Bangor - The Bangor Theological Seminary is making some changes.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to suspend the Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts degree programs at the end of the 2012-13 academic year.

According to Reverend Dr. Robert Grove-Markwood, Seminary President, the decision was made now in order to allow students, prospective students, faculty and staff time to make plans.

"Throughout its almost two hundred years of service, the Seminary has modified its programming while remaining faithful to its mission of providing learned leadership for ministry in churches and in the world. In the face of declining enrollment, the Board concluded that our endowment cannot sustain our present operational budget. It can, however, support a new direction for the Seminary, with God's help. The Board has chosen to act decisively, while we have the resources to build a new future," said Grove-Markwood in a press release.

The changes are being made " in order to explore a range of options for the Seminary consistent with its historic mission of service to the Church," according to H. Lowell Brown, chair of the board.

We are told the academic dean will work with students to explore options for completing their studies.

According to Grove-Markwood, the board will reconfigure the Seminary and plans to announce the new direction this spring.

Bangor Theological Seminary was founded in 1814 and is the only accredited graduate school of religion in northern New England.

For more information on Bangor Theological Seminary click here.

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