The General Theological Seminary welcomes highest number of MDiv students for more than a decade

NEW YORK, August 26, 2024 – The General Theological Seminary (GTS) has welcomed its highest number of Master of Divinity (MDiv) students since 2010 this academic year.

A total of 18 students from 15 dioceses, ranging from the Episcopal Diocese of Western Oregon to the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, have enrolled in the hybrid MDiv program at the Seminary this August.

The formal entry of the new students was marked through GTS’ traditional Matriculation Ceremony in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, during which students sign their name in the Seminary’s more than 200-year-old Matriculation Book. Every student at General since 1822 has signed their name in the book to affirm their commitment to the Seminary’s values.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, President of The General Theological Seminary, said: “We now have more MDiv students at GTS than we have had for over a decade. The formation is authentic and deep. The GTS experience is being opened up to students who never imagined that they would be able to participate. It is exciting to see this happen.”

GTS launched its innovative hybrid MDiv in 2022. The program enables students to study in their own contexts through synchronous and asynchronous online learning, a competency-based approach to contextual learning, and week-long intensives at GTS’ historic home, the Close, in Chelsea, New York. The tuition-free program is significantly oversubscribed.

General entered into an Affiliation Agreement with Virginia Theological Seminary in 2022. Under the agreement, the two seminaries operate as separate entities, retaining their own accreditations, endowments, and boards, but sharing an overlapping governance structure, executive leadership team, and a range of shared services. The agreement prohibits the subsidy of one institution by the other.

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries, please contact Nicky Burridge, Vice President for Communications at GTS.

Tel: (703) 461-1782

Mobile: (703) 300-2876

Email: nburridge@vts.edu

Photo caption: Cohort 3 and faculty on the steps of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

Credit: Jeremy Varner at Varner Creative

About The General Theological Seminary**: **

The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church was founded in 1817. It is the oldest seminary of The Episcopal Church and has educated and formed leaders for the church in a changing world for more than 200 years. The seminary was chartered by an act of The Episcopal Church’s General Convention and its name was chosen to reflect its founders’ vision that it be a seminary to serve the whole church.