St. Margaret's House and Windham House to Change Program
Diocesan Press Service. May 10, 1966 [43-3]
The two national training centers for women in the Episcopal Church, St. Margaret's House and Windham House, will both terminate their present programs within the next two years. The reason is that there exist today many places where women can obtain a theological education. This was not true when the two training centers were founded.
Thus the two institutions will be free to serve related but different concerns of the Church: St. Margaret's in 1966 and Windham House in 1967.
Today eight of the Episcopal Church's accredited seminaries accept women, six as full time students. In addition, the rapid growth of ecumenical commitment has increased the acceptability of degrees from non-Episcopal institutions. During 1966-1967 Episcopal women are studying at the divinity schools of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Chicago, and at Andover-Newton, McCormick and Union Theological Seminaries.
There are also new diocesan or regional training opportunities which may allow women who have home responsibilities to prepare, through disciplined study and work, to serve as Christian educators in their own parishes while remaining at home. Other new types of training, such as that offered at the Chicago Urban Training Center, are emerging in a number of different fields throughout the country.
These new training opportunities have come about in response to a changing world and changing needs within the church.
St. Margaret's House and Windham House are changing their programs in recognition of the changes which have occurred in today's society and in theological education.