Saying it must reverse a trend of annual deficits and restructure to meet the changing needs of theological education, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific’s board of trustees agreed Oct. 14 to increase and broaden enrollment, increase annual giving and reduce its 11-member faculty.
The seminary has run annual operating deficits for several years. The current fiscal year the deficit is $1.4 million on a $4 million budget. The budget includes the cost of being a member of the Graduate Theological Union, of which CDSP is a founding member.
No surprises here. The whole future look of theological education is indeed very much up in the air these days, and not just in liberal circles. Orthodox schools like Trinity in Ambridge, Nashotah House near Milwaukee, and Cranmer House (REC) in Houston are also under enormous financial pressures, as the old model or system of doing (and funding) theological education (and clergy preparation) is clearly in need of drastic and even urgent change.
CDSP does have the advantage of being able to take advantage of its close relationship with the other seminaries in the Berkeley area. But a current deficit of $1.4 million in a 4 mil budget? Wow, that shows just how bad it really is.
The ENS article mentions how EDS in Cambridge, General in NYC, and Seabury-Western in Evanston have sold off most or all of their property to stave off closure. But it doesn’t mention the closing of Bexley Hall in Rochester.
The situation is indeed dire, and the challenges immense. All along the theological spectrum. The fact that the CDSP taskforce spent 18 months pondering the options for saving the only TEC seminary in the western US without coming up with any better ideas shows that there are no quick fixes or simple solutions to a very complicated problem with many facets.
David Handy+
I would urge all orthodox Anglicans who value sound theological formation for their clergy to financially support Nashotah House or Trinity (or Cranmer House – I don’t know anything about it but trust Fr. Handy!). Consider joining Nashotah’s ABP Ramsey Society as a way to support the House. I can also strongly recommend their week long summer term courses. You will be blessed on many levels.
Part of the problem is with higher education in general. With education costs increasing faster than incomes (MUCH faster, since I read that incomes are down to somewhere around 1996 levels adjusted for inflation; education costs certainly aren’t at 1996 levels), many of these schools provide a horrible value to their students. I know for many ministers it isn’t about the money, but at the very least a minister should be able to pay back loans without being financially crippled. Since the Episcopal church often pays pretty well, the problem is even more pronounced in some churches, e.g. Methodist, where an expensive education is required and starting salaries are often very very low.
Thanks for the shout out, evan (#2).
Let me return the favor and second evan’s suggestion that people contribute to the orthodox seminary of their choice. I highlighted Cranmer House precisely because as an REC seminary it’s much less well known, but it’s an approved ACNA school. Although it’s far too low church for my liking, it’s in fact far more truly Anglican than most TEC seminaries these days. It’s president is the REC Bishop of Mid-America, +Royal Grote. The dean is Curtis Crenshaw+. If you live in Texas, or anywhere near there, Cranmer House in Houston is much more worthy of support than the Episcopal Seminary of the SW in Austin.
David Handy+
I suppose one could also consider one of the largest, if not the largest, Anglican evangelical seminary in NA, and the only one with a PhD program. I’m not sure if VTS or Wycliffe is now larger. And we have a growing number of students training for Holy Orders from the US and globally.
But all good blessings to Trinity and Nashotah as well!