The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is located in Chelsea, Manhattan in New York. GTS is one seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

General information

The primary function of GTS is to prepare men and women for ordination in the Episcopal Church, although there are many more programs for study including doctorate programs. In addition there are two centers located at General, The Center for Christian Spirituality and The Center for Jewish-Christian Studies and Relations . Future plans for expansion include the Archbishop Tutu Center and an Education Complex. The Tutu Center is named for Desmond Tutu, retired Archbishop of South Africa.

History

In May of 1817 General Convention, the governing body of the Episcopal Church, met in New York City and passed two resolutions. One was to found a General Episcopal Seminary to be supported by the whole church, and the second that it be located in New York City.

Located in New York City allowed for support by Trinity Church by the parishioners. In 1821 Jacob Sherred left an endowment of $70,000 dollars to help with the seminary. Clement Clarke Moore, another parishioner of Trinity, in addition donated 66 tracks of land from his estate in Chelsea for the location of the Seminary. It was not until 1827 that the Seminary could occupy his land.

Bishop John Henry Hobart served in the capacity of Dean presiding over the faculty. Following Hobart, the Bishop of New York served in this capacity until the 1850s. It was not until the 1960s that a formal Deans position was formed.

Notable Professors

• John Henry Hobart, Pastoral Theology , Governor
• David Hurd, Sacred Music , Director of Chapel Music
• Clement Clarke Moore, Biblical Languages
• Samuel Seabury
• Alexander Schmemann (adjunct)

External links

• General Theological Seminary.
• Historical resources on the General Theological Seminary

References

• GTS: A History of Service from About GTS. Retrieved 18 January 2005.
• GTS History and Mission from About GTS. Retrieved 18 January 2005.
• Seminary Life from About GTS. Retrieved 18 January 2005.