the academy journal
With my nomination to be the next Head Pastor of the Bryn Athyn Church and with Bishop
Brian Keith stepping into the Chancellor role, we
realized that for at least an initial period it would
be appropriate and useful for Bishop Keith to be a
more active presence at the Academy. The spiritual
leadership role of the Vice Chancellor was also, in
part, replaced with increased involvement by the
chaplain of the Secondary Schools, Rev. Barry
Halterman, and of Bryn Athyn College, the Rev.
Thane Glenn. Because of these arrangements it
seemed acceptable during this period of time to
have no acting Vice Chancellor. The Chancellor
and Executive Bishop of the General Church of the
New Jerusalem will need to consider, with consultation, whether the arrangement for the 2013-2014
year is the desirable or most-useful long-term solution to priestly leadership at the Academy Schools.
A key volunteer leader has been Jill Brickman.
As an elected ANC Trustee and as the Vice Chair
of the Board she has brought her seemingly tireless attention and concern to so many aspects of
the Academy schools. Her abilities to listen, seek
healthy consensus and fill her role with humility
and grace were extremely valuable during a significant time of stress due to changes and daunting
deficit spending. I have tremendous respect for
both President Kristin King and Managing Director Jim Adams in their respective leadership roles
for Bryn Athyn College and the Academy Secondary Schools.
The mission of the Academy schools has been
to provide New Church education for the students
who arrive at their doors with a variety of backgrounds and understanding of the educational
goals being sought. Watching the effect for good
on the lives of these students that the formal education, the extra-curricular activities and the
powerful relationships with peers and with adults
has been inspiring. Good things have been occurring for students now and with ramifications that
can bless them and those who their lives touch to
eternity.
Appreciation
In my role as Vice Chancellor I am tremendously
grateful for the administration, faculty and staff
that I have had a chance to work with. The dedication, commitment, insight and good judgment
that they have brought to support the uses of the
Academy have been a huge gift to the students who
were served by it and the cause of New Church Education that their efforts have supported.
10