Interreligious Theological Institution to Open in Chicago
From United Church of Christ News
Andover Newton Theological School of Newton Centre, Mass., and Meadville Lombard Theological School of Chicago have agreed in principle to form a new interreligious university-style theological institution that seeks to become an innovative center for educating religious leaders for service in a pluralistic world.
The as-yet unnamed institution will be established during the next year by the two institutions. Other seminaries will be sought as partners in a design that allows participating schools to keep their historic names and sustain distinct faith traditions while gaining significant financial and administrative advantage through a single corporate infrastructure.
In separate meetings late last week the Trustees of the two schools agreed in principle to undertake a program of actions to bring the new “theological university” into existence by June 15, 2011.
“Across the country seminaries are searching to capture the opportunities of this new era in the life of the church, respond to the growing complexities of a multi-faith society, and yet meet the ever-present challenges of financial sustainability. This vision has the potential to offer innovative answers to these questions, and do so not only in the curriculum but in the design of the corporation as well,” said the Rev. Nick Carter, president of Andover Newton and incoming president of the new institution.
“It’s a good fit,” added Carter. “As institutions, we are socially and politically aligned on many issues.”
