Seminary stops admitting new students

Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, which has been preparing Episcopal priests for 150 years, has stopped admitting students. The Evanston seminary has told tenured faculty that their jobs will end next year, although officials insist the school isn't closing. Officials at the Evanston seminary acknowledge a financial crisis is forcing the seminary to overhaul its approach to preparing priests. Leaders are exploring more affordable models for candidates to earn degrees, such as distance learning and short-term residential stints. Seabury-Western's dean, the Rev. Gary Hall, says the institution wants to bring the depth of residential theological education to the new challenges and realities of the 21st century.