UCC Related Eden Theological Seminary adds Florida campus

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

UCC Related Eden Theological Seminary adds Florida campus

> Written by Wire Reports
> March 4, 2011

UCC-related Eden Theological Seminary has

announced plans to add two campus locations in
Florida to meet the growing need for degree and
non-degree seminary education in the state while
filling the void left when the last progressive
Protestant seminary transitioned last year.

Eden, with its main campus in the St. Louis area,
is one of the seven affiliated seminaries of the
United Church of Christ and has been educating
women and men for church leadership since it began over 160 years ago.

The Florida campuses of Eden will be located at
Coral Gables Congregational UCC and in the
Sarasota/Bradenton area. Eden will begin offering
courses in the fall in Coral Gables, taught by
Eden faculty and adjunct faculty. The courses
will take a hybrid approach of face-to-face
classes combined with online learning.

"We recognized the void of a seminary presence in
Florida as well as the demand for ongoing degree
and non-degree theological education there," said
Rick Walters, Eden's Executive Vice President and
director for the Florida expansion. "Eden's
presence at these two locations in Florida will
provide the opportunity for clergy, lay leaders
and congregants to further their education ? and
get that education from Eden's faculty, many of
whom are recognized as biblical scholars."

> Courses will lead to one of several degrees
> including Master of Divinity as well as a
> Doctorate in Ministry. However, courses will also
> be available for non-degree pursuing students who
> simply want to gain a deeper understanding of the many aspects of theology.

The format for the Florida-based courses will
include intensive monthly sessions for each class
supplemented by online classes. Each class will
close with another intensive session. "We feel
confident that this format will allow for an
excellent learning environment while providing
those enrolled an opportunity for collaboration ?
just as it would in a traditional classroom for a
semester course," explained Dr. Deborah Krause,
Eden's Academic Dean. Dr. Krause will be teaching
the initial class during the fall session on Paul and the Interpreters of P aul.

"Eden's presence in Florida is not new," said The
Rev. Dr. David M. Greenhaw, Eden's President. "We
had a successful program in Florida about 20
years ago but as the need for education changed
at that time our presence was no longer viable.
However, with the closing of seminaries in
Florida, and with the demand and interest that
has been expressed from every region of the
state, we feel coming back to Florida will answer
the need while helping Eden meet its mission of
strengthening the lives of the church by
educating women and men for ministry ? and doing
so in both traditional and non-traditional paths."

For more information on Eden's Florida program,
contact Eden's Office of Admissions at
877-627-5652 or 314-918-2504. Deadline for
registration is July 15, 2011. In-class meetings
at the Coral Cables campus location this fall are
scheduled for Sept. 16?17, Oct. 14-15, Nov. 4?5, and Dec. 9?10.