The board of directors of Nashotah House announced on Aug. 7 that the Very Rev. Steven Peay, dean and president, will step down on Aug. 31. He has been appointed research professor of homiletics and will remain affiliated with the seminary upon the conclusion of his service as dean and president.
Garwood P. Anderson, academic dean and professor of New Testament studies, will assume the position of acting dean on Sept. 1. Anderson is well-known to the Nashotah House community for his many years of service as a teacher, scholar, and previous academic dean.
Peay notified the board late last week that he had decided to step down based on a number of personal factors, including the need to concentrate on full recovery from a recent health issue and a desire to develop new leadership at Nashotah.
“Fr. Peay has provided extraordinary leadership to the House at a pivotal, and critical, moment in its history,” said the Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins, chairman of the board. “He has worked tirelessly over the course of the past two-and-a-half years to lead the House through a period of transition and institutional restructuring — and he has done a magnificent job. The board is grateful for his ministry and service in leadership, and is pleased that Fr. Peay will remain affiliated with the seminary in the days ahead.”
During his tenure as dean and president, Peay worked closely with the corporate leadership of Nashotah on a new institutional governance structure. He also led a successful effort to preserve the seminary’s accreditation, and laid the foundation for the next evaluation by the Association of Theological Schools.
Peay raised more than $7 million for the seminary’s endowment, the largest fundraising effort in the history of Nashotah, and moved the institution closer to its goal of ensuring long-term financial viability. He ensured that the gift of eight Whitechapel bells will ring out at the campus, securing the gifts necessary to build the tower to house them.
The board expressed its thanks to Anderson for agreeing to serve as acting dean.
“Dr. Anderson understands well the unique mission, ministry, and Benedictine character of the House and will provide thoughtful and effective leadership during this important time of transition,” Bishop Martins said. “We appreciate his willingness to take on this important responsibility during at time of ongoing renewal and restructuring of the House’s financial and corporate governance structures.”
Adapted from a Nashotah House release [PDF]
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
