Calvin Theological Seminary

Infobox_University
name = Calvin Theological Seminary


motto = My heart I offer to you, Lord, promptly and sincerely|free_label = Tagline
free = A community of faith. A center of learning. A life of ministry.
established = 1876
type = Private Christian Graduate School
faculty = 35
president = Cornelius Plantinga
students = 379
city = Grand Rapids, Michigan
country = USA
campus = convert|1|acre|m2|sing=on, suburban
colors = True
mascot = John Calvin
affiliations = Calvin Theological Seminary,Calvin College, Christian Reformed Church, MIAA, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
website = [http://www.calvinseminary.edu www.calvinseminary.edu]

Calvin Theological Seminary is a seminary affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and closely tied to Calvin College, though each institution has its own board. Dr. Cornelius Plantinga is currently president of the school.

Education

The seminary primarily prepares students for ordained ministry within the denomination through the Master of Divinity degree, but also grants master's degrees (M.A., MTS) in other subjects including worship, education, missions, and theological studies.

The seminary also offers a Th.M. with concentrations in Old Testament, Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature, New Testament, Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Philosophical and Moral Theology, Pastoral Care, Church Polity and Administration, Preaching, Worship, Educational Ministry, and Missions as well as the Ph.D. degree in historical, systematic, and philosophical theology, and in ethics [ [http://www.calvinseminary.edu/degrees/index.php Degrees and Programs ] ] .

In addition to formal degrees, the seminary offers continuing education including courses that are open to visitors, lectures, book discussion groups, and conferences for clergy and those in the community [ [http://www.calvinseminary.edu/continuingEd/index.php Continuing Education ] ] .

History

The seminary was founded in 1876 with the purpose of preparing ministers for the Christian Reformed Church [ [http://www.crcna.org/pages/calvin_seminary.cfm Calvin Theological Seminary - Christian Reformed Church ] ] . Originally it met on Spring Street in Grand Rapids, MI, but in 1892 it was moved to Madison Ave. and Franklin St. In 1917 it made the move to the Franklin St. location. Then it began holding classes on the Knollcrest Campus, its current location, in 1960.

In 1894 the Seminary began to offer 8 literary courses for the preparation for seminary studies then in 1900 these courses were expanded and made open to non-seminary students. By 1901 this led to the enrollment of the school's first 4 female students. In 1908 these were expanded to include full 4 years of high school education and two years of college, then in 1914 this was expanded to 3 years. In 1919 and 1920 respectively a college president and a fourth year of college education were added, which led to Calvin College [ [http://www.calvinseminary.edu/aboutUs/history.php History ] ] .

A building expansion project was completed in 2003, adding a preaching chapel, a student center, and new office space. In 2004, the main chapel was renovated, and the school hopes to begin renovation of the auditorium soon.

Notable alumni and faculty

*Louis Berkhof
*Herman Hoeksema
*James Kennedy, professor of the history of the Netherlands at the University of Amsterdam
*James Olthuis
*Lewis B. Smedes
*Cornelius Van Til

References

External links

* [http://calvinseminary.edu/ Calvin Theological Seminary website]
* [http://kerux.org/ Kerux, the online student publication of Calvin Theological Seminary]