Western Theological Seminary

The Western Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America (Western Theological Seminary or WTS) is a seminary of the Reformed Church in America and located in Holland, Michigan. Established in 1866, it is one of two seminaries[lower-alpha 1] operated by the Reformed Church in America, a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States that follows the theological tradition and Christian practice of John Calvin.[lower-alpha 2][1]

For the former institution in Pittsburgh, see Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. For the former institution in Illinois, see Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.
Western Theological Seminary
TypeSeminary
Established1866
Religious affiliation
Reformed Church in America
PresidentFelix Theonugraha
Location
Holland, Michigan
,
Michigan
,
United States
Websitewww.westernsem.edu
DesignatedMarch 9, 1966

The seminary offers professional and graduate degree programs for candidates for ministry, and to those pursuing careers in academia or non-theological fields. It was established to fill a need for theological education on the (then) western frontier of the Reformed Church in America. In its theological identity, Western Theological Seminary is evangelical, ecumenical and Reformed. Western Theological Seminary prepares students for ministry often involving ordination (many in the Reformed Church in America), as well as for further graduate study, chaplaincy, missions, youth ministry, social service ministry, etc. Although WTS is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, it is ecumenical in scope and it educates students from other denominations, including: the Christian Reformed Church, the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Presbyterian Church (USA).

History

In 1866, seven students graduating from Hope College felt called to full-time Christian ministry following graduation. They wanted to pursue their theological training in West Michigan, so they made a petition to the General Synod of the Reformed Church to allow for theological training through the Hope College Religion Department. Permission was granted and Western Theological Seminary was established.[2]

Academics

The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). It offers the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)degrees; it also offers graduate certificates.

Notable faculty
  • J. Todd Billings, Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology
  • Timothy L. Brown, 'Henry Bast – Professor of Preaching' and President Emeritus
  • Benjamin T. Conner, Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Disability and Ministry
  • Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality
  • Kristen Deede Johnson, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
  • Han-luen Kantzer Komline, Assistant Professor of Church History and Theology
  • Alvin Padilla, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Director of Advanced Degrees, and Professor of New Testament

Notable alumni

Notable affiliations

Among its student awards, Western Theological Seminary awards annual prizes for Excellence in Writing and Excellence in Preaching, named after the theologian and writer Frederick Buechner. Additionally, Seminary President and Henry Bast Professor of Preaching, Timothy Brown, has also delivered guest lectures on the topic of Buechner, including at the Buechner Institute at King University in 2013.

Notes
  1. The other being New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey
  2. Note, before 1819, RCA was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church.

References
  1. Reformed Church in America. Educational Institutions – Seminaries. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  2. "The Western Story". westernsem.edu/about. Western Theological Seminary. Retrieved 15 September 2014.

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