Berkeley Divinity School
Encyclopedia
Berkeley Divinity School, founded in 1854, is an official seminary of the Episcopal Church, based in New Haven, Connecticut
. The seminary was originally founded as a middle-way between the Anglo-Catholic
leaning General Theological Seminary
in New York, and the Evangelical
-leaning Virginia Theological Seminary
. Although the school began in Middletown, Connecticut
, it moved to New Haven in 1928 to take advantage of the resources of Yale University
. In 1971 a formal agreement between Yale
and Berkeley cemented their bond. Today, all students of Berkeley Divinity School are also students of Yale Divinity School
. Approximately one third of Yale Divinity School's students, however, are members of Berkeley. Thus, Berkeley operates as a denominational seminary within an ecumenical
divinity school
. Students graduating from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale earn both a Masters of Divinity degree from Yale and potentially a Diploma in Anglican
Studies from Berkeley certifying that they have received education specific to the Holy Orders
of The Episcopal Church. The current Dean
is Joseph Britton.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. The seminary was originally founded as a middle-way between the Anglo-Catholic
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
leaning General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in New York, and the Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
-leaning Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
. Although the school began in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, it moved to New Haven in 1928 to take advantage of the resources of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. In 1971 a formal agreement between Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
and Berkeley cemented their bond. Today, all students of Berkeley Divinity School are also students of Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
. Approximately one third of Yale Divinity School's students, however, are members of Berkeley. Thus, Berkeley operates as a denominational seminary within an ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
divinity school
Divinity School
Divinity School may refer to:* The common noun, divinity school* When used as a proper noun, may be an abbreviated reference to one of the following:** Beeson Divinity School** Berkeley Divinity School** Brite Divinity School...
. Students graduating from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale earn both a Masters of Divinity degree from Yale and potentially a Diploma in Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Studies from Berkeley certifying that they have received education specific to the Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
of The Episcopal Church. The current Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
is Joseph Britton.
Notable alumni
- Frederick Joseph KinsmanFrederick Joseph KinsmanFrederick Joseph Kinsman was an American Roman Catholic church historian who had formerly been a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church. From 1908 to 1919 he was Episcopal Bishop of Delaware.-Life:Kinsman was educated at St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire, and at Keble College, Oxford...
, third Bishop of Delaware - Sidney Catlin PartridgeSidney Catlin PartridgeSidney Catlin Partridge was the first Bishop of Kyoto and the second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri ....
, first Bishop of Kyoto - Harry Boone PorterHarry Boone PorterHarry Boone Porter, Jr. was a priest and editor of The Living Church magazine.Porter was an alumnus of St. Paul's School . He received his Bachelors degree from Yale University in 1947 and his S.T.B...
, journalist, liturgist and environmentalist - Walter Cameron RighterWalter Cameron RighterWalter Cameron Righter was a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He served the Diocese of Iowa from 1972 to 1988. He then served as assistant bishop for the Diocese of Newark from 1989-1991....
- Lemuel H. WellsLemuel H. WellsLemuel Henry Wells was the first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. -Early years:Born in Yonkers, New York, Wells lived a sheltered childhood, and as a boy experienced a desire to become a missionary. He entered Trinity College in 1860...
, first Bishop of Spokane - Robert Shaw Sturgis WhitmanRobert Shaw Sturgis WhitmanThe Reverend Robert Shaw Sturgis Whitman was a distinguished priest of the Episcopal Church, born in New York City. He lived, preached and served his congregation at Trinity Church in Lenox, Massachusetts...