The Rev. Dr. William S. Stafford, vice president and associate dean for academic affairs at Virginia Theological Seminary, will become dean of the School of Theology at Sewanee: The University of the South on January 1, 2005. Stafford succeeds Dr. Allan M. Parrent, who has served as the Episcopal seminary's interim dean since February 2003.
A native of San Francisco, Calif., Stafford earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Stanford University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received Master of Arts and Master of Philosophy degrees in the history of Christianity from Yale University. He attended the University of Strasbourg and completed his doctorate at Yale.
Stafford brings significant experience in ministry, academics and administration to his new position. He joined the faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary as assistant professor of church history in 1976. He was appointed the David J. Ely Professor of Church History in 1990 and became vice president and associate dean for academic affairs in 1997. Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1982, Stafford served churches in Virginia and England. Currently, he is priest associate for St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, Va. During summers since 1987, he serves at St.-Andrew's-in-the-Redwoods, Monte Rio, Calif. This past year while on sabbatical at Durham University in Durham, England, he has been a member of the North Durham Ministry Team, providing pastoral ministry to six parishes on the north side of the City of Durham.
Widely recognized as an educator and scholar, Stafford has authored Domesticating the Clergy: The Inception of the Reformation in Strasbourg 1522-1524 and Disordered Loves: Healing the Seven Deadly Sins. His articles and book reviews have appeared in "Church History," "The Catholic Historical Review," and "Anglican and Episcopal History," among other publications.
Leaders of the Episcopal Church founded Sewanee: The University of the South in 1857. Over the years, the university has maintained that historic relationship with the church and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. It has 1,364 undergraduate students pursuing bachelor's degrees and 100 theological students studying at the graduate School of Theology. One of the 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church, Sewanee also serves more than 10,000 people annually through its Education for Ministry extension programs. The Diocese of Missouri is one of the 17 owning dioceses.
