Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
located in Point Breeze, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. RPTS is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
and was founded in 1810, making it the fifth oldest seminary in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Mission and Emphasis
RPTS's mission is “to educate students who love the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, equipping pastors for the ministry of the gospel and preparing others in the church for effective service in His kingdom, all within the framework of the historic Reformed faithCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
.”
RPTS emphasizes:
- Scholarship in Biblical studies, systematic theology, church history, and Biblical counselingNouthetic CounselingBiblical counseling Biblical counseling Biblical counseling (also known as nouthetic counseling from the Greek word noutheteo ("to admonish or warn.") is a form of Christian counseling that aims to use devotional instructions in the Bible to treat psychological problems. It treats psychological...
- The cultivation of personal godliness and interpersonal skills
- The development of spiritual gifts
All RPTS professors have significant “field” experience in the church; therefore, classes are taught from the perspective of ordained pastors. This emphasis is highlighted by RPTS’s brand statement: “Study under pastors”.
Degrees and Programs
RPTS, fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), offers the following degrees:- 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...
(M.Div) - Master of Theological StudiesMaster of Theological StudiesA Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
(M.T.S.) - 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...
(D.Min)
The seminary also offers a Diploma in Theology Program (Dip.Th.), Missionary Training and Servant of the Church certificate programs, and a concentration in Biblical Counseling.
History
Soon after the organization in 1798 of what is now called the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North AmericaReformed Presbyterian Church of North America
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
(in Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
), steps were taken to establish a seminary for the education of its students of theology.
- Classes commenced in 1810, making RPTS the fifth oldest seminary in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Over the first 46 years, RPTS shifted to at least five different locations over several states
- In 1856, the seminary relocated to the North Side of Pittsburgh, and then settled in a brick mansion on Pittsburgh’s East End in 1924 where it remains to this day
- RPTS also works closely with Kobe Theological Hall, its sister institution in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- RPTS has about 100 students each year, with approximately 60 in full-time equivalency
Faculty
The current faculty includes:Jerry F. O’Neill, Richard C. Gamble, Dennis J. Prutow, Thomas G. Reid Jr., Clayton J. (C.J.) Williams and a number of adjunct professors: Bruce R. Backensto, John Bower, Andrew R. Cooper, Rutledge Etheridge, Mark A. Garcia, William R. Glaze, Jack D. Kinneer, Steven F. Miller, George C. Scipione, Wayne R. Spear, Jeffrey A. Stivason, Calvin Troup, John W. Tweeddale, and Jonathan M. Watt.