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By Sascha Anderson, Postulant from the Diocese of the Rio Grande

In January of this year, a group of seven AAPI, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx seminarians from 51视频 joined seminarians from across the Episcopal Church at the Seminarians of Color Conference, held in Oklahoma City. The conference brought together BIPOC students from seminaries and divinity schools across the country with folks from the Episcopal Church鈥檚 Asian America, African Descent, Indigenous, and Latino Ministries departments. We heard from recent seminary graduates, lay leaders, and bi-vocational clergy.听 We heard from powerful speakers like the Reverend Guy Hewitt, Director of the Racial Justice Unit for the Church of England, who spoke to us about racial reconciliation in the Church of England; and the Rev. Dr. Mary Christ (Amskapi Pikuni / Blackfeet Nation), who spoke to us about her incredible work with St. Michael鈥檚 Ministry Center in Riverside, CA, funding and establishing a permanent supportive housing initiative from the ground up.听

The value that came from being in a room with other seminarians who shared lived experiences cannot be overstated. To be in a room surrounded by people praying in Xhosa, Chahta, Lakota, Japanese, Spanish, and other languages felt, to me, like the best expression of God鈥檚 church and the past, present, and future of our faith communities. Clergy of color continue to face myriad challenges in ministry鈥搃ncluding access to seminary education and mentorship after seminary鈥揵ut bringing us together to learn from one another and to build solidarity was a true blessing. It also highlighted the continued need for our faith communities to continue to invest resources in developing clergy and church leadership who reflect the diversity of all of God鈥檚 people, as diverse and vibrant communities are not built without strong and sustained support.听

I am tremendously grateful to the missioners and staff of the Episcopal Church who made this possible and to 51视频 for support in attending the conference. I鈥檓 already looking forward to next year!

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The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce has joined 51视频 as Interim Dean and President, bringing with her decades of experience in parish ministry, diocesan leadership, and collaborative institutional life. In the conversation below, Bishop Bruce shares what excites her about 51视频, how her varied vocational path has shaped her approach to leadership, and what gives her hope for the future.

What drew you to 51视频 in particular, and what excites you most about serving the community during this season of growth?

I have long admired the forward-thinking direction the 51视频 has taken. From the Iona Collaborative to the Mental Health Counseling Program; from the MDiv, MAR, and MSD degrees to the Latinx and chaplaincy concentrations, these offerings reflect a holistic approach to formation that meets the needs of both the church and the world today.

What parts of your personal and professional background have most shaped who you are today and the way you approach leadership?

Having served as a banker for 17 years, a curate in a downtown county seat, a rector of a bilingual parish in a beach community, a bishop overseeing multicultural ministry and stewardship, and a provisional bishop in the heart of the country, I have learned that the most important work any leader can do is to build strong professional relationships. For me, leadership is rooted in listening and collaboration to ensure the success of the organization as a whole. Listening allows leaders to think holistically and to guide an institution not by personal will alone, but by the insight and wisdom of those who carry out the work day by day.

What are you most looking forward to experiencing in Austin, both on campus and in the wider city?

Since my son completed his MA and PhD at the University of Texas, I am already familiar with much of Austin. I have visited this seminary many times, which is part of why I have grown to love it so deeply. I enjoy exploring not only the seminary鈥檚 immediate surroundings, but the city of Austin and the region beyond. Over time, I have compiled a list of 鈥渕ust-see鈥� places and restaurants, drawing recommendations from friends and sources like Atlas Obscura. I look forward to spending weekends exploring and checking items off that list, in part as a way to better understand the environment in which the seminary is planted.

As you step into this role, what do you see as the seminary鈥檚 greatest strengths鈥攁nd where do you sense opportunities for growth or renewal?

This seminary has a long, strong history of enriching the world with people prepared to preach, teach, counsel, care for, and change the world. The faculty and staff excel at their work, and those who come here to study in any of the disciplines offered or who participate locally in the work of the Iona Collaborative, are enriched by the experience which helps make wherever they land in the ministry or work a much better place. In terms of growth or renewal, I will always advocate for diversity and reconciliation 鈥� meaning that expanding and enhancing the opportunities to look deeply at our shared history, tell the truth about all that has happened around us, and work towards healing is paramount. I am grateful that this Seminary is long down this road. Is there more that can be done? Of course there is. This is complex work. I am grateful to the openness to do this work here.听

What gives you hope right now鈥攆or theological and counselor education, for the Church, and for the future of 51视频?

I believe the 51视频 is a beacon of light and hope for the Episcopal Church鈥攁 community marked by respect, hospitality, and mutuality. The seminary honors, integrates, and lives out a wide range of essential disciplines through a shared life of conversation and collaboration, all of which are vital to the life of the church and the needs of the world today. To lose any part of these multifaceted programs would diminish the seminary鈥檚 ability to serve both the church and the wider world. My heart is full of joy every time I talk to a student or a member of the faculty or staff 鈥� what incredibly gifted people!

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From The Episcopal Church Office of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries:

The Office of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries is inviting Parishes and Dioceses of the Episcopal Church into a renewed season of connection and partnership with veterans, service members, chaplains, and military families. This ministry extends beyond the Armed Forces to include those serving in federal institutions and in hospital settings where pastoral care is urgently needed.

Guided by the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, the office provides pastoral support and ecclesiastical endorsement for military, VA, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and hospital chaplains. The office also collaborates with dioceses and congregations to nurture and strengthen ministries that walk alongside veterans, members of the military and their families. Bishop Ritonia鈥檚 leadership is shaped by a commitment to compassionate presence and a deep respect for the sacrifices and gifts of those who serve.

Bishop Ritonia encourages lay leaders, clergy, and seminarians to discern how they might engage with this work. Some may feel drawn to military or federal chaplaincy. Others may be discerning hospital chaplaincy or a call to develop veterans ministry within their parish or diocese. Many are already faithfully serving in these spaces, and the church welcomes anyone who feels a sense of call, curiosity, or desire to connect with this special population.

To support this effort, the office is conducting a Church-wide survey. The survey aims to identify veterans and active military families within congregations, learn where ministries are already thriving, and understand where new opportunities for chaplaincy and pastoral care are emerging. It also provides a way for individuals to express interest in military, VA, Federal Bureau of Prisons, or Federal chaplaincy and to explore the possibility of serving their diocese as a Veteran/Military Missioner.

At the recent Veterans Day service, a veteran approached our team after hearing Bishop Ritonia preach. With emotion in his voice, he shared that her willingness to name moral injury and moral injustice during the sermon made him feel genuinely seen for the first time in years. He said, 鈥渕ost people thank us for our service, but no one ever acknowledges the weight we carry. Today, I felt understood.鈥�

That moment reminded us that healing often begins with simply being recognized, being named, honored, and remembered by the church. For veterans who have carried silent burdens, even a single sermon can open the door to hope.

This is why our work continues. And this is why your voice, your story, and your support truly matter.

The Office of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries invite all members of the Episcopal Church to complete the survey below. The responses received will help guide the development of future partnerships and resources that support veterans, military families, chaplains, and all who feel called to minister among them.

To take part in the survey, please .听

For more information, or to connect with the office, we warmly invite you to .

If you feel called to support the work of our Military and VA chaplains, please consider making a monetary gift by using this link –听

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This past November, for the 57th consecutive year, the Blandy Lecture and Alumni Convocation gathered alumni and friends of 51视频 for a joyful time of reunion, learning, and fellowship. Planned and led by the 51视频 Alumni Association Steering Committee and Office of Advancement and Communications, this year鈥檚 Blandy delivered the invigorating, inspirational experience that generations of 51视频 graduates have come to cherish. The intermingling of alumni, guests, and current students across campus offered a vivid reminder that members of the 51视频 community never truly depart鈥攖hey simply serve in new locations.

The festivities began the evening prior with a virtual reunion featuring reflections and conversation with current 51视频 leadership. The day of Blandy opened with Morning Prayer before attendees joined one of three class sessions: New Testament with the Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park, Theology with Dr. Tony Baker, or Anglican Studies with the Rev. Nathan Jennings, Ph.D.

At midday, alumni gathered with students, faculty, and staff for Holy Eucharist, during which the Hal Brook Perry Award was presented to the Rev. Andy Andrews. Andrews, who earned his M.Div. from 51视频 in 1996, currently serves as Missioner for Beloved Community and Congregational Vitality in the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. His ministry centers on reconciliation, healing, and justice鈥攚ork that has shaped parish communities, strengthened diocesan initiatives, and built partnerships in places yearning for transformation and hope. His leadership reflects the spirit of faithful engagement and compassionate service that Hal Brook Perry embodied and encouraged. Read the award citation here.

The Rev. Dr. Minerva Skeith 鈥�19 presided at the Eucharist, and the Rev. Constance Coleman-Fletcher 鈥�20 preached (view sermon here).

Over lunch with the full community, Eric Scott, Vice President for Advancement and Communications, offered words of welcome鈥攌icking off his remarks with a celebratory walk to the podium carrying the Polity Bowl trophy. Afterward, guests explored campus including Trinity Crossing outside the Bishop Dena A. Harrison Library and the Campus Bookstore, where alumni enjoyed dessert and browsed the latest Thuribull gear.

In the afternoon, Blandy lecturer Kazu Haga joined Dr. Gena St. David for a workshop titled 鈥淓mbodied Nonviolence in a Time of Collective Tension.鈥� Their conversation drew on themes from Dr. St. David鈥檚 forthcoming book The Nonviolent Brain: Unlocking our Potential to Save the Planet, Animals, and Ourselves and Haga鈥檚 recently published Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging Through Collapse. Designed especially for MHC students and alumni, the workshop offered continuing education credit and invited participants to explore the spiritual and neurobiological foundations of nonviolent practice.

After the workshop and Evening Prayer, attendees gathered in the dining hall for a festive dinner and the chance to reconnect with friends old and new.

Before the keynote address, the Alumni Association presented the inaugural Dave Scheider Award, named in honor of the Rev. Dave Scheider, whose vision and determination shaped the founding of 51视频鈥檚 Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Scheider imagined a program where spirituality and psychology were deeply integrated鈥攆orming counselors prepared to be healers in every dimension of human experience.

The award鈥檚 first recipient, Kevin Overton-Hadnot 鈥�23, exemplifies this holistic vision. As founder of Counseling For Us in Austin, Overton-Hadnot has expanded access to culturally responsive mental health care, reduced stigma around therapy, and created therapeutic environments rooted in dignity and belonging. His work demonstrates both professional excellence and unwavering commitment to community well-being. Read the award citation here.

“It was uplifting to greet so many mental health counseling alumni returning to campus to spend the evening with former faculty and current students,” said Dr. Gena St. David, Director of the Louise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Counseling and Spirituality. “We are grateful for everyone who contributed to this warm, inspiring homecoming. From the counseling CEU workshop, to the dinner, inaugural counseling award, and keynote lecture, the time together was poignant and energizing.”

The evening concluded with the keynote lecture delivered by Kazu Haga, who spoke on the meaning of nonviolence, his journey in reconciliation work, and the intentional community of Canticle Farm where he makes his home.

51视频 Academic Dean, the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., shared, 鈥淚 was delighted that our Blandy lecturer addressed the concerns of alums and students across all our programs. Kazu Haga reminded us that in this fraught time for the world we must pay attention to the smaller points of joy or abundance or grace in our lives, and so begin to see the patterns of those things throughout creation. I came away from the lecture filled with hope and grateful for our alums who, through their service, change the world in innumerable small and big ways.鈥澨�

鈥淥nce again, this year, our events brought together the best of the seminary鈥檚 traditions with some new traditions for our entire Alumni community to build upon for the future,鈥� reflected the Rev. Lecia Brannon, Director of Alumni Relations and liaison to the Alumni Association Steering Committee. 鈥淲hether our alumni were on campus or joining virtually, our Alumni Convocation events and the Blandy Lecture offered a 51视频 connection for everyone. Thank you to the members of the Alumni Steering Committee and the 51视频 Alumni Association for their dedication and commitment to this event for the seminary community.鈥澨�

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The Board of Trustees of 51视频 (51视频) is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce as Interim Dean and President, effective January 2, 2026. The Executive Committee of the Board, following consultation with an advisory group of seminary administrators and faculty, and the concurrence of the Board, made the appointment at a specially called meeting on November 14th, at which it also selected the Isaacson Miller search firm to assist with the search for the 10th Dean and President.

Bishop Bruce, a well-known leader in The Episcopal Church with extensive experience in diocesan leadership, multicultural ministry, budgeting, and organizational development, will guide the seminary during the transition. “I am thrilled to join the students, staff, and faculty at 51视频 and to walk with them and the Board through this time of transition!鈥� said Bishop Bruce. 鈥淚 have long admired the work and direction of this fine and forward-thinking听institution and am excited to be a part of it.”

鈥淏ishop Bruce takes a relational approach to her work of oversight, deepening trust through listening and partnering with other leaders,鈥� said the Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Chair of the 51视频 Board of Trustees. 鈥淪he understands the role of an interim to strengthen the institution during a time of transition and will be a thoughtful and wise support and guide for our whole community. Her financial expertise and gifts as a seasoned leader in multicultural ministry make her well-suited to lead 51视频 in this season.鈥�

Bishop Bruce most recently served as Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of West Missouri (2021鈥�2025), where she led the diocese of 47 congregations through a successful period of stabilization and preparation for the election of their next Bishop Diocesan. During her tenure, she worked with diocesan leaders to revamp governance structures, establish a zero-based and narrative budgeting process, and rebuild key commissions and committees. She currently serves on the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, where she is Chair of the Joint Budget Committee and Vice Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Finance.听

Bishop Bruce was elected Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 2010. In her 11 陆 years in that role, she oversaw over 70 congregations serving as the bishop to 5 of the diocese鈥檚 10 deaneries, and visited each of the 133 congregations in the diocese multiple times.听 She expanded multicultural ministry, strengthened stewardship programs, and effectively supported parish growth and vitality across the diverse diocese. Her earlier ministry includes distinguished service as Rector of St. Clement鈥檚 by-the-Sea in San Clemente, where she led significant parish growth, expanded Spanish-speaking ministry, and built innovative liturgical and community programs.

Before entering ordained ministry, Bishop Bruce spent 17 years in corporate leadership at Wells Fargo Bank, ultimately serving as Vice President of Compensation, Management and Analysis. Her background in corporate systems, analytics, training, and team management has informed her strong administrative and financial leadership in the Church.

With proven excellence in transitional leadership, Bishop Bruce brings a deep commitment to multicultural ministry that aligns with 51视频鈥檚 mission and identity. With fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, and some Cantonese, she is adept at leading and connecting in diverse contexts. She is widely recognized for her creative, transparent budgeting. She brings genuine enthusiasm for 51视频鈥檚 mission, a deep commitment to inclusive, creative, and diverse Christian communities, and a special interest in each of the three core programs of the seminary: the residential M.Div, the Iona Collaborative, and the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Counseling and Spirituality.

Bishop Bruce holds a D.Min. in Congregational Development from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology, and a B.A. in Linguistics from UC Berkeley. She has been recognized with multiple honorary doctorates and numerous awards for excellence in clergy leadership and service.

Isaacson Miller is a nationally recognized search firm. Ernest Brooks, III, the primary consultant for 51视频鈥檚 search, has recently worked with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City on their dean鈥檚 search and is currently engaged with Berkley Divinity School at Yale on a search for their next dean.

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The Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., Academic Dean and Duncalf-Villavoso Professor of Church History at 51视频, was among the honored guests in Rome recently as the Vatican celebrated St. John Henry Newman being named the 38th Doctor of the Universal Church. Dr. King, a noted Newman scholar, was one of two non-Catholic contributors to the positio, the Vatican document advancing Newman鈥檚 cause for this historic declaration.

Last weekend鈥檚 events acknowledged Newman鈥檚 influence in the Anglican as well as Catholic communions. On Friday, October 31, Dr. King presented at a day-long symposium on Newman held at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where scholars from around the world reflected on Newman鈥檚 theological legacy and his enduring contributions to education and ecclesial life.

On Saturday, November 1, Dr. King joined the Anglican delegation attending the Mass in St. Peter鈥檚 Square at which Pope Leo XIV formally declared Newman a Doctor of the Church. Prior to the liturgy, the delegation had a papal audience, during which Dr. King was personally introduced to Pope Leo as 鈥渢he Anglican contributor to the positio.鈥� This recognition underscored Newman鈥檚 unique significance as a figure who lived and developed key theological insights within both Anglican and Catholic traditions.

The Anglican delegation鈥攍ed by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell, and including the Rt. Rev. Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford鈥攚as welcomed by the Vatican in acknowledgment of the fact that Newman spent nearly half of his life as an Anglican priest, theologian, and preacher before his reception into the Roman Catholic Church. Their inclusion signaled the deep ecumenical resonance of Newman鈥檚 life and thought.

Newman鈥檚 naming as a Doctor of the Church affirms his enduring role in shaping modern Christian understandings of conscience, formation, and the development of doctrine.听

鈥淚t is deeply meaningful that the Vatican considers Newman an ecumenical saint,鈥� Dr. King said. 鈥淎s an Episcopalian, I have been welcomed into the process of naming Newman a Doctor of the Church, and in Rome I was moved by the extent to which Anglicans were included in the celebrations. It is remarkable that Newman, who developed many of his most important theological ideas while an Anglican, is now regarded as a co-patron of Catholic education alongside no less a theologian than Thomas Aquinas.鈥�

The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Texas shared, 鈥淒r. King鈥檚 scholarship and presence in Rome reflect 51视频鈥檚 commitment to theological depth, ecumenical relationship, and faithful engagement with the global church.鈥�

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September was Deaf Awareness Month, and our seminary community had several opportunities to learn from and connect with the Deaf community. Elizabeth Holland, MDiv student, shared resources for learning ASL and announced upcoming events. Several students began taking online classes through the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and have shared positive feedback about their experience.

On September 27, the Rev. Nancy Frausto and Elizabeth led a group to Abuela鈥檚 Casa, an event hosted by Laura Monsalve, a representative of the National Hispanic Latino Association of the Deaf (NHLAD), who invited 51视频 to join in celebrating Deaf Latine culture, history, and community. Through stories, vendors, and shared meals, we experienced comunidad and 补肠辞尘辫补帽补尘颈别苍迟辞鈥攂earing witness to and walking alongside the Deaf community. While we were there, many Deaf participants came up to us, expressed their joy at being seen, and welcomed us into their space.

On October 4th, Elizabeth Holland and Sam McRae, MDiv student, joined Good Shepherd on the Hill鈥檚 vendor booth at the Texas School for the Deaf Homecoming event. They shared news about The Hill鈥檚 interpreted worship service, and The Hill welcomed several new Deaf visitors to church the next day.听

Then on October 9th, Elizabeth Holland led a CIS of the Feast of Gallaudet and Syle (transposed from August 27th), who are apostles and saints to the Deaf in the Episcopal Church. Fr. Erich Krengel, a Deaf Episcopal priest from Connecticut and the vicar of St. Ann鈥檚 Church for the Deaf in New York (the oldest Deaf church in America), was invited to preach, and he co-celebrated with Rev. Frausto in a trilingual ASL-centered Eucharist that had ASL, English, and Spanish. Members of the Deaf community came in, shared space with the seminary community, and worshiped together. After the service, everyone went to the Carne Asada hosted by the Latinx Concentration. Monica, a Photographer, and Laura, an Empanada chef, both from the Deaf Latine community, were invited to share their gifts.

There is beauty found in intersectional identities: Deaf, Latine, Hearing, and Faithful. As we continue to learn and grow together, may we deepen our practice of inclusion and celebrate the fullness of God鈥檚 Beloved Community, where every sign, story, and language reveals the divine love of God.

听

By Elizabeth Holland, Master of Divinity student from the Diocese of Olympia

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On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the community of 51视频 gathered to honor the vision and legacy of its founder, the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines. The annual John Hines Day celebration began with a Eucharist in Christ Chapel and continued with a community luncheon in Howell Dining Hall, where students, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends reflected on the seminary鈥檚 enduring mission and the example set by its founder.

Founded in 1952 by Bishop Hines鈥攖hen the fourth Bishop of Texas and later Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (1965鈥�1974)鈥�51视频 was envisioned as a seminary 鈥渇or the whole church,鈥� a place where theological education would engage the realities of culture, social change, and human need. During his tenure as bishop and national church leader, Hines championed liturgical renewal, civil rights, and the inclusion of women and people of color in leadership. His prophetic insistence that the Church must stand 鈥渨here the action is鈥� placed him at the forefront of social justice movements in the 1960s and 1970s.

This year鈥檚 preacher, the Rev. Jemonde Taylor, rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a member of the 51视频 Board of Trustees, offered a sermon that drew on Hines鈥檚 courage and conviction, reminding listeners that faithfulness often means risking comfort for the sake of truth. The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Texas, presided at the service. Among those in attendance were members of the Board of Trustees, several members of the John Hines Legacy Society, and Kenneth Kesselus, author of John E. Hines: Granite on Fire, the definitive biography of the seminary鈥檚 founder.

Watch the Rev. Jemonde Taylor鈥檚 sermon here.

At the luncheon that followed, attendees were encouraged to sit with people they did not already know, fostering the spirit of community and shared purpose that Bishop Hines championed. Each table included cards featuring highlights from Hines鈥檚 life and ministry and questions inviting reflection on how his vision continues to guide 51视频 today.

Bishop Hines鈥檚 legacy lives on not only in the students and graduates of 51视频, but also through those who choose to sustain his vision through legacy giving. Members of the John Hines Legacy Society ensure that the seminary remains a place of formation, scholarship, and service for generations to come. Their planned gifts strengthen the endowment, expand scholarship support, and sustain the mission Bishop Hines set forth more than seventy years ago鈥攖o form leaders for 鈥渢he whole church鈥� in a changing world.

Want to learn more about the and how to make a legacy gift? Contact April Kerwin, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at 512.439.0326 or april.kerwin@ssw.edu

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Over five weeks this summer, Senior Master of Divinity and Transitional Deacon Timothy Beltran del Rio (Diocese of Chicago) spent time in the UK, observing, discussing, and learning about 鈥渕ission鈥� in the Church of England from clergy and lay leaders from over a dozen Church of England parishes. This was made possible by the Seminary Consultation on Mission grant from The Episcopal Church.

Among the missional work Timothy observed, he visited and spoke with the principals of two Church of England schools, learning about Christian education in England. One-third of all publicly funded schools in England are run by the Church of England, and many local vicars and cathedral clergy are involved in running multiple worship services a week for schools overseen by the church. One of these is Chelmsford Cathedral, where Timothy observed multiple religious education field trips that children took from the Cathedral School. One of the bishops even makes a point of annually marking the graduation of lower grades into the UK equivalent of high school with a special service and blessing. Across numerous venues, the missional opportunity that the Church of England has in education was often high on church leaders鈥� lists of important missional work. Notably, many leaders also commented on what they perceived as a lack of priority and resourcing by the larger church for this important work. Those clergy and lay leaders who are involved, however, seem deeply devoted to ensuring that God鈥檚 mission is taking place and made available to the youth of England.

Another missional moment Timothy encountered was the Langthorne Festival, an event that Holy Trinity and St. Augustine of Hippo in London鈥檚 East End hosts annually in conjunction with local community partners. This event was brought about within this parish by a priest鈥檚 commitment to community organizing principles. Through her relationship-building, the congregation has grown from an average Sunday attendance of approximately six congregants to around thirty-five over the last few years, with highly invested wardens and vestry working together to enact God鈥檚 mission in the world. The congregation has come to life and is leaning heavily into relationships with the local community (one plagued by poverty and knife crime). Through the community organizing work, Holy Trinity and St. Augustine, alongside community partners, transform and reclaim Langthorne Park annually for a weekend, turning a park that is often a center of crime into a multicultural and multigenerational venue for live music, food trucks, and community building fun. Due to the success of this event, the local city council has approved changes to Langthorne Park that will increase community access to it while discouraging criminal activity. This display of God鈥檚 mission active in a troubled community was beautiful, and many aspects of their work were made possible due to their unique placement in the community.

These are just two of dozens of learning experiences that Dcn. Timothy was able to experience this past summer thanks to the Seminary Consultation on Mission, contributing to his continued formation and preparation for the priesthood.

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On Sunday, August 24, 2025 51视频 celebrated matriculation with evening prayer in Christ Chapel and welcomed 51 new students to the community. Matriculation is among the seminary鈥檚 most beloved traditions as it includes each new student signing their name to the same book that hundreds before them have signed. The Academic Dean, the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., preached an inspiring sermon. Three deans were installed during the service including the Rev. Sarah Mast as Dean of Chapel, Dr. Marlon Johnson as Dean of Community Life, and the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., as Academic Dean.听

The new students are distributed among 51视频鈥檚 Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Spiritual Direction, and Diploma in Anglican Studies programs.

Also a tradition at the Matriculation service, 51视频 awarded the Charles J. Cook Servant Leadership Award to the Rev. Jim Harrington founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project and Missioner at St. James Episcopal Church. The Cook Award was created in 2009 by the faculty to honor their colleague and 51视频 alum Charlie Cook on the occasion of his retirement.

During the service, Harrington gifted the seminary with a signed print titled, 鈥�El Azad贸n鈥� by Amado M. Pe帽a, Jr. commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Farm Worker Strike and March to Austin.听

Read the citation for the Rev. Jim Harrington read at the presentation of the Cook Award.

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It is with joy that 51视频 shares the news that the Rev. Lecia Diaz Brannon, Director of Alumni Relations, has been invited and has accepted the call to be one of the candidates running for Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great honor for Lecia to be invited into this process of discernment,鈥� says dean and president, Scott Bader-Saye. 鈥淗er gifts and skills will be of great use to the church wherever she ends up. We hope the process is meaningful and leads to clarity as the diocese and the candidates discern the future of God鈥檚 work in North Dakota.鈥�

Discerning a call to serve as a bishop in The Episcopal Church is a lengthy, prayerful process grounded in mutual discernment between the candidate and the diocese. This process will culminate in an election to be held this fall.

Brannon shared, 鈥淥n Monday, August 4th the slate of candidates for the election of the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of North Dakota was announced publicly and by grace, I am one of their candidates. This holy journey is one of discovery of my identity and calling as a disciple and a priest. I am grateful for the 51视频 community as you are vital in my formation leading to this moment. Your prayers for the Diocese of North Dakota and the candidates are welcome and appreciated.鈥�

The election will take place at the Diocese of North Dakota鈥檚 convention on October 25th. Lecia will continue in her role at 51视频 until the election outcome is known and next steps are established.听

You can read more from the from the Diocese of North Dakota as well as this from Episcopal News Service.听

Please join the 51视频 community in wishing Lecia the best of luck as she continues to discern the path forward with the Diocese of North Dakota.

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In September 2024, the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D. traveled to Oxford, England to deliver a keynote address at the international conference 鈥淣ewman as Preacher,鈥� held in honor of the bicentennial of St. John Henry Newman’s first sermon in Oxford. His keynote, titled 鈥淧reaching the Church Fathers for Good and for Ill,鈥� was well received and is now published听 in the Newman Studies Journal. While in Oxford, he also preached from Newman鈥檚 former pulpit at the Sunday Eucharist at the historic University Church.

In July 2025, the Vatican reported that Pope Leo XIV will soon confer on St. John Henry Newman the title of Doctor of the Universal Church. Dr. King was among the twenty international scholars, most of whom were Catholic, who contributed to the theological document (or positio) that the cardinals and bishops read before deciding to make this conferral. King鈥檚 contribution to the positio concerned Newman鈥檚 scholarship of the Church Fathers. On a related topic, Dr. King completed a chapter for the forthcoming book Newman and Nicaea, which is scheduled for publication in 2026.听

A major highlight of the year was the publication of his own book, The Oxford Movement and the People of God: Enslavement, Education, and Empire, released by Oxford University Press in January 2025. The book has already received international critical acclaim, including effusive reviews in the Journal of Anglican Studies and the Theologische Literaturzeitung. In support of this work, Dr. King produced an educational video for ChurchNext, making the history of the Oxford Movement more accessible to the wider Episcopal Church.

Looking ahead, Dr. King has been invited by the Historiographer of the Episcopal Church to contribute an article to a commemorative issue of Anglican and Episcopal History, marking the 250th anniversary of the Episcopal Church. This invitation underscores his ongoing role as a leading voice in Anglican historical studies.

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51视频 shared fellowship with communicators from across the church at this year鈥檚 Episcopal Communicators Conference, including bringing home two Polly Bond awards and reaffirming its leadership within the Episcopal Church鈥檚 communications community.

Eric Scott, Vice President for Advancement and Communications, and Tatiana Suggs-Perea, Director of Communications, represented 51视频 among more than 120 Episcopal communicators from across the country who gathered in Oklahoma City for the annual gathering.

鈥淓piscopal Communicators are the heart of the church,鈥� said Scott. 鈥淭his annual gathering empowers and affirms these important lay leaders who do so much of the work of making church happen. Every year, I鈥檓 inspired by the people I meet and their commitment to these ministries of communication. We learn, we laugh, and we recognize in each other these unique jobs we have that so many of us cherish. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year.鈥�

51视频 received two Polly Bond Awards for excellence in graphic design, honoring the seminary鈥檚 creative contributions to Episcopal communications. The winning entries鈥斺�淜eep Seminary Weird鈥� and 鈥淲elcome to the Episcopool鈥濃�攕tood out for their playful and locally rooted designs.

The 鈥淜eep Seminary Weird鈥� graphic, inspired by Austin鈥檚 iconic slogan, was part of a suite of materials distributed at the 2024 General Convention. It celebrated the seminary鈥檚 deep connection to its city and cultural context. 鈥淲elcome to the Episcopool,鈥� meanwhile, is a sign proudly displayed outside the swimming pool at College Courts, offering a warm and whimsical invitation to beat the Texas heat.

In addition to the design accolades, Suggs-Perea was re-elected to the board of directors for Episcopal Communicators, extending her leadership role for another two-year term. She has served on the board since 2022.

鈥淚 am honored to have been re-elected,鈥� said Suggs-Perea. 鈥淭his community has been formative for me鈥攂oth professionally and personally. The conference is not just a time to gain new tools and strategies, but a chance to reconnect with friends and colleagues who care deeply about the mission of the Church.鈥�

For more information on Episcopal Communicators and upcoming events鈥攊ncluding a virtual conference in July 2025 and the next in-person gathering in San Diego in April 2026鈥攙isit.

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Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe served as chief consecrator, with co-consecrators Texas Bishop C. Andrew Doyle; former El Camino Real Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, who now serves as managing director of the College of Bishops; Texas Assistant Bishop H茅ctor Monterroso; Alabama Assistant Bishop Brian N. Prior; and Texas Bishop Suffragan Kathryn M. Ryan.

A total of 15 bishops were in attendance at the large service. It was the first consecration of an Episcopal bishop to be held in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and the service incorporated Spanish throughout. The host parish, St. John鈥檚 Episcopal, is led by the Rev. Rod Clark, 51视频 class of 2014.

Also in attendance were Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Dean and President of 51视频, and April Kerwin, 51视频鈥檚 Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving.听

“What a joy to be in McAllen, TX for the consecration of our alumna, Angela Corti帽as!鈥� said Dean Bader-Saye. 鈥淚 was honored to be part of the community that gathered to hear her accomplishments named, her calling affirmed, and her new ministry inaugurated. Bishop Read preached a powerful and moving sermon, and bishops from Texas and throughout the church gathered to lay hands on their newest colleague. It was a joy to see so many seminary alumni and to connect with all the good people in the Diocese of West Texas.”

鈥淭he Rev. Rod Clarke and the parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church extended exceptional hospitality to all at the consecration and reception,鈥� said Kerwin. 鈥淢any alumni from 51视频 took part in the procession, including several clergy who served as presenters during the service. The consecration held profound significance in various ways. Personally, I was moved when Presiding Bishop Rowe stated, 鈥榃ith your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of the church throughout the world.鈥� When Bishop Rowe introduced the new Bishop Suffragan to the congregation, the applause was so thunderous that I’m certain the neighbors could hear the celebration!鈥� Kerwin and Bishop Corti帽as were on staff together at St. David鈥檚 in Austin.

Corti帽as was for the Diocese of West Texas during a special council at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi Oct. 19, 2024. She is the seventh bishop suffragan to serve West Texas. 

鈥淢y heart is full of gratitude and love at seeing all the wonderful people who have gathered both near and far to be here for this special day. I am grateful for the God who has called me and the people who have so persuaded me to take on this new ministry. I am particularly grateful for all the people who have formed me as a priest and now as a bishop of God鈥檚 church,鈥� said Corti帽as in an article on Episcopal News Service. 鈥淚 am looking forward to sharing this ministry with Bishop Read and the clergy of the Diocese of West Texas. I have felt the love and the hand of God throughout this entire process and am excited to share God鈥檚 redeeming and reconciling love with all of God鈥檚 people here in West Texas and beyond.鈥�  

Born to Cuban immigrants, Corti帽as is a Florida-native who grew up in Miami in a family of eight children. She is the second Latina elected as bishop in The Episcopal Church and the third Latina bishop.

The Rt. Rev. Corti艅as received her Master of Divinity from 51视频 in 2010. She was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Southeast Florida in 2009 and a priest in 2010. From 2010-12, she was associate priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale and then served as associate rector of St. Gregory鈥檚 Episcopal Church in Boca Raton from 2012-2017. She served in the Diocese of Texas as rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station from 2017-2021 and as associate rector of St. David鈥檚 Episcopal Church in Austin from 2021-2024.

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This year, complex and quickly changing realities forced the course to reinvent itself.

Due to the uncertainty created by the new administration’s changes and attitudes toward immigration, the trip to the border near Laredo, TX, was rescheduled from January to March 6 through March 9. Other changes to the trip had to be made because some of the partners who provided help to migrants were forced to close because of executive orders.

鈥淲hile we are saddened that we could not visit such important organizations, the trip to Laredo continues to be an immersive experience focused on border issues, social justice, and service,鈥� said the Rev. Nancy Frausto, Director of the Latinx Studies Program. 

“The trip to the border has for years been a transformative part of our MDiv curriculum,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淭his year, perhaps more than any other, getting an up-close view of what is happening was crucial for our students as they prepare to minister to Latinx populations and to engage in various types of cross-cultural ministries. I am so thankful for the Rev. Nancy Frausto and for her leadership of this trip. Nancy has a remarkable ability to convene reflective conversations in the midst of what can be overwhelming experiences. I also want to thank Dr. Steve Bishop for being a faculty facilitator on the trip. I am grateful that every year our students get the chance to experience the realities of the border first-hand.鈥�

On the first day, students spoke with U.S. Border Patrol and Customs agents, providing insights into border security operations, migration trends, and the complexities of enforcing immigration policies every time a new administration takes control. Afterward, they visited Casa de Misericordia, a shelter for women who have experienced domestic violence. The students learned about the shelter’s mission to provide safety, legal assistance, and counseling services to survivors.

鈥淭he visit emphasized the shelters’ critical role in providing stability and hope for women and children escaping dangerous situations,鈥� said Frausto. 鈥淭his visit was incredibly impactful for the students as they saw firsthand how well trauma-informed care is being done. A highlight of our trip was getting the opportunity to hear a migrant’s story of how she ran away from an abusive marriage and walked from Honduras to the U.S. Along the way, she was kidnapped. She survived many difficulties, but not once did she doubt that God was with her on her journey.鈥�

On their second day at the border, the students volunteered at a food bank operated by . Students helped distribute food to approximately 250 individuals who were unemployed, unhoused, or living in poverty. This hands-on service experience highlighted the ongoing food insecurity struggle in border communities and reinforced the importance of community-based support systems. 

After the food bank, students toured a colonia, an unincorporated settlement typical in border regions. Colonias are characterized by a lack of basic infrastructure such as paved roads, running water, and electricity. The economic reality for many colonia residents is stark, with poverty rates significantly higher than national averages. According to U.S. Census data, some colonias have poverty rates exceeding 40%, with limited access to healthcare and educational resources. This part of the trip underscored the systemic challenges in these marginalized communities.

One of the most solemn moments of the trip was when students gathered along the Rio Grande to pray for migrants who had lost their lives attempting to cross into the United States. According to recent data from the U.S. Border Patrol, hundreds of migrants die each year while crossing the border, with many succumbing to drowning in the river’s unpredictable currents. In 2022 alone, more than 850 migrant deaths were reported along the U.S.-Mexico border, making it one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.

鈥淭eaching the January term and taking the students down to the border is a privilege and a highlight of my position,鈥� said Rev. Frausto. 鈥淚 pray that all seminaries prioritize theological education surrounding the border and caring for 鈥榯he crucified people of today.鈥� Our politics have made migration a political issue; we, as faith leaders, must change the narrative and present this as a human rights issue. Who has the right to a better life? Who deserves freedom? What makes someone worthy of dreaming of a better life? These are the questions we should be asking. If we believe in the belovedness of all God鈥檚 children, how do we live out this belief in a world divided by borders?鈥�

鈥淚 pray this experience is as transformative to the students as it has been for me.鈥�

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A tradition begun during last year鈥檚 Black History Month returned; each week of the month event attendees were invited to wear a specific Pan-African color:听 red in during the first week, green in the second, yellow in the third, and Black in the final week. Those of African ancestry were invited to wear heritage attire at any event.听

On February 7th, the month began with its customary Opening Jubilee Celebration and Dinner. The community of 51视频 gathered for a worship experience highlighting and honoring Black culture. In front of a congregation of red and African heritage dress, the Rev. Dr. Robinson gave a stirring sermon, and after the service, attendees enjoyed a community meal with music, games, and cultural expression.

Watch Dr. Robinson’s sermon here

Two important Feast days were celebrated during the month in Christ Chapel. The Feast of Absalom Jones was celebrated on February 13th. Jones was America鈥檚 first Black priest, and an African-American abolitionist who founded the Free African Society. On February 28, the Feast of Anna Julia Cooper was observed. Cooper was one of the most prominent African-American scholars in U.S. history and is often referred to as the 鈥淢other of Black Feminism.鈥�

Watch MDiv Senior Scott Madison’s Feast of Absolom Jones sermon here

While not officially part of 51视频鈥檚 Black History Month, on February 11th, a large contingent of the 51视频 community traveled to the campus of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary to hear Dr. Robinson preach at their MLK commemoration service. The rousing service was followed by a joint luncheon shared by members of both seminary communities.听

鈥淲e wanted to achieve our contextual goals while focusing on the call to rest both our bodies and our souls, a call interwoven throughout our sacred texts and our counseling scholarship,鈥� said Dean Johnson.听 鈥淥ur Opening Jubilee celebration did just that, blending the powerful preaching voice of Dr. Dominique Robinson with prayers of restoration and resilience from African and African American ancestors, and a lot of dancing and games for the community. We partnered with alums to get our campus into the community and learn Black Austin History with the annual Celebrate Black Austin walk and vendor fair.鈥�

In what has become a traditional partnership for Black History Month at 51视频, on March 1st (delayed by weather from February 22nd), Third Spaces invited the seminary community to participate in its annual Led by MHC alumna Jane Obi, the event honors the history, achievements, and labor of Austin’s Black community with a vibrant block party, including a higher education and career fair, food trucks, a vendor market, and historical walking tours of East Austin.听

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Watch the 2025 Payne-Harvey Lecture here.

Dean Bucklin also serves as Canon Theologian in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, and in her lecture she shared many of the initiatives in that diocese that address the needs of small church leadership. Her bishop, the Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray, was in attendance and preached earlier that day in Christ Chapel. Watch his sermon here.   

Since their creation, the Payne and Harvey Lectures have become lasting and vital resources for the seminary, bringing important and diverse theological voices to the 51视频 campus. Historically two separate lectures at 51视频, scheduling challenges and the desire to keep February鈥檚 focus on Black History Month led to the decision to combine the lectures, which already shared thematic focus. Hosted by 51视频鈥檚 Board of Trustees, and led by the students of 51视频, the Payne-Harvey Lecture focuses on mission, leadership, and contemporary issues confronting the church. It honors the Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, former chair of the seminary鈥檚 board and bishop of the Diocese of Texas, retired, and the late Dean Hudnall Harvey, who died unexpectedly in 1972, after serving as the seminary鈥檚 dean for just five years.  

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鈥淐ongratulations to Dr. Johnson for his well deserved tenure and promotion!鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淗e has excelled in the areas of teaching, scholarship, service, and collegiality, making this an easy decision and a cause for celebration. Dr. Johnson brings positive and constructive energy to all he does. His passion for learning and service are contagious, which is a gift both to his colleagues and his students. He has established himself as a central figure in his areas of research, and he continues to contribute to his guild and his community in transformative ways. I am especially happy that he has been willing to bring all of his knowledge and experience to bear on his new position as dean of community life. His presence and his work make us a better community and for that I am grateful.鈥�

This past August, it was announced the Dr. Johnson had been appointed Dean of Community Life, a reenvisioned leadership role overseeing Beloved Community initiatives and other student life responsibilities. 

鈥淚’m excited to be granted tenure and promotion here at 51视频,鈥� said Dr. Johnson. 鈥淭here is a great joy in knowing that the service and scholarship to my field, the labor and encouragement of my ancestors, and the care and commitment of my colleagues all culminated  in this great accomplishment.鈥�

Dr. Johnson began his term on the faculty of 51视频 in 2019. He is a licensed professional counselor with a focus on narrative and child-centered play therapy techniques. He completed his PhD in counselor education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Fall, 2019. Johnson served as a 2018 doctoral fellow for the National Board of Certified Counselors and as the Tennessee Counseling Association鈥檚 NBCC Liaison. His research centers on recruitment experiences for African-American men into counseling programs, the intersectionality of LGBTQ identity and faith orientation, continuing multicultural counselor education, and college and career readiness in rural Appalachia. 

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Watch the awarding of the the 2025 McDonald Teaching Award here

Read Dr. Hayes’ McDonald Award Citation here

In 1984, Dr. Hayes became the first woman and just second lay person to be named president of St. Edward鈥檚 University in Austin. Her leadership led to a period of tremendous success for the 100 year old Catholic liberal arts school. In 1998, she took on senior leadership position at Seton Healthcare Network, now known as Ascension Health,where she pioneered many of the programs still in place that improved services to the uninsured.

A 2006 article in Austin Woman celebrating the end of her tenure at Seton said, 鈥淭he organizations and projects Hayes has championed read like a public service directory for the Central Texas region: Dell Children鈥檚 Medical Center, KLRU, United Way Capital Area, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, National Commission on Migrant Education, Central Texas Citizens Education Project, Mayor鈥檚 Commission on Social Equity. The list goes on and on.鈥�

In receiving the award, Dr. Hayes reflected that the awards namesake, Dean McDonald, was among the first to welcome her to Austin when she arrived 40 years ago, and spoke to the closeness she has felt to the seminary community. 鈥淎s this award honors me for my commitment to the ministry of teaching in the church, I wish in some ways I could give all of you an award for your ministry of teaching in the church,鈥� said Dr. Hayes. 鈥淚 think teaching the truth with love is as close to the definition of that as it gets.鈥�

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51视频 announced recently that the speaker for the 2025 Commencement Exercises will be noted lawyer, author, and founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI ), Bryan Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson will also be awarded an honorary doctorate from the seminary at the service.

The Commencement Exercises of 51视频 will be a service of morning prayer held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

鈥淏ryan Stevenson’s work with the Equal Justice Initiative has been transformative for challenging racial and economic injustice,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淟ast summer I visited the Legacy Sites of EJI in Montgomery with our students on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage. The sites鈥攃ombining art, history, and powerful storytelling鈥攇ave us a profound window onto Black experience in this country. We are fortunate to have someone of such vision, grace, and courage delivering our commencement sermon.鈥�

Under Stevenson鈥檚 leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

Mr. Stevenson has argued and won multiple cases at the United States Supreme Court, including a 2019 ruling protecting condemned prisoners who suffer from dementia and a landmark 2012 ruling that banned mandatory life-imprisonment-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger. Mr. Stevenson and his staff have won reversals, relief, or release from prison for over 140 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row and won relief for hundreds of others wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced.

He is the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which was named by Time Magazine as one of the 10 Best Books of Nonfiction for 2014.

In 2016, he was the featured speaker at 51视频鈥檚 Blandy Lecture and Alumni Convocation. 听To accommodate demand, the lecture that year was held at the LBJ Library at the University of Texas

Mr. Stevenson鈥檚 work has won him numerous awards including the prestigious MacArthur Foundation 鈥淕enius鈥� Prize; the ABA Medal, the American Bar Association鈥檚 highest honor; the National Medal of Liberty from the American Civil Liberties Union after he was nominated by United States Supreme Court Justice John Stevens; the Public Interest Lawyer of the Year by the National Association of Public Interest Lawyers; and the Olaf Palme Prize in Stockholm, Sweden for international human rights.

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Recently, two senior members of the 51视频 administrative staff were elected to the boards of two prominent Episcopal institutions. April Kerwin, 51视频鈥檚 Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, was elected to a term on the board of directors for Camp Allen, one the largest and most prominent camps and retreat centers in the church. Further, Eric Scott, 51视频鈥檚 Vice President for Communications and Marketing, was elected to join the board of directors of the Episcopal Parish Network.

, established in 1923, is a ministry of the diocese of Texas located in Navasota, TX. Their expansive and bucolic campus has a mission to, 鈥渉onor God and enriches lives by being a year-round gathering place for all ages, offering Christian hospitality amidst 1,100 forested acres, and striving for excellence in facilities, service, and programs.

“I am excited to join the board of Camp Allen, the premier camp for young people and a conference center for all ages, operated by the Diocese of Texas,鈥� said Kerwin. 鈥淎s a parent of a long-time camper and counselor at Camp Allen, I have seen firsthand how children, youth, and young adults experience God in the beautiful piney woods. For some, Camp Allen begins a lifelong journey of growing in love and knowledge of God. For others, Camp Allen serves as a continuation of their Christian formation and a way to learn how to serve others. Regardless of their stage in life, everyone at Camp Allen has the opportunity to establish and deepen meaningful relationships that enhance their spiritual journey.鈥�

The , formerly known as the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP), was formed in 1985 as a national consortium of endowed Episcopal parishes to share dreams for the Church. The name of the organization has evolved over the years to better reflect the broadening focus of its original mission to serve and empower leadership in parishes. In 2022, the name became Episcopal Parish Network (EPN), honoring the past, present, and future of the association.

鈥淓PN is a critical resource for the church,鈥� said Scott. 鈥淭he annual gathering has become an important place not only to share invaluable information and insight but to join in fellowship with our national church in ways which resonate and inspire. The programming it offers throughout the year offers insight and education you cannot find in other places. It is an honor to be asked to join this thoughtful group of leaders and to help shepherd this community we hold so dear.鈥�

鈥淐ongratulations to Mr. Scott and Ms. Kerwin for their elections to these boards,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淭he presence of our administrative leadership in these positions underscores the seminary’s contributions to the wider church. Eric and April are exemplary at what they do, and they will bring much wisdom and experience to conversations about the church’s life and flourishing.鈥�

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From February 28th through March 2nd, two members of the 51视频 faculty, Dr. Dominique Robinson and Dr. Anthony Baker, joined five students in 51视频鈥檚 Masters of Arts in Religion program in attending the 51视频 Commission on Religious Studies 2025 Meeting in Dallas, TX.

The meeting consists of scholars from across the southwestern US who share their research in the various disciplines of religious studies. 鈥淲e enjoyed giving support to 51视频 student Catharine Corder as she presented a paper entitled 鈥楢 Novel Approach to Acts: Conceiving a Hybrid Church鈥� in one of the sections on New Testament and Early Christianity,鈥� said Dr. Baker. Dr. Baker was also invited to give a reflection on a book on Luther and Kierkegaard, to which the author responded.听

The 51视频 Commission on Religious Studies was established in 1974 to encourage, support, and coordinate scholarly activities in the field of religious studies in the 51视频. The Commission serves as the umbrella organization for the regional American Academy of Religion, Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, and Scholars of Biblical and Related Literature. The Commission is supported by membership and sponsoring institutions.听

The annual meeting of the Commission brings together 300-400 scholars and graduate students, along with major publishers in the fields of religious studies.听 Several Related Scholarly Organizations join the Member Organizations for major plenary speeches, seminars, and working research panels.

This is the fourth year that MAR students and faculty from 51视频 have participated in the conference. Along with giving our students a chance to share their research and learn about the work of others, it also provides an opportunity to build relationships with students and faculty at other institutions across the region.听

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51视频 recently announced the appointment of Beth Jordan as Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services. In this role, Ms. Jordan will lead this key department at 51视频 that oversees student recruiting efforts, financial aid, housing, and work-study assignments. She began in this role on February 17, 2025.

鈥淏eth brings a depth of knowledge and background in this work that makes this a natural choice,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淪he has a breadth of experience across all our areas of vocational focus and has been a key contributor to the growth and rise of prominence of 51视频 over the last decade. She knows the landscapes of both theological and counselor education, and especially the nuances of navigating postulancy in the Episcopal Church. Her commitment to recruiting diverse and academically strong students to the seminary is among her many impressive gifts to our community, and will position her well in this role.鈥澨�

A member of the Enrollment Management and Student Services department since 2008, Jordan has an extensive background in recruitment and recruiting strategies. This year will represent the 17th class of incoming students at 51视频 that she has recruited.听

鈥淏uilding community brings me joy,鈥� said Jordan. 鈥淚n my time at 51视频, it has been rewarding to work towards creating a more diverse seminary and to watch our seminary grow. It will be a privilege to work with current and incoming students in this new capacity.鈥�

For any questions about enrollment or recruitment at 51视频, please contact Beth Jordan at beth.jordan@ssw.edu or 512.439.0357.

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Dr. Colombo directs the Center for Writing and the Arts, has been teaching at 51视频 since 2012, and became member of the MDiv faculty in 2020. She also coordinates and teaches in the Master of Arts in Spiritual Direction program. Her work in these areas allows her to weave together her interests in writing, spiritual practice, and theological expression. 鈥淚 am so fortunate to serve a community who values the kind of interdisciplinary work I do,鈥� Colombo says. 鈥淥ften, when I visit spiritual communities who also value creativity, people say, 鈥榊ou have my dream job!鈥� I am always happy to reply, 鈥榊es, I have my dream job, too!鈥欌��

Colombo produces the seminary鈥檚 literary and arts journal, Soul by 51视频; she oversees the delivery of writing support services; and she researches and writes at the crossroads of poetics, theology, and spirituality (a field also known as theopoetics). Her most recent publication, 鈥溾��,鈥� appeared in the December issue of Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction. The article explores how spiritual directors can understand and serve those engaged in changing their relationship with alcohol as a spiritual practice 鈥� a practice, Colombo says, that 鈥渁lso opens up space and energy for creativity in a person鈥檚 life.鈥�

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Lilly Endowment made the grant through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative, whose aim is to provide resources to help churches in rural areas and small towns enhance the vitality of their ministries and strengthen the leadership of the pastors and lay leaders who guide them.

Funding from the Lilly Endowment grant will support Iona Collaborative member schools to design for innovation through 5 key activities:

• Micro-granting (up to $25K/yr per diocese);
• Data-driven diocesan school program planning and evaluation;
• Comprehensive assessments designed to close the loop between student success and small-church vitality;
• Collaborative curriculum design in lay preaching and chaplaincy;
• Regular grantee gatherings and site visits.

Already a hub of local formation in The Episcopal Church, the Iona Collaborative at 51视频 supports 35 dioceses of The Episcopal Church by providing curricular and formational resources to local diocesan schools for the formation of priests, deacons, and lay leaders serving in part-time and non-stipendiary roles, and continuing education and spiritual formation for small-church clergy and lay leaders. The Locally Grown Leaders program now becomes a critical component of this existing work, and lays the foundation for future growth.

鈥淭his generous grant from Lilly Endowment will help 51视频 to expand our work of creating and sustaining vitality in small churches,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president of 51视频. 鈥淭he majority of congregations in The Episcopal Church have fewer than 50 people worshiping on a Sunday morning, yet these congregations have a significant impact on their rural and small town communities. The Iona Collaborative is helping the Episcopal Church imagine and resource the future of these congregations. We are deeply grateful for the commitment Lilly Endowment has made to our work.鈥�

鈥淟ocal formation is about so much more than filling vacant pulpits and altars,鈥� said the Rev. Nandra Perry, director of the Iona Collaborative. 鈥淚t is about forming contextually rooted leaders 鈥� lay and ordained 鈥� who are uniquely equipped to empower congregations to respond sustainably to the deep spiritual longings and pressing ethical dilemmas of their neighbors. This generous grant from Lilly Endowment will enable 51视频 to leverage the Gospel affordances of the Iona model more fully by partnering with dioceses to re-imagine their diocesan schools for ministry as anchor institutions that support the vitality of small towns and rural communities.鈥�

鈥淭he Iona Collaborative at 51视频 represents so much of the good that can happen in our church when we think creatively and work together,鈥� said the Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Texas, and chair of the 51视频 Board of Trustees. 鈥淏egun here in the Diocese of Texas, and then fostered to scale at 51视频, Iona is now a vital resource for theological education valued by Bishops throughout The Episcopal Church. I speak for the entire Board of Trustees when I express my sincere gratitude to Lilly Endowment for this investment and its continued commitment to the church. This grant will ensure Iona鈥檚 continued impact, quality, and accessibility for many years to come.鈥�

51视频 is one of 20 organizations from across the United States receiving grants through the initiative, including colleges and universities, denominational agencies, church networks, and parachurch organizations, among others.

鈥淥ur hope is that these grants will provide much-needed resources and support to rural and small-town churches to help them address their challenges and enhance and extend the many ways that they serve their communities,鈥� said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment鈥檚 vice president for religion.

To learn more about 鈥楲ocally Grown Leaders鈥� and its potential impact on local formation 鈥� or to apply 鈥� visit .

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51视频 is excited to announce that it will offer full scholarship packages to the entire annual cohort of full-time residential Master of Divinity and Diploma of Anglican Studies students beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.

These scholarships will assist students by fully financing tuition, on-campus rent, health insurance through the Episcopal Church Medical Trust, books, and childcare. Made possible by the generous, expanded support of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas, this new approach will replace the previous award process that was based on demonstrated financial need.听

鈥淭his ability to fully support so many students is exciting news, not just for 51视频 but for the entire church,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want finances to get in the way of students experiencing the learning and formation offered at 51视频. Now anyone who feels called to be part of our community and who discerns that our academic strength, personal formation, and rich chapel life are what they need for vocational preparation will be able to enroll without financial barriers. We are very grateful to the Episcopal Foundation of Texas for making this happen.鈥�

鈥淚 believe that the seminary is training mission minded clergy and counselors for the future. This grant extends a goal of providing scholarship dollars for the future of the church,鈥� said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas. 鈥淲e support counseling students through other funds, and our seminarians of color have access to additional scholarships. If you believe in God, there is hope, and hope requires partners to multiply its blessings in the world. In the diocese we have hope beyond what the world can throw at us, and so we raise up and ensure our students won鈥檛 be inhibited from following Jesus due to funds for training.鈥�

鈥�51视频 has always sought to be a seminary for the whole Episcopal Church,鈥� said the Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Texas and Chair of the 51视频 Board of Trustees. 鈥淭he financial weight of a seminary education, however, has long been a limiting factor for some students. This grant will free students seeking ordination in The Episcopal Church to access the unique formation offered by 51视频. We are grateful to the Episcopal Foundation of Texas for helping 51视频 open the door wide and impact the mission of the whole Episcopal Church.鈥�

鈥淭he work of the Church always needs more devoted and well-educated priests, and 51视频 serves a vital role in preparing new clergy to serve in Texas and beyond,鈥� said Bruce McDonald, President of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas鈥� board of trustees. 鈥淭he Foundation is committed to helping the seminary support a broader pool of students who are called to ordained ministry.鈥澨�

鈥淥ur commitment to residential formation is bolstered by building a learning-living community year-round in which our students thrive,鈥� said the Rev. Hope Benko, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services. 鈥淚ncluding health insurance from the same plans offered to clergy and lay leaders across the Episcopal church ensures our students won鈥檛 have to worry about medical costs keeping them from answering the call God has placed in their hearts.鈥�

This investment by the Episcopal Foundation of Texas in students of 51视频鈥檚 theological education programs follows upon recent significant investments in 51视频鈥檚 Mental Health Counseling program, including gifts that established the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair of Latinx Counselor Education, funded the Richmond Area Bilingual Fellows Program and Harrison Fellows Program, and created the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair of Spiritual Integration in Counseling.

鈥淭hese gifts to the counseling program have not only endowed very important faculty positions, they have made it possible for students to be paid for their supervised hours after graduation while helping provide mental health care to underserved populations in Texas,鈥� said Dean Bader-Saye. 鈥淗aving institutions like the Episcopal Foundation of Texas and the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation invest so significantly in our programs – and specifically in our students and those who serve them – is a wonderful affirmation of the mission and vision of 51视频. We are grateful for these partnerships.鈥�

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On November 21, the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas, announced that the Rt. Rev. Brian Seage, Class of 1997, had agreed to serve as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Texas鈥� North Region. Bishop Seage served as Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi from 2014 to 2024, and has also served as a member of the 51视频 Board of Trustees.

“Brian Seage is not only a graduate of 51视频 but also a friend who has served on our board and worked for the well-being of the seminary,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. “He will provide just the leadership that is needed as the Episcopal church in the Fort Worth area continues its healing while also shifting into a new era of rebirth.”

The North Region, formerly the Diocese of Fort Worth, reunited with the Diocese of Texas in 2022 after .

In , Bishop Seage shared, 鈥渢he Diocese of Texas is an important leader within The Episcopal Church and beyond. I鈥檓 delighted for the opportunity to practice ministry with so many faithful Christians in the North Region and throughout the diocese. I look forward to working together to make Jesus Christ known to our community and the world.鈥�

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On Nov. 9, the elected the Very Rev. Amy Dafler Meaux, Class of 2002, to be its ninth diocesan bishop. The election was held during the diocese鈥檚 135th annual convention at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City. She was chosen on the first ballot.

“I want to congratulate Amy on her election as bishop,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. “What a joy to see her gifts celebrated and recognized in this way. She will be a gift to the church.”

Dean Meaux currently serves as dean and rector of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock, AR. Appopinted in 2020, she was the first woman dean of the cathedral. She previously served parishes in New Orleans, Louisiana; Dallas, Texas and Danville, Kentucky.

鈥淚鈥檓 so humbled,鈥� said Dean Meaux after her election. 鈥淵our trust and your support mean the world to me, and I鈥檓 just so excited to get there.”

Pending consent, Meaux will be ordained and consecrated on May 3, 2025, and will succeed Bishop Provisional Diane M. Jardine Bruce, who has served the diocese since Dec. 1, 2021.

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