Ground Blessing

In March of 1854 Congregational ministers Stephen Peet and George S.F. Savage identified the need for a seminary to prepare ministers to serve on the frontier of the Northwest. Later, that same year, they were joined in desire and commitment by other Congregational leaders: George W. Perkins, Nathaniel H. Eggleston, John N. Naiter, John C. Holbrook, and Philo Carpenters. These seven agreed that Chicago, Illinois was to be the place of this seminary and on February 15, 1855 Chicago Theological Seminary was chartered by the State of Illinois. The Seminary’s first major building was dedicated and the seminary took up permanent residence in Union Park on Chicago’s West Side. Fifty years later CTS would move to the Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. In 1928, the Seminary would dedicate its current buildings at the corner of 57th Street and South University Avenue.

Of course, the locations and buildings occupied by the Seminary tell only part of the story. The greater part of the story rests with the women and men whose visions were borne in and whose vocations were shaped by the Chicago Theological Seminary. Their names are legendary: Franklin Fisk, Florence Fensham, Victor Lawson, Graham Taylor, Anton Boisen, C. Shelby Rooks, and many others. There are countless individuals whose lives and legacy are inextricably linked to the groundbreaking history and heritage of CTS.

In 2005, CTS celebrated its sesquicentennial and as the seminary moves through the second half of its second century in existence, we prepare to move forward boldly breaking new ground. Literally.

In 2007 the leadership of the Seminary began a period of intense discernment, prompted by an offer from the University of Chicago to purchase the Seminary’s main building and McGiffert House. The predominant question: should the Seminary relocate to a new, state-of-the-art facility or continue to attempt to secure the substantial financial resources necessary to make the extensive repairs and upgrades required to make the current facilities capable of meeting the needs of tomorrow’s students? Yet, other questions surfaced along with this one. Do the current buildings reflect the vision of what the Seminary might accomplish in the next one hundred years? Could the Seminary continue to be the site of cutting edge theological education while remaining in its existing facilities? Could it meet the call to serve the present age as well as the generations yet to come? What resources would be needed beyond just the capital required for the physical plant?

Undoubtedly, the questions, comments and concerns that were raised in 2007 and 2008 by trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni/ae, and other constituencies were very similar to the questions, comments and concerns raised almost four score and thirteen years ago when the Seminary decided to move from Chicago’s West Side to its current location in Hyde Park. The move in 1915 was a bold move with significant risks and extraordinary possibilities. Ultimately the faith and determination that led the founders to establish a seminary on the frontier could be seen in the faith and determination that led its leaders to embark upon a move across town almost 100 years ago. That bold faith and determination is alive and well at CTS as the Seminary embarks upon another move in order to continue its mission into the 21st century.

Our groundbreaking ceremony is also a groundblessing. In faith, the CTS community gathers to invite God’s continued blessings on the place where a new structure will be erected. For over 150 years now, CTS has been fertile ground for new theologies and new ministerial practices to grow and flourish as those who teach and learn and serve at CTS have worked tirelessly to transform the world toward greater justice and mercy.

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