Asbury Theological Seminary
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| Motto | Where head and heart go hand in hand |
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| Established | 1923 |
| Type | Seminary |
| President | Dr. J. Ellsworth Kalas |
| Postgraduates | 1,761 |
| Location | Wilmore, KY, USA |
| Campus | Rural |
| Website | www.asburyseminary.edu |
Asbury Theological Seminary is a graduate institution that houses the schools of Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation, Theology and Formation, Practical Theology, World Missions and Evangelism, and Postgraduate Studies. It has campuses located in Wilmore, Kentucky; Orlando, Florida; and a virtual campus on the internet. Asbury Theological Seminary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
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[edit] History
Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in Wilmore, Kentucky in 1923 by its first president, Henry Clay Morrison. In 1940, Asbury Seminary separated from Asbury College in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. Because of the proximity of the two schools (across the street), similar name, and common theological heritage, many people confuse the relationship between the College and the Seminary. Today, there is no administrative connection between the two schools.
Succeeding Morrison as president was J.C. McPheeters, who was succeeded by Frank Stanger. David McKenna was the fourth president in the school's history. Maxie Dunnam was president until 2004, when Jeff Greenway became the sixth president of Asbury Theological Seminary. After a long conflict with the Board of Trustees, Greenway resigned on October 17, 2006, and Ellsworth Kalas was named interim president the following day.[1]
Theologically, the school is Wesleyan and has deep roots in the Holiness Tradition. It offers several M.A. degrees as well as a M.Div. Postgraduate students may pursue a Ph.D. in Missiology, a D.Min, or several Ph.Ds through an agreement with London School of Theology.
[edit] Extended education
The Seminary has three campuses. Wilmore contains the original and largest campus. During Maxie Dunnam's tenure as president, a campus in Orlando, Florida was opened. This campus was originally known as the "Orlando Campus," and was renamed the "Dunnam Campus," as a tribute to Maxie Dunnam upon his retirement as president. The extended learning campus (EXL) offers online classes, using the FirstClass program, allowing students all over the world to partake in studies.
[edit] Mission statement
Asbury Theological Seminary was founded "to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry" to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world. The contemporary form of this mission commits the Seminary to maintain a multidenominational, multicultural community which:
- Pursues the union of sound learning and vital piety through excellence in graduate, professional and continuing studies for ordained and lay ministries and provides resources for scholarly leadership in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition;
- Nurtures men and women called of God for parish ministry and other forms of servant leadership in the experience and practice of personal and social holiness as defined by Scripture and Wesleyan theology;
- Encourages its members, in their teachings, scholarship and service, to live out the witness of a Spirit-filled life formed by the authority of Scripture; and
- Prepares women and men for prophetic ministries of redemption and renewal in an increasingly urbanized and secularized world.
[edit] Technology
The school has been dubbed "the most technologically advanced seminary in the world". Resources include video production services and an information commons, which combines the resources of the library and the Information Technology department. The Information Commons is housed in the B.L. Fisher Library and contains 66 Windows based computers and 11 Macintosh computers for student use. Also included is a student video editing bay. The Information Commons also houses its own coffee house, known as Time Out, which offers computers and television news. The Information Commons is a member of ATLA and has holdings of 420,000 items. Parts of the campus are served by a wireless computer network. In addition, there are facilities for simulcasting meetings and classes between campuses by videoteleconference.
[edit] Notable faculty
- Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament and author.
- Jerry Walls, professor of Philosophy of Religion.
- Joel B. Green, professor of New Testament
- David Bauer, professor of Inductive Bible Study and dean of the school of Scripture and Proclamation.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Former Congressman and current Governor-elect of Ohio Ted Strickland.
