April 2008

• Off to get me free bux! #
• And direct deposit is working! #
• Chatter! More chatter! Time for iPod! #
• @conservadora: if my bday is tommorrow, do I get to place an order?! #

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• The lake is roaring this morning as I rode, splashing up on me! Burr! #
• @conservadora: is the world out to get you? #
• @conservadora: well, perhaps the goodness of liberalism will save you?! #
• @conservadora: nice! Kind of sexy! #
• I’m ideating! #
• @chuwilli: the brother’s K is the best! #

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• Why is truth so hard to find? #
• A lot of REM on my iPOD today? Even on shuffle! #
• Ok! Soup it is on a rainy day! #
• Spurs still lead in the series! There may be a chance! This does NOT help my homesickness! #

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This came via WATER:

WATER mourns the death of a beloved colleague, Marcus Benjamin, M.D., who died in Melbourne, Australia yesterday. We extend our love and sympathy to his large family, especially to his wife Gwen Benjamin who is active in the feminist theological scene there and a WATER collaborator. They have been at the WATER office and at WATER events on a number of occasions, always bringing keen interest, high spirits, and above all, humor. Marcus was known to stuff envelopes and otherwise aid the cause while women met at WATER.

Marcus was a psychiatrist who practiced medicine for decades, especially anxious to serve those who were marginalized. He had a deep interest in men’s issues and was supportive of men seeking their way in an increasingly feminist world. He was active in his local Fitzroy Uniting Church, tending the plants as well as attending the services. Marcus enjoyed music in many forms and was a savvy political observer of the global scene.

Some years ago, while pursuing graduate work up at Northwestern University, I met a man who quickly became an advocate for my pursuit of higher education, the Ph.D., and all things critical. He became my copy editor as I drafted my thesis; I was thankful. We have found a way to a lasting friendship where I learn about so many things, mostly about the Eastern way of life [he's a fan of Eastern religions, though an ordained United Methodist clergy person].

Dan, my friend, is in his 70s and absolutely loves life. I have been charged to write his story! This is quite the honor which comes with quite the challenge! But, he has seen so much in his life that, for his story to go unwritten would be a shame. Today is one of those days that will be logged as part of his story!

I arrive at work, am drinking my coffee, and my phone rings; its Dan! I’m happy to see him pop up on my caller ID! Oh the joys of Caller ID–I like being able to screen my calls! Dan informs me that Seabury Western is has made the news and will NO longer be accepting applications. He’s off to do some investigation work on the NWU campus….I expect to hear from him soon!

If you’re interested in the Chicago Tribune article, please see below.

chicagotribune.com
Faculty at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary to lose jobs: Officials at Evanston Episcopal school insist it is not closing
By Manya A. Brachear, Tribune reporter
April 25, 2008

Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, one of 11 schools in the U.S. dedicated to preparing Episcopal priests, told tenured faculty on Thursday that their jobs would end next year.

Officials at the Evanston seminary insist the school is not closing, but that it is redefining its approach for preparing men and women for priesthood. Earlier this year, the school stopped accepting new candidates and advised first-year students that they should enroll in other seminaries if they wish to earn their degrees from an Episcopal institution.

For more than a century, seminarians have traditionally enrolled in a three-year residential program to earn a master’s of divinity degree that prepares them for the priesthood. Seminary officials said the school would explore the possibility of offering the degree in other formats such as distance learning or short-term residential stints.

“We want to bring the traditional excellence and depth of residential theological education to the new challenges and realities of the 21st Century,” said Rev. Gary Hall, dean and president of Seabury-Western. “People can’t afford to come here. We need to figure out how to bring it to them.”

Of the nation’s 11 accredited Episcopal seminaries, three have taken steps to downsize. In recent months Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., sold some of its campus to Lesley University in Boston. And Bexley Hall Seminary closed its campus in Rochester, N.Y. to consolidate its program in Columbus, Ohio in partnership with Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

Seabury-Western is the only school to stop admitting students.

Experts say its fate highlights the challenges facing many shrinking mainline Protestant denominations. Some also suggest that it’s a symptom of the theological polarization within the church since the 2003 approval of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson—the church’s first openly gay bishop.

On Thursday, the seminary’s board of trustees declared an imminent financial crisis, a required step in order to end the employment of tenured faculty. The seminary’s budget is projected to run a $500,000 shortfall for the current fiscal year. Annual expenditures are projected to run $2.9 million. Seabury-Western also carries a $3.5 million debt.

mbrachear@tribune.com

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-seabury_webapr25,1,1867431.story

• @jessicahalem: I’d do everything but the chicken! #

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