Beeson Divinity School Installs Anglican Chair Professor

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA August 30, 2016

The Fall Semester 2016 of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University began today at its morning Convocation. Two significant events occurred at the gathering in Hodges Chapel.

First, forty-two incoming first year students were welcomed by Dr. Timothy George. The new seminarians and their families come to Beeson from many states and from several nations around the world.

Secondly, the Reverend Dr. Gerald R. McDermott was installed as Anglican Chair of Divinity, one of five academic chairs at the school. Assisting Dr. George in the order of installation was the Most Reverend Doctor Foley Beach, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in North America.

Although the service today was noticeably Anglican, Dr. George reminded everyone that the school is interdenominational.

Participants leading the service in addition to Dr. George were Dr.  Andrew Westmoreland, President of Samford University; Archbishop Beach; Bishop Alphonza Gadsden, Bishop of the Diocese of the Southeast (REC-ACNA); the Rev. Katherine Jacobs, Cathedral Church of the Advent-Birminghan (TEC); and Dr. Mark Quay, Rector, Saint Peter's Anglican Church-Mountain Brook, Alabama (ADOTS-ACNA).

Also attending the service were members of the Board of the Anglican Institute.

Prior to the installation portion of the service, Dr. Beach delivered his sermon on "Prayer." He told incoming students, and all present, that Christian leaders must always be "praying leaders." The Archbishop said that "prayer is work, not preparation for work."

Following the service a luncheon was given to honor Dr. McDermott and Archbishop Beach. In the late afternoon the Archbishop met with a gathering of Beeson Divinity School students for a question-and-answer session.

L-R: Dr. Timothy George, Dean, Beeson Divinity School;

Dr. Gerald R. McDermott, Anglican Chair of Divinity;

The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop and Primate

Anglican Church in North America

The 42 Incoming Divinity Students

Fall Semester, 2016

Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Birmingham, Alabama