About the President

The Reverend Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Ph.D., is the 11th president of Chicago Theological Seminary. She was professor of theology at CTS for 16 years, director of the Ph.D. center for five years; has a Ph.D. from Duke University, a Master of Divinity (Summa Cum Laude) from Duke Divinity School and a B.A. from Smith College.

An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ since 1974, she is the author or editor of ten books and has been a translator for two different translations of the Bible.

Read some of President Thistlethwaite's writings and speeches:

Op-ed articles by Susan Thistlethwaite

Public Addresses by Susan Thistlethwaite

Sermons by Susan Thistlethwaite

President Thistlethwaite contributes to weekly online discussion among faith leaders at www.washingtonpost.com

President Thistlethwaite's online video course: "Theology in the Local Church." Take a Look!

"I expect theological education to change more in the next decade than at any time since the Protestant Reformation. This rapid change will be the result of many forces in the culture and in Christianity itself: demographic changes, economic shifts and the globalization of both theology and culture. Some of these changes are exciting and hold out promise for realizing more of God's intentions for human life; some of these changes are far from benign and we must learn how best to struggle against them."

Some of her board & committee memberships are:

Theology Today
Editorial Board, 1993 - Present

Association of Theological Schools
Leadership Advisory Committee, 2000 - Present

Center for American Progress
Board Member, 2005 - Present

Faith and Public Life
Board Member, 2005 - Present

Medill Center for Religion and the News Media, Northwestern University
Board Member, 2001 - Present