Top 20 Seminaries

The Top 20 Seminaries Engaged in Multifaith Education in 2009

Of the 150 schools included in Beyond World Religions: The State of Multifaith Education in American Theological Schools, a first-of-its-kind study released by Auburn Seminary in December 2009, the following institutions are notable for their commitment to multifaith education. Because of the variety of approaches as well as major differences in institution size, resources and enrollment, the following notable theological schools represent diverse paths toward excellence in multifaith education. This Top 20 list is unranked and schools appear in alphabetical order.

Boston University School of Theology	Boston University School of Theology has a deep institutional commitment to multifaith education. Associate Dean John Berthrong is Assistant Professor of Comparative Religion and also Director of the Institute for Dialogue Among Religious Traditions (INDART). INDART's mission is to encourage interfaith relations within the School of Theology. "The programs of the institute enable academic, professional, and theological reflection on the diversities of contemporary pluralistic religious experience and societies. The goals of the institute are (1) to stimulate Christian reflection about the theological challenge of religious pluralism and (2) to encourage the practical exploration of interfaith relations, cooperation, and dialogue with individuals, as well as authentic communities of faith. The institute arranges and sponsors lectures, seminars, conferences, courses, field education, exchanges, and travel programs designed to explore the modern diversity of global and local dialogue relationships." In addition to Professor Berthrong, at least six other professors publish and teach on interreligious matters; some NT courses are taught by a Jewish professor (Paula Frederiksen). The Admissions officer works extensively in the arena of Christian-Muslim relations.

Brite Divinity School	Brite Divinity School describes itself as an institution that seeks to "equip leaders to serve in an increasingly diverse church and society by maintaining and promoting...a curriculum that addresses religious plurality [i.e., that provides for the] study of Judaism, Islam, and other religious traditions." It has a Pastoral Care and Training Center which describes itself as "diverse, inclusive, and pluralistic". It sponsors a Jewish Studies Program, designed to support the teaching and scholarly study of Judaism, to promote the historical contribution of Judaism to civilization, to foster a better understanding of the faith heritage of Christianity, and to encourage more informed dialogue and understanding among Jews and Christians. It has a professorship in "World Christianity and Religions."

Catholic Theological Union	The largest Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry in North America, CTU describes itself as a place where "students from all over the world, of every age and vocation, study together," and "learn about the Catholic faith as well as how to dialogue with other Abrahamic faith traditions - Protestant, Jewish and Muslim." Professors John Pawlikowski and Scott Alexander are well known for their interreligious work.

Fuller Theological Seminary	Fuller School of Theology's School of Intercultural Studies is "dedicated to equipping men and women to cross the barriers that block people from seeing, hearing, and believing the gospel." Its faculty includes several well-known scholars in the arena of Christian-Muslim relations. It offers some 13 courses through which Christians can learn about Islam. Some of its multifaith course offerings consider religion and the arts. Interestingly, it has a robust number of courses on "Messianic Judaism." Fuller students and faculty participate in a number of interfaith dialogue efforts, including ongoing Evangelical-Mormon and Christian-Muslim dialogues.

Graduate Theological Union	The Graduate Theological Union is the largest and most diverse partnership of seminaries and graduate schools in the United States, pursuing interreligious collaboration in teaching, research, ministry, and service.

Hartford Seminary	Long a frontrunner in multifaith education, Hartford Seminary describes itself as "an educational institution where a consciousness of God is cultivated and shared." It "affirm[s] the goodness of religious differences that exist in the world and...support[s] faithful living in a pluralistic and multi-faith environment." According to its mission statement, "Hartford Seminary serves God by preparing leaders, students, scholars and religious institutions to understand and live faithfully in today's multi-faith and pluralistic world; by teaching, research, informing the public and engaging persons in dialogue; by affirming the particularities of faith and social context while openly exploring differences and commonalities." Hartford Seminary's Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, founded in 1893, is the country's oldest center for such study. It works to promote understanding between the two faiths and to foster mutual tolerance in local, national and worldwide communities. This historically Christian institution now has an Islamic Chaplaincy program to train and certify institutional chaplains. In another vein, Hartford Seminary's "Pedagogies for Interfaith Dialogue" project was launched to enhance the capacity of seminaries to include interfaith dialogue in their teaching. The seminary's Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) has attracted a multireligious circle of participants since its inception. More recent still is the Building Abrahamic Partnerships program.

Harvard Divinity School	Harvard is home of the Pluralism Project, led by Professor Diana Eck. The divinity school faculty is robustly multireligious. Recent graduates of its Master of Divinity program have included Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and more-along with its traditional Christian constituency. It describes itself as an institution which "draw[s] on its historical strength in Christian studies and its significant resources in global religious studies [to educate] scholars, teachers, ministers, and other professionals for leadership and service both nationally and internationally. To help in building a world in which people can live and work together across religious and cultural divides, we strive to be a primary resource in religious and theological studies for the academy, for religious communities, and in the public sphere."

Hebrew College with Andover-Newton Theological Seminary	Andover-Newton Theological Seminary and Hebrew College have forged a partnership unique in this study. The two institutions have shared a campus for more than a decade. Cross-registration is encouraged. Several courses feature Jewish and Christian professors team-teaching. Rabbinical and ministerial students are required to study the Hebrew Bible together. Founded in 1999, the Interreligious Center on Public Life is a joint program of Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School that brings together scholars and lay leaders representing the three Abrahamic faiths. The Center offers a forum for Jews, Christians and Muslims to analyze, explore and disseminate the principles and ideas of these three faiths as they relate to foremost issues of public concern. Programs have included conferences on such topics as "In God's Name: Waging War for the Sake of Heaven" and "Inside Islam: Unlocking Text and Traditions." The Center for Interreligious and Communal Leadership Education (CIRCLE) was founded in 2008 as a joint initiative of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) and Hebrew College. Its mission is "to nurture a new generation of moral and spiritual leaders equipped for service in a religiously diverse world."

Iliff School of Theology	Iliff School of Theology's mission statement highlights its commitment to "the education of persons for effective ministry in Christian churches and other religious communities." The school affirms its "openness to emerging truths, including those derived from science, experience, and other faith traditions." An institution of the United Methodist Church, its faculty includes non-Christians, and professors with deep commitment to interfaith work. Many courses feature other faiths in interesting ways - for example: Indigenous Knowledge, Science & Religion; Muslims, Jews & Christians in Medieval Spain; Sacred Space and Place in Comparative Perspective; and Religion in the Public Square.

Luther Seminary	Of the 150 schools in this study, Luther Seminary offered more multifaith education courses than any other (43). Luther Seminary has a longstanding and highly respected Islamic Studies Program which focuses on the many facets of the Islamic religious tradition, with special emphasis on Islam in the modern world and the field of Christian-Muslim relations. It seeks to prepare Christian leaders for meaningful involvement with Muslims marked by intellectual rigor and sensitivity to the faith and feeling of Muslims. Luther Seminary also has a program in Mission and World Christianity focuses on educating people who are preparing for 21st century ministry in a world of many cultures and religions. In the program, students "encounter other cultures and religions, connect with the global church, and learn from the life and witness of Christians about the proclamation of the gospel in all parts of the world."

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago	LSTC describes itself as "striving to teach students how to witness to God's love in Christ Jesus" while understanding and respecting the faiths of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and neighbors from other faith traditions. The seminary has long been teaching courses on Jewish contributions to Christian thought, and since 1991 has offered courses on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations. Over the years, LSTC has been privileged to welcome Muslims from around the world who come to study for advanced degrees with concentrations in interfaith studies. LSTC is now home to A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio	Methodist Theological School in Ohio describes itself as "a center for rigorous theological inquiry, spiritual formation and professional development which is...grounded in [the schools'] Wesleyan tradition and influenced by [its] ecumenical and interfaith commitments." The school is "committed to individual wholeness, social justice, inclusiveness and religious diversity." Master of Divinity students are required to complete an immersion experience in an approved crosscultural setting. Faculty member Paul Numrich is Associate Professor of World Religions and Inter-Religious Relations for the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus.

Naropa University, Department of Religious Studies	An institution which draws upon the rich intellectual, experiential, and wisdom traditions of East and West, Naropa describes itself as "simultaneously Buddhist inspired, ecumenical and nonsectarian." As an institution which is "Buddhist inspired," it is noteworthy that its course-offerings include introductions to Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, as well as comparative-religion courses of various kinds.

Pacific School of Religion	Pacific School of Religion describes itself as an institution "committed to serving God by equipping historic and emerging faith communities for ministries of compassion and justice in a changing world;" and, as "a center and resource for Christian thought in an interfaith and pluralistic context." Notably, it has offered an experiential course in American Buddhisms for several years.

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College	A frontrunner in multifaith education, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College requires candidates for the rabbinate to take two full semester long courses in the Multifaith Studies and Initiatives Department (formerly, the Religious Studies Department) in order to be ordained-one of the more extensive requirements of any of the Jewish seminaries regarding multifaith education. In fact, RRC's curriculum committee has affirmed the importance of multifaith education for many years, having instituted this requirement in the late 1980s. Its Multifaith Studies and Initiatives Department makes possible a number of team-taught or experiential interreligious courses. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College includes among its goals the development and wide dissemination of "Jewish liturgical and educational materials that foster meaningful living and promote a world in which all peoples coexist peacefully and with mutual respect."

Starr King School for the Ministry	Starr King describes itself as a school whose "distinctive educational approach is rooted in the Unitarian Universalist values of countering oppressions, cultivating multi-religious life and learning, and creating just and sustainable communities." Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ibrahim Abdurrahman Farajaje, Ph.D., directs the Starr King Luce Project for Multi-religious Theological Education. Its multifaith course offerings are quite creative in content, and include several courses on Islam, indigenous ways of knowledge, spirituality, and courses on women's issues from multireligious perspectives.

Union Theological Seminary	A frontrunner in multifaith education, Union Theological Seminary describes its approach to education as "deeply rooted in a critical understanding of the breadth of Christian traditions yet significantly instructed by the insights of other faiths. It makes connections between these traditions and the most profoundly challenging issues of our contemporary experience: the realities of suffering and injustice, world religious pluralism, the fragility of our planet, and discoveries of modern science." Every candidate for the M.Div. or the M.A degree at Union Theological Seminary must complete a course in world religions (chosen from a number of options). Professor Paul Knitter holds the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture. In recent years, students founded and continue to maintain an Interfaith Caucus.

University of Chicago Divinity School	The University of Chicago Divinity School describes itself as pursuing "a vision of an institution devoted to systematic research and inquiry into the manifold dimensions of religion." Its faculty includes adherents and specialists in various of the world's religions. In addition to comparative study, courses may be taken in Judaism, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism.

Vanderbilt University Divinity School	Vanderbilt strives "to engage men and women in theological understanding of religious traditions." The school's Professor of New Testament Studies (Dr. Amy-Jill Levine) is Jewish. Professor John J. Thatamanil teaches a wide variety of courses in the areas of comparative theology, theologies of religious pluralism, Hindu-Christian dialogue, Buddhist-Christian dialogue. Dr. Thatamanil also led the development of the AAR Summer Seminars on Theologies of Religious Pluralism and Comparative Theology.

Wake Forest University Divinity School	Wake Forest University Divinity School describes itself as "[taking] an interdisciplinary approach to educating ministers and strives for a diversity that mirrors the world today." Some of these are dialogical as well as comparative in method. Others are cross-disciplinary. Coursework is possible in Eastern as well as Abrahamic religions.

Yale Divinity School	Yale Divinity School describes itself as an institution "dedicated to the faithful and rigorous exploration of the relationship between the knowledge and love of God," which "over the past several decades, ...has continually expanded to welcome faculty and students from an increasing diversity of cultural and religious traditions." Curriculum requirements include coursework in Comparative and Cultural Studies-which may involve "exploration of non-Christian traditions with special emphasis upon comparative religious questions;" "the examination of philosophical worldviews that are alternatives to traditional Christian perspectives;" or "studies concerning the nature of human imagination in visual, literary, and musical forms that have shaped the religious life and its cultural expression, both within and outside the Christian church." The Yale Center for Faith and Culture, directed by Divinity School Professor Miroslav Volf, has been instrumental in furthering the response to the pan-Muslim call for dialogue, A Common Word