The Hartford Seminary Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Nov. 9, 2020, to welcome Dr. Miriam Therese Winter and Dr. David Roozen to the ranks of emeriti faculty.

A fully retired faculty member who is deemed by his or her colleagues to have made an exceptional contribution to the Seminary and to the academic field with which he or she is affiliated may be considered for emeriti status. Such a position is typically reserved for a truly exceptional faculty member who is recognized nationally and/or internationally for his or her scholarship, has brought prestige to the Seminary, has served the Seminary for at least 10 years, and is a full professor in good standing at the time of retirement.

As part of the official process, Core Faculty members nominated each member. Here is the proposal for Dr. Winter, a Medical Mission Sister who is internationally known as a feminist theologian, songwriter, and the author of numerous books.

In honor of the previous retirement of Sr. Miriam Therese Winter from the faculty of Hartford Seminary, we the faculty hereby move that Dr. Winter be recognized as Emerita Professor of Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, with all of the rights, privileges and duties thereof. Dr. Winter has been a distinguished faculty member since 1979. She has been instrumental over the years in her leadership in chapel and other worship opportunities of the Seminary. She provided the initial leadership behind the Women’s Leadership Institute and the Black Ministries Program. Her years of scholarship and support of student study of spirituality has shaped and molded many students to go on and become mature and engaged religious leaders. She has exemplified all that we could hope for in a faculty colleague, who exhibits the spirit and vision — the heart and soul — of Hartford Seminary.

The faculty emeritus proposal for Dr. Roozen, known widely for his influential work as a sociologist of religion, reads:

In honor of the previous retirement of Dr. David A. Roozen from the faculty of Hartford Seminary, we the faculty hereby move that Dr. Roozen be recognized as Emeritus Professor of Professor of Religion and Society, with all of the rights, privileges and duties thereof. Dr. Roozen has been a distinguished faculty member since 1974. He has been a pivotal figure in the social scientific study of religion over the years with his research of congregational and denominational life in the United States. His many books and research projects are significant in mapping the change of the place of Mainline Protestantism in the country. His leadership, with others, of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and the Faith Communities Today project as well as many other research initiatives have created a solid foundation for research at the Seminary and solidified a significant network of partners for those efforts. His many years as a core faculty member both have shaped countless students as religious leaders and have helped create the school we now inhabit. David Roozen exemplifies all that we could hope for in a faculty colleague, who exhibits the high standard of inquiry, theological reflection and faculty research that is central to Hartford Seminary.

President Lohr expressed his appreciation for both members, saying “We are blessed with an incredible faculty, and this moment highlights that in a powerful way. Both scholars are able teachers and worthy of this highest academic honor. Congratulations to MT and Dave!”

The Seminary hopes to celebrate in person with Dr. Winter and Dr. Roozen at an event next spring or summer.