After four years at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, dean and president Gary Hall has resigned to take pulpit duties at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
UPDATE: The Board of Trustees of Seabury have announced that Bob Bottoms, the Board Chair and retired President of DePauw University, has been named as Seabury’s interim dean and president for a term beginning in January 1, 2010 and ending June 20, 2011.
The full press releases for both announcements are appended below.
Board chair Robert G. Bottoms writes on Seabury’s home page:
Now we move forward. The Executive Committee of Seabury’s Board of Trustees will begin work immediately on an interim leadership plan and search for a new dean and president who will embrace our vision and strategic plan and lead us into the future.
In July, an agreement structured between the seminary and Northwestern University provided for ownership of Seabury’s land and buildings to transfer to Northwestern, with Seabury leasing back its office, chapel, and class space.
UPDATED:
BOB BOTTOMS TO SERVE AS SEABURY INTERIM DEAN AND PRESIDENT
Board Chair Is Retired President of DePauw University
EVANSTON, IL., November 16, 2009—Anne Lea Tuohy, vice chair of the board of trustees at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, issued this statement today:
“In light of Gary Hall’s appointment as rector of Christ Church Cranbrook, the board’s executive committee met on Friday and again this morning to discuss an interim leadership plan for Seabury-Western. I am delighted to announce that Board Chair Bob Bottoms has agreed to serve as Seabury’s interim dean and president from January 1, 2010 until June 30, 2011.
“As you know, Bob retired in July 2008 after 22 years as president of DePauw University. He holds a bachelor degree from Birmingham-Southern College, a bachelor of divinity degree from Emory University, and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. His career in higher education began when he was appointed chaplain and assistant to the president at Birmingham-Southern College. He was later assistant dean and assistant professor of church and ministry at Vanderbilt Divinity School. In 1978, Bob became vice president for university relations at DePauw; he also held the post of executive vice president there before being named president in 1986.
“In addition to his work at Seabury, Bob also serves on the board of the Joyce Foundation in Chicago and has been a consultant to the Lilly Endowment, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and the Fund for Theological Education. He has written articles and opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Indianapolis Star and the Chicago Tribune. He and his wife, Gwen Vickers Bottoms, are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Indiana.
“We could not ask for a more dedicated and qualified leader to serve Seabury in this transition. On behalf of the entire executive committee, I am deeply grateful to Bob for his leadership and commitment to Seabury’s vision of being what’s next in theological education.”
Seabury is what’s next in a seminary: Our theological education—from single classes to certificates and doctoral degrees—embodies generous Christianity and is open to the intellectually and spiritually curious. For church leaders, for seminarians, and for pilgrims and seekers, Seabury’s innovative programs are rooted in the Episcopal tradition and presented with academic rigor. Find out what’s next at www.seabury.edu