News Archive for 2004-05 Year

ETSS online offerings expand -- The seminary's online offerings will be expanded, two M.Div. courses will be offered online in Spring 2006 and adult education courses will be developed for parishes -- thanks to the support of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas.

Bill Adams preaches Commencement sermon -- The Rev. Dr. William Seth Adams presented the sermon at the ETSS & LSPS commencement on May 17, 2005, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Austin. Professor Adams, long-time master of ceremonies at commencement, is retiring from the faculty after teaching liturgics at ETSS since 1982. Seminarians in the Class of 2005 nominated Professor Adams to be commencement preacher for the central role he has had in their formation and to honor his ministry of teaching.

Seminary trustee spearheads Afghanistan reconstruction -- Airline executive David Grizzle volunteers for one-year stint as transportation and infrastructure coordinator based in Kabul.

The Lambeth Commission on Communion Report --

Episcopal News Service News and Resources page for Primates 2005 meeting

Episcopal News Service -- audio streams of the Primates Meeting Feb 25 news conference and an interview with Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold -- Real One Player or Windows Media Player needed to play these audio streams

Episcopal News Service Feb 25 article -- Anglican Primates uphold unity in response to Windsor Report

Remarks (Feb 25) from Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold about the Primates Communiqué.

Communiqué (Feb 24) from the Primates at the conclusion of their meeting in the north of Ireland.

Fulcrum -- renewing the evangelical centre

Anglican Communion Institute

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold preaching at the Belfast Cathedral in the north of Ireland on the eve of the Primates meeting.

Anglican Primates: An Overview. On the eve of the Primates Feb 21-25 meeting to receive and discuss the Windsor Report, the Episcopal News Service profiles the group.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold's sermon of Reconciling, Restoring, Healing and Making All Things Whole -- presented at St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin, during the winter meeting of the Executive Council.

Our Commitment to Partnership in the Gospel: A Word to the Church from Executive Council (Feb 14, 2005).

Executive Council responds to Windsor Report (Feb 14, 2005).

Dean Presler's remarks at the "After the Windsor Report: The Future of the Anglican Communion" Forum convened by the General Theological Seminary in January 2005.

News release on Windsor Report Forum at General Theological Seminary (see above).

The Commission released its Windsor Report on Oct. 18.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold offered some preliminary reflections on the report on Oct. 18.

Episcopal News Service information packed webpage of news, interviews and resources

Dean Titus Presler circulated a letter to the community prior to the release of the Windsor Report.

Commission Chair Archbishop Robert Eames' comments Oct 12.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold's letter to all bishops of the Episcopal Church on Sept. 17.

Dean Presler and two Episcopal bishops -- went to east Africa in July to talk face-to-face with Anglican bishops in three African countries about the current tensions in the Anglican Communion.

"I am at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest on a two week stint as Visiting Fellow -- and I want to attest to the integrity of this seminary community as they are beginning to process the Windsor Report.

"The students are looking ahead to their careers in the ordained ministry of our church and are specially sensitive to what is ahead for them. What I am finding with faculty and students alike is a dedication to prayerful study and reflection of the Report -- and without any fear of what they will encounter. I am so proud of the faculty and administration here for their willingness to support their students in a full and open inquiry, and without prejuding matters for them.

"As an 'outsider' I have probably gotten more than my 2 cents in, but it is two cents in a very rich process of discernment. This is just another reason I am so very proud to be an Episcopalian."

Posting on the Bishops & Deputies General Convention list serve by the Rev.Tom Woodward, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Salinas, Calif., on October 20. Woodward was a Visiting Fellow at ETSS in late October 2004.

Death of former trustee -- Described as "an Apostle, with reckless abandon in his love of his Lord, his church, and his people," the Rt. Rev. Robert Hargrove, retired Bishop of Western Louisiana, died on May 19.

Long time friend of ETSS and retired Texas suffragan bishop dies -The Rt. Rev. William Sterling ETSS '57 and honorary D.D. '90 died June 28 in his Houston home. A former ETSS trustee, he actively supported funding of the John Hines Chair of Preaching, as well as the ETSS Alumni/ae Association.

Summer Continuing Education -- Liturgy & Music -- Seminary Professors William Seth Adams and Russell Schulz explore Liturgy and Music during the June 6-10 summer program. The Diocese of Texas will award 12 CEUs (professional) for completion of this program.

2nd Annual Summer Hispanic Ministries course -- Province VII's Center for Hispanic Ministries presents its second annual Intensive Hispanic Ministries course June 20-24 on the ETSS campus. The Diocese of Texas will award eight CEUs (theological/academic) for completion of this course.

Intensive Spanish language summer course in Cuernavaca -- Province VII's Center for Hispanic Ministries is offering an intensive course in Spanish for those interested in developing their ministry in the language of the Angels from July 1 to 17, 2005, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Reservation deadline is April 30 and the Diocese of Texas is offering 12 CEUs (theological/academic) upon completion of this program.

Retirement party for Bill Adams -- About 200 persons attended the May 7 retirement party for Professor Bill Adams. Music, dancing, tributes and more dancing filled the evening.

Seminary mourns death of Bishop Scott Field Bailey -- Since the seminary's founding in the early 1950s, Bishop Bailey was a gracious friend and constant supporter.

Texas Institute of Letters honors Greg Garrett -- Author, MAR junior and Baylor University professor Greg Garrett will be inducted into the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters in late April.

Information and formation for youth ministers and Christian educators -- ETSS middler Catherine Tyndall Boyd writes about the seminary's unique offering for the community of youth ministers and directors of Christian education. The next session of the Certificate Programs takes place June 12-18 on the ETSS campus.

Austin seminary libraries host ATLA conference -- The American Theological Librarian Association's annual conference was held in Austin in mid-June. The libraries of ETSS, LSPS and Austin Presbyterian with the Austin Graduate School of Theology hosted the event.

Seabury-Western honors Dean Presler -- Dean Titus Presler presented the sermon during the June 3 commencement of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. The Chicago seminary awarded the dean an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree during the ceremony.

Register now for spring online courses -- Mary Earle's "We Give You Greeting -- Prayer and Praise from the Celtic Tradition" and Paul Barton's "Historical and Cultural Contexts for Hispanic Ministry" are this spring's online course offerings.

ETSS Spring Quiet Day April 6 -- Sister Carolyn, gifted retreat director and Mother Superior of the Society of St. Margaret, will lead our community in Quiet Day on Wednesday, April 6.

Downtown Stations of the Cross in Austin -- Several members of ETSS community took part in the annual Downtown Stations of the Cross on Good Friday morning, March 25. Jo and Jim Popham and Bob Kinney presented meditations.

ETSS graduate heads church deployment post -- The Rev. Rebecca McClain, Class of 1985, is the new executive director of the national Church Deployment Office.

Death anniversary of Will Spong -- The seminary community gathered in Christ Chapel on February 4 to honor the one year anniversary of the death of the Rev. Dr. Will Spong, Professor-Emeritus of Pastoral Theology. The Rev. Dr. William Seth Adams reflected on his faculty colleague and long-time friend during the Eucharist sermon.

Visitors Weekend April 1-3 -- Thinking of entering seminary? This annual student-staged vocational discernment weekend focuses on Mission, Leadership and Spirituality.

Two from ETSS lecture at LBJ School -- Dr. Tony Baker, interim lecturer in theology, and junior Ken Malcolm presented lectures during the Religion and Public Policy symposium at the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs on Feb. 1.

ETSS hosts third annual Missionary Orientation Session -- The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) will present an orientation for 20 missionaries on the ETSS campus from January 8 through 21. Following the two-week program, the missionaries will be commissioned and begin their journeys to Africa, the Americas and Europe.

SCOM grants assist seminarians -- Four ETSS middler students are spending their January Term in Africa and Pakistan -- thanks to grants from the Seminary Consultation on Mission (SCOM).

Theological Education for All -- Theological Education happens in myriad ways and places, all around us. It is the goal of TEforALL to help Episcopal educators and learners find and share resources for theological education, and to inspire all Episcopal communities to offer -- or seek out -- creative and effective theological learning opportunities.

Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes is 2005 Harvey Lecturer at ETSS -- Professor Gomes, one of America's most distinguished preachers, will present the Harvey Lectures on February 7. The Harvard Divinity School faculty member and Pusey Minister in Harvard's Memorial Church will preach at the noon service in Christ Chapel before the lectures. Note -- the Diocese of Texas will award clergy two CEUs (theological & academics) for attending the lectures.

Executive Council slates February meeting in Austin -- The Executive Council of the General Convention will hold its winter meeting in Austin February 11-14. The 38-member group will be meeting in St. David's Church, downtown, and hopefully will be on campus for lunch with the community and a tour on Monday, Feb. 14. It will mark the first time the council meets in Austin.

ETSS is well represented on the Executive Council -- Dean Titus Presler, the Rt. Rev. Theodore Daniels, assistant bishop of Texas, and the Rev. Ken Kesselus '72, of St. Christopher's Church, Austin, are members, as well as Western Kansas ETSS trustee Sherry Denton and the Rev. Anthony Guillen '90, of the Los Angeles Diocese. The Executive Council has the duty to carry out programs and policies adopted by General Convention. It is the job of Executive Council to oversee the ministry and mission of the Episcopal Church.

Perfect Family? -- Duke Divinity School professor Amy Laura Hall explores the theological ethics of parenting and the "perfect family" at ETSS on Dec. 14 and St. David's Church Dec. 12.

Fiesty flag-footballers fall ... but -- The final score wasn't to the liking of the ETSS & LSPS community but the team claimed moral high ground in this year's Polity Bowl.

2004 engagements -- ETSS Dean Titus Presler lists his engagements for calendar year 2004.

Athey funeral Friday, Nov. 5 -- Funeral services for the Rev. Michael Athey, Class of 1997, were held Nov. 5, at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oklahoma City.

Professor Michael Floyd teaching in India -- The Rev. Dr. Michael Floyd is teaching at a theological college in India during most of his 2004-05 sabbatical leave.

ETSS graduate honored -- The Rev. Amy Donohue-Adams '93 has been doubly honored for her end-of-life care ministry by the Texas Partnership for End-of-Life Care.

Faculty appointments at ETSS -- Recent appointments to the ETSS faculty for the 2004-05 academic year include -- the Rev. Dr. Margaret Izutsu as Director of the MAPM and MAC programs and Lecturer in World Religions and Christianity -- Dr. Roy Steven Bishop in Old Testament -- Dr. Anthony Baker in Theology -- Kathleen Turner in Music

ELCA Presiding Bishop at ETSS -- The Rev. Mark Hanson presented the 2004 Blandy Lectures at the seminary in late September.

Interreligious Forum Oct. 18 -- The Austin Lay School of Theology celebrates its twentieth anniversary with a forum on "Religion and Conflict in Today's World -- How do we make sense of the news?" with a panel of Islam, Jewish and Christian speakers on Monday, Oct. 18, in Knapp Auditorium.

Opening Week Activities at ETSS -- An anti-racism training day and the seminary's semi-annual Quiet Day took place during the first week of the 2004-05 academic year.

ETSS staffer garners Outstanding Actress nomination -- Brie Walker, assistant chef at ETSS, has been nominated in the Outstanding Actress category for the 2004 B. Iden Payne Awards in Austin. Brie received the nomination for her performance as Lucy and the White Witch in the recent children's drama production of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." The play also garnered Outstanding nominations for Play, Director and Actor. The award ceremony will be held on the evening of September 27 in Austin.

You are invited to see Brie perform in another children's drama production in September. She will appear as Charlotte in E.B. White's famed "Charlotte's Web" September 3-19 at the Austin Playhouse, 3601 South Congress Avenue in the Penn Field arts complex. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., in addition to Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Adults $10 and children 12 and under $8.

ETSS 2004 Summer Continuing Education -- The Rev. Dr. Stephen Bevans, SVD, contextual theologian, and the Rev. Dr. Roger Paynter, preacher, will offer the 2004 continuing education program June 8 through 11 on campus.

Center for Hispanic Ministries offers summer course -- The Rev. Jaime Case, executive director of the center, will offer a week-long, intensive course in Hispanic ministry June 21-25

Seminary hosts GEM conference June 16-18 -- The Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEM Network) will hold its eighth annual Educational Institute on the ETSS campus in mid-June.

Professor-emeritus Green presents paper -- The Rev. Canon William B. Green, professor-emeritus of systematic theology, presented a paper on "Heresy and Schism" at the June meeting at Canterbury of the Anglican Orthodox Theological Consultation.

Past ETSS lecturer receives top literary award -- Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela has received South Africa's foremost literary award. She lectured at ETSS during the 2003 missionary orientation.

Community members receive media awards -- Several members of the ETSS community received Polly Bond awards at the recent conference of the Episcopal Communicators. Torey Lightcap '04, Fito Kahn, Julie Newton, Rob Cogswell '90 and Bob Kinney received an honorable mention award for their redesign of this ETSS website. Titus Presler received an honorable mention award for an article he wrote -- Modern Day Martyrs -- for the March 03 issue of Episcopal Life. Dan Webster '96 received an overall excellence award for the diocese of Utah's monthly newspaper -- Diocesan Dialogue. He is director of communications for Utah and edits the newspaper. The Episcopal Communicators honors outstanding work in media -- print, video, audio, web, photography etc. -- every year. The awards are named in honor of one of the founders of the group.

Staffer nets arts awards -- Sharon Marroquin, administrative assistant in the development office, received a 2004 Austin Critics Table Award for the choreography of her dance piece, "For My Mother"/"Endangered Species." Sharon dances professionally in the Austin area.

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