Father John Ruef Elected Dean of Nashotah Seminary
Diocesan Press Service. February 1, 1974 [74024]
NASHOTAH, Wis. -- The Rev. John S. Ruef, director of the Education for Ministry program for laymen in the Diocese of Western New York, has been elected dean of Nashotah House, an Episcopal seminary near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Father Ruef's election was announced January 23 by Bishop Charles T. Gaskell of the Milwaukee Episcopal diocese, president of the seminary's board of trustees. Father Ruef has not announced whether or not he intends to accept the election.
The Episcopal priest is the first director of the college level educational program started for lay persons in Western New York in 1972. Under his leadership the Episcopal program was instrumental in the formation of the Institute for Religious Studies, an ecumenical educational venture with a faculty of 11 Christian and Jewish clergy and lay instructors now sponsoring classes on two area college campuses.
From 1960 until 1971 Father Ruef taught New Testament at Berkeley Divinity School, an Episcopal seminary in New Haven, Conn. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., and holds a Doctor of Theology degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Father Ruef is the author of three books about the Bible : "The Gospels and the Teaching of Jesus," "Understanding the Gospels," and " First Letter of Paul to Corinth. "
After his ordination in 1951 he organized and was the first vicar of the Church of the Holy Family, an Episcopal congregation in Park Forest, Ill. He has also served as an assistant to the rectors of parishes in Lowell, Mass., Naugatuck, Conn., New Haven, Conn., and Charlottesville, Va. He is married to the former Jane Margraves Holt and they are the parents of four children.
Bishop Harold B. Robinson of the Diocese of Western New York, said the election of Father Ruef as Nashotah House dean is a "positive step for the entire church. "
" Father Ruef has made a tremendous contribution to the life and work of this diocese during the past two years," said Bishop Robinson. "Though we are sorry to lose him from our midst, it is only right that his talents and abilities should be shared by a larger segment of the church. It is fortunate that he has directed the educational program in the diocese in such a way that it can be continued under new leadership. We will miss him, but we rejoice in the splendid opportunities he will have before him if he accepts his election as dean of a major seminary of the church."
Bishop Gaskell said in Milwaukee that Father Ruef was chosen from among 67 Episcopal priests recommended for dean of Nashotah House. He was elected by 21 seminary trustees who met on January 23, and he was elected on the first ballot.
" I am, of course, very pleased with this election, " said Bishop Gaskell. "The seminary's search committee is to be commended for having done a thorough and painstaking job. I know they have made a fortunate choice in Father Ruef and I hope he accepts the position."
As dean of Nashotah House, Father Ruef will head an institution founded in 1841 as a missionary outpost. It is one of the oldest Episcopal seminaries. The school is located in several acres of woodland about 30 miles west of Milwaukee. It is among the larger seminaries of the Episcopal Church, and has always held the training and educating of parish pastors as its major objective.
Four Nashotah House faculty members have achieved prominence in the church within recent years. The Rev. Roland T. Foster was chosen dean of New York's General Seminary and the Rev. Urban T. Holmes was selected to be dean of the seminary at Sewanee, Tenn. Bishop Arthur Vogel of West Missouri and Bishop Donald J. Parsons of Quincy, Ill., were faculty members when they were chosen bishops of the church.