Wesley Seminary

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Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

Established	2009
Affiliation	Wesleyan Church
President	Dr. David Wright
Dean	Dr. Ken Schenck
Academic staff	11
Administrative staff	5
Students	275
Location	Marion, IN, USA
Seminary Vice-President	Dr. Wayne Schmidt
Website	seminary.indwes.edu

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 June 20, 2012 Wesley Seminary was admitted as an Associate Member of the Association of Theological Schools.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Wesley has completed construction of its seminary on the IWU campus in Marion, Indiana in part through a substantial donation from the Green family, owners of the Hobby Lobby corporation. On April 12, 2012, the cornerstone for the new $7 million Wesley Seminary building was laid and the facility was completed in 2013.^[5]

Accreditation

Wesley Seminary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It also received accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in 2014. Association of Theological Schools ^[6]

Academics

The seminary currently offers an innovative Master of Divinity degree program, along with other graduate theology degrees, offered in on-site and online formats.^[7]

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) 75 hours
Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.) with two concentration options (Ministerial Leadership or Youth Ministry) 36 hours

==Philosophy==

Missional - Students in the M.Div. program at Wesley Seminary engage in ministry and service as a central part of the program. Every student must be involved in ministry at least 20 hours per week.
Integrated - The unique Wesley curriculum design is shaped by what ministers really do. Each course is crafted and taught by a cross-disciplinary team of scholar-practitioners. Students complete many assignments in the local ministry setting. Bible, theology and church history are woven into each practical course.
Spiritual - The program doesn’t just teach about God, it helps the student connect with God. Every unit has a spiritual formation component built into it so both the mind and heart will grow closer to God.
Economical - The tuition rate is one of the lowest in the country. Also, at only 75 hours (most M.Div. programs are 90 hours), Wesley also offers one of the most compressed.
Personalized - The Wesley Seminary programs are designed to fit the student's schedule. Classes can be taken online (with occasional visits to campus) or completely on site. Much of the coursework will be tailored to the student's current ministry.
Relational - Using a cohort model of education, students advance through the program with the same peers, fostering deep, meaningful relationships that will last beyond graduation.
Leading-edge - Students study with expert faculty and learn from leading practitioners on location. As the largest university in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Indiana Wesleyan University provides students with a wealth of resources, including one of the finest campuses in the country.

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References

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