Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
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The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (SDATS) is the seminary located at Andrews University in Michigan, the Seventh-day Adventist Church's flagship university. Since 1970 the SDATS has been accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
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[edit] History
The earliest ministerial education in the Seventh-day Adventist Church was simple conversion of ministers from other denominations and an apprentice-type of arrangement where aspiring ministers worked along those of more experience. Later, ministerial institutes were incorporated into the Battle Creek College (now Andrews University) curriculum. By the 1910s Arthur G. Daniells began to make calls for more ministerial education. These attempts were not realized until the beginning of the Advanced Bible Training School on the campus of Pacific Union College in 1934. The fledgling Seminary moved to the campus of Washington Missionary College (now Columbia Union College) in 1937 and renamed the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.
[edit] Organization
The Seminary consists of six departments: Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Theology, Christian Ministry, Missions, and Church History.
[edit] Enrollment
In 1961 the Seminary had an enrollment of 129. By 2007 the Seminary's enrollment had increased to 768 students.
[edit] Horn Archeological Museum
In 1970 the Seminary opened up an archeological museum. The core collection of several hundred items came from Siegfried H. Horn and other donors. The museum was named in honor of Dr. Horn in 1979.
[edit] Deans
The Advanced Bible School (1934-1937) was the forerunner of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. In addition, the SDA Theological Seminary became part of Potomac University from 1957-1960, which in 1960 merged to become Andrews University.
- Milton E. Kern (1934-1943)
- Denton E. Rebok (1943-1951)
- Vernon Edwards Hendershot (1951-1952)
- Ernest D. Dick (1952-1959)
- Charles E. Weniger (1959)
- William Gordon Campbell Murdoch (1959-1973)
- Siegfried H. Horn (1973-1976)
- Thomas H. Blincoe (1976-1981)
- Gerhard F. Hasel (1981-1988)
- Raoul Dederen (1988-1991 --Acting)
- Werner K. Vyhmeister (1991-2000)
- John McVay (2000-2006)
- J. H. Denis Fortin (2006-present)