Making the Rounds: Howard University and Catholic University

Howard School of Divinity

I had the privilege of meeting with Dean Alton Pollard at Howard recently, to learn of the school's unique mission and vision for theological studies. It strikes me as a theological lighthouse, that spreads its beam as a vision for the Black and American churches. Increasingly, Howard is embracing inter-disciplinary modes of teaching and research as it shapes theological scholars and ministers. This move is in line with its tradition as one of the earliest Historic Black Colleges and Universities, as these schools evolved to integrate the scholarship of race, culture, and social transformation into the formation of new leadership for church and society. Howard has a strong teaching and research faculty, covering the historic fields of Bible, Theology, History, and Practical theology--but also branching out into the psychology and sociology of religion, African-American history and culture, Muslim studies, and more. Recently, the school was granted the okay to begin a PhD program, which makes it the second one among the Consortium schools. While there, I met several faculty members, Ron Hopson in psychology of religion (and Interim Assistant Dean), Zainab Alwani in Muslim studies, Michael Newheart in New Testament, and a number of committed and gifted staff members. Howard is a great place to study alongside the Black church traditions, but also an outstanding place to engage a new and growing form of interdisciplinary theological thinking. It is only a 15 minute walk from the Brookland-CUA Metro on the Red Line, and it has plenty of parking.


CUA's School of Theology and Religious Studies

Recently, I met with the Interim Dean, Fr. Mark Morozowich and the new Associate Dean for Seminary/Ministry students, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti. From them, I learned of Catholic University's multiple academic, pastoral, and pontifical degree programs. CU's STSR strikes me as an intellectual and spiritual dynamo, whose overall mission is to balance academic integrity, theological formation, and pastoral studies. The only Catholic university founded and operated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, it has a distinct legacy of providing intellectual and theological leadership for the entire American Church. CU's course offerings are vast--in bible, theology, history, pastoral theology, ecumenical studies, religious studies methods, world religions, and more--and its professors are leaders in their fields. While Catholic in perspective, the resources in bibliographies and syllabi are highly ecumenical, and the student body includes a variety of Christian traditions. I also learned that CU plans to add more courses in pastoral theology, spirituality, and related fields over the coming years. I have had the chance to meet several dynamic faculty members, including Charles Jones in world religions (and also Assistant Dean for Academics), Fr. Paul McPartlan in Systematics, Michael Root in Ecumenical Theology and Dialogue, and Pim Valkenburg in World Religions and Muslim-Christian dialogue. CU's STSR is housed in Caldwell Hall, not far from the Basilica, and only a 5-7 minute walk from the Brookland-CUA Metro on the Red Line.

Making the Rounds:   From Gettsyburg to Richmond

Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg

Recently I visited Michael Cooper White, the president of the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg. Along the way I met helpful staff in admissions, the registrar’s office, and Dr. Leonard Hummel in practical theology. LTSG is like a beacon of the gospel in an embattled world, sitting squarely on Confederate ridge at the Gettysburg Battlefield, but always witnessing to the grace-filled freedom of the gospel for all people. LTSG is the oldest of the Lutheran Seminaries in the U.S. and a founding member of the Consortium. By its strong resources and leadership, it is helping reshape theological education. The seminary has a strong library, research and teaching faculty, and a new partnership with Luther Seminary in St. Paul around online education. In addition it has partnered with state, federal and local funds and agencies to redesign the historic Schmucker Hall into a three-story Battlefield Museum, which will highlight many of the cultural and religious dimensions of Gettysburg and the Civil War, which National Park museums fear to touch. Luther offers strong courses in Biblical languages, Scripture, theology, history and practical theology, with some distinctive offerings in inter-religious dialogue, religion and science, theology and the environment, and more. LTSG offers a number of block courses, including some Saturday intensives, so that Consortium students can spend a day or an evening coming to Gettysburg for study and for respite from the busy D.C. urban environment. They even have affordable overnight housing, if needed. The campus is only 90 minutes from northern Virginia and most of D.C.

Virginia Union University, Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology


I also had the privilege of visiting with Dean John Kinney and his staff recently at Virginia Union’s School of Theology. It strikes me as a household of freedom, with its student-oriented learning, flexible curriculum, and heritage of emancipation. VU is one of the oldest, historic Black universities in the country, founded by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, and it has long pioneered in cultivating African-American ministers, scholars, and faculty. The Proctor School of Theology offers a traditional, weekday curriculum and a non-traditional curriculum—with numerous evening, weekend, and block courses for commuters. For example, a student can go to Richmond for a Friday evening or Saturday schedule and take courses in the Bible, Church Administration, Advanced Homiletics, History of Christianity, and more. The school believes in face-to-face theological learning, and emphasizes the use of students’ personal, vocational, and faith narratives as a resource for theological education, alongside Scripture and theological classics. As the leading professional school of the university, the Proctor School of Theology is a strong presence in the rest of the school, and it draws from the university library, research staff, and other departments. While historically African American and Baptist, VU students come from numerous denominations, cultural, and racial backgrounds—making for a rich and diverse learning environment. Richmond is less than a two hour car or train ride from D.C., and the VU campus is only three miles from the Main Street Amtrak station in Richmond.