Seabury Western Vice President Elizabeth Butler talks about the changes in theological education and the post-modern world, and what Seabury is doing to meet the challenge.

1. Seabury Western
Theological Seminary

14. 12%
25%
Spiritual
Religious
8%
Spiritual and
Religious
55% Neither

16. “If theological schools experience enough
stress from changes…accommodation will
become impossible. The result will be
transformational change, and the problem
with transformational change is that it’s not
possible to plan it, predict it, or control it.”
--Daniel Aleshire, The Association of
Theological Schools

17. Enrollment 1993-2008

18. Expenditures per FTE

19. Deficit of Adjusted Revenues vs.
Expenses

20. Top FY2011 Strategies
strategy # %
Major fundraising effort 74 62%
Significant expenditure reductions 65 55%
Adding new programs 43 36%
Eliminating secondary priority programs 34 29%
Renting excess space 28 24%
Significant curtailing of library expenditures 27 23%
Offering voluntary retirement incentives to
23 19%
tenured faculty
Involuntary termination of non-tenured faculty 20 17%
Administrative service partnerships 19 16%
Sale of property 15 13%
Educational service sharing partnerships 15 13%
Close partnership, federation, or merger 10 8%

24. Our Vision
To be an educational community,
grounded in the Baptismal
Covenant, that proclaims the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the church and the
world.

25. Our Mission
To embody generous Christianity,
grounded in the Baptismal
Covenant and the Episcopal
tradition, as we educate lay and
ordained women and men for
ministry, build faith communities,
and enrich people in their faith.

26. Building Communities of Faith Program Area
• DMin in Congregational Development
• DMin in Preaching
• Diploma and Certificate in Congregational Development

27. Equipping People for Ministry Program Area
• Diploma and Certificate in Anglican Studies
• Supporting Diocesan Schools of Formation
• Non-degree courses

28. • Enriching People in their Faith Program Area
• Continuing education courses and seminars
• Special events and workshops

29. Partnerships and Collaboration
• Bexley Hall Seminary
• Church Divinity School of the Pacific
• Association of Chicago Theological
Seminaries
• Dioceses, Deaneries, Parishes
• Foundations, Alums, Individuals

30. The Word is Spreading
“What a bold move Seabury has made. It is now
uniquely poised to become the seminary best able
to form the women and men who will create and
lead the vibrant, thriving communities of faith so
crucial in the rapidly changing landscape of the
early 21st century.”
--Diana Butler Bass

31. The Word is Spreading
“It is not enough simply to say that we believe in God
the Holy Trinity. As Christians, we are compelled
by the Holy Spirit of God to put our faith into
action…The mission and ministry of Seabury Next
is just this: to assist all those who have been
baptized into the death and resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ to make real in our lives what we
profess by our faith. We invite you to join us.”
--Bishop Jeff Lee

32. Many thanks to the Rev. John Denson,
Seabury MDiv ’92, DMin ‘09 for his
significant contributions.

33. www.seabury.edu