Memphis Theological Seminary Board Recommends Closure Effective July 31, 2026
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At a specially called meeting on Thursday, December 11, the Board of Trustees of Memphis Theological Seminary approved a recommendation to the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (CPC) that the seminary cease operation as of July 31, 2026. The recommendation will be considered by denominational representatives during a Called Meeting of the CPC’s General Assembly on January 23–24, 2026.
For more than sixty years, Memphis Theological Seminary has stood as a beacon of scholarship, piety, and justice in the heart of Memphis. When the Cumberland Presbyterian Church moved the seminary to Memphis in 1964, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, it was a bold act of faith. The Church declared that it wanted to be urban and multiracial, educating men and women and welcoming persons of all Christian denominations. From the beginning, MTS was described as an ecumenical mission of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church—a vision that continues to define who we are.
That vision has shaped countless leaders whose impact stretches across the world. Todd Richardson, President and CEO of Crosstown Concourse, said, “I don’t think there is a Crosstown Concourse today without the seminary’s impact on me and others in our great city.” Dr. LaSimba Gray recalled visiting the campus in the 1970s and realizing, “This was a place where my people were welcome—and I wanted to be trained in my faith.” Grammy Award–winning artist Kirk Whalum said, “I’m a minister who holds a saxophone. I play with people who are Muslims, atheists, and people who love Jesus like me. The seminary changed my life.”
Our alumni continue to embody the Gospel in every sphere of life—among them Rev. Lisa Anderson, founder of Room in the Inn–Memphis; Bishop Dorothy Sanders Wells, the first woman and first African American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi; Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary of the Department of Christian Education and Formation, CME Church; Dr. Christopher Davis, pastor and President of LeMoyne–Owen College; and Dr. Keith Norman, pastor and Vice President for Governmental Relations at Baptist Memorial Health Care.
In recent years, the challenges confronting theological education nationwide reached our doorstep. As a standalone seminary without the support of a larger university structure, we have borne all operational costs on our own.
For the last two years, the seminary has been engaged in a merger, acquisition, or partnership (MAP) evaluation and has reviewed 30 different institutions. The limited amount of endowment and assets under our direct control has left us unable to secure a MAP partner. Under our current operational model as a standalone seminary, we have been left with few options.
If the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church approves the MTS Board’s recommendation to cease operations on July 31, 2026, we will work diligently with our accrediting bodies and academic partners to support each student and ensure the most seamless academic transition possible during this time of change. We are also committed to walking closely with our faculty and staff, providing care, clear communication, and support as they navigate this season. I am grateful for the extraordinary effort, grace, and professionalism of our faculty and staff, many of whom have devoted decades of their lives to this place.
Ours is a unique mission—serving a richly diverse community of God’s children here in the Mid-South and beyond. This mission has always been larger than any one institution, and it will continue to live on through the transformative leadership of generations of MTS alums serving around the globe.
This is a moment for prayer, unity, action, and bold faith as we seek God’s guidance. Please join us in praying for our seminary community, that we may be a comfort and a light to one another in this time of transition.
Rev. Dr. Jody Hill
President
Memphis Theological Seminary
168 East Parkway South
Memphis, TN 38104
901-458-8232
