McCormick Theological Seminary Announces $1 Million Gift Establishing the Mitzi Gebhard Henderson Endowed Chair

Landmark endowed chair honors lifelong Presbyterian advocate, equipping future faith leaders to advance justice, inclusion, and transformative ministry.

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- McCormick Theological Seminary is honored to announce a transformational $1 million gift establishing the Mitzi Gebhard Henderson Endowed Chair, a living tribute to a Presbyterian lay leader whose courage helped bend church and country toward fuller inclusion.

Unlike traditional endowed chairs tied to a single academic field, the Henderson Chair is intentionally flexible, allowing the seminary to appoint a scholar in the area where theological education and formation most urgently require depth.

Given Mitzi Henderson’s legacy as a national leader for LGBTQIA inclusion—including her service as national president of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)—McCormick anticipates a justice-and-equity focus across disciplines. The search is expected to begin in Fall 2026, with an appointment targeted for Fall 2027.

“Our calling is to pair world-class scholarship with liberating practice, so that every voice is heard and every student is equipped,” said President Dr. Maisha Handy. “The Henderson Chair strengthens our faculty, fuels innovative research and teaching, and keeps McCormick at the forefront of justice-rooted, inclusive theological education.”

Born in 1933 in Oak Park, Illinois, Mitzi Gebhard grew up a careful saver, a curious student, and a steadfast Presbyterian. After excelling at Oak Park and River Forest High School, she studied at Wellesley College, including a junior year in post-war France. She married Tom Henderson, a civil engineering student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and together they raised four children while Mitzi poured her gifts into church leadership, civic learning (PTA, League of Women Voters, Great Books), and the long work of justice.

A turning point came in 1978 when one of her sons came out as gay. Mitzi met that moment with Scripture, study, and love—and then with action. Within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she championed ordination and marriage equality, helping to found and serving as the first co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians. Nationally, she led PFLAG (1992–1996), testified against the so-called Defense of Marriage Act before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and helped restructure PFLAG into a truly national federation.

Mitzi’s Presbyterian commitments ran deep: lay leadership in multiple congregations, service in presbytery, statewide campus ministry leadership, and two terms as a trustee of McCormick, where she chaired key committees and helped guide presidential transitions. Her life braided faith, learning, and public witness—the very strands this chair will strengthen for generations.

The Henderson Chair will:
* Attract and retain a scholar-practitioner who teaches across boundaries—classroom to congregation, sanctuary to city hall.
* Seed new courses and research in justice, equity, and pastoral practice—shaping ministers, chaplains, and organizers for complex contexts.
* Deepen partnerships with movements and ministries advancing inclusion, racial justice, and community repair.

“This is more than an academic appointment,” the seminary noted. “It is a formation engine that will keep McCormick nimble to the Spirit and responsive to the world God loves.”

McCormick gives thanks for Mitzi’s family, whose generosity honors her lifelong devotion to faith, education, and the love and acceptance of others. The seminary also honors Tom’s memory and the Hendersons’ 50-year partnership that underwrote so much of this witness.

Because of the Henderson Chair, students at McCormick will keep learning how to preach with clarity, organize with wisdom, and lead communities with courageous love—today and long after any of us are gone.

For updates on the Henderson Chair search and related events, visit McCormick’s news page and join the seminary in giving thanks for a gift that will continue to open doors, widen tables, and form leaders for liberating ministry.

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