Claremont School of Theology

Claremont School of Theology
Seal of Claremont School of Theology
Seal
Former name
Maclay School of Theology[1]
TypePrivate graduate school
Established1956 (1956)[1]
AccreditationWSCUC,[2] ATS[3]
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church
Endowment$10.1 million (2019)[4]
PresidentGrant J. Hagiya[5]
Academic staff
23[4]
Administrative staff
22[4]
Students250[4]
Location
Los Angeles
,
California
,
United States

34°03′55″N 118°25′56″W / 34.06518428428643°N 118.43225225683219°W / 34.06518428428643; -118.43225225683219
CampusSuburban
Colors   Red and White
Websitecst.edu
Red rectangle showing school seal with the words "Claremont School of Theology"

Claremont School of Theology (CST) is a private graduate school focused on religion and theology and located in Los Angeles, California. It is an official theological school of the United Methodist Church.[6] Although it is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, it is accredited with a "notice of concern"; it is also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).[2][3]

History

Maclay School of Theology in San Fernando, c. 1890

Founded as the Maclay School of Theology in San Fernando, California, in 1885,[7] the Methodist seminary was founded by Charles Maclay, founder of the town of San Fernando, former Methodist minister and state senator. The school became affiliated with the University of Southern California (USC) from 1900 to 1957, staying on the USC campus until it moved to Claremont. In 2024 it has relocated to Los Angeles on the campus of Westwod United Methodist Church. The school is one of thirteen seminaries affiliated with the United Methodist Church, though usually more than forty different denominations are represented in the student body in any given school term.[8][9]

In 2008, the CST board of trustees set in motion the Claremont University Project, eventually named Claremont Lincoln University (CLU).[10] In doing so, CST became a founding member of a new multireligious consortium - the original intent for Claremont Lincoln University. On April 21, 2014, CST's board of trustees announced an official end to the relationship with Claremont Lincoln University. The mutual split resulted from an acknowledgement that both institutions' "fundamental philosophies have diverged" when "Claremont Lincoln decided to move away from its interreligious roots and become a secular-focused university" after CLU announced "a decision to discontinue several of its programs".[11] In the same announcement, CST's board of trustees affirmed a commitment to maintaining relationships with its partner schools (the Academy for Jewish Religion (California) and Bayan Claremont).

Claremont School of Theology, 2024

CST disputed a 1957 agreement with the Claremont Colleges (The Claremont Colleges, Inc. (TCC)) that stated that if CST ever sold its Claremont campus, The Claremont Colleges (TCC) would have the opportunity to purchase the property for pennies on the dollar. Based on an early 1980's California law, CST believed this 1957 restriction is no longer applicable while TCC insisted that it remains valid. Both parties entered litigation. In December 2023, CST and TCC completed arbitration.[12]

In 2017, before arbitration was completed, and after failing to reach agreement with The Claremont Colleges (The Claremont Colleges, Inc. (TCC)), CST began negotiations to merge with Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.[13] After the signing of a memorandum of understanding in May 2019, in July 2020, the school began the 2-3 year process of moving to and embedding with Willamette.[14][15] In 2021, following years of legal battles between the Claremont Consortium, the Claremont School of Theology decided to "maintain its presence in Southern California with its main campus located in Claremont, while also retaining a partnership in Salem with Willamette".[16]

CST is home to the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center (ABMC),[17] a research center devoted to the documentary history of Judaism and Christianity. It also houses the Center for Process Studies (CPS),[18] a joint faculty center of Claremont School of Theology and the Claremont Graduate University. The CPS promotes a "relational approach" found in process thought, specifically process theology. CST also has a strong representation of students and faculty from all along the Pacific Rim. It houses the Center for Pacific and Asian-American Ministries (CPAAM), which provides ministerial education and other services to enhance ministry to Pacific and Asian American constituencies of all denominations.

Among the non-Methodist institutions sharing the CST campus are the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont and the Disciples Seminary Foundation.

Relocation to Los Angeles

Due to changes in graduate theological education and ongoing financial difficulties, on March 15, 2023, CST announced that, after 66 years at its Claremont location, it will be relocating to Los Angeles, CA. CST is now located in Los Angeles on the campus of the Westwood United Methodist Church.[19]

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. As of 2023, the commission had the Claremont School of Theology listed as "Accredited with Notice of Concern" related to a commission action from February 2020.[2] The school is also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).[3]

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b "About CST". Claremont School of Theology. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Claremont School of Theology". wscuc.org. WASC Senior College and University Commission. 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Member Schools: Claremont School of Theology". ats.edu. Association of Theological Schools. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "Claremont School of Theology". IPEDS Data Center. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Staff Directory". Claremont School of Theology. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "United Methodist Seminaries". United Methodist Church. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Grindeland, Keziah (December 6, 2019). "How Did We Get Here: Part One". Claremont School of Theology. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Seminaries". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "For Such a Time As This". Claremont School of Theology. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "Claremont Lincoln University - Online Master's Degrees for 21st Century Careers". Claremont Lincoln University. December 10, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Board of Trustees Announces End of Relationship with Claremont Lincoln University - News & Events - Claremont School of Theology". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  12. ^ "CST Finalizes 7-year Litigation Battle". Claremont School of Theology. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Chang, Kristine (September 22, 2017). "Claremont School of Theology Pursues Move to Oregon". The Student Life. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Kuan, Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey (May 22, 2020). "A Loving Farewell from the Claremont School of Theology". Claremont Courier. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Willamette/CST Partnership: Frequently Asked Questions". Willamette University. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Hudson, Khimmoy (September 17, 2021). "Following legal battle, Claremont School of Theology will stay local". The Student Life.
  17. ^ "Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center". Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  18. ^ "The Center for Process Studies". The Center for Process Studies. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "Seminaries". Claremont School of Theology Announces Relocation to Los Angeles. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "Boston Collaborative Encyclopedia of Western Theology: Rosemary Radford Ruether". people.bu.edu. Retrieved May 8, 2018.

External links

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