May 12, 2015

2015 Trustees’ Award

Seminary trustee, diocesan strategist and church planting manager, construction overseer, visionary planner extraordinaire, devoted Episcopalian and friend to Seminary of the Southwest. As a member of the board of trustees, you have given faithful and indefatigable service to this institution for 17 years. Throwing yourself into whatever you do, you have served board governance, strategic planning and dean search committees, and you were appointed executive chair of the board six years ago.

Bishop, prophetic preacher, prayerful, reflective leader “who is a lot of fun to work with.” As the ninth bishop and first woman to lead the Diocese of Washington, you have been a strong voice on social justice issues such as gun violence, immigration, marriage equality and racial justice. You have combined those concerns with your passion for congregational vitality—not only church growth, but also strengthening parishes for ministry in their neighborhoods and empowering them for lively and engaging worship.

Priest of the church, bridge builder, author, educator, trusted advisor. Your ministry has taken you to seats of power and to places hard to locate on a map.

Educated at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Chicago Institute of Advanced Theological Studies you served churches in Michigan and Illinois, assisted the bishop in the Diocese of Western Michigan and led St. George’s College, Jerusalem as its dean for 12 years.

Southwest alumnus, bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi, dad to Katie and Betsy, spouse to our alumna, Kyle Dice Seage. You came to Southwest from sunny California, fell in love with a classmate from Mississippi, and following your graduation moved to her diocese, where you and Kyle have served since your ordination to the priesthood.