Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Shared governance at a
E arlier this year, the Ecumenical
Theological Seminary in Detroit received
full accreditation from the Association of
Theological Schools. Accreditation means that
for the first time since the seminary was
founded in 1980 (as the Ecumenical Theological
Center), students can complete all the
requirements for a master of divinity degree in
Detroit. Until now, M.Div. students had to finish
their degrees at one of the seminary’s
cooperating institutions — Colgate Rochester
Crozer Divinity School, Garrett-Evangelical
Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological
Seminary, Methodist Theological School in Ohio,
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary or Trinity
Lutheran Seminary.
The new recognition also means that the
school is required to follow ATS guidelines on
school governance. The Rev. V. Bruce Rigdon, a
Presbyterian who is president of the seminary,
says that when the school began considering
candidacy in the late ’90s, they found that their
decision-making structure was already in line
with ATS standards. The board, administration
and faculty had well-defined roles and
collaborated in directing the school.
If there was a single group that needed to be
strengthened, it was the board. The original
structure of the board had been two-tiered, with
WWW INTRUST ORG
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newly accredited institution
By Matt Forster
denominational representatives, on the
one hand, and members solicited by the
administration, on the other. After Dr.
Rigdon became president in 1996,
however, the board was restructured as
a self-perpetuating board of 29
members. In the past, board meetings
were poorly attended, often with less
than half the members making it to
meetings. The new board, on the other
hand, has a better attendance record
and is more active in forming, rather
than just approving, policies.
President V. Bruce Rigdon has
Shared governance may be easier at a led Ecumenical Theological
small school. The mission statement, for
example, was jointly written by the board,
administration and faculty. Student members sit
in on board meetings as well, though without
voting rights, and adjunct faculty are welcome to
Seminary to full accreditation by
the Association of Theological
Schools. In 2002, the Presbytery
of Detroit voted to give ETS the
building, land and endowments
participate in regular faculty meetings. (A of the First Presbyterian Church
(left), which the seminary had
separate faculty tenure committee makes
leased for 10 years.
recommendations to the president and academic
dean, which are approved by the board in a
closed session.)
Sister Anneliese Sinnott, a member of the
Adrian Dominican religious congregation and
ETS’s academic dean, says the faculty is pleased
with the role they play at the school. Their
involvement is a considerable asset to the
institution. Even though few professors have
offices on campus, students feel the faculty is
accessible. “That was one area that the
observers commented on,” she says. “Everyone
involved with the school has a strong sense of
ownership.”
Dr. Rigdon is already seeing the benefits of
accreditation. Not only is enrollment increasing, Matt Forster, a graduate of
Gordon-Conwell Theological
but ATS has set some goals for the school that Seminary, is a freelance writer
will make the institution stronger in the future. who lives in Goodrich,
For example, the school has been asked to Michigan.
improve assessment so that it can better
determine whether programs and policies are PHOTOS COURTESY ECUMENICAL
meeting their intended goals. IT
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