Asbury Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological Seminary
Motto	The whole Bible for the whole world.
Type	Seminary
Established	1923; 101 years ago
Endowment	$149.9 million (2020)
President	Timothy C. Tennent
Students	1,710
Location	Wilmore, Kentucky, United States
Campus	Exurban (Kentucky), Suburban (Florida), Online
Website	www.asburyseminary.edu

Asbury Theological Seminary is a Christian Wesleyan seminary in the historical Methodist tradition located in Wilmore, Kentucky. It is the largest seminary of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement.^[2] 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^[3] and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).^[4]

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 names, 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.^[5]

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, 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, heritage, mission, and goals, discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, physical impairment, or gender in the 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.^[6]

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, a visiting distinguished professor of the 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 ^[7]
Kenneth J. Collins, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies, prominent John Wesley scholar

Notable alumni

Jacob DeShazer, a member of the Doolittle Raid, a prisoner of war in Japan, and then a missionary to Japan in the Free Methodist Church
Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego
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, (class of 1984), New York Times bestselling author
James W. Holsinger, 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 (class of 1967), 68th Governor of Ohio and former member of the United States House of Representatives.

References

^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
^ Winn, Christian T. Collins (2007). From the Margins: A Celebration of the Theological Work of Donald W. Dayton. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 115. ISBN 9781630878320. In addition to these separate denominational groupings, one needs to give attention to the large pockets of the Holiness movement that have remained within the United Methodist Church. The most influential of these would be the circles dominated by Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (both in Wilmore, KY), but one could speak of other colleges, innumerable local campmeetings, the vestiges of various local Holiness associations, independent Holiness oriented missionary societies and the like that have had great impact within United Methodism. A similar pattern would exist in England with the role of Cliff College within Methodism in that context.
^ "SACS Institution Details - Asbury Theological Seminary". Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
^ "Not Found". www.ats.edu. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009.
^ "Seminary hires new president". Jessamine Journal. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-02-20.^{[dead link]}
^ "Accreditation - Asbury Theological Seminary". Asburyseminary.edu. July 11, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
^ "Bill Arnold Named Associate Editor of the NICOT Series". Bill Arnold Named Associate Editor of the NICOT Series. 11 April 2019.