Auburn Seminary’s relationship with Union Seminary in New York affords students chance to take in plethora of diversity
When the Rev. Greg Horn was deciding on a seminary to attend more than 20 years ago, it was important for him to find a place that provided a rich, multicultural experience.
The Rev. Greg Horn
He was coming from Washington state and knew he needed a broader view. A Presbyterian, Horn also desired a seminary steeped in solid Reformed theology and “a place that would challenge me with more full diversity of the church.”
Auburn Theological Seminary, situated in New York City, provided just what Horn needed, and today as an alumnus and the advisor to Presbyterian students there he continues to experience the full diversity Auburn has to offer.
Auburn is related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by covenant agreement. The seminary shares a campus with Union Theological Seminary, and Auburn students earning degrees do so through Union.
Auburn offers a range of resources, including a Presbyterian Students Program, which addresses issues unique to their context. Another special feature of the seminary is its emphasis on examining religion in a multifaith world via Auburn’s Center for Multifaith Education.
Auburn addresses issues ranging from whether to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York to how to build bridges of peace through youth globally.
Horn, who also pastors The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair in New Jersey, particularly lifts up Auburn’s connection with Union, an independent, multidenominational seminary known for its commitments to diversity and social justice.
Through the Auburn-Union experience, students “sit with people from other denominational traditions every day,” he said. They are dealing with Buddhists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and even those who have been marginalized by the church, Horn said.
“The number one source of diversity is the student body,” he said.
Other seminary experiences, such as chapel services, also provide venues for experiences rich in diversity, said Horn, adding that various groups and organizations have an opportunity to lead worship.
The beauty is in being around people who do not look or think like me, but are called by God, he said. “It is just an amazing mixture.”
Horn said ultimately all of that fits in with the historic mission of Auburn, as well as with its vision for the future.
Auburn was founded to prepare Presbyterian ministers headed for the frontier, and its early commitments included the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage and prisoners’ rights.
The seminary’s early mission is still relevant for today, Horn said. “Auburn is very committed to preparing students to go into settings where they are called,” even those that are challenging or in unfamiliar contexts, he said.
“We are committed to a faithful and progressive voice ... that is grounded in our Reformed tradition.”
