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The Farminary is a place where theological education is integrated with small-scale regenerative agriculture to train faith leaders who are conversant in the areas of ecology, sustainability, and food justice. It is designed to train students to challenge society’s 24–7 culture of productivity by following a different rhythm, one that is governed by the seasons and Sabbath.
Students with different stories, from different theological backgrounds, and from different walks of life come together at the Farminary to understand their beliefs, themselves, and God in a deeper way.
“The project’s main goal is to form leaders by cultivating agrarian sensibilities within them like paying attention to the seasons, understanding the interconnectedness of life and death, and becoming comfortable with failure,” says Nate Stucky, director of the Farminary Project.
On a typical day at the Farminary, students can be seen clad in boots and overalls gently turning rich, dark compost with shovels. Although this isn’t the traditional seminary classroom setting, this is where learning happens. Formerly a Christmas tree farm and sod farm, the Farminary overlooks a pond and includes a 200-foot by 100-foot garden plot and a barn that is used for discussion and a place for sharing meals.
“Students with different stories, from different theological backgrounds, and from different walks of life come together at the Farminary to understand their beliefs, themselves, and God in a deeper way,” says Pearl Quick, MDiv/MACEF ’20, student farm assistant.
“As students work together in the gardens or share meals, space opens up for humanizing conversations,” Stucky added. “There’s an opportunity to process the content of the curriculum.”
In 2017, the Seminary launched the Concentration in Theology, Ecology, and Faith Formation, which is open to all master’s-level students. The program trains students to recognize the connections between theology and current ecological issues and how to respond to those challenges. Learn more about the concentration in this 2017 article, Faith on the Farm.
In 2022, the Seminary introduced the Master of Arts in Theology and Ecology degree program. This 13-month program will equip graduates to lead with care and compassion by engaging students in the intimate connections among land, space, justice, soil, place, and neighbor.
Wright Library
Main Campus
