Phillips Theological Seminary Receives Historic $2.1 Million Gift from Bedford Estate, Marking New Era in Funding
A financial gift more than 60 years in the making will enable Phillips Theological Seminary to continue its practice of radical hospitality through the new student housing project, Bedford House.
In a period of transformative change for graduate theological education, Phillips is receiving a gift of $2.1 million from the estate of Sidney Bedford Jr. This exceptional donation is the seminary’s largest since the Cadieux bequest and signifies a pivotal shift in support for housing on the Tulsa, Okla. campus.
“The Bedford gift comes at a time when seminaries are no longer investing in buildings,” said Phillips President F. Douglas Powe Jr. “The historical nature of this contribution not only honors their lifetime of generosity but also propels us into a new era of educational excellence and sustainability as we construct a space that welcomes all.”
Sidney Bedford from the 1949 Phillips University yearbook. In 1961, Bedford established a scholarship fund in memory of his late wife that grew to a $2.1 million gift for Phillips Theological Seminary from the Sidney Bedford Jr. estate.
The history of the gift dates to 1948 when Sidney Bedford first taught at the College of the Bible at Phillips University in Enid, Okla., the forerunner of Phillips Theological Seminary.
In 1961, at the passing of his spouse, he established the Mrs. Sidney M. Bedford Memorial Scholarship at the school. Eight years later, Sidney Bedford Jr. and Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford started making regular contributions to the endowed scholarship at Phillips.
In recognition of Dr. Bedford’s gifts to the seminary over the decades, the Advancement office created the Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford Award for Individual Giving in 2021.
“Her legacy, coupled with that of her brother Sidney Jr., who continued their family’s tradition of philanthropy through substantial planned gifts, reflects an enduring priority to nurture graduate theological education,” said Phillips Vice President of Advancement Terry Ewing.
The estate gift will allocate more than $1 million to the Bedford Endowed Scholarship. An additional $1.1 million will establish the Bedford Endowed Fund for Maintenance and Operations of Bedford House, underscoring the family’s longstanding commitment to the seminary’s future.
The effect of the Bedford family’s contributions will continue to resonate within the seminary community, promising a vibrant future for theological education and serving as a beacon for the future.
For more information about Phillips Theological Seminary and the Bedford family’s contributions, please contact Kurt Gwartney at 918.270.6470 or kurt.gwartney@ptstulsa.edu.
About Phillips Theological Seminary: Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phillips Theological Seminary offers comprehensive theological education dedicated to learning, leadership, and service to society. It provides a range of graduate and certificate programs that prepare students to be thoughtful, informed, and responsible religious leaders in diverse community contexts.