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Baptism Makes Us All Outsiders
From the President: the ecumenical winter and the cross of Christ
 I write this President's message during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. "It has been reported to me...that there are quarrels among you, brothers and sisters." Now there's an understatement. Imagine what Paul might have said about present-day Christians, now scattered, as my colleague John Dally reminded us recently in chapel, into over 30,000 different Christian denominations.
In what has rightly been called our current ecumenical winter, Paul's words stab deep. With Paul we yearn for unity. Yet at the same time many of us fear in our own congregations what perhaps the Corinthians feared in theirs in their quest for unity-we fear being co-opted, or absorbed, or belittled, or worse thing, perhaps, just pitied and ignored.
But we need to lay fear aside. In the end, as Paul knew, it's our common baptism into Christ's death and resurrection that unites us, no matter what branch of the Christian family we find ourselves in, or no matter how many church-dividing stumbling blocks our theologians lay before us.
But we have to be careful. The Spirit can be dangerous, and our baptism in common can take us to places we had not expected to go, especially those of us determined to keep our denominational integrity intact. Ecumenism has been all about a search for inclusiveness, a search for the formula that will allow all of us, Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, to find a common home, a temple where all can worship in safety. Baptism seems tailor-made for this task, the ultimate symbol of Christian inclusiveness.
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The Big Class with Bishop Michael Curry
More than 2000 enroll in online course; registration still open
 More than 2000 people in 18 countries have registered for "The Big Class: How to be a Crazy Christian with Bishop Michael Curry," a free course being offered online by Church Next TV. The 45-minute class is available now and registration remains open. To enhance the experience of those who take the course online, moderators, including Bishop Curry, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, and President Roger Ferlo, will be online to interact with participants on evenings through January 31. Ferlo will moderate the discussion on Tuesday, January 28. "I am looking forward to interacting with people, answering their questions and exploring the ways they want to grow deeper in their faith," he said. "I believe that there will be lively give and take in our virtual classroom." Bexley Seabury is one of Church Next's four partners in The Big Class. The others are Church Publishing Incorporated, the Diocese of North Carolina and Forward Movement. Learn more. |
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Seeking Director of Field Education, Formation
Apply by March 1
 The new Bexley Hall Seabury Western Seminary Federation has announced a search for a Director of Field Education and Formation, to be based at Bexley Hall in Columbus.
The successful candidate will help pioneer the future of 21st century theological education, strengthening a full-time residential MDiv program in Columbus while also supporting innovative low- and non-residential models for theological education.
Read the full position description.
Women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons are strongly encouraged to apply. Please submit a cover letter and CV via email to the Rev'd Thomas Ferguson, Dean,
Bexley Hall Seminary. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2014. Expected start date will be July 1, 2014.
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A Pilgrimage to Sarum
August 31-September 5, 2014
Join President Ferlo and the Rev. Gwynne Wright, member of the Bexley Seabury Federation Board, for a pilgrimage to the heartland of our Anglican heritage. Explore the sacred ruins of Old Sarum, the magnificence of Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals, and the humble beauty of Bemerton parish church, where the poet George Herbert shaped the Anglican cure of souls for generations to come.
The pilgrimage will include opportunities to study George Herbert with Ferlo and the founder of the George Herbert in Bremerton Group and conversation with the bishop of Salisbury, the Rt. Rev. Nicolas Holtam, whose vision for pastoral care and social justice transformed St. Martin in the Fields in London and now marks the life and ministry of this thriving community.
Learn more, download a brochure, or visit MTS Travel online to reserve a spot. |
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Learning from London
Professor Jason Fout teaches travel course in January 2015
We have all heard the news and analysis: the Episcopal Church in the US has shrunk by 24% over the last decade, and prospects for much of the church look dim. Many reasons for this decline are offered: growing secularity, the rise of the "nones", changing attitudes towards religion and religious observance, the encounter with other religions. But inevitable decline is not the only story to be told for Anglicanism in the developed world.
From January 17-24, 2015, Dr. Jason Fout will lead an in-depth introduction to the many facets of the mission and evangelism taking place in the Diocese of London. Students will learn best practices from seasoned practitioners and come away energized to tell a different story about the possibilities present to the church in America.
This course will be suitable for MDiv or DMin students, as well as anyone charged with leadership in the church. Learn more about taking the course for academic credit or lifelong learning.
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Spring Courses Begin in February
Weekend intensives, semester-long courses
Chicago
 Anglican Liturgy and Music: Theology and Practice
February 14-15, March 28-29, May 2-3
This course with Milner Seifert and the Rev. Victor Conrado will cover contemporary liturgical and sacramental theology and practice and will include a practicum.
 Anglican Theology and Ethics
February 21-22, March 21-22 and April 25-26
In this course with the Rev. Dr. Ellen Wondra, students will focus on the breadth and variety of theologies and ethics in the worldwide Anglican
Communion as well as "classic" Anglican theologians and moral theologians.
 Death of the Beautiful Young Man
February 7-8, March 7-8 and April 4-5
In this course, the Rev. Dr. John Dally will include art historical, anthropological, theological and philosophical perspectives in dialogue with painting, sculpture, music and film. Participants will become thoughtful critics of the iconography of Jesus' death.
Columbus
 Anglican Theology & Ethics
Spring semester, Tuesdays and Thursdays
With the Rev. Dr. Jason Fout, students will learn about the distinctive history of Anglican theology and its dynamic, diverse contemporary practice. The focus will be on engaging primary texts in their historical context, as well as making sense of such texts for today's church.
 Global Anglicanism
February 28-March 1, April 4-5, May 9-10
The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer leads students in an exploration of contemporary issues through an Anglican tradition of thoughtful theological reflection, dialogue, and examination of courses of action that reflect baptismal living and are applicable to daily lives and decisions.
Life Among Buildings: Urbanism, City Planning and the Church
Spring semester, Mondays and Wednesdays
The Rev. Dr. Jason Fout introduces students to the basic ideas behind urban planning, particularly through the 'New Urbanism', in order to think about order, community, sustainability and livability in the built environments we inhabit: cities and neighborhoods, suburbs, and towns.
 Liturgics 2
February 14-15, March 14-15, April 25-26
The Rev. Dr. Elise Feyerherm returns to Bexley Seabury to teach an introduction to the history and development of worship, including the Eucharist, daily prayer, baptism, and other sacramental rites.
Current Bexley Seabury MDiv students can also register for an Anglican Formation course and field education seminar.
Learn more about Bexley Seabury's Spring 2014 courses. All classes offer graduate credit and are also available, at significantly reduced rates, for continuing education or simply for the love of learning.
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Death of the Beautiful Young Man
Sessions in Chicago available for lifelong learning
Professor John Dally's spring class, Death of the Beautiful Young Man, includes six sessions at Seabury that are open to the public for $10 each. Sign up for one or more as your schedule allows: register online.
February 7, 7-8:30 pm
Finding the Right Match: The Ideal Crucifixion
February 8, 11 am-12:30 pm
The Beautiful Young Man as Perfect Sacrifice: The Lamb without a Blemish
March 7, 7-8:30 pm
The Beautiful Young Man as Hero: The Slayer of the Bull
March 8, 11 am-12:30 pm
The Beautiful Young Man as Soldier: The Ultimate Sacrifice
April 4, 7-8:30 pm
Strange Fruit: The Cross and the Lynching Tree
April 5, 11 am-12:30 pm
What You See Is What You Get: Rethinking Images of Redemption
Learn more about each session and register online.
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Apply to the 2014 Leadership Institute
Spots still remain in Kellogg School program, June 16-20
The next session of our popular Bexley Seabury Leadership Institute is filling up, but some spaces still remain. The Leadership Institute, a three-day program with the Center for Nonprofit Management, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, is tailored to meet the distinctive needs of lay and clergy leaders.
The 2014 Institute will include seminars titled Leadership Today, Branding Your Congregation, Understanding Changing Generations, Social Media Strategy, Major Gift Strategies and Donor Relations, Leading and Following, and Communicating Vision and Values. Learn more and apply online. Questions? Talk with Susan Harlow.
"The Kellogg faculty's instruction in marketing and fundraising has been particularly helpful to me. I didn't learn those skills in seminary, so I really needed this kind of practical training at this point in my life and ministry. What I've learned at the Leadership Institute has helped me think about new and innovative ways that Episcopal Service Corps can grow and expand, and about ways I can help Episcopal Service Corps programs around the church implement practical strategies for their own recruitment.
--The Rev. Amity Carrubba
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Learn the Book of Common Prayer Online
Eight-part video series will debut in June
Bexley Seabury and ChurchNext are teaming up to present an eight-part series on the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer that will be easily available to anyone with a computer, tablet or smartphone and an Internet connection.
Led by President Roger Ferlo, the series will be available by the end of June at churchnext.tv. Each of the eight classes will take the average learner about 45 minutes to complete.
"I am delighted to be involved in our first partnership with a seminary and our first offering of academic level content," said the Rev. Chris Yaw, founder of ChurchNext, which promotes Christian formation through online classes with leading thinkers and practitioners.
"This series is perfect for Christian education classes, but people can also participate on their own time and at their own pace because all of the presentations will be available for viewing online at any time," he said.
Learn more.
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National Worship Conference 2014
July 20-23, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta
From July 20-23, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada will host the 2014 National Worship Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This year's theme is "Weaving Strands - Liturgy for Living."
The conference will include presenters and participants from across North America, including Bexley Seabury President Roger Ferlo. Learn more and register online before June 15 for the early bird rate, and check out student and group discounts.
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Alumni News
The Rev. William Baker, Jr., (Bexley '62) died on December 27 surrounded by his family. He was 93 and served as an associate priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis. During his ministry, he served parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and also served in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Read a 2006 profile of Bill and his wife, Fritzi, on the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri's website.
News to share with your fellow Bexley and Seabury alums? Email Debbie Frantz at Bexley or Ron Fox at Seabury .
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