The School of Theology is pleased to announce that senior seminarians Michael Sturdy, T’25, and Nolan McBride, T’25, have won first and second place respectively in The Living Church Foundation’s 15th annual Student Essays in Christian Wisdom competition.
The School of Theology at the University of the South reopened and dedicated the newly renovated Hamilton Hall last week following a 20-month renovation project. Residential formation for ministry in a community grounded in study and prayer is critical to the future of the church, and with its renewed building, the School of Theology will be strengthened in its work for decades to come.
The School of Theology of the University of the South is the grateful recipient of a Saint John’s Bible, Heritage Edition, which is the only full-sized illuminated fine art edition of the original manuscript. To celebrate this truly exceptional gift, the School of Theology Community will read the entire Bible over the course of 72 hours beginning Saturday Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. CDT and concluding Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. The reading will be livestreamed continuously and viewers can join at anytime.
On Monday, August 26 in the Chapel of the Apostles, the School of Theology matriculated seminarians from all over the United States and the world. During the Holy Eucharist and Matriculation service students were admitted to the classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Pearigen and Provost Dr. Scott Wilson. Students signed the Matriculation Book before being gowned.
On Friday, May 10 the University of the South in its 167th year will hold a Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees from the School of Theology. The convocation will be held at 10:00 a.m. in All Saints’ Chapel. The seminary will graduate 27 students receiving varying diplomas and degrees from Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Pearigen.
The Rev. Dr. Reed Carlson will join the School of Theology at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year as assistant professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. A biblical scholar and Episcopal priest, Dr. Carlson comes to Sewanee from United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) in Philadelphia, where he was assistant professor of biblical studies and the director of Anglican studies. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Carlson and his family to Sewanee.
Born of necessity during the pandemic and later discontinued, the Morning Prayer livestream is back by popular demand. Thank you to School of Theology alumni for making your voices heard. Join us live weekdays beginning at 8:05 a.m. Find the livestream on the School of Theology Facebook page.
The School of Theology is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the American Heraldry Society's Pierre de Chaignon la Rose Design Award. The award encourages excellence in American heraldry by recognizing those armorial bearings providing organizations with strong public identity, embodying the best heraldic design of the highest form, function and aesthetic.
It is with gratitude that we recognize the many and various contributions of Dr. Kenneth Miller to the School of Theology. Since 2016 Dr. Miller has served on the faculty as associate professor of church music, and as organist and choirmaster of the Chapel of the Apostles. Beginning in the summer of 2024, Dr. Miller will assume the position of director of music and organist at St. James’ Church in New York City, which means the spring semester will be his last one with us. While we will greatly miss Dr. Miller’s regular presence, we look forward to having him with us in the future as a visiting lecturer and performer. Please join the School of Theology in wishing Dr. Miller the very best in his next chapter.
The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, C’69, visited with seminarians at the School of Theology on Friday Oct. 6 before being awarded an honorary doctorate degree at Fall Convocation of the University of the South. Bishop Robinson also delivered a moving and inspirational address to hundreds of students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members who were assembled on campus and online. “On many a night, I would walk through the dense Sewanee fog, out of which this chapel would magically appear, and I would get on my knees at that altar rail,” Robinson said, recalling his time as a Sewanee undergrad. “God knew I had a secret, and God and I would fight about whether or not someone like me was worthy of seminary and ordination. My answer was no, and God's answer was yes, and God won.”
On the evening of Monday, August 28, the School of Theology matriculated seminarians from all over the Unites States and the world. i. During the Holy Eucharist and Matriculation service students were admitted to the classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026 as they signed the Matriculation Book and were gowned. Additionally, new faculty and administrators, the Rev. Kevin M. Goodman and Dr. Hannah Matis were also formally welcome to the School of Theology. And what a warm welcome it was for all new members of our community.
On Friday, May 12 the University of the South, in its 166th year, held a Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees from the School of Theology. The seminary graduated 34 students receiving varying degrees from acting vice-chancellor Dr. Nancy Berner. Many of the University’s leadership were in attendance including University chancellor the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jake Owensby, T’97, University provost Scott Wilson and the School’s Dean, the Very Rev. Dr. James F. Turrell. The ceremony took place in All Saints’ Chapel and was recorded for those unable to attend.
The University of the South is pleased to announce that the Rev. Kevin M. Goodman will join the School of Theology as Executive Director of the Education for Ministry (EfM) program. Goodman replaces retiring Executive Director Karen Meridith who has led the program since 2010. Having served as an EfM mentor and trainer for more than thirty years, Kevin brings a deep understanding of EfM to his new role, as well as years of leadership experience in the church.
Join us! The Rev. Dr. C.K. Robertson, Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, will be speaking at the School of Theology on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 3:15 CT. In his presentation titled "Tapping into our DNA: The Future of Anglicanism and the Anglican Communion after Lambeth 2022," Robertson reflects on the path forward in the aftermath of Lambeth 2022.
With gratitude, the School of Theology announces the upcoming retirement of Karen M. Meridith from her role as executive director of Education for Ministry (EfM) and associate director of the Beecken Center. Karen will retire in June 2023 following the close of the 2022-2023 academic year. The School of Theology is extraordinarily grateful for Karen’s guidance and leadership over the past 12 years, as are countless individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by EfM under Karen’s leadership. Karen’s retirement date is set for June 30, 2023, and the formal search for her successor is slated to begin shortly.
The School of Theology Service Award recognizes Episcopal clergy or laypersons who have exhibited distinguished service to The Episcopal Church. We have, in particular, sought to highlight clergy or laypersons who have made a significant difference in transforming unjust structures and promoting peace and reconciliation in their communities, as well as honoring those who have deployed parish resources to sustain and renew the life of the earth. This year’s recipient has made extraordinary contributions in both of these categories.
Please join us in congratulating seminarian award winners, Alane Osborne and Charles Martin. Alane Osborne was presented with the Woods Leadership Award for her contributions to the quality of student life at the School of Theology. Charles Martin was awarded the Freeman Award for academic excellence. Awards were presented Sept. 28, 2022 at the Alumni Lectures & Homecoming banquet.
At its summer meeting, the University of the South Board of Regents formally approved promotion and tenure decisions for eleven faculty members, including the School of Theology’s Dr. Kenneth Miller, Associate Professor of Church Music and Organist and Choirmaster of the Chapel of the Apostles. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Miller.
Please join us in congratulating the Reverend Deborah Jackson, associate dean for community life at the School of Theology, on her election to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. Jackson was elected during the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which is took place in Baltimore, Maryland in July 2022. Congratulations Dean Jackson!
Join us in congratulating the Dr. Andrew Thompson, assistant professor of theological ethics for his appointment as Director of the Center for Religion and Environment. The Center fosters conversation around the increasingly rich intersections of religious belief and environmental awareness and care.
Dr. Anathea Portier-Young returned to the Doctor of Ministry program for the 2022 summer session. On June 15 Portier-Young held a dynamic public lecture in which she examined the prophetic qualities of Miriam’s dance in Exodus 15:20-21. Watch the recording at the link below.
On May 6, the School of Theology will hold its 165th Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees. This year the ceremony will be held in the University’s All Saints’ Chapel. On that Friday the seminary will graduate 30 students receiving varying degrees from Interim Vice-Chancellor Nancy Berner.
The University of the South is pleased to announce that church historian Hannah Matis, Ph.D., will join the School of Theology as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Church History. Dr. Matis will begin her duties at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Matis’s academic focus is in early medieval biblical interpretation and the church in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. She brings extensive administrative experience to her leadership role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in which she will also direct the Advanced Degree Program.
The Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart will give a lecture in the University of the South’s Convocation Hall on April 5 titled “Preaching Your Authentic Self.”
I am Audra Ryes (pronounced "Rise" like “sunrise”), a first-year seminarian in the master of divinity program at the School of Theology. I have climbed up this Mountain via New Orleans, Louisiana, where food, music, and culture are more important than money and politics. Because of this, having the honor of being this month’s guest editor during Black History Month is a real treat for me.
Supersessionism has now emerged as a topic of intense discussion in both the academy and the Church. Widely agreed to be problematic, it is surprisingly difficult to define.
The School of Theology will celebrate Black History Month by hosting a performance by The American Spiritual Ensemble on Feb. 1, 2022, in All Saints’ Chapel at 7 p.m. The Sewanee community is invited to attend free of charge. Note: Masks are required.
Today, Dec. 1, Vice-Chancellor Brigety informed the Board of Regents of his decision to tender his resignation as vice-chancellor effective at the conclusion of this semester, on Dec. 21, 2021.
After being unable to gather in person last December, the University of the South looks forward to welcoming the extended Sewanee family back into All Saints' Chapel again in 2021. This year, the seating capacity has been expanded and can accommodate 1,100 people at each service.
On Sept. 29, the recipient of the Woods Leadership Award and the Freeman Award for Merit was announced during the School of Theology’s Alumni Lectures and Homecoming dinner. For the second time in the recent past, one seminarian was the recipient of both awards—Kelton Riley, T’23.
The Rev. Hilary Bogert-Winkler, assistant professor of Liturgy at the School of Theology, has been awarded a fellowship from the Folger Institute. Her project is titled, "Phillip O'Sullivan Beare's Zoilomastix: A Critical English Translation and Digital Edition.
Dr. Andrew Thompson has partnered with the Tennessee Aquarium and Freshwaters Illustrated to develop an environmental curriculum for churches. Thompson wrote “Wherever the River Goes,” a faith-based reflection guide designed to accompany the aquarium’s documentary film, Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia.
The Very Rev. James F. Turrell, dean of the School of Theology, Sewanee, Tennessee, is pleased to announce that the Rev. Richard Cogill has been appointed director of contextual education, beginning on July 1, 2021. Cogill will have oversight of the School’s field education, clinical pastoral education, and cross-cultural programs as part of the curriculum’s three-course practical theology sequence.
On Oct. 7, The School of Theology announced the recipients of the Woods Leadership Award—Ashley Simpson, T'22, and the Freeman Award for Merit—Christopher Schwenk, T'22.
Today, Sept. 8, 2020, the University of the South released a statement “categorically rejecting its past veneration of the Confederacy and of the ‘Lost Cause’ and wholeheartedly committing itself to an urgent process of institutional reckoning in order to make Sewanee a model of diversity, of inclusion, of intellectual rigor, and of loving spirit in an America that rejects prejudice and embraces possibility.”
On March 30, 2021, the Very Rev. James F. Turrell, dean of the School of Theology, Sewanee, Tennessee, announced that the Rev. Dr. Hilary Bogert-Winkler has been appointed assistant professor of liturgy. She will begin teaching in the academic year 2021–2022.
Mother Julia Gatta, professor of pastoral theology joins the Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton in the latest edition of “Reflections with Bishop Easton” a podcast presented by the Episcopal Church of Southeast Florida. Exploring the meaning of Easter and the profound significance of the resurrection, their conversation illuminates possible pathways for individuals striving to enrich their faith and deepen their life in Christ.
For 97 years, the School of Theology’s annual lectures, held in conjunction with the alumni homecoming, have carried the name “The DuBose Lectures” in commemoration of William Porcher DuBose. on April 7, 2021, the faculty of the School of Theology voted to remove his name from the annual event, effective immediately.
Last September, in its historic statement, the Board of Regents called for the University to become a “model of diversity, of inclusion, of intellectual rigor, and of loving spirit in an America that rejects prejudice and embraces possibility. The School of Theology has been hard at work.
