Claremont School of Theology Announces $1 Million Leadership Gift to Launch Bridge to the Future Campaign
LOS ANGELES, CA — Claremont School of Theology (CST) today announced a $1 million leadership gift from Kyungsig Samuel Lee, PhD, and Yonghwa Kim Lee, MBA, marking a defining moment in the launch of the Bridge to the Future Campaign—a ten-year effort designed to secure the future of leaders the world cannot afford to lose.
The Lees’ gift establishes The Kyungsig Samuel & Yonghwa Kim Lee Endowed Chair of Practical Theology in Global Contexts, strengthening CST’s global impact while honoring its historic and enduring role in shaping Christianity in Korea.
“This endowment is an investment in both memory and mission,” said Dr. Lee. “CST has long served as a living bridge between Christianity in the U.S. and Christianity in Korea, and its influence far exceeds its size—it is global in scope and enduring in impact.”
Co-President Grant Hagiya noted that the gift arrives at a pivotal moment for the institution. “Dr. & Mrs. Lee’s leadership affirms what so many know to be true—that CST’s work matters deeply in this moment,” Hagiya said. “This campaign is about protecting courageous theological education and ensuring that faith-rooted leadership for justice and compassion continues to flourish.”
Co-President Jeffrey Kuan emphasized the global significance of the endowment. “This gift honors CST’s historic relationship with Christianity in Korea while investing in its future,” Kuan said. “It strengthens our commitment to practical theology that is culturally grounded, globally engaged, and responsive to the realities facing communities today.”
For decades, CST has been a formative force in Korean theological education, with more than 45 CST PhD graduates now teaching in universities and seminaries throughout Korea. Many alumni serve as denominational leaders and influential pastors, shaping both academic discourse and congregational life.
Rev. Virginia (Ginny) Wheeler, Chair of the Bridge to the Future Campaign Steering Committee, described the gift as catalytic. “Leadership gifts like the Lees’ set the pace and expand our collective imagination,” Wheeler said. “This campaign is being built by people who understand that CST’s legacy is not only worth preserving—it’s worth expanding for generations to come.”
As the only United Methodist graduate theological school on the Pacific Coast, CST continues to serve as a vital hub for theological education across the Pacific Rim and beyond. The Bridge to the Future Campaign will support faculty excellence, reduce student debt, and strengthen CST’s long-term capacity to serve church and society.
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Founded in 1885, Claremont School of Theology is a progressive, ecumenical, and interreligious theological school committed to forming leaders for justice, compassion, and transformative service in the world.