Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary (Garrett) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

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

and graduate school of theology related to the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

and is ecumenical in spirit. It is located in

Evanston, Illinois Evanston is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, situated on the North Shore (Chicago), North Shore along Lake Michigan. A suburb of Chicago, Evanston is north of Chicago Loop, downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skok ...

, on the campus of

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

. The seminary offers master's- and doctoral-level degrees, as well as certificate, micro-credentialing, and lifelong learning programs. It has thousands of alumni serving in ministry, education, organizational leadership, and public service throughout the world. Despite located on Northwestern University's Evanston campus, Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is not part of the university.

History

Garrett–Evangelical is the result of the interweaving of three institutions: * Founded in 1851 and beginning operations in 1853, the school is the result of a generous gift by benefactor Eliza Clark Garrett. Garrett Biblical Institute was the first Methodist seminary in the Midwest. It was established by the same group who founded Northwestern University, and both institutions have shared a campus in Evanston since their founding days. Its founders hoped that the school would shape mind and spirit for an educated clergy, a controversial topic as many local congregations looked with suspicion upon institutions of higher learning. Both Garrett and Northwestern University were early expressions of Methodists’ deep commitment to higher learning and making that learning increasingly accessible for leaders of the church and civil society. * The Chicago Training School, established in 1885, was a force for women in ministry and for developing social and educational service agencies throughout Chicago. Its primary mission was to train female leaders to advocate for the poorest residents of the city, many had either recently emigrated from Europe, or were from the formerly enslaved communities from southern states who made their way north as part of the Great Migration. The school also played a significant role in training missionaries for service throughout the world. The Chicago Training School merged with Garrett Biblical Institute in 1934, forming Garrett Theological Seminary. * Evangelical Theological Seminary, located in Naperville and founded as a seminary of the Evangelical Church (later the Evangelical United Brethren) in 1873, and was originally founded to serve the needs of the growing German-speaking immigrant communities. Garrett–Evangelical was formed in 1974 when the Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston merged with the Evangelical Theological Seminary in

Naperville, Illinois Naperville ( ) is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, DuPage and Will County, Illinois, Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago located west of the city on the DuPage River. As of the 2020 United State ...

(both UMC schools). The merged school occupied the Garrett campus in Evanston. Garrett–Evangelical is on the campus of

and continues associations with the university. Both institutions were founded by the same Methodist clergy and laity in the mid-nineteenth century. Garrett has been an institution that specializes in preparing pastoral leaders for congregational leadership, and has also been a pioneer in preparing women for ministry and public leadership.

Partnerships

Northwestern University

Garrett–Evangelical and

have a relationship that is 170 years old. Founders established both institutions to provide a learned clergy for an educated church, and learned citizenry for the rapidly growing and expanding "North West," as the

Chicagoland The Chicago metropolitan area, also referred to as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Midwest, containing the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs and satellite cities ...

area was then known. Over the decades, the institutions have shared resources, including courses, buildings, faculties, libraries, parking, technology, and in its earliest days a joint Board of Trustees.

The Association of Chicago Theological Schools

The Chicago area boasts the greatest concentration of seminaries per capita of anywhere in the U.S. The Chicago area schools are organized into a cluster called The Association of Chicago Theological Schools. Garrett–Evangelical is one of the 11 member schools. The ACTS website states: :Together, the schools within ACTS offer a rich network of resources for theological education, making the association one of the outstanding centers of theological education in the world. Available to the approximately 3,000 students currently enrolled at its member schools is a faculty of more than 350, more than 1,000 courses offered annually, and library collections of 1.7 million volumes and nearly 5,000 currently received periodical subscriptions.

Academic Centers and Institutes

Center for the Church and the Black Experience

The oldest of Garrett's academic centers, it focuses on research, teaching, scholarship, leadership development, activism, spirituality, and the cultural impact and liturgical life of the black church, as well as centers the life, work and voices of black scholars, pastors and preachers, movement leaders, musicians, writers, poets, and artists.

Stead Center for Ethics and Values

Founded through the generosity of Mary Joy and Jerre L. Stead, the center draws together seminary resources, graduate professional schools, area religious leaders, and laity to address the compelling ethical issues facing contemporary society. The center engages in teaching and research on ethics and values by creating spaces for conversation, dialogues, and developing resources that enhance moral communities.

Ruben P. Job Institute for Spirituality and Spiritual Formation

Established in 2012, the Rueben P. Job Institute for Spirituality and Spiritual Formation seeks to resource laity and clergy, as well as advance research and training in the fields of Spirituality and Spiritual Formation. Named in honor of a figure in the field of Christian spiritual formation, Bishop Rueben P. Job, a Garrett–Evangelical alumnus.

Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry

The CAAM focuses its efforts on creating community for and among Asian descent students, while also centering Asian descent scholarship in the academic life of the seminary. The center also engages in support of ministries with communities of Asian descent in the Chicagoland area and beyond.

Styberg Preaching Institute

Named for its benefactors, Ernest and Bernice Styberg, the institute is a research center in

homiletics In religious studies, homiletics ( ''homilētikós'', from ''homilos'', "assembled crowd, throng") is the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific art of public preaching. One who practices or studies homiletics may be ...

focused on improving and strengthening the art and practice of preaching. It accomplishes this work through research initiatives, workshops, and conferences.

Hispanic-Latinx Center

The center provides resources and academic dialogues on critical issues for Hispanic-Latinx churches and communities addressing theological and practical aspects of ministry in cross-cultural contexts.

Center for Ecological Regeneration

The Center for Ecological Regeneration provides opportunities for eco-theological research, education and formation.

Notable alumni

* Edsel Albert Ammons (B.D., 1956) – a bishop of the United Methodist Church *

Hobart Baumann Amstutz Hobart Baumann Amstutz (September 18, 1896 – February 26, 1980) was a bishop of the American Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1956. Early years He was born in Henrietta, Ohio and graduated in 1915 from Oberl ...

( B.D.) – a bishop of The Methodist Church * James Hal Cone (

M.Div. For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and di ...

and

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

) – father of Black Liberation Theology *

Don Wendell Holter Don Wendell Holter (24 March 1905 – 12 September 1999) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1972. He was born in Lincoln, Kansas, a son of Henry O. and Lenna Mater Holter. Education Don graduated from Baker Uni ...

(B.D., 1930) – a

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of the

* Bruce Johnson – a

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

minister who worked closely with the

Young Lords The Young Lords, also known as the Young Lords Organization (YLO), were a left-wing political organization that originally developed from a Chicago street gang. With major branches in Chicago and New York City, they were known for their direct act ...

in Chicago * Jonathan D. Keaton (

, 1971; S.T.D., 1979) – a bishop of the United Methodist Church * David J. Lawson (B.D., 1959) – a bishop of the United Methodist Church *

George McGovern George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American politician, diplomat, and historian who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator from South Dakota, and the Democratic Party (United States), Democ ...

(No degree, 1946) – historian,

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

, and 1972 Democratic

presidential candidate A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

J. Gordon Melton John Gordon Melton (born September 19, 1942) is an American religious scholar who was the founding director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and is currently the Distinguished Professor of American Religious History with the I ...

(M.Div., 1968) – a research specialist in religion and

New Religious Movements A new religious movement (NRM), also known as a new religion, is a religious or spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in origin, or they can be part of a wider re ...

Smokie Norful Willie Ray "Smokie" Norful Jr. (born October 31, 1975) is an American gospel singer and pianist. Career Norful is best known for his 2002 album, '' I Need You Now'' and his 2004 release, '' Nothing Without You'', which won a Grammy at the 47th ...

(attended) – American gospel singer and pianist who won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004 *

Lloyd John Ogilvie Lloyd John Ogilvie (2 September 1930 – 5 June 2019)Marquis Who's Who on the Web Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

minister, author, and former

Chaplain of the United States Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

* Bruce R. Ough (M.Div., 1978) – a bishop of the United Methodist Church * Henry C. Schadeberg (B.D., 1941) – politician * Lyle E. Schaller (B.D., 1957) – church consultant, church growth leader * John S. Stamm (graduate of Evangelical Theological Seminary-Naperville, Illinois .T.S. – bishop of the Evangelical Church * John McKendree Springer (B.D. from Garrett Biblical Institute, 1901) – pioneering Methodist

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

and bishop *

Emilie Townes Emilie Maureen Townes (born August 1, 1955, Durham, North Carolina) is an American Christian social ethicist and theologian. She was Dean, E. Rhodes, and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society at the Vanderbilt University Div ...

(Ph.D. 1989) womanist theologian and dean of Vanderbilt University Divinity School *

Elmer Towns Elmer Leon Towns (born October 21, 1932) is an American Christian academic, pastor and writer who co-founded Liberty University alongside Jerry Falwell in 1971. He is a speaker on the principles of church growth, church leadership, Christian educa ...

(M.R.E. from Garrett Theological Seminary) – co-founder of

Liberty University Liberty University (LU), known simply as Liberty, is a Private university, private Evangelicalism in the United States, evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservativ ...

James Zwerg James Zwerg (born November 28, 1939) is an American retired minister who was involved with the Freedom Riders in the early 1960s. Early life Zwerg was born in Appleton, Wisconsin where he lived with his parents and older brother, Charles. His ...

– a

freedom rider Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States in 1961 and subsequent years to challenge the non-enforcement of the United States Supreme Court decisions '' Morgan v. Virginia' ...

before attending seminary

Former and current faculty

* Edsel Albert Ammons – professor, 1968–1976 * Ernest T. Campbell – professor of homiletics, 1982–1989 * Wayne K. Clymer – professor of

Pastoral Care ''The Book of Pastoral Rule'' (Latin: ''Liber Regulae Pastoralis'', ''Regula Pastoralis'' or ''Cura Pastoralis'' — sometimes translated into English ''Pastoral Care'') is a treatise on the responsibilities of the clergy written by Pope Greg ...

, 1946–1957;

dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...

, 1957–1967;

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

, 1967–1972 (all at Evangelical Theological Seminary,

);

of the

(1972–) * Georgia Harkness *

– professor of

church history Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritual side of t ...

and missions (1949–1958); then founding president of St. Paul School of Theology * Jonathan D. Keaton – graduate teaching assistant in communications, ethics and society, and church and the Black experience (1970s at Garrett and Garrett–Evangelical) * Daniel Parish Kidder – professor of homiletics. Editor, and author of ''Mormonism and the Mormons'' (1844), ''Sketches of Residence and Travel in Brazil'' (1845), ''The Fratricide "Reminiscences of The West India Islands:'' (1851), ''Treatise on Homiletics'' (1864, 1884), ''The Christian Pastorate'' (1871); He also edited ''THE SUNDAY-SCHOLAR'S MIRROR: A Monthly Magazine for Children'' (1850–1854) *

Helmer Ringgren Karl Vilhelm Helmer Ringgren (November 29, 1917 – March 26, 2012), was a Swedish theologian. He became Associate Professor in Religion at Uppsala University, 1947–59, and Acting Professor of Old Testament exegesis at the Åbo Akademi Universit ...

Rosemary Radford Ruether Rosemary Radford Ruether (; 2 November 1936 – 21 May 2022) was an American Catholic feminist theologian known for her significant contributions to the fields of feminist theology and ecofeminist theology. Her teaching and her writings helped e ...

– Roman Catholic feminist scholar * John S. Stamm – professor of

systematic theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics ...

at E.T.S. (1919–1926) *

K. K. Yeo K. K. Yeo or YEO Khiok-Khng (, born 1960), is a Malaysian-born U.S. Chinese scholar of the New Testament. He is known for his work in cross-cultural hermeneutics, public and global theologies. Biography Yeo was born and raised in a small coas ...

– Harry R. Kendall Professor of New Testament, 1996–

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 1853 establishments in Illinois Universities and colleges established in 1853 Northwestern University campus Seminaries and theological colleges in Illinois United Methodist seminaries Education in Evanston, Illinois Universities and colleges in Cook County, Illinois Graduate schools in the United States