Cooperating Institutions

Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science

The Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS) is an independent corporation, consisting of scientists and theologians. Although it is national in scope, it concentrates a number of its activities, as well as its administrative office, in Hyde Park and has developed an effective working relationship with neighboring theological schools. The founder was Ralph Wendell Burhoe, professor emeritus at Meadville Lombard Theological School until his death in 1997 and recipient of the 1980 Templeton Award for Progress in Religion. CASIRAS’ activities are held chiefly in cooperation with the Zygon Center for Religion and Science (ZCRS) at LSTC, of which it is a cofounder. For information about ZCRS, see the current catalog of LSTC. For information about CASIRAS, contact Carol Albright, 5415 South Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615.

CASIRAS and ZCRS are dedicated to relating religious traditions and the best scientific knowledge in order to gain insight into the origins, nature, and destiny of humans and their environment. Dimensions of CASIRAS’ work include the publication of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science as well as seminars, courses, conferences, symposia, and guided research. In cooperation with LSTC, ZCRS offers the Advanced Seminar in Religion and Science (T-672) each year, usually in the spring quarter.

For further information about the journal, contact Philip Hefner, LSTC: 773.256.0671 or Zygon@lstc.edu. For further information about the Advanced Seminar, contact LSTC 773.256.0671 or zcrs@lstc.edu.

Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education

200 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 502 President: David J. Frenchak
Chicago, IL 60601-5909
312-726-1200; fax: 312-726-0425
scupe200@aol.com

The Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE) provides specific programs of study in the area of urban pastoral education. SCUPE works cooperatively with Chicago-area churches and community agencies and is committed to the development of competent and creative leaders who both understand and can work with the realities of power, poverty, and pluralism found in cities.

For students interested in exploring urban ministry as a vocation, SCUPE provides an intensive spring-term program of urban pastoral education that is designed to fit into the core curriculum of a Master of Divinity degree. Through an integrated educational structure of curriculum, church/agency internship, and small-group process, SCUPE students live, work, and study in the city, developing both professional and personal skills. Representative courses include Urban Principalities and the Spirit of the City; Restoring Urban Communities (Church-based Community Development); Christology and Culture; Urban Issues; and Dimensions of Leadership for Urban Ministry. (For a complete listing of SCUPE courses, please go to www.scupe.com).

Students unable to undertake the full program may enroll in individual courses offered throughout the spring term. It is possible for students to extend the internship component of the program into the summer or take the summer internship as a freestanding program. Courses offered by SCUPE during the academic year appear with a SCUPE prefix in the course descriptions in this catalog.

Students from GETS, LSTC, and NPTS who are SCUPE member schools, receive both academic and field education credit for the SCUPE program. Students from other ACTS schools are responsible to arrange details of accreditation and tuition payment through their seminary dean.

Nurturing the Call, a one-year certificate program offered in conjunction with certain member schools, uses the spring semester as an entrée to M.Div. work, particularly for working pastors.

The Center for African American Theological Studies is a new initiative that is a collaboration between African American congregations, Chicago area Black seminary faculty, SCUPE and partnering seminaries such as Virginia Union University's Proctor School of Theology, which allows students to earn a Master of Divinity degree that has an Africentric focus.

Every two years SCUPE hosts the Congress on Urban Ministry, which brings together persons involved in urban ministry throughout the nation. A one-week intensive course is offered in conjunction with the congress.

SCUPE's Supervised Ministry Practicum focuses on personal formation for ministry by integrating work in the ministry setting with SCUPE's academic coursel load. Using a case study approach, it provides a forum for faith sharing, personal self-awareness of gifts and skills for ministry, theological reflection on experience, and peer group reflection on actual ministry in response to the Gospel. It is also the course vehicle for SCUPE's full-time summer internship field education/ministry credit. Credit varies by seminary.

For further information about SCUPE, contact Dody Finch, SCUPE Registrar, dody@scupe.com.

Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies

610 S. Michigan Avenue	President: Howard A. Sulkin
Chicago, IL 60605	Dean: Dean Bell
312.322.1700	www.spertus.edu

Spertus College, the academic division of Spertus Institute, offers graduate degrees (master’s and doctoral) in Jewish Studies and provides continuing adult education for the Chicago community at large. The college is the largest nonrabbinical training school for higher Jewish learning in the Midwest. Certain Spertus degrees may be earned through “distance learning.”

Founded in 1924, the institute is comprised of Spertus College, the Asher Library, and Spertus Museum. The Asher Library and Spertus Museum hold major collections of Jewish art, ritual objects, books, journals, music videos, and archives. These resources are available to faculty and students of ACTS schools. The college and library serve scholarly and casual learners, on-site and via distance learning, through programs, educational opportunities and cultural offerings that enhance understanding of the Jewish experience. A yearly schedule of public programs includes exhibitions, concerts, film, lectures, comedy and theater.

An agreement between Spertus College and the Chicago Cluster of Theological Schools was signed in 1978 to provide for library access and cross-registration of students. Various courses have been taught on ACTS campuses as well. Students at all ACTS schools may cross register for Spertus courses, but special considerations may apply. Because procedures for cross-registration, acceptance of courses for credit, and modes of payment may differ in individual schools, students are responsible to determine what particulars apply at their own schools. For further information about all Spertus courses and programs, contact the Office of Student Services; phone: 312.322.1769.

The 155,000-square-foot building designed by Krueck & Sexton Architects provides enhanced features to
better serve visitors and students of the Spertus Institute. It includes the 400-seat Feinberg Theater to
showcase lectures, concerts, theater and film; an interactive Children's Center; and a kosher café in
partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Spertus Museum hours and admission:
Sun-Wed 10 am - 6 pm
Thurs 10 am - 7 pm
Fri 10 am - 3 pm
Spertus is closed Saturday
Admission $7, $5 for students and seniors, children under 5 free, free for members
Free to all Tues 10 am -12 noon; Thurs 3-7 pm