COLLEGE SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRE-SEMINARY PROGRAM posted 4/21/05

Adrian College Pre-Seminary Group on the steps of Downs Hall, 1937

Same Steps, New Group: The Adrian College Pre-Seminary Group, 2005

Adrian College has redesigned a 136-year-old tradition in a big way. The College is beginning new initiatives to strengthen its Pre-Seminary program.

Adrian College was founded in 1859 by noted theologian and philosopher, Asa Mahan. The “Theological Association of Adrian College” began in 1869 as a forum for those exploring a call to ministry. The College even developed its own school of theology during the late 19th century. As a Methodist Protestant college, Adrian shared this vision for theological preparation with its sister/brother school, Western Maryland. Adrian eventually kept its theological offerings within an undergraduate program, while Western Maryland helped to create what is now Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Following World War I the Adrian College theological association adopted the name “Major Cole Association,” after a popular Christian speaker of the time. By the 1970s the Major Cole Association became a relatively small group of loosely-connected students known as the “Pre-Seminarians.”

For the past 20 years Pre-Seminary preparation at Adrian College has consisted primarily of occasional meetings with seminary recruiters. Now the College has launched an organized program, guided by Chaplain Chris Momany and Dr. Melissa Stewart of the philosophy/religion department.

Pre-Seminary students of the College have organized, elected officers, and drafted a constitution. Momany and Stewart serve to connect the student movement with studies in religion and philosophy. The Pre-Seminary organization at Adrian College has identified three main purposes: (1) to meet regularly for mutual support and discussion regarding issues of call, (2) to provide a place for engaging visiting seminary representatives and others with wisdom regarding specific church vocations, and (3) to attend events, retreats, and workshops that wrestle with God’s call to ministry.

Others have embraced this vision. The Board of Christian Education of the Detroit Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church has provided a grant for study resources. The Adrian College Cooperative Activities Board (a student-led funding council) has awarded the Pre-Seminary group financial support for travel to events. The rising Pre-Seminary program will be featured at the Detroit Annual Conference and West Michigan Annual Conference alumni meals.

Best of all, Adrian College will host a “visit day” for high school seniors interested in Pre-Seminary study on Nov. 2, 2005. The day will include opportunities to attend classes in the philosophy/religion department and the weekly Wednesday chapel service. To top things off, Adrian College will offer a $1,000 scholarship to each eligible prospective Pre-Seminary student who attends the visit day. For more information please contact Dr. Chris Momany, Adrian College Chaplain, 517-265-5161, ext. 4211.

Adrian College is related to The United Methodist Church.