Nashotah House was, from the beginning, a center for High Church thought and discipline. Breck served as the first dean, and was highly committed to the principles of the Oxford Movement, which in part revived liturgical practices. Later, noted professors such as James DeKoven would bring Anglo-Catholic worship and practice to the seminary. It included daily celebration of the Eucharist and the liturgical use of vestments, candles, and incense.
Nashotah identifies as being within the orthodox Anglo-Catholic tradition. Overall, the faculty support traditional theology and conceptions of Christian doctrine, in opposition to liberal theologies. Historically, the school had a reputation for admitting only high-church seminarians, although the school has sought to broaden its appeal to other forms of churchmanship.[6] Nonetheless, as of 2023, Nashotah House was the only seminary affiliated with the Episcopal Church that does not admit students who have entered into same-sex marriages.[7][8]
21st century
In the 21st century, Nashotah House has dealt with various challenges associated with the 2009 split within The Episcopal Church, during which several theologically conservative parishes broke away to form the Anglican Church in North America.[9] Unlike Trinity Anglican Seminary, which disaffiliated from TEC in 2022,[10] Nashotah House remains affiliated with TEC, although it educates students from the Anglican Communion as a whole. In 2023, 45% of seminarians were affiliated with TEC, 45% were affiliated with ACNA, and 10% were affiliated with other denominations.[11] TEC students outnumber ACNA students in the residential M.Div. program.[12]
Robert Munday led Nashotah House from 2001 to 2011.[13] He enjoyed the longest tenure for a dean in school history, but was criticized for what some called his "overly sympathetic" attitude towards the ACNA.[9]
Dean-Bishop Edward L. Salmon Jr. led the seminary from 2011 to 2015 with the goal of improving the seminary's relationship with TEC, particularly the Diocese of Milwaukee.[9] In February 2014, Salmon invited the liberal TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to preach at the school.[14][15] Jefferts Schori had previously sought to steer away prospective students from Nashotah House.[3] The decision was condemned by the seminary's largely conservative supporters, including ex-Dean Munday,[16] who cited Jefferts Schori's policy of suing breakaway ACNA parishes to keep their resources within TEC, as well as what they considered her heretical views. Two bishops who were members of the Nashotah House Board of Trustees resigned or distanced themselves from the school;[17] one of the bishops' dioceses had been sued by Jefferts Schori after joining the ACNA.[3]
Salmon stepped down in 2015, although the chairman of the board stated that the resignation was "pre-planned" and not related to the Jefferts Schori controversy. He was succeeded by Steven Peay, who retired in 2017 citing health issues and other personal factors.[18] During the mid-2010s, enrollment dipped significantly, falling from 110 full-time students (143 total) in 2012-13 to 52 full-time equivalent students in 2017.[3][11]
Under Garwood Anderson (d. 2017-24), who made efforts to recruit ACNA members[12] and low church adherents[6] as seminarians, full-time equivalent enrollment rebounded from 52 to 119.[19] Anderson stepped down and returned to the classroom in 2024.[20] He was succeeded by religious historian Lauren Whitnah, the first woman to lead the seminary in 182 years, and a member of an ACNA congregation.[21][22]
The seminary typically runs at a deficit, and the endowment stood at $10-11 million in 2023;[6] it was $10 million in 2011.[23]
Academics
Nashotah House offers degree and certificate programs aimed at training clergy and lay leaders for ministries in the Anglican Communion:
It also offers a one-year certificate program in Anglican studies, geared toward students who have received an M.Div. from a non-Anglican institution and wish to be ordained within the Anglican tradition. The Master of Pastoral Ministry and the Master of Ministry degree may be earned through a combination of residential and online study.[24]
There are also apartments for both single and married students, and several houses for the dean and other faculty, as well as maintenance facilities.
Construction has been completed on a substantial addition to the refectory. The newly dubbed Adams Hall includes a large meeting hall and additional classrooms.
Student life
Interior of the Red Chapel
Nashotah began as a community inspired by traditional monastic life of prayer, work, and study. James Lloyd Breck's vision was to create a center for Christian formation in the (then) wilderness that would also be movement to propagate other communities for the purpose of evangelizing the frontier. Today, much of this vision remains intact and students still live a Benedictine cycle of prayer, work, and study. The life of the Seminary seeks to form the character of priests and leaders into the image of Christ. Various students have been involved in mission work around the Anglican Communion as well.
"Seminarians are invited to participate in an ascetic, disciplined, prayerful season of spiritual growth in Christ" in which they "practice the Benedictine Rule of daily prayer, labor, and study."[34] All students have work crew assignments - cleaning bathrooms, mowing lawns, sweeping floors and taking other chores. Daily routine includes Morning Prayer, Mass, breakfast, classes, lunch, and Solemn Evensong. Always anticipated on the campus is the annual
St. Laurence Cup, a flag football game played against students from Sacred Heart School of Theology and St. Francis Seminary (Wisconsin).[35] The formerly annual Lavabo Bowl game was played against Seabury-Western Theological Seminary which stopped granting residential Master of Divinity degrees in 2010 after ceasing to accept new M.Div. seminarians in 2008[36]
Notable alumni
Gustaf Unonius, first graduate of NashotahMichael the bell which calls the community to prayer
