Memphis Theological Seminary Announces Teach-Out Partnership with Perkins School of Theology
Memphis, TN — Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS) announced today that it will conclude its academic operations following the 2025–2026 academic year and will enter into a teach-out partnership with Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology to ensure that current students are able to complete their degrees with continuity, integrity, and care. The decision follows a period of careful discernment by the MTS Board of Trustees, in close consultation with the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Over recent years, MTS has experienced sustained enrollment declines of approximately 10–15 percent annually, making it increasingly difficult to continue operating as a stand-alone institution beyond July 31, 2026.
Under the terms of the teach-out agreement, all current MTS students will be eligible to continue their theological education at Perkins School of Theology with 100 percent tuition scholarships, allowing them to complete their degrees without additional tuition cost.
Perkins offers a comparable ecumenical academic experience. Students who transfer to Perkins will continue in remote and online learning formats consistent with current MTS delivery models, with some opportunities for instruction through in-person, week-long intensives. Perkins is committed to offering these in-person intensive courses in Memphis, maintaining a Memphis
presence, and enrolling new students in the Mid-South beginning in Fall 2026.
According to Bryan Stone, Dean of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University:
“I am sorry to see Memphis Theological Seminary close, and I have long admired its passionate students, its vibrant ecumenical spirit, and its steady commitment to the integration of scholarship, piety, and justice. By opening our online and residential doors to Memphis students, we hope to learn from them and to provide them a high-quality educational experience in a warm and inclusive environment that will feel like home.”
Founded as an ecumenical seminary, Memphis Theological Seminary has educated ministers from a wide range of Christian traditions and has played a significant role in the life of the MidSouth and the city of Memphis. Its graduates have gone on to serve as pastors, military and hospital chaplains, missionaries, and leaders in homeless outreach and community ministries
throughout the region.
In addition to its commitment to students, MTS has prioritized care for its faculty and staff, who are the heart and soul of the school. The Seminary has adopted fair and respectful severance plans, which will provide transitional salary and health insurance coverage, in recognition of their faithful service and with deep gratitude for the grace, courage, and love they continue to show during these uncertain days.
MTS President Jody Hill acknowledged both the grief of the moment and the hope created through collaboration.
“This is a sad time for all of us who love and have been positively impacted by MTS,” Hill said. “The collaborative work of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Perkins School of Theology, and Memphis Theological Seminary gives us comfort and hope in the midst of our grief. Our passionate focus throughout this process has been on the well-being of our faculty, staff, and
students. I believe we have a plan that allows us to land the plane safely and to end well.”
Hill continued:
“This is not the outcome we hoped for, but it is one in which we can still celebrate God’s ability to bring good out of something painful. It is a witness to what people of faith can do when we trust the Holy Spirit to guide our work and to live faithfully in the way of Jesus.” Memphis Theological Seminary will continue normal operations through the conclusion of the 2025–2026 academic year, working closely with students, faculty, staff, and Perkins School of Theology to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.
Additional details regarding the teach-out process and next steps for students will be communicated directly to the MTS community.