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Anglican Media CEO to step down

By
Tara Sing
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After almost 20 years in the media and communications arm of the Diocese, former broadcaster and journalist Russell Powell will be stepping down as the CEO of Anglican Media Sydney at the end of the year.

He was appointed CEO in 2010 in addition to his position as the media advisor to the Archbishop of Sydney, which began in 2007.

Over his 19 years of involvement, Mr Powell has guided the organisation through times of peace and major challenges such as the global financial crisis and COVID.

During his time as CEO, the work of Anglican Media has included establishing a social media footprint, solidifying the SydneyAnglicans brand, and refashioning Southern Cross.

He also played a role in communications at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), from the historic first moments in Jerusalem in 2008.

“It has been a privilege to witness as our great God builds his church here and around the world,” Mr Powell says.

Anglican Media Sydney has benefited greatly from the decades of journalistic experience Mr Powell brought to the organisation. He previously ran newsrooms at commercial Sydney radio stations 2UE and 2GB, and was one of the pioneers of the ABC’s NewsRadio network. He also taught at the Australian Film, TV and Radio School.

Mr Powell’s extensive skill set has allowed him to modernise and adapt the media and communications of the Diocese in an ever-changing media landscape.  

“I am deeply grateful to the staff of Anglican Media for tirelessly working to glorify God in all they do,” he says. “I thank clergy and the lay Sydney Anglican community for your engagement across our digital platforms and print media.”

He will return to his original position as the media advisor to the Archbishop part-time as of January next year.

Please pray:

  • for the appointment of a new director of media and communications
  • for gracious and truthful communication
  • for encouraging stories of faith, love and hope in the media

Antisemitism, interfaith and the Church of England: a Bishop speaks

By
Daniel Sugarman
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When 20,000 people gathered for the “Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism” rally on Whitehall in May, they may not have been expecting to be hearing from a senior Church of England official. But Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Lead Bishop for interfaith engagement, gave a stirring and impassioned speech on the dangers of Jew-hate and where they can lead.

“Antisemitism possesses a particular persistence and ubiquity that demands moral clarity”, he told the crowd.

“It mutates. It survives. It appears across the political spectrum and feeds on fear, grievance, and division. And perhaps most dangerously of all, it grows when public voices choose outrage over responsibility; when influence is used not to strengthen the social fabric, but to tear it apart; when platforms capable of shaping culture become instruments for scapegoating, mockery, and suspicion.”

He went on to say that “when public figures trade in conspiracy, humiliation, and division, they do not merely inflame opinion; they corrode the moral foundations of a nation. Leadership that profits from division is not courage. It is recklessness. And rhetoric that dehumanises any community ultimately threatens every community.

“History teaches us with terrifying consistency that when antisemitism rises unchecked, democracy itself begins to decay.”

Two months later, the Church held its annual Synod, at which a specific motion, on the plight of Palestinian Christians, was scheduled for a vote. The motion included a document known as Kairos II, which among other things, claims Zionism is a settler-colonial movement built on “Jewish supremacy” and with genocidal intent, and urges Christians worldwide to refrain from any dialogue with “Zionists” –precluding any discussion with a significant majority of Jews.

Despite warnings from British Jewish religious and lay leadership, the Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour, albeit with a decision to “hear” it rather than to “receive” it – a difference widely viewed among British Jews as mere semantics. Chief Rabbi Mirvis referred to the vote as “shameful”, and “a sad day for Jewish-Christian relations.”

Bishop Lusa, who moved from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Belgium as a child, later entering the priesthood, was not at the Synod himself – he is not a member – but he was watching closely. He noted that a Synod vote about Palestinians had been “delayed for a number of years” and felt that the Church had therefore been “trying to do a multiplicity of things at once…I think personally that it was unfortunate that the Kairos II document was included in that motion.”

He elaborated further, describing the document as “problematic”.

Read it all in the Jewish News

Anglican Council in Malawi launches development agency

By
Press Release
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We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Malawi Anglican Social and Development Programme (MASDEP) – the official Development Arm of the Anglican Church in Malawi.

WHY MASDEP? WHY NOW?

The needs in our communities are growing. Poverty, climate shocks, unemployment, and limited access to health and education require a stronger, more coordinated response. In addition, the landscape for development is also changing. To respond effectively and efficiently, the mandate to coordinate Church social and development programs has transitioned from the Anglican Council in Malawi (ACM) Secretariat to MASDEP.

This is an important institutional reform to:

1) Strengthen institutional capacity and improve programme coordination.

2) Create a sustainable platform for resource mobilisation and development programming.

3) Increase local ownership.

4) Deliver sustainable, scalable, high-impact interventions for organisational sustainability.

THE MANDATE OF MASDEP.

✓ Livelihoods and Financial Inclusion – Scaling Savings Ministry.

✓ Health and Nutrition.

✓ Climate Resilience, Climate Justice, Emergency response

✓ Education and Youth Empowerment

✓ Holistic, Christ-centered transformation of communities

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

To Anglican Church Members across all parishes in Malawi: This is our faith in action. Serving the whole person – spirit, soul, and body

To our existing Partners and prospective partners: MASDEP is a trusted, church-rooted platform to invest in lasting, locally owned change across Malawi.

This transition does not change our mission. It strengthens it. The challenges are real: climate change, poverty, weak systems

the Church is called to do more than respond to emergencies.We are called to cultivate change, in hearts, in communities, and in systems. Through MASDEP, the Anglican Church in Malawi is committing to 4 areas of transformation:

1. DIVERSE, SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

Humble leaders who teach the truth of who God is. A Church that is salt and light in its community. Members who understand God’s love and demonstrate that love to others.

2. AGENCY AND RESILIENCE

People with confidence, hope, and the belief that they can create change together. Communities that manage resources wisely, organize themselves, and grow stronger in the face of shocks.

3. SYSTEMIC / STRUCTURAL INFLUENCE

Working together to change how things are done so that justice, inclusion, and sustainability become the norm, not the exception. Long-term change, not quick fixes.

4. A RESTORED ENVIRONMENT

People taking action to heal God’s creation: planting trees, using natural fertilizers, practicing conservation agriculture, and protecting biodiversity for future generations.

Why now? Because God calls us to both faith and action.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”(2 Chronicles 7:14)

MASDEP exists to walk with parishes and communities as we live out this verse. To pray. To prepare. To restore.The Church is not waiting. The Church is cultivating change.

Ugandan synod elects new officers

By
Press Release
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Rev Canon Kenneth Kanyankole has been elected Chairperson of the Provincial House of Clergy, while Mr Sam Atul has been elected Chairperson of the Provincial House of Laity.

Rev Canon Kenneth Kanyankole is the Head of Clergy for the Diocese of Kinkiizi, while Mr Sam Atul is the Head of Laity for the Diocese of Lango and is the Mayor of Lira City.

The elections were held today during the 28th Provincial Assembly of Church of Uganda, currently taking place at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Seven Bishops of Church of Uganda are scheduled to retire next year

By
Press Release
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These were presented to the 28th Provincial Assembly by the Archbishop at Uganda Christian University today.

These are;

1. The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala

2. Rt Rev Dan Zoreka – Diocese of Kinkiizi

3. Rt Rev Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa – Ankole Diocese

4. Rt Rev Patrick Wakula – Central Busoga Diocese

5. Rt Rev John Wilson Nandaah – Mbale Diocese

6. Rt Rev Gaddie Akanjuna – Diocese of Kigezi

7. Rt Rev Amos Magezi – North West Ankole Diocese

Ghanaian bishop tells politicians they must answer to God for their actions

By
Press Release
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YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD AND THE NATION FOR YOUR ACTIONS” — BISHOP AMOAH CHARGES POLITICAL LEADERS

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi, Rt. Rev. Oscar Christian Amoah, has called on political leaders and public office holders to serve with integrity, the fear of God, and a deep commitment to the welfare of the nation, reminding them that they are accountable to both God and the people of Ghana for their actions and inactions.

Delivering his address at the opening of the Third Session of the Twentieth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral, Bishop Amoah urged all Ghanaians to pray for the nation’s peace and prosperity while supporting efforts aimed at national development.

Speaking on the Synod’s theme, “Together We Can Make It,” he emphasized that Ghana’s progress requires the collective efforts of all citizens. He called for a united front against corruption, indiscipline, illegal mining (galamsey), and every form of injustice that hinders national growth.

The Bishop encouraged leaders to place the interests and welfare of the people above all else, stressing that integrity, honesty, and selfless service remain indispensable to effective leadership.

Quoting Psalm 127:1, he reminded the Church and the nation that lasting success can only be achieved with God’s guidance: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the labourers labour in vain.”

The Synod also provided an opportunity for the Diocese to reflect on its vision and ongoing development. Bishop Amoah expressed appreciation to the clergy, diocesan officials, administrative staff, and all faithful members whose dedication continues to strengthen the Diocese, expressing optimism that the Synod would chart a clear path for achieving its collective aspirations.

Present at the opening ceremony were participants of the Triangle of Hope Pilgrimage, a partnership involving the Dioceses of Kumasi (Ghana), Liverpool (United Kingdom), and Virginia (United States of America). The young pilgrims, who have been in Ghana since 2nd August, have been reflecting on the history and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade while promoting reconciliation and becoming ambassadors against human trafficking, racism, discrimination, and other forms of injustice.

The ceremony also brought together representatives from several Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Methodist Church Ghana, and other ecumenical partners, underscoring the spirit of Christian unity.

The Third Session of the Twentieth Synod continues tomorrow with deliberations expected to shape the future direction and mission of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi.

Evensong sermon – Service to celebrate 150 years of the Mothers’ Union

By
Stephen Cottrell
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Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to generations, forever and ever.’ Ephesians 3: 20-21.

Some years ago, when I was still the Bishop of Chelmsford, a bishop visited us from our partner Diocese of Embu in Kenya. He had never been to England before. We had a busy programme arranged for him, and it included a day off, sightseeing in London.

I asked him whether he had a bucket list of things he would like to see and places he’d like to visit, explaining that we could probably fit quite a bit in.

He thought long and hard – and in the end simply said that he was happy to be guided by me, but there was one place above all others that he wanted to see.

I wonder if you can guess what it was.

No, not the Houses of Parliament. Not Big Ben. Not the Tower of London. Not Buckingham Palace. Not the Changing of the Guard. Not Nelson’s Column. Not the London Eye. Not Battersea Power Station, Tate Modern, Covent Garden. Not Hyde Park Corner or Hampstead Heath.

No; there was only one place on his wish list.

Could we please visit Mary Sumner House, he asked me?

All of London to enjoy. All its history, culture and architecture. Its glitz and its depth.

But what he wanted to see was the Headquarters of Mothers’ Union, for he knew and had seen at firsthand throughout his life and ministry the tremendous good that Mothers’ Union had done in his life, in the life of his family, and in the life of the communities he served. He knew that Mothers’ Union makes a difference in people’s lives and therefore makes a difference in the life of the world. He wanted to go to the place where in his mind it had begun and to give thanks for all that had happened – because of Mary Sumner, and because of her vision, and because of all that Mothers’ Union does in his country and across the world.

Working to end injustice. Working to end violence – and especially domestic violence and violence against women and girls. And working to end poverty. And supporting family life.

Actually, and as I’m sure most of you know, Mothers’ Union was actually founded in the small parish of Old Alresford in Hampshire. Mary Sumner was a vicar’s wife.

Neither am I sure that Mary Sumner ever thought for a moment that she was starting a worldwide organisation. She was just trying to help parents raise children in the Christian faith.

But how God delights in multiplying small acts! Our God is the God of yeast and mustard seeds and one small lunch box. God does amazing things with what we bring. So, this may have been a small parish. Mary Sumner may have been one woman. But her vision grew and spread.

Today, Mothers’ Union is a global movement with over 4 million members in 84 countries. It is one of the great glories of the Anglican Church. It has a branch in thousands of parishes up and down the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion. It is an almost unstoppable tidal wave of goodness, hopefulness and helpfulness, practical assistance and stability in so many situations of conflict, hardship, neglect and poverty. And still, as it was then, still today, working to support family life and the values of the life we have in Christ.

It is this we are celebrating today, giving thanks for Mary Sumner and for all who have served in Mothers’ Union over the past 150 years.

Like all movements in the Church for justice and development, its very existence is the outworking of the call to discipleship; a call that every one of us receives, knowing that to share in the discipleship of Christ means bearing the cross and facing the conflicts and hardships of the world with joyful perseverance; knowing that in Christ the victory is secure.

And discipleship always means both following Jesus and being sent out by him – as our recent Diocesan Conference celebrated. 

And making Christ known. For it is him that we need. His love and his compassion flowing through us.

It is for this, more than anything else, that we give hearty thanks today, knowing that through us, and through Mothers’ Union, God can accomplish abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine. God will take what we offer and use it and multiply it and bless it abundantly.

Christian mission usually begins by noticing the person sitting next to us – and by someone asking the question ‘who needs hope today?’

This is how Mothers’ Union started. This is what Mary Sumner did. It is what keeps Mothers’ Union going today. It is how it continues to make a difference.

Therefore, the very best way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mothers’ Union is to join in. To actually join Mothers’ Union yourself.  Or to recommit ourselves, each of us, in following in the way of Christ and bringing his peace to the world.

So, God bless the mighty Mothers’ Union. Here in the Diocese and Province of York. In the Church of England. And across the Anglican communion. And to God be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus.

Can’t afford a Bishop? You can share one

By
John Sandeman
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The national parliament of Australian Anglicans, the General Synod, meets in Melbourne this week. A series of proposals aims to tackle a long-standing problem: many of the church’s regional units, known as dioceses, are simply not viable without support from other parts of the Church – which a report to the 2014 General Synod from the “Viability and Structures Task Force” demonstrated over a decade ago.

This year the Diocesan Financial Advisory Task Force (DFATF) “has formed the view that the financial health of the Church in Australia, outside of the large metropolitan dioceses, is in a delicate state. This has been largely caused by various macro trends (eg declining church membership, changing demographics, shrinking rural economies, etc) and, in recent times, exacerbated by the magnitude of sexual and physical abuse claims in a number of dioceses. As a result, some of the smaller and/or regional dioceses have compromised financial viability. It seems quite likely that one or more of these ‘at risk’ dioceses will be unable to operate entirely independently – that is without financial support from another diocese – within the next few years.”

As previously reported, the North Queensland Diocese is in receivership due to sexual abuse claims through the redress scheme. DFATF reports that “In a number of dioceses the cost of settling known claims has been significant; and there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the ultimate cost of settling yet-unknown claims, particularly given the recent uptick in activity of some lawyers.”

A second factor identified by DFATF is “The negative environmental forces which persist in many parts of rural Australia, such as diminishing and ageing populations, shrinking economies, depreciating properties with higher maintenance costs, and no or limited sources of alternative income.”

An example of support from one diocese to another is the funding of Bathurst’s bishop and registrar by the diocese of Sydney.

This session of General Synod will vote on bills to amend the Anglican Church’s constitution to allow dioceses to share a bishop, and to make it simpler to create or amalgamate a diocese.

The Constitution Amendment (Bishops of Multiple Dioceses) Canon 2026 would add a new paragraph to the constitution. “The Bishop of a diocese may with the consent of the Diocesan Council of that diocese and with the consent of a majority of Diocesan bishops within the province be elected as prescribed as the Bishop of another diocese in the same province. A Bishop of a diocese who is also the Bishop of another diocese does not become entitled to an additional vote in the House of Bishops by virtue of being the Bishop of that other diocese.”

This means that in a “province” usually meaning a mainland state, dioceses will be able to share a bishop, saving the cost of the bishop and possibly expenses for a registrar and other matters as well. (NSW, Victoria, SA and WA are provinces, Queensland and the Northern Territory are one province, and Tasmania is “extra-provincial.”)

This provision will make the House of Bishops smaller, and in the view of this writer, likely to affect the progressive vote more than the evangelical vote, due to the support from Sydney of several evangelical dioceses.

(The General Synod is tri-cameral, with Bishops, Clergy and laity (ordinary people) voting in separate houses when a vote by houses is called for. At the last General Synod an evangelical majority emerged for the first time in the Houses of Clergy and Laity, with the Bishops finely balanced.)

Another bill will make it easier, or at least quicker, to amend the number of dioceses in a province. Given the viability problems of dioceses, this is most likely to lead to removing a diocese rather than adding one. The Constitution Amendment (Provincial Composition) Canon 2026 will allow the General Synod’s standing committee (rather than the General Synod itself) to increase or decrease the number of dioceses in a province (mainland state) where “two-thirds of all the members of the Standing Committee, including all the metropolitans, vote in favour of the ratification.” Metropolitan is Anglican-speak for the Archbishops of the mainland state capitals eg Sydney or Perth. Giving the process over to the Standing Committee makes it more likely this process will actually happen, rather than negotiate through successive General Synods.

A less likely change is also made easier. The Constitution Amendment (Provincial Constitutions) Canon 2026 will allow the Standing Committee to approve a new province with a special majority defined as “two-thirds of all the members of Standing Committee and all five metropolitan.”

This story is not suggesting that these proposals are the most important material to come before the General Synod, merely that it provides insight into the state of the church.

DFATF has rated the dioceses viability into 4 levels.

“A: Strong (secure and able to sustainably withstand adverse shocks)
“B: Sound (steadily managing, but with some vulnerabilities)
“C: Watchlist (in a fragile financial position)
“D: Distressed (unable to operate without support from another diocese)…
“Six are rated A, eight are rated B, seven are rated C, and one is rated D. One diocese did not participate.” in the 2020 review.

Reverend executed after arrest in Nuba Mountains

By
Press Release
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A church leader from the Sudanese Episcopal Church in Heban, in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains, was executed extrajudicially on 23 July along with six other people from the Otoro ethnic group, after they were arrested by the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM/N).

Reverend Adil Idris Jangoul was arrested by members of the SPLM/N at his residence in the church in the Erie neighbourhood of Heban on 23 July. According to reliable sources, all of his money was seized, but his arrest was not violent as he complied and cooperated without resistance. However, his body was later found alongside six others on the road. CSW sources report that they had been executed extrajudicially.  

In a related incident, members of the Otoro ethnic group killed at least 10 people and took at least 20 hostages, including children, in an attack on Heban which also occurred on 23 July. Among the hostages was Reverand Yakoub brahim Tia, the former General Secretary of the Sudanese Church of Christ who is from the Shawaya ethnic group, and six members of his family. All of the hostages were released safely on 28 July following appeals by church ministers from different ethnic groups in the Nuba Mountains.

The incidents are a continuation of several recent instances of tribal violence and attacks on places of worship in the Nuba Mountains, a region known for centuries for its ethnic and religious diversity and mutual respect.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW extends heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of Reverend Adil Idris Jangoul and those who were executed alongside him, and to those who were killed in the attack. We are highly concerned at the increasing violence, some of which appears to be ethnically motivated. It is especially perplexing as the Nuba Mountains has long stood as a bastion of peaceful co-existence, even amid Sudan’s decades of divisive dictatorship, and during the current conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces. We call on authorities in the area to investigate these killings and de-escalate tensions as a matter of urgency. We particularly applaud the religious leaders from the Nuba Mountains who prayed and appealed for the release of Reverend Yakoub and the other hostages, and encourage them to work towards peaceful coexistence in the Nuba Mountains and throughout Sudan.’

Seminary of the Southwest elects Ruthanna Hooke as 10th dean and president

By
Press Release
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The Board of Trustees of Seminary of the Southwest has elected the Rev. Ruthanna B. Hooke, PhD, as the seminary’s 10th dean and president. Hooke will begin her service on January 1, 2027.

Hooke comes to Southwest from Virginia Theological Seminary, where she serves as Professor of Homiletics. She joined the Virginia Theological Seminary faculty in 2003 and has held several academic and administrative leadership roles, including associate dean of students, associate dean of chapel, and sub-dean for academic assessment. She is Program Director of the Preaching Congregations Initiative and holds a joint appointment as Professor of Homiletics at The General Theological Seminary.

“I am thrilled, honored, and so happy to have been appointed as the next dean and president of Seminary of the Southwest,” Hooke said. “I have long been an admirer of the seminary and the mission and ethos it embodies: its commitment to creating beloved community and equipping students to serve a diverse church and world, its practices of collaborative leadership, an openness to innovation and creativity in forming leaders for the future, and a willingness to engage in conversation and seek common ground amid difference.”

“I have come to know the seminary as a place of warm hospitality, authentic community, and a strong sense of purpose,” she continued. “All these qualities make Southwest a gift to the church and the world, a precious institution which I feel blessed to steward. I am profoundly grateful for the confidence the Board of Trustees has placed in me by entrusting me with this calling, and I look forward to working with the board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to guide Seminary of the Southwest into the bright future it has before it.”

The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and chair of the Seminary of the Southwest Board of Trustees, said Hooke’s experience as an educator, priest, scholar, and institutional leader will serve Southwest well as it continues to advance its mission of forming people for vocations of ministry, service, and healing.

“Dr. Hooke brings a deeply relational and collaborative approach to leadership, a distinguished record as a teacher and scholar, and an abiding commitment to the formation of leaders for the church and the world,” said Ryan. “In her meeting with the board, she demonstrated a clear understanding of Southwest’s distinctive mission and a compelling vision for strengthening its programs, broadening its relationships, and nurturing the beloved community at the heart of this institution. She will be an excellent partner for the board as we move into Southwest’s exciting future.”

Hooke was elected by the Board of Trustees following a national search conducted in partnership with the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Josephine Hicks, executive chair of the Board of Trustees, recommended Hooke’s selection to the board. The committee included trustees, faculty members, administrators, alumni, and other representatives of the Southwest community.

“The search committee approached this process with prayer, care, and a deep sense of responsibility for the future of Seminary of the Southwest,” said Hicks. “Dr. Hooke distinguished herself through the depth of her experience, the clarity of her vocation, and her ability to connect academic excellence with community, formation, and institutional leadership. Moreover, her humility and eagerness to more deeply understand Southwest were manifest throughout the process. She listened closely, engaged differences thoughtfully, and conveyed a genuine love for Southwest and its mission. We are grateful to everyone who participated in the search and are confident that Dr. Hooke is the right leader for this important chapter.”

“Seminary of the Southwest was created and has maintained a solid presence at the forefront of mission,” said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas. “It has done so by raising up students for the faithful mission of Christ, and its alumni stretch around the world in their impact. Today, it remains at the forefront, training more clergy for ministry than any other seminary through its residential seminary and the Iona Collaborative, as well as through its ministry of pastoral care in the counseling program. We remain one of the only seminaries to focus on mission to diverse populations through our culturally rich course of study.

“Today our seminary is a leader in theological education. It is no surprise, then, that we are excited about Dr. Hooke’s call to serve as the next dean. Dr. Hooke embodies these qualities, as has her ministry leadership over the years. She arrives as a friend of Texas, and we are excited to work with her, the board, and academic leadership to take our next steps toward a bright future for the church. The calling of Dr. Hooke reveals that Seminary of the Southwest intends to continue a tradition of forming thoughtful, courageous, and faithful leaders the Church and the world need; as Bishop Hines imagined many years ago when he planted the seminary in the heart of Texas.”

An Episcopal priest and scholar of preaching, Hooke’s teaching and research focus on homiletics, theology, voice, embodiment, performance, biblical storytelling, and the relationship between preaching and worship. She is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher and has taught courses including Preaching in the Anglican Tradition, Embodying the Sermon: Vocal and Physical Training for Preachers, Biblical Storytelling, and Preaching in a Time of Eco-Crisis. She also has served on the planning committee of the Homiletics and Biblical Studies Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Hooke is the author of Sacramental Presence: An Embodied Theology of Preaching, published in 2023, and Transforming Preaching, published in 2010. Her scholarship explores preaching as an embodied, theological, and communal practice, drawing from performance studies as well as liturgical and sacramental theology. She is co-editor of the forthcoming volume, Have Mercy: Following Jesus in Politically Perilous Times (Church Publishing, 2026), a collection of essays from seminary faculty reflecting on the political implications of core Christian commitments.

Before joining the faculty at Virginia Theological Seminary, Hooke served Episcopal congregations in Connecticut. She was ordained to the diaconate in 1998 and to the priesthood in 1999. She later served as affiliated or adjunct clergy at congregations in Virginia and Washington, D.C. She currently serves as Priest Associate at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill in Alexandria, Virginia.

Hooke earned a Ph.D. in religious studies, with a concentration in theology, from Yale University. She received her Master of Divinity, summa cum laude, from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and Yale Divinity School, where she also studied at the Institute of Sacred Music. She holds a Master of Arts in performing arts from Emerson College and an undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, in comparative religion from Harvard University.

Hooke will succeed the Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, who has served as interim dean and president since January 2026. Bruce was appointed to guide Southwest through the leadership transition and support the institution during the search for its 10th dean and president.

Details regarding Hooke’s transition and installation will be announced at a later date.

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