Episcopal Press and News
Council Hears Seminary Deans Report
Episcopal News Service. February 19, 1976 [76071]
Greenwich, Conn. -- In response to a resolution adopted by the 1973 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, the Executive Council heard seminary deans and others charged with theological education responsibilities call for greater "financial support for theological education."
Bishop Ned Cole of Central New York, chairman of the Board for Theological Education (BTE) reminded the Council at its meeting here Feb. 18-19 that the "Church has the responsibility to support theological education financially. "
"The core of our Church is theologically educated persons, especially the ordained," he said.
While the 1973 Convention affirmed "its support of the principle" of "significant financial support of the accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church," it has not provided a financial program for the effective fulfillment of the task of the seminaries, according to the deans.
An Ad Hoc Committee on Seminary Funding, chaired by Mrs. Seaton Bailey, Griffin, Ga., a member of the Executive Council, invited the deans of the 10 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church to present their cases to the Council at this meeting. The Convention charged the Executive Council with the responsibility for study of Seminary Funding with recommendations to the 1976 General Convention," Mrs. Bailey said.
Representing the accredited seminaries were the following: Dean Harvey H. Guthrie, Church Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.; Dean Urban T. Holmes III, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; the Rev. Shunji F. Nishi, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, Calif.; Dean John S. Reuf, Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, Wis.; Dean Hays H. Rockwell, Bexley Hall, Rochester, N.Y.; and Dean Cecil Woods Jr., Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va.
Accredited seminaries not represented at the presentation were: Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, New Haven, Conn.; Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, Tex.; General Theological Seminary, New York City; and SeaburyWestern Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill.
Dean Holmes pointed out that 35 percent of the students engaged in theological education are enrolled in non-accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church.
Dean Reuf said that the accredited seminaries have contributions to make "apart from preparation for ordination," including continuing education for both clergy and laity, and for scholarly production in journals and books.
Dr. Nishi spoke of the "entire theological range" of studies offered at the Graduate Theological Union, and especially of its" significant doctoral program" and courses in "lay theological education."
Noting the ecumenical make-up of his classes, he said that "there is no way I would want to go back to those former days with only Episcopalians in my classes."
Dr. Nishi said that while there has "never been more excitement in theological teaching," there is also unprecedented apprehension about financial support for the institutions. Dean Woods said that because of "benign neglect" over the years, the seminaries are in desperate "need for sustained support" and the Church "must face the fiscal realities."
"No other significant Christian body in the U.S. gives so poorly to its theological institutions" as does the Episcopal Church, Dean Woods said.
In response to a question, Dean Woods said a case could be made for fewer than 10 accredited seminaries to serve the Episcopal Church, "and I can assure you there will be fewer -- or none at all -- if there is not better financial support."
Dean Guthrie said the suggested contribution of 3 percent of local operating budgets by congregations for theological education is "not an assessment, not a tax, but a goal."
He said the deans did not think a "capital addition" resulting from a fund-raising campaign would "deal with basic need," which, he said, is "annual support."
"There are many lively and stimulating things going on in the walls of our seminaries," said Dean Rockwell. The seminaries "are criticized and are vulnerable to criticism," he said, but three elements need to be kept alive: the seminaries as academies to "nourish research," a place to "nourish the spirit," and a place for pastoral and professional training.
The Rev. John S. Spong, Richmond, Va., asked the deans if the seminaries and the Clergy Deployment Office (CDO) might be "working in opposite directions." The CDO is concerned about the large number of non-stipendiary clergy, while the seminaries are concerned about sustaining and developing their programs for seminarians. Several bishops, Mr. Spong said, have placed moratoria on candidates for the ministry.
Dean Guthrie responded that "we will not solve our problems if we just consider the deployment point of view."
Bishop Gray Temple of South Carolina said that the Episcopal Church may find that 50 percent of its dioceses will place moratoria on candidates for the seminaries within a few years.
Presiding Bishop John M. Allin said that not all graduates "will come out of the seminaries and fit into an institutional slot."
The deans reported to the Council that there are now 730 students in the M.Div. programs in the 10 accredited seminaries in preparation for ordination, 137 post graduate students, and 155 students in other degree or special programs.
The combined operation budgets for the 10 seminaries amount to $9.5 million, with 5 percent of that budget -- $463,000 -- received in the 1975 Theological Education Sunday Offerings throughout the Church. Combined current budgeted deficits come to $1 million, the deans reported.
The deans, with support from the BTE and the Study Committee on Preparation for Ordination, propose that the 10 seminaries and other institutions of theological education continue to be supported by the annual offering, with a suggested 3 percent of parish operating budgets to go to designated seminaries or other institutions.
This is one of three options for funding suggested by Mrs. Bailey's ad hoc committee, the other two being a request that each diocese raise a specified amount for theological education each year in the next triennium, and an assessment on the budgets of each congregation each year in the next triennium for theological education. The Council has not approved a recommendation for presentation to the General Convention in September.
The members of the Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Seminary Funding, appointed by Bishop Allin last December, in addition to Mrs. Bailey, are: Dupuy Bateman Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Marcus A. Cummings, Cincinnati, Ohio; George T. Guernsey III, St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. John S. Jackson Jr., Lake Oswego, Ore.; Mrs. J. Brooks Robinson, Great Falls, Mont.; and Philip A. Masquelette, Houston, Tex.