Sharing the gift of knowledge Taking the seminary to the church Bending toward justice SUMMER 2017› VOL. 5: ISSUE Nº 1 WIDENING OUR REACH TABLE OF CONTENTS A message from the board chair 3 New initiatives 4 A gift to scholars and students 6 Bexley Seabury beyond walls 8 New MDiv model in action 10 DMin program report 12 Faculty news 14 Bending toward justice 16 Mission-minded leaders 20 Community news 24 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Our search for a new president continues with the help of Acting President and Academic Dean Therese DeLisio. Terry has been a gifted and imaginative leader of our faculty, and an excellent steward of our academic programs. We are excited that she is willing to share more of her leadership with us through the transition. Meanwhile, our ministry to the church continues with new possibilities ahead. Bexley Seabury’s consolidation to our well-appointed, environmentally responsible campus at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) has been fully realized. Beyond our physical move last July, the ELCA recently approached us about, and has now taken over our obligation at their Higgins Road property. This gift has left us humbled and The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer energized, with more time and funds freed Chair, Board of Directors for our mission at CTS. Already, Bexley Seabury is responding Dear Friends, in fresh ways to its call to be a seminary beyond walls. The past year has been one Recently I caught myself watching a movie, of widening our reach in the Episcopal in which the characters were reflecting community and beyond. about jazz music. One person said to the Building on established partnerships other, “Jazz is about the future, but you’re and forging new bonds, Bexley Seabury is: stuck in the past.” helping dioceses enrich their diaconal I was so struck by that line, that I went training programs (page 4); out and bought the movie, just so I could providing new resources for religious and hear it again. When I heard it a second cultural scholars (page 6); time, I said to myself, “That will preach, collaborating at ground level with every Sunday!” diocesan and congregational leaders If jazz is about the future, then I know through our Communities of Learning for sure that what we are about, in our and Formation (page 10); and Bexley Seabury Christian lives, in our Christian formation, creating new pathways to ministry in other in our formation of clergy and leaders of ways you can learn about by reading on. featured in The the church. With more than 80 students currently We are called to remake ourselves—and enrolled in our degree and diploma Christian Century the world—in God’s image. What is life in programs, Bexley Seabury is poised to welcome one of the largest incoming classes the church about, if not change, and looking “Bexley Seabury has launched a new in recent memory. As we have seen, with to the future? Still, letting go and embracing way of educating seminarians...” said the new is not always easy. It is too easy to the prayers and support of our community, The Christian Century magazine in their stay stuck in the past. Bexley Seabury is embracing a promising As I write to you Bexley Seabury is future. February 15, 2017 issue. The feature article writing a new chapter, as is our beloved “Forming priests among the people,” President Emeritus Roger Ferlo, now one God’s peace be with you, focused on the new Master of Divinity month into retirement. We are deeply model for field education and its benefits grateful for Roger’s leadership and ministry, The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer for students and the church. and his able shepherding of our community Chair, Board of Directors You can read the article at bexleyseabury. through the process of federation, visioning, re-formation, and new growth. Thank you, edu/christian-century-feb Roger, for taking us so far in just five years. On the cover: Invitation to Communion at the May 12 Commencement Eucharist, L-R: Director Catherine W. Bagot; Stephen Edward Lane, MDiv 2017; Board Chair Mike Klusmeyer: Lily Esther Marx, MDiv 2017; President Emeritus Roger Ferlo; Virginia Stewart Tyler Smith, DAS 2017. Page 2: More from the May 12 Commencement Eucharist at St. Paul and the Redeemer, Chicago. 3 FOR MORE OF THE CHURCH BEXLEY SEABURY Pushing mission boundaries Two new programs that help foster a more dynamic and diverse church HELPING DIOCESES to explore or deepen their baptismal call HELP DEACONS to ministry as a lay or ordained person is The role of deacons in the Episcopal welcome to participate. “We’re especially Church has changed dramatically over interested in having lay leaders take the time. Even today, how deacons are raised Baptismal Ecclesiology course,” said by congregations and the nature of their Professor of Theology and Culture John ministries depend on diocesan history and Dally who is leading the teaching team. leadership. Not surprisingly, formation “We want lay leaders to embrace their and training programs for deacons role in a church called into being by vary widely. baptism. Just as importantly, we want lay Last year, as Bexley Seabury faculty voices to be heard and valued by ordained consulted with bishops about the students—and by our faculty.” seminary’s new model for fi eld education for Master of Divinity students, diaconal FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE & CONTENT training programs surfaced again and All Diaconal Enrichment Program again. Covering all the bases—maintaining courses are off ered in one of two formats— vibrant training curricula that engage intensive weeklong or hybrid weekend— and challenge both new and seasoned that include both face-to-face and deacons—can strain diocesan resources. online learning. All of which led to Bexley Seabury’s Participants may earn a certifi cate new Diaconal Enrichment Program, by completing for academic credit the announced in January 2017. Baptismal Ecclesiology course and four additional courses, which may include an NEW DIACONAL elective. Alternatively, participants may ENRICHMENT PROGRAM take any individual course. Depending The Bexley Seabury Diaconal Enrichment on the recommendation of their dioceses, Program off ers a low-residency, graduate- participants preparing for ordination level, fi ve-course curriculum that focuses to the diaconate may enroll as auditors, on developing theological understanding for continuing education credit, or for and ministry skills most essential to academic credit. deacons serving in the Episcopal Church today. Designed to supplement and build upon diocesan training programs, the program benefi ts leaders preparing for REGISTER ONLINE NOW ordination to the diaconate as well as through August 11, 2017 for Baptismal previously ordained deacons seeking to Ecclesiolgy and other Fall 2017 courses at enrich their ministries. Fundamental to the program is the bexleyseabury.edu/category/courses/ Baptismal Ecclesiology course, team- current-and-upcoming-courses/fall- . Classroom sessions for Baptismal taught by the seminary’s entire faculty. 2017 Ecclesiology meet in Chicago September Four additional course off erings help 8-9, October 6-7, and November 3-4 with participants refi ne their skills in pastoral ongoing learning online. care, cultural competency, community organizing, and preaching. The Baptismal Ecclesiology course is not just for deacons. Anyone who wants 4 Summer 2017 FOR MORE OF THE CHURCH EMPOWERING LGBTQ LEADERS “Bexley Seabury is deeply grateful for this generous grant,” Thanks to God’s grace and the generosity of two anonymous said Board of Directors Chair W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of donors, Bexley Seabury is forming more leaders who reflect the West Virginia. “We share the donors’ commitment to make a rich diversity of our communities. Following receipt of a $279,000 difference in the Episcopal Church, and create new possibilities grant, the seminary will award three three-year scholarships for LGBTQ leaders ready to work for a more just society.” for entering Master of Divinity students from the lesbian, gay, Bexley Seabury St. Marina Scholars are named for an eighth- bisexual, transgender, and queer community. century woman ascetic who assumed a masculine identity as Bexley Seabury St. Marina Scholarships will cover the cost Brother Marinus in order to join an abbey. Her sex was discovered of tuition, books, travel, and other expenses for all three years upon her death, and she was later canonized as St. Marina, of Bexley Seabury’s MDiv curriculum, leaving students free to venerated by Syrian, Albanian, Coptic, and Maronite Christians. concentrate on their studies. Although Bexley Seabury St. Marina Scholarships are reserved for LGBTQ MDiv students, all students are eligible SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE MINISTRY and are encouraged to apply for scholarship support. For Bexley Seabury St. Marina Scholars will be members of the more information about Bexley Seabury’s Master of LGBTQ community who are committed to justice ministry in the Divinity program and how to apply, visit bexleyseabury.edu/ Episcopal Church and who fulfill other Bexley Seabury Scholars master-of-divinity-mdiv. Program requirements. One scholarship will be awarded each of three academic years. The Emergence of Deacons in the Episcopal Church Men, often Native American or African, were ordained as missionaries to serve isolated tribal communities on the prairie frontier while White 1840 1930 settlers were being trained as priests. 1885 Lay women were commissioned by bishops to pray and care for workers who fell sick or were disabled by 1970 the punishing demands of unregulated factory labor. Men were ordained to serve particular parishes as perpetual deacons, trained privately by priests who needed sacramental and pastoral assistants in order to respond to the post-World-War-II boom in church attendance. 1952 1970 Influenced by theological renewal of the 1960s the church re-formed and focused its theology and the office of deacon.