Julie’s News from Maryland

This afternoon the seminary hosted a Gala Celebration to honor the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu and to launch the Leaders for the Church capital campaign.  The seminary is gutting the building that sits along 10th Ave and is creating the Desmond Tutu Education Center.  The Center will include a 59 room inn and conference facility.

Attending the Gala Celebration were students, faculty, benefactors, alumni, and of course Desmond Tutu.  He spoke at the reception and then he preached at worship.  He is an amazing man and had wonderful things to say.  I was very humbled to be in his presence and for a moment felt very unworthy to be there.  He is really remarkable and has accomplished so much in his ministry.

Also in attendance was Sam Waterston.  You know, the prosecutor from the original Law & Order series.  The series is filmed a few blocks away from the seminary.  Sam is, as the Dean described him, “An Episcopalian, a friend of the seminary, and the Honorary Chair of the capital campaign.”

The Dean introduced Sam just after Archbishop Tutu had concluded his speech.  Sam stepped up to the microphone and said, “I thought you were going to say, ‘And the most historic anticlimax…’”  It was very funny.  I suppose no matter how famous you are, you really just can’t follow Archbishop Tutu.