Moving in Fall 2023
BOZEMAN, MT – Yellowstone Theological Institute is getting a new home on the west side of Bozeman, Montana. On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, YTI announced that it has purchased property at 83-89 Rowland Road. The big white barn was most recently home to Farmacy, a popular local eatery, that is relocating to a Main Street location near Bozeman High School later this spring.
YTI’s purchase of the property is the result of a successful $12.5 million fundraising effort. The campaign was announced in November 2021 and recently met its fundraising goal. Funds raised helped to purchase the building and will expand YTI’s programs and staff to meet growing demand.
“The generosity of our community shows how strongly people believe in our mission to train the next leaders of faith-based organizations,” said Dr. Jay Smith, YTI’s President.
YTI is a nondenominational Bozeman-based theological school offering master’s programs in Christian theology, scripture, sacred art, and adventure ministry. It is the only theological school in Montana and the Rocky Mountain region to offer graduate-level courses.
Since opening in 2015, YTI has rented space in various Bozeman locations. It currently operates out of leased office space near Bobcat Stadium. Establishing a permanent home meets a goal that YTI has had from the start.
The move to YTI’s new location is slated for early fall 2023, following renovations. The new location increases YTI’s classroom, library, rehearsal and office space to accommodate growing enrollment and offers spaces for community events and performances.
This change also marks a shift in YTI’s original plans to build a larger campus on Bozeman’s southside. Those plans included trails, athletic fields, and indoor and outdoor spaces for community groups and events. The escalating cost of construction was the primary driver for the change in plans. YTI’s mission to provide quality theological education for men and women, and to enhance the lives of the residents of the Gallatin Valley remains unchanged. YTI’s ability to utilize the beauty of the valley in its mission, and to support local artists will continue into the future.
“We are excited about this opportunity because it means we can settle into a unique, highly visible permanent home sooner,” says Smith. “As a result, we can better serve our students and our community.”
Purchasing and renovating the Rowland Road property is simply a better use of the funds contributed by our visionary donors, Smith added. They have enabled the Institute to become a stand-out organization, with a campus for the future at a much more sensible cost. The cost savings realized will fund new staff, new programs, and courses.
While many generous donors participated in the campaign, key support came from Karen Gilhousen, Jon and Jenni Leach, Bryan and Heather Klein, Rick and Shannon Ungersma, Joe and Diane Billion, Marc and Mary Kay Yeley, Skogen Farms, Mike Ingram, Chris Budeski, and Dr. Jay and Melissa Smith.
“We are humbled by the support of so many generous people,” Smith said. “YTI is committed to delivering on our promise to prepare the next generation of leaders to lead with faith, compassion, and skill, and to pass the legacy of love, generosity, and faith to our community.”
For more information or to support Yellowstone Theological Institute, visit https://yellowstoneti.wpengine.com or call (406) 404-1600.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chase Rose
chase@bannackgroup.com
(406) 580-4328
About Yellowstone Theological Institute – Founded in 2012, Yellowstone Theological Institute is educating leaders of the future church in personalized, one- to three-year programs that connect classroom and community, passion, and profession, through a unique approach emphasizing faith, adventure, and the arts. Students can obtain a Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Diploma of Christian Theology. Located in Bozeman, Montana, YTI is the first and only theological institute in Montana and the Northern Rocky Mountain region that offers graduate-level courses.
Learn more about YTI’s new home in our Winter 2023 Inscribed newsletter.