A teacher's death
I just learned from Deirdre Good's website, On Not Being a Sausage that one of my professors at GTS in the early 90s, the Rev. Dr. Joanne McWilliam, died last week. She was a wonderful teacher, and a sharp intellect, and I am sorry to hear of her death. She taught systematic theology at GTS (the first woman to hold that chair), and also dove into the work of a faculty member on various committees. I recall an example of her wit, which was dry as a good martini. She was on the committee charged with establishing priorities for the many, many building needs and deferred maintenance at GTS. When asked how the priorities were being ranked, she said, calmly, "We're working on the lethal ones first."
God bless her and rest her, who now beholds unmitigated the glory she studied here below...
Tobias Haller BSG
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8 comments:
What a lovely tribute to your teacher.
May she rest in peace.
And may light perpetual shine upon her.
Joanne was latterly an honorary assistant at my parish, where her requiem was held. Unfortunately, my mother came out of hospital that day and I was unable to attend.
Thanks for letting us all know
CP
You might enjoy a very fine tribute to Joanne in today's
Globe and Mail, Toronto
Thank you, Norah. The article is at this link.
"She died a week before the worldwide Anglican church voted to allow women to serve as bishops."
*Bangs head against wall*
Geoff, not sure if the head bang is in response to the overstatement concerning the WWAC vs the CoE, or to her death a week before the vote of the General Synod.
In either case, however, knowing her love of detail and precision, and also her feelings on the issue, that from her present perspective she may now be sharing a wry smile with St Augustine...
I hate when the Church of England gets morphed into "the worldwide Anglican Communion," just as I am vexed by those who use the expression "the wider church" to mean Roman Catholicism.
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