COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary announced Monday that it plans to close its Columbia campus on North Main Street and move to Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.
When the two schools merged in 2012, many thought this would be the Columbia-based school's saving grace.
Reverend Leroy Cannon graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1979. He now works at Reformation Lutheran Church and said this news was shocking.
"It was shocking because of the fact that we knew that when Lenoir-Rhyne came, this was a good thing," Cannon said. "It was a good thing to help the community. It was a good thing to help the survival of the Lutheran Southern Seminary, and so we were just happy, overjoyed. And at one of our meetings, they came in and said it's moving, and when we heard this, it's something like this come over my heart. It was a sad mood for me."
Cannon also said the university closing its campus in Columbia will further increase the shortage of pastors in the Palmetto State.
"We are already in a shortage of pastors and because of the fact that they will not be in South Carolina, they'll be in North Carolina, and being in North Carolina, that would give North Carolina the first choice, especially if they are coming from the North Carolina synod," Cannon said.
Bridget Whately, studying for her master's in divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, said she always thought she could visit after graduation.
"Honestly, I am heartbroken that we're moving. There's so many good memories here, both for myself and for people that I know," Whatley said. "The seminary was founded in 1830, and so 2030 would have been our 200th anniversary, and you know, I thought about coming back here, and now that's not going to happen."
In a statement on the school's website, officials said this move will save the university $2.1 million yearly in operating and maintenance costs. All full-time staff, including teachers and library faculty, will be offered jobs at the main campus in Hickory, North Carolina.
The final decision for the move is pending approval from the university's trustee meeting this month.