On October 18, 2017 faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, donors, and distinguished guests gathered to decommission and send The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology’s second President, Dr. Keith Anderson and his wife, Wendy.


Stories of gratitude and celebration were shared by:

Mike and Myra McCoy, Board of Trustees Founding Chairs
Dr. Stephanie Neill, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology
Rachael Clinton, Assistant Director of Program Development & Admissions at The Allender Center
Alex Mrakovich, Master of Divinity student
Bethany Bylsma, MA in Counseling Psychology ’16

Tom Cashman, retired Adjunct Faculty member served as the officiant for the Liturgy of Presidential Divestiture. He was joined by:

Mike Anderson, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Dr. Dan Allender, Founding President, Professor, and Co-Founder of The Allender Center
Paula Womack, MA in Counseling Psychology ’10
Megan Donor, Master of Divinity student and Student Leadership representative
Cathy Loerzel, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of The Allender Center
Dr. Doug Shirley, Assistant Professor of Counseling
Molly Clarke, MA in Theology & Culture ’14 and retired staff


Wendy Anderson offered prayers for The Seattle School, Keith returned the sextant to the Board of Trustees, and The Seattle School community presented gifts of honor and blessing.

Keith Anderson offered his final address and homily as President, “Fidelity, Conviction, and Holy Work“:

“The conviction, the mission, the ministry, the sacred and holy work remained where it always is to be found: in the hearts and minds, spirits and souls of us all in fidelity to the covenant.”


All gathered pronounced:

“President Keith and Wendy Anderson, we will not know the fullness of all you have given until you have left us. You have led us with courage, fidelity, and imagination. You have also led us at great cost to yourselves. Where we have been responsible for such a cost, we ask your forgiveness and remain ever grateful for your persistent and embodied belief in a God of redemption. In the name of Jesus, we send you with our love into the next chapter of your journey and together as the full community of The Seattle School, we thank you, we bless you, and we release.”


The ceremony was followed by a celebration over lunch, Chicago style deep dish pizza, of course.