A Message from the Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Kline
Executive Bishop and Chancellor of the Academy
April 18, 2007

I am delighted to announce that following my nomination the Board of Trustees has unanimously elected the Rev. Eric H. Carswell as the new President of the Academy. He will begin to serve on July 1 of this year.

This nomination follows careful counsel with a Board/Corporation/Faculty committee appointed by me. The committee was enthusiastic and unanimous in supporting the nomination, as are the Heads of Schools.

Eric is Dean of the Academy Theological School and has served in key leadership positions in the Church over the past 10 years. He also has a long and impressive history with New Church education at all levels – elementary, secondary schools, Bryn Athyn College and the Theological School.

His career includes:

• Pastor of the Pittsburgh New Church and Principal of its New Church School
• Pastor of the Glenview New Church, including leadership roles in the Immanuel Church School and President of the Midwestern Academy
• Regional Pastor for the Northeastern United States
• Member of the Bishop’s Advisory Council and numerous committees
• Dean of the Theological School (he has been a change agent for its curriculum)

Eric graduated from the Academy Boys School in 1971, received an AA from Bryn Athyn College in 1973, and a BA in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University in 1975. In 1979 he received his Masters in Divinity from the Academy Theological School and a Masters in Education for School Administration from Lehigh University.

Eric not only has broad experience in – and understanding of – New Church education but an inspiring vision for what it should stand for throughout the Academy Schools. He believes in working closely with the teachers in all four schools to cast a renewed vision for New Church education. He also wants to be a visible, supportive presence in the schools. His skill sets are well-suited to the new structure in the Academy, with the President serving as a true spiritual leader.

Among the goals he sees for New Church education are:

• Helping students know the Lord and how their natural/spiritual lives relate to Him
• Fostering confidence in students for the good and true things they get from the Lord and humility for their own limitations
• Helping students to learn and think independently
• Fostering appreciation for the value of community and a life of service
• Guiding students from where they are now to where the Lord wants them to be

Eric believes in concentrating his time and attention of the higher aspects on leadership – the Academy’s mission and purpose, key values, curriculum planning and development – not getting sidetracked with putting out fires that could be delegated to others. He states:

“Leadership by a president is accomplished by his pattern of listening, communication and action. His role should help provide an articulated and broadly shared set of goals guiding the many aspects of the school. It should support a motivated and energetic faculty, student body, staff, board, parents and alumni/supporters. Ultimately his role should support a profoundly effective and excellent education.

“Great leadership is seen in organizations in which most of the people are working together cooperatively to accomplish a goal that exceeds their own self-interest. Great leadership is seen in the commitment and energy that is freely given by individuals because they believe in and want to contribute to the goals of the institution. Great leadership . . . is usually seen over the long haul and can far outlive the leader’s tenure.”

Eric sees the role of the priestly leader of the Academy as evolving. “The priest leader’s most useful role will need to be determined in terms of supporting the heads of schools, working with teachers (including curriculum development), possibly teaching roles, being a presence on campus and at schools events, working with Board members and the alumni, and visiting congregations.”

Eric believes in a strong link between the Academy and the General Church. He wants to see the Academy grow in appropriate ways, using our doctrines and the new strategic plan as a guide. “We can be confident that despite our limitations the Lord is working within our efforts to build His Church within us and within those we seek to teach.”

Eric has led and participated in numerous conferences and seminars on education, evangelization, marriage and academic leadership. Among papers and addresses are:

• Leadership in New Church Education
• Moral Concepts in a Religion Curriculum
• Learner and Teacher: Helping the Present with a Sense of Hope for the Future
• Pastoral leadership and the Lord's Presence in a Congregation
• Bringing about Healthy Change (Part of a seminar on Team Leadership)
• Becoming a More Welcoming Church
• Knowing the Truth: Issues in Priestly Government

Eric and his wife, Donna, have five children. Four are graduates of the Academy Secondary Schools, three have attended Bryn Athyn College, and one is enrolled in Bryn Athyn College.

When Eric assumes the Presidency that will leave a vacancy in the Theological School and we will move to fill that as quickly as possible.