Episcopal Bishop to Teach at Lutheran Seminary, Thanks to Teacher's Bequest
Episcopal News Service. June 13, 2003 [2003-139I]
A surprise $1.2 million legacy from a Northeast Philadelphia retired public school teacher is creating a new teaching post for an Episcopal professor at a Lutheran seminary in Philadelphia.
The gift to the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania from the late Anna Werner, who lived modestly in Philadelphia's Rhawnhurst section before her death a year ago at age 92, has led to the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Frederick Houk Borsch, retired bishop of Los Angeles, as first holder of a chair of Anglican Studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Werner, a shy woman who was thought to be far from wealthy, attended church for 20 years at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Rhawnhurst. A published poet and strict grammarian, Werner was also known to be concerned broadly about the future of education in general and theological education in particular. She amassed the legacy after her husband died in 1980 by saving Social Security and pension payments and much of her retirement income.
'She was not interested in luxury,' says the Rev. Otto Lolk, rector at All Saints'. 'She had no washer or dryer and only an old refrigerator. She didn't use air conditioning.' Toward the end of her life, she was cared for by a few members of the parish and by Lolk, who often visited her daily.
Werner probably would have appreciated the new appointee. 'I love to teach and prepare people who are candidates for ministry in a theological setting,' says Borsch, who has most recently served as interim dean of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and associate dean of the Yale University Divinity School. In his new position, he also will be theologian-in-residence at the Episcopal Cathedral in Philadelphia. Increasingly, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a visible presence at the cathedral. For instance, as a sign of Lutheran/Episcopal unity through baptism, the synod donated a baptismal font for the refurbished interior of the cathedral.
Commenting on the legacy, Charles Bennison, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, said: 'It's obvious to me that Anna Werner came to love the Lord through the love of that parish (All Saints'). Part of the Christian life is to be generous, and All Saints', Rhawnhurst, was the seedbed where she learned that tradition. It's an amazing legacy. The chair will go on in perpetuity.'
In a letter sent to clergy in the diocese, Bennison noted that the new chair 'will make the seminary even more of a resource for educating our leaders than it has been in the past.' He said the appointment of Borsch and the establishment of the chair are integral to diocesan efforts 'to strengthen our congregations.'
In an interview, Borsch said the Lutheran and Episcopal communions have 'much in common, but we also have different heroes and traditions.' He called his appointment and the establishment of the new chair key steps in 'continuing to learn from each other' and in helping to live out Called to Common Mission, a full communion agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He said topics for his early teaching at the seminary will include 'Parables in the Synoptic Gospels,' 'Poets, Mystics and Theologians,' a course focusing mostly on the Anglican tradition, and an advanced-level course tentatively called 'Jesus Then and Now: A Christology for Today.'
Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, said: 'As we live into our full communion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this is precisely the kind of partnership we need to be forming. I commend Bishop Bennison, the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for this visionary leadership.'
An additional $800,000 will be needed to complete endowment of the $2 million chair. The diocese and the seminary hope that appointing Borsch, a noted theologian, will attract the additional donor support needed.