GROUNDBREAKING: HISTORIC AND COLLABORATIVE

One year after the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) made the historic decision to lease land on its campus to neighboring McCormick Theological Presbyterian seminary, ground was broken for a new McCormick building and shared parking facility. The historic event was made possible because of a 25-year history of collaboration between LSTC and McCormick, and the 1997 agreement of "full communion" that included the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and McCormick’s denominational body, the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). The groundbreaking took place on January 23.

Since its move to Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood in 1975, McCormick has rented classroom space from the Lutheran School of Theology, while its faculty and administrative offices are housed in three buildings several blocks away. The new building will consolidate offices and give faculty members easier access to the academic complex.

Currently, in addition to sharing classroom space, the schools have combined library holdings and formed a joint information technology team. Once the building project is complete, the proximity of the two schools will enable them to explore the sharing of select functions such as maintenance, security, phone services and accounting.
While both seminaries will be strengthened financially by the sharing of operations, this move is also about the future of theological education.

Called "A Formula of Agreement," the agreement of full communion between the ELCA, PCUSA, Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ opened the door for deeper ecumenical collaboration. The foundation for that collaboration is good stewardship and mission. Not a plan to merge, a key element of full communion was developing procedures whereby clergy in one church body could serve as pastors in another church body. Today, two or more congregations with different denominational affiliations may be served by one pastor. Except for shared clergy, the congregations remain essentially independent.

More commonplace in rural America, multidenominational ministry is gaining acceptance in metropolitan areas. Already a reality in cities such as Detroit and Philadelphia, this is good news for small, congregations that find it financially difficult to hire a full-time pastor.

A recent study by the ELCA reports that the supply of clergy is not keeping pace with demand in all areas. While the total number of Lutheran congregations in the United States is shrinking, the number of smaller congregations—those with a weekly attendance of 50 or less—is increasing. In 1997, more than one-third of small congregations had no pastor.

Through team teaching, joint worship and daily interaction and dialogue, seminarians from different traditions sharing a campus will maneuver in a broad, ecumenical context, a context that will prepare them for a future that may include starting the day in one tradition and ending it in another.

While bricks, mortar, technology and books were the catalyst for collaboration between the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and McCormick Theological Seminary, the groundbreaking was more about the universal church.

The service of worship celebrating the groundbreaking took place in the LSTC chapel. ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson delivered the meditation (see sidebar) and Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle delivered a proclamation from the city (see sidebar). Others taking part in the service and groundbreaking were LSTC Board Chair Carolyn Riehl and President James Kenneth Echols. Representing McCormick were PCUSA Moderator Syngman Rhee, Board Chair Jon Ender, past Board Member Myrna Christopherson Kline and President Cynthia M. Campbell. Attending the ceremonies were students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae and friends of both seminaries and dignitaries representing the various Hyde Park seminaries and the University of Chicago.

On November 28, 2000, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago decommissioned its courtyard in a special service of thanksgiving at the disposition of church property space.