(RNS) The new plan comes as mainline Protestant seminaries take steps to weather financial storms caused by an average drop in enrollments of nearly 24 percent since 2005.

CHR Comment: The seminaries were overstaffed, running deficits, and had a diminishing number of students. A joint committee quickly made the decision to restructure. Both institutions were seminaries of the ELCA which has suffered loss of membership in recent years due to changing teachings on human sexuality and other issues.

Source: Two Lutheran seminaries to close and reopen as new school – Religion News Service