“Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School is a family to me and many students that are part of it. The kind of community that Andover Newton offers is one of welcome and hospitality. There is no doubt that it has brought its unique flavor – a flavor of welcoming, love, and joy.” ~Abner Cotto-Bonilla, MDiv ‘18

Andover Newton Theological School, a historic seminary in the congregational traditions, had a visiting presence at Yale Divinity School in the 2016-17 academic year. During that visiting season, leaders from the two schools continued progress toward formal affiliation. On July 20, 2017, those negotiations reached their fruition as the schools signed a historic agreement to formally affiliate. The pact put in place a structure by which Andover Newton—now known as Andover Newton Seminary—has relocated to Yale Divinity School.

As the visiting year ended and the formal affiliation was signed, Andover Newton commenced a Visioning Year. Thanks in part to an Innovations Grant from the Association of Theological Schools, members of the Andover Newton faculty and staff spent the Visioning Year creating an educational program in congregational ministry. The program design process included pilot initiatives that provided opportunities for Yale Divinity School students to become prepared to lead in locally-governed and theologically inclusive Christian faith communities.

In May 2018, the Yale Divinity School faculty approved an educational program through which YDS Master of Divinity candidates can earn Andover Newton diplomas concurrently with their degrees.  Andover Newton’s diploma program (see curriculum page), overlaid on the YDS MDiv, provides students with structure that helps them use that flexibility to meet specific professional preparation needs. 

January 20, 2023, marked the permanent affiliation between the two institutions. A public signing of the affiliation to both formalize the partnership and mark the occasion included YDS Dean Gregory Sterling, Andover Newton Founding Dean Sarah Drummond, Chair of Andover Newton’s then Board of Trustees - now Advisory Council - Hannah Kane, and Yale President Peter Salovey (See: Signing Ceremony Marks Andover Newton’s Permanent Affiliation). 

For more information about Andover Newton, please visit the links below to read a Dean’s Welcome from our Founding Dean, Rev. Dr. Sarah B. Drummond; learn about our History, Mission and Core Values; Open, Welcome, and Affirming Statement; Strategic Plan; and FAQs.