Seminary confers honor during week-long seminar with Phyllis Tickle, other leaders
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EVANSTON, Sept. 28, 2009—On Monday, Sept. 21, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity on the Rt. Rev. Joseph Garang Atem, Bishop of the Diocese of Renk in the Episcopal Church of Sudan.
Bishop Atem was consecrated bishop in 2008. He has served in the Diocese of Renk since he was ordained deacon in 1996; immediately prior to becoming bishop, he was the principal of Renk Theological College. Bishop Atem graduated from Seabury-Western in 2000 with an earned master of theological studies degree.
The Diocese of Renk was founded as a missionary diocese in 1989. Despite the fact that Sudan has been embroiled in civil war for all but four years of its existence, the diocese has thrived by building the theological college, a widespread grassroots literacy program and six schools, as well as health, agriculture and peace programs.
“Joseph exemplifies the value of theological education that answers the needs of Christians living in the world,” said the Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean and president of Seabury. “Seabury’s extended community has loved and admired him long before he became Bishop of Renk. We are delighted to celebrate him and give thanks for the extraordinary gifts he brings to his ministry.”
Seabury conferred the degree on Bishop Renk during a Festal Evensong on the first day of a week-long event called “Mission and Ministry in the Great Emergence.” The seminar, which featured keynote speakers by author Phyllis Tickle, included doctoral level coursework for Seabury’s doctor of ministry students; Seabury’s annual alumni gathering called “Bread for the Journey”; and continuing education opportunities. More than 75 people participated in the event, which also included seminars led by the Rev. Terry Martin, a popular blogger known as Father Jake; the Rev. Winnie Varghese, priest-in-charge at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery in New York; and the Rev. Nadia Bolz Weber, a Lutheran pastor who is developing the House for All Sinners and Saints, an emerging church in Denver, and blogs as the Sarcastic Lutheran.
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.