Reflections from Bishop Doyle: Why Berkeley? Why now?

Berkeley has a very long gratitude list, and the Right Reverend C. Andrew “Andy” Doyle’s $500,000 commitment on behalf of the Diocese of Texas for the renewal of the Berkeley Center is certainly on it. Jonathan Taylor, Berkeley’s Director of Advancement, had the opportunity to thank the bishop in person and discuss some of the reasons behind his becoming one of Berkeley’s greatest supporters. Bishop Doyle first expressed his own gratitude for the gifts of past benefactors that have allowed the Diocese of Texas to make so many significant impacts across the Church, “We get to be stewards of the present because of the stewards of the past,” he remarked. “I am blessed to say grace over these funds for a while.”

In response to the essential questions, “Why Berkeley? Why now?” Bishop Doyle celebrated sending more seminarians to Berkeley as well as the increasing numbers of Berkeley alumni serving in the Diocese Texas. Bishop Doyle’s visit to the seminary this past spring reaffirmed his view of Berkeley as “an important seminary in our church.” “My experience attending classes and conversations around theology, liturgy, and church history are some of the best.” This training, together with the opportunities students have to leverage the broader Yale University allows Berkeley to offer something truly unique. And while Bishop Doyle embraces technological advances which allow for all types of learning, “Residential seminaries, with spaces where people can gather, whether they are residential students or coming for continuing education, are essential.” Remarking about the impacts of the recent trend away from the residential experience, “Whatever happens in the future, this is an important moment for Berkeley.”

In closing, Bishop Doyle shared a fun story about his late father, the Rev’d Charles F. Doyle Berkeley Class of 1964, who was awarded the Berkeley Cross as a seminarian. Father Doyle was given this award as the Berkeley student holding to the most high-church standards. The irony is that Father Doyle had both stolen a picture of a Connecticut bishop of the 19^th century (mainly for the frame to house his Berkeley Cross), as well as started a short-lived tradition of cutting lengths off of the rope to the bell which called students to morning prayer (to help his fellows sleep in). Bishop Doyle has vowed to Dean McGowan that he will return the unidentified bishop if he can be identified by anyone in the Berkeley community!