News and Photo Archives -- 2003-04 Academic Year

Highlights of the 2003-04 Academic Year

Presiding Bishop preaches at Commencement -- The Most Rev. Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, presented the sermon during the ETSS 2004 Commencement. Twenty-six ETSS students were graduated with degrees and certificates while the LSPS Class of 2004 numbered eight. Receiving honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees were Presiding Bishop Griswold, dean-emeritus Durstan McDonald and Lucy Nazro '66, head of St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin. Malcolm Cooper is the recipient of this year's Trustees' Award.

The death of Will Spong -- The Rev. Dr. Will Spong, professor-emeritus of pastoral theology, died in his sleep on February 4, 2004. Funeral service Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Will's contributions to the Seminary of the Southwest are incalculable.

Rwandan Dance and Music Troupe in Residence -- Rays of Hope, a 16-member performance troupe of survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, are coming to ETSS.

The Seminary We Aim to Become -- Following several months of deliberation, the Seminary of the Southwest has revised its statements dealing with Mission (why we exist), Core Values (our unique and foundational attributes) and Vision (our desired future).

Quo Vadis? Chile and the U.S. -- An opinion article written by Professor Russell Schulz was published in a recent edition of the Santiago Times in Chile.

Ronald Sunderland to direct summer CPE -- Veteran clinical pastoral education supervisor to direct summer 04 CPE work of ETSS seminarians

Middle Building opens -- The renovation and expansion of the Classroom and Office Middle Building -- thanks to the Making All Things News capital campaign -- was completed in January. Follow progress of the $2.5 million project through regular updates.

No ETSS downlink of 2004 Trinity Conference -- For the second year in a row, the Trinity Institute will broadcast its annual conference on the Internet only. The Seminary of the Southwest had been a downlink site for the conference in previous years. The Trinity website has information explaining how to view the webcast of the conference -- "Naming Evil."

ECUSA Executive Council meeting -- Dean Presler reports on the February 2004 meeting of the church's executive council, in addition to a lay person's view of the gathering.

Faculty writings published in 2003 -- From Zechariah, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and global mission to Dorothee Soelle and Coleridge, eclectic writings of five seminary faculty members were published in 2003.

Visitors Weekend March 26-28 -- You are invited to take part in the 2004 vocational discernment weekend at the seminary -- an opportunity to consider your gifts in the lay and ordained ministry.

Stewardship workshop April 5 -- Members of Austin area parishes are invited to a workshop on stewardship on Monday, April 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the seminary campus.

Second annual missionary orientation at ETSS -- Future missionaries are on the ETSS campus January 10-25 for an extensive orientation session.

Certificate Programs moves to ETSS campus -- After being held for three years outside Austin, the seminary's unique training program for youth ministers and Christian educators moved to campus in January 2004.

Richard Rohr at ETSS February 9 -- Franciscan Father Richard Rohr, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, will present the 2004 Harvey Lectures at 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 9.

ETSS attracts youthful group of new students -- Current seminary enrollment reflects a markedly youthful turn while ETSS continues to attract students from throughout the Episcopal Church.

Seminary library staffer and student spouse dies -- Jeanette Marie Smith Eddy died from pneumonia on December 16. The ETSS community held a memorial service for her two days later.

Booher Library art exhibit -- Three members of the ETSS community -- Kathy Thaden, Delda Skinner and Judy King -- are displaying their art in the Booher Library through December.

Episcopal arts website features graduate's photograph -- A photograph by the Rev. Doug Earle '84 is the featured Advent art on the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts website. Doug credits the idea for the image to the orthodox incarnational theology he learned from the Rev. Canon Bill Green, professor-emeritus of systematic theology. Additional photography by Doug may be seen here.

General Seminary honors Dean Presler -- General Theological Seminary awarded Dean Titus Presler an honorary doctor of divinity degree during its Convocation on October 15. Presler, who earned the M.Div. degree from General in 1979, was a visiting lecturer in mission studies at the New York City seminary in 2000-02 while he was a parish priest in Cambridge, Mass.

Artist Kathy Thaden on Episcopal visual arts website -- Kathy Thaden, a member of the ETSS community, has a webpage on the website of the Episcopal Church & Visual Arts, an organization that encourages visual art in the church. Thaden is a graphic designer, animator and art director in television. She has won numerous awards for her design in television -- including six Emmys.

Bishop Leo Alard dies -- Leo Alard, suffragan bishop of Texas, died October 9. The first Hispanic to be elected bishop in the Episcopal Church, Leo first joined the seminary community during the mid 1980s when he was executive director of the Province VII Center for Hispanic Ministries on the ETSS campus. The seminary awarded Bishop Alard an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1996.

University community devises new mission strategy -- ETSS seminary years for the Rev. Michael Athey '97 marked the beginning of his "proclaiming the good news and seeking justice." Now rector of St. Anselm, the Canterbury at the University of Oklahoma, Michael brought a church group to Austin earlier this year for a unique urban immersion program.

Seminary trustee named to national parks board -- ETSS trustee Regan Gammon, of Austin, was appointed to the National Park Foundation Board on October 31. The NPF is a congressionally chartered nonprofit partner of the National Park Service that raises private funds, makes strategic grants and creates innovative partnerships while increasing public awareness about our national parks. A member of All Saints' Church, Austin, Gammon is founder and executive board member of the Texas Book Festival.

Student Phonathon sets record -- 36 phonathoners set an all-time one-night record of pledges -- best in 17 years.

Alums Mary Earle and Seth Deleery honored -- The Rev. Mary Earle '87 received the McDonald Award and the Rev. Seth Deleery '74 was presented with the Perry Award during the Alumni/ae Convocation and Blandy Lectures Sept. 16.

Wider community & Blandy Lectures -- A pictorial wrap up of the ETSS Alumni/ae Convocation and Sister Joan Chittister's Blandy Lectures.

The ETSS policy on human sexuality -- As the Episcopal Church broke new ground during its recently-completed General Convention in Minneapolis by confirming the Anglican Communion's first non-celibate gay bishop and approving a resolution accepting that blessings of same-sex relationships are taking place "within the bounds of our common life," the Seminary of the Southwest reiterates its policy on human sexuality.

Booher Library stages photography exhibit throughout November -- The work of three Austin photographers is being displayed throughout November in the Booher Library. The photographs explore the variety of Mexican culture and people. The library opened the exhibit on Halloween by hosting a round of trick or treating and then staging an afternoon reception with a Day of the Dead motif and Latin rock music.

Professor Gregory named associate dean of academic affairs -- When Professor Alan Gregory returns from sabbatical leave in January 2004, he will assume additional responsibilities as associate dean at the seminary.

Graduate named interim director -- The Rev. Jane Lancaster Patterson '93 has begun work as interim director of theological field education at ETSS.

Register now for fall online courses -- Term Three of the ETSS online courses includes "Historical and Cultural Contexts for Hispanic Ministry" (the only such online course offered by an Episcopalian seminary;); "From (Stem) Cell to (Prison) Cell"; and "We Give You Greeting: Prayer and Praise from the Celtic Tradition."

Austin Lay School of Theology -- If you're looking for a quality faith-based course with no educational prerequisites, consider one of three classes this fall at ETSS.

2003 General Convention News

General Convention elects two from ETSS -- The Very Rev'd Dr. Titus Presler, seminary dean, was elected to a six-year term on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. The Executive Council carries out the programs and policies adopted by the General Convention and has charge of the coordination, development and implementation of the mission and ministry of the church. The Rev. Dr. Susan Dolan-Henderson, associate professor of Christian ethics and moral theology, was elected to a six-year term on the General Board of Examining Chaplains. That group has responsibility for the General Ordination Examinations.

Dean Presler reflects on Executive Council and summarizes his activity at Convention.

Vision Statement for World Mission -- The Standing Commission on World Mission, chaired by Dean Titus Presler, presented a new vision for mission at the General Convention 2003 this summer in Minneapolis. Dean Presler outlines the commission's vision statement.

ETSS at General Convention 2003 -- Read about the seminary reception, see photos and how members of the ETSS Community contributed to the gathering in Minneapolis.

ETSS seminarian's book published -- Roger Joslin, a senior M.Div. student, has written a book about running and spiriuality.

Development News -- The Making All Things New capital campaign set an ETSS fundraising record -- $8.7 million! Get the latest information on the ETSS Capital Campaign, the Student and Trustee Phonathons and a graduate's million-dollar gift to ETSS.

Useful Website -- Librarian Rob Cogswell has compiled an extensive and ever growing collection of web pages of useful and eclectic websites for seminarians to use in their studies. It's positioned within the Booher Library's web page elsewhere on the ETSS website.

Photo Essays 2003-04 Academic Year

Hispanic Immersion -- ETSS juniors went to the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio and then to the Border during January Term 04.

Polity Bowl Victory -- The Tigers of ETSS & LSPS bested the Presbyterian Seminary flag football team in the 2003 Polity Bowl.

Rest your eyes upon -- A tour of the Cutty Charlton Memorial Garden outside Christ Chapel.

Seminarian couple renew marriage vows -- Dan and Robbi Tantimonaco, of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, renewed their marriage vows in Christ Chapel in September.

Attending diocesan conventions and councils -- ETSS seminarians return home to take part in diocesan gatherings.