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Anglican/Episcopal
Patrick Milas, Jay Blossom, Cindy Derrenbacker, and Andy Lofthus

PRESENT 

• Jay Blossom, In Trust Center for Theological Schools
• Mitze Budde, Virginia Theological Seminary
• Cindy Derrenbacker, Whitley College
• Andy Lofthus, Western Seminary
• Patrick Milas, New Brunswick Theological Seminary

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members of the Anglican/Episcopal Denominational Group met at 5 
pm on June 13th.

II. 2019 WORSHIP PLANS

Patrick Milas reported on plans to host worship on Friday, June 14 at 
Christ Church of Vancouver. 

III. INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL UPDATES

Patrick Milas, Sage Library at New Brunswick Theological Seminary
The Sage Library celebrates several accomplishments, including: an 
updated online catalog, updated print serials program, a new Faculty 
and Alumni Monographs Book Reading/Signing series, a new monthly 
thematic book display program, an updated social media campaign, 
and new video tutorials about library services. Sage Library partnered 
with the NBTS Archives and members of the Reformed Church in 

DENOMINATIONAL  
GROUP MEETINGS



20  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

America to host “the Dutch in Two Worlds Revisited: a Rare Books 
and Manuscripts Exhibition.”

Jay Blossom, In Trust Center for Theological Schools
I’m in an unusual position in that I am not at a seminary or educational 
institution. Instead, I work for an organization that serves about 230 
seminaries, theological schools, and related nonprofit organizations, 
including a relatively small number of Episcopal schools and a large 
number of schools from other traditions. I am, however, an active 
Episcopalian and the rector’s warden at Saint Mark’s Episcopal 
Church in Philadelphia.

One of my chief interests with regards to the work of Atla is the 
relationship between librarians and the boards of their institutions. 
I realize that, at most schools, there is very little interaction between 
librarians and boards—unless (as is true in a small number of insti-
tutions) the librarian is on the board (e.g., as a faculty representative) 
or staffs a committee (e.g., the board’s curriculum committee).I fear 
this may lead board members to not think about the library very much 
except as a cost center. However, my research for the presentation I did 
for Atla suggests that many board members are proud of their librar-
ies and see them as crown jewels for the institution, even while they 
may have little knowledge of what librarians actually do.

I would love to see librarians continue to find ways to show the 
value of information sciences not only to students but to boards as 
well. I know that librarians work very hard to get access to students—to 
show them the value of finding multiple reputable resources, to under-
stand complex databases, to expose them to archives and special 
collections where the real fun or research often is located. But I think 
that it would be great if librarians also had some access to boards to 
show them that libraries are not just buildings that house collections 
and that librarians are the information specialists that are needed in 
this age of information-as-a-fire-hose.

Cindy Derrenbacker, Whitley College
I have lived half my life in Canada working mostly as a theological 
librarian (getting a professional start at the largest Anglican seminary 
in Canada), but most recently as an architecture librarian. In January 
2019, I moved to Melbourne, Australia as my husband is the new Dean 
of Trinity College Theological School—an historic Anglican college 



Denominational Group Meetings  21

in the southern hemisphere. I am now getting to know one of Atla’s 
partner associations, ANTZLA, in my role as Librarian for Whitley 
College, a theological school in the Baptist tradition.

Andy Lofthus, Western Seminary
I recently joined my library and Atla. However, in August I completed 
my M.L.S. degree from Emporia State University, and I’ve now stepped 
into the role of full librarian at Western Seminary.

The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.


