 History
A century after its founding, and in response to a need of the contemporary church, the seminary was instrumental in establishing the Assembly’s Training School (ATS) for Lay Workers in 1914. ATS was renamed the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE) in 1959. From 1914-1997 the two theological institutions worked side by side to prepare pastors and educators for work in congregations, church agencies, and other institutions of Christian service. The federation of the two institutions in 1997 brought Union and PSCE full circle as partners in God’s service, uniting to continue their distinctive and complementary educational contributions to the church. In the early years of Union’s existence as a theological institution, the curriculum of the seminary was shaped along classical lines to ensure that clergy were competently trained in biblical exegesis, theology, church history, and pastoral studies. Under the extraordinary leadership of Walter W. Moore (president from 1904-1926), the seminary navigated a number of significant challenges, including the relocation (in 1898) from Hampden-Sydney College near Farmville, VA, to Richmond so that seminarians would be exposed to greater opportunities in Virginia’s capital. It was also during Dr. Moore’s presidency that the Sprunt Lectures were inaugurated (1911), and Schauffler Hall was erected (1919) as a new church development to aid students in their preparation for the practice of ministry. In 1996-97, Schauffler Hall was reconstructed to house the state-of-the-art William Smith Morton Library. In 1907 Dr. Moore made another decision which would significantly change the shape of theological education in Richmond. A young woman, Annie Wilson, requested permission to attend lectures at Union Theological Seminary in order to prepare for work in foreign missions. Even though seminary education was intended for men only, Dr. Moore agreed to her request, and along with Dr. A. L. Phillips (general superintendent of Sabbath Schools of the Presbyterian Church in the United States), began to organize a school to prepare women and men for lay ministry. In 1914, with the encouragement, leadership, and generous support of the president and faculty of Union Theological Seminary, the first class of 24 women and four men enrolled in the new General Assembly’s Training School (ATS) for preparation as Christian “workers outside of the regular ordained ministry.”
Over the decades, the two institutions depended upon each other to accomplish their respective missions. Generations of students crossed Brook Road to take classes under an open enrollment policy, and in the early 1990s the two schools launched the M.Div./M.A.C.E. dual degree program. Following federation in 1997, further steps were taken to unite the institution and strengthen its academic offerings. The doctor of education program was phased out and replaced with the Ph.D. in Christian Education, and a new Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree was established. |
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Since its formation in 1812, Union Theological Seminary has sustained the intention of its founders to provide education for Christian ministry that is scholarly, pastoral, and engaged with contemporary life.
In carrying out their unique missions, both Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education served the church faithfully throughout the twentieth century. Union developed a doctoral program (Th.D., 1930–now Ph.D.), established a highly-respected journal of biblical and theological studies, Interpretation (1947), and founded the Carl Howie Center for Science, Art, and Theology (1995). PSCE established a doctoral program in Christian education (Ed.D., 1983), the Josephine Newbury Center for Childhood Education (1957), and the Center on Aging (1978). Both schools sustained an interest in modern media and technology, and sought to explore ways the church might use these tools to communicate the gospel.