This past November, for the 56th consecutive year, the Blandy Lecture and Alumni Convocation gathered alumni and friends of Seminary of the Southwest for a time of reunion and fellowship. This year’s Blandy – planned and led by the Southwest Alumni Association Steering Committee – was the invigorating and inspirational gathering Southwest alumni have come to expect. The blending of alumni, guests, and current students on the Southwest campus was a vivid reminder of how members of the Southwest community never depart – they simply change locations.
A virtual reunion was held the night before with comments from and fellowship with current Southwest leadership. The day of Blandy itself began with morning prayer, after which attendees were invited to sit in on one of three classes: Old Testament with Dr. Steve Bishop, Theology with Dr. Tony Baker, or Leadership, Administration & Finance with the Rev. Dr. Steven Tomlinson.
Alumni then gathered with current students for the midday Holy Eucharist, whcih included the presentation of the Hal Brook Perry Award to the Rev. Melvin Gray, Class of 1974. The Rev. Dr. James Pevehouse ’12 , presided, and Rev. Toya Foster ’18, preached (view sermon here).
“Southwest’s fingerprints are all over my life and ministry,” said Pevehouse. “It was such a gift of grace to be back on campus and witness this holy work continuing in the lives of current students. To be able to reconnect with friends, faculty, and staff was moving and deeply inspiring. Thanks be to God for SSW!” Pevehouse is Rector at St. Mark’s in Beaumont, TX and serves as Vice-President of the Alumni Association Steering Committee.
After a lunch with the entire community and remarks from Rev. Gray, attendees were given the opportunity to explore the campus, especially the new Bishop Dena A. Harrison Library and the Campus Bookstore- facilities many alumni have yet to see. The is time was followed by a lecture from Dr. Awa Jangha and several of her students in Knapp Auditorium.
“The day was divinely touched with love and friendship,” said the Rev. Carissa Baldwin-McGinnis, ’07. ” It was so meaningful to be with the diverse orders of the church, healing disciplines of the seminary, and our beloved guests of honor. Thank you for Blandy 2024.” Baldwin-McGinnis is Vicar at Northside Episcopal Church is Houston, TX and a member of the Alumni Steering Committee.
After Evening Prayer on Duval Landing, attendees were invited to a festive dinner, where Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Southwest’s ninth Dean and President, gave the dean’s annual ‘state of the seminary’ address.
The day culminated in the keynote lecture, with the Rt. Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells reminding us to look thoughtfully into the stories we tell around our nation’s legacy of race.
“What a joy to see so many alumni on campus and to be inspired by their stories,” said Dr. Bader-Saye. “It was a pleasure to give the Hal Brook Perry Award to the Rev. Melvin Gray, class of 1974, whose ministry—especially after retirement—has profoundly impacted the hungry and unhoused populations of Houston. Our preacher, Rev. Toya Foster, MHC 2018, urged us to find hope in troubled times, and our Blandy Lecturer, the Rt. Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells, the recently consecrated Bishop of Mississippi, encouraged us to see history, especially the history of race in America, as the intersection of multiple stories told from different vantage points that all need to be heard. I am grateful to our own Dr. Awa Jangha for leading a continuing education presentation on cultural diversity and to all those staff, faculty, and students who worked so hard to make this such a successful day!”
“This year’s events were a joyous celebration of the seminary’s past, present and future,” said the Rev. Lecia Brannon, Director of Donor Relations and liaison with the Alumni Association Steering Committee. “They were filled with an incredible energy and spirit of love for our seminary home. Thank you to the Southwest Alumni Association for their dedication and commitment to bring us the Blandy Lecture and Alumni Convocation.”
To learn more about the Southwest Alumni Association, or to get involved, visit the Alumni section of the Southwest website, or contact the Rev. Lecia Brannon at [email protected].
