>The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York is facing a major financial challenge. The seminary has a $30 million debt and declining denominational support, increased fixed costs, maintenance needs, and decreasing numbers of students.
According to a letter written by the president of the seminary, General Theological Seminary spends about $8 million a year, and brings in about $5 million. The difference is drawn from the institution’s dwindling $20 million endowment.
The president has sent a letter to alumni and parishioners saying: “The time to help the General Seminary is now.”
The problem faced by General Seminary is the same problem faced by Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, another seminary of the Episcopal Church, this one located in Chicago. On February 20, 2008, the administration of Seabury-Western Seminary decided that it would no longer admit students into their program.
It is sad that the Episcopal Church in the USA is struggling to recruit students to attend their seminaries and that the denomination is not supporting their theological schools with enough funds for them to carry out their mission of preparing men and women for the ministry. In the end, it is the cause of Christ that suffers.
I hope the General Theological Seminary will find the help it needs.
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
Tag: Episcopal Church, General Seminary
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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
>Perhaps the real problem is that the Episcopal Church has, to a large extent, abandoned the gospel of Christ, and its leaders are persecuting the faithful believers in its ranks and those who have felt compelled to leave it. The denomination seems to think it more important to spend their funds on litigation against those faithful believers. In the circumstances I can’t help wondering it is hardly surprising that God is no longer blessing them.
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>Peter,I agree with your comments. Any time a Christian institution departs from the truth of the gospel, stops living by the moral imperatives of God’s word, and refuses to depend on God’s help to accomplish its mission, that institution ceases receiving God’s blessings.Maybe it is time for Christian institutions to remember the principles God established in 2 Chronicles 7:14.Claude Mariottini
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>Thank you, Claude. I should add that I commented as an Anglican myself, sad at what is happening within my own denomination.
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>Peter,I know that you are an Anglican. I feel sad for what is happening in the Anglican Communion because it hurts the cause of Christ and brings pain to believers everywhere.Claude Mariottini
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>I am sorry to say that I cannot agree with either of you theologically. There are a number of liberal seminaries that are thriving and liberal parishes are doing quite well. I do not believe that these institutions have “abandoned the Gospel of Christ.” I also believe that there is, and has always been, room for a wide spectrum of voices in the Anglican Communion. What is happening to GTS (and it is in much worse shape than the letter alleges) is the result of years of poor financial management, a failure of leadership, and a tendency to appoint friends, rather than the most qualified people, to important positions. It is very sad and its demise will hurt not only the seminarians who have given up everything to attend but also the Church as a whole.
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>Dear Friend,There is a place for liberal seminaries in the world of theological education. However, it is a fact that the seminaries that are considered to be conservative and evangelical attract more students and are more stable.I agree with you that the demise of GTS is a great loss for the church. We need more seminaries to prepare men and women to serve the Lord. The church in the USA is suffering because of the lack of leaders who have a missionary zeal and evangelistic fervor.Claude Mariottini
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