Grace Theological Seminary

Infobox University
name = Grace Theological Seminary


motto = Character, Competence, Service
established = 1937
type = private coeducational
endowment = $4.3 million [cite web | title=America's Best Colleges 2006 | publisher=U.S. News & World Report | accessdate=2006-01-27 | url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_1800_brief.php]
faculty = 8 full, 7 other
president = Dr. Ronald E. Manahan
provost = Dr. William J. Katip
dean = Dr. Jeffrey A. Gill
city = Winona Lake
state = IN
country = USA
students = 160
campus = rural: 165 acre (0.667 km²)
affiliations = Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
website = [http://gts.grace.edu www.gts.grace.edu]
Logo is copyright Grace College and Theological Seminary, used by permission.

Grace Theological Seminary (GTS) is an evangelical Christian seminary located in Winona Lake, Indiana. GTS is joined with Grace College and is associated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. The seminary enjoys a history that dates back to its 1937 [http://www.cob-net.org/be/index.htm Church of the Brethren Network: Brethren Encyclopedia] . [http://www.cob-net.org/be/bwa.htm "Feature: Brethren World Assembly"] . Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.] organization by Alva J. McClain, [ [http://www.believersweb.org/ Believer's Web website] [http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=45 "Alva J McClain,1888-1968, Grace Theological Semin."] . Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.] the founder and first president. Its mission statement is: "Grace Theological Seminary is a learning community dedicated to teaching, training, and transforming the whole person for local church and global ministry." [ [http://www.grace.edu Grace College and Seminary website] . [http://www.grace.edu/grace/seminary/dean-of-seminary.htm "Dean of Seminary"] . Retrieved Dec. 14, 2005.] The seminary received school accreditation by the North Central Association and is a candidate for accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. [http://www.ats.edu/member_schools/gracetsg.asp] . The dean of the seminary is Dr. Jeff Gill.

History of Grace Theological Seminary

Grace Theological Seminary's early beginnings were from the roots of the Schwarzenau Brethren in Schwarzenau, Germany whose beliefs were Anabaptist and Pietistic. [cite web | title="Charis" | publisher=Grace Theological Seminary | accessdate=2007-08-23
url=http://hickory.palni.edu:4505/F/8NK34XFUL7IH2AQGJMH52I1KS7KLYKLD1JYGTVRAVT37DX8H9K-14036?func=full-set-set&set_number=004617&set_entry=000003&format=999]

[The following was abstracted from the Grace Magazine]

The seminary had its beginnings as a result of a prayer meeting in June 1937. Born as a theological seminary only, it was an answer to a deepening need for pastoral training in the Brethren Church. The doors of GTS opened officially in the fall of 1937 originally in Akron, Ohio, where the school was conducted in the Ellet Brethren Church for two years.

The new seminary soon gained wide acclaim for the quality of its teaching staff, which was under the leadership of its president, Dr. Alva J. McClain, a master teacher and well-recognized scholar. Men and women, both inside and outside the Brethren Church, were attracted to the school because of its reputation for positive biblical standards of Christian faith and life, and a strong emphasis on the authority and total reliability of Scripture.

GTS moved to Winona Lake, Indiana in the fall of 1939, where it occupied the top floor of the Free Methodist world headquarters building, now Mount Memorial Hall on the present campus of Grace College and Theological Seminary. The Seminary moved to its present location when McClain Hall, the school's first building, was completed in the fall of 1951. Grace College began as a two-year collegiate division of the seminary in 1948, and developed into a four-year, degree granting Christian college of the arts and sciences in 1954. [cite web | title="Grace Magazine, Parent's Edition, Fall 2007" | publisher=Grace College and Theological Seminary | accessdate=2007-08-23
url=http://www.grace.edu/grace/publications/gm_archive.htm]

For more information refer to the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Programs Offered by Grace Theological Seminary

*Master of Divinity Programs
**MDIV Pastoral Studies
**MDIV Exegetical Studies
**MDIV Intercultural Studies
**MDIV Counseling
*MA Programs:
**Master of Arts in Theological Studies
**Master of Arts in Exegetical Studies
**Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies
**Master of Arts in Local Church Ministries (Residential and Distance Education)

*Other Programs:
**Korean Program
**Doctor of Ministry

*Non Degree Programs
**Diploma in Theology
**Certificate in Biblical Studies

ome Faculty

*Dr. Ken Bickel [http://gts.grace.edu/bickel.htm] , Professor of Pastoral Ministries, Doctor of Ministry Coordinator
*Dr. Christy Morr [http://gts.grace.edu/morr.htm] , Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Women's Ministries
*Dr. Jeff Gill [http://gts.grace.edu/gill.htm] , Dean of Seminary, Professor of Pastoral Ministries
*Dr. Matt Harmon [http://gts.grace.edu/harmon.htm] , Associate Professor of New Testament Studies
*Dr. Roger Peugh [http://gts.grace.edu/peugh.htm] , Professor of World Mission
*Dr. Tiberius Rata [http://gts.grace.edu/rata.htm] , Professor of Old Testament Studies
*Dr. Mark Soto [http://gts.grace.edu/soto.htm] , Professor of Biblical Studies, Distance Education Coordinator
*Dr. Tom Stallter [http://gts.grace.edu/stallter.htm] , Professor of Intercultural Studies

ome Notable Alumni

* Neil Cole, church planter, author of "Organic Church: Growing Faith where Life Happens".
* Dr. John Davis, author, theologian.
* Dr. Homer Kent, author, theologian.
* Dr. Knute Larson, Pastor of The Chapel, Akron, Ohio
* Kary Oberbrunner, pastor, author of "The Journey Towards Relevance"
* Dr. Roger Peugh, Missionary in Germany
* Scott Feather Dean of Men at Grace College
* Gary Underwood, Pastor at Delaware Grace Brethren Church

References

External links

* [http://www.gts.grace.edu Grace Theological Seminary] (official site)
** [http://www.grace.edu/grace/seminary/faculty-staff.htm] (faculty and staff)
** [http://www.grace.edu/grace/seminary/academics.htm] (academics)

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Blogs

** [http://bibtheo.blogspot.com] Dr. Matt Harmon's Blog
** [http://fgbc-world.blogspot.com/] Brethren Missionary Herald Editor's Blog
** [http://rtdministry.blogspot.com] Kary Oberbrunner's Blog

ee also

*Billy Sunday Famous evangelist who lived in Winona Lake, Indiana.