Message

My dear Friends,

I greet you on behalf of the entire Hood Theological Seminary community!

In these days of electronic communication, we have followed the example of other seminaries to make our Catalogue available in electronic format. In addition to the advantage in the cost we save on printing, we are also conserving on the use of paper and enabling the speedy updating of the Catalogue.

Since the fall of 2006, we have been operating as a seminary on two campuses: the parent campus in Salisbury, NC and an extension campus at Lomax Hannon College in Greenville, Alabama. The operation on the parent campus continues to be vibrant, and promising of continuing growth. The campus in Alabama is still in its infancy but with great promise for the future. That extension was the result of an invitation from and a partnership with the Alabama-Florida Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to provide the ministers in their District with a sound theological education for effective ministry. At the extension site we deliver our educational programs through three modes of instruction: on site, by highly qualified adjunct faculty members; through Interactive Video Conferencing synchronized with our Track II program on campus; and by the students' participation on the parent campus for one-third of their courses.

We and the Episcopal District in Alabama continue to develop the physical facilities on the parent and extension campuses to foster the spirit of community as the context in which our students prepare themselves for effective leadership in ministry. On the parent campus we are in the planning process for a new refectory that will provide the students with fellowship at table as an additional means of fostering their orientation to ministry. Studying together and eating together encourage our students to see and appreciate the intrinsic worth of others regardless of the differences of race, gender, class, or denominational affiliation.

With all of the developments at Hood, nothing satisfies us more than the opportunity given us to prepare men and women for effective ministry. Sponsored and supported by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which cherishes its place within the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, Hood is Pan-Methodist in its ethos and fully ecumenical in its commitment. We are confident that diversity in faith commitments among our members enriches our life together as a religious community and strengthens our witness. Consequently, we welcome to the seminary as students, faculty, and staff all persons who love the Lord and desire to serve him faithfully.

Sincerely,
Albert J. D. Aymer
President