Earlham School of Religion

08/24/2026

Join us for a virtual book talk with Steve Angell, ESR’s Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies:

Was Quaker Women’s Ministry in the 1650s a Foundation for the Modern Quaker Testimony of Equality?

The talk draws on Steve’s latest publication, Martha Simmons: A Life, and will explore the history and significance of women’s ministry among early Friends and its connection to the Quaker testimony of equality.

📅 November 18
🕖 7:00–8:30 p.m.
💻 Blended event

Scan to register and share this invitation with friends.

We look forward to gathering with you!

08/04/2026

We are delighted to share that, thanks to the generous gift of the Perkins family, the Earlham School of Religion’s Quigg Worship Space has been beautifully renovated and is ready to welcome our community for the fall semester!

The refreshed space features new flooring, comfortable new chairs, an upgraded screen and technology to better connect with our distance students, and several other enhancements that will enrich our shared worship experience.

If you’re in town, we’d love to have you join us for Community Worship on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. in Quigg. Come worship, reconnect with friends, and help us celebrate this renewed sacred space.

We look forward to seeing you there!

08/03/2026

Tonight we had the joy of welcoming 17 new students to the Earlham School of Religion (ESR) during our 2026–2027 New Student Orientation Reception.

It was a wonderful evening as faculty, returning students, alumni, staff, and friends gathered to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our community. We were especially inspired by the thoughtful welcome address from our Interim Dean, Dr. James Logan, who shared ESR’s vision and mission of preparing leaders to faithfully engage the challenges and opportunities of today’s world.

We are excited to journey alongside these new students as they grow in faith, scholarship, and service. Welcome to the ESR family!

07/30/2026

New in Quaker Studies! 📚

Congratulations to Stephen Angell on the publication of Martha Simmons: A Life, the latest volume in Brill Research Perspectives in Quaker Studies.

In this new volume, Steve offers a thoughtful study of Martha Simmons, illuminating her life and legacy within the Quaker tradition. A valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history and ongoing witness of Friends.

Congratulations, Stephen, on this important contribution to Quaker scholarship! Order a copy here:

07/28/2026

Following the June retirements of Dean Gretchen Castle and Associate Academic Dean Jim Higginbotham, James Logan, Ph.D., has been appointed Interim Dean while continuing in his role as Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Colleen Wessel-McCoy will serve as Associate Dean, providing day-to-day academic leadership and helping guide ESR as it continues its closer integration with the undergraduate College.

A search for a permanent dean will resume during the 2026–27 academic year. Congratulations to James and Colleen, and thank you for your willingness to lead ESR through this important season of transition. Wishing you both wisdom and every success in your new roles!

Click below to read more about James

About me I was born in Harlem and raised in the South Bronx. I received a B.A. in psychology/pre-law from Goshen College, an M.A. in theology and ethics from Anabaptist...

07/09/2026

ESR's Noah Litu Kellum 24' has accepted the call to serve as the new Campus Minister for Wilmington College - Ohio. We are incredibly proud of Noah and wish him all the very best as he starts his new ministry.

Wilmington College named Earlham School of Religion graduate Noah Kellum as its next campus minister following a national search. He will succeed Nancy McCormick, who retired in June after serving the campus community for 10 years in that capacity. Sigrid Solomon, vice president/chief student affair...

06/24/2026

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Henry Burt as Assistant Professor of Spiritual and Pastoral Care at Earlham School of Religion.

Henry joins us from the Department of Philosophy at Flagler College, where he served as a postdoctoral faculty member. He earned his PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2025. His dissertation explored pathways to healing perfectionism through pastoral theological approaches, reflecting his deep commitment to spiritual well-being and human flourishing.

This fall, Henry will teach Introduction to Pastoral & Spiritual Care (PC 501) on Tuesday evenings and Imagination as Resilience, Resistance, and Restoration (PC 620) on Thursday afternoons.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Henry to the Earlham School of Religion community. We look forward to the gifts, scholarship, and leadership he will bring to our students and the wider ESR community.

06/11/2026

Yesterday, we gathered to celebrate the retirement of Dean Gretchen Castle from the Earlham School of Religion. During her five years of leadership, Gretchen served ESR with dedication, compassion, and a deep commitment to both students and faculty. Her steady guidance and care have left a lasting impact on the ESR community.

The Earlham School of Religion, Earlham College, and Bethany Theological Seminary communities extend our heartfelt gratitude to Gretchen for her faithful service. We wish her a joyful retirement and every blessing as she begins this new chapter of life.

06/03/2026

On his final day of teaching at Earlham School of Religion, Jim Higginbotham stepped out of the classroom for a few minutes to connect with an Access student online. When he returned, he found the whiteboard covered with messages of gratitude, encouragement, and love from his students.

Reflecting on the moment, Jim wrote:

"I'm humbled almost beyond words—yeah, I'm still an academic, so not really—but I stepped out of the classroom to talk to another student online, and this is what the in-person students wrote. What a gift for the last class I'll teach at Earlham School of Religion."

After decades of faithful teaching, mentoring, and accompanying students on their journeys, it seems fitting that Jim's final class would leave him with a lesson of their own: the lasting impact of a life devoted to education, ministry, and community.

Thank you, Jim, for the countless ways you have enriched ESR and the lives of those who have had the privilege of learning from you.

05/18/2026

This past weekend, we celebrated two beautiful milestones at Earlham School of Religion as we honored the ESR Class of 2026.

On Friday evening, students, faculty, family, and friends gathered for our Baccalaureate Service , a meaningful time of worship, reflection, gratitude, and blessing as we recognized the journeys that have shaped these graduates. We were especially grateful for Dean Gretchen Castle’s inspiring address as she also prepares to conclude her faithful leadership at ESR.

On Saturday, we celebrated Commencement with joy and pride as the ESR Class of 2026 crossed the stage and stepped into new chapters of ministry, service, scholarship, leadership, and vocation.

Congratulations to all our graduates. Your resilience, wisdom, compassion, and commitment to justice and spiritual formation continue to inspire us. We pray blessings over the road ahead and give thanks for the gifts you have shared with the ESR community.

Peace and congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎓