June 20, 2013–The new Bexley Seabury board of directors met in late May to begin charting a course for the new federation. Thirty-five members attended the meeting in Columbus at which the board approved a three-year strategic plan, a 2013-2014 operating budget, and the granting of degrees to eleven 2013 graduates.
As its first order of business, the board elected officers including the Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, bishop of West Virginia, as chair, the Rev. Alan Gates of the Diocese of Ohio as vice-chair, the Rev. Gwynne Wright of the Diocese of Chicago as secretary, and Roger Lumpp of the Diocese of Chicago as treasurer.
“The boards of Seabury Western and Bexley Hall Seminary came together with high spirits and great excitement and enthusiasm for providing formation for the church of the 21st century and beyond,” said Klusmeyer. “The Holy Spirit was present, and it was hopeful and joyous to move forward into a new call from God.”
Forming the federation required legal counsel and consulting assistance from Auburn Theological Seminary, and at its meeting, the board received with gratitude a $50,000 grant from the Good Samaritan Foundation to defray those costs. President Ferlo reported that accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), another essential step in the federation process, is proceeding. ATS accreditors visited the Chicago and Columbus campuses in late May and their recommendations will go to the Commission on Accrediting in August.
Six new members attended the federation board’s inaugural meeting, including the Rev. Michael Way of Minneapolis, the Rev. M.E. Eccles of Chicago, the Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, assisting bishop in the Diocese of Chicago, the Rev. Mary Carson of the Diocese of Ohio, the Rev. John Denson of the Diocese of Indianapolis, and Dr. Daniel Shannon, dean of the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago.
“The positive energy from the inaugural event in Indianapolis carried over into board meeting,” said Carson, who is a second-generation Bexley alum. “I’m excited by the Federation’s commitment to doing everything possible in partnership or collaboration with others—be they dioceses or seminaries or ecumenical partners.”
At a community meal attended by more than 50 students, faculty and staff from Bexley and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, the board bid farewell to Bexley Professor Elise Feyerherm, who is returning to the east coast after eight years in Columbus. The board also expressed gratitude for the work of former Seabury Director of Continuing Education Ruth Frey, who will become director of programs at the Washington National Cathedral on July 1, and former Bexley Seabury Director of Development Joe Flint, who is now the senior development officer at The Cradle, an adoption agency in Evanston, Ill.
The board of directors meets again in October in Chicago.