Auburn Seminary has a habit of moving from place to place, that is, about once a century. What began in rural western New York state in 1818 — and moved across the state to New York City in 1939 — is moving again, but this time just across the street. Housed on the campus of Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan for 75 years, it is moving to the Interchurch Center at 475 Riverside Drive, what long has been affectionately called “The Godbox.”
The move signals an expanding mission for reconciliation and partnership efforts across religious divides. Practically speaking, it will allow the seminary’s staff to partner together more optimally by working in one location. For several years, the school’s operations have been functioning in both locations, and this move consolidates their operations into one location.
The new space will feature “an innovative, flexible center for seminars and meeting in our headquarters that fosters high impact collaboration to support Auburn’s robust leadership initiatives,” says Macky Alston, vice president for strategy, engagement and media.
Given a longstanding pursuit of interfaith understanding and cooperation, the move will house the seminary amid and among many diverse religious and justice-focused organizations, “a natural fit for our mission of building community and bridging religious divides,” says President Katherine Henderson in an open letter announcing the move.
On the other hand, the move does not sever the 75-year partnership with Union Seminary. Auburn will continue to provide professors and student advising to the Presbyterian students in the interdenominational graduate school. Auburn itself does not matriculate its own students but does facilitate the education of students within Union and provides continuing education for ministers and other religious leaders. It also does research and analysis of trends in theological education.
It is as much a research institute as it is a school.
“Our faculty development seminars taught a generation of seminary educators to address
religious pluralism in a multi-faith context, and, since 2002, we have provided education on media and ministry for over 4,000 leaders of faith and moral courage,” says Alston. In the meantime, he adds, “our Research Center that serves the stakeholders of theological education is thriving, and we are in the midst of our search for a new Vice President of Research to helm it.”
“I’m most encouraged by how the consolidation of our offices at the Center will prioritize our training work and increase internal collaboration and efficiencies,” reflects Henderson.
“Inspired by our experience at MountainTop, Auburn’s 2013 convening of leaders from the multifaith movement for justice, our unified head- quarters will feature an innovative, flexible seminar and meeting space that fosters high-impact collaboration and will support Auburn’s robust leadership initiatives,” she adds.
The Interfaith Center, which is adjacent to the Riverside Church, housed the General Assembly offices of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. prior to its reunion with the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. to form the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1983 (two denominations separated by the Civil War).
The move will be complete around May 1.
