Most of us are aware of the death of eminent New York City pastor and author Tim Keller on May 19. Though his legacy lives on—including Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the City to City church planting ministry—his passing into glory silences a well-known evangelical voice in NYC.
But there’s more bad news. Despite their best efforts to make ends meet, two evangelical colleges in NYC have recently closed due to severe financial difficulties leading to loss of accreditation. We regretfully summarize the situation in this post.
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A Personal Note
Recently I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to serve as Scholar in Residence for New Testament Studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. I’ve served as an adjunct at PRTS previously, and I’m looking forward to this new opportunity to mentor PRTS students in their New Testament research.
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Alliance University
A. B. Simpson founded the Missionary Training Institute in New York City in 1882. In 1897 the school relocated up and across the Hudson River to South Nyack NY. It was affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, another organization founded by Simpson, but it functioned as an interdenominational institution. The Missionary Training Institute gradually offered a more comprehensive curriculum and became Nyack College in 1972. The seminary—established in 1960—became known as Alliance Theological seminary in 1979. In 1997 a branch campus was opened in Manhattan, leading to leased space in Battery Park in 2013. In 2020 the Nyack campus was sold and the renamed Alliance University began operations solely in Manhattan.
Alliance offered undergrad and grad degrees, including the Doctor of Ministry. An organizational management program was available to incarcerated persons in two NY prisons. In 2016 the school was named by USNWR as one of the ten most diverse colleges in the northern US. The Chronicle of Higher Education named it as “a great college to work for” for five consecutive years beginning in 2011. In 2016 the Wall Street Journal/NY Times Higher Education rankings named it a top 20 US school in the area of campus environment.
Despite these accolades, after 140 years of service to the NYC area, Alliance was shuttered August 31, 2023 after the Middle States Commission on Higher Education announced it would revoke the school’s accreditation due to extreme indebtedness and ongoing financial challenges. Alliance officials stated that Middle States did not take into account their balanced budget and an incoming class that was the largest in 15 years. They also complained that the accreditors did not understand their evangelical calling.
Alliance has signed teach-out agreements with several schools so that students may complete their programs of study with the least possible inconvenience. The CMA is currently exploring the possibility of continuing the seminary program. Simpson’s original vision to reach the NYC masses with the gospel is still alive.
The King’s College
King’s was founded by evangelist Percy B. Crawford in 1936. Through the years it operated from campuses in Belmar NJ and New Castle DE before landing in Briarcliffe Manor NY in 1955. Pastor and broadcaster Robert A. Cook became president in 1962 and the school flourished into the 1980’s. A period of decline led to bankruptcy and loss of accreditation in 1994.
In 1999 the school was enabled to re-open in the Empire State Building by coming under the wing of Campus Crusade for Christ and acquiring Northeastern Bible College. In 2012 the school became independent of Cru. In addition to its standard programs, the school began offering a semester-long residence in journalism, theater, and business to visiting students from other colleges.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to acute financial challenges at many evangelical schools, and King’s was no exception. The school’s image also suffered from controversies related to its former president Dinesh D’Souza. Although it survives as a legal entity, King’s has ceased all educational activities after losing its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as of August 31, 2023. The King’s website currently has an update reflecting the board’s ongoing discussions about keeping the school open and challenging the revocation of its accreditation.
Now What?
At this point there are no evangelical Christian colleges operating from New York City. People tend to blame COVID-19, demographic change, the rise in cheap online programs, or the decline in evangelical commitment to Christian higher education. As we’ve explained in a previous post, it’s all the above.
Talbot School of Theology is still operating the Feinberg Center in Brooklyn, preparing people for ministry to Jewish communities. Pillar College, just across the Hudson in Newark NJ, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Christian ministry. Several other Christian colleges and seminaries are still operating in upstate and western NY.
Two realities come to mind. First, Christians—including Christian students—are to be salt and light in this world. These closures remind us that we shouldn’t think of higher education as something that has to be done in a Christian enclave. Parents and churches must prepare young people for life—Christian colleges in loco parentis cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. Second, focusing specifically on the role of seminaries, campuses of bricks and mortar with accredited programs cannot replace the primary role of local congregations in developing the next generation of ministry leaders. Thankfully, Competency-Based Theological Education is taking up that mantle.
Despite the passing of prominent leaders and the closing of well-known schools, Jesus is still building his church. Alliance and King’s have sown many alumni/ae into the soil of the New York City metropolitan area. These graduates serve as a living testimony to the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ. Alliance and King’s both have hopes to continue. We hope they will, but only with a sound financial plan. Perhaps some sort of merger should be considered.
Come what may, the harvest is not over in the Big Apple.
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When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” -Matthew 9:36-38 NLT
Isn’t it also possible that evangelical Christians have a bad name with people. Based on what is happening in the political sphere, I no longer call myself a Christian but rather one who tries to follow the teachings of Christ. Too many “christians” are old testament, wrathful God people. Many don’t have any idea of what Christ taught and when they hear someone preach his word they call it woke. So I am not surprised these institutions are closing.
Thanks for the comment. Sure, some evangelicals have a bad name, and deservedly so, but I think you’re making unfair generalizations here. I wouldn’t draw such a contrast between the OT and the NT. There’s grace and wrath in both. Alliance and Kings were both diverse educational communities without political polarization.
Unfair generalizations are the signs of the times. And as unfair as it can be there is always guilt by association. Sometimes there needs to be a sharp distinction drawn.
Agreed, unfair generalizations and guilt by association are both signs of the times. Followers of Jesus need to resist the polarization of the cancel culture. Salt and light.
Faulty reasoning. Try again!
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As heartbreaking as this reality is, I think I can speak for other pastors in the NYC and upstate New York region when I say thank God for distance ministry training. Many pastors in this area are getting trained in spite of the pattern this blog points out. And they are doing it without leaving their home churches. One can argue that this is better for them as well as for their churches where they continue to minster. True , they won’t get the seminary fellowship experience that many of us once did decades ago. But they are getting trained for ministry. Thank God for that. We’ll do our best.
I can’t disagree with what you’re saying Dave. There are strengths and weaknesses in any modality of theological education. Thank God for all the ways ministry education is being done.
Sad to see vibrant institutions fall on hard times and close. Your closing statement: “the harvest is not over in the Big Apple” expresses the optimism we all should have as we serve the King.
I personally have experienced what was hailed a Christian education ~ I sought it out. It was anything but. Power and greed took over and the institution lost its way showing no regard for its students. I’d have called it a University but it wasn’t anything resembling one. It isn’t Christians giving themselves a bad name; it’s those professing to be something they are not. I’m sad to hear of these closings.
Sorry to hear of your bad experience Paula. It’s a sad reality that some institutions that market themselves as Christian don’t model the gospel. I guess that should spur us on to be authentic.
Is it also a possibility that dropping enrollment was precipitated by secularization of culture?
If so, the current revivals going on in the US give us some hope for reversing this trend.
Certainly a contributing factor, one that should remind us that we are salt and light.
What is your opinion of the many distance learning unaccredited seminaries?
That’s a really broad question. Answering it with a sweeping generalization isn’t wise.
With accredited online/distance programs proliferating, I wonder why someone would matriculate at an unaccredited school. Maybe they’re cheaper? Unaccredited schools should identify themselves as such. Not all unaccredited schools are degree mills; some are academically sound. Credits and degrees from such schools often are not recognized by accredited schools. Certifications may not be accepted by the U.S. military, state agencies, or denominations.
People who just want to study, who are not looking for an accredited degree, should at least check out the academic rigor of the school. What are the teachers’ credentials? What is covered in the curriculum? What books and resources are used? Unfortunately, some schools have stretched credit for “ministry experience” into granting a doctorate for a set of sermon notes. Caveat emptor!
It is indeed a sad reality of the coming times and the changing scenarios. But what comes in my heart is the scenario in 1 Kings 19:18 (Quoted by Paul in Romans 11 ); God is still at work, and He will preserve His inheritance. The shadow of sin plagues every earthly institution; And so, there is a beginning and the end of even institutions. I praise God along with you that Jesus is still building His Church and no gates of hell can overcome this institution (The Church of Jesus Christ our Lord).
Well said Subhash. Preach!
You mentioned “degree mills”. Would you agree that one person’s degree mill is another person’s non-traditional seminary? What’s wrong with getting seminary credit for ministry experience? Don’t most seminaries require an internship of some type?
I once worked for a non-accredited school that had a credentialed faculty and appropriate academic standards. A degree mill has neither. Internships that give credits for a properly-mentored and evaluated ministry experience are legit and important. That’s a far cry from giving credits in biblical and theological studies for Sunday school notes. It happens.
It’s always wonderful to hear your reflections, Dr. Turner. I would chime in a word about the difficulties that the entire “higher ed” industry faces. Every wave that splashes on higher education is a tsunami for Christian higher education. This is not particularly encouraging for those of us trying to surf these waves, but sobering.
May Christian schools be biblically faithful. May they be institutionally viable. And if/when circumstances force a choice between the two, may we joyfully pick faithfulness.
Great to hear from you Matt. Amen, and blessings!
Greetings David. Robin and I remember with great gratitude the impact you had in our lives as new seminary students at Grace, not to mention our days at BBC (now, CSU). Your post is important to us who care for the future of “the next generation” (Ps 71.18). In 2016 I wrote an encyclopedia article on a Scriptural premise for seminary and distance education. I hope the piece adds value to your ongoing discussion. Mark
https://markeckel.com/2021/01/13/distance-learning-from-the-first-to-twenty-first-century/
Good to hear from you Mark! Thanks for this link, I hope to look at it soon.