On Sunday, August 24, 2025 Southwest celebrated matriculation with evening prayer in Christ Chapel and welcomed 51 new students to the community. Matriculation is among the seminary’s most beloved traditions as it includes each new student signing their name to the same book that hundreds before them have signed. The Academic Dean, the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., preached an inspiring sermon. Three deans were installed during the service including the Rev. Sarah Mast as Dean of Chapel, Dr. Marlon Johnson as Dean of Community Life, and the Rev. Benjamin King, Ph.D., as Academic Dean.
The new students are distributed among Southwest’s Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Spiritual Direction, and Diploma in Anglican Studies programs.
Also a tradition at the Matriculation service, Southwest awarded the Charles J. Cook Servant Leadership Award to the Rev. Jim Harrington founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project and Missioner at St. James Episcopal Church. The Cook Award was created in 2009 by the faculty to honor their colleague and Seminary of the Southwest alum Charlie Cook on the occasion of his retirement.
During the service, Harrington gifted the seminary with a signed print titled, “El Azadón” by Amado M. Peña, Jr. commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Farm Worker Strike and March to Austin.
Read the citation for the Rev. Jim Harrington read at the presentation of the Cook Award.
