A group of Episcopal bishops visited Seminary of the Southwest on Saturday, September 26, taking time away from the House of Bishops’ fall meeting at Camp Allen to tour the Austin campus and spend time with seminarians.
The visit took place during the September 22–28 gathering at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, Texas, which brought together 118 bishops and bishops-elect representing 93 dioceses and special ministries across 17 countries and territories. The gathering focused on the challenges and opportunities facing The Episcopal Church, including theological education, church planting, congregational vitality, and the church’s evolving mission.
For the bishops who made the trip to Austin, the visit offered an opportunity to see theological education in action and strengthen connections with seminarians preparing for ministry in their dioceses.
“What a joy to welcome so many bishops to come to the Seminary of the Southwest on their sabbath Saturday during the recent House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen! Their seminarians were so happy to be with them, and they with their seminarians! We all enjoyed a delicious lunch and the bishops enjoyed a tour of Southwest,” said the Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, interim dean and president of Seminary of the Southwest.
The bishops were welcomed at Rather House before embarking on a campus tour led by Eric Scott, Southwest’s vice president for advancement and communications. The tour itinerary highlighted the seminary’s historic and contemporary spaces, including Christ Chapel, the Seminary Oak, the Bishop Dena A. Harrison Library, the seminary’s two recording studios, and the learning chapel. The bishops also had an opportunity to see spaces supporting student life and formation across campus.
“It was such a joy to see the Seminary of the Southwest in action–to meet students, see the campus and library, and encounter how they are forming clergy and lay leaders for the future,” said the the Rt. Rev. Jennifer A. Reddall, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, who was among the visiting bishops. “I left with hope for our church, and gratitude for the faculty and staff engaging with students.”
“This was a wonderful opportunity to show these bishops the Seminary of the Southwest of today. Whether we visited the historic places that have shaped generations of Episcopal leaders or the forward thinking teaching facilities that prepare people for the church of tomorrow, it was a joy to share our contributions to theological education at a time we know these Bishops are deeply discerning it.” Scott said. “But the best part was seeing the connections between the bishops and our students. Those relationships are so important, and it was a real pleasure to bring everyone together here on campus.”
Following the tour, the bishops joined Southwest seminarians for a local BBQ lunch in Howell Dining Hall. The informal gathering provided time for conversation, fellowship, and opportunities for bishops to reconnect with students from their dioceses.
The campus visit came during a significant week for Episcopal Church leadership. The House of Bishops also welcomed Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally to Camp Allen on September 25, during her first visit to the United States as archbishop. Throughout the gathering, bishops considered Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s developing strategic vision for the church and reflected on the importance of strengthening relationships and supporting the church’s future leadership.
In a pastoral message issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the bishops specifically identified theological education among the ministries essential to the vitality of The Episcopal Church.
The September 26 visit offered a tangible expression of that commitment, bringing together bishops, seminarians, and the seminary community in the shared work of forming leaders for the church.
