What Sets Us Apart?
Intentionallly Ecumenical and Interreligious
Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry was
founded with a desire to create a unique learning community that meets
the many challenges in our contemporary world, especially the division
and polarization that make it almost impossible to build communities
promoting human flourishing.
“Intentionally Ecumenical” –
The School has formal agreements and partnerships with 12 Christian
denominations and the Unitarian-Universalist tradition. The school’s
coursework and programming speak across the spectrum of Christianity –
from Evangelical to Orthodox – and through the Unitarians beyond. The
School’s faculty, working each year with more than a 100 advisors from
these traditions, has created a dynamic curriculum focused on the values
and skills needed to shape today’s leaders in congregations, religious
organizations, chaplaincy work, social service agencies, industry and
government. This curriculum infuses the School's life, from faculty
input and encouragement in coursework, to annual lectures, from student
leadership opportunities and community engagement to Worship & Liturgy offerings and the School’s celebration of the annual annual Week of Prayer.
Our commitment to being ecumenical means we have a different type of
religious tolerance and cooperation. We speak and hear together where
God is leading us.
“Interreligiously Engaged” –
Mirroring the world in which we live, the School of Theology and
Ministry is deeply involved with communities from many different
religious traditions. Our coursework develops students’ ability to
appreciate and engage in the challenging but exciting area of
interfaith dialogue and cooperative action. With funding by the Henry Luce Foundation, the Alfred and Tillie
Shemanski Testamentary Trust, and generous individual supporters, the
School is fostering deeper and higher levels of interreligious
interaction in a number of ways. Click for more information on: the Search for Meaning Book Festival, Faith & Values in the Public Square Lecture Series and blog, Yom HaShoah annual gatherings, the Harvard University Pluralism Project, and the Faith & Family Homelessness Project with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What
does it mean to say the School is "ecumenical and interreligious?” It
means your faith perspective and tradition matter in the classroom not
only for your own learning, but also for your fellow students. The
founding desire of the School continues: We are committed to creating
well-rounded ministers and leaders for a more just and humane world.
Come and join in!
Holistic and Integrated
We base our curriculum on the integration of three components:
Academic excellence
Spiritual rootedness
Professional competence
Faith That Does Justice
We are committed to social justice. In the Jesuit tradition of a faith that does justice we offer:
Cultural Pluralism
We are committed to addressing the needs of an increasingly multicultural church and world.
A commitment to respect persons and their differences, to foster the values of personal dignity, civility and mutual respect, and to model and defend these values
International multicultural immersion experiences for students
Prejudice reduction weekends are mandatory for all students
Internships
Special program for training of multi-cultural leaders
We mentor candidates for ordination and lay leadership who are integrated individuals capable of healthy ministry within many cultural settings.
Formation
All students participate in community meetings, reflection days and evenings, retreats, spiritual direction, and evaluation processes.
Educational Effectiveness
Statement on Educational Effectiveness: Quality Theological and Ministerial Education
Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is dedicated to offering quality theological education and ongoing formation for those preparing to enter the field of church-sponsored ministry or social entrepreneurism directed at working for social justice from a faith-based perspective. STM has several institutional structures overseeing quality assurance and academic integrity. These include standing committees on curriculum and development and formation, as well as an elaborate advisory structure with denominational leaders. The curriculum and formation committees generate academic policies and procedures, and build assessment tools and processes. In addition, each degree and certificate program identifies learning outcomes, which measure academic and pastoral competencies. The school also employs course evaluations, student surveys and interviews, and program candidacy reviews to provide additional information and measures of the quality of STM student learning.
STM is committed to assisting students with their financial and vocational needs. Various forms of financial assistance are available – government loans, scholarship money, paid internships and student worker stipends. The school also has a very committed development program which is continually seeking to build scholarship resources for STM students. Approximately 60% STM students receive financial aid, much of which comes from special scholarship programs and general scholarship funds, with some partner denominations and ecumenical organizations offering their own scholarship resources.
STM considers part of the measurement of the school’s educational effectiveness the ability of students to gain employment in respective career fields. Today, on average, 89% of our graduates find employment within 1 year of graduation. Founded in 1997, STM now has 2,065 alumni, serving Churches, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses and governmental organizations across the United States and in 10-15 countries worldwide. STM alumni are working in congregational and denominational leadership at the local, regional and national levels; ministries serving the poor and homeless; hospital chaplaincy and administration; international non-governmental organizations trying to lift up the poor of developing nations; private and public schools, colleges and universities; gang ministry, hospices, social service organizations, and a wide assortment of other professions.
STM is deeply committed to preparing women and men for ministry in the church and world, and particularly in providing an education that meets the rapidly changing needs of a fast-paced world. To live out this reality, faculty take seriously the need to continuously monitor and evaluate, update and enhance our programs when and where necessary. STM is committed to offering only programs that meet demanding standards necessary to achieve academic and pastoral excellence.
For questions and inquiries about STM’s educational mission, assessment and effectiveness efforts, please contact the Academic Associate Dean’s Office at 206-296-5330.