On Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 5pm Seminary of the Southwest hosted its annual Matriculation Evensong service where new students were welcomed and began their important journey of leadership formation. At the service incoming students added their names to the same Matriculation Book many alumni have signed, and became a part of the tradition at Southwest..
Also at the service , Southwest installed its newest faculty member, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray. Ray is the Crump Visiting Professor and Black Religious Scholars Group Scholar-in-Residence for the 2022-2023 academic year at Seminary of the Southwest. (read more here) As is also tradition at Matriculation Evensong, Southwest presented the 2022 Charles Cook Servant Leadership Award – this year to Mr. Clarke Heidrick for his outstanding service to Seminary of the Southwest and support of the Austin community.
“We as a seminary community will benefit from Dr. Ray’s wisdom, experience, and kindness during his time with us,” said the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Dean and President. “The presentation of the Cook Award to Clarke Heidrick was particularly moving, because of Clarke and Catherine’s long standing friendship with Charlie at the seminary and at Church of the Good Shepherd.”
In his sermon, Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean, encouraged new students to be patient as they learn the small skills that prepare them for overall success, invoking the image of tennis star Serena Williams’ toss before each serve. “No one in the congregation will forget Dean Bader-Saye practicing Serena Williams’ ‘toss’ as he named the skills that the incoming students will be practicing during their formation,” said Dean Kittredge.
Watch Dr. Bader-Saye’s sermon below (or on the SSW Youtube channel):
