179th Commencement

Meadville Lombard will celebrate its 179th Commencement the weekend of May 18–19, 2024. Please see the subpages for more information. If you have any questions, please contact our Registrar, Elena Jimenez.

You Are Invited!

We welcome all area ministers, alums, institutional representatives from other theological schools, and friends of the school to Meadville Lombard's 179th Commencement Ceremony. If you'd like to join the academic procession, please bring your robe and arrive at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago by 2:30 p.m. on May 19.

The ceremony will be streamed via Zoom.

About Meadville Lombard Commencement

The Meadville Lombard Theological School will celebrate its 179th Commencement on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago. Since its founding in 1844, the school has graduated preachers, parish and community ministers, chaplains, academics, denominational leaders, and hymnists, all while maintaining its commitment to a multiracial, multicultural, and theologically diverse learning environment. At the forefront of theological education, Meadville Lombard’s educational model incorporates a three-year integrated internship and digital technology within a low-residency program so that students no longer have to reside near the school but can come in regularly for intensive courses as well as accomplish locally their ministerial training. This year most of our students will receive an MDiv degree, and some will receive a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies degree. In addition, we will award three honorary doctorates. This ceremony brings to a culmination the many years of hard work that all of these graduates have put into obtaining their degrees. Classes, papers, discussion groups, practicums, seminars, and parish/institutional placements all combine finally into this one celebratory moment that the receiving of this diploma signifies. Gowns, hoods, and processions point to this singular triumph that says this person is ready to go out and embody liberal religious ministry in the world.