Bexley Seabury seminary will relocate to Chicago Theological Seminary in July, consolidating all its operations there and offering its D.Min, Anglican Studies, and lifelong learning programs there. The seminary will also offer M.Div. from the same location.
In March 2012, the boards of Seabury-Western and of Bexley Hall Seminary in Bexley, Ohio, voted to federate. The Master of Divinity degree was offered in Columbus, OH where Bexley shared a relationship with Trinity Lutheran Seminary. The Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development, the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching was offered in Chicago where Seabury had a relationship with the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. The Diploma of Anglican Studies was offered in both Columbus and Chicago locations. Starting in July, all programs and classes will be offered at the Chicago Theological Seminary.
Bexley Seabury, one of 10 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church, today announced that effective July 2016 it will operate from a single site at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), 1407 East 60th Street, Chicago, Ill., 60637, becoming the sixth seminary* in the ecumenically and theologically diverse Hyde Park/Woodlawn area. As of the fall 2016 term, Bexley Seabury will offer its Doctor of Ministry degree and Anglican Studies and Lifelong Learning programs from the eco-friendly, state-of-the-art CTS facility, which is accessible for individuals with differing needs, and has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. Pending accrediting and state licensing approvals, Bexley Seabury also plans to offer its Master of Divinity degree from the CTS campus. Bexley Seabury’s consolidation in a single location at CTS will give both Bexley Seabury and CTS students increased access to innovative online and hybrid courses, and will open the door to the two seminaries collaborating on new course offerings and other initiatives.
From their website:
We will spend the summer months getting situated at CTS, and begin teaching there in the fall. Our offering will include our Doctor of Ministry degree (both Congregational Development and Preaching concentrations) and our Anglican Studies and Lifelong Learning programs. Pending accrediting and state licensing approvals, we also plan to offer our Master of Divinity degree at the new location.
Among the many advantages of relocating to a single site in the Hyde Park/Woodlawn neighborhood:
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Substantially increased breadth and depth of ecumenical experience. Our community will blend with a rich mix of highly diverse individuals who represent a broad range of belief communities and practice traditions.
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Increased access to innovative online and hybrid courses, newly expanded by our use of proven online teaching technologies that CTS developed.
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Proximity to other ACTS member schools will help our students to take greater advantage of cross-registration privileges. This is particularly true for CTS coursework and the academic programming offered by its four theological centers: The Center for the Study of Black Faith and Life; The LGBTQ Studies Center; The Center for Jewish, Christian & Islamic Studies; and The Center for the Study of Korean Christianity.
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New housing options that are both convenient and affordable at Catholic Theological Union and Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, each approximately one mile from our new location.
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The opportunity to deepen our relationship with Chicago Theological Seminary and collaborate on multiple initiatives.
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While Bexley may seem peripatetic, so was Seabury Seminary. It was originally part of an amazing complex of educational institutions in Faribault, Minnesota. At its peak the “Bishop Whipple Schools” included Seabury Seminary, Shattuck School, St. Mary’s School (for girls), and St. James School which offered a nearly complete run of education for men from about age 8 through the seminary, and education of girls of Jr. and Sr. high school age. What remains today is a combined, co-ed Jr.-Sr. High School, Shattuck St. Mary’s. Seabury combined with Western (a Chicago-based seminary) during the depression and moved to Chicago. Thus one could say that eventually the draw of Chicago has captured both Seabury and Bexley.
One move? Bexley has gone to Rochester NY, then back to Ohio, a couple of adjustments there, and now on to Illinois.
Philander Chase founded Western Seminary…
Philander Chase liked to peregrinate but he probably assumed his seminary would not follow suit. From Gambier (Kenyon) to Rochester NY back to Ohio and now to Illinois.
Seabury/Bexley would more responsibly combine their endowments and offer scholarships rather than extend this slow death (or become the Walking Dead Seminary). CTS, my first Chicago seminary, has amazingly, embraced SWTS my second Chicago seminary.