Phillips Theological Seminary 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 recorde ...

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, ...

affiliated with the

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...

and located in

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...

. It was established in 1906 and was originally a part of the now defunct

Phillips University Phillips University was a private university Enid, Oklahoma. It opened in 1906 and closed in 1998. It was affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It included an undergraduate college and a graduate seminary. The university wa ...

History

The forerunner of Phillips Theological Seminary originated in 1906 as part of

Enid, Oklahoma Enid ( ) is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,308. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, a ...

, a

liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual capac ...

and

graduate school Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...

affiliated with the

. The Articles of Incorporation for the proposed "Oklahoma Christian University" were executed on October 9, 1906, known as Founders Day. The first classes were held at the College of the Bible of Oklahoma Christian University in Enid, Oklahoma on September 17, 1907. The university changed its name to Phillips University in 1912. In its early years, the seminary was known as the College of the Bible of Phillips University. In 1951, the

Association of Theological Schools 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 as ...

accredited the seminary, which became known as The Graduate Seminary of Phillips University. The seminary began offering distance classes in Tulsa by utilizing facilities at local congregations and at the

University of Tulsa The University of Tulsa (TU) is a private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and the campus architectural style is predominantly Collegiate Gothic. The school traces its origin to ...

in 1986. In 1987, Phillips Graduate Seminary incorporated as a freestanding institution independent of Phillips University. The Board of Trustees voted to change the name to Phillips Theological Seminary in 1995. In 1997, the Board of Trustees voted to move the seminary to Tulsa. Phillips Theological Seminary acquired its current campus in 2002 when the QuikTrip Corporation donated its former corporate headquarters to the seminary. After extensive renovations, the first classes were held at the 901 N. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, Okla. campus in 2003. Phillips Theological Seminary was approved to offer comprehensive distance education in 2009. The seminary's namesake, Phillips University, filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on April 1, 1998 and closed four months later. It was named for businessman and philanthropist T.W. Phillips of Butler, Pennsylvania, who financed the university in its early years.Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture
, Oklahoma Historical Society Online Edition, Oklahoma State University Library Electronic Publishing Center Phillips Theological Seminary houses the transcripts of the alumni of

Academics

Degrees conferred by the seminary include the Master of Divinity (M.Div.),

Master of Theological Studies A Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a graduate degree, offered in theological seminary or graduate faculty of theology, which gives students lay training in theological studies. Under Association of Theological Schools in the United States ...

(MTS), Master of Arts (MA) in Social Justice, Master of Arts in Ministry & Culture, and

Doctor of Ministry The Doctor of Ministry (abbreviated DMin or D.Min.) is a professional doctorate, often including a research component, that may be earned by a minister of religion while concurrently engaged in some form of ministry. It is categorized as an advance ...

(D.Min.). Additionally, a wide array of certificates and graduate diplomas are conferred. In addition to providing pastoral training for the

, the seminary also provides pastoral training for the

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) is a Baptist Christian denomination in the United States. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Decatur, Georgia. History The Cooperative Baptist Association has its or ...

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant Lutheran church headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA was officially formed on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three Lutheran church bodies. , it has approxim ...

, Presbyterian Church (USA), Cumberland Presbyterian Church,

United Church of Christ The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination based in the United States, with historical and confessional roots in the Congregational, Calvinist, Lutheran, and Anabaptist traditions, and with approximatel ...

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

, and the

Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a liberal religious association of Unitarian Universalist congregations. It was formed in 1961 by the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America, both P ...

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Christianity in Tulsa, Oklahoma Education in Tulsa, Oklahoma Seminaries and theological colleges in Oklahoma Universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Educational institutions established in 1906 Buildings and structures in Tulsa, Oklahoma 1906 establishments in Oklahoma Territory