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My husband and I lived on campus while he finished his Masters of Theology. I helped prepare many of his papers. It was during a time when there was a lot of uproar about NH accepting women students. As far as I could tell, the vast majority of the women students were Anglo-Catholic and traditional - no alternative religious thinkers, lesbians or anything like that. But still, they were somewhat harrassed by the male students from the Fort Worth diocese. It also seemed that they were ALLOWED to be harrassed until it got to a breaking point - students were actually mean and disrespectful of each other. NH felt like it was something both sides should work on, and the women were made to feel like they were making a big idea over nothing. Additionally, NH does not allow its students to hold any job while living on campus, except for working on campus. If you are not receiving family support of some type or your spouse is not working, it's an extremely hard row to hoe. Many families, when we were there, went to the local food bank for food and received government assistance of some type. Even the students who refused to go to the food banks benefited from them because of their need and the kindness of the students' wives who did go and receive help. When the Dean found out about this, a missive went out to all students basically stating that that's what student loans were for and he discouraged all from using assistance. Additionally, there were "popular" and "unpopular" students. If you didn't fit the mold, even if you were a man, no amount of money or learning would help you get a reference for ordination from the Dean. Additionally, the Dean could often be found on Sunday mornings attending a local evangelical megachurch instead of a traditional Anglo-Catholic one. Strangely enough, in all of this, there was a great "social life" on campus if you wanted to participate. There were often cookouts, complete with plenty of alcohol, which one could attend about once a week. Much drunken fun was had by many. Although we did not live in the area of the cookouts, I was there on a few occasions, and on each of those occasions, I was amazed at what a "frat" party atmosphere it was. Unthinkable at a seminary of this Anglo-Catholic type. I tried mostly to keep to myself, family, and a few close campus friends while there as I did not want to say anything to get my husband on the Dean's bad side. Please note, if you are a well-spoken, out-spoken woman (whether you are a student or wife of a student), unless things have changed in the last several years, you will find the less than Christian atmosphere here disconcerting. The legalities of Anglo-Catholicism are practiced and beautiful, as are the grounds. However, the general Christian kindness and courteousness that people show to each other is no different, and possibly even less palatable than at secular institutions I have attended. Must sees at Nashotah House are the chapel which is beautiful and used daily, the historic cemetery, and the private chapel located adjacent to a student apartment in one of the halls. Beware that the apartments over the ing which houses the buildbookstore/mailroom has bats which visit the lower floors several times year - the building is over 100 years old and in disrepair - although much more quiet than living in other parts of campus. Between the screaming children and frat parties in the Peaks, or the occasional bat, the bats were pretty friendly. Aug 31 2008 Religion/Religious

Nashotah House is a bad place to go if you are a woman, or do not share the agenda of Forward in Faith North America. It may even be a bad place to go if you are a conservative male member of FiFNA -- Nashotah has a culture of fear and paranoia which permeates every level of campus life, leaving everyone (including the faculty) feeling insecure. I can only recommend it if you are very committed to learning how to do traditional Anglo-Catholic style liturgy and have nowhere else to do so, or if you are forced to attend by your bishop as a condition of ordination. Avoid the trustees at all costs. Apr 24 2004 Religion/Religious

 

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