Auburn Theological Seminary, located in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, teaches students about progressive social issues by offering workshops, providing consulting, and conducting research on faith leadership development. The seminary was established in

Auburn, New York Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States. Located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, the city had a population of 26,866 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city of Cayuga County, the ...

, in 1818 to prepare young ministers for the frontier. In 1939, weakened by the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

, the seminary relocated from Auburn to the

Union Theological Seminary Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (shortened to UTS or Union) is a Private college, private ecumenical liberal Christian seminary in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, affiliated with Columbia University since 1928. Presently, Co ...

's campus in New York City, although it maintained its independence from Union Theological Seminary. In 2014, it designed and moved to a new leadership development lab in

The Interchurch Center The Interchurch Center is a 19-story limestone-clad office building located at 475 Riverside Drive and West 120th Street in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York City. It is the headquarters for the international humanitarian ministry Churc ...

Morningside Heights Morningside Heights is a neighborhood on the West Side of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Morningside Drive to the east, 125th Street to the north, 110th Street to the south, and Riverside Drive to the west. Morningsi ...

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

, New York City. Auburn Theological Seminary houses a research center focused on the study of seminaries, divinity schools, and the preparation of faith leaders working for

social justice Social justice is justice in relation to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals' rights are recognized and protected. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has of ...

. It was one of the first seminaries in the country to admit African Americans ( Moses A. Hopkins, 1877), Japanese (Naoomi Tamura, 1882) and later, female seminarians (Ida Thorne Parker, 1917).

History

Auburn Theological Seminary was established in Auburn, New York, by action of the

Presbyterian Synod Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of church governance (" ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session ...

of Geneva on 16 August 1818.Minutes of the Synod of Geneva, An Act to incorporate the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, established by the Synod of Geneva, at Auburn, in the County of Cayuga. Vol. 1:111, 130, 1820 It obtained a

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

from the

New York State legislature The New York State Legislature consists of the Bicameralism, two houses that act as the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York: the New York State Senate and the New York State Assem ...

on 14 April 182043rd Session of the Assembly of the State of New York, 1820 as a post-baccalaureate

theological seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and Christian theology, theology, generally to prepare them for ordinatio ...

, and it

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term ''matriculation'' is seldom used now ...

its first students in 1821. From its inception, the seminary drew support from beyond the

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...

. Its charter stipulated that "no student of any Christian denomination shall be excluded," and the first class of eleven students represented eight denominations. The first Roman Catholic Bishop of Boston, Jean-Louis Cheverus, donated books for the school's library. The school's founders and early faculty (Dirck Lansing, Matthew Perrine, and Henry Mills) rejected sterner forms of

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

and advocated for flexible church governance within the Presbyterian Church. These beliefs became known as the Auburn Declaration of 1837. Under the presidency of George Black Stewart (1899–1926), the school grew to 105 students and eleven faculty. A Summer School of Theology for clergy and laity was established in 1911, and a School of Religious Education in 1921. Auburn Theological Seminary's faculty, led by Robert Hastings Nichols, professor of church history, played a key role in what became known as the Auburn Affirmation, adopted in 1924, which defended theological freedom and prevented a fundamentalist takeover of the Presbyterian Church.Charles Evans Quirk, “Origins of the Auburn Affirmation,” Journal of Presbyterian History. 53.2 (Summer 1975) The Great Depression left Auburn Seminary with a diminished student body and strained resources. The faculty and President Paul Silas Heath (1936–1939) began conversations with several seminaries about possibly relocating. In 1939, it closed its Auburn campus and at the invitation of President Henry Sloan Coffin, moved to the campus of

in New York City, although it maintained its board of trustees and endowment.V. Clifford, Board of Directors’ Report, Auburn Seminary: A recent history. March 17, 1978 With the move to Union Theological Seminary, Auburn Theological Seminary ceased granting degrees, instead developing new initiatives: a Program of Training for Rural Ministry in 1944, which continued its emphasis on preparing individuals for the practice of ministry, not for theological specialization; in 1964 the Center for Continuing Education was established as well as the Experimental Program for the Practice of Christian Ministry; in 1968 Auburn Studies in Theological Education was begun; in 1971 the Susquehanna Valley Project to support local ministers started; in 1985 interreligious programs for faith leaders were developed and in 1991 The Center for the Study of Theological Education was established. Katharine Rhodes Henderson was inaugurated as president in 2009, shifting the institution's focus toward training and supporting faith leaders who work in progressive justice organizations and movements. Auburn's signature programs include: media training, Auburn Senior Fellows,

Sojourner Truth Sojourner Truth (; born Isabella Bomefree; November 26, 1883) was an American Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, women's rights, and Temperance movement, alcohol temperance. Truth was ...

Leadership Circle, digital organizing, coaching for faith leaders, and entrepreneurial ministry. Auburn Research explores the needs of theological institutions, their leaders and students, and the ways in which leaders of faith and moral courage are affecting positive social change in society.

Presidents of Auburn Theological Seminary

* Henry Matthias Booth (1893–1899) * George Black Stewart (1899–1926) * Harry Lathrop Reed (1926–1936) * Paul Silas Heath (1936–1939) * Walter S. Davison, executive director (1939–1944) * Henry Sloan Coffin, Union and Auburn Seminary president (1944–1945) * Henry P. Van Dusen, Union and Auburn Seminary president (1945–1964) * Robert Lynn, Dean (?–1976) * Barbara G. Wheeler, President (1980–2009) * Katharine Rhodes Henderson (2009–2021) * Emma Jordan-Simpson (2021–present)

Notable alumni

* Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) * Dwight Baldwin (1798–1886) * Anne McGrew Bennett (1903–1986) * David Riddle Breed (1848–1931) *

Henry Roe Cloud Henry Roe Cloud (December 28, 1884 – February 9, 1950) was a Ho-Chunk Native American, enrolled in the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, who served as an educator, college administrator, U.S. federal government official (in the Office of Indian Aff ...

(1884–1950) *

Titus Coan Titus Coan (February 1, 1801 – December 1, 1882) was an American minister from New England who spent most of his life as a Christian missionary to the Hawaiian Islands. Early life and family Titus Coan was born on February 1, 1801, in Killingwo ...

(1801–1881) *

Sheldon Dibble Sheldon Dibble (January 26, 1809 – January 22, 1845) was a missionary to Hawaii who organized one of the first books on Hawaiian history, and inspired students to write more. Early life Dibble was born in Skaneateles, New York on January 26, 1 ...

(1809–1845) *

Justus Doolittle Justus Doolittle (; Pinyin: ''Lú Gōngmíng''; Foochow Romanized: ''Lù Gŭng-mìng''; June 23, 1824, Rutland, New York – June 15, 1880, Clinton, New York) was an American Board missionary to China. Life Justus Doolittle was born in Rutla ...

(1824–1880) *

Photius Fisk Photius Fisk (; January 1807/1809 – February 4, 1890), also known as Photius Kavasales or Kavasalis, was a Greek-American statesman, botanist, philanthropist, clergyman, Abolitionism, abolitionist, and civil rights activist. He is known for lob ...

(1809–1890) *

Josiah Bushnell Grinnell Josiah Bushnell Grinnell (December 22, 1821 – March 31, 1891) was a U.S. Congressman from Iowa's 4th congressional district, an ordained Congregational minister, radical abolitionist, one of the founders of Grinnell, Iowa and benefactor of Grin ...

(1821–1891) * Charles Frederic Goss (1852–1930) * Laurentine Hamilton (1826–1882) * Joel T. Headley (1813–1897) * Moses A. Hopkins (1846–1886) * Herrick Johnson (1832–1913) * George William Knox (1853–1912) * Lorenzo Lyons (1807–1886) * Isaac J. Rice (1808–1880) *

Edward Payson Roe Edward Payson Roe (March 7, 1838July 19, 1888) was an American novelist, Presbyterian minister, horticulturist and historian. Biography Edward Payson Roe was born in the village of Moodna, now part of New Windsor, New York. He studied at Willi ...

(1838–1888) * Devello Z. Sheffield (1841–1913) * Boon Tuan Boon-Itt (1865–1903), an early leader in the Protestant Christian community of

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

* Guido Verbeck (1830–1898)

Notable faculty

* James A. Forbes (born 1935) * Laurens Perseus Hickok (1798–1888) *

William Greenough Thayer Shedd William Greenough Thayer Shedd (June 21, 1820November 17, 1894) was an American Presbyterian theologian from Massachusetts. He also served as a professor of theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York for over sixteen years. Life William ...

(1820–1894) *

Walter Wink Walter Wink (May 21, 1935 – May 10, 2012) was an American Biblical scholar, theologian, and activist who was an important figure in Progressive Christianity. Wink spent much of his career teaching at Auburn Theological Seminary in New Yor ...

References

{{Authority control 1818 establishments in New York (state) Educational institutions established in 1818 Presbyterian universities and colleges in the United States Presbyterianism in New York (state) Buildings and structures in Auburn, New York

History

Presidents of Auburn Theological Seminary

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

References