Persell
Joy Rogers
Dabney M. Rohrbach
Joan Sholten
James Steen
John A. Ward
Sandra A. Wilson
Richard Winter
Gwynne Wright
Worship:
Holy Eucharist and Morning Prayer, Evensong or Evening Prayer, and Compline offered Monday through Friday; visitors welcome.
Faculty, 2002-2003:
Masters Degree Programs: 13 faculty and 10 adjuncts Doctoral Degree Programs: 8 faculty, 8 adjunct faculty, and 16 visiting lecturers
Degrees and Diplomas:
Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development
Doctor of Ministry in Preaching
Master of Divinity
Master of Theological Studies with concentration in specific theological disciplines and Church Music and Liturgy.
Licentiate in Theology
Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies
Certificate of Study in Individual Academic Disciplines
Enrollment, 2002-2003:
Masters Degree Programs
81 students (69 M.Div.; 12 M.T.S)
55% women - 45% men
16% minority
66% of the students receive financial aid
31 dioceses and 3 provinces of the Anglican Communion represented
Over 95% of graduating students are employed in parish positions or pursue further studies
Certificate Programs, 2002-2003:
3 students
33% women; 67% men
Advanced Studies in Congregational Development Doctor of Ministry Degree Program, 2001-2002:
103 students
77% men; 23% women
63 dioceses represented
Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching, 2002-2003:
8 students
62% men; 38% women
7 dioceses represented
Completion and Drop-Out Rates for 1999-2002:
1999-2000
Total Enrolled - 85
Graduates - 24
Percentage Eligible to graduate - 100%
Percentage of drop outs - 1%
Percentage of transfers - 0%
2000-2001
Total Enrolled - 86
Graduates - 22
Percentage Eligible to graduate - 100%
Percentage of drop outs - 1%
Percentage of transfers - 0%
2001-2002
Total Enrolled - 102
Graduates - 37
Percentage Eligible to graduate - 100%
Percentage of drop outs - 3%
Percentage of transfers-1%
Governance and Accreditation, 2002-2003:
Board of Trustees: 36
The Association of Theological Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Financial, 2002-2003:
Operating budget: $2.9 million
Annual tuition, $12,900 for 2002-2003 (fixed at entrance for three years, 57% of students receive financial aid).
Capital fund-raising program for new $2.4 million building completed, planning for next capital campaign.
The Seabury (Annual) Fund goal of $550,000, consisting of gifts from parishes, friends and alumni/ae, supports:
+ Financial aid for students
+ Faculty salaries
+ Curriculum and programs
+ Campus and building maintenance
Endowment and Major Gifts Support:
+ Scholarships
+ Faculty Chairs
+ Special Programs
+ Library
+ Facilities
Posted December 30, 2004 at 07:50 PM
Ellen Wondra Inaugural Lecture
Inaugural Lecture: “The highest degree of communion possible”
The Rev. Ellen K. Wondra, PhD
Professor of Theology and Ethics
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Evanston, Illinois
I am very grateful to be here this morning, in this position, and addressing this collection of people. I want to thank Connie Wilson for all she’s done to make this possible. I want to thank as well Micah Jackson (Assoc Dean for Acad Operations) and Moki Hino (my research assistant) for an amazing amount of assistance in preparation, and for being such good companions along the way. As some of you know, I have just returned from the semi-annual meeting of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, where the conversation was very helpful to this lecture.
Continue reading "Ellen Wondra Inaugural Lecture"
Posted November 12, 2004 at 07:48 AM
New Dean
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary announces the election of the Rev. Dr. Gary R. Hall as its ninth Dean and President. The announcement was made by Dr. Salme Harju Steinberg, chair of the seminary’s Board of Trustees. The new Dean and President is expected to take office in January, 2005.
Posted November 08, 2004 at 02:25 PM
