On March 6, the University announced that affiliation between the Yale Divinity School and Berkeley Divinity School will continue for another 10 years.
Berkeley is one of 11 accredited Episcopal seminaries in the United States and has been affiliated with Yale Divinity School since 1971.
The agreement to renew affiliation was formally signed by President Richard C. Levin and Christian R. Sonne, chair of Berkeley's board of trustees. The Berkeley board unanimously approved the agreement at its meeting on Jan. 24.
"We are pleased to renew our affiliation with Berkeley Divinity School," said Levin. "With a strengthened commitment to partnership, we look forward to building upon our historic relationship."
In a written statement, Sonne said: "All of us at Berkeley strongly believe that our unique partnership with Yale is crucial to the success of our mission to train leaders for the Episcopal Church. We are delighted to continue that relationship and to strengthen it further through an updated agreement that is consistent with the current needs of both Yale and Berkeley.
"President Levin, Dean Chopp and the Berkeley board share the conviction that the formal ties between the two institutions greatly benefit their mutual educational missions. For more than 30 years, a strong Anglican presence has enriched theological education at Yale Divinity School; likewise, full participation in the life of Yale University has contributed significantly to the theological education of Episcopal Church leaders at Berkeley."
Rebecca Chopp, dean of the Yale Divinity School, said, "In signing this agreement, Yale and Berkeley continue a relationship that is unique in theological education. Berkeley participates in the mission of Yale Divinity School to foster the knowledge and love of God through critical engagement with the traditions of churches in the context of the contemporary world. Berkeley's rich worship life and spiritual formation programs play an important role in the education of divinity students."
The renewal agreement makes a few changes in the relationship between Yale and Berkeley, which is an independent institution with its own board and administration. It clarifies Berkeley's use of Yale systems for all salary and other payments to Berkeley faculty and staff. Also, similar to the process under the previous agreement, the Berkeley board will appoint or reappoint Berkeley's dean with the approval of the dean of Yale Divinity School, but either appointing party will now be able to remove a dean.
Berkeley currently has an interim dean, the Right Reverend Frederick H. Borsch, retired bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles, who was appointed by the board on Feb. 19 to serve while the board conducts a search for a permanent dean. Borsch, who began work in his new position on the same day the agreement was signed, also serves as associate dean of the Yale Divinity School for Anglican Studies.
Episcopal students compose 27% of the Yale Divinity School student population of about 400.
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