Article: Photo of the school's building in Takoma, DC
Private Roman Catholic seminary
Roman Catholic Church, Franciscan and Carmelite orders, among others
Washington Theological Union (WTU) was a Catholic graduate school of theology and seminary in Washington, D.C, United States, founded in 1968. It stopped accepting students in 2011, and suspended operations at the end of June 2015.
WTU was accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and was a member of the Washington Theological Consortium.
History
In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, religious orders and congregations of men found it helpful to train men studying for religious order priesthood together. Washington Theological Union was founded through a partnership of Franciscan Friars (OFM) of the New York Holy Name Province, Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) of the Midwest Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Augustinian Friars (OSA) of the East Coast Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, and the Carmelite Friars (O.Carm.) of the New York Province of St. Elias. The Master of Arts (MA) in Theology was first awarded to 10 religious order men in 1972 and was the more challenging masters level academic degree. The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree was first handed out in 1975 to four religious order men.
Eventually, the school expanded to include religious women and men,as well as lay students training for advanced ministerial degrees and programs. It attracted students not only from the United States but many foreign countries, as well.
In 1977, the first religious order woman received a Master of Arts degree in Theology and in 1980, the first laywoman received the Master of Divinity degree, followed in 1985 by the first layman to receive a Master of Arts in Theology degree. As a capstone, the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree in Christian Spirituality was given in 2011, followed by several other religious men and women, priests and laymen and women; the last being awarded in May 2015.
The many graduates from WTU serve in a variety of ecclesial positions including chaplains, academic officials and clergy.
The school closed in 2015 because of financial difficulties, low enrollment, and declining vocations. Student records and archival history were transferred to Saint Bonaventure University in New York in 2015 after operations were wound down. Student records are administered by the Registrar's Office and other official historical information is administered by that university's Friedsam Library.
Over 4,500 students attended Washington Theological Union, with almost 500 of them completing a certificate during their sabbatical.
References External links
St Bonaventure University Registrar website |
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Our Gift to the Future
By Washington Theological Union | January 4, 2014 - 1:21 pm | Front Page
The Church has been enriched and well-served by the academic pursuits and achievements of the ordained, religious and students who studied graduate theology during the 40+ year history of the Washington Theological Union. From its initial founding by religious communities of men for presbyteral education, their vision expanded to include theological education for religious communities of women, deacons, lay men and women and other members of other faith traditions.
Over 4500 students have taken courses for credit, whether or not enrolled formally in a degree or certificate program. Of these, over 1500 students have received one of the several masters’ degrees offered by WTU and a number have received two degrees. Over 800 degree recipients have been ordained to the presbyterate in their role as members of the many religious orders of men that have been associated with the Union. Although the Master of Divinity degree is primarily pursued by those to be ordained, some 45 lay students (22 men/23 women) have received this degree as well.
Beyond the degree programs, our accredited Graduate Certificate program offered many students another option to furthering their theological education. Over 200 students received one of the several different certificates offered under this program, several pursuing one of the certificates as a companion to their degree program.
Another distinctive opportunity offered to many men and women religious was a special certificate program in ministry development that was pursued while they spent a year-long sabbatical at the Union. Almost 500 individuals were awarded this special certificate in recognition of the several courses they attended during the year.
The following summarizes other distinctive academic milestones. The Union awarded its first degrees (Master of Arts in Theology) to 10 students in 1972. The premier Master of Divinity degree was first awarded in 1975 to 4 students. The first religious woman received a degree in 1977 (Master of Arts in Theology). The first laywoman received a degree in 1980 (Master of Divinity); the first layman received a degree in 1985 (Master of Arts in Theology). Five bishops and archbishops from the US and other countries have either studied at or received degrees from the Union. The largest number of degrees awarded in a graduation ceremony was 52 (2000). As a capstone, the new Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Spirituality was first awarded in 2011 to a layman, four more were awarded in 2012, and sixteen in 2013, with 18 others to complete their DMin efforts by June 2015.
Our many graduates serve the “people of God” throughout the world in a variety of ecclesial positions: bishops, university presidents, national and diocesan officials, educators, church service organizations, chaplains, and in particular many as parochial pastors, leaders and lay ministers. So has been our objective in pursuing the challenge of the Second Vatican Council to serve the people of God.
View or Download “Washington Theological Union: Our Gift to the Future” Commemorative Booklet.
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