Columbia Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
. It is located in Decatur, Georgia
. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.
, by several Presbyterian ministers. In 1830, the seminary was moved to Columbia, South Carolina
(taking its name at that location), and in 1927, to its current location in suburban Atlanta.
Students : 475 in six degree programs (see below).
Faculty: 32.
Alumni/ae 3,500 living.
Columbia's Center for Lifelong Learning offers non-degree programs and events for lay persons and clergy.
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. It is located in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.
Description
Columbia Theological Seminary was founded in 1828 in Lexington, GeorgiaLexington, Georgia
Lexington is a city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Oglethorpe County...
, by several Presbyterian ministers. In 1830, the seminary was moved to Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
(taking its name at that location), and in 1927, to its current location in suburban Atlanta.
Students : 475 in six degree programs (see below).
Faculty: 32.
Alumni/ae 3,500 living.
Basic degree programs
- Master of DivinityMaster of DivinityIn the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
- prepares students for ordained ministry (M.Div.). - Master of Arts in Theological Studies - academic training in theology (M.A.T.S.).
- Master of Arts in Practical Theology - a new (2010) degree program that offers areas of concentration in Christian Education, Christian Leadership, Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology, and Worship(M.A.P.T.).
Advanced degree programs
- Master of TheologyMaster of TheologyA Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
- prepares students for Doctorate studies (Th.M., like the S.T.M.). - Doctor of MinistryDoctor of MinistryThe Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
- advanced degree for ordained ministers (D.Min.). - Doctor of Educational Ministry - advanced Christian Education training (D.Ed.Min).
- Doctor of TheologyDoctor of TheologyDoctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
- offered for Pastoral Care and Counseling (Th.D).
Columbia's Center for Lifelong Learning offers non-degree programs and events for lay persons and clergy.
People associated with the seminary
- James Henley ThornwellJames Henley ThornwellJames Henley Thornwell was an American Presbyterian preacher and religious writer.Born in Marlboro District, South Carolina, on December 9, 1812; Thornwell graduated from South Carolina College at nineteen, studied briefly at Harvard, then entered the Presbyterian ministry...
, (1812-1862) professor of theology post-1855; president of South Carolina College, leader in organizing the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States. - Benjamin Morgan Palmer, graduate (1841); Professor of Church History and Polity (1854-1856), first Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States.
- Charles Colcock JonesCharles Colcock JonesCharles Colcock Jones, Sr. was a Presbyterian clergyman, educator, missionary, and planter of Liberty County, Georgia....
, Sr., professor (1835-38, 1847-50), patriarch of the family chronicled in Children of Pride (1972) and Erskine Clarke's Dwelling Place (2005) - Joseph R. WilsonJoseph R. WilsonJoseph Ruggles Wilson, Sr. was a prominent Presbyterian theologian and father of President Woodrow Wilson and of Joseph Ruggles Wilson, Jr..-Biography:...
, father of Woodrow WilsonWoodrow WilsonThomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, faculty member following the Civil War. - Peter MarshallPeter Marshall (preacher)Dr. Peter Marshall was a Scottish-American preacher, former pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, and twice served as Chaplain of the United States Senate...
, 1931 graduate, twice Chaplain of the United States SenateChaplain of the United States SenateThe 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 appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
. - D. James Kennedy, graduate.
- Walter BrueggemannWalter BrueggemannWalter Brueggemann is an American Protestant Old Testament scholar and theologian.-Life:The son of a minister of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ. Brueggemann received an A.B. from Elmhurst College , a B.D. from Eden Theological...
, Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
Professor Emeritus, theologian and writer. - Erskine ClarkeErskine Clarke-Life:He is professor emeritus of American religious history, Columbia Theological Seminary.He is married to Nancy Warren.-Awards:*2006 Mary Lawton Hodges Book Prize in Southern Studies*2006 Bancroft Prize*2006 Malcolm Bell Jr., and Muriel Barrow Bell Award...
, Professor Emeritus, religious historian. - Ian PunnettIan PunnettCase Ian Punnett is an American radio broadcaster.Punnett hosts a morning show, Ian and Margery, with his wife on KTMY in Minneapolis-St...
, graduate, radio talk show host. - Ben MathesBen MathesBen Mathes is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church who has been actively involved in providing health care in remote regions throughout the world....
, graduate, Missionary, founder of Rivers of the World. - Barbara Brown TaylorBarbara Brown TaylorBarbara Brown Taylor is an American Episcopal priest, professor, and theologian and is one of the United States' best known preachers....
, Adjunct Professor of Christian spirituality, and well-known Episcopal priest and writer. - John H. LeithJohn H. LeithJohn Haddon Leith was an important Presbyterian theologian and ordained minister who was the Pemberton Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia from 1959 to 1990...
, graduate. - J. Vernon McGeeJ. Vernon McGeeJohn Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, was an ordained Presbyterian minister who later pastored an interdenominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister.-Early Years and Education:...
, graduate (1933), founder of Thru The Bible Radio Network.