Ecumenical Seminaries - SaBC (Seminaries and Bible Colleges)

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.)

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

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:

Alternatively, check out all of the denominations we cover.