Washington Theological Union (WTU) announced today that it would be closing its doors with the Class of 2013.
For just over the past 40 years, Washington Theological Union (WTU),
a graduate theological school for ministry, located in Takoma Park,
educated and commissioned a diverse and global array of ministers for
service to the Catholic Church in a post-Vatican II world.
Graduate
degrees offered included the Master of Divinity, Master of Pastoral
Studies, Master of Theological Studies, as well as various certificate
programs and a recently added Doctor of Ministry program in
Spirituality.
The unique character of WTU emanated from its prime location in
Washington DC, where it was well networked with the numerous religious
orders alluded to in the school's name.
It benefited from the charism of
the founding orders: Augustinian, Carmelite, various Franciscan Orders,
Paulist, Redemptorist.
It also offered the opportunity for lay people,
seminarians, those on sabbatical from all over the globe to study
together in an ecumenical environment.
In most academic programs,
students were required to complete supervised ministries throughout the
region, including working with those of other faiths.
The buildling itself also offered a statement of architectural
achievement and and expression of spirituality. Many art exhibits and
its popular Advent Lessons and Carols added to the Takoma Park
neighborhood's vibrancy.
The institution had struggled over the past several years, as did
many other similar institutions and non-profits.
Although it remained
committed to form ministers "worthy of the people they serve", as former
President Dan McClellan would often say, the difficulty resided in
maintaining funding which came from a shrinking pool of religious orders
and private donations.
In other words, it was a victim of its own
generosity and vision.