About Us ~ A Welcoming Community
A Welcoming Community
Besides being eminently suitable for study, Chelsea Square is a wonderful place for children. Of the "top ten reasons" for choosing General, the availability of child care on campus and the quality of educational opportunities for children always figure prominently. The Seminary’s garden, the Close, provides a safe and beautiful outdoor environment for children.
Local public schools have received excellent ratings and church-sponsored private schools are also available for seminary children. Quality housing for families with children also appears on the top ten list owing to the larger apartments available both on the Close and across the street in an apartment building owned by the Seminary. There are usually between thirty and fifty community members under 12 years old, so many opportunities exist for interaction between children and families.
Students with fewer family obligations--those who are without children or partners/spouses may have more free time to experience the social, cultural and entertainment opportunities outside Chelsea Square. Just as frequently there are group excursions into the Big Apple involving a number of students, spouses and partners.
In fact, a remarkable aspect of life at General is the lively integration and sharing among different groups within our community. All community members have a role to play in our worship life and in the Community Council. The number of students with partners/spouses and the number of single students have been split nearly evenly for the past few years. The same is true of the number of male and female students.
The largest group of General students are between the ages of 30 and 40, but a significant number of students are younger. Eight percent of students are from racial groups that are frequently under-represented. Gay and lesbian persons are valued and respected members of the Seminary’s student body, staff and faculty. In its housing policy for committed partners, in its nondiscriminatory admissions and hiring practices, and in its daily life, the Seminary strives to be an inclusive community that is welcoming to gay people and their ministries.
A growing number of students attend General on a part-time basis and/or commute to classes from around the New York metropolitan area. Some students, often termed "resident commuters." have apartments at General but return home on weekends to families in states beyond the metro area. These patterns reflect the growing diversity of personal circumstances in which people pursue theological study, and the Seminary is committed to integrating these patterns fully into the formational and educational experience. A commuters' lounge, for instance, offers work space, computers, a copier and lockers for those who travel in on a daily basis. The needs of part-time and commuting students are represented in discussions of schedules and curriculum.
A major feature of the changing world for which General prepares church leaders is the increasing cultural diversity of the USA and the inter-connectedness of the global community. El Programa Hispano/Latino brings to General the cultural and linguistic heritage of the growing Spanish-speaking population of the USA for classes and liturgy that take place on nights and weekends. The Seminary works on an ongoing basis for a closer integration of its Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities.
Committed to serving and learning from the international community of the Anglican Communion, General welcomes students and visiting lecturers from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. The cultural, linguistic, theological and liturgical distinctives they bring present opportunities for mutual learning and community care, especially amid the current tensions in the Anglican Communion.
Equally important, General welcomes church members from beyond the Anglican heritage. Full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has made Lutheran studies and liturgy a particular focus of interest. The Seminary is committed to making formation and learning relevant to a wide range of backgrounds in the ecumenical community.
General's multiple degree and non-degree programs bring together those who are studying theology for the first time and those who are pursuing advanced or doctoral study. All share together in common meals, study, and worship. Recognizing our shared commitment to Jesus Christ, we seek to be a place where all members of our community feels empowered and encouraged to bring all of who they are to the Church’s service. Cultivating and honoring diversity is one of General’s greatest strengths for formation in the new millennium.
9/12/06
