More seminary woes

We reported in April about changes that the sour economy is forcing on U.S. seminaries — innovation, collaboration and down-sizing. Michael Paulson up at The Boston Globe has a similar story about changes in the ecclesiastical ivory tower that are taking place in and around Boston. From Michael’s story: “The merger talks between Andover Newton […]

We reported in April about changes that the sour economy is forcing on U.S. seminaries — innovation, collaboration and down-sizing.

Michael Paulson up at The Boston Globe has a similar story about changes in the ecclesiastical ivory tower that are taking place in and around Boston.

From Michael’s story:


“The merger talks between Andover Newton and Colgate Rochester Crozer – both schools that are already the result of mergers, as their compound names suggest – are following a gradual national trend. Two decades ago, 80 percent of the members of the Association of Theological Schools were freestanding; now just 70 percent are.

“Theological schools tend to be smaller institutions in the higher education world, and it’s getting more and more difficult for small higher education institutions to exist or flourish economically,” said Daniel O. Aleshire, the president of the association, which represents 253 Christian institutions with 79,000 students. Aleshire said there are two major factors affecting theological schools – the rising expense of running a school because of increasing expectations for technological and administrative support and the decline of some of the religious denominations that once supported the schools.

“As a result, many are exploring mergers, expansions, or affiliations with more financially stable universities. This appears to be true in the Boston area, which has nine Christian theological schools.

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