Winebrenner Theological Seminary and University of Findlay Announce New Partnership

Findlay, Ohio – Winebrenner Theological Seminary and the University of Findlay are proud to announce a new partnership between the two institutions. The University and Winebrenner have reached a mutual agreement for the University to purchase the facility currently owned and occupied by Winebrenner Theological Seminary. The two institutions will continue to remain separate organizations in identity and institutional governance.
Before becoming final, the purchase agreement must be approved by the Higher Learning Commission, the accrediting organization for both the University and Winebrenner.
Partnership plans were initially communicated at UF’s annual faculty and staff breakfast meeting prior to the start of the fall semester. Click here to watch the video.
Under a new long-term lease agreement, Winebrenner will continue to conduct classes in the building as well as maintain office space for its faculty and staff. The University of Findlay will have opportunities for new uses of the building as part of the University’s overall master planning process.
“Winebrenner’s Board of Trustees continually seeks the best ways to serve our students and honor the historical relationship with the Churches of God, General Conference,” said Dr. Brent C. Sleasman, president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary. “This decision to sell our facility to the University of Findlay is one way the Winebrenner Board has proactively chosen to respond to emerging challenges in the marketplace. Throughout the 75 years of Winebrenner’s existence, many things have remained constant including our commitment to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom.”
“This new partnership will be tremendously beneficial to the University of Findlay and Winebrenner Theological Seminary,” stated Katherine Fell, Ph.D., president of the University of Findlay. “The two institutions have a long, shared history of collaborative partnership; and this is an exciting next step that will help both organizations to continue to fulfill our missions.”
Among the collaborative opportunities that could emerge from this partnership are joint events for alumni, focused recruitment of undergraduate students at Findlay who have a desire to pursue graduate degrees offered by Winebrenner, and the discovery of avenues in which new donors can contribute to the Christian heritage that is so vital to both institutions.
The generosity of Winebrenner’s financial contributors will continue to be recognized within the building, added Sleasman. “We’ve identified options for appropriately honoring benefactors who currently hold recognition within the Winebrenner administrative suite and classrooms, and within other dedicated areas,” Sleasman said.
The shared history between the two organizations began in 1942 when the Seminary was established as the Winbrenner Graduate School of Divinity within then Findlay College. Then in 1961 the two entities approved the separation of the Winebrenner Graduate School of Divinity from the College, creating Winebrenner Theological Seminary. The Seminary moved off campus in 1962 to a new three-building complex two miles from campus. More than 40 years later in 2003, Winebrenner moved to the current home of the seminary directly adjacent to the University’s main campus.
Media Contacts:
Winebrenner Theological Seminary:
Dr. Gregory Guzman
Vice President Institutional Advancement; Director of Development
419-434-4207
Gregory.guzman@winebrenner.edu
 
University of Findlay:
Joy Brown
Media Relations Coordinator
419-434-4345
jbrown@findlay.edu