Bexley Seabury Seminary today named the Rev. Dr. Micah T.J. Jackson as its new president, succeeding the Rev. Dr. Roger Ferlo, who retired in the fall of 2017. Dr. Jackson will assume the presidency on June 1, 2018.
Bexley Hall, Seabury, and Western seminaries were all founded to prepare leaders of the church on the expanding frontier. Throughout their histories they have faced obstacles, adversities, indifference and imminent demise. Today their combined successor institution, Bexley Seabury continues that tradition of perseverance and living on the frontier of a new age in their partnership with and home among Chicago Theological Seminary.
Bexley Seabury aims to be a “seminary beyond walls,” offering an innovative, non-residential theological education in a generous spiritual and intellectual tradition. Our mission is to equip lay and ordained leaders —in the classroom, online, and in their local contexts —for bold inquiry in service of the Gospel and active engagement in congregational and community life.
W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of West Virginia and chair of the Board of Directors, said of the new President;
“Micah brings a strong commitment to innovative theological education at a time when the needs of the church are changing. His vision is a good fit with Bexley Seabury Seminary’s non-residential educational model emphasizing contextual learning and practical applications, as well as traditional and non-traditional contexts. Micah is a graduate of Seabury-Western and we are proud to call one of our own to lead the Seminary into the future.”
Responding to his appointment Dr Jackson said;
“I am honored to be called to serve as president of Bexley Seabury Seminary. I am looking forward to working with the board, faculty, staff, and students as together we inspire and form the next generation of leaders of the Episcopal Church. The seminary is heir to more than 150 years of tradition in forming church leaders for ministry in and for the communities in which they will serve. Communities of learning and formation are key to opening excellent theological education to a broad range of lay and ordained persons who serve the Church in pastoral, liturgical, and administrative roles.”
Prior to being called to lead Bexley Seabury Seminary, Dr. Jackson served as the Bishop John Hines Associate Professor of Preaching and Director of Comprehensive Wellness at Seminary of the Southwest. His academic interests include the spiritual discipline of preaching, homiletic form, the postmodern construction of the relationship between preacher and congregation, liturgical leadership, and clergy formation and wellness.
Dr. Jackson holds an MTS in Preaching from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, an MDiv from Meadville Lombard Theological School, and a PhD in Homiletics/Liturgy from Graduate Theological Union. He is the author of a forthcoming book from Church Publishing, Preaching Face to Face: An Invitation to Conversational Preaching.