Chicago Theological Seminary Welcomes Bexley Seabury Seminary to Hyde Park/Woodlawn, Chicago
CHICAGO, February 26, 2016 – 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, 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. Pending accrediting and state licensing approvals, Bexley Seabury plans to offer its Master of Divinity degree from the CTS campus. The Bexley Seabury 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.
Bexley Seabury’s move to Hyde Park/Woodlawn will make it easier for its students to take advantage of long-standing cross-registration privileges for courses offered by member schools in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) of which Bexley Seabury and CTS are founding members. Notably, Bexley Seabury students will also enjoy greater access to Chicago Theological Seminary courses.
Chicago Theological Seminary is pleased to welcome the Bexley Seabury faculty, students and administration to CTS beginning in July. “We welcome Bexley Seabury Seminary to CTS,” says CTS President Alice Hunt. “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.”
Bexley Seabury faculty and staff will occupy many of the open office spaces on the second floor of CTS’ campus at 1407 East 60th Street in Chicago’s Hyde Park/Woodlawn neighborhood, an eco-friendly, 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.
President Roger Ferlo says, “Bexley Seabury has a long-standing commitment to training Episcopal students in a vibrant ecumenical setting. 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. “We look forward to welcoming students, staff, and faculty from Bexley Seabury into our community and working more closely with them,” said CTS Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Ken Stone. “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.”