Chicago Theological Seminary welcomes Episcopal Church seminary to campus

UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary announced Friday, Feb. 26, that Bexley Seabury –– one of 10 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church –– will operate from the CTS campus, effective July 2016.

“We welcome Bexley Seabury faculty, students and administration to CTS,” said the Rev. Alice Hunt, president of Chicago Theological Seminary. “This is an important association between two separate institutions operating within one space. As the landscape for theological education changes, I believe we will see more of these inter-institutional associations, as they are beneficial for students, faculty, theological education, the academy, and the larger religious landscape.”

Beginning in Fall 2016, Bexley Seabury will offer its D.Min. degree and Anglican Studies and Lifelong Learning programs from the eco-friendly, state-of-the-art CTS facility. It also plans to offer its M.Div. degree program from the CTS campus, pending accreditation and state licensing approvals.

The move makes Bexley Seabury the sixth seminary in the ecumenically and theologically diverse Hyde Park/Woodlawn area of Chicago. Its new location on the CTS campus will make it easier for its students to take advantage of long-standing cross-registration privileges for courses offered by member schools –– particularly at CTS –– in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, of which Bexley Seabury and CTS are founding members.

“Bexley Seabury has a long-standing commitment to training Episcopal students in a vibrant ecumenical setting,” said the Rev. Roger Ferlo, president of Bexley Seabury. “We are thrilled to continue this tradition by this new association with Chicago Theological Seminary, which for more than 160 years has been at the cutting edge of progressive and innovative theological education both nationally and globally.”

As a part of the association, CTS and Bexley Seabury students will be able to enroll in classes, participate in worship, attend programs and engage in a myriad of new ways at CTS. The Bexley Seabury consolidation also will give students of both seminaries 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.

Faculty and staff of Bexley Seabury will be located on the second floor of CTS’s building at 1407 East 60th Street, a state-of-the-art facility that has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and is accessible to all community members with differing needs.

“We look forward to welcoming students, staff, and faculty from Bexley Seabury into our community and working more closely with them,” said Ken Stone, CTS vice president for academic affairs and academic dean. “We have long benefited from the gifts that Anglican students bring to our classrooms, and I am excited about this expansion of opportunities to learn with one another.”