Clusters, Centers and Cooperative Activities

Northside Chicago Theological Institute

The Northside Chicago Theological Institute (NCTI) was organized in 1971 for educational and ecumenical purposes by five theological schools: G-ETS, NPTS, S-WTS, USML and TEDS.

The activities of the NCTI are under the direction of a board of directors whose officers are elected biennially. From its beginning the NCTI has emphasized the importance of student representation on its boards and committees. The NCTI sponsors two academic courses each year.

The NCTI Fall Seminar is "The Church and Mission: Global Theologies," which explores dimensions of theology opened by globalization. See the course description under USML SY429. The evening and weekend sessions are held on the campus of USML for a minimal fee. Credit hours are contingent on the school’s term system. For information call the Rev. Thomas A. Baima at USML: 947-970-4866, or Richard Carlson at NPTS: 773.224.6227 or see USML website.

The spring seminar, "Prayer and Life in the Spirit: Music in Christian Worship," addresses music as the "closest analogy to the direct and effective communication of grace." See the course description under USML CL454. In its present format, the seminar includes evening and overnight intensive retreat experiences on the USML campus. Registration is limited. Student participants pay a minimal fee. For information on the seminar, contact Professor Norma Sutton, coordinator, at NPTS: 773.244.6239 or the Rev. Thomas A. Baima.

Both seminars are led by the diverse faculty of NCTI and ACTS and will seek to include a variety of theological perspectives: Jewish, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant.

Each member school of NCTI observes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity through activities appropriate to its own tradition. Exchange of pulpit speakers has proven enriching for the schools.

The Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools

The five ACTS schools located in Hyde Park (CTU, CTS, LSTC, MTS, and ML) and the University of Chicago Divinity School identify themselves as the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools. The cluster seeks ways to deepen academic cooperation and sharing beyond those made possible by the ACTS structure.

The purposes of the cluster are to (1) promote academic cooperation among the schools in Hyde Park; (2) foster dialogue and scholarship among its faculties through support of discipline groups and interdisciplinary colloquies; (3) develop support for academic programs through cooperative student services, recruitment and language programs; and (4) aid in communication and planning among the member institutions.

A committee consisting of the chief academic officers of the six schools administers the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools. The chief executive officers of the cooperating institutions serve as an advisory board to the committee, especially in areas related to institutional planning.

ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program

Seven ACTS seminaries jointly sponsor a program in preaching leading to a Doctor of Ministry degree. Faculty from LSTC, CTS, MTS, NBTS, NPTS, G-ETS, and S-WTS participate in teaching this program, as well as renowned preachers and teachers from across the country. The program involves three annual summer residencies in Chicago, two projects in the participant's ministry site and a thesis project.

During each summer residency, participants take a core (required) course, an elective course relevant to the participant's learning goals, and participate in a colloquy. During colloquy, advisory groups consisting of peers working together to assess homiletical theology, develop group and individual learning goals and design a "Preaching Ministry project" which participants conduct independently at their ministry site between September and March following the first two residencies. After the third residency, participants develop a final project resulting in a thesis.

The program requires a separate ACTS D.Min in Preaching application available from the program coordinator. The application process is a two-step process. Participants first apply through one of the seven partnering schools and once admitted, are brought to a joint D.Min in Preaching Program Committee, where a final determination of candidates is made. Total enrollment each year is 32 participants.

Interested persons should contact Marcy Miller, Coordinator, ACTS D.Min. in Preaching Program, 5460 South University, Chicago, IL 60615; phone: 773.947.6270, mfmiller@mccormick.edu.

ACTS Travel Study Opportunities

Opportunities to travel and study outside Chicago are offered for course credit by several ACTS schools; they are listed below by geographic area. Students from CTU, LSTC, and MTS may contact the office of the Chicago Center for Global Ministries for full details about programs and funding.

Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice

The Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice was established at LSTC in 2006 to foster and deepen relations between Christians and Muslims, and to make significant contributions to peace, mutual understanding, cooperation and respect among people of all faiths. LSTC offers a strong core of classes in Islam and Christian-Muslim relations, which, along with such courses offered by other ACTS schools, enables students to take a concentration in Christian-Muslim studies.

The Center sponsors workshops and conferences including an annual Sacred Scriptures Conference that has examined the ideas of others, human suffering, and love of God and neighbor. For information, contact CCME director, Dr. Michael Shelley at ccme@lstc.edu.

For ACTS courses in inter-religious studies, visit our web page or download our brochure.

Chicago Center for Global Ministries

To meet the growing challenges to preparation for ministry posed by globalization trends today, CTS, LSTC and MTS established the Chicago Center for Global Ministries (CCGM) in 1993. The purpose of the center is to coordinate current resources and build upon those resources to meet the globalization challenge for ministry, especially in world mission, cross-cultural ministries, interreligious dialogue, urban ministries and issues of justice, peace and ecology.

CCGM serves as a focus point for these areas of ministry by coordinating course offerings, offering a forum for faculty discussion, and providing a locus for new research efforts in these areas of globalization. At a time when theological education is becoming more international and multicultural, and the world manifests concern for particularity and greater possibilities for communication, the work of CCGM embraces these paradoxes and complexities as the location for training ministers for the 21st century.

For additional information, contact Dr. José Rodríguez, LSTC and Dr. Edmund Chia, CTU, associate directors, at the CCGM office at CTU; phone: 773.363.1342; fax: 773.363.1343; e-mail: ccgminstry@aol.com.

Hispanic Ministries Programs

Hispanic ministries programs offered by MTS and LSTC offer a concentration within the course of study of the regular M.Div. and M.A.T.S. degrees. The programs prepare Hispanics and other bilingual persons to serve effectively in Hispanic communities, and offer courses in all fields of the seminary curriculum and in the practice of ministry in local Hispanic settings. In addition to the instruction provided by their own faculties, MTS and LSTC invite outstanding Hispanic theologians and ministerial practitioners to their campuses to expand the available resources.

Hyde Park Language Program

Noncredit courses in French are available to graduate students (and others) in the Chicago area through the Hyde Park Language Program. Designed to help students develop the language skills necessary for academic research, these courses emphasize grammar and translation practice. Hundreds of university and seminary students have taken these courses in order to prepare for their graduate language examinations or otherwise to fulfill their graduate language requirements. Courses are taught throughout the four quarters of the academic year, and are generally held at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street (at University Avenue) or on the University of Chicago campus. Moderate fees are charged. For further information, please see the Web page at www.hydeparklanguage.com or contact Celia Brickman, Ph.D., Director and French Instructor, phone: 773.536.5353, e-mail cbrickma@sbcglobal.net.

Multicultural Center

Committed to multicultural theological education and church leadership, LSTC and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America created a Multicultural Center to recruit, learn from, and prepare candidates from under-represented ethnic groups in the ELCA for professional leadership in the church. Dr. José David Rodriguez is director. For information, please contact mc@lstc.edu.

The Stead Center for Ethics and Values

The Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett-Evangelical offers seminars, lectures, and conferences for students, faculty, professionals, religious communities, and the public. Recent events have focused on stem cell research; war, peace, and terrorism; and theology, ecology, feminism, and forbidden knowledge.

ACTS faculty and students are invited to attend lectures of interest or to become involved as scholar- participants in any of the topics. For more information, contact the Stead Center for Ethics at 847.866.3915 or ethics.center@garrett.edu.

Urban CPE Consortium, Inc.

Urban CPE Consortium, Inc. is a fully accredited ACPE Center for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) by ACPE, Inc. uniquely formed by the collaboration and common commitment of theological schools and social agencies. It is a non-hospital-based CPE program whose mission is to offer CPE in an urban context to prepare leaders who have the capacity to provide compassionate care and to participate in the transformation of systems. The sites for CPE ministry are the social agency members of the consortium.

CPE Unit offerings are 1) Extended (September through mid-April) 2) Winter-Spring (January through April), 3) Intensive (full time June through mid-August).

Consortium members 2009: CTS, Institute of Pastoral Studies/Loyola University, LSTC, MTS, , University of Chicago Divinity School, Access Spiritual Connections (formerly AIDS Pastoral Care Network of Access Community Health), Bethany Methodist, Breakthrough Ministries, Chicago Uptown Ministry, Community Renewal Society, Faith-in-Place, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Interfaith House, Lawrence Hall Youth Center, Sojourner Truth House, South Shore Entrepreneur School, The Night Ministry.

Contact Person: Barbara Sheehan, SP, Executive Director/ACPE Supervisor. Phone: 312-673-3833. b-sheehan@sbcglobal.net

Applications: to Urban CPE Consortium, Inc., c/o CRS 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60604-4306. Admission of qualified candidates into the CPE program follows completion of application and admission interview. Site selection for ministry encounters within an urban agency is only after admission to the CPE program.

Application fee: $35.00. Tuition: $550.00 for consortium member student/employee/volunteer. $800.00 non-consortium connections.

Dates for completed applications are not rigid, yet the following is encouraged: Extended: May 15 for following Sept.; Winter/Spring: October 15 for following Jan.; Summer: Dec. 15 for following summer.

World Mission Institute

The World Mission Institute (WMI) is an annual three-day conference held on the last weekend in April every year. LSTC and CTU with other ACTS member schools have sponsored WMI since 1970. In addition, other educational and mission organizations help support the WMI each year. Today, the WMI is organized and administered by the CCGM (see above). Each year outstanding international speakers and resource persons deal with a significant aspect of Christian mission. All students and faculty of ACTS schools are invited to participate in the WMI without registration charges. Inquiries regarding WMI should be addressed to the CCGM, 5401 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615; phone: 773.363.1342; e-mail: ccgminstry@aol.com.