 Greetings! "To find suitable persons for the Episcopal ministry and aid them in acquiring a thorough education." Founding words by which SIM has lived since 1857; founding words that have generated over 6000 grants to over 5000 students; founding words that have produced a living alumni base of over 2750 women and men; founding words that include 29% of today's bishops as SIM recipients. Each SIM grant is an investment-an investment in a future ordained leader to serve The Episcopal Church. Consider the extent of the influence of our alumni over time and geography. Consider the significance of SIM's ministry to The Episcopal Church.
This past May we lost a 100 year old alumnus, the Reverend Canon Allan Leavenworth Ramsey. Canon Ramsey was born on January 20, 1911. Married to Doris in 1936, Canon Ramsey graduated from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in 1940 and was ordained in 1941 by Bishop Frank Creighton. He received two SIM grants: $100 for the 1938/39 academic year and $100 for 1939/40.
Canon Ramsey served as a parish rector for three parishes in Michigan from 1941 to 1955 and on the Diocese of Michigan staff as Executive Secretary and Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Michigan. In 1964 he was made Honorary Canon at St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit.
Even as he approached the century mark, Canon Ramsey maintained his payback and pay forward approach for the future of the church. The returns on SIM's 1939/1940 investments in Canon Ramsey attest to our ministry for the future of the church. As loyal donors for several decades, the Ramseys returned far more financially to SIM than SIM's $200 financial aid package, but far more than financial returns was his faithful service to the Church for over 70 years. Canon Ramsey did indeed "increase the ministry."
Yes, Canon Ramsay proved "suitable for the Episcopal ministry." Very suitable indeed!SIM offers our condolences to his widow, Doris, and prays for her to be blessed with wonderful memories.
Faithfully yours,
Tom Moore
Executive Director
SIM |
