Hartford Seminary rebranding as institution refocuses on peacebuilding amid increasing cultural divisions

The Hartford Seminary will announce a name and logo change in less than a month, reflecting the theological school’s new emphasis on peacebuilding amid rising social and political tensions.

After two years of planning, the seminary has committed to deepening and expanding its work on interreligious dialogue and conflict resolution.

“It will become fundamental in ways that our current name cannot capture,” said Joel Lohr, seminary president.

Board of Trustees Chair Clare Feldman said the school will serve as a source of “peace, reason and calm.”

“The level of vitriol and anger and frustration has risen, it seems to many of us on the board, over the last few years,” she said. “We’ve looked at one another in our meetings and said: ‘What can we do to help lower the temperature, to have people listen to one another?’”

Lohr described the nearly 190-year-old nondenominational institution as “a place of firsts:” the first seminary in the U.S. to welcome female students, the first to establish a center for Muslim-Christian relations and the first to start an Islamic chaplaincy program.

By bringing together students and scholars of many religious backgrounds, Lohr said the seminary community has shown that people who are “hugely different ... can actually talk to each other, can learn from each other, and in doing so, create a more civil society.”

“We think there’s a message there, especially now, for a world that’s so deeply divided — especially a country that seems so deeply divided,” he said.

In addition to launching new degree programs for fall 2021, the seminary has created a consulting department that aims to incorporate religion into ongoing workplace diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the public and private sectors.

“There are so many elements of diversity, and yet often because religion is sometimes seen as private and internal, it gets left out of our discussions,” he said. “[But] those things that are internal, religious identity, religious values, my faith perspective ... are often what drive people’s behaviors.”

The institution’s new name will be announced in mid-October, although Lohr noted that “Hartford” will remain a part of it. Its main building at 77 Sherman St. in Hartford is also undergoing some renovations, but major construction is not expected to be a part of the rebranding project.

Religious studies for a new generation

The seminary faculty launched three new master’s degree programs in interreligious studies, international peacebuilding and chaplaincy for fall 2021, said David Grafton, the seminary’s academic dean and a professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations.

“A generation ago, a seminary was the place where people from a particular Christian denomination would get trained and go on to work in a particular congregation,” he said. “That’s changed across the board. There are people who want to go into some kind of ministry or helping profession, or some kind of spiritual care that may not be associated with a historic denomination, and they’re looking for ways to do that.”

The Master of Arts in Chaplaincy, Grafton said, for example, is built upon a certificate program in Islamic chaplaincy to provide career pathways for students of all faiths who want to serve as chaplains in places such as hospitals, prisons, schools and the military.

“Peacebuilding is another one. It’s working in communities — whether they’re religious or not — to effect positive change,” he said.

Students in the chaplaincy and international peacebuilding programs are required to work each week within a community organization such as Hands On Hartford, or at a local shelter.

“That’s a major step for us that we’ve not done in the past,” Grafton said. “It’s a matter of creating institutional relationships with these other partners in the city and region, but also creating those relationships with the students.”

The seminary enrolled about 200 students for the 2021-22 school year, on par with previous years, and tuition has not changed since 2020-21, said school officials. A year’s tuition for full-time master’s students costs about $14,200 or about $9,500 for part-time students. Total costs of attendance per year, including housing and other living expenses, range from about $22,630 to $33,000 depending on course load and whether students live on or off campus.

Lohr, the seminary president, said he’s continuing to work to increase affordability and that scholarships and financial aid packages are available through the seminary’s endowment of over $50 million. This year, they started the international peacebuilding degree as a tuition-free program that also covers students’ travel, housing, food and health care costs in an effort to lower participation barriers.

The seminary will also continue to offer a Ph.D. program in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, and school leaders are planning to expand the Black Ministry Program, designed for students who are seeking to join a graduate religious program but do not have an undergraduate degree. Students who complete the program can then join the seminary’s master’s degree programs.

Religious diversity in the workplace

Last spring, the seminary brought on Katy O’Leary to direct executive and professional education, bringing “decades of knowledge about interfaith dialogue” out into “the workplace and other environments where currently diversity of religion has not been a big part of the conversation,” she said.

“Gone are the days where [companies] can just expect people to check part of their identity at the door,” said O’Leary. “Employees want more than that, they want to feel seen and understood. Employers ... want to be able to attract and retain top talent.”

Taking on a consulting role, the seminary will work with employers to address religious diversity and understanding in the workplace, she said, adding that fees vary depending on the workplace’s needs.

“It means more than just the practical considerations, of which there are many — yes, you do not want to schedule your companywide picnic during Ramadan — but it’s deeper than that,” she said. “Where are we at now? What does your population look like? Who do you serve? What are you interested in learning about? We can meet people where they are.”

Current seminary students will graduate this spring, and Feldman, the board chair, said the school will continue to announce new programs throughout the next year.

Amanda Blanco can be reached at ablanco@courant.com.