Seminary of the Southwest’s Launches ‘Pastoral Leadership Initiative’ to Provide Substantial Financial Support for Seminarians

Grant from the Episcopal Foundation of Texas allows for students in need to receive scholarship funds to pay for housing, insurance and other costs

Austin, TX — January 31, 2022 — Seminary of the Southwest (Southwest) announces the receipt of a grant from the Episcopal Foundation of Texas (EFT) that will establish the ‘Pastoral Leadership Initiative.’ This transformational support will allow Southwest to provide meaningful cost-of-living support to seminarians pursuing their Master of Divinity or Diploma in Anglican Studies at Seminary of the Southwest. These funds will assist current and future students who qualify by financially subsidizing rent, health insurance, books, childcare and other costs associated with attending a residential seminary.

“Providing additional financial support for students at Seminary of the Southwest addresses the need for strong ordained leaders for the church of the future,” said the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Dean and President. “When they come to Austin to be formed for leadership in this community, they will face less economic pressure during their studies and in their first years of ministry. We are grateful to the Episcopal Foundation of Texas for allowing us to be able to offer this significant support to those who are called to study with this dynamic faculty in Southwest’s distinctive programs.”

In combination with Southwest’s current scholarship programs that fully cover the cost of tuition, the immediate goal of the Pastoral Leadership Initiative is to remove the most significant financial barriers from those on their journey to priesthood. By including often overlooked costs like healthcare and childcare, the overarching goal of the fund is to help attract a broader, more diverse pool of candidates, including those with families or other financial restraint that make attending a residential seminary difficult.

“Our students give up their paying work and their homes to come to seminary, and every year their costs rise, especially health insurance for themselves and their families,” said the Rev. Hope Benko, Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions. “This support will help them plan for their future ministry without adding to their debt load year after year during seminary.  Knowing many of their costs will be covered will help free them to concentrate on their studies without the distraction of wondering how they’ll make ends meet.”

“The work of the Church always needs more devoted and well educated priests, and Seminary of the Southwest serves a vital role in preparing new clergy to serve in Texas and beyond,” said Bruce McDonald, president of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas’ board of trustees.  “The Foundation is committed to helping the seminary support a broader pool of students who are called to ordained ministry, as part of its mission to support Southwest and other institutions of the Diocese of Texas.”

The funds created by the Pastoral Leadership Initiative will begin disbursement in the Fall 2022 semester. With growing calls to address shortages of priests – and to help the churchwide need for increased diversity – leadership at Southwest is buoyed and optimistic about the effects of this investment on both Southwest and The Episcopal Church as a whole.

“This is an important moment for Seminary of the Southwest and the broader Church,” said Kittredge “These leaders will make a difference to the church throughout the country and around the world.”

###################################

About Seminary of the Southwest

Rooted in the reconciling ministry of Christ, the mission of Seminary of the Southwest is to form people for vocations of ministry, service, and healing. Established in Austin, TX, in 1952 by Bishop John Hines, Seminary of the Southwest is one of 10 accredited seminaries in The Episcopal Church.

The insight and creativity with which Seminary of the Southwest engages the Christian tradition with the reality of the contemporary world makes it a leader among institutions of higher learning, both within and beyond The Episcopal Church. Sustained by innovative teaching and research, Southwest forms servant leaders who minister in a diverse culture with confidence and humility. The seminary has the financial and spiritual capacity to discern and develop new programs to advance God’s mission of healing and reconciliation.

Southwest provides excellent residential formation for ordained ministry; has a sought-after masters degree in clinical mental health counseling; offers professional master’s degrees to lay professionals and church leaders in a range of denominations and faith traditions; and serves the church through innovative models for local formation and ongoing training.

About the Episcopal Foundation of Texas

The canonical mission of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas is to provide financial support for religious, educational and charitable purposes to eight named institutions supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas: Camp Allen, El Buen Samaritano, Seminary of the Southwest, St. Vincent’s House, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Episcopal High School in Houston, the Bishop Quin Foundation, and the University of the South.  Since its founding in 1982, over $92 million have been paid out in grants.  With current market value in excess of $93 million, the Episcopal Foundation of Texas continues to honor the memory of its benefactor, H. H. Coffield, in its service to the people and institutions supported by the diocese.