United Theological Seminary

For the seminary in Minnesota, see United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

Part of a series on Methodism
John Wesley
Background Christianity Protestantism Pietism Anglicanism Arminianism Wesleyanism
Doctrines Articles of Religion Prevenient Grace Governmental Atonement New Birth Imparted righteousness Christian perfection Assurance Conditional preservation of the saints Works of Piety Works of Mercy
Key people John Wesley Richard Allen Francis Asbury Thomas Coke William Law William Williams Pantycelyn Howell Harris Albert Outler James Varick Charles Wesley George Whitefield Countess of Huntingdon Bishops · Theologians
Largest groups World Methodist Council AME Church AME Zion Church Church of the Nazarene CME Church Free Methodist Church Methodist Church of Southern Africa Methodist Church of Great Britain Methodist Church in Ireland Methodist Church in India United Methodist Church Wesleyan Church
Related groups Holiness movement Moravian Church Salvation Army United Church of Canada Uniting Church in Australia
Other topics Connexionalism Saints in Methodism Homosexuality and Methodism
Methodism portal

United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright (the father of Orville and Wilbur Wright), it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. In 1968, when the United Brethren merged with The Methodist Church, United Theological Seminary became one of the thirteen official seminaries of the new United Methodist Church. Though the seminary is affiliated with the United Methodist denomination, students come from many denominations and are ordained by a wide range of denominations upon graduation. The seminary houses a Presbyterian, Baptist, and United Church of Christ House of Studies. In recent years, the seminary has become a hub for discussion of church renewal.

History

The seminary opened as Union Biblical Seminary in Dayton in 1871, operating with two full-time professors. In 1873 the seminary began admitting women. The first graduating class completed their studies in 1874. The school changed its name to Bonebrake Seminary in 1909 to honor Mary and John Bonebrake who gave the seminary a gift of nearly $100,000. In 1954 United Theological Seminary was formed when the previous Union Biblical Seminary and the Evangelical School of Theology in Reading, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1905, merged. Four of the faculty members from the Evangelical School of Theology moved to Dayton to remain at the new seminary. A new dormitory was completed in 1957, several years after a new library was constructed. 1961 saw the completion of a new worship center. In 1968 The Evangelical United Brethern Church and The Methodist Church merged. The United Methodist Church was formed by the merger, and the school became one of thirteen seminaries associated with the new denomination. The seminary began offering a Doctor of Ministry degree for the first time in 1971. During the 1970s and 1980 several new initiatives were undertaken. 1992 saw the creation of a Doctor of Missiology degree program. In 1996 a new campus was established in Buffalo, New York. Two years after celebrating their 130th anniversary in 2001 the seminary formed the Institute for Applied Theology in 2003. In 2005 the seminary moved their campus from Dayton to the suburb of Trotwood. During the 2000s United has developed several Distance learning programs and continues to attract students from nearly every state in the United States, as well as from a number of countries around the world.

Academics

The seminary offers Master of Divinity (M.Div), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), and Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (M.A.C.M.) degrees at the masters level, as well as a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) degree at the doctoral level. Students in the Master of Divinity program can choose to enroll in the West Virginia In-Context concentration for those students who live in a geographic area not served by another United Methodist Seminary. The seminary also houses the Institute for Applied Theology, as well as the Pohly Center for Supervision and Leadership Formation, the Center for Urban Ministry, the Center for Worship, Preaching and the Arts, The Heinrich Center for Wellness Ministry and Education, and the Harriet L. Miller Women's Center, which all offer classes for enrolled students, clergy, and lay leaders.

Accreditation

United Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Center for Evangelical United Brethren Heritage

A part of United's archives is its Center for Evangelical United Brethren Heritage, which manages archives related to the Evangelical United Brethren and other related denominations.

Executive Faculty and staff

Peter J. Bellini - Assistant Professor of Missiology
Sarah D. Brooks Blair - Director of Library Services and Assistant Professor of Church History
Thomas B. Dozeman - Professor of Old Testament
Wendy J. Deichmann Edwards - President and Associate Professor of History and Theology
James Eller- Assistant Professor of Digital Cultural Ministry
Richard Eslinger - Professor of Homiletics and Worship
Tim Forbess - Vice President for Development
Lisa M. Hess - Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Practical Ministries
Harold Hudson - Assistant Professor of Preaching and Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies
Vivian L. Johnson - Associate Professor of Old Testament
Emma J. Justes - Distinguished Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Ron Kuker - Vice President for Finance
Kendall K. McCabe - Professor of Evangelization in the Heisel Chair
Alicia D. Myers - Assistant Professor of New Testament
Luther J. Oconer - Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies
Andrew Sung Park - Professor of Theology and Ethics
Jerome P. Stevenson- Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Jason E. Vickers - Associate Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies
David F. Watson - Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament
David M. Whitford - Professor of the History of Christianity

Notable alumni/ae

• Paul Eugene Virgil Shannon-Bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
• DeForest Soaries (D.Min.) - African-American Baptist minister, politician, author and public advocate. Former Secretary of State of New Jersey.
• Marshall Gilmore (D.Min. in 1974) - the 41st Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Floyd H. Flake (D.Min.) - Pastor of the 23,000 member Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church; president of Wilberforce University and congressman.
• Vashti Murphy McKenzie (D.Min.) - the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Michael Slaughter (D.Min) - Lead Pastor, Ginghamsburg Church, author, leader in the missional church movement.
• Jeremiah Wright (D.Min) - For 36 years the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago and pastor to the family of President Barack Obama.
• Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth (D.Min.)- Reality Television star, best known for starring on The Apprentice.
• Howard Storm-Former atheist and art professor at Northern Kentucky, who became a Christian pastor after experiencing a near-death experience.

Notable Faculty

• Leonard Sweet -former professor and president of the seminary.
• Andrew S. Park -Current professor of theology and ethics and pioneer of Asian American liberation theology.
• Samuel DeWitt Proctor -former professor.

External links

• Seminary website
• History of United