Seminary of the Southwest (Southwest) and the Episcopal Foundation of Texas (EFT) announce a $1,000,000 reinvestment in FORMING LEADERS AT THE FRONTIER: CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTHWEST. This historic gift brings the campaign very close to a $19.25M milestone for a significant challenge grant needed to achieve the $20M campaign goal.

“Seminary of the Southwest is a sign of hope for The Episcopal Church and its wide mission. The seminary’s graduates are called to vocations of ministry, service, and healing across the country. The grant from the Episcopal Foundation of Texas is a sign of our diocesan-wide support of missionary institutions,” said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas. “We in the diocese of Texas benefit from the gifts of its graduates as well as current students who participate in our churches and church plants. The board, administration, faculty, student, and alumni’s own support of this endeavor demonstrates a community wide belief in crafting leadership for the future church. We are happy to join them in making this investment in the future. As diocesan bishop, and diocese, we are proud to be part of this project and look for the future and the Seminary’s participation in leading formation for ministry in The Episcopal Church.”

FORMING LEADERS AT THE FRONTIER will modernize Southwest’s learning and teaching spaces, enhance scholarship endowment to reduce student debt, and invest in fiscal stability to meet long-term operating needs. Based on the Campus Master Plan Southwest created in 2016, the campaign is the largest and most comprehensive capital improvements plan in Southwest history. The plan centers around the transformation of the existing Booher Library and academic building into a teaching complex that will become the hub of education on campus. New study spaces, conference rooms, and audio and video recording studios will reflect advances in pedagogy.

“I’m a preacher, not an architect, but I know what I see. When I look at the renderings of this new learning space, one thing that occurs to me is: this is a learning space for a 21st Century world,” said Honorary Campaign Chair, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. “Seminary of the Southwest is the type of thriving center The Episcopal Church needs. It represents the forefront of theological education and continues to create the academic and formational models that will train our priests and lay leaders to grow our church well into the 21st century. The Jesus Movement is alive and well in Austin, Texas.”

“The Episcopal Foundation of Texas nurtures a fund whose primary purpose is to support the institutions of the Diocese of Texas. Seminary of the Southwest is an important resource for the Diocese, maintaining a faithful community for formation and leadership to build up strong ministers in the church. The Foundation is privileged to contribute to the seminary’s campaign and its commitment to excellence in theological, counseling, and pastoral education,” said Bruce McDonald, board member, Episcopal Foundation of Texas.

“The enthusiasm of those who have supported this campaign has been inspiring,” said the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, dean and president of Seminary of the Southwest. “Investments by partners and friends of Southwest position us to meet the future need of the church and the communities it serves. The Episcopal Foundation of Texas is a significant partner in this work. We are enormously grateful for their reinvestment.”

Southwest has launched a comprehensive webpage, www.campaignforsouthwest.org, which features more information about the campaign, renderings of the envisioned spaces, ways to pledge support, stories from current donors, as well as a video featuring leaders from across The Episcopal Church speaking to the importance of the campaign.

About Episcopal Foundation of Texas

Upon his death, H. H. Coffield left one-third of his estate to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas to be set aside as a permanent fund to support six institutions and from time to time provide gifts, grants, loans or advances to the Bishop Quin Foundation. The Coffield Fund represents the largest portion of the Foundation’s assets.

Funds and contributions to the Foundation received exclusive of the Coffield Fund are set aside and appropriated for the purpose of providing financial support for religious, educational and charitable purposes to organizations of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Since 1982, nearly $58 million have been paid out in grants. With current market value in excess of $63 million, the Episcopal Foundation of Texas continues to honor the memory of its benefactor in its service to the people and institutions of the diocese.

About Seminary of the Southwest

Established in Austin, TX, in 1952 by the Rt. Rev. John Hines, Seminary of the Southwest is one of 10 accredited seminaries in the Episcopal Church. Southwest’s vision is to be a community for formation and leadership within the church supported by a strength of program, endowment, and environment that assures excellence in theological, counseling and pastoral education.

Southwest offers a rich intellectual environment and stimulating and challenging community for learning and formation. Southwest provides exceptional 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.