Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Seminary at a Glance
3041 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
(212) 662-4315
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Each year, several thousand persons, both clergy and laity,
participate in non-degree educational programs linking faith and daily life.
Continuing education units available
The Center for Church Life, the Center for Multifaith Education,
the Center for the Study of Theological Education
A theological school in covenant
with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Auburn Seminary educates leaders to meet the challenges of
religious and public life. Religious communities seeking to reconcile all people
to each other and to God require leaders of great wisdom and skill. To prepare
people for these challenges, Auburn sponsors programs on complex issues in religious
traditions and contemporary life, gathers critical intelligence about religion
and education in our society, and encourages thoughtful conversation across the
often divisive boundaries of faith, race, class, and gender. Auburn also contributes
to and cooperates with the work of other institutions, including congregations,
seminaries, colleges, and religious and social agencies.
History and Location
Auburn Seminary was founded in 1818 in Auburn, New
York, to fill a need for ministers hardy enough for frontier life. Its founders
were progressive Presbyterians who believed passionately in the value of education.
Auburn was one of the first institutions to train women
and missionaries for service in Asia.
By the second half of the 1930s, Auburn, like many
other seminaries in nonurban settings, faced steadily declining enrollments and
financial hardship. In 1939, after several attempts to associate with other institutions,
Auburn accepted the offer of President Henry Sloane Coffin to share Union Seminary's
campus in New York City, moved to Union, and built Auburn Hall for the use of
both seminaries in 1950. These two independent institutions have enjoyed a cooperative
partnership ever since.
What programs does Auburn Theological Seminary offer?
Auburn pursues its mission in three ways:
- lifelong learning for lay leaders and clergy through innovative
educational programs
- research that advances theological education through Auburn's Center for
the Study of Theological Education
- education for emerging leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in partnership
with Union Seminary.
Auburn's present and future are linked to a new frontier the
changing landscape of religious life in America. Auburn's educational programs
address the pressing issues for people of faith in a changing world: the dynamics
of congregational life, the interplay of personal faith and the professions,
and the pursuit of justice in a global context. In addition to its ecumenical
and multifaith programs for a broad audience, Auburn offers courses, financial
aid, and counseling for Presbyterian students in Union Seminary's degree programs.
Established in 1991, Auburn's Center for the Study of Theological
Education is the only research institute in the nation focusing specifically
and comprehensively on theological education. It identifies key challenges, explores
them in depth, and shares the results with theological schools, religious communities,
and other educational institutions.

Presbyterian’s call to antipoverty work grew at Auburn Seminary
The Poverty Initiative, designed to link religious communities with organizations that serve poor people, is a direct result of the spiritual formation that founder Elizabeth Theoharis received through Auburn Theological Seminary’s Program for Presbyterian Students. Keep reading.

Meet an Auburn student: Kellie Anderson-Picallo
— Kellie Anderson-Picallo
“My faith and love of Jesus Christ are at the center of all I do,” says Kellie Anderson-Picallo.
The television producer and writer, wife and mother of two says the past few years have been a time of tremendous change and spiritual awakening as ministry and theology became her passions.
“New York is where I’m supposed to be,” says the third-generation Presbyterian and candidate for ordination under care of the Presbytery of New York City. “I value the partnership of Presbyterian support through Auburn Theological Seminary with the ecumenical emphasis and academic excellence of Union Theological Seminary.
“Seminary isn’t easy. To battle, deconstruct and challenge the very faith foundation that holds you together is exhausting. I’ve had to walk away from everything I believe — the cross, Jesus and even the sacraments — to have them all come back.”
Two things have helped Kellie build a more solid faith foundation: an advanced seminar on John Calvin, which included reading Institutes of the Christian Religion, and the Auburn staff, who assist Presbyterian students in navigating the PC(USA) ordination process and in understanding key issues facing our denomination.
When she graduates, Kellie sees herself as a pastor with close ties to a parish. She’d also like to continue to explore media and ministry.
“There’s a dearth of responsible voices in the religious media. Often what we hear is narrow and doesn’t speak for all Christians. Hopefully, my skills as a producer and respect for multifaith issues can widen this voice and offer a more balanced perspective.”
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