Date: September 17, 2025
Yesterday I received confirmation that the lease agreement with Vanderbilt University has officially closed — a truly pivotal moment in our ongoing journey of affiliation with The General Theological Seminary (GTS). This is an occasion worth pausing to reflect upon, as it represents a historic step forward for theological education in the Episcopal Church.
Two courageous Boards of Trustees made the bold decision to work together for the sake of the Church’s mission. A stronger seminary chose not to let a sister institution fade from the orbit of theological education. Instead, they found a way to preserve and strengthen GTS for generations to come.
Thanks to the visionary leadership of Senior Vice Presidents Knowles, Ballou, DeLashmutt, and Burridge, an imaginative solution emerged. By entering into a partnership with a mission-aligned educational institution — Vanderbilt University — the future of GTS has been secured. Under this lease agreement, GTS retains ownership of its land and buildings while receiving significant rent. Vanderbilt will renovate the historic facilities and absorb the campus’s carrying costs — a major gift for the long-term vitality of the seminary. Even more importantly, GTS will continue to have a vibrant, year-round presence in Chelsea, with apartments and offices anchoring our mission in the heart of New York City. And we retain six weeks of generous space for the intensives that are the cornerstone of our Hybrid M.Div. program.
This outcome is nothing short of remarkable. It preserves our historic home, strengthens our capacity for formation, and ensures that GTS remains a living, breathing part of the theological landscape of the Episcopal Church. I am deeply grateful to everyone whose hard work brought us to this moment, and I want to give special acknowledgment to Senior Vice President Jacqui Ballou, whose creativity and expertise shaped this innovative agreement. Onwards and upwards.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.