With New Strength, Meadville Lombard Chooses Independence As Talks to Form a New Theological University End

April 21, 2011

CHICAGO -- Leaders developing a new multi-faith theological university decided against going further with their plans, which means Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, a Unitarian Universalist seminary, will continue to be an independent graduate educational institution, officials of Meadville Lombard said today.

The announcement comes as a result of a decision this month by a "transition team" of leaders from Meadville Lombard and its potential partner, Andover Newton Theological School of Massachusetts, to not forward any recommendation to the trustees of the two schools concerning formation of a new university.

Meadville Lombard officials said their talks with Andover Newton, an American Baptist and United Church of Christ seminary in Newton Centre, a suburb of Boston, ended this month over issues related to governance and finances for the new university.

The chair of Meadville Lombard's Board of Trustees said that because Meadville Lombard has redesigned its academic program -- and because it has even more recently restructured its assets -- the school is now better off financially as an independent entity than it would have been as part of the proposed university.

The financial restructuring occurred as the school sold its campus of four buildings in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The neighborhood is anchored by the University of Chicago, which agreed to buy several Meadville Lombard buildings. In turn, the seminary is negotiating to lease space for its future home on the campus of one of the four Chicago educational institutions that made proposals to Meadville Lombard earlier this year.

"We are more financially sustainable as an independent entity and look forward to a bright future," said the Meadville Lombard board chair, Lawrence Ladd of Boston, who is director of the higher education practice at Grant Thornton LLP, a national accounting and management consulting firm.

"We promised all of our stakeholders, including students, faculty, alumni and alumnae, as well as donors, that we would not continue under any plan that would diminish Meadville Lombard's identity as a Unitarian Universalist seminary. Nor would we continue under a plan that was not financially feasible," Mr. Ladd said. "These two points figured strongly in the decision by leaders of both schools to not make any recommendation to continue forward in forming the new theological university."

Meadville Lombard and Andover Newton announced in June 2010 that they would work together to establish a new multi-faith theological university by June 15, 2011. The new university was to begin operations on July 1, 2011.

"Everyone involved in the talks is excited by a vision of multi-faith theological education," said the Rev. William G. Sinkford, a Unitarian Universalist who chaired the transition team composed of trustees and the presidents from each school. "Our talks ended because we could not agree on a governance plan for the new university, and Meadville Lombard could not be fully assured that the university and its component schools would be financially sustainable in the long run."

Officials had hoped that the new theological university would count three to five seminaries as partners within the first few years. Several schools have expressed interest in the new university but none has joined the talks formally.

"Some great relationships were forged among people from Meadville Lombard and Andover Newton as a result of this process," said Rev. Sinkford, who is a trustee of Meadville Lombard as well as immediate past president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. He serves First Unitarian Church of Portland, Ore., as senior minister.

The Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, president of Meadville Lombard as well as professor of ministry, said the school is building a fine future for itself.

"Exciting news concerning a new campus location as well as transformative new gifts from donors are forthcoming during the next few weeks," President Barker said. "While nothing is guaranteed for the financial sustainability of any small graduate school, it is gratifying to report that Meadville Lombard is in a much better place financially, not only compared to a year ago but also compared to the many previous years, too. We have had two record-sized entering classes as our innovative new curriculum goes into full implementation this fall."

The Rev. Dr. Nick Carter, president of Andover Newton, said, "We are disappointed that the discussions with Meadville Lombard did not come to fruition, but decisions of this magnitude demand much of all involved - including the courage not to proceed.

"Andover Newton remains committed to our vision of multifaith theological education and continuing the ground-breaking exploration of this important frontier," President Carter said. "We are honored that MLTS shares that vision. We salute their leadership, the hard work they put into our process and, with respect, wish them well."

Andover Newton, the oldest graduate school in the nation, is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Church USA. Meadville Lombard, also among the older seminaries in the country, is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. A number of Unitarian Universalist ministry aspirants also are among the students at Andover Newton.

See previous announcements and information here.