Seminary Potpourri
Episcopal News Service. April 2, 1987 [37079]
AUSTIN, Texas (DPS, April 2) -- In January, the Seminary of the Southwest became the first American Episcopal seminary to offer a theological course specifically for persons involved in Spanish-speaking ministries, and it drew participation from Mexico and Panama, as well as the U.S. Lasting three weeks, "Los Salmos" was "a variation of a Psalms course offered regularly at the Seminary," according to the Rev. Michael Floyd, professor of Old Testament here, who taught the course in Spanish. Dr. Sonya Ingwersen, assistant professor of studies in Hispanic ministry and author of the recently released book on the Spanish-American "modernismo" literary movement, Light and Longing: Silva and Dario. Modernism and Religious Heterodoxy, arranged and coordinated the class, whose approach was not strictly intellectual: the practical aspect of what was learned in the classroom was practiced daily in chapel services, so it could be incorporated into each student's ministry in his home country. Students were selected by their bishops for participation in the course.
In February, a guest speaker, the Very Rev. J. Pittman McGehee, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, focused on "The Priest as Person, Shaman and Sacrament" in the 1987 Harvey Lectures here. The annual series is named in honor of the Very Rev. Hudnall Harvey, dean of the Seminary from 1968 until his death in 1972.
A seminarian-sponsored Visitors' Weekend April 3-4 took the theme "Seeking first the Kingdom: God's Call and Our Response." The event's aim is to give persons interested in the ordained or lay ministries an opportunity to learn more about that calling and the Seminary.
The Seminary will be offering two continuing education programs for clergy this June. Titled "Ministry Now: Reflection and Practice," the separate, week-long programs are designed to give clergy new insights into general theological questions, as well as the day-today issues of their ministries. In the first, June 1-6, morning sessions will he led by theologian-in-residence Diogenes Allen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, who will use the writings of 16th Century theologian George Herbert. There will be a choice of three afternoon seminars: "Developing Lay Leadership," with Jean Haldane, chair of the National Task Force on Total Ministry; "The Church's Mission in the Modern World," with the Rev. Frank Sugeno, professor of church history here; and "AIDS in Ministry" with the Rev. William Spong, director of the Seminary's Pastoral Education and Family Counseling Center. Cost is $150 tuition and $150 room and board. The second session, June 8-12, is titled "Authority and Dependence in the Church and the Roles of Clergy" and is billed as an "intensive Working-with-Experience conference." It is presented by the Grubb Institute, an applied social research organization. Tuition is $300 plus $150 for room and board. Deadline for applications is May 15. Further information is available from the Seminary at P. 0. Box 2247, Austin, TX 78768-4133; phone: (512) 472-4133.
NEW YORK (DPS, April 2) -- The Very Rev. James C. Fenhagen, Dean and President of the General Theological Seminary here recently announced the appointment of the Rev. Willoughby Newton as Vice-President of External Affairs. On March 16, Newton Joined the Seminary administration after nine years with Channel 13, WNET, New York, where he served as Director of Institutional Development. Prior to Joining Channel 13, he reopened and was the headmaster of the Wykeham Rise School, Washington, Conn. Newton holds degrees from the University of Virginia (1949) and Cambridge University (1951). He was ordained to the priesthood while teaching at the Kent School in Kent, Conn. As Vice-President for External Affairs, Newton will be primarily responsible for increasing the visibility of the Seminary in the New York community and in the larger community which it serves.
One of Newton's duties will be guiding the Seminary's effort to rebuild Chelsea Square, its historic city block complex of buildings on Manhattan's West Side. A master plan for the renovation of the landmark buildings was completed in 1986 by New York City architect, David Helpern. The Chelsea Challenge, which will begin to make the renovation possible and increase the Seminary's endowment for its programs, has a goal of $21 million.
As part of the Seminary's outreach to the larger religious community, it is the home of the Center for Jewish-Christian Studies. The Center's goal is "to teach and exemplify dialogue," and, towards that goal, it recently held its first community program: a two part discussion series, "Conversations About Judaism and Christianity: What Each Should Know About the Other." Speakers were the Rev. Robert C. Morris, director of the Interweave Center, Summit, N.J.; and Dr. Michael Wyschogrod, department chairman and professor of philosophy at Baruch College, City University of New York. Other programs planned by the Center for this, its first year, include seminars for Jewish and Christian seminarians on the biblical, historical and theological issues integral to dialogue, additional seminars for clergy and laity from parishes and synagogues in the area and training of Christian seminarians to participate for a time in a Jewish setting and reciprocal arrangements for Jewish seminarians to be in a Christian setting.
SEWANEE, Tenn. (DPS, April 2) -- "Anglican/Episcopal Theological Identity in Light of the Theology of William Porcher DuBoise" was the theme of the William Porcher DuBose Theological Symposium held March 9-10 here. The Rev. Professor John Macquarrie, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford and Canon of Christ Church from 1970 until his retirement in 1985, was the guest lecturer. Macquarrie's writings include "Principles of Christian Theology," Theology, Church and Ministry," "An Existentialist Theology," and "In Search of Humanity." Topical papers were presented by the Rev. Donald Armentrout, professor of Ecclesiastical History here; Timothy F. Sedgewick, associate professor of Christian Ethics and Moral Theology at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.; and the Rev. John E. Booty, professor of Anglican Studies here.