 Iliff Hall, built 1892 | |
| Type | privategraduatetheological school |
|---|---|
| Established | 1892 |
| Affiliation | United Methodist Church |
| Endowment | $49.42 million |
| Students | 185 (Fall 2022)[1] |
| Location | ,, United States |
| Campus | Urban Adjoins the University of Denver's 125 acre campus[2] |
| Colors | Blue |
| Website | www |
Iliff School of Theology is aprivategraduateMethodisttheological school inDenver,Colorado. Founded in 1892, the school's campus is adjacent to theUniversity of Denver.
Iliff is one of thirteenUnited Methodist Churchseminaries in the United States. It also has close connections with theUnited Church of Christ, theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America, theUnitarian Universalist Association, theEpiscopal Church, thePresbyterian Church USA, theMetropolitan Community Church, and others. Iliff's student body represents more than thirty faith traditions,[3] and Iliff aims to recruit, enroll, and retain a student body that is fifty percent Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) by the fall of 2024.[4]
Iliff School of Theology isaccredited byAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and theHigher Learning Commission.
Iliff was founded in 1889 as a seminary and school of religious studies of theUniversity of Denver.[5] In 1892, it was named the Iliff School of Theology afterJohn Wesley Iliff (1831–1878)[6] who had wanted to establish a school for training ministers in the territory of Colorado. After he died, his wifeElizabeth Iliff Warren and her second husband, BishopHenry White Warren, succeeded in starting the Iliff School of Theology.[7] The cornerstone ofIliff Hall was laid on June 8, 1892 and construction was completed in 1893.[8] While the construction was taking place, the first classes began on September 23, 1892.[9]
In the summer of 1900, Iliff closed for various financial and organizational reasons.[10] On August 27, 1903, Iliff School of Theology was incorporated as an independent institution, separate from the University of Denver.[11] It reopened on September 10, 1910 as a freestanding school of theology and Methodist seminary.[12]
"In 1893, Iliff School of Theology took into its library a book, given as a gift, written in Latin that is a History of Christianity. It was covered by the skin of a murdered Indian man. It was treasured by the institution and displayed for 80 years in a case outside of the Library. In 1974, under pressure from students, the book was taken out of public view and in the presence of a representative of the American Indian Movement, the skin cover was removed and repatriated. Everyone present that day were sworn to secrecy and required to sign non-disclosure agreements."[13]
In September 1981, Iliff and theUniversity of Denver inaugurated a jointPh.D. program leading to theDoctor of Philosophy in Religious and Theological Studies.[14]
Iliff has hosted a number of high-profile leaders for special events, including former Secretary of StateMadeleine Albright, the Little Rock Nine, and others. From February 24–27, 2008, Iliff honored theLittle Rock Nine in a series of events called "A Celebration of Courage."[15][16][17]
In 2011, Iliff established "The Courage Award." The award is given out as a means "to acknowledge and celebrate individuals or organizations whose courage, persistence, and determination has changed an unjust situation in the world." The first recipient of this award was Judy Shepard for her work in telling the story of her son,Matthew Shepard.
Presidents of the Iliff School of Theology have included:[18]
The school's library is the Ira J. Taylor Library. In 2008, it claimed to be the largest theological collection in the Rocky Mountain area with approximately 205,800 volumes, 60,600 microforms, and over 900 current periodical and serial subscriptions.[22]
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