Transitions are part of the rhythm of our shared life at Perkins. Each fall, as we welcome new students, we also give thanks for those who continue to learn, teach, and serve among us. This year, I find myself joining you in transition — as a new dean, grateful to step into this role with deep appreciation for the staff and faculty who have carried Perkins through many seasons with faithfulness and creativity. Their dedication to students and to the mission of this school is nothing short of remarkable.
We also mark a season of change across Southern Methodist University. With a new president and provost, we stand at an especially hopeful moment in the life of the university. I look forward to working with them, and with all of you, as together we shape the next chapter of Perkins’ story.
One of the enduring strengths of this community is its wide embrace. Perkins is a place where those called to pastoral ministry study alongside those preparing for teaching, chaplaincy, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and countless other vocations. Theology here is not confined to the classroom or the pulpit; it spills over into congregations, hospitals, neighborhoods, and boardrooms. Wherever you sense a call to serve, there is room for you at Perkins.
As we look ahead to the coming year, my hope is that it will be a year of new discoveries as students and faculty wrestle with big questions of faith and culture; a year of new partnerships and collaborations as we seek to serve church and world together; and a year of new friendships that will continue long after the semester’s end.
I invite you to walk with us in this season—through prayer, through your gifts and advocacy, through your own work of ministry and service. And may we all discover anew what God is making possible in this time of transition and promise.
With gratitude and hope,
Bryan Stone
Dean, Perkins School of Theology