The time spent at General has led to fruitful expressions of faith throughout the world.
The Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award was established by the Alumni Executive Committee of General Theological Seminary in 2004 to lift up both extraordinarily original, path breaking ministries and extraordinarily faithful, though quiet ministries.
To make a nomination, please scroll down to the form at the bottom of this page. Candidates may be put forth on the basis of lifetime achievement, or to honor extraordinary accomplishment that brought credit upon the church and General Seminary.
The Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients 2023
The Rev. Dr. Ellen Barrett (Sr. Helena OSB)
Class of 1975
The Rev. Canon Milton Cole-Duvall
Class of 1982
During this time of pronounced change for General Seminary, the church, and the world, the Alumni Executive Committee is pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award are the Rev. Dr. Ellen Barrett (Sr. Helena OSB), Class of 1975, and the Rev. Canon Milton Cole-Duvall, Class of 1982. Raised up during the tumultuous change and challenge of the late 20th century, Barrett and Cole-Duvall lived into General Seminary’s mission: they were leaders of the church in a changing world. Through quiet, yet brave ministries they modelled faithful Christian charity while personally confronting the often-unjust structures of church and society, never wavering in their commitment to radical welcome, social justice, and inclusive “beloved community”. The Alumni Executive Committee is humbled to lift up Barrett and Cole-Duvall for embodying the qualities of servant leadership through lifelong ministries bearing effective and prophetic witness to the full humanity of all persons, who are all loved by God. The award will be bestowed at the Memorial Eucharist during the next Alumni Gathering, currently scheduled for October 24 and 25, 2023.
Past Recipients
2022 Recipient: The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Class of 1976 /
2022 Recipient: The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Class of 1976 /
The 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award was conferred posthumously on the Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray (November 20, 1910 – July 1, 1985) Class of 1976. The award was bestowed in honor and respect for Murray’s life of trailblazing service in civil rights and the Episcopal Church, delayed recognition as an historic figure, and long overdue acknowledgement of the sexism and racism that Murray faced and fought throughout their life, including their time as a student at General Seminary. During the Alumni Memorial Eucharist May 17, 2022 in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a newly commissioned Icon of Murray was consecrated. In her sermon, the Rev. Dr. Anita Schell ‘83 recognized “We have waited too long to acknowledge our profound gratitude to Pauli Murray’s’ witness. Thank you Pauli for boldly bequeathing us a song of hope and love to lead us forward in these days.”
2020-2021 Recipients: The Class of 1970 /
2020-2021 Recipients: The Class of 1970 /
The 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award went to the Class of 1970 as they celebrated their 50th Reunion Year. Grounded in the formative power of their General Seminary experience, a core group has met annually -- since they came together for their 20th reunion in 1990 -- for retreat, recreation, and celebration. Through their regular meeting they continually renewed one another for ministry.
The ceremony was postponed during the pandemic postponed until 2021 when it took place during a Memorial Eucharist on the West Lawn. The service was celebrated by AEC President Susan Wrathall ’06, with AEC Secretary Denise LaVetty assisting, and as preacher, Edward “Ned” Prevost represented his class with a sermon on the challenges of ministry during times of “general political and religious turmoil which form a common background” from Jesus’ time “even unto today”. The award was accepted by James Ransom ’70 (in photo from left) with classmates Prevost, Edward Todd, and the Linwood Garrenton.
2019 Recipient: The Rev. Jorge Juan Rivera-Torres, Class of 1962 /
2019 Recipient: The Rev. Jorge Juan Rivera-Torres, Class of 1962 /
As historian at the Diocese of Puerto Rico, The Rev. Jorge Juan Rivera-Torres, Class of 1962, has kept Anglican/Episcopal history alive, establishing the Historical Archive of the Episcopal Church in Puerto Rico and providing an example of a bridge between the Puerto Rican identity and the Episcopal Church’s ethos and tradition.
2018 Recipient: The Rev. Deacon Geraldine A. Swanson, Class of 2008 /
2018 Recipient: The Rev. Deacon Geraldine A. Swanson, Class of 2008 /
The Rev. Deacon Geraldine A. Swanson has a lifetime of invaluable and continuing contributions to the Episcopal Church's diaconal community. Swanson has served over 30 years as an educator in both public and private schools in New York City, both in the classroom and as a mentor to new teachers, trainer of teacher mentors, and staff developer. She has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Association for Episcopal Deacons for two terms, coordinated the Triennial Assembly in 2016, as well as serving on the Board of the Fund for the Diaconate.
2017 Recipient: The Rev. Steven E. Hulme, Class of 1959 /
2017 Recipient: The Rev. Steven E. Hulme, Class of 1959 /
The Rev. Steven E. Hulme's long ministry provided leadership in the resettlement and reunification of refugee families in America. Hulme is Rector Emeritus of St. John's Episcopal Church, Niantic, Connecticut, where as Rector from 1971 to 1998, and during the years following his retirement from parish ministry, he provided leadership for the resettlement, in a new homeland, of approximately 35 refugee families, comprising over 150 individuals, with many more able to join them later by way of family reunification.
2016 Recipient: The Rev. Paula M. Jackson, Class of 1985 /
2016 Recipient: The Rev. Paula M. Jackson, Class of 1985 /
The Rev. Paula M. Jackson recently retired as Rector of the multicultural Church of Our Saviour/La Iglesia de Nuestro Salvador in Cincinnati, Ohio where she had served since 1990. Jackson has been the recipient of numerous humanitarian awards, most recently the League of United Latin American Citizens Cincinnati Human Rights Award, and is a member of the Board of the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Justice Center. She is the author of Transformation: A Way to Freedom — Conversations with the Book of Exodus and What Does the Bible Say about Being Gay? — Probably not what you've been told!
2015 Recipient: The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby, Class of 1963 /
2015 Recipient: The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby, Class of 1963 /
The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby's long ministry of service and devotion to the Church has emphasized community outreach and partnership. After many years serving parishes in Western New York, New Jersey, and Kansas, he was called as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, where he is now Dean Emeritus, after leading a resurgence of congregational, spiritual, and financial growth.
2014 Recipient: The Rev. Margaret “Peggy” A. Muncie, Class of 1974 /
2014 Recipient: The Rev. Margaret “Peggy” A. Muncie, Class of 1974 /
The Rev. Margaret “Peggy” A. Muncie, along with the late Paige Bigelow, was one of the first women to receive a Masters in Divinity from GTS. Muncie has always sought to forward the profession of chaplaincy through practice, advocacy, and writing. She has carried out her distinguished ministry as a chaplain in both long-term care and acute settings for over 30 years, including service as Director of Pastoral Care and Education at St. Luke's — Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. Muncie recently retired as Executive Director of Canterbury Counseling Center (CCC) in Greenville, South Carolina. CCC is a non-profit, church-sponsored organization that offers a healing ministry of pastoral counseling, integrating psychotherapy with behavioral sciences, spiritual issues, wholeness and health.
2012-13: Brother Clark Berge, '84, Minister General, The Society of St. Francis, Mt. Sinai, New York
2011: The Rev. Dr. Minka Shura Sprague, '78 and '85, St. James Episcopal Church, Jackson, Mississippi, scholar, author, preacher, lecturer, and workshop/retreat leader
2010: The Rev. John L. Kater, '96 Professor Emeritus of Ministry Development, Church Divinity School of the Pacific
2009: The Very Rev. David duPlantier '93 Dean, Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans LA, Co-founder Jericho Road Housing Project
2008: The Rev. Dr. Marion J. Hatchett '66 and '72, Professor Emeritus, University of the South, School of Theology, Sewanee, Tennessee
2007: The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Geitz '93, Canon for Ministry, Diocese of New Jersey and author of several volumes, including Fireweed Evangelism and The Rev. J. Fletcher Lowe '59 Executive Director, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
2006: Dr. Henry Carse '94, Director, Kids-4-Peace, St. George's College, Jerusalem
2005: The Rev. Bertram Bennett '75, Priest-in-Charge, St. David's, Bronx, NY and Chair, South Bronx Churches
2004: The Revs. Richard Fabian '70 and Donald Schell '71, Co-founders and co-rectors, St. Gregory of Nyssa, San Francisco
Call for Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the Distinguished Alumni Award on a rolling basis. This annual award is for Seminary degree-holders worthy of special recognition. The award presentations take place during the Alumni Gathering. Nominations must be received by September and are decided by the Alumni Executive Committee at their fall meeting.
What does it mean to be an outstanding graduate of The General Theological Seminary? The Close represents many things to those of us who studied here at General. A home for some of us, or a home away from home where we went to be in communion with others striving toward the same goals. It is a place where the serenity and beauty of the grounds are enhanced by the families who live there and the community who makes it come alive. It is also a place where Leaders for the Episcopal Church are formed. The time spent at General has led to fruitful expressions of faith in all parts of the world.
We are proud to stand as a community with all of our brothers and sisters in the General Community. Some efforts are so inspirational however, that we choose to recognize these people of faith with our Distinguished Alumni Award. Past recipients have included exemplars of a broad range of ministry. We have had the privilege of holding up both extraordinarily original, path breaking ministries and extraordinarily faithful, though quiet ministries. Candidates may be put forth on the basis of lifetime achievement, or to honor extraordinary accomplishment that brought credit upon the church and General Seminary. Nominees may be well-known, but care should be given to identifying inspiring yet unheralded ministries.
Note those ineligible for consideration are: Bishops; sitting Trustees, or members of the staff or faculty.
To submit a nomination, please fill out the form below, or contact alumni@gts.edu.
Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination form
Those submitting nominations must identify themselves by name and General class year and provide a daytime phone number and/or email address. Statements of support need not exceed 150 words.