Wesley Seminary

Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University is an evangelical Christian theological seminary affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination that is also associated with Indiana Wesleyan University and located on its campus in Marion, Indiana.

History

In 2008, IWU administrators and the Board of Trustees endorsed the concept of the seminary and set aside funding for it. On April 3, 2009 the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the proposal after the seminary was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The seminary opened for the fall 2009 semester.^[1]

On October 2, 2009, during IWU's Homecoming Chapel, university president Dr. Henry Smith announced that the Board of Trustees had officially voted to name the seminary Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University and had chosen Dr. Wayne Schmidt to be the seminary's first Vice President.^[2]

Wesley is the first officially affiliated seminary in the history of the Wesleyan Church, which is one of the only evangelical denominations that does not currently require pastors to hold a seminary degree for ordination. Currently, only about 15 percent of Wesleyan pastors have seminary degrees. Denominational leaders hope the new seminary will double that number.^[3]

The seminary currently offers an innovative Master of Divinity degree program, along with other graduate theology degrees, offered in on-site and online formats. Wesley will eventually have its own building on campus, after the University received a substantial donation from the Green family, owners of the Hobby Lobby corporation. Until the new building is complete, the Noggle Christian Ministries Center will house the seminary, along with the undergraduate School of Theology and Ministry.^[4]

References