Claremont School of Theology

Affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Claremont School of Theology has a long history of educating religious leaders. Founded in 1885, the School embraced an ecumenical vision upon its move to Claremont, California, in 1957. Today, it is making a similar adjustment of vision, to meet the cultural and religious demands of a world in transition. Claremont School of Theology is a founding member of a new multireligious consortium that's embarking on a bold 21st century experiment. Located in Southern California -- the most diverse region in the United States -- Claremont School of Theology is looking forward to the needs of the future church, one that's ready to preach and practice the Gospel message of love and compassion in a radically diverse world. To do that, we're building on a relatively simple educational philosophy: we are desegregating religious education so our students can better learn about others as they learn about ourselves. Research is showing that students gain a deeper understanding of their own faith when educated in the presence of religious diversity. It's a ground-breaking -- and controversial -- approach to ministerial education and Christian formation.