The Crashing of Schools of Theology


The Church of England has seen several of its smaller schools that train preachers close. It is said that every remaining seminar in England is struggling financially. There are predictions half of the remaining schools will be closed in a few years. This is a trend in England and across the pond here in the U.S. I had a friend way back who graduated from the prestigious Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Enrollment there today is 200 students, down from 250 ten years ago. 

The Church of England is now trying to attract students who have merely an interest in studying religion but have neither the money now the resolve to pursue degree leading to becoming an ordained preacher. Union Seminary in NYC has an online course for a Master's in Theology. As time moves on I can see people who have taken a few courses in religion taking on the job of unpaid part-time preacher in churches that can only maintain a building but not pay for any staff. There will be hand wringing by traditionalists. Those who went to residency and paid a bunder to become credentialed will think they got took. And they did. When survival is at stake new ways of thinking are required.

I've looked at the numbers for other seminaries. Mostly one finds a large number of faculty and a relatively small number of students. This translates into high tuition. 

I've never seen reporting on the moral and enthusiasm of clergy in Europe where the government collects money from citizens designated for churches keeping them staffed but attendance is almost nil. Do members of the clergy feel they are doing something important and enjoy their work? 

Sometimes, I'm sure these clergy find importance in the job. In France some Catholic priests have done gay weddings while giving the Vatican the bird. The Vatican's view of important work is different than priests out in the field. Money for running the Catholic Church of France and for running the Vatican overshadows theology. This is the story of the Christian faith.

Lower enrollment in the Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago meant it could sell a piece of property for a huge sum. I think we will see seminaries everywhere boarding up and moving out in the coming years. 

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