June 5, 2023
Note: This piece has been translated from the original article in Korean with minor edits.
On May 15, Claremont Theological Seminary (CST), before its announced move to Westwood, held an event called “66 Years on Route 66” to commemorate the journey of the past 66 years in Claremont ahead of its farewell to the Claremont campus. CST moved to the present Claremont location in 1957 and has trained numerous new students, pastors, and professors for 66 years until 2023. The event was attended by not only CST faculty, staff, and current students but also numerous alums and families who had graduated from the seminary.
The 66th-anniversary event was attended by Professor John Cobb, former President Jeffrey Kwan, ad interim President Grant Hagiya, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank (Los Angeles Episcopal Area), and Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut (Phoenix Episcopal Area), who gave congratulatory speeches looking back on the journey of the past 66 years in Claremont. Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth (Greater Northwest Episcopal Area) served as the host of the event.
In addition, prominent figures in the religious world, such as Rev. Hilly Gene Hicks Sr. (’84, ’85, Star of Roots, MASH, and Good Times), Bishop Mary Ann Swenson (retired from the UMC Western Jurisdiction), Professor Ann Taves (retired in 2005), and more shared messages remembering the history of the school and wishing for a bright future.
The three-hour event included a three-course meal, a live band performance, a commemorative gift for the attendees, games to add to the fun, and time for an auction to raise donations. About 300 attendees who participated in the event did not leave their seats until the event was over and rejoiced together as they looked back on the school’s 66-year journey. CST will move to Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles next January. CST, which has written a lot of history in Claremont for 66 years, now looks forward to continuing to create new stories in Los Angeles.
Watch the live stream of the event HERE.
View the photos of the event HERE.
Claremont School of Theology is United Methodist in origin and affiliation and ecumenical and interreligious in spirit. CST is one of 13 United Methodist seminaries. Please consider giving to its future at CST.edu/give.
