Most seminaries welcome students from many different Christian backgrounds, and many work directly with multiple denominations and traditions. Some, however, are especially ecumenical. The ecumenical seminaries listed below are either supported by denominations that make a special effort to work with other denominations, or the schools themselves are multi-denominational in nature. (Note, these ecumenical seminary schools are different from non-denominational seminary and theology schools.)
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Disciples of Christ Seminary Schools
The Disciples of Christ (also The Christian Church) traces its roots to the Reformed Tradition. Today, though, the denomination partners with many other denominations, and is part of both the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.
There are a number of Disciples of Christ seminary schools:
- Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, a United Methodist Church and Disciples of Christ seminary school
- Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ theology school that works with several other denominations
- Christian Theological Seminary, a seminary school of the Disciples of Christ
- Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan, a Disciples of Christ and Churches of Christ seminary school
- Lexington Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ seminary school
- Pacific School of Religion, a United Churches of Christ, United Methodist Church, and Disciples of Christ religious school
- Phillips Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ theology school
A Metropolitan Community Church Seminary
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is an official observer of the World Council of Churches. The international denomination is known for its efforts to connect with and serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The MCC also is also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC).
There aren’t any official Metropolitan Community Church seminaries, but one school offers courses for MCC students:
- Chicago Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ seminary school that offers graduate theology classes for MCC students
Reformed Church in America Seminaries
The Reformed Church in America (RCA) comes out of the Dutch Reformed Tradition. Today, the mainline protestant denomination is a member of many ecumenical groups, including the National Council of Churches (a founding member), World Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, and Christian Churches Together. Portions of the denomination are also members of the Canadian Council of Churches, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and National Association of Evangelicals.
The RCA is in full communion with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and United Church of Christ.
There are three Reformed Church in America seminaries:
- New Brunswick Theological Seminary, an RCA seminary
- Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a seminary of the RCA
- Western Theological Seminary, an RCA seminary school
An Ecumenical Roman Catholic Seminary School
While there are many Roman Catholic seminary schools that work with other denominations, one Roman Catholic graduate theology school is especially ecumenical in its efforts:
- St. Mary’s Seminary and University, an ecumenical seminary that’s Roman Catholic
United Churches of Christ Seminary Schools
The United Churches of Christ (UCC) comes out of the Reformed Tradition but is today primarily known for its ecumenical efforts. The denomination regularly works with many denominations, and often also partners with organizations of other religions. It’s in full communion with several other mainline denominations.
The United Churches of Christ has formal ties with seven seminary schools:
- Andover Newton Theological Seminary, an American Baptist Church USA and United Churches of Christ seminary school
- Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a seminary school of the UCC and several other denominations
- Chicago Theological Seminary, a UCC theology school and seminary
- Eden Theological Seminary, a UCC theology school
- Pacific School of Religion, a Disciples of Christ, United Methodist Church and UCC school of religion
- United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a United Methodist Church and UCC seminary school
There is one theology school that isn’t officially linked with the United Churches of Christ but provides courses for students seeking futures with the UCC:
- Iliff School of Theology, a methodist school of theology that offers UCC courses
Several schools are aren’t official United Churches of Christ seminary schools any longer but trace their roots back to the denomination:
- Hartford Seminary, a non-denominational seminary school
- Harvard University Divinity School, a non-denominational divinity school
- Howard University School of Divinity, a divinity school that’s historically served the African American community
- Interdenominational Theological Center, an interdenominational theology school that’s historically served the African American population
- Vanderbilt University Divinity School, a divinity school that historically partnered with the UCC
- Yale University Divinity School, a divinity school with historic ties to the UCC
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Other Ecumenical Seminary, Divinity and Theology Schools
In addition to the seminary schools listed above that are part of particularly ecumenical denominations, there are also a number of seminary, divinity and theology schools that themselves are ecumenical. Many other seminaries also work with multiple denominations and Christian traditions, but these schools are especially ecumenically minded and make multi-denominational efforts a major part of who they are.
Some notably ecumenical seminaries, divinity schools and graduate theology schools include:
- Claremont School of Theology, a United Methodist Church theology school that’s ecumenically minded
- Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, an American Baptist Churches (USA) divinity school that welcomes students from many traditions
- Ecumenical Theological Seminary, an ecumenical seminary school
- Reformed Episcopal Seminary, a Reformed Episcopal Church seminary that works with other denominations
- Union Theological Seminary, a non-denominational seminary that’s ecumenical
- University of Chicago Divinity School, a non-denominational divinity school that has a diverse student body
- Wake Forest University School of Divinity, an ecumenical divinity school with a baptist heritage
Looking for more seminary schools? Try our lists of:
- historically African American seminary schools
- evangelical seminary schools
- non-denominational seminary schools
- mainline protestant seminary schools
Alternatively, check out all of the denominations we cover.