Atlanta's theology schools respond to higher calling

“When you’re in a city like Atlanta you have a huge outlet for ministry,” Wheeler said. “There are so many churches, and even better, there are so many churches with different styles. You get lessons here you can't get anywhere else."

In search of practical training and a place to nurture her spiritual growth, Wheeler could have found that back home in Raleigh, N.C. Instead she enrolled at Mercer University's McAfree School of Theology. She preferred the school's open views and wanted a large city.

Atlanta  is home to four large schools of religion:  Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center and Mercer's McAfee.

Interest in Atlanta's programs has remained steady even as enrollments nationwide dropped about 4 percent since 2006, according to national studies. Some seminaries, notably those in Boston and the Northeast, have merged or are discussing consolidations. Atlanta, however, has benefited from a population boom, name recognition and the impression that the area strongly values religion.

The Southeast is known for concentrated religiosity and Atlanta is considered the heart of the region, Candler School Dean Jan Love said. The area is recognized for its many churches and followers who invite religion into their daily lives.

Candler, which has an enrollment of 500,  is considered one of the top theology programs in the world, with textbooks written by its professors used by many schools, Love said.

"We want students to know about the world of Christianity, whether it be Korean, Ghanaian or Haitian," she said. "Atlanta is home to congregations from all over the world set up by our immigrant populations. Our students don’t have to travel to Ghana. They can just travel across town."

The four largest schools attract a range of students, from those who just earned undergraduate degrees to those embarking on second or third careers. Half the students at Candler and McAfee are in their 20s. The average age at Columbia is 31, compared to early 40s at the International Theological Center.

"We don't just have students who majored in religious studies," said Stephen Hayner, Columbia president. "Some of our students are leaders in their churches, but we also have teachers, social workers, doctors and lawyers."

School officials said between half to 75 percent of their graduates serve as pastors in churches across the state and Southeast.  They also become theologians, teachers and counselors or work in health care or with social service agencies.

The schools require students seeking a degree in divinity to spend time in the community -- up to two years depending on the program. Students volunteer and learn how to minister to groups at churches, prisons, food banks and homeless shelters. Candler has about 250 students deployed across Georgia and the region, Love said.

School officials have not seen an increase in enrollment because of the recession. Tuition is on par with other graduate programs and students are eligible for scholarships and federal loans.

Tracy Gantlin-Monroy, 39, ignored her initial call to the ministry. When she contacted seminaries for information, she would hang up when someone answered, fearful to move forward. She's now scheduled to graduate in May from ITC and will pursue a doctorate.

"Coming to seminary was an enormous step," she said. "It was me accepting the vehicle to move forward spiritually and benefit humankind. This is not something you do without a lot of thought and prayer. You embrace it entirely with your heart, mind and soul."

Gantlin-Monroy is a licensed real estate broker, but is focused on her studies. She enrolled at ITC because it was considered one of the top centers for African-American church studies.

Interdenominational Theological Center, a coalition of six Christian seminaries, has an enrollment of 430. It shares the Atlanta University Campus with other historically black colleges, including Morehouse and Spelman. About half of the African-Americans serving as chaplains in the military are ITC graduates, officials said.

"A lot of people think seminary is a big Sunday class but this is a master's graduate program and we expect our students to explore a spectrum of ideas and topics," said Maisha Handy, an ITC professor.

Handy teaches an elective exploring Christian education and the history and impact of hip-hop. Handy and students discussed how hip-hop could be included in dancing that is part of some Sunday worship.  They encouraged students to bring their favorite songs to Sunday school and dissect the message and see if it resonates with theology.

"The goal is for them to recognize that the hip-hop generation is sitting in their church every Sunday," Handy said. "I am helping pastors and teachers to understand it isn't going anywhere and how we can embrace it and employ some of its methods to teach and reach a younger generation."

The four Atlanta institutions, along with two programs in South Carolina, make up the Atlanta Theological Association. Each accepts up to 12 hours of coursework from the other members schools, said R. Alan Culpepper, group chairman and McAfee dean.

Classes at ITC and the other schools involve ethics, music, history, biblical studies, world religion and interpretation of Christianity. Hayner said many of the seminary's 450 students become professionals in ministries and need a wide variety of courses, including church and institutional management. They also teach judges, scientists and others seeking lessons for their own enrichment, he said.

Scott Santibanez studies ethics through a degree program established for students not interested in ministry. He has degrees in internal medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, and works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He enrolled at the seminary to balance out his science and medicine background. He has learned about different cultures and taken courses on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

"It is important for my job to gain this background," Santibanez said. "If you want to be relevant in the 21st century you need to learn and understand people's beliefs."

Theology Schools

Atlanta is home to four large graduate theology programs. Here's a look at each institution:

* Candler School of Theology was founded in 1914 at Emory University and is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Enrolled students represent about 60 denominations.

* Columbia Theological Seminary was founded in 1828 and trains people to become ministers in the Presbyterian Church. The seminary also teaches people theology for personal enrichment. Professors consult local churches and area pastors use the school's library and archives.

* International Theological Center, chartered in 1958, is a consortium of six seminaries representing Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, Christian Methodist Episcopal and Church of God in Christ. It also has an at-large fellowship for students who are not affiliated with the six denominations.

* McAfee School of Theology started offering classes in 1996 at Mercer University and partners with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. This is the newest of the four schools.