Asbury Theological Seminary is a Christian

Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan– Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

in the historical

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...

tradition located in

Wilmore, Kentucky Wilmore is a home rule-class city in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 3,686 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the United States Census Burea ...

. It is the largest seminary of the

Wesleyan-Holiness movement The Holiness movement is a Christian movement that emerged chiefly within 19th-century Methodism, and to a lesser extent other traditions such as Quakerism, Anabaptism, and Restorationism. The movement is historically distinguished by its emph ...

. It is known for its advocacy of egalitarianism, giving equal status for men and women in ministerial roles and for ordination. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...

and the

Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. History It was founded in 1918. The assoc ...

(ATS).

History

Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in Wilmore, Kentucky, in 1923 by its first president, Henry Clay Morrison, who was at the time the president of Asbury College. In 1940, Asbury Seminary separated from the college in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. Because of the proximity of the two schools (across the street), similar name, and common theological heritage, many people confuse the relationship between the college and the seminary. While they are separate institutions, the schools maintain a collegial relationship that benefits both communities. The current president of Asbury Theological Seminary is Dr. Timothy Tennent, Ph.D., who has served as the eighth president since July 1, 2009.

Presidents

# Henry Clay Morrison (1923–1942) # J.C. McPheeters (1942–1962) # Frank Stanger (1962–1982) # David McKenna (1982–1994) # Maxie Dunnam (1994–2004) # Jeff Greenway (2004–2006) # Ellsworth Kalas (2006–2009) # Timothy Tennent (2009–present)

Extended education

In addition to the main campus at Wilmore, the seminary offers courses at the Florida Dunnam Campus in

Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...

, through online courses (Extended Learning), and extension sites in Memphis, Tennessee, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Accreditation

Asbury Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award master's and doctoral degrees. It is an accredited member of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Asbury Theological Seminary does not, within the context of its religious principles, its heritage, its mission, and its goals, discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, physical impairment, or gender in administration of its admission policies, educational policies, scholarship, and loan programs, athletic or other school-administered programs. The seminary is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

Academic Schools

Asbury Theological Seminary has five academic schools. * School of Biblical Interpretation * E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism * School of Theology & Formation * Beeson School of Practical Theology * Orlando School of Ministry

Notable faculty

* Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament, known for his expertise in Greco-Roman and Jewish sources *

John N. Oswalt John N. Oswalt is an American scholar and distinguished professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. He teaches in theology, Old Testament and ancient semitic languages including Hebrew. He is the author of 11 scholarly books; foremo ...

, visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament, involved with the NIV and NLT Bible translations and author of a major commentary on Isaiah * Ben Witherington III, Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies and prolific author * Bill T. Arnold, Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and associate editor of NICOT a major Old Testament commentary series * Kenneth J. Collins, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies, prominent John Wesley scholar

Notable alumni

* Jacob DeShazer, a member of the

Doolittle Raid The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was an air raid on 18 April 1942 by the United States on the Japanese capital Tokyo and other places on Honshu during World War II. It was the first American air operation to strike the Japa ...

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of ...

in Japan, and then a missionary to Japan in the Free Methodist Church * Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church in

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

* Alfred W. Gwinn, former United Methodist Bishop of the North Carolina Annual Conference * Stephen Hance, Church of England priest and Dean of Derby Cathedral *

Joe Hilley Joseph H. Hilley (born June 29, 1956) is a New York Times Best Selling author. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up on the Gulf Coast in the town of Grand Bay, Alabama. He is a graduate of Asbury College, Asbury Theological Seminary, an ...

, (class of 1984), New York Times bestselling author *

James W. Holsinger James Wilson Holsinger Jr., (born May 11, 1939) is an American physician. A former Major General (United States), major general in the United States Army Reserve, U.S. Army Reserve (1962 to 1993), he has worked primarily in public health for ove ...

, M.Div., former chair of Board of Trustees, former member of the Board of Trustees, and nominated United States Surgeon General * David Seamands, United Methodist pastor and writer *

Ted Strickland Theodore Strickland (born August 4, 1941) is an American politician who was the 68th governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ...

(class of 1967), 68th

Governor of Ohio A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

and former member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Seminaries and theological colleges in Kentucky Educational institutions established in 1923 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Buildings and structures in Jessamine County, Kentucky Christianity in Orlando, Florida Universities and colleges in Orlando, Florida Seminaries and theological colleges in Florida Education in Jessamine County, Kentucky 1923 establishments in Kentucky Methodist seminaries and theological colleges Methodism in Kentucky Methodism in Florida