Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) announced today that it has entered into formal negotiations—the first stage of a multi-year approval and transition process—to become the Chicago Theological Institute at Yale Divinity School (CTI@YDS). This proposed affiliation, which aims to integrate CTS as an institute for continuing education within YDS, remains subject to approval by the governing bodies of both institutions, applicable accrediting agencies, and other required regulatory review.
“Chicago Theological Seminary has a distinguished legacy in theological education, particularly as a leader in accessible online learning,” said Gregory E. Sterling, dean of Yale Divinity School. “At YDS, we plan to maintain our residential model for degree-seeking students while also expanding online certificate offerings—especially for those who may be unable to come to New Haven to pursue a degree. I am grateful for CTS’s thoughtful partnership throughout these initial conversations and look forward to expanding what theological education can offer to a new generation of leaders.”
Grounded in a shared commitment to theological education and public leadership, the proposed affiliation would transition the Yale Divinity School Center for Continuing Education—which has experienced significant growth since its founding in 2019—into a permanent institute as CTI@YDS. The proposed institute would unite decades of expertise and experience in online theological education with the long-term stability of endowed support.
“The proposed affiliation is a hopeful and historic step,” said Brad R. Braxton, President and Professor of Public Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary. “It will allow CTS’s enduring commitment to justice to flourish within the extraordinary ecosystem of Yale Divinity School. What began as an exploratory conversation in 2025 has grown, through careful discernment, into a pathway that honors CTS’s legacy while opening new possibilities for theological education in a changing world.”
To learn more, view the press release distributed by Chicago Theological Seminary on the CTS website.
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About Yale Divinity School
Founded in 1822, Yale Divinity School (YDS) is an interdenominational and completely nonsectarian graduate professional school of Yale University. Traditionally and primarily Christian in character, YDS welcomes persons of all faiths and those of no faith, with students representing several dozen denominations and faith groups and faculty drawn from major Christian traditions as well as other world religions. Its mission is to foster the knowledge and love of God through rigorous scholarly inquiry, preparation for lives of transformative service, broad inclusivity and diversity, encounter with the sacred through music and the arts, and the advancement of the sustainability of the earth.
About Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), affiliated with the United Church of Christ, was founded in 1855 by abolitionists and has carried its commitment to justice into every generation since. CTS has built a national reputation for forming leaders for justice and interreligious engagement. For more than a decade, CTS has been at the forefront of accessible online theological education, extending its mission to students and communities far beyond Chicago. CTS educates lay and ordained leaders, scholars, and activists who carry this work into ministry, scholarship, and other forms of public service.