Western Theological Seminary

Albertus van Raalte founded Hope College in Holland Michigan ; believing that parents had a primary responsibility to educate their children and not the state. [ 1 ] In 1866, seven students graduating from Hope College felt called to full-time Christian ministry following graduation. They wanted to pursue their theological training in West Michigan, so they made a petition to the General Synod of the Reformed Church to allow for theological training through the Hope College Religion Department. Permission was granted and Western Theological Seminary was established. [ 2 ] Initially, the theological department within Hope College was used for theological education; but in 1884 following the synods approval the department was separated from Hope College and Western Theological Seminary was established as its own institution. [ 3 ] In 2022, the seminary became independent, though retains a relation to the Reformed Church in America, the denomination that gave it life and sustenance for over 150 years.

The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). It offers the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees; it also offers graduate certificates.

J. Todd Billings , Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology

Wendell Chino , president of the Mescalero Apache Nation Martin De Haan , founder of Our Daily Bread Ministries Norman Kansfield , senior scholar at Drew University Stephen Kaziimba , Archbishop of Uganda Henry Collin Minton , scholar, minister Richard Mouw , president of Fuller Theological Seminary Robert H. Schuller , author, pastor Eugene Sutton , Episcopal Bishop of Maryland Robert E. Van Voorst , faculty at Western Theological Seminary