Recent visits highlight the global impact of Drew graduates
March 2026 — In recent months, Drew Theological School has welcomed back several alums who now serve as bishops across the United Methodist and Episcopal churches, offering students a powerful example to the global reach and impact of a theological education at Drew.
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Among those returning to campus was Jeremiah Williamson T’05, who was recently ordained and consecrated as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany. In this role, he oversees 106 congregations and more than 24,000 members across 19 counties in northeastern New York.
Reflecting on his time at Drew, Williamson described a journey that was both unexpected and transformative. “I had no idea what I was getting into,” he said. “I stepped into The Forest as a single 22-year-old with a nice scholarship, a vague plan to be an academic, and a lot of questions. I left here broke, engaged, Episcopalian, and happy.”
It was at Drew that he met his wife, Jennifer Williamson T’06, now a United Methodist pastor. They both earned Master of Divinity degrees at Drew.
Williamson credited Drew with shaping not only his vocation, but his sense of self and his approach to ministry. “My time in this beautiful, vibrant community really did set the course for my life and my ministry,” he said.
During his sermon, Williamson challenged students to embrace a faith rooted in action and love, drawing on the prophetic call of Micah. “What does the Lord require of you?” he asked. “To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Your work is to love.”
Also returning to campus was Bishop Nelson Kalombo Ngoy T’12,’13, who now serves the newly-formed Tanganyika Episcopal Area in the Mid-Africa Central Conference. A graduate of both the Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology programs, Ngoy’s leadership reflects Drew’s global reach and commitment to preparing leaders for ministry in diverse contexts.
During a recent worship service, Bishop Héctor Burgos-Núñez T’10, bishop of the Upper New York and Susquehanna Annual Conferences, preached a sermon titled Journeying Through Chaos, offering a message of faithful leadership in uncertain times.
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Using the metaphor of losing GPS signal on a rural road, Burgos-Núñez, who earned a Master of Divinity at Drew, invited students to consider what it means to lead when direction feels uncertain. “Leadership in the church and in the world is not about certainty,” he said. “Leadership is about faithfulness.”
He emphasized that chaos is not the absence of God, but often where transformation begins. “We are not called to control the chaos,” he said. “We are called to journey through it faithfully.”
Throughout his sermon, Burgos-Núñez encouraged emerging leaders to resist burnout and embrace a more holistic vision of ministry, one grounded in trust, vulnerability, and care for self and community. “You are not just a vessel for ministry,” he said. “You are a beloved child of God. Your well-being matters.”
Together, the visits offered students a testimony to the ways Drew continues to form leaders who serve with courage, compassion, and a commitment to justice, globally. “Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God,” charged Williamson.
