The General Theological Seminary Welcomes 17 New Master of Divinity Students
NEW YORK, August 11, 2026 - The General Theological Seminary (GTS) has welcomed 17 new Master of Divinity (MDiv) students for the 2026-27 academic year.
The students, who come from 15 dioceses ranging from the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California to the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, are the fifth cohort to enroll in the hybrid MDiv program.
The formal entry of the new students was marked with GTS’ traditional Matriculation Ceremony in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, during which students signed their names in the Seminary’s more than 200-year-old Matriculation Book. Every student at General since 1822 has signed their name in the book to affirm their commitment to the Seminary’s values.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., President of The General Theological Seminary, said: “It is wonderful to welcome our fifth cohort of hybrid MDiv students to General and watch them sign the Matriculation Book that generations of GTS students have signed before them. Demand for the hybrid program continues to be strong. General is growing. It is an exciting moment.”
GTS launched its innovative hybrid MDiv program in 2022. The program enables students to study in their own context through synchronous and asynchronous online learning, as well as coming to GTS’ historic home, the Close, in Chelsea, New York, for week-long intensives. The tuition-free program is significantly oversubscribed.
In August 2025, GTS signed an agreement to lease the Close to Vanderbilt University for 99 years. Under the arrangement, the Seminary maintains a year-round presence on the Close, with intensive weeks held there in August and May, and programming for alumni taking place in June. Commencement and Matriculation continue to be held in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Under the terms of the lease, Vanderbilt is also carrying out significant building improvements.
Notes to editors:
For media inquiries, please contact Nicky Burridge, Senior Vice President for Communications and Institutional Advancement at Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary. Tel: (703) 461-1782 Mobile: (703) 300-2876 Email: nburridge@vts.edu
About The General Theological Seminary:
The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church was founded in 1817. It is the oldest seminary of The Episcopal Church and has educated and formed leaders for the church in a changing world for more than 200 years. The Seminary was chartered by an act of The Episcopal Church’s General Convention and its name was chosen to reflect its founders’ vision that it be a seminary to serve the whole church.