From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal:
There is a certain rhythm to life at Nashotah House Theological Seminary that has remained unchanged over the last century or so.That the new president will mend fences with the local bishop of the Episcopal Church and that women are no longer ostracized at the seminary are surely good things. The blend of Episcopal seminarians and ACNA seminarians must present challenges, but I offer Bishop Salmon and Nashotah House my prayers and good wishes.
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But much is new on the grounds of this Episcopal seminary on the shores of Upper Nashotah Lake that has prepared students in the church's Anglo-Catholic tradition for nearly 170 years. Enrollment is up, driven in part by a distance-learning program that draws students from around the world. The school has christened a new $1.6 million building, its first in 20 years.
And, this week, Nashotah House will install a new dean and president, the Right Rev. Edward Salmon. A retired South Carolina bishop, Salmon will have to balance the school's traditional mission against shifting economic and technological forces, and lead it at a time of great division within the Anglican Communion.
"Our vision is to continue to do, impressively and strongly, what we've done for 170 years," said Salmon, a longtime Nashotah House trustee, who will be installed during a convocation Friday - where former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey is scheduled to speak.
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Salmon has already reached out to mend the relationship with Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee Bishop Steven Miller, a relationship that had been strained during [the Rev. Robert] Munday's tenure.
And observers say the new dean wants to avoid having the seminary, which has both Episcopal and ACNA students, as well as bishops on its board, being labeled in one camp or another.
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It has also struggled at times to adapt with the changing church while remaining true to its traditional leanings. Once a difficult place for female seminarians, women interviewed for this story said that is no longer an issue.
"There are people here who do not believe in women's ordination, but it's not a point of contention," said Jill Stellman, who hopes to lead an Episcopal parish. "I never feel ostracized."
Thanks to Ann V. for the link.
I can't comment on how things are at Nashota today, but back when I was looking at seminaries, one of its recent graduates encouraged me to apply there. He said, "All the women who go there are very angry. We need women like you there." I said, "If I were there, by the end of the month, I'd be an angry woman, too."
ReplyDeleteI think the school is trying very hard to change its image. I don't know if it's more welcoming to women. I'm sure it's welcoming to women who embrace patriarchy and hierarchy. That does not mean it is welcoming to women.
Sorry. I am so tired of being told that people like Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin are the "new feminist". Feminism was - and is - NEVER about being the feminine face of patriarchy.
I'll shut up now.
Elizabeth, I'm pleased you commented. The 'feminists' who embrace patriarchy don't get sympathy from me. I guess we'll see about Nashotah House.
ReplyDeleteI think you would not have been a good fit. I still marvel that Fr Jake graduated from Nashotah House.
Bishop Salmon had a difficult time working to hold things together in South Carolina, as can be seen by those with time to read the account [here filtered through the lens of "Anglican Curmudgeon" A. S. Haley] of his diocesan chancellor Eugene N Zeigler, Jr. There is no question of Bishop Salmon's fidelity to TEC and he may well prove to be a fine choice for the post.
ReplyDeleteThere is no question of Bishop Salmon's fidelity to TEC and he may well prove to be a fine choice for the post.
ReplyDeleteThat's good news, Lapin. I'll check out your link.
He was also, when rector of St Michael & St George's church, Clayton, Mo (a suburb of St Louis) the sponsor and possibly the founder (a link where this was discussed in detail is now deleted from Mark Harris's blog) of the Anglican Institute. The Institute followed him to Charleston where it merged with the newly-founded ACI. Sarah Dylan Breuer makes some revealing point here on the Institute's foundation.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I'm getting whiplash. Now the association with the ACI, or the AI, or whatever, is not good news.
ReplyDeleteI have emailed you separately, on account of amusing twists & turns in this, better discussed in private, but then Fr Salmon's AI, originally headed by Michael Marshall, former bishop of Woolwich, was most definitely not the organization that Dr Seitz's ACI has worked to become.
ReplyDeleteStand Firm's thread on this topic, though very long, is interesting and indicates that Bishop Salmon is indeed strengthening frayed links with TEC.
ReplyDelete