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President Ferlo on God's Risky Invitation
Advent reflection
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Bryce Canyon National Park
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Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill shall be made low.
I don't think I am the only person who upon hearing this Scripture text will spend the rest of the day with the tenor solo from Handel's Messiah burrowing like an earworm into the deepest part of my brain. But Handel's librettist was not the first person to quote these lines from the book of Isaiah. It helps to remember that Jesus quotes Isaiah more than any other Scripture. Luke makes sure we get the point right at the start:
Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill shall be made low,
And the crooked shall be made straight,
And the rough ways made smooth,
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
As familiar as these metaphors may be to people who love Handel's Messiah, I wonder if any of this strikes you as odd. What's wrong with mountains and hills, really? One of the most important moments of my life was a hike down the winding mule path that hugs the wall of the Grand Canyon. It was like a hike into Deep Time, each different colored stratum of rock face separated from the next by perhaps a million slow years of storm and erosion. Who would want to fill that valley?
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Update: Consolidating in Chicago
Three faculty members to continue...one addition to staff.
As announced Dec. 20, all three faculty members now resident in Columbus will continue with Bexley Seabury as it forms a single-campus community, with some changes.
Beginning in May, Vice President and Academic Dean Tom Ferguson will transition to adjunct professor of Episcopal and Anglican History as he begins a new ministry, as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Sandwich, Mass. Tom will participate in 2016 Bexley Seabury Commencement actitivies and in the celebration of what will have been a 17-year collaboration with Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Congratulations to Tom on his call. We are delighted he will continue to help Bexley Seabury form new leaders.
Associate Professor of Anglican Theology Jason Fout (Seabury '01) will continue with Bexley Seabury with his current responsibilities.
Director of Field Education and Formation KyungJa (KJ) Oh (Seabury '00) will continue with Bexley Seabury in her current staff and faculty positions, including her teaching responsibilities as lecturer in Practical Theology.
In addition, Jaime Briceņo will soon join the Bexley Seabury team as recruiter and digital missioner. Although he formally joins our staff in January, he is already making important contributions to our efforts. See "On and Off Campus" article below for a brief introduction to Jaime.
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January 2016: Wow
72 enrollments and counting
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DMin students L-R Victor Conrado, Amanda Bordenkircher, Steve Foster, and Pat Grace (seated)
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Starting Jan. 4, students will be inquiring boldly and in large numbers at Bexley Seabury. At this writing we've charted 72 enrollments for courses meeting In Columbus, Chicago and London, UK. Students include our returning DMin class pictured at right as well as others from Bexley Seabury, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Methodist Theological School of Ohio.
Our teaching team for the term includes five of our full-time faculty: John Dally, Roger Ferlo, Jason Fout, Suzann Holding and Ellen Wondra. Three adjunct faculty round out course leadership: Jody Kreztmann, Eric Law and Emlyn Ott.
WELCOME, ALL!
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Many Thanks
Your prayers and your gifts make a difference every day
A prophet, Anna, approached Mary and Joseph and the baby, and began to praise God and to speak about the infant Jesus to all who were looking for redemption.
Luke 2: 36-38
In this exciting year of growth and renewal, all of us at Bexley Seabury are grateful to the many alumni, parishes, bishops and friends who support our mission with their prayers and financial contributions.
THANK YOU for all the ways you
help sustain our work. Ours is a rapidly changing church. We know that we need leaders who understand context, surface the strengths of people and institutions, and work collaboratively to take risks for the sake of the Gospel. Your encouragement is crucial to the work we are doing, and to the continued expansion of our "seminary beyond walls" to include potential leaders of the church for whom access to robust theological education has not been thought an option. Our mission is to recruit and form our 21st century Anna's! As we approach the end of the year, I hope you will consider making a gift to our Annual Fund. You can make your contribution online, or send it directly to this address: Bexley Seabury Seminary Federation, 8765 West Higgins Road, Suite 650, Chicago, Illinois 60631. May you have a blessed Christmastide, and a happy new year! Pray for peace. Roger Ferlo President |
Ordained and Called to BE MORE?
Perhaps 2016 is your year to begin a DMin
 Bexley Seabury Doctor of Ministry programs equip strong leaders with new skills and pragmatic strategies to take their ministries forward.
- Your choice of concentration in Congregational Development or in Preaching
- Flexible, do-able scheduling: two- or three-week Chicago residencies in January and June (Congregational Development) or in June only (Preaching), plus ongoing work in your home parish and with peer cohorts throughout the year
- Knowledge you can easily apply: both programs integrate theory and practice and blend collaborative study in small groups with lecture/discussion and practicums.
If you or someone you know is considering a DMin, help us reach out to initiate a conversation. To explore the possibilities or to refer a potential student, contact Suzann Holding
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Reminder to Seminarians, Faculty, Staff, Spouses & Partners
EES grant application deadline is February 1
The Episcopal Evangelism Society (EES) supports innovative evangelism initiatives through its Evangelism for the 21st Century grants of $500 to $5,000. Episcopal seminarians, faculty and staff as well as spouses and partners are eligible to apply. You can apply online and review examples of past projects on the EES website. More information
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Have News to Share?
Help us keep the community better informed
- Celebrating a recent accomplishment?
 - Found a new resource or inspiration that might also help others?
- Have feedback to offer?
We want to hear what's new in your world so we can recognize you in our monthly newsletter and keep our Bexley Seabury friends and colleagues better informed.
SHARE YOUR NEWS & IDEAS...
please send an email to Ron Fox -- and include photos if possible. THANK YOU.
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Furthering the Work of the Prophets
Thank you for helping us form more leaders
 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2
The prophet Isaiah describes the Servant of God, the Messiah, in these poetic words. Christ Jesus, whose Incarnation we are celebrating this month, is imbued with the Holy Spirit. In Christ we find the wisdom and understanding and knowledge, which can only be of the Spirit of God.
By grace, God gives every servant of the Lord wisdom and understanding and knowledge. The Church's prayer and intent is that each of her ministers reflects this. The support of our donors for Bexley Seabury helps bring this intent to reality. We strive to foster learning communities that instill and nurture wisdom, understanding, knowledge.
The fruits, the proofs, the results of Bexley Seabury's efforts are lived out in the ministries of our alumnae and alumni. They are visible in the congregations and work carried out by the clergy and laity we have helped educate to be leaders.
This is the Body of Christ impacting the world.
This is the prophet's words shown true.
This is your support turned to action and life.
When you give to our Annual Fund, you are furthering the work of the prophets. Thank you.
Vice President for Advancement and Church Relations
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On and Off Campus
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Paul Kyger preaching at his 60th anniversary of ordination while daughter Marion Phipps looks on -- both alums.
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Students and Alums
The Rev. Paul Kyger, Jr. (Seabury-Western '55) celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination at St. Hugh of Lincoln in Elgin, Ill. on Dec. 20 where his daughter, the Rev. Marion Phipps (Seabury-Western '09) is rector. The Rev. Rose Anne Waldman Lonsway (Bexley Seabury '13) was installed Dec. 5 as the 28th rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Willoughby, Ohio.
Jessica Nelson, MTS, CAGO, organist/choirmaster and assistant for liturgy and music at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Tupelo, Miss., was commissioned by the Butler Community College Changer Singers to compose a work that premiered on Dec. 4. Jessica's composition is a choral setting of the text "Blessed Be That Maid Mary."
Students, mark your calendars. In January, Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur, Ga., will begin accepting applications for 2016 Centennial Scholarships. Grants are available for anyone enrolled in an academic program for ordained or lay ministry in the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Communion. More information |
| | A fun selfie with (L-R) James Pashturro, Bishop Wendell Gibbs (SWTS ') 87, Scott Steiner and Paul Castelli |
Congratulations to Bexley Seabury seniors
the Rev. Paul Castelli, the Rev. James Pashturro and the Rev. Scott Steiner, ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, Dec. 12 at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit, Mich.
The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry (Seabury DMin '98) is the 2015 recipient of the S. Michael  Yasutake Award, given by the Diocese of Chicago Peace and Justice Committee. Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood, Bonnie has led justice ministries on multiple fronts. In part, the Committee selected Bonnie for her work to engage Anglicans across the world in theological discussion on human sexuality-work the committee called "prophetic" and to embrace hungry and homeless neighbors as members of the parish. The award is named for the Rev. S.  Michael Yasutake (Seabury-Western '50) who died in 2001 after 51 years as a priest in the Diocese of Chicago. Mike's life-long work for justice was greatly influenced by this family's internment during World War II.
Congratulations to the Rev. Mary Cotter Naughton, a student in our Anglican Studies program, who was ordained Dec. 10 by Bishop Leo Frade to the Sacred Order of Priests. Mary was ordained at her home parish, St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, Boynton Beach, Fla. Mary wrote about her call and her faith journey in the 2015 Bexley Seabury magazine.
Board, Staff & Faculty
 Our new Recruiter and Digital Missioner Jaime Briceņo joins Bexley Seabury in January. Jaime will drive strategic planning for recruiting for all academic programs, including outreach to under-represented communities. He will also curate and oversee our online presence, including social media. Jaime has studied and worked in the U.S. and in Latin America and is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He has studied theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Ill., and is currently pursuing an M.A. Theology, Research, in systematic and interreligious dialogue at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
In Columbus on Dec.15, President Ferlo hosted Bishops Tom Breidenthal and Kenneth Price, local clergy and Board of Directors and Beyond Walls Task Force members for a conversation with Bexley Seabury faculty about the seminary's move to Chicago and hopes for the future.
Jason Fout, associate professor of Anglican theology, attended the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, held Nov. 19-22 in San Antonio, Texas.
 Alumnus the Rev. Rodney Reinhart (Bexley Hall-Crozer '75) died Nov. 24 at age 66. Rod was ordained to the priesthood after a successful career teaching high school in Detroit. At St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on the campus of Detroit's Wayne State University, Rod established programs to care for Vietnam veterans, university students and for people with HIV/AIDS. He worked 21 years in the Diocese of Michigan, helping troubled parishes transition through times of conflict and change. In 2004, Rod began his ministry in the Diocese of Chicago as rector of St. Clement's Church in Harvey and St. Joseph/Aidan's in Blue Island. His work there focused on feeding the hungry, preaching and pastoral care for homeless veterans and people living with poverty, healing the environment, and equality for women and minorities. Our condolences to Rod's spouse, Alan Engle, and Rod's family, parishioners and friends. Rodney is the son of Pauline Renshaw Reinhart and the late Ralph E. Reinhart, brother of Tom Reinhart, Gary Reinhart, MarySue Reinhart and the late Ralph Reinhart, Jr.
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