Mission and History
The Green Seminary Initiative (GSI) is premised on two convictions: The first is that the religious community has a unique and significant calling to turn back human-caused environmental destruction and to participate in bringing all of creation into health and wholeness. The second conviction is that theological schools should provide clergy and religious leaders with the tools necessary for them to lead their congregations, communities and organizations in meeting their unique call to protect and restore creation.
GSI fosters efforts by theological schools and seminaries to incorporate care for creation into the identity and mission of the institution, such that it becomes a foundational part of the academic program and an integral part of the ethos of the whole institution.
We are very grateful for the past support of the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and the Kalliopeia Foundation, and for the ongoing assistance of FORE (the Forum on Religion and Ecology) and the Luce Foundation.
The Green Seminary Initiative is co-hosted by GreenFaith and Drew Theological School.
Some of our history, as told by the Association of Theological Schools, is available here.
Our story of our beginning, as told by co-founders Laurel Kearns and Beth Norcross, is available here.
What we do
GSI encourages schools of theology to be participants in, and keepers of, God’s creation in all its human, biological, geological, and ecological manifestations. To that end, the Green Seminary Initiative is dedicated to building a nationwide coalition of theological schools that infuse care of the earth into all aspects of theological education. This effort requires the collective energies of faculty, staff and students working in all aspects of community life. Specifically, the initiative encourages the education of seminarians and the “greening” of seminaries in five broad areas:
- Education and Spiritual Formation
- Liturgy, Ritual, and Worship
- Buildings and Grounds
- Community Life
- Public Leadership
To further these efforts, the GSI:
- Provides strategies and guidance for theological school faculty, staff, and students who wish to “green” their schools.
- Shares educational materials, course syllabi, and pedagogical approaches that prepare future religious leaders for eco-justice leadership in the congregations and communities that they will serve.
- Gathers and houses comprehensive "Seminary Green Profiles" where theological schools report on greening activities within their communities so that other schools might be inspired and educated.
- Provides specific resources on incorporating earth care into each of the five key areas.
- Connects theological schools, faculty, and seminarians who are interested in greening their institutions so they can share ideas and strategies.
- Manages the Seminary Environmental Certification Program, a world-class certification process that began in 2016.
Leadership
abby mohaupt
abby mohaupt began as a Co-Director of Green Seminary Initiative in the fall of 2016 (alongside Sarah Macias), and she became the Director in late 2018. She is currently a PhD student in Religion, Culture, and Ecology at Drew Theological School. She previously earned a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, with emphases in environmental ministry and eco-feminist theology. Before returning to the academy, abby served farm workers and families in Northern California for four years, where she led cultural competency, volunteer, environmental education, and children's programs. She continues to serve the church on the board of the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Fossil Free PCUSA. She divides her time between Northern California and New Jersey. abby is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Contact abby at director@greenseminaries.org.
Above: Beth Norcross, Tim Van Meter, Laurel Kearns and Faith Harris, members of our Executive and Advisory Committees
Executive Committee
Advisory Committee
Partner Schools
There are two ways for an institution to be in partnership with the Green Seminary Initiative.
A. Thirteen schools are part of the Seminary Environmental Certification Program.
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Boston University School of Theology
Christian Theological Seminary
Claremont School of Theology
Columbia Theological Seminary
Drew Theological School
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Universidad Biblica Latinamericana
Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte
B. More than 50 schools have registered seminary reports with the Green Seminary Initiative. More schools are joining each day and registering seminary profiles with us.
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Bangor Theological Seminary
Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond
Boston University School of Theology
Brite Divinity School
Catholic Theological Union
Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary
Christian Theological Seminary
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Claremont School of Theology
Columbia Theological Seminary
Denver Theological Seminary
Duke Divinity School
Drew Theological Seminary
Eastern Mennonite Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
George W. Truett Theological Seminary
Harvard Divinity School
Hebrew College
Iliff School of Theology
Luther Seminary
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
McCormick Theological Seminary
Meadville Lombard Theological School
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
North Park Theological Seminary
Oblate School of Theology
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Payne Theological Seminary
Perkins School of Theology
Princeton Theological Seminary
Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University
St. Paul School of Theology - Oklahoma City
San Francisco Theological Seminary
Santa Clara University
School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University
School of Theology: University of the South
Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry
Stockholm School of Theology
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Union Sem. and Presby. School of Christian Edu.
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary
Universidad Biblica Latinoamericana
Vancouver School of Theology
Virginia Theological Seminary
Wake Forest Divinity School
Wartburg Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary
Yale Divinity School
Candler School of Theology